Where the Years of Marriage Crumbled to Nothing

After Wendy Russel had finished her defense in the court,she quickly returned to New York City to celebrate her husband’s birthday,Michael Goldman.

The door of the estate was slightly open.She hid the gift behind her back and got ready to push the door,planning to surprise Michael.

“Michael,it was Wendy who sent Sandra to prison.Are you sure you want them to meet?And even let Sandra live in your house?”

“Also,you and Sandra were once engaged.Aren’t you afraid Wendy will find out you got close to her only for revenge and then divorce you?”

Her slender hand froze in mid-air out of nowhere.

Michael’s gaze became sharper.There were sparks that flared from the cigar between his fingers.

After a long silence,he spoke coldly,“She won’t know.”

“I got close to her only to make her drop her guard as a lawyer.Sandra was thrown in prison and suffered because of her,so I couldn’t just ignore it.”

“Not to mention,both Sandra and I were childhood sweethearts.We grew up together.She is not a bully at all!Sandra must have had other reasons for hurting Wendy’s sister back then.”

“I haven’t decided what to do about the engagement yet.I’ll explain to Wendy when I have the chance.”

Wendy’s mind buzzed.She could not believe what she was hearing.Footsteps approached,while she turned to leave.Losing her balance,she bumped into someone carrying a cake.

“Miss Russell,long time no see.”

She looked up in shock.Like a lightning strike,the tall figure stood before Sandra Johnson in panic.

“Can’t you see?How dare you bump into anyone!”

When Michael saw Wendy clearly,his anger seen in his eyes,disappeared.A flash of surprise crossed his face.Instinctively,he held Sandra tighter.

“Wendy?Why are you returning…”

He stared at his friends,signaling to them to take Sandra away.

“She’s the one behind my sister’s bullying,”Wendy said.

After all,Wendy could never forget the CCTV recording from the school.Sandra grinned as she ripped open Wendy’s sister’s clothes and poured sulfuric acid on her,which left terrible burns.It was all because Annie Russel had scored one point higher on a test,making Sandra a laughingstock.

“Wendy,those are all misunderstandings.Someone changed the video.”

Michael spoke as if it were nothing.

“Sandra’s parents died from the shock.After she got out of prison,she had nowhere to go,so she’s staying here for now.”

“I’ll move out once I find her another place.”

But her sister still lived here!If Annie saw her old enemy again…

“Ahhhh!”

It was Annie’s voice.

Without thinking further,Wendy shoved Michael aside and rushed downstairs.When she saw Annie’s pale face and Sandra’s cold smile,her blood turned to ice.

“What the hell are you thinking you’re doing?Get away from Annie!”

With tears in her eyes,blood ran down Annie’s fingertips as she clung to Wendy.

Meanwhile,Wendy’s chest tightened painfully.

“I apologize,Wendy.I just wanted to talk to Annie,but she suddenly had a breakdown and tried to stab herself with a glass…”

Sandra’s words sounded apologetic,but her eyes glowed with mockery.Annie was never mentally ill.Wendy shielded Annie and coldly ordered Sandra to apologize.

“People with mental illness should return to the hospital instead of causing trouble here.”

A deep voice cut through the air,making Wendy’s head pound.She would not allow anyone to insult her sister.Her hand swept forward,striking with force.

Slap!

Michael took the slap directly.His eyes darkened,while a faint glint flashed as a cold smile touched his lips.

“Wendy,don’t make this harder for me.”

He turned and left with Sandra without looking back.

The sting in Wendy’s hand throbbed.For a long time,Wendy stood stunned.She couldn’t help but stare at her swollen palm before suddenly smiling bitterly.

Michael was a national taekwondo champion.There was no strike he couldn’t avoid.Yet,he had accepted the slap willingly for Sandra this time.

Her eyes dimmed as she took Annie upstairs,urging her sister to pack.

“Wendy,Sandra hurt me on purpose.I won’t cry again next time.Please don’t send me away…”

Wendy couldn’t bear to let her go alone.

“Michael has chosen someone else.We must leave this place.”

“Has he stopped loving you?”

It wasn’t a change of heart.Besides,Michael’s heart had never belonged to her.Wendy remembered clearly the first time she met Michael.He had knocked the file from her hand.He stared at Sandra’s case file,lost in thought,then returned it with a smile.

After the trial,Michael would often appear around Wendy.He told her that he had financial disputes and asked for her help.Then,they grew closer.

She thought this younger flirt was only joking,but she hadn’t expected him to be so serious.

Michael chartered a cruise,sailed across the Hudson River at night and filled the sky with drones to confess his love.He climbed a mountain for a Mountain Laurel flower,fell into the valley and came back covered in blood.It was all to heal her old wrist injury.

When a criminal’s family tried to take revenge,Michael shielded Wendy from the attack.She had been unable to resist his care and eventually gave in to his gentleness.But now she learned the truth.

Sandra was his childhood sweetheart and his fiancée.

Michael’s betrayal was like a sharp slap,breaking her illusions.He had approached Wendy for Sandra’s sake.But it didn’t matter.She didn’t want it anymore.

She would treat these two years as her gift to Michael.

Wendy pulled a blank divorce agreement from her folder,a bitter smile on her lips.After years of handling cases for others,this was the first time she handled her own.She would wait for the chance to have Michael sign.

When that moment came,they would part ways and never meet again.