The acrid smell of disinfectant stung her nostrils as Jessica struggled to open her eyes, greeted by the stark white ceiling of a hospital
room.
“You’re awake?” A nurse was adjusting the IV bag. “How are you feeling?”
Jessica’s throat burned painfully. “Who… brought me here?”
“The yacht staff,” the nurse handed her a cup of warm water. “You’ve been unconscious for two days. Do you want us to contact your family?”
Just then, from outside the door came other nurses‘ gossip:
“Mr. Reed is so good to Miss Grant. For a minor allergic reaction, he booked an entire floor and called in so many specialists for consultation.”
“I know, right? I heard he hasn’t left her side for the past two days, even postponing company meetings.”
Jessica’s lips twisted in a mirthless smile. “No need. I don’t have any family.”
After being discharged, Jessica returned to the empty house.
She began packing her belongings, throwing everything related to Maxwell into the trash, one by one.
The first necklace he gave her, their wedding anniversary photo, the little gifts he brought back from business trips…
Maxwell came and went at all hours, accompanying Olivia, not even noticing what was missing from the house. Until this day, when
he happened to return early and saw Jessica sitting blankly on the sofa.
“Why haven’t you been to school these days?” he asked casually, hanging his suit jacket on the rack.
Jessica didn’t look up. “I quit.”
“Why?” Maxwell frowned. “Weren’t you doing well?”
“I’m tired,” her voice was calm. “I don’t want to do it anymore.”
Maxwell nodded, not asking further. He poured himself a glass of water, then suddenly remembered something. “Oh right, that research project of yours is completed, isn’t it?”
Jessica’s fingers tensed. “What about it?”
“Olivia needs research achievements for her graduate school application,” Maxwell said nonchalantly. “I thought your project was good, so I had her name published as the author.”
“WHAT?!” Jessica jumped to her feet, her voice shaking. “That was three years of my work!”
Maxwell’s expression remained indifferent. “It’s just a project. It’s not like you needed it anyway.”
Jessica trembled with rage. “I’ll tell the university the truth!”
With that, she grabbed her coat and rushed out, heading straight for the university.
In the president’s office, the old president listened to her grievances and sighed. “Jessica, I understand you’re upset, but Mr. Reed has already spoken with us…”
12:07
His ‘Harmless‘ 10–Year Fling? My Secret Divorce Papers Say Goodbye Forever!
19.2%
Chapter 6
“The school received several buildings donated by him. Our hands are tied.”
Jessica felt as if she’d been plunged into an ice bath.
Now she understood why Maxwell had been so calm.
Because he knew all along that no matter how much she protested, it wouldn’t change anything.
Her marriage, her career, her dignity–all crushed beneath Maxwell and Olivia’s feet.
As she walked out of the school gates, it began to rain.
Jessica stood in the rain, letting it soak her completely.
She suddenly recalled that rainy night when Maxwell stood drenched outside her dormitory, the roses in his arms battered by the rain.
He had stood there stubbornly until she relented and came down.
“Jessica, be with me, and I will love you forever. I will only ever look at you.”
Looking back now, that day’s vow was like this rainwater–seemingly torrential, but destined to dry up.
“Forever” was just a casual word of endearment from his lips.
She slowly crouched down, hugging herself, finally breaking into sobs.
The next day, Jessica was packing her luggage when the doorbell rang.
She opened the door to find Olivia standing there, holding an exquisite gift box.
“Maxwell isn’t here,” Jessica said flatly. “He’s at the company. You shouldn’t be here.”
“I know, Professor,” Olivia tilted her head, smiling innocently. “I came to see you.”
She walked in uninvited, placing the gift box on the table. “I came to thank you. If it weren’t for your research, I wouldn’t have won that award or been accepted into the graduate program.”
She paused, her tone challenging: “And it’s not just this project. All of your previous important research now has my name on it.”
“Since you’re so capable, Professor, it’s good that you resigned,” she moved closer to Jessica, lowering her voice. “Now you can focus on helping me with research. I’ll be counting on you for my future papers.”
Jessica looked at her calmly, her eyes as still as dead water. “Are you done? If so, you can leave.”
Olivia froze, clearly not expecting this reaction.
“Professor,” her voice suddenly turned sharp. “Are you so miserable that you can’t even get angry anymore?”
Just then, the sound of a car engine came from outside–Maxwell was back.
Olivia’s eyes flashed. She suddenly backed away, crying: “Professor, please leave me alone! I promise I’ll go abroad and leave Mr.
Reed forever! I don’t want to die…”
12:07
His ‘Harmless‘ 10–Year Fling? My Secret Divorce Papers Say Goodbye Forever!
