Five Years of Lies in the Rain

Five years into our marriage, Chris knelt in the pouring rain outside my mansion, soaked to the bone, weeping as she begged me to save her.

She claimed a failed investment had buried her in colossal debt. If I'd just mortgage the historic estate my parents left me, she could weather the storm.

To spare me from her mess, she even suggested a fake divorce, promising wed remarry once the debt was clear.

My eyes red, I frantically searched for the property deed that night, terrified that a single moments delay would push her past her breaking point.

Until I accidentally knocked her phone off the couch.

The screen lit up, displaying a message shed sent to her ex-boyfriend:

That fool Carter has totally fallen for it. Once I get my hands on the historic estate, Ill build a French castle with a rose garden for our wedding home.

I stood rooted to the spot, every drop of blood in my body turning to ice.

There was no bankruptcy. From the day she married me, she had been plotting to get her hands on my parents inheritance.

Watching the woman kneeling in the rain outside, putting on a show of deep affection, I suddenly laughed.

Ten minutes later, I knocked on the door of Chriss aunt, Anhel, the multi-billion dollar head of the Thompson Group.

I placed the property deed on her desk, a smile playing on my lips.

Ms. Anhel, I heard you were looking for a legitimate husband?

Chris knelt in the torrential rain for three whole hours.

Lightning tore across the night sky, illuminating her pale, yet still beautiful, face.

I rushed out, holding an umbrella, my chest tightening with each beat of my heart.

Chris, are you crazy? You cant be in the rain with your stomach condition!

She gripped my hand tightly, her eyes bloodshot, her voice a strained whisper.

Carter, Im ruined.

The companys investments failed; our cash flow has completely dried up. Its a three-billion-dollar hole, and if I cant fill it in three days, Im going to jail.

My mind buzzed. Three billion dollars?

Carter, the lawyer said the safest way is to divorce immediately. Ill bear the debt alone, I wont drag you into this.

But Carter I dont want to go to jail. Could you temporarily mortgage the estate your parents left you to the bank?

Once this blows over, I promise Ill buy it back.

Her grip on my arm was terrifyingly strong.

I fell silent.

That historic estate was the only tangible memory my parents had left me before they died in a car crash.

Every blade of grass, every tree, held memories of them.

Carter, are you really just going to watch me go to jail? Her voice trembled.

My throat bobbed a few times.

Five years of marriage. I couldnt just stand by and watch her go down.

Fine. Well take care of the paperwork tomorrow.

Chris shuddered, gripping my hand tightly.

Carter, Ill repay you for this my entire life.

In that moment, I truly believed we were facing a test of life and death, together.

Until late that night, Chris was feverish and fast asleep, her phone having slipped into the gap of the bed, its screen constantly lighting up.

Fearing it might be an urgent call from a company executive, I picked it up and glanced at it.

Just one glance, and the blood in my veins instantly froze.

On the screen was a message from Leonardo:

Chris, have you signed the divorce papers? That estate is in such a perfect location. I want to tear it down and build a French castle with a rose garden as our wedding gift.

Leonardo. Chriss unforgettable ex-boyfriend.

My fingers turned icy as I tapped to scroll up through the chat history.

The further I scrolled, the more my heart felt like it was being sawed open by a dull knife.

That fool Carter has totally fallen for it; well handle the divorce and mortgage tomorrow.

The three-billion-dollar fake accounts are perfectly clean; Anhel wont suspect a thing.

Im sorry you had to wait all these years, Leonardo.

Once the estate is ours, Carter will have no more use.

Each sentence was like a poisoned dagger stabbing into my heart.

It turned out, from start to finish, it was all a meticulously planned deception.

I sat in the darkness for a long time, unmoving.

At the moment of complete betrayal, a person cant even cry.

I pulled out my phone and took pictures of the chat history, page by page.

Then I put her phone back where I found it and turned to look at Chris, sleeping peacefully on the bed.

A faint smile still lingered on her lips; she was probably dreaming of living in that French castle with Leonardo.

I looked into the darkness and let out a cold, sarcastic laugh.

Chris, you want to use my lifeblood to warm another man?

Fine. Ill make you watch, with your own eyes, who truly ends up destroyed.

The next morning, when Chris woke up, I was already sitting on the couch, holding the divorce papers.

She froze, a flicker of uncontrollable euphoria in her eyes, quickly replaced by a guilty expression.

Carter, you didnt sleep all night?

She reached out to touch my face, but I turned my head, avoiding her.

Lets go to the city hall. The sooner we get it done, the sooner you can deal with your debts.

By ten in the morning, our divorce was finalized.

As we walked out, Chriss mother, Ally, was already waiting by a black Maybach. She rushed over and asked:

Carter, did you bring the property documents? Hurry, lets go to the bank now!

Her greed was practically spilling from her eyes.

I pulled my hand away, calmly looking at the mother and daughter.

The estate cant be mortgaged today. Its a historic landmark, so this type of asset requires review by a third-party agency before the bank will approve it.

Allys face changed drastically: Why would it take so long?!

Chris also grew anxious: Carter, whats going on? Didnt we agree?

Its the regulation. Unless you can find someone with special privileges to smooth things over with the bank. But Im just an ordinary person, I cant do that.

Chris gritted her teeth, her eyes darting around.

She wouldnt dare involve the Thompson familys connections. If the true head of the Thompson Group caught wind of the three-billion-dollar fake accounts, she would be finished.

Alright. Carter, you absolutely must cooperate with the appraisal agency during this time. She forced down the gloom in her eyes.

Dont worry, I nodded slightly.

Not only will I cooperate, but Ill also prepare a big gift for you.

After parting ways with them, I went straight to a top-tier private investigation agency.

As I walked into the lobby, I stopped.

A woman stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the VIP reception room.

She wore a black custom suit dress, tall and with a formidable presence.

Holding a cup of black coffee, her profile was as cold and sculpted as a statue, exuding an aura of untouchable authority.

Anhel. Chriss aunt, the true power behind the Thompson Group.

She took over the Thompson Group at twenty-five and doubled its empire within five years.

Mention her name in all of New York, and no one dared to not feel a chill.

I hadnt expected to run into her here.

She seemed to sense my gaze, turning her head slightly. Her sharp, cold eyes locked onto mine.

Carter. She spoke, her voice clear and cool, carrying a strange sense of pressure.

Anhel. I walked closer.

You divorced Chris.

A simple statement.

My heart jolted. It had been less than two hours since we finalized the papers, and she already knew.

Anhels lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile.

You were willing to hand over your parents inheritance for that three-billion-dollar fake account. Carter, wheres your head?

She knew everything.

I clenched my jaw, meeting her gaze: Ms. Anhel, since you knew it was a fake account, why didnt you expose her?

The Thompson Group has too many distant relatives; occasionally, we need a few minor nuisances to keep things interesting.

She said casually, Besides, that was your wife, your money. What concern is it of mine?

What if I dont want to be the fool who gets sold out?

Anhel raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly intrigued.

She pulled out a sleek, black business card and handed it to me.

Tonight at nine, penthouse suite. Think carefully about what you want, then come knock.

With that, she turned and left, leaving behind only a chilling silhouette.

At nine that night, I stood promptly outside the penthouse suite door.

The door opened. Anhel was wearing a black silk robe, her long hair slightly damp, less sharp than during the day, but with a more subdued, pervasive sense of authority.

She offered me a glass of wine; I didnt take it.

Ms. Anhel, what do you need me to do for you to help me?

What makes you think I would help you?

Chris has tampered with Thompson Groups money. She embezzled subsidiary project funds to create those three billion dollars in fake accounts.

Ms. Anhel needs a legitimate excuse to clean house.

A flicker of appreciation crossed Anhels eyes, then she took a step closer.

She was slightly shorter than me, but her presence completely enveloped the entire space.

I have a hundred ways to clean house. Why would I choose the most troublesome one to cooperate with you?

Because of Leonardo. I looked her directly in the eye. His father embezzled company assets, and you personally put him behind bars.

Hes been trading on the Thompson name for profit these past few years. You despise him.

Anhels eyes instantly turned cold.

Chris plans to announce her succession as CEO at the subsidiarys anniversary gala next month, and simultaneously, her engagement to Leonardo.

If they are publicly disgraced in front of all the citys elite, Leonardo will also be utterly humiliated.

She looked at me, and after a long moment, she suddenly smiled.

The smile was cold, yet carried a deadly allure.

Carter, it seems you want them utterly ruined, never to recover.

She walked to the desk, picked up a document, and tossed it in front of me.

It contained all the evidence of Chriss embezzlement, fabricated debts, and the purchase of a private island for Leonardo.

Every transaction was clearly detailed.

This is just the down payment, Anhels voice whispered in my ear. If you want more crucial leverage, youll have to pay a price.

What price?

Be my man.

My pupils constricted: Ms. Anhel, you must be kidding.

I never joke. She took a step closer, trapping me against the floor-to-ceiling window.

If you want to crush Chris, you need a patron who stands higher and more firmly than her. And I am the only choice.

She looked up at me slightly, her eyes as deep as the ocean.

What, still have feelings for her?

No. I wish she were dead.

Then prove it to me. She curved her lips, her voice brushing against my ear.

Go back and continue playing the role of the devoted ex-husband. When the time is right, I will personally pull you out of the game.

I leaned against the glass, my heart pounding like thunder.

As long as I could send those two to hell, I would accept this devils bargain.