ACRID

No Longer Mrs. Cooley: The Architect's Return

Xiao Xiaosu

I went to the City Clerk's office for a routine copy of my marriage license to finalize a trust fund audit. I expected a simple piece of paper, but the clerk's pitying look told me my entire life was a lie. "The license was never finalized, Ms. Oliver. In the eyes of the state, you are single." The three-hundred-guest wedding at the Plaza and the Vogue features meant nothing. My husband, Gray Cooley, had intentionally filed the documents with a "procedural defect" so he could discard me without a legal divorce. Moments later, an iCloud invite titled "Our Little Secret" popped up on my screen. It was a photo of my best friend, Brylee, holding a positive pregnancy test at our Hamptons estate. Gray's text to her was the final blow: "Happy anniversary, babe. This baby is the best gift. Once the trust unlocks today, we're done with the charade." I soon discovered they were even stealing my career, reassigning my architectural masterpiece to Brylee while preparing my eviction notice. Gray's mother called me a "barren mule" in a leaked recording, mocking the infertility I suffered after saving Gray's life in a construction accident. I wasn't a wife; I was a three-year placeholder used to secure his inheritance. How could the man I bled for treat me like a disposable prop? How could my best friend carry his child while pretending to comfort me through my darkest moments? The betrayal burned until it turned into a cold, hard stone of fury. I didn't cry. Instead, I walked into the penthouse of the Barretts, the Cooleys' most powerful rivals. I signed a marriage contract with Kane Barrett, the man the tabloids called the "Beast of Wall Street." "I want a wedding," I told his father, my voice steady and lethal. "Bigger than the one I had with Gray." If they wanted me gone, they would have to watch me become the woman who owns their world.

Modern Revenge Divorce

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"Wow, that man is so handsome!"

"Oh my god! Yeah, he's super cute!"

Joanna Gong was shopping for a dress at a luxurious store in the shopping mall. As soon as she came out, she overheard two girls passing by whispering to each other excitedly.

'Huh... Looks like they're obsessing over some guy they saw, ' Joanna Gong though indifferently.

'Girls nowadays get all riled up over good-looking men as if they haven't seen a single man in their life!'

She snorted and continued to go on her way. Soon after, Joanna Gong was frozen in shock.

It was at that moment she saw the man the two girls were talking about. Joanna Gong gasped, her eyes widening. She had never seen such a handsome man before!

The man had an angular face like a supermodel's. He had a high nose, slightly pursed thin lips, and cold slanted eyes that were absolutely mesmerizing. Wearing a tailored suit, he gave off a strong, noble temperament which was further emphasized by his tall and slender physique.

Even though he was far away from where Joanna Gong was standing, it was still very easy to see how attractive he was.

There was no expression on the man's face as he casually leaned against the wall with his hands in his trouser pockets. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked around the crowd. It seemed that he was waiting for someone.

There was only one word to describe him: perfect!

If there had to be a flaw about the man, it was only that he looked as if he was snob, and acted coldly towards strangers.

Maybe that was why no one dared to get close to him even though he was so handsome.

After a while, Joanna Gong sighed deeply. 'It's better to get out of this prince charming's way before I offend him or something.

There's no way a guy like that will take me as his girlfriend.'

After casting a glance at her watch, she sighed and went to the washroom. Carefully, she put on the dress she just bought and headed towards the nearby coffee shop.

Joanna Gong passed by the man again on her way there. There was an impatient look on his face now as he tapped his foot. With a frown, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "What? Something left in the cafe?" he asked.

Upon leaving the shopping mall, Joanna Gong walked cautiously for fear that her dress might get ruined. After all, the clothes she was wearing cost her a whole month's salary!

'If not for that person, I would never buy such an expensive dress, ' Joanna Gong thought.

Taking a deep breath, she made her way to the coffee shop. It wasn't that far away from where she was right now, and so she decided to walk the distance. It saved her some money from paying for a bus ride, but she had to be careful about all the dust and dirt from outside.

As she was walking down the sidewalk, a white car suddenly sped past by. Behind the car was the distinct Ferrari logo. Her eyes grew green with envy. 'What's better than having a car is having a luxury car! Meanwhile, I have to walk to save money...

Why is there such a huge gap between people?'

As Joanna Gong was looking at the road, she saw a man crossing the road as if he didn't care about all the passing vehicles. The man was in a white vest, and was probably around his fifties or sixties.

Joanna Gong's eyebrows furrowed as she watched in shock. 'What's wrong with this old man? Is he crazy?! Doesn't he know that what he's doing is dangerous?'

Quickening her pace, she tried to get closer to where the man was in order to help him in case something bad happened.

Before she got there, however, she couldn't believe what happened next. Her mouth twitched in disbelief.

The white Ferrari had gradually slowed down because of the flow of traffic. When it had come to a complete stop, the old man jumped and laid down directly in front of the car and wailed in pain, "Ah! It hurts! Oh god, someone help me! I was hit!"

It seemed as if expensive cars attracted everyone's attention, and even con artists.

'Now I don't feel so jealous anymore...' Joanna Gong thought.

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