Expired Love Letters

When rising starlet Scarlett Keens private social media account was hacked, over a hundred love letters went viral, rocketing to the top of the trending charts.

She wrote: The man I love is now someone elses husband.

The internet collectively grieved for her. Shes so devoted, they said. This tragic romance is making me cry.

Lying in bed, scrolling through my phone, I casually commented: How can someone make falling for another womans husband sound so innocent?

I forgot to switch to my burner account.

A minute later, my husband, Alexander Cheras, phone call came through. Scarlett didnt do anything wrong. Your comment will cause her unnecessary trouble.

I froze for a moment, then suddenly, I laughed. It turned out, in this three-person relationship, the one who was always redundant was me, the wife.

The phone was still pressed against my ear. It finally dawned on me. The unrequited love story in Scarletts private account was about my husband of nearly three years, Alexander Chera.

My mouth opened, I wanted to explain that it was just a casual comment. But the words that came out were: How did you see it?

Silence for a few seconds on the other end. In those few seconds, I understood.

The trending topic had tens of thousands of comments. For Alexander, who was on a business trip abroad, to spot my account among so many, it wasnt because I was important. It was because the busy CEO was constantly following Scarletts every move. He had even scrolled through every single comment.

Olivia, delete the comment first, before someone with ill intentions makes a big deal out of it. Alexanders tone softened slightly. Ill handle things with Scarlett. You dont need to worry about it.

I bit my lip. Im sorry. I didnt know those love letters were for you. I said calmly, Ill delete it.

He paused. He seemed to want to say something else, but in the end, he just grunted in agreement.

The call ended. I pulled the phone away from my ear, staring at the screen for a few seconds. Alexander had always been gentle and polite with me. This was the first time he had ever called me out like this.

I placed the phone face down on the nightstand and lay back down to finish my face mask. Fifteen minutes later, I went to the bathroom to wash my face. The person in the mirror looked normal, except for slightly red-rimmed eyes. I leaned in for a closer look. It was probably just the mask serum getting into my eyes.

After washing my face, I reopened the trending topic. The captions were all variations of A letter to A. They chronicled Scarletts years-long infatuation with a man. I found my comment, clicked on it, and swiftly deleted it.

When I backed out, the top trending topic had already changed.

#Who is A?#

I swiped it away and closed the app. My phone remained silent.

I turned off the light and lay back in bed. In the darkness, I suddenly remembered something. My prenuptial agreement with Alexander, a three-year term. There were only two months left.

Three years ago, the Chera family faced a crisis. The stock price plummeted, and partners pulled out one after another. At that time, as the sole daughter of the Sterling family, I proposed a marriage alliance. Some said I was taking advantage of their misfortune. Others said the Sterling family was buying low.

What no one knew was that I was in love with Alexander Chera. It had been seven years, since university.

To avoid putting pressure on Alexander, I drafted an agreement: a three-year marriage term. Within three years, we would cooperate to handle family and public appearances. After three years, either party could propose a divorce, and the other must unconditionally agree.

This marriage seemed to offer me no benefits. I asked for nothing, only the chance to be with him for three years.

Later, I heard that he had been in a passionate relationship at the time. His parents had forcibly broken them up, pressuring him to marry me to save the family.

For the past three years, Alexander had been good to me. Truly good. Considerate, gentle, fulfilling his husbandly duties. He would bring me late-night snacks after a long night of socializing. He would bring me gifts from his business trips. He never neglected a single holiday or anniversary. He would sit by my bedside when I was sick. Even in our intimate life, he was diligent.

I thought he was slowly falling in love with me. Now I understand. He was just fulfilling his contractual obligations. As for feelingsthat wasnt part of the contract. I turned over, burying my face in the pillow. A moment later, the pillow was damp.

The next evening, Alexander returned from his business trip. I was waiting for him in the living room. Before he could embrace me, I pushed the agreement towards him.

Whats this? He was clearly taken aback, sitting down beside me.

The prenuptial agreement.

There are only two months left of the three-year term. But if youre in a hurry, we can terminate it at any time.

He frowned. Olivia, what is this about?

I looked up at him calmly. I dont care about you and Miss Keen. But I dont want to occupy this position anymore. Before I proposed the marriage, I didnt know you had a girlfriend. Im sorry, I have no interest in being the third party who breaks up a true love story.

Alexanders expression faltered. He reached out to pull me closer, his voice softer than before. She and I are completely over. She wrote those letters on her own. It has nothing to do with me.

I flinched back slightly, and his arm froze in mid-air. Dont overthink it, he said, his hand finally landing on my shoulder, patting it reassuringly. The three years arent up. Youre still Mrs. Chera.

I nodded. Okay.

He looked at me for a few seconds, then stood up, saying he was going to take a shower. That evening, we had dinner together. After dinner, we cuddled in the media room and watched an old movie. During the end credits, we naturally shared an intimate moment.

Afterwards, he carried me to the shower as usual and let me sleep with my head pillowed on his arm. I almost began to believe again that he loved me.

I woke up in the middle of the night to find his side of the bed empty. I instinctively looked towards the balcony. The curtains werent fully drawn, leaving a small gap. Through it, I could see his silhouette, his back to me, holding his phone.

I quietly got out of bed and walked to the door. Ive already suppressed the trending topic. His voice, low and hushed, drifted in from the balcony. I dont want this to affect the partnership between the Chera and Sterling families.

Silence for a few seconds. Scarlett, were in the past.

I stood behind the curtain, clenching my fists. He listened for a moment more, then said, Get some sleep.

The call ended. I thought he was coming back, but he dialed another number. David, the company needs a global brand ambassador for the new season. Contact Scarletts agent. Agree to whatever terms they ask for.

I heard the click of a lighter. A flame flickered, and he lit a cigarette. Smoke billowed into the night. The glowing tip of the cigarette illuminated his profile for a moment before it faded back into darkness. When we first got married, he sometimes smelled of smoke. I would cough a little, and then I never saw him smoke again.

I stood behind the curtain, watching him smoke one cigarette after another. My feet felt cold, and I realized I was standing barefoot on the floor. I tiptoed back to bed, lay down, and closed my eyes.

Over the weekend, Alexander had a gathering with friends. I was stuck in traffic and arrived later than planned. Just before I pushed open the private room door, their voices drifted through.

Alexander, if it werent for the Sterling family taking advantage of the situation back then, you and Scarlett would have been married by now, right?

You two were so good together, and you were torn apart just like that.

Exactly, another voice chimed in. Olivia Sterlings move was pretty calculating. I heard when your family was in trouble, she was the first to jump in and propose a marriage. Who knows if her family was behind the whole thing?

Ive been wanting to say this for a while. You and Scarlett were so perfect together back then. And now she still cant forget you, writing all those love letters. So devoted.

Olivia Sterling, for the past three years, shes basically just been picking up the scraps, right?

Some laughed, others agreed. Then I heard Alexanders voice, his tone so flat it was almost cold. Its all in the past.

My hand froze on the doorknob. He didnt deny it. He didnt say Olivia wasnt that kind of person. He didnt say she hadnt orchestrated anything. He didnt say she was his wife. He didnt even tell them to stop.

A dismissive its all in the past. It drowned three years of our marriage, along with my dignity, in their ridicule. My nails dug into my palm, a dull ache.

I had looked into Scarlett. When the Chera family was in trouble, she had quickly found a new benefactor. I couldnt believe Alexander hadnt found out what I had so easily discovered. Unless he trusted her completely.

I suddenly remembered three years ago. When the Chera family was in crisis, my family had been against the marriage. They said the Chera familys problems were too deep, and the Sterling family didnt need to get involved. I was the one who sold all my properties, mortgaged my Sterling shares, and scraped together the money, transferring it to Alexanders finance department as working capital. I didnt tell anyone about this. Including him.

I thought it was love. It turned out, in others mouths, it was called taking advantage.

The laughter inside continued. I let go of the doorknob and took a step back. Before the tears could fall, I left the club.