The Price of a Second Chance

When my ex-husband, Arthur Vance, finally tracked me down, I was in the middle of picking out a cemetery plot for my late husband.

The one I really wanted was too expensive, but I was terrified that buying a cheaper one would be doing him a disservice.

Just as I was agonizing over the decision, Arthur asked me if I wanted to remarry him.

The rejection that was on the tip of my tongue mutated into a very cautious question:

"If we remarry... will my allowance still be fifty thousand a month?"

Arthur looked at me, completely taken aback. After all, the woman I used to be treated money like dirt.

He nodded, his eyes showing a flash of heartache I couldn't quite understand. "Yes. As long as you play the role of an obedient, well-behaved wife."

I agreed without a second of hesitation. And I learned exactly how to be a good wife.

I stopped checking his phone. I stopped demanding he remember our anniversaries. I stopped caring when he refused to set boundaries with his female "best friends."

But eventually, he screamed at me like a madman: "I just wanted you to listen to me! I didn't want you to stop loving me!"

...

When Arthur Vance found me, I was looking at cemetery plots for my late husband, Liam. I was even wearing a small white camellia pinned to my hair in mourning.

Thinking about how Liam had drained his entire life savings to pay for my medical treatments, and how he had ultimately died saving me during the earthquake... my eyes couldn't help but well up with tears.

We were supposed to be on our honeymoon right now...

Just as I was sinking into my grief, Arthur sat down directly across from me.

His eyes critically scanned my outfit. The woman who once wore exclusively haute couture was now sitting in front of him wearing a stretched-out hoodie and faded, washed-out jeans.

I looked so pathetic there wasn't a single trace of my former wealthy life left.

He frowned deeply. "You left me just to live like this?"

I froze for a second before finally recognizing him.

My ex-husband. We had been divorced for five years.

Seeing me stay silent, Arthur assumed I was just overwhelmed with joy. He said flatly:

"As long as you apologize and admit you were wrong, we can remarry. How about it?"

I originally wanted to tell him to go to hell, but then I remembered the plot I had just been looking at cost seven figures.

Even if I delivered DoorDash for the rest of my life, I might never be able to afford it.

Thinking of that, I asked him carefully, "If we remarry... will my allowance still be fifty thousand a month?"

Arthur stared at me in silence. Deep in his eyes, there was a flash of heartache I didn't quite understand.

He said, "As long as you're a good, obedient girl, I'll give you a hundred thousand. But if you act like you used tothrowing tantrums, acting crazy, and being constantly paranoidthen I'll..."

Before he could finish his threat, I immediately raised my hand in a pledge. "I understand. I will be obedient."

Arthur looked surprised. "Have you really thought this through? You used to be... you were never this easy to talk to."

I offered a helpless smile. "Like you said, Mr. Vance. That was how I used to be."

Used to be.

I used to be the woman he held in the palm of his hand. I was Mrs. Vance, the envy of New York's elite circle, and the most celebrated genius architect in the industry.

Whether I relied on him or on myself, I could have lived an incredible life.

But now? My reputation was completely destroyed. His childhood sweetheart had issued an industry-wide "blacklist" against me, making it impossible for me to find a decent job anywhere in the city.

If I hadn't met Liam, I probably would have just been a rotting corpse at the bottom of a cliff.

Where was my former pride supposed to come from?

Arthur's expression shifted slightly. He frowned. "What did you just call me? Mr. Vance?"

Looking at me sitting across from himacting perfectly obedient, yet radiating a cold, impenetrable distanceArthur felt like his heart had been submerged in water.

It felt damp. Suffocating...

Terrified he would get angry and take away my hundred thousand dollars, I quickly explained, "Did you forget? You were the one who forbade me from calling you 'husband'."

Arthur's face instantly went a shade paler.

He remembered. He remembered that our marriage had been a secret.

I was the Chief Architect at his firm. Publicly, everyone thought I was just a highly valued employee.

And to make sure no one found out, he strictly forbade me from ever calling him "husband" at work.

So, for years, I only ever called him "Mr. Vance."

Arthur looked annoyed. He rubbed his temples. "That was when you were at the company. We had to keep it professional. You don't have to do that anymore."

A dense, prickling pain spread across my chest.

Yeah. I don't have to do that anymore. Because the career I was so fiercely proud of had been completely annihilated by him.

I never had to play the role of his employee again.

Unable to handle my silence, Arthur stood up irritably. "Come home with me."

I stood up obediently and followed him to his Cullinan.

The moment I opened the door, I froze. The entire interior was customized in baby pink, and the dashboard was plastered with photo booth pictures of Arthur and Chloe.

Chloe was his childhood sweetheart. She was also the spark that ignited our divorce.

Noticing me staring blankly at the photos, Arthur panicked slightly and rushed to explain. "Chloe hurt her leg recently. My mom insisted she stay at our house so it'd be easier for me to drive her to and from work."

"You know how she is. She's innocent, always has her head in the clouds, and likes this kind of childish stuff, so..."

Before he could finish justifying it, I smiled and cut him off. "It's pretty cute."

Arthur looked at my perfectly calm, unbothered face. "You don't mind?"

I shook my head, smiling. "Why would I mind? You two grew up together, you're practically siblings."

"If something was going to happen between you two, it would have happened years ago. I never would have stood a chance."

I thought saying that would make Arthur happy, but his face actually darkened by several shades.

I had no idea why he was getting mad.

Those were the exact words he used to say to me whenever I got jealous.

Unfortunately, back then, I never believed in purely platonic friendships between men and women. So even when he said that, I still demanded he keep his distance from Chloe.

He agreed to my face, but behind my back, he and Chloe were practically inseparable. Until the day I caught them at a gala.

I lost my mind, screaming and hitting him. And the result? I was the one who suffered the brutal consequences.

Did he forget all of that?

Whatever. I didn't care enough to manage his moods. I just looked down at my phone, calculating how long it would take me to save up enough for the cemetery plot.

Arthur felt an absurd sense of unreality.

He never expected that after just five years, I would completely, effortlessly accept his relationship with Chloe.

But... this wasn't how it was supposed to go.

Wasn't I supposed to scream at him for crossing the line?

Looking at my calm profile, Arthur comforted himself: It must be because she doesn't want to lose me again. She's too scared to get angry.

At that moment, I remembered that a photo of Liam was still at my old apartment. I asked Arthur if we could swing by there first.

Arthur refused immediately, looking deeply disgusted. "Do you honestly think my mansion has room for your garbage?"

"Just call your landlord, tell them you're breaking the lease, and have them throw it all away."

I opened my mouth, originally wanting to tell him that I wasn't renting, that I owned the place. But on second thought, I just nodded submissively.

That tiny, three-hundred-square-foot studio was the only inheritance Liam left me.

There was no need for outsiders to know about it.

The rest of the drive was silent.

Half an hour later, I was standing in front of the house that used to be my marital home.

In the front yard, the sycamore tree I had planted myself was thriving, looking lush and vibrant after five years of weathering the elements.

I was a bit surprised. I distinctly remembered that on the day I left, Arthur swore he was going to rip this tree out by its roots.

I didn't expect it to still be standing here five years later.

Arthur walked up beside me, looking incredibly unnatural as he offered, "I hired a Feng Shui master. He said this sycamore tree is good for my fortune, so I didn't dig it up."

I nodded, wondering why he felt the need to explain that to me.

I wasn't narcissistic enough to think he kept the tree because he was still in love with me.

Honestly, I was still waiting for him to tell me the real reason he wanted to remarry me.

Very quickly, I got my answer.

He wanted to remarry me... for his little childhood sweetheart.

The front door opened from the inside. I saw Chloe, looking pale and fragile, being supported by a maid. She smiled brightly. "Arthur! You're back!"

I had already figured out on the drive over that she was living here, so I gave her a perfectly natural nod. "Long time no see, Chloe."

Chloe clearly didn't expect me to be so calm. Her face wore its usual fake, saccharine smile as she greeted me affectionately, "Evelyn! It's been so long."

"I told Arthur my birthday wish was for you two to get back together, and I can't believe he actually went out and found you!"

"It looks like Arthur really is my personal Santa Claus. He makes all my wishes come true."

If this were the old me, hearing those words would have shattered me.

So the only reason I was brought back was because it was another woman's birthday wish.

But now? Not only was I not depressed, I looked at her with genuine, profound gratitude. "Thank you so much, Chloe. Mr. Vance told me you hurt your leg? Don't worry, I will take excellent care of you."

This time, Chloe's mask completely cracked. She stared at me in shock, forgetting to even deliver her next line.

Arthur also stared at me in disbelief, trying to find some trace of sarcasm or fakeness in my eyes, only to realize I was being 100% sincere.

The bizarre, suffocating feeling in his chest grew stronger.

He quickly tried to explain, "Chloe is just joking with you. You're my wife. If I want to remarry you, obviously it's because I've thought about it from every angle."

I smiled and flattered him smoothly. "You are the CEO of the Vance Group. Any decision you make is obviously the result of deep, strategic thinking."

"Chloe's wish was just a reference point. I get it. I totally understand."

I didn't expect that even after I said that, Arthur still wouldn't be satisfied.

His face was dark as he glared at me, his eyes hiding a deep, probing confusion I didn't understand.

I looked back at him, blinking innocently.

Ultimately, defeated by the clear, untroubled look in my eyes, he turned and stormed into the living room in a huff.

I followed closely behind, but as I reached the doorway, Chloe blocked my path.

Chloe leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Five years away, and your manipulation skills have definitely leveled up."

"Too bad that in the face of absolute favoritism, your little 'playing hard to get' routine isn't going to work."

"Let me tell you the truth. Arthur only brought you back because I can't get pregnant. He wants you to carry a baby for me, so I can officially marry into the Vance family without any pushback."

My heart skipped a beat.

Have a baby?

I couldn't help but slowly rest my hand over my lower abdomen.

Once upon a time, there was a baby growing there too. But tragically... it was murdered by its own father.

The look of absolute disgust on Arthur's face that day was burned into my memory with crystal clarity.

He had said: "A malicious, venomous woman like you has absolutely no right to bear my child."

I never imagined that five years later, he would actually want me to have a baby for him.

But... I couldn't have kids anymore either.

If Arthur found out, would he throw me out on the street?

Then what about the cemetery plot...?

Thinking of this, I made a silent vow. I absolutely could not let Arthur find out.

Just then, Chloe suddenly screamed and stumbled backward, her eyes turning red. "Evelyn, if you don't like me, you can just say it... why did you stomp on my foot?!"

The maid standing next to her immediately chimed in, pointing a self-righteous finger at me. "Madam, Miss Chloe already has an injured leg. With you stomping on her like that, she's going to be in agony for days."

"You are truly..."

Faced with these two dramatic actresses, I raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise, then immediately bowed my head and apologized. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to."

I was well accustomed to Chloe's two-faced performances. In the past, I used to constantly complain to Arthur about her, calling her a manipulative snake.

Unfortunately, Arthur never believed me. He said I was insane with jealousy, maliciously twisting the actions of an innocent little girl.

Even though this "little girl" was exactly one month older than me.

Because of that, I had no intention of trying to explain myself to Arthur. I just offered a prompt, sincere apology.

A short distance away, Arthur's face darkened.

Seeing him look over, I assumed he was going to reprimand me just like he used to. I immediately took the initiative:

"I know it wasn't on purpose, but I acknowledge that I hurt Chloe."

"I accept my punishment. I will go to the attic right now."

Having said that, I turned and started walking toward the stairs.

The attic had a confinement room. It was a "reflection room" Arthur specifically had built for me.

Every time I "hurt" Chloe or disobeyed him, he would lock me in there to reflect on my actions.

For twenty-four hours. No food. No water.

In the beginning, I used to fight back and struggle. But eventually, I suffered a miscarriage while locked in that pitch-black room, and it gave me severe claustrophobia.

After that, the mere threat of it reduced me to a sobbing, begging mess on my knees.

Thankfully, I wasn't afraid of the dark anymore.

During that earthquake, I was trapped in a tiny, pitch-black space propped open by Liam's body. It was completely dark, and we were covered in blood.

But as his life slowly slipped away, I felt the most profound, intense love I had ever known.

He pulled me out of my final psychological shadow.

It was just that this time, the price had been far too high.

Without realizing it, my eyes began to sting and turn red.

When Arthur grabbed my wrist, this was the scene he sawmy head bowed submissively, my eyes holding absolutely zero resentment, only a trace of raw vulnerability.

I looked like a fawn that had been abandoned by its mother in the wilderness.

A sharp pain pierced Arthur's heart. The inexplicable rage that had just flared up in his chest was instantly extinguished.

He asked, a mix of helplessness and confusion in his voice, "When did I say I was sending you to the confinement room?"

I looked up, genuinely shocked and flattered. "Huh? I really don't have to go?"

My reaction instantly stung Arthur's eyes.

He actually felt a surge of regret for how he had treated me in the past.

He explained awkwardly, "When I locked you in there before, it was because you were immature. You made mistakes and were too stubborn to admit them, so I wanted to teach you a lesson."

"Now, it wasn't on purpose, and your attitude in apologizing was excellent. There's no need for punishment."

As he spoke, he looked over at Chloe standing nearby and smiled warmly. "Besides, Chloe is so kindhearted, how could she possibly want you punished over such a minor accident?"

Chloe's mask almost ripped right off her face. She stared at me with an unfamiliar, deeply unsettled gaze.

The corners of her mouth twitched into a stiff smile as she nodded. "Yeah, Evelyn. If you go to the attic, it'll make me look like I'm being aggressive and demanding."

I shook my head, quickly explaining, "I didn't mean it like that. I'm just so used to..."

Chloe instantly switched to playing the victim. "I knew it! Evelyn still blames me. It was my fault back then, I was immature and didn't know boundaries, and it caused a rift between you two."

"Evelyn, I'm so sorry. I formally apologize to you."

Arthur looked at me suspiciously. I knew exactly what he was thinkinghe was wondering if I was trying to stir up drama again.

I had just managed to dodge a punishment; there was no way I was letting Chloe trap me in another narrative.

I put on my most sincere, earnest face. "How could you say that? I let go of all that a long time ago."

"Oh, by the way! Don't you love my steamed sea bass?"

"I'll go to the farmer's market right now, buy the freshest fish, and make it for you."

"But once you eat my fish, you're not allowed to bring up the past anymore, okay?"

My response effectively killed Chloe's performance. She stood there awkwardly, watching me turn and run toward the front door.

Before she even had a chance to speak, she watched Arthur walk right past her and chase me out the door.

Arthur grabbed my wrist, his brow furrowed. "I brought you back to be the lady of the house, not to be a servant."

I shook my head, looking completely unbothered. "It's fine! I used to cook for Chloe all the time anyway."

Arthur opened his mouth, but it felt like a cork had been shoved down his throat. He couldn't utter a single sound.

He remembered a few years ago when Chloe had been pushed down the stairs. To make me "atone" for my sins, he forced me to act as Chloe's personal maid for three months.

Chloe was an incredibly picky eater, and I was never a good cook. The meals I brought her were repeatedly knocked to the floor, and I was forced to remake them from scratch.

Back then, my hands were covered in burn blisters, but he never once felt an ounce of pity for me.

After those three months, I firmly asked for a divorce. He blamed me for being unrepentant, and in a fit of rage, signed the papers.

And that was the beginning of our five-year separation.

Arthur sighed heavily. "You're still blaming me for that, aren't you? You're saying this on purpose to remind me that I bullied you for Chloe's sake."

"But honey, you were the one in the wrong back then. If I didn't give the Miller family a proper explanation, the corporate partnership between our families would have been jeopardized..."

"I'm not just your husband, I'm the CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation."

I didn't expect that just volunteering to cook a meal would trigger another one of Arthur's endless, self-justifying lectures.

I had zero interest in hearing what he had to say. All I wanted to know was if he was going to drive me to the market, because the good one was pretty far away.

When I made my request, I saw Arthur's face turn incredibly bitter.

It almost looked like... sadness.

I had no idea what was wrong with him. I just rushed him, "Hurry up! If we get there late, all the fresh fish will be sold out."

Arthur got into the car with a dark expression. He drove me to the supermarket, quietly watched me buy groceries, and quietly drove me back home.

Once we got back, he immediately jumped into a video conference call. Chloe sat closely by his side like a little bird, occasionally feeding him pieces of fruit.

Meanwhile, I was in the kitchen prepping dinner, my mind racing: How the hell am I going to get Arthur to pay me my allowance?

The cemetery sales rep had just texted me. Someone else was looking at that specific plot.

I needed to pay the deposit immediately.

...

An hour later, the three of us were sitting at the dining table.

I placed a tender piece of fish into Chloe's bowl and asked, "Is it good?"

Chloe raised an eyebrow in approval, immediately defaulting to treating me like a servant just like she used to. "The fish is decent. Tomorrow I want chicken stew with glass noodles, sea snails, and Australian lobster."

I immediately whipped out my phone, typing as I spoke: "No problem. Um... Mr. Vance, do you have time to take me grocery shopping tomorrow? If not, could you transfer some money to me?"

"Otherwise, I don't have any money to buy groceries."

Arthur stared at me in absolute shock. Then, he pulled out his phone and started transferring the money, while simultaneously telling Chloe: "Chloe, Evelyn isn't a chef. If you want something specific, just tell Mrs. Higgins to make it."

Chloe's face instantly turned an ugly shade of pale. She put down her chopsticks and looked like she was about to burst into tears. "I understand. I'm intruding on you two."

Saying that, she stood up to leave. "I think it's better if I just go back to my own house. Otherwise, what happens if I say the wrong thing again?"

As she turned, she suddenly fell to the floor.

Her knee hit the hardwood with a loud, heavy thud.

Just hearing the sound, you knew it had to hurt.

Seeing this, Arthur rushed over and scooped her up into his arms.

Her eyes were red as she tried to push him away. "Let me go, I don't want you to hold me."

"Since Evelyn is back, everything I say is wrong, and everything I do makes you unhappy."

"It's better if I just go home."

Arthur patiently coaxed her. "What are you talking about? I didn't mean anything by it."

His gaze dropped to her knee, his voice filled with heartache. "Your knee... I'm taking you to the hospital right now."

He carried Chloe and practically sprinted toward the front door. As he reached the exit, he suddenly turned back, only to see me sitting at the table, casually eating my dinner as if nothing had happened.

He swallowed whatever explanation he was about to give and said coldly, "Wait here. Don't go anywhere."

I replied obediently, "Okay."

The exact second they left, I immediately wired an $80,000 deposit to the cemetery sales rep.

Arthur didn't come home for the next few days.

I was thrilled to have the peace and quiet.

One afternoon, while I was enjoying some tea, the butler suddenly led a group of people into the house.

He said Mr. Vance had sent them to deliver clothes, bags, and shoes. It was the latest season's collections from all the major luxury brands, and I could pick whatever I wanted.

I selected several classic, high-value bags and some staple clothing items, already calculating how much I could sell them for on luxury resale sites in a few weeks.

That night, I went to sleep early.

In my dreams, I saw Liam.

He was standing in a field of wildflowers, smiling and waving at me.

I ran over, threw my arms around him, and said excitedly, "Liam! I made a hundred thousand dollars today! Aren't I amazing?"

He hugged me, his eyes full of tenderness. "Don't force yourself to suffer just for me."

I shook my head. I didn't feel like I was suffering at all.

Besides, compared to everything he did for me, the little bit of acting I was doing was absolutely nothing.

Suddenly, I felt something cold and wet on my skin, accompanied by heavy, low panting. It violently shredded my dream to pieces.

I opened my eyes in extreme annoyance and saw Arthur pinned on top of me, passionately biting my earlobe.

A wave of intense nausea surged up my throat. I completely lost control, violently shoved him off me, and sprinted to the bathroom to vomit.