Chapter 6

Following the launch of our latest product, I stepped down from my role as CEO.

I extended an invitation to Rowan for the media event, and he brought along several of his lab students to witness the fruits of their labor.

Midway through the proceedings, I asked my assistant to watch the reception area while I retreated to the backstage area for a breather.

Unexpectedly, my phone began to vibrate with incoming messages.

They were all from Marion.

Opening the notifications, I discovered multiple video clips featuring her and Rowan.

Just then, the door opened and Marion entered, wearing an odd grin. She said, [Mrs. Bradford, I've sent you something. Why don't you take a look?]

"I'm not interested in adult content," I retorted dismissively.

"You're already aware of my relationship with Mr. Bradford, aren't you?"

I remained silent.

Marion's demeanor shifted. She spoke through clenched teeth, "Do you truly believe Mr. Bradford still cares for you?"

She leaned against the table, her eyes gleaming with spite.

"Are you aware that he visits me multiple times each week?"

"He once told me you were as unresponsive as a corpse and he had no desire for you. I'm the one who truly complements him. That time when someone confessed their feelings for me, he spent hours ravishing me. All night long!

"He used up all but one condom from the new box he bought that day. I bet you've never seen him so passionate, have you?"

"Do you know what he was doing when you called him that evening?" Marion asked with a smirk.

Though my feelings for Rowan had faded, I was still infuriated by this mistress's boldness.

"So, what are you after? Do you want me to relinquish the title of Mrs. Bradford to you?"

"I assure you, within a month, that title will be yours."

Marion was clearly taken aback by my response and momentarily lost her composure.

Just then, the door swung open again.

"What's going on here?"

Rowan entered, surveying the scene. Without hesitation, he stood beside me and casually put his arm around me, his expression hardening as he looked at Marion.

"I'm here to express my gratitude to your wife, sir. Without her cooperation, our lab wouldn't have achieved such remarkable results," Marion said with a smile.

Rowan raised an eyebrow, glancing between Marion and me, visibly uncertain.

I smiled and said, "Miss Sterling is here to thank me. She's more considerate than other students."

Only then did Rowan seem to accept the explanation.

He then addressed Marion, "If that's your intention, you'd be better off focusing on improving your own abilities."

After saying this, he took my hand and led me out of the room.

That night, Rowan didn't come home. Something about the day's events must have triggered his suspicions.

He went to "discipline" his young lover, unaware that this would be our final interaction of this nature.

Meanwhile, I quietly packed my belongings. I also arranged for a cleaning service to come and tidy the house.

The place was left immaculate.

Most importantly, all traces of my existence had been thoroughly removed.

Before departing, I checked my Instagram feed. I found a post from Marion, uploaded at 2:30 AM.

She had painted her nails a pale pink and was perched on the marble counter in a hotel bathroom. Her back was to the mirror, her head turned slightly, with smudged lipstick at the corner of her mouth.

The caption read, [Forever yours.]

I put my phone away and thought to myself, I hope you two enjoy your "forever."

The next morning, as Rowan drove home, his right eyelid kept twitching. He felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

Unaware of what had transpired, he attributed it to lack of sleep.

——

As soon as he entered the house, he noticed my shoes were missing. Frowning, he walked further in, scanning the unusually pristine living room.

It was so clean, as if devoid of any signs of habitation.

"Dear?" he called out, receiving no response. Is she asleep? he wondered.

He moved towards the bedroom, but as he passed the entryway, he halted abruptly.

Something felt off. Something seemed different from usual...

Finally, he realized that our wedding photo was gone!

His heart raced as he rushed into the bedroom.

It was completely vacant.

He checked the bathroom, the study, and the kitchen. No sign of me anywhere.

"Honey, where are you? Are you hiding? If you're upset, let's talk about it."

Unfortunately, the only response was the echo of his own voice.

An unfamiliar sense of panic engulfed him. Frantically, he flung open the closet doors, only to find all my clothes had vanished.

His gaze shifted to the vanity. All my skincare products had disappeared.

My perfumes, my handbags, even my books...

...everything was gone.

"Is Olivia playing some sort of game? Running away?" he muttered.

Rowan tried calling my number, but an automated voice informed him the number was invalid. He attempted to contact me on Instagram and sent desperate messages, all of which went unanswered.

In desperation, he even tried reaching out to my parents abroad, but received no response.

Finally, his eyes fell upon a small table in the study, something he had overlooked earlier.

On it sat a small box.

His desperate eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. He approached eagerly and opened the box with trembling hands.

To his dismay, inside was the engagement ring he had given me.

He stood there, frozen in shock.