Lost and Found

I sprang to my feet and bolted straight toward the guest bedroom; staying under the same roof with him for another second made breathing feel like inhaling glass shards.

Julian scrambled up in panic, lunging forward to snatch tightly at my wrist.

“You blame me for using Vivienne to provoke and test you, but what about you?”*

“You secretly weaponized those photographs to partner with Leo—Clara Song, what on earth were you conspiring to achieve!”*

“Your movements and Leo’s actions were crystal clear in the palm of my hand. Quietly transferring assets, deploying personnel behind my back, backing Leo right under my nose—did you ever once spare a thought for my feelings while doing those things?”*

“I backed Leo simply to carve out an escape route for myself.”*

Finally, I squared my shoulders and stared unblinkingly into Julian’s eyes, fully exposing my shameless greed.

“Julian, I admit I’ve changed. I’ve become obsessed with power and endlessly greedy.”*

“I’ve grown too comfortable sitting in this chair, and I absolutely refuse to step down.”*

Julian’s face was painted with suffocating powerlessness: “Wife, if you wanted anything, you could’ve just asked me directly. There was zero need to resort to such despicable tactics.”*

“Yet you clearly recognized them as tactics, and chose to play along anyway. You stood at the summit watching me scurry around like a lab rat performing meaningless tricks—you must’ve found it hilarious.”*

“You forced me into a corner where I had to speak up, so why bother pretending you ever gave me an honest window of opportunity?”*

“Julian, I want your company; my dear husband, I want your position!”*

“I’ve laid my cards on the table—will you hand it over?”*

“Naturally you have the right to demand it, but once I decide to take it back, doing so is as effortless as flipping my palm.”*

“Just like right now.”*

Julian’s voice hitched on a tearful sob: “Since when did you develop such deeply distorted misunderstandings of me?”*

Heart wrenched to the point of structural fracture, I wearily spat out: “Because I’ve witnessed your true face before.”*

Julian had once crushed his business rivals with extreme prejudice precisely because his methods were unimaginably vicious.

He knew how to elevate people to dizzying heights before personally severing the rope to plunge them into the abyss.

To this day, I could still vividly recall the bloodshot, venomous eyes of that defeated adversary.

“Julian, you’ll reap what you sow! Even if I turn into a ghost, I’ll never let you go!”*

Back then, Julian had leisurely twirled a lock of my hair between his fingers, smiling with absolute detachment.

“Clara, did you see that? That is the exact price of stupidity.”*

“Whatever stays tightly clutched in your palm is truly yours; as for interests—ultimately, more is always better.”*

The past played out vividly before my eyes, crystallizing into the deep-seated terror festering inside my soul.

I terrified myself by imagining I might one day end up like that discarded fool.

Sobbing uncontrollably, I choked out: “Julian, I love you, but I’m terrified of you.”*

A profound sorrow washed over the depths of Julian’s eyes: “So that’s why Leo managed to earn your unconditional trust and coexist peacefully by your side without pressure.”*

Exhaustion had thoroughly hollowed me out.

“I’ve told you repeatedly, Leo and I are merely friends—strictly friends!”*

“I don’t believe it!”*

“Right, you’ve never believed a word I said.”*

I laughed bitterly: “Much like how I could never bring myself to believe you and Vivienne were completely innocent.”*

Julian listlessly slumped his head downward.

“The night I got drunk on business, Leo was indeed the one who escorted you home.”*

“Sitting right there in my wheelchair, I watched him hold you, watched him tuck you into bed with agonizing care.”*

“Do you have any idea how insanely jealous I felt? I am your husband, yet I had to sit there paralyzed watching another man care for you.”*

“As for me? Forget holding you—even standing up on my own two feet was beyond my reach.”*

“Clara, I am a man. I could read the exact way that bastard looked at you. Maybe you viewed him purely as a friend, but did he?”*

“So that’s why you deliberately allowed Vivienne to provide intimate care just to trigger me?”*

Julian didn’t dare meet my gaze, offering a quiet, defeated confession: “I was wrong.”*

I weakly used the back of my hand to smear away the moisture on my face.

“Since mutual trust is already broken, parting ways amicably is our best option.”*

Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I wrenched my arm free, dashed into the guest bedroom, slammed the door shut, and threw the deadbolt.

The world finally descended into absolute silence.

I slept a deeply troubled, drawn-out sleep.

Past and present blurred together, dreams and reality overlapping seamlessly.

Waking up with a splitting, hammer-pounding headache.

Dragging my groggy body through a basic wash routine, I walked downstairs, only to be startled by the sight of Julian sitting impeccably suited at the dining table.

Spotting me, he picked up a massive bouquet of red roses and took measured steps toward me.

His legs had largely regained the ability to navigate without assistive canes, though he still moved deliberately and slowly.

“Wife, I pondered this throughout the night. There are indeed far too many misunderstandings between us. I messed up on multiple fronts, and I offer you my most solemn apology. But on one single matter, I remain unshakeable —— I will never agree to a divorce.”*

He reached out to take my hand; I instinctively tried to pull back.

Yet Julian’s grip was an unyielding vise, offering zero chance of escape.

A flicker of helpless defeat crossed his eyes: “Wife, let’s have breakfast first.”*

This marked the most catastrophic explosion of conflict since our introduction and marriage.

So many harsh words exchanged, so many tears spilled, leaving us sitting directly across from one another with absolutely nothing left to say.

The silent dining room echoed solely with the gentle clinking of silverware.

After a prolonged stretch, Julian elegantly used a napkin to dab his lips, before sliding a thick paper envelope across the table toward me.

“Inside is the comprehensive evidence package detailing Zhao Ling’s embezzlement of public funds and tax evasion.”*

Surprised, I lifted my gaze to meet his.

“I knew you always harbored resentment over his betrayal, which indirectly drove your mother to her tragic end. But that old fox was too elusive, so I quietly laid down a long-term trap, baiting the hook until he finally swallowed it and returned to the country.”* Julian offered a self-deprecating smile: “Initially deploying Vivienne was purely because her facial features bore a slight resemblance, never anticipating it would unintentionally trigger massive misunderstandings… This dossier was originally intended as a gift for you. Now, it returns to its rightful owner.”*

My fingertips brushed lightly against the paper envelope, conflicting emotions warring in my chest.

Truth be told, Julian was right—our relationship had been poisoned by an excess of unverified assumptions.

“As for Vivienne, I’ve already handled the situation cleanly. The day we went to the hospital, I laid everything out in the open.”*

“Her family came to escort her back to her hometown this morning. I also provided a generous financial settlement to compensate for her tenure.”*

“Clara, you can rest easy. She will never materialize before you again.”*

I let out a bitter laugh: “Is this the first time you’ve decided to explain things to me?”*

“If I didn’t explain now, my wife might vanish into thin air permanently…”*

Julian lifted his mug to take a sip of warm milk.

“As for the corporation, I won’t completely abdicate control; but if you wish to run operations, I won’t dispute it with you.”*

“However, separation is fundamentally off the table.”*

“Divorce is an absolute impossibility!”*

“Wife, fundamentally speaking, our marriage lacked any structural contradictions; we merely suffered three years of deficient communication, allowing wild speculation to breed endless misunderstandings.”*

“You crave power and ambition, which I can understand and accept. After all, Vance’s current heights are inseparable from your blood and sweat, and I’m not cruel enough to strip you of everything.”*

“Ambition isn’t a sin; you genuinely possess the capability to sit in that chair.”*

“Yet Clara, what I fail to grasp is why you fear me so deeply. I am simply your husband.”*

I silently locked eyes with Julian’s profound, fathomless gaze.

Deep down, I knew I had caved.

Yet I refused to surrender unconditionally.

I rejected the recurring pattern where every time conflict flared up, despite harboring deep grievances, his mild acts of appeasement immediately softened my resolve into total submission.

Perhaps my evasive, defensive expression pierced Julian’s heart, as he let out a heavy, sorrow-laden sigh.

At that exact moment, the butler wheeled out a massive travel suitcase.

Was he planning to leave?

“I have one final routine medical checkup abroad, I need to take a brief business trip.”*

I felt an involuntary wave of relief wash over me, while simultaneously registering the tips of my fingers digging so hard into my palms they ached.

“Wife, too many chaotic events transpired recently. Both of us need space to clear our heads—let’s grant each other a fresh starting chance.”*

He stepped forward to pull me into a tight embrace, pressing a tender kiss to my lips before rubbing his cheek affectionately against mine.

“Wife, wait for my return.”*