Chapter 2 You’re Cruel, Max

• “You should go back for now, Caitlin. I’ll talk about this with you after I get this done.” Max frowned with panic and worry, but not for his wife, who was right beside him.
• Caitlin pushed him away coldly. “You should go to her. She’s more important to you, no?” Even when she said so, her heart was still in pain.
• Max wanted to say something, but he kept quiet in the end. All he did was hail a ride and sent her in before taking his leave. Caitlin smiled bitterly. Why should I even stay in a marriage where my husband only has eyes for someone else?
• When the servant greeted her after Caitlin got home, the latter didn’t reply. After going back to their bedroom that was monochrome-themed, she thought she had been a clown in this whole relationship. Her marriage was like a sitcom that should have its series finale now.
• Caitlin waited for a whole night, but Max didn’t even make a call. This apathy of his was shattering Caitlin’s heart.
• “I am sorry, babe, I can’t give you a complete family now. But don’t worry, I’ll love you double from now on.” Caitlin was in a mess of tears, but she still signed on the divorce papers that she wrote and printed throughout the night. Every stroke she signed wounded her deeply, but still she pressed on. After she was done with it, Caitlin took off the wedding ring Max gave her, and she placed it on the divorce papers.
• She used to treasure this ring, so it was always on her finger. After three years, it had left a mark on her ring finger that was still visible even after she had taken it off. The mark was indelible, just like her love for Max. Caitlin thought she was a failure. Worried she might relent again, the woman took her luggage and left the house resolutely.
• “Miss Pierce is feeling unwell, so President Cooper is staying with her now, madam. He has asked us to send you overseas right now.”
• The moment Caitlin came out, Max’s bodyguard got in her way and angered her with the order.
• “Why should I go overseas? I won’t!”
• “I am sorry, madam, but this is not up to you. President Cooper has given us the orders.” After that, the bodyguard went up and chopped her on the neck to take her out. A moment later, he dragged her into the car.
• She was taken to an abandoned warehouse and was stripped of her clothes. Then, a man lay beside her and caressed her ‘lovingly,’ all the while a camera beside them was snapping all the embarrassing positions they were in.
• “It’s done, Miss Pierce.” The man called Eliza after finishing everything up.
• Eliza sneered. “Good. Post these photos online. Max’s definitely going to divorce a woman who has cuckolded him. Also, make it clean and don’t leave a trace of this.”
• “Understood.” The man poured gasoline around the warehouse after he hung up, and then he tossed a lit match to the warehouse.
• As the fire lit up around the warehouse, the scorching heat suffocated her.
• The fire was already burning bright around her when she woke up. The smoke was choking her, while the flames were licking toward her. “Help me! Help!”
• Caitlin didn’t care if she was naked. Immediately, she took the bat beside her and swung it at the door, but the bodyguard outside told her, “Sorry, madam. This is on President Cooper’s orders. He’ll pick a good spot for you to rest in.”
• Caitlin paused. Max wants me dead? Why? Just because I am pregnant, just like Eliza is? He wants to marry her so she could give birth to his child legitimately?
• You’re a cruel man, Max! You can’t even tolerate your own child? Caitlin screamed to the heavens in despair, “I hate you, Max! I was blind for falling for a heartless, despicable wretch like you! If I live through this, I will make you suffer like I did! I will let you experience the pain of being killed by your loved one!”
• As the flames engulfed her, she started having difficulties breathing. Her eyelids became heavier, and she fell to the ground as the flames consumed her flesh and her very soul.
• Five years later—
• Dexter Carter handed the document to Max. “This is the document from the United States’ HJ Group. It’s about their designer. They say she’s going to arrive here this afternoon. Should we get someone to pick her up? She’s a famous one overseas, for the cars she designed are hard to buy, even if you're rich. If it’s not because of us collaborating with them, HJ Group wouldn’t have sent her here.”
• “Catherine?” Max squinted.
• “Yes, it’s Catherine.” Dexter nodded.
• Catherine Clarke was a sports car designer who rose to prominence recently. Her first design, ‘Wings of Love,’ managed to win the first prize of an international design competition. Before it even hit the market, many of the rich and powerful were already vying for it. Rumors had it that Catherine only made two of it, and it commanded an astronomical price. Even so, many were still willing to pay for it.
• Now that they were working with HJ Group, and because Max loved sports cars, Dexter reminded him of this. If they could ask Catherine to stay at Eterman Group, it would be in their best interests.
• Max squinted. He took a glance at Catherine’s details, and was shocked when he saw her actual name.