Three Years In Arranged Marriage, He Grew Arrogant

My husband and I were in an arranged marriage.

In a union built on mutual benefit, he still treated me like a princess.

Until the company charity run, when his female assistant twisted her ankle.

She didn't want to drop out, crying that she absolutely had to get a finishers medal.

My husband, without a second thought, carried her on his back for the final mile.

When he crossed the finish line, he was gasping for air, but still smiling, saying, "I'm not tired."

I said nothing.

That night, I had the driver take the car to the winding mountain road.

I threw the spare tire from the trunk at him.

Carry this.

You said you werent tired, keep going.

A man who overstepped.

If he could be managed, Id keep him.

Otherwise, he could go back to where he came from.

Ah~

A scream echoed as Olivia Thorne fell on the track.

Her knees were scraped raw, her ankle twisted.

The medical team was just about to enter the field when Adam Lagerfelt, who was about to cross the finish line, immediately turned back and rushed to Olivias side.

I frowned and cleared my throat.

Adam, however, acted as if he hadn't heard anything.

Olivia, are you alright?

He rubbed Olivias ankle, his eyes overflowing with concern.

The distance between them was as close as a painful thorn.

My vice president cautiously asked, Ms. Hayes, should I have someone take Olivia off the field first?

I waved my hand.

For three years of marriage, Adam had always been well-behaved, maintaining a strict boundary with other women.

This was the first time he had shown such tenderness towards another woman in front of me.

I wanted to see if he dared to cross the line.

Im sorry, Mr. Lagerfelt.

I can push through, I really want to finish and get a medal.

I I cant let you down. Olivias eyes welled up.

She shakily stood up, took one step, and fell again.

Darling, if Olivia withdraws, can she still get a medal? Shes young and has a strong sense of pride.

Adam asked me in a pleading tone.

I looked at him with disappointment and shook my head.

Mr. Lagerfelt, dont make Ms. Hayes uncomfortable.

Im your subordinate, I wont let you down!

Olivia struggled to get up, limping into the track.

Then, losing her balance, she fell into Adams arms.

Olivia, Ill help you achieve your wish!

In front of everyone, Adam knelt down, letting Olivia climb onto his back.

He carried Olivia, straining, as he sprinted towards the finish line.

The previously lively track instantly fell silent.

Only Olivias delicate cheering could be heard.

All the executives exchanged bewildered glances.

I said nothing.

The moment Adam carried Olivia across the finish line, Olivia cried with excitement.

They hugged each other, thrilled.

Adams face was pale, breathing heavily.

Still smiling, saying, Not tired.

Olivia got her medal.

Adam looked like a hero.

I led the applause, a cold sneer playing on my lips.

Adam stopped all movement, nervously looking at me.

Darling, let me explain.

I wasnt interested in listening. I turned and walked away.

That night, Adam squeezed into my Rolls-Royce.

Darling, let me explain.

Still the same words.

I ignored him, letting the driver take the car to the foot of Serpents Peak.

Adam looked surprised. Darling, what are we doing here so late? Taking a stroll?

The driver took a spare tire from the trunk and threw it in front of him.

I pointed at the spare tire, then at the mountain peak.

Carry it to the top of the mountain, then run back down.

A hundred pounds, the same weight as her.

You said you werent tired, keep going.

Adams face went white.

He tried to force a smile. Darling, dont be jealous.

Olivia and I truly have nothing going on.

If you dont like it, Ill throw away her medal when I get back.

He tried to hug me, but I pushed him away.

Adam Lagerfelt, know your place.

Maintaining boundaries with other women, thats my bottom line.

Now, do exactly as I say, immediately.

This is a lesson for you. If you cant complete it, then its time for a replacement.

I got into the car and closed the door.

Outside the window, Adams body was trembling.

A drone followed behind him.

The countdown began.

Twelve miles of mountain road, two hours.

Adam brought this upon himself.

He quickly hoisted the tire onto his back and began running up the winding mountain road. The drone chased him, filming his every move. I sat in the car, monitoring his pathetic struggle. When Adams legs cramped and his knees were scraped raw, I reminded him hed only gone one mile. When he ran and vomited, scrambling and tumbling after the tire, I didnt even glance at him. It wasnt until Adam collapsed halfway up the mountain, incontinent and convulsing, that I coldly uttered, Send him to the emergency room.

When Adam woke up, he immediately deleted Olivias contact information in front of me. He proactively had her transferred to a different department and deliberately kept his distance from her. Compared to before, he was even more gentle and considerate towards me.

I thought he had truly reformed, truly understood.

Until I received a smoke alarm alert from the Southwood Manor.

The moment I opened the security footage, a chill ran through me.

My newly purchased manor was packed with dozens of people. They were throwing a wild party, trampling on my custom-made Italian sofa with their shoes, dancing. Bottles of rare Lafite from my cellar were opened and guzzled! The ornamental fish, worth thousands each, were fished out of the tank and grilled! The barbecue smoke had triggered the alarm!

A suffocating feeling tightened in my chest. Among the crowd, I spotted a familiar faceOlivia Thorne! She was wearing my brand-new Herms haute couture. It had arrived last week; shed found it in the closet, and I hadnt even worn it once.

I dialed Adam, attaching a screenshot of the security footage. Explain this to me. What exactly is going on?

Dont tell me you dont know.

Adam was silent on the other end of the line. After a long pause, he quietly said, Olivias graduation party, they had nowhere else to go.

I thought since you leave the house empty, you dont live there, so I lent it to Olivia.

Please dont make things difficult for her.

I laughed, a bitter, exasperated sound. I retorted, Adam Lagerfelt, thats my house. What right do you have to lend it out?

Get them out of there immediately.

Furthermore, all damages will be compensated at full value.

Adam immediately became anxious. Darling, Olivia is still a child, you dont need to be so hard on her.

Besides, this small amount of money is nothing to you.

Theyll go home once theyre tired of playing

I didnt have the patience to hear him out. I hung up directly.

No need to be so hard on her? Nothing to me?

Oh, great, very generous of him.

But Adam forgot, though outwardly we were in an arranged marriage.

His family, the Lagerfelts, were merely a minor clan in the capital.

Our so-called marriage was, in fact, him marrying into my family, a social climb.

Without the support of my family, the Hayes, his family would have been swallowed whole long ago!

He, Adam Lagerfelt, was merely a househusband, nothing more.

And he wanted to act like the master?

I immediately called my assistant, gathered my bodyguards, and headed straight to the Southwood Manor. As they were partying hardest, my Rolls-Royce pulled up to the entrance. I immediately cornered Olivia, who was trying to hide in the crowd.

I ripped off the Chanel dress she was wearing.

Shredding it in front of everyone, I flung the pieces at her face.

Anything she touched, I considered defiled.

Olivia Thorne, is this your home?

Ms. Hayes, I I

She lowered her head, squeezing out a few tears.

Looking utterly pitiful. As if she had done nothing wrong, and I was bullying her.

The crowd of students behind her exchanged glances.

Olivia, didnt you say the manor was yours?

So you were lying.

How vain and shameless.

They tried to leave, but my bodyguards blocked the doorway.

Half an hour later, my secretary tallied the damages.

A total of fifteen million, three hundred twenty thousand dollars!

I flung the bill in front of Olivia. Pay up.

The students quickly backed away.

Olivia, this has nothing to do with us!

Exactly, if Id known it wasnt your place, I wouldnt have come!

You better pay the lady, dont drag us down.

Everyone was desperately trying to distance themselves from Olivia.

Olivias tears splattered on the floor.

She cried, wiping her eyes. Im sorry, Ms. Hayes, I didnt mean to.

I dont have money, I cant pay.

Tears were her best weapon.

Especially against Adam.

But with me, they were useless.

No money? No money, then go to jail.

I was about to call the police.

Olivia dropped to her knees.

Olivia! Adam burst into the manor.

Olivia is still a child, she really didnt mean to.

This is all my fault.

Darling, lets just drop it.

Besides, this amount of money is nothing.

Adam tenderly wiped Olivias tears. He then tried to touch me with those hands that had touched Olivia, but I evaded him.

Drop it? Youre remarkably broad-minded.

Then you can pay for her.

I took the POS machine from my secretary and handed it to Adam.

He immediately fell silent.

I pointed at Olivia. Bank card.

She didnt move.

Bank card. Dont make me repeat myself a third time.

Adam tried to intervene again, but meeting my gaze, he dared not speak.

Olivia took out her bank card.

She entered the PIN on the POS machine.

Exactly twenty thousand dollars, no more, no less.

I had my secretary write an IOU and threw it to Olivia.

Your outstanding debt is fifteen million, three hundred thousand dollars.

Pay it back within five years. Dont forget.

At this, I glanced at Adam.

His face was grim.

You are an adult, not some child.

When you make a mistake, you pay the price.

No one is exempt.

I emphasized the last sentence. Adam lowered his head.

That evening, Adam proactively prepared dinner. There was my favorite boiled shrimp. He personally peeled the shrimp and placed it in front of me. Yet, he remained silent throughout. It was almost as if he was sulking.

I looked into his eyes, neither touching nor eating the food.

I knew what he wanted.

There were certain boundaries I needed to make clear to him.

Adam Lagerfelt, I despise men who lack boundaries.

If theres a next time, you know what Im capable of.

Adam bit his lip.

He seemed somewhat troubled. After a long silence, he forced out a stiff smile. He gave a stiff nod.

It didnt matter. I no longer held any expectations for him anyway.

As long as he could honestly remain a househusband.

Stop crossing the line, stop disgusting me.

I wouldn't touch him.

But if

A sharp ringtone interrupted my thoughts.

Adam picked up his phone, cautiously glancing at me.

He hung up the call.

After that, his phone rang incessantly.

Olivia Thorne?

Yes.

Answer it. Dont forget what I said.

I took a sip of red wine, looking at him. Adam put the call on speaker.

Olivias sobs came through the speaker.

Mr. Lagerfelt, Ive been expelled from school.

My parents are ashamed of me, they dont want me either.

Adams face changed dramatically. He quickly grabbed his phone, cradling it in his palm. His face was filled with tension, full of anxiety.

Olivia, where are you? Dont you dare do anything rash!

I sighed.

Looked at him with disappointment.

Shook my head with disappointment.

Mr. Lagerfelt, please tell Ms. Hayes I cant pay her back. Im sorry.

Mr. Lagerfelt, I want to call you Mr. Lagerfelt one last time.

It was my honor to meet you. Goodbye, my Mr. Lagerfelt.

Olivia hung up the phone. Adam tried calling back repeatedly, but couldnt get through.

Olivia? Olivia! Dont you dare do anything foolish!

Wait for me! Wait for me!

He grabbed his jacket, about to rush out.

I asked him, Are you sure you want to go?

Adam glared fiercely at me.

He grabbed the plate of peeled shrimp and smashed it to smithereens.

Kelly Hayes, are you even human?!

If you hadnt pushed Olivia, would she be feeling so desperate?!

He overturned the table, destroying the entire dinner.

He rushed out, without a second thought.

I watched it all, coldly.

Didnt say another word.

He wasted his last chance.

Exhausted all my patience.

And strangled the last possibility of this marriage.

My lawyer immediately drafted divorce papers.

I sent them to Adam at once.

What I received in return was a barrage of angry voice messages.

What the hell is going on, and youre still getting jealous?!

If anything happens to Olivia, Im not done with you!

Because of Olivias one desperate message.

Adams thorns were completely exposed.

Not long after, my secretary sent me a screenshot from a social media post.

Olivias.

The accompanying picture was a hotel room, with Adams back in a bathrobe.

[Thank you, Mr. President, for filling my desperate life with starlight.]

Then came my secretarys call.

Her voice was trembling. Ms. Hayes, Mr. Lagerfelt is planning to collude with other shareholders to remove you

I took a deep breath.

Good, very good.

Adam Lagerfelt, youre quite something.

Soon youll find out the consequences.

The next days shareholder meeting was chaired by Adam.

Olivia attended.

All shareholders were present, except for me.

No one had informed me.

Adam raised the microphone. Alright, I announce that all resolutions of this shareholder meeting are passed.

Ms. Olivia Thorne is appointed Vice President of the Group, with an annual salary of fifteen million, three hundred thousand dollars.

Kelly Hayes is hereby removed from all positions within the Group, effective immediately!

The applause in the conference room almost blew the roof off.

Just as Adam was handing Olivia her appointment letter.

I kicked open the conference room door.