1 “It Would Be On My Terms, Not Yours.”

“This is Mr. Stone’s divorce agreement, Mrs. Stone,” Alexander Stone’s butler, Charles said as he handed a large manila envelope to Sophia.

“Mrs. Stone, you have a three-day window to sign the agreement and vacate the premises.” Charles watched Sophia with indifference, his demeanor calm as he spoke.

Although Sophia had been anticipating this moment, her heart sank upon the mention of the divorce agreement. She glanced at Charles, accepted the envelope, and extracted the divorce agreement from within.

“Ten million dollars of alimony as long as he never lays eyes on me again?” she scoffed, looking straight at Charles, whose expression remained inscrutable. “How can he possibly believe he can get away with such an absurd demand?”

She continued reading, “In accordance with the terms of the divorce agreement, it is acknowledged that Sophia Stone has failed to fulfill her marital obligations for a period of three years. As a result, Alexander Stone reserves the right to initiate divorce proceedings.”

“This is ridiculous. How could I fulfill my duties when I couldn’t even see my so-called husband? He’s never been under the same roof with me in three years.” Sophia tossed the papers aside.

What a mockery this made of her marriage. She felt like Alexander was shrugging her off. Like she was the water on a dog’s back that he simply got rid of by shaking vigorously. She felt insulted.

Three years ago, Sophia reluctantly entered a marriage arranged by her grandfather, who had laid out three tasks to her during this marriage: stay out of the public eye, assist Alexander in taking over Stone Enterprise, and be his unwavering support.

Though the contractual stipulation that she remain invisible to the public eye always puzzled her, she had promised her grandfather to not disappoint him. She resigned from her powerful position at her own law firm, and tried to embrace her role as the low-profile wife of a CEO who never appeared in public.

Alexander took over Stone Enterprise soon after they united, and then, he became the world champion in hide-and-seek.

In the beginning, she tried to maintain a connection with her husband by preparing lunches and visiting his workplace. Yet, she soon realized that Alexander was either never at the office or too preoccupied to meet her.

After six months of futile attempts, she accepted the bitter truth that fulfilling her grandfather’s directives was impossible. She channeled her energy into developing her hobbies, all in her pursuit of self-improvement, persuading herself to see this period of respite as a relief from her life as a renowned lawyer and founder of the world-famous law firm.

Yet, she refused to touch a single cent of the money he sent her. She had her own income, enough to lead a comfortable life until the end of her days

She was certain that her marriage would eventually come to an end, but she was appalled by the way Alexander Stone twisted the narrative to paint her as the one who had failed in her marital duties.

might my charming husband be today? As far as I can remember, a divorce agreement takes place between

posture and replied, “Mr. Stone is in town, most

accompanied by someone?” Sophia didn’t say it directly, but her message

All I can tell you is that he wishes for you to sign these papers, and he

want to see me even at

simply bowed to her, then turned on his heels and began walking

phone and called Alexander’s office number—the only contact information she had for him which she had never even used in their three years of marriage. She was determined to know what was going on with this agreement that treated her as if she were a doll to be

She dialed again. Her patience and virtue had limits, and he was dancing dangerously close to those limits. On her third try, the call was finally answered. It

I’d like to speak

the woman asked

kept her tone calm.

I

urge to get angry and said, “I have questions about

the line replied, “He won’t answer you. His attitude is already clear in the divorce agreement. As a useless wife, he feels that he has already

couple of very specific words. “Useless

nerves. “You shouldn’t expect any more than what you’ve got. Just leave him. You didn’t deserve

frustration threatened to boil over, she suddenly heard the approach of a man’s voice from the other end of the phone. Her heart raced in anticipation. “Emily, why are you answering

your wife is calling you. She has some questions about the divorce agreement,” she said, her tone dripping with

but let out a bitter laugh. So, this was the sordid truth behind the disintegration of their marriage – all for his

coldly declared, “I no longer have the need to sustain this marriage. I have

thought,

her phone attached to her ear for a few seconds

she muttered angrily. “What right does he have to call me that? He was never around as a husband, so what

and humiliation consumed her. “Is this really how he sees me? Tossed aside like an

hope in the early days of their marriage, telling herself

patience, and unwavering support, hoping like an idiot he’ll eventually

she grumbled, “With which he mocks me by throwing the blame on me, when

be silenced, dismissed, or swayed by the lure of mere money. “If this is the callous attitude he wants to take,” she vowed, “then he has another thing coming. I won’t let him escape

a few moments, she picked up the papers strewn across the floor. She read through them once

triumphant smile playing on her lips, “it’s truly a shame you never

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