My husband Alex claimed the color red sent him into a violent, blind rage. So in our entire marriage, I dared to wear red only twice.
The first time landed me in the ER with thirteen stitches. The second time, he beat me so badly I lost our three-month-old baby.
After that, I never wore red again. I even dressed head-to-toe in white, from skin out, terrified of triggering him.
The day I was discharged after my miscarriage,I saw him. My husband should have been working late, but instead, he was feeding a young woman. I recognized her. She was his student.
His eyes were filled with such tender love, and they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. They melted into an intimate dance.
Just then, my phone rang. It was the doctor, his voice buzzing with excitement.
“Mrs. Thorne, we’ve developed a new treatment specifically for Mr. Thorne’s condition….”
I watched the girl’s fiery red dress swirl as they danced, a bitter, hollow laugh escaping my lips.
“Don’t bother,” I whispered. “The problem has already been solved.”
“What? How is that possible? We’ve been researching for so long, never understanding the root cause of Mr. Thorne’s issues!”
“It was only after countless discussions among a panel of experts that we finally devised a plan…” the doctor babbled excitedly on the other end.
I just slowly lifted my gaze.
Upstairs, the girl was waltzing, clumsily stepping on Alex’s feet.
A sudden, freeing laugh bubbled up from deep inside me, mixed with tears.
Maybe the real problem was-I never should become Mrs. Thorne.
I didn’t wait for their dance to end.?I just got up and went home.
I opened my closet, staring blankly at the row of red dresses hanging there.
Before I got married, red was my favorite color.
But because Alex couldn’t stand to see me in it, all those beautiful dresses were banished to the back of my closet, gathering dust.
This time, I wasn’t going to play his game anymore. I was done being the punchline.
When he returned, the first thing he saw was me, sitting calmly, sipping coffee, in a vibrant red dress.
He instantly lunged at me, his fingers closing around my throat like a vice.
“Didn’t I tell you? You are never to wear this color!”
His fist drew back, ready to strike, but then it froze. His face twisted in a mask of pure agony.
I remembered the last time he’d told me he loved me.
He’d claimed he was fighting with every fiber of his being to control his “instincts,” to not hurt me.
“Alex.”A faint, mocking smile touched my lips as I looked at him. “Didn’t you say you loved me? I want to see if you can control yourself for my sake.”
Alex clenched his jaw, the veins on his hands bulging, stark against his skin as he struggled for control.
Finally, with a roar of frustration, he smashed a glass bottle, cutting his hand, then spun on his heel and stormed out.
I watched his retreating back, my eyes turning cold.
“See? You can control yourself.”
Last time, I’d accidentally worn red, and he’d beaten me until I miscarried.
When he saw me lying in the hospital bed, his brow furrowed with annoyance.
“Didn’t I tell you to only wear white from now on? No red!”
“You know I have a violent reaction to red! You always have!”
I was pale and weak, and I started to cry, hurt and bewildered.
Alex pulled me into a tight embrace, a flicker of what looked like remorse in his eyes.
“Shh, my sweet. It’s because of my psychological issues. I’m sorry I put you through this.”
“Just promise me you won’t wear red anymore, and everything will be fine.”
I choked down my hurt, nodding my agreement.
But then Chloe appeared, and I realized I’d been played for a fool.
Our private doctor was outside, tending to Alex’s hand, while I packed my suitcase in the bedroom.
Perhaps the sounds of my packing alerted Alex.
“Why are you going away on another business trip?”
He pushed the door open and walked in, embracing me from behind.
A flurry of kisses rained down on my neck.
My body stiffened, but I didn’t push him away. I let him perform his tenderness. His fake tenderness.
“I still have some loose ends to tie up. My presence is required.”
There was no real need for a business trip.
I just couldn’t stand to see Alex for a while.
Alex began to unbutton my shirt.
“Evie.” His voice was hoarse. “Hold me tight.”
He wanted me.
He roughly pinned my hands above my head.
I remained silent, but my stiff hands pulled away from his grasp.
Noticing my unusual behavior, he opened his eyes.
“Evie, are you still angry?”
I still didn’t say anything.
Alex dropped to one knee, looking utterly devout. He pulled a gift box from behind his back.
“I bought you some new clothes. See if you like them.”
Inside was a pure white dress.
I recoiled, a wave of nausea washing over me. I pushed the gift box aside.
“Alex, let’s get a divorce.”
Just then, his phone buzzed with several new messages.
Alex instinctively glanced down, his eyes softening with tenderness and affection.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw it.
The girl, saved as “Chloe” in his contacts, was cheerfully sharing updates from her day.
It felt like an eternity before Alex finally looked up from his phone.
“Hmm? What did you just say?”
My words felt like punching a feather pillow.
His lock screen flashed, displaying Chloe. Dressed in red, dancing. Every time he saw it, his eyes softened with that tender, doting look.
He had never looked at me like that.
So, when that girl, Chloe, stood before me, holding a pregnancy test report, I didn’t hesitate. I slapped her across the face.
Chloe hadn’t expected me to strike her. She shrieked, clawing at me.
“Evelyn Blackwood, you crazy bitch!”
“How dare you hit me? Alex will make you pay for this!”
Alex rushed in when he heard the commotion, his face a thundercloud, dark with fury.
He immediately saw me, grabbing Chloe’s hair, pinning her terrified body against the wall.
“Evelyn!” Alex shouted, enraged, trying to stop me.
Far from being upset, I just smiled and looked at him.
“Honey, this girl is trying to scam us! She claims she’s pregnant with your child. How is that even possible? Considering I helped her out once, I’m just teaching her a lesson.”
With that, I pulled back my fist, aiming for her belly.
But my wrist was caught mid-air.
“Evelyn, stop it.”
Alex rubbed his temples in frustration.
“You’re stopping me?”
Alex was always so obsessed with appearances, especially with me. He loved playing the doting husband in public. This was the first time he’d openly stopped me, ignoring the stares and whispers around us.
“Alex, what is this? Is what she’s saying true?” I said, a sneer twisting my lips. “Could that baby in her belly actually be yours?”
I expected him to twist himself into knots, denying everything, but this time, he was surprisingly candid.
“Yes.” He stared into my eyes. “The baby is mine.”
The next second, I slapped him across the face with all my strength.
Alex’s head snapped to the side. He didn’t dodge, and he didn’t turn back for a long moment.
“Evie, that night was just a mistake.”
“I mistook Chloe for you.”
“But the doctor said she can’t have an abortion, or she’ll never be able to get pregnant again. I can’t ruin her life.”
Alex shielded Chloe firmly behind him, his actions making his stance clear.
I remembered the first time I’d been suspicious, and Alex’s explanation.
“Chloe is just one of my students. She recently graduated and is looking for a job, so she came to me for advice.”
Besides being a CEO, Alex also held a position as a visiting lecturer at the university.
Normally, a student seeking advice from a professor would be nothing.
But I’d seen the resume he’d hidden under his desk.
He’d already hired Chloe for his company.
If it was just a purely professional mentor-mentee relationship, it would have been fine.
But then I saw Alex, holding Chloe, who was wearing a red dress, dancing and kissing.
In that moment, I wanted to tear something apart.
“Evie, I thought you were on a business trip?”
Alex frowned, trying to smooth things over.
“Whatever it is, let’s go home and talk.”
I coldly shook him off.
My gaze fell on Chloe’s bright red dress.
“Don’t you go into a rage when you see red? Are you blind? Can’t you see her in that bright red dress?”
“Alex, do you remember your reaction the last time I wore a red dress?”
“I had just found out I was pregnant and simply wanted to celebrate. You just lashed out, beat me, and sent me to the hospital for a miscarriage. Have you forgotten?”
Alex looked at me, his eyes filled with exhaustion and helplessness.
“I already said I was sorry.”
“Evelyn, must you always dwell on this? How long are you going to keep this up?”
Keep this up?
I savored the words and laughed, a hollow sound.
“That was a living, breathing life, Alex! Do you think I shouldn’t keep this up?”
“Alex, today, either you send this woman to the hospital for an abortion.”
“Or, you pay with your own life.”
Chloe, hiding behind him, burst into tears, tugging at his sleeve for help.
“Alex, I don’t want to lose this baby!”
Alex squeezed her hand, comforting her.
“I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”
Alex’s stance remained firm; no one was going to touch Chloe.
“I told you, she can’t have an abortion.”
Alex dropped to one knee before me.
“Take my life instead.”
“I’ll do anything you want, okay, Evie?”
There he was again, with that pathetic, manipulative act, always putting on a show for others. But I swallowed my disgust and smiled brightly.
“Alright.”
I picked up the nearby vase.
Amid Chloe’s terrified screams, I hurled it at Alex.
“Don’t hurt Alex!”
Chloe lunged forward, taking the hit on her back.
Alex’s face drained of all color.
“Chloe…”
He scooped her up in a panic. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll get a doctor right away!”
He looked back at me, his eyes filled with infinite hatred.
And then I knew. Alex wouldn’t let me go.
But I had already arranged for a reporter to secretly record everything in advance.
His camera had captured it all. If I wasn’t mistaken, tonight, Alex would be treated to a spectacular exclusive news report.
Alex Thorne, who are you to take whatever you want and discard me when you’re done?
I wasn’t some object.
This time, I would make sure he understood the price of his actions.
Sure enough, two hours later.
#AlexThorneCheatingScandal exploded across the headlines.
At the same time.
Alex’s furious call came through.
“Evelyn, you set up that trending topic! Delete it now!”
I didn’t say a word, just hung up without a second’s hesitation.
Then I blocked Alex.
His messages bombarded my phone, one after another.
“Evelyn, what are you doing? Do you have any idea how much negative impact this will have on the company? The stock is plummeting!”
“Evie, I know you’re angry, but can’t we just talk this through? Please come home.”
“If you need me to, I can apologize…”
I expressionlessly turned off my phone, placing it face down on the table, and looked up at the lawyer across from me.
“Let’s continue.”
I handed the lawyer a document I’d kept hidden away.
“Please tell me, is this divorce agreement still valid?”
Before we got married, Alex himself had signed a blank divorce agreement. We hadn’t been in love then. He had coldly told me:
“If you ever want to leave, just sign this. You can walk away anytime.”
“It’s your guarantee of freedom.”
Later, our relationship seemed to grow stronger.
A CEO like him would cook me three meals a day.
He’d always consider everything, making sure I was never too hot or too cold.
He’d moved me, and I’d believed this life would last forever.
That document was tucked away, forgotten.
Before I discovered Chloe, I had never once considered divorce.
Aside from his aversion to red, Alex had been good to me in other ways.
Even after losing our baby, I thought I could forgive him, endure it.
I could be hurt.
But I couldn’t stand being played for a fool, made into a joke.
The lawyer carefully reviewed the document and nodded.
“Ms. Blackwood, this agreement is still valid. All you need to do is sign it for it to take effect.”
I signed it on the spot and handed the agreement to the lawyer.
“I want a divorce. As quickly as possible.”
As I stepped out of the coffee shop, a light rain began to fall. A black car honked at me.
Alex’s car was parked right outside.
“Get in.”
The window rolled down, revealing Alex’s stern face.
I didn’t stop, just walked straight past him.
“Evelyn!”
Alex chased after me, grabbing my arm.
“Are you still going to cause trouble?”
I slapped him.
“Don’t touch me. You’re disgusting.”
Alex stood frozen, watching me with a cold stare.
His gaze fell on my fiery red dress.
His brow furrowed deeply.
“Why do you always have to go against me?”
“Evie, our relationship used to be so good, didn’t it? Can’t we go back to how things were?”
“Chloe only suffered minor bruises, and the baby is fine. Otherwise…”
“Otherwise, what?”
I cut him off.
“You would kill me, wouldn’t you?”
“Evelyn! What has happened to you? Why are you like this?”
Alex looked at me, his eyes filled with weariness and disgust.
“Is it me who changed, or you?”
“Alex, don’t forget, you’re the one who betrayed me first.”
I couldn’t be bothered to argue with him anymore and turned to leave.
Alex wouldn’t let it go.
“That reporter, you arranged for her, didn’t you? Contact her, get it deleted!”
So this was his real reason for coming.
“Chloe was so distraught by that news story, she threatened to jump. It took me ages to calm her down.”
“Evelyn, can’t you stop being so selfish?”
“Don’t drag others into this just for your own sake.”
Oh, what a kind and considerate man.
I turned around and sneered.
“Selfish?”
“I’m not just going to be selfish, Alex. I’m going for the kill.”
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