After the Divorce, I Never Looked Back

Five years earlier, my parents suffered a car crash and almost didn’t survive. Back then, I was crowdfunding in university. Tristan, then a senior, came down like a God. Taking my hand, he softly asked, “Are you willing to marry me? I can pay your parents’ medical expenses in advance and bring in the world’s best medical team for their treatment.” Back then, there was no other path for me to choose, and since I already looked up to him, I went with him right away to get the marriage certificate. Only later did I find out that his childhood sweetheart, in order to gain her freedom, had run overseas to enjoy herself on the very day she had promised to register with him. And to take over the family business and secure real control of the shares, he had to find a woman to marry. When we were newly married, his thoughtful care let me experience the warmth of love. I believed we would always stay happy. Sadly, the good times were short-lived. After Sybil discovered the marriage, she immediately returned and demanded that he divorce. Tristan refused, so Sybil turned her attacks toward me. For five years, I was repeatedly targeted and set up by Sybil, while Tristan went from trusting me at first to growing impatient later and finally standing fully on Sybil’s side to support her. Breaking away from my memories, I started to pack up the room. After staying in this villa for five years, there were far too many things I wanted to get rid of. As I was halfway through organizing, I heard footsteps downstairs. I thought Tristan had returned and didn’t think much of it. A few minutes later, his impatient voice called from downstairs. “Where is Lexie? Why hasn’t she come to handle this?” Next came Sybil’s sobbing voice. “She said she is the mistress here, and I am just an outsider, not worthy of her reception.” I stopped what I was doing and turned to head downstairs. When he saw me, Tristan frowned unhappily. “Lexie, what are you doing? Don’t you know Sybil is on her period today? She can’t touch cold water, yet you still had her cook?” I froze for a second, forcing down the bitterness in my heart. His attentive care toward Sybil was like a poisoned knife, stabbing straight through my heart until I could barely breathe. “Forget it, Tristan. Since she already dislikes me, I’d better not be an eyesore…” While speaking, Sybil turned as if to leave. In the next moment, she was pulled into Tristan’s embrace. His eyes were gentle as he said, “If anyone should go, it should be her. Back when I had my accident, it was you who stayed and cared for me for an entire day and night.” “And my so-called wife, who promised to stay by my side forever, didn’t even appear.” While speaking, Tristan shot me a look full of hatred. Bitterness spread through my chest. Four years earlier, he was involved in a car accident. The windshield stabbed through his abdomen, causing one of his kidneys to die. Everleigh made me do the matching test and donate one kidney, and even instructed me not to reveal the truth to Tristan. But unexpectedly, Sybil took the credit and turned it into her current shield. Sybil reached out to stop Tristan, putting on a kind look as she said, “Tristan, why not punish her by having her make sweet dough balls for me?” Tristan lifted his hand and patted her head, saying softly and fondly, “You, you’re just too kind.” Turned to me and said coldly, “Why aren’t you going yet? What are you standing there for?” I tightened my lips and turned toward the kitchen. While squeezing the dough, I felt the flour seemed a little odd. Until the sweet dough balls were finished cooking, and I was just about to bring them out. Sybil’s malicious voice sounded from behind me. “Do the sweet dough balls made with this flour smell nice?” I did not reply and carried the sweet dough balls, getting ready to leave the kitchen. Sybil reached forward to block my path. Her eyes were cold, and she suddenly smiled. “You should try some. After all, there’s a part from your dear father in it.” My pupils suddenly tightened. A bad feeling rushed into my heart. I quickly knocked her hand away and hurried into the guest room on the first floor, only to see the memorial tablet I had placed a few days earlier thrown onto the floor, with clear footprints on it. And the container box holding my father’s ashes had been opened at some unknown moment; the ashes inside had vanished without any sign. I stared at the sweet dough balls in my hands, shocked and stunned. Could it be… “That’s right.” Sybil followed after me, with a cruel smile on her face. “Just like what you are thinking. I mixed that dead old man’s ashes into the flour. How is it? Isn’t it tasty?” I had originally planned to arrange my father’s funeral after the first seven days passed, but now even his ashes were gone. “Sybil! I’m going to kill you!!” I threw the sweet dough balls aside and rushed forward, grabbing Sybil’s neck tightly, watching with my own eyes as her face slowly turned red. She proudly smiled at me. The next second, I was kicked and sent flying five meters away. My calf slammed hard into the corner of the coffee table, and I fell onto the boiling sweet dough balls. My soft skin immediately became red in patches. “Lexie, have you lost your mind?!” Tristan noticed the red bruise on my calf. Guilt showed in his eyes, then it was soon replaced by indifference. He spoke coldly, “You asked for this yourself. Nobody else to blame!” Pain stabbed my chest. It felt like thousands of ants biting. The burning kept turning my vision dark. Sybil shrank into Tristan’s arms and said pitifully, “Tristan, she really doesn’t like me. I clearly didn’t do anything…”

Tristan reached out and brushed her hair aside, gently comforting her. “Don’t be scared. She is too jealous. You are too kind, so you get bullied.” I watched them embrace in front of me. My sight grew blurry. I heard my hoarse voice ask, “Tristan, do you know she…” “Ah. Tristan, earlier, I was choked too much. I feel dizzy, and my sight is blurred. Am I about to have an episode?” Sybil leaned weakly against Tristan’s arms. Tristan did not hesitate. “I will take you to the hospital.” Tristan lifted Sybil and turned to go, not even glancing at me a single time the whole while. Sybil poked her head out and quietly mocked me: The one who is not loved is the outsider. You should step aside. I got up from the floor and suddenly felt a warm liquid between my legs. Thinking that my period had not come for a while, I suddenly realized something was wrong. Just when I was about to take a taxi to the hospital, three or four bodyguards rushed in and roughly pulled me away. “What are you doing? I am Mrs. Cohen. Aren’t you afraid of Tristan’s revenge?!” I questioned harshly, but all I got was mockery. “Mrs. Cohen? Something that exists in name only. Let me tell you the truth, it was President Cohen who told us to lock you in the freezer so you can properly reflect!” At more than thirty degrees below zero, the cold made my lower abdomen ache again and again. Seeing the red blood beneath me, I begged desperately, “Please let me out. I’m pregnant… the child is going to be gone…” “Tristan, let me out. I won’t cause trouble anymore, okay…” The doctor had once said that because I donated a kidney, my health had worsened. If I suffered another miscarriage, I might never get pregnant again. The cold and suffocating feeling wrapped tightly around me. I curled up into a ball, trying to keep warm this way. But the cold was much too bad. That small bit of warmth was only a drop in a bucket. In my daze, I slipped into unconsciousness. In a blurry state, I found myself lying on the operating table. Under the faint lights, I heard Tristan’s cold voice. “Remove the softest skin from her body. Sybil loves beauty and is fragile. She must not be wronged.” At that instant, I truly wanted to shout and question Tristan, then what about me? Could I be wrong? Pain surged in my arm, and I sank further into unconsciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I discovered I was lying on a hospital bed. From outside the half-closed door came the nurses’ low whispers. “The Crown Prince treats his childhood sweetheart far too well, right? They are truly a golden couple.” “Exactly. If that bitch hadn’t become the mistress and taken the spot, President Cohen would have already married Miss Cardenas and had children long ago.” “That bitch is in this ward. When I gave her the injection now, I purposely stabbed wrong several times. Too bad the anesthesia doesn’t fade, I could see her painful face.” Hearing this, I lowered my eyes and looked at the many needle holes on the back of my hand. Over them was tightly wrapped gauze, where there was faint pain. Just hold on a little longer, and I could leave. I kept soothing myself in my heart. After staying in the hospital for two days, I received the hospital’s extremely high bill. Looking at the bill, my eyes widened. “Isn’t this hospital under Tristan’s name?” The doctor chuckled. “It is under President Cohen’s name, but President Cohen says this hospital only recognizes Miss Cardenas. Other cats and dogs will not receive free treatment.” Cats and dogs? In his heart, am I really this kind of existence? Not even as good as livestock? The ache in my heart pressed so heavily that I almost could not breathe. I gripped the bill and spoke in a low voice, “I understand. Can I return home first to get the money?” The doctor looked at me mockingly. “Can’t pay the cost? Then why did you come here to see a doctor?” I bit my lower lip hard and forced down my grievance. The doctor looked down at his phone, then suddenly spoke with ill intent, “I can give you one option that needs no payment. You take off your clothes and walk out of the hospital yourself.” “What?!” I thought I had heard wrong. The doctor repeated coldly, “Strip naked and walk out. Free of charge.” For a long moment, I gave no reaction. Impatient, the doctor directly called the guards to rip off my clothes. The thin hospital gown was immediately torn into strips under their rough pulling. I struggled desperately, but I could not fight back at all. When I was hopeless, Sybil’s voice came from the doorway. “Oh, looks like she truly has no money. She can even do group things in a proper place like a hospital…” The instant I noticed Tristan, a small bit of hope rose in my eyes. The next moment, Tristan lifted his hand to cover Sybil’s eyes and spoke without expression, “Don’t look. It will dirty your eyes.” After saying that, Tristan walked away with Sybil. I watched in despair as Tristan left me behind once again. Seeing they were still about to keep tearing off my underwear, I clenched my teeth hard, shoved them aside, and jumped straight out the third-floor window. At that moment, Tristan was leading Sybil out of the hospital. I slammed heavily onto the road in front of the hospital, landing right before them. My eyes met Tristan’s. Tristan’s eyes shook, and he moved forward, almost reaching out. Sybil suddenly shouted, “Wasn’t sister just having fun? Why are you suddenly putting on another sad act now? Don’t tell me you think this will make Brother Tristan forgive your cheating?” Hearing that, Tristan abruptly stepped backward. His eyes showed disgust and hate, and like an unrelated stranger, he walked away with Sybil. At that instant, I understood. In this wealthy people’s game, only I, the tool person, had taken it seriously. It was nearly finished. Everything was nearly finished.

Waking up once more, I found myself resting on the bed. Next to me sat the clothes I still had not completely packed. Suddenly, Tristan pushed the door wide and entered. He looked over at me, then tightly frowned. “Sybil has not felt good these recent days. Prepare her some light food.” I quietly shut my eyes. Tristan noticed my silent refusal. He did not mind and spoke, “Lexie, those tasks are what you must handle. After all, you still owe me.” Right away, I opened my eyes and stared at him. “I owe you nothing.” My voice sounded dry. Tristan only thought it funny after hearing that and actually started counting things. “You owe me nothing? Then haven’t your meals, outfits, everyday costs, and the rest of these five years all been paid by me?” “Your parents’ hospital bills and funeral costs. Were they not all paid by me?” “And the benefits you received from my mother during holidays, which one did not come from my family?” “If I had not supported your food and shelter, how could you have enjoyed such comfortable care?” I gripped the corner of the blanket. My heart felt as if it had been ripped apart, endless cold needles rushing inside and stabbing my heart with pain. From the time Sybil returned to the country five years earlier, Tristan hadn’t given me even one dollar. My living expenses and daily spending had all come from me working ten part-time jobs. And my parents’ hospital costs had been traded with my marriage and my womb. Not to mention that whenever Everleigh handed me gifts in front of Tristan, she later quietly sent people to take them back once Tristan wasn’t nearby. But I couldn’t say any of this. Watching me silently, Tristan assumed I had nothing to say because of guilt. The side of his lips rose into a proud smile, and his voice suddenly grew a little gentler. “Alright, stop making a scene. As long as you properly look after Sybil, I’ll make it up to you.” Was this counted as giving a sweet date after a slap? I didn’t bother to argue with him and quietly looked away. Tristan noticed my calm look, and an unease flashed through his heart. “Tristan…” Downstairs, Sybil softly cried, and Tristan walked away without turning back. At that same moment, a notice appeared on my phone. [The divorce process is finished. Your documents have also been successfully canceled. The flight is tomorrow morning at nine. Take what belongs to you and leave fast.] I quickly sent back a short reply. [Okay.] The noise of a car engine came from outside. I dragged my tired body and started to pack my belongings. Around two and a half hours later, I arranged three or four boxes, then gave every one of them to poor mountain villages. When the final box was taken away, Tristan drove back. Seeing those items, suspicion rose in his heart. “What are you doing?” I didn’t even turn around. “Throwing out some useless garbage.” Including you, this garbage. Tristan didn’t doubt further. Instead, he hurried forward, seized my wrist, and without another word pulled me outside. I struggled, but it was useless, and I asked, “What are you doing? Didn’t you go be with Sybil?” Tristan pushed me into the car and said seriously, “She just had a miscarriage. The hospital doesn’t have a match for blood. Go donate blood to her.” I gave a faint, cold smile and questioned, “Didn’t you say five days ago she was on her period and couldn’t touch cold water?” Tristan’s face showed a brief moment of awkwardness, and his expression froze. I understood everything in an instant. Back then, those words were just to send me away. Now that trouble had come, he couldn’t hide the truth anymore. Tristan kept his face controlled and looked straight ahead as he said, “Her boyfriend is abroad right now. It’s not convenient to expose her pregnancy.” “Alright, just donate the blood. After you’re done, I’ll give you the necklace you liked.” Even now, Tristan still thought I was a gold digger. I looked out the window, holding back the pain in my eyes. As early as two months ago, I had already heard that Sybil was pregnant. I just didn’t dare believe it. Later, when I saw Tristan firmly protecting Sybil in court, his eyes occasionally drifting to her stomach, I understood everything. Forced to the hospital for blood donation, I sat in the collection room in silence. By the time 600cc was taken, my vision was already dark, and my head was spinning. Tristan’s face darkened. “Keep drawing. Sybil is not out of danger yet.” The nurse coldly continued drawing my blood. After another 300cc was taken, I could no longer hold on and blacked out. A brief look of guilt flashed in Tristan’s eyes. Just as he was about to come over to help me, the bodyguard outside reported, “President Cohen, Miss Cardenas is safe now.” Tristan dropped the words, “Take care of her. I’ll check on her later.” Then he rushed away. When I woke up again, Tristan still didn’t come back. It was already nighttime, and I had been left in the corridor with no one caring. After resting for a bit, I got up and headed downstairs. As soon as I reached the underground parking area, I spotted a familiar car nearby. Inside the driver’s seat, Tristan and Sybil were kissing passionately. My stomach turned violently. I immediately covered my mouth and hurried away in panic. After leaving the underground parking lot, I took a taxi to City Hall to claim my divorce certificate and new documents. Once I had them, just as I was about to find a hotel for the night, three or four drunk men suddenly appeared in front of me. “Little miss, where are you off to have fun so late?”

I watched them carefully. The sky slowly dimmed, and the streetlights along the road turned on. After one man saw my face clearly, he suddenly said with a smile, “Oh wow, isn’t this the used shoe from the internet that costs fifty cents for one night?” My heart shook. That was Tristan deliberately spreading lies about me. I didn’t expect it to still be posted online and had not been removed. Another man immediately grew curious and rushed toward me. “So it is a used shoe, then tonight we are going to enjoy ourselves well!” I quickly moved aside, but was soon held down tightly by the other two. Seeing that they were about to pull me into the dark alley, I hurriedly pleaded for mercy. “I have money. I am Tristan’s wife. I can give money.” “Do not touch me. As long as you call him, he will surely give money.” Worried they cared less than cash, I worked hard to persuade them. “Think about it. After taking the cash, you can go look for other beautiful women, and you will not even need to worry about being chased.” “And I am Tristan’s legally married wife. It is only that we have some problems now; it does not mean we will not make up.” One man saw that I spoke honestly, and his drunken state faded by more than half. Half-convinced, he pulled out my phone and told me to open it and make the call. I did every step one by one, but after the call rang for a long time, nobody picked up. Not willing to quit, I kept calling. The second time it was cut off at once; the third time it was finally picked up As soon as the line connected, the lead man grabbed it away. “Hello, you are Tristan, right? Your wife is here with us. Hurry and send some cash, or we will not stay nice.” At the other end, Tristan had the speaker turned on, and Sybil beside him also heard plainly. She dropped her tone and moved near his ear, whispering, “I just checked with the bodyguard. Lexie is lying in the ward right now. If you do not trust it, see for yourself.” While she talked, she lifted her phone and passed it to Tristan. In the picture, I was resting calmly and quietly. Tristan coldly smiled. “Then handle her however you like.” A fake, just picking up a phone and daring to take his cash? Even daring to pretend to be his wife? Although Lexie always threw little tantrums no matter the time and always felt jealous of his supporter, Sybil, once he returned Sybil’s kidney favor, he would head back and soothe her properly. The call was coldly cut off. I stared at the phone screen, turning black in despair. Several adult men roughly pulled me toward the alley. They released all their anger on me, and the force in their hands showed no mercy. The ache pulled me back to awareness. I hurriedly fought and said, “I carry a contagious illness! Since you are not scared of being infected, then I will bite my tongue and let you get infected too!” The leader did not trust it. “Who are you trying to trick?” In hopelessness, I could only “confess” that I was a “used shoe.” “Tristan already said I am a used shoe. Then I must have been with many men and already been infected. Do you still want to touch me?” “Since you’re not scared, then before I die, pulling a few of you down with me is not impossible!” While I spoke, I bit my finger hard and stretched it toward them. Several of them were so scared that they ran away in panic. Taking advantage of their shocked moment, I quickly turned around and went to look for a hotel to check into. Until nine o’clock the next morning, when I finally got on the plane, I felt that I had welcomed a new life. Goodbye, South Fairview. Goodbye, Tristan. Goodbye, my ridiculous five years of youth. The airplane flew across the sky. Tristan stood inside the office of the building, watching that long line in the sky, his chest faintly hurting. As though something valuable was slipping away. Instantly, the loud ringing of the phone broke his thoughts. Tristan saw it was Everleigh calling, so he tapped accept. He only heard her say, “Tristan, next month you and Sybil should hold an engagement party. She is pregnant. The Cohen family’s blood absolutely cannot stay outside.” Tristan frowned. “Mom, what nonsense are you saying? Lexie and I are already married. Cheating is illegal…” “Oh, her. She already received the divorce papers and left. Don’t worry, Mom has settled everything for you.” Tristan suddenly paused, and the phone immediately dropped from his hand.