Samuel’s last sentence remained in my ears.
—Mrs. Pei, I think the time has come to open old Mr. Pei’s will.
I stood silently in the living room.
The broken crib was still lying on the floor.
The small wooden pieces were scattered everywhere.
A few hours ago, Annie had chosen every detail herself.
The little stars carved on the side.
The soft mattress.
The small blanket she said would keep her little brother warm.
Everything had been prepared with anticipation.
And Adrian destroyed it with his own hands.
Then he left.
Not because he didn’t know.
Not because he misunderstood.
But because he chose another woman.
I looked at the bank notification again.
100 million yuan.
A number that could make ordinary people lose their minds.
But strangely…
I felt nothing.
Three years ago, when I married into the Pei family, everyone thought I was lucky.
Adrian Pei was young.
Successful.
The future heir of the Pei Group.
Everyone said I had married into a wealthy family.
Only Grandpa Victor Pei knew the truth.
The night before my wedding, he called me to his study.
The old man sat in front of a wall full of family portraits.
He poured me tea himself.
Then he said:
—Clara.
I looked at him.
—Do you know why I chose you?
I shook my head.
He smiled.
—Because you are the only person in this family who does not look at money first.
At that time, I laughed.
I thought he was joking.
But then his expression became serious.
—The Pei family has too many people who know how to take.
—But very few people know how to protect.
He placed a document in front of me.
I didn’t open it.
—Grandfather, what is this?
He didn’t answer directly.
Only said:
—One day, if Adrian loses his way…
Pause.
—Don’t try to save him.
I was surprised.
—He’s your grandson.
Victor Pei looked toward the window.
—Exactly because he is my grandson.
—Someone has to stop him before he destroys everything I built.
At that time, I didn’t understand.
Now I did.
The next morning.
Samuel arrived at my house.
He placed a folder on the table.
—Mrs. Pei, before we discuss the divorce, there is something you need to know.
I opened the document.
The first page made my hand freeze.
“Victor Pei Family Trust Agreement.”
Samuel continued:
—Old Master Pei established this trust five years ago.
—The beneficiary is not Adrian.
I looked up.
—Who?
Samuel looked at me.
—You.
Silence.
I couldn’t speak.
—Me?
He nodded.
—According to the agreement, after marriage, if Adrian violates the basic conditions of the marriage and causes harm to his spouse or children, you have the right to activate the protection clause.
I turned the page.
The conditions were clearly written.
Infidelity.
Abandonment of children.
Transfer of family assets without authorization.
Damage to the interests of heirs.
Every single thing Adrian had done…
Was listed there.
Samuel lowered his voice.
—The 100 million yuan was not compensation.
—It was the Pei family’s attempt to prevent this clause from being activated.
I looked at him.
—They knew?
Samuel nodded.
—Your mother-in-law knew.
—Your father-in-law knew.
—They hoped money would make you stop.
I laughed quietly.
So that was it.
They didn’t apologize.
They didn’t ask if my child was hurt.
They calculated the price of my silence.
At noon.
Adrian finally called.
I looked at the screen.
His name appeared.
The same name that once made my heart race.
Now it only felt unfamiliar.
I answered.
—Clara.
His voice was tired.
—Why did you send those things to the family group?
I looked at the broken crib.
—Because you told me not to.
He was silent.
Then:
—You made the whole family misunderstand me.
I almost laughed.
—Misunderstand?
—Adrian, your daughter watched you destroy her brother’s crib.
His voice became impatient.
—It was just a crib.
Those words hurt more than the action itself.
Because I finally understood.
He didn’t regret breaking it.
He regretted being exposed.
—And Serena?
Silence.
Then he said:
—She is pregnant.
—I know.
—She needs me.
I closed my eyes.
—And your son doesn’t?
Another silence.
Finally he said:
—Clara, don’t make this a competition.
I looked at the ultrasound on the table.
Our baby.
The child he had once touched through my belly and promised:
“Your dad will protect you.”
I answered softly:
—You are right.
—It was never a competition.
—Because I was the only one fighting.
That evening, the Pei family held an emergency meeting.
Adrian arrived late.
He thought it was about calming me down.
He thought the 100 million had worked.
Until the family lawyer stood up.
—Mr. Adrian Pei.
—The family trust protection clause has been activated.
His expression changed.
—What?
The lawyer placed the documents on the table.
—According to Old Master Pei’s instructions, all voting rights related to the family assets will temporarily be transferred to Mrs. Clara Ye.
The room fell silent.
Adrian stood up.
—That’s impossible.
His father looked at him.
—Your grandfather wrote this five years ago.
His mother lowered her head.
Adrian looked at me.
For the first time…
Not with anger.
Not with impatience.
With fear.
—Clara.
I remained calm.
—You asked me not to touch Serena.
—You said I had everything I wanted.
I placed the divorce agreement on the table.
—So I’m giving you exactly what you wanted.
—Freedom.
His face turned pale.
—You really want divorce?
I looked at him.
Three years ago, I would have cried.
Today, I only felt tired.
—No.
—The woman you married is already dead.
Adrian froze.
I continued:
—The one who waited for you.
—The one who defended you.
—The one who believed you would come back.
Pause.
—She disappeared the night you left your pregnant wife to take care of your pregnant lover.
The room was silent.
Then I signed my name.
Clara Ye.
Three days later.
The Pei Group announced a major internal restructuring.
Adrian lost control of several core departments.
The news shocked the business world.
But the biggest shock came from the next announcement:
“Mrs. Clara Ye will temporarily serve as the representative of the Pei family trust.”
Everyone finally understood.
The quiet woman who had stayed behind Adrian for years…
Was never weak.
She was the person his grandfather had trusted most.
One week after filing for divorce.
I received a message.
From Serena.
A photo.
She and Adrian standing together.
The caption:
“Some people leave when things get difficult. Some people stay.”
I looked at it.
Then deleted it.
Because I already knew the truth.
Adrian stayed with Serena because she needed him.
But I left because I finally realized…
I didn’t need him anymore.
That night, Annie fell asleep beside me.
Her small hand held mine.
Before closing my eyes, I placed my hand over my belly.
“My babies.”
“I promise.”
“From now on…”
“No one will make us feel like we are second choice.”
And far away…
Adrian sat alone in the empty house.
Looking at the half-built crib.
The same crib he destroyed.
For the first time, he understood what he had lost.
Not a wife.
Not a family.
But the only person who had loved him before he became someone unworthy of that love.
