Chapter b9 /b

    The divorce went more smoothly than expected.[]

    The Hawthornes had internal and external troubles and couldn’t afford more negative publicity.[]

    That affair video was irond evidence. My mother–inw even contacted me privately, hinting that if I’dpromise, terms were negotiable.]

    I didn’tpromise, but I didn’t deliberately cause trouble either.[]

    I took back what belonged to the Sterling family and severed ties with the Hawthornes.[]

    Clean and decisive.[]

    Kade was right–I’d invested emotions in this marriage, so it hurt.]

    But when extracting myself, I had to maintain absolute rationality and ruthlessness.[]

    As a businesswoman, I ultimately had to solve problems using business rules.]

    The day I got my divorce papers was beautifully sunny.[]

    Kade organized a party at our usual private club.]

    Everyone there was from our circle–people who knew the score. Nobody mentioned the Hawthornes or that farcical marriage.[]

    The atmosphere was rxed.]]

    Kade poured me champagne and raised his ss with a smirk: “Congrats, Ms. Sterling. Back to freedom, returning to the golden single.”

    Iughed and clinked sses with him: “Congrats, Mr. Lawson. One lesspetitor for real estate deals.“[]

    The crisp sound of clinking ss rang out as friends around us joined in withughter and cheers.]

    Later, someone who’d had too much to drink joked: “You two are so in sync, and you’re both single. Why not just get together right here on this auspicious day?“]

    The noise died down a bit.]

    Everyone’s eyes moved between us.

    Kade held his ss, smiling silently.

    The light fell into his deep eyes, making his emotions unreadable.[]

    I looked at the joker, “Don’t be silly. Such a good business partner is impossible to find.“[]

    “How could I ruin such pure interests with dirty emotions?“]

    b98.6/bb% /b

    The whole room erupted inughter.[]

    The reason was simple.[]

    The Sterling family’s extraction had gone smoothly.[]

    We’d even kept the technology from our Hawthorne partnership, and our market value rose by hundreds of millions.[]

    At this moment, even if the Sterling family farted, everyone would find it melodious.[]

    Kade’s smile deepened as he raised his ss: “Exactly. To pure interests.“[]

    “To pure interests!“]

    Everyone clinked sses with a crisp, lingering sound.[]

    We smiled at each other with mutual understanding.[]

    Some rtionships, grounded in unspoken agreement and loyal to profit, were far more solid and refreshing than love.[]

    My gaze fell on my ring finger holding the wine ss.

    There had once been a ring mark there, now covered by new skin.[]

    Like a lifetime ago.

    But… crystal clear.

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    L