"Let's get a divorce."

Pei Yunian placed the divorce papers on the table with a cold, distant look.

The smile on Jiang Li's face instantly froze. "Yunian, what... what did you just say? I didn't catch that."

Instead of repeating himself, Pei Yunian slid a check across the table to her.

"Here's 50 million, consider it compensation for these three years."

Jiang Li's lips quivered, and it took her a while to find her voice. "Can we not divorce? If there's anything I'm doing wrong, I can change..."

Pei Yunian remained unmoved, his dark eyes fixed on her pale face without showing any emotion.

"Jiang Li, don't forget - I only married you so you could be a placeholder for Xixi as Mrs. Pei."

"Now that Xixi is back, everything should return to its rightful owner."

Her mind went blank with a buzz, feeling like she was falling into an endless abyss.

Right, how could she forget?

He married her only because his beloved was too weak, and the Pei family would never accept a sickly woman as their daughter-in-law.

To deal with his family's pressure, he chose her, someone without any background, from among all the noble ladies. Simply because she posed no threat to his beloved and could vacate the position of Mrs. Pei at any time.

So now that his loved one had recovered and returned, she, the stand-in, had served her purpose.

"But I love you!"

She looked at him desperately, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

Since the day he saved her from drowning, she had fallen in love with him.

For three whole years.

Her blank memories had been filled because of him. Without him, she didn't know what would be left of her.

"You know very well that I don't love you."

Seeing her tears, Pei Yunian frowned slightly, but his voice remained ice-cold, leaving her no hope at all.

"After you sign, my lawyer will handle the rest."

"I know your temper, don't push this any further or do anything unnecessary."

"Also, I don't want you anywhere near Xixi from now on. It upsets her."

Jiang Li's vision blurred as the man's cold words pierced through her like sharp daggers, each syllable cutting deep into her heart, making her shrink back in pain.

Just then, the assistant rushed in breathlessly, reporting: "Sir, there's a call from Jing Garden. Miss Wen received photos of you and madam being intimate. She fainted right after seeing them."

For the first time, Pei Yunian's usually composed face cracked. He jumped up and strode towards the door. "Get the car ready. We're heading to Jing Garden."

After a few steps, he turned back, his eyes piercing Jiang Li with glacial fury.

"Pray that nothing happens to Sisi, Jiang Li. Or you'll live to regret it."

"Wait, I didn't..." Jiang Li grabbed his arm desperately, trying to explain. She hadn't even known Wen Si was back in the country, how could she have sent those photos?

"Get off me!" Pei Yunian shook her hand off in disgust. She lost her balance and fell, her head striking the sharp corner of the table. Blood immediately started flowing.

Pei Yunian's fingers twitched slightly. He gave the motionless Jiang Li a cold glance before walking away without looking back.

Soon, Jiang Li was alone in the villa.

After what seemed like forever, Jiang Li slowly lifted her head. Blood trickled down her forehead, giving her beautiful face an eerily haunting look.

She narrowed her eyes at the wide-open villa door, pressing her tongue against her teeth as she let out a low laugh.

"Oh Jiang Li, look what's become of you!"

Standing up, she cast a casual glance at the divorce papers on the table, grabbed a pen and signed her name with sharp, powerful strokes.

Then she took out her phone and made a call.

"It's me."

"Who the hell is this?" came an irritated young male voice.

Jiang Li raised an eyebrow, "Getting cocky are we, He Er?"

Suddenly, a loud crash came through the phone, followed by a man's pained grunt. After a chaotic commotion, a shocked voice shouted, "Damn, Jiang Li, you're not dead?"

Jiang Li narrowed her eyes. "I'll give you one chance to rephrase that."

"Well... Welcome back, my lady!" The man quickly corrected himself.

After hanging up, Jiang Li treated the wound on her forehead and went upstairs to pack her personal belongings.

She took out a ring box from the drawer containing an exquisitely crafted men's ring.

It was a third anniversary gift she personally designed and made for Pei Yunian, meant to be given today.

She let out a bitter laugh and tossed it into the trash.

Along with it went her three years of foolishness.

To think that she, the primary heir of the Jiang family, had spent years being so submissive to Pei Yunian, desperately seeking even the smallest bit of his affection.

The thought made her want to drag out and torture whoever caused her memory loss in that sea accident.

She felt utterly disgusted by her past weakness and stupidity.

After dealing with her belongings, she sat at her computer. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she hacked into Jing Garden's surveillance system.

As expected, she uncovered a carefully orchestrated show.

The video revealed a seemingly delicate woman skillfully orchestrating the sending of intimate photos under Jiang Li's name, followed by an dramatic performance of shock and distress upon seeing them, ending in an theatrical fainting spell. Jiang Li couldn't help but sneer.

She'd thought Pei Yunian fell for a noble and virtuous lady, but instead, he'd been fooled by a manipulative actress.

She touched her still-throbbing forehead, her smile turning cold.

While marrying Pei Yunian to help him deal with his family had settled their past debts, this injury was a different matter.

Nobody could hurt and frame her, then act like nothing happened.

After all, Jiang Li never let such offenses go unpunished.

...

Two hours later, a fleet of luxury cars pulled up outside the villa, drawing curious glances from the neighbors.

Soon, a handsome young man stepped out of the exclusive limited-edition supercar at the center of the convoy. Taking off his sunglasses, he spread his arms wide towards Jiang Li as she exited the villa, his face beaming with confidence.

"Darling, it's been forever!"

Jiang Li, wearing a baseball cap with her hands in her pockets, walked casually towards the young man. She gave him a critical once-over, her face showing mock disapproval. "Look who got uglier over the years."

Despite her teasing words, she stepped forward to give him a warm hug.

"How could I not get ugly? I've been lovesick without you around," He Zheng pouted, but his tight embrace and sparkling eyes betrayed his joy at seeing her.

Jiang Li clicked her tongue and broke away to get in the car.

"I'm serious - haven't had a good night's sleep since you disappeared," He Zheng complained playfully as he hurried after her.

Moments later, the supercar roared to life and sped away with its entourage, leaving behind a wake of whispered gossip.

"Wasn't that the Pei family's young madam? Who's that guy with the fancy cars who picked her up?"

"Oh my god, I know him - that's the He family's second young master! I can't believe he knows Mrs. Pei!"

"More than just knows her, by the looks of it - they seemed ready to kiss right there..."