Ethan perched casually on the edge of the desk, eyes gleaming with mischief and something darker.
"So that's why you refuse to use it," he murmured, watching her closely.
Hailey Tang didn't reply. Her attention was locked on the glowing screen as she scrolled through university listings with practiced focus.
"This card," Ethan said, crossing his arms, "is mine to give you—not some selfish thing you grabbed for yourself. So there's no reason for you to refuse."
Last night, when she swore that if she ever took a single penny from him, she wished her whole family would perish, Ethan knew she was serious.
That was why he gave her the black card this morning without hesitation.
Unlimited spending. Cash withdrawals. As much money as she wanted. No questions asked.
He handed it over so she would never need to beg or borrow again.
Still, Hailey didn't look up.
"Whether it's mine or not, I'm just too scared to use it," she said flatly.
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "Do you think I gave you this card to curse myself?"
"…" Hailey blinked, confused by his words.
He leaned closer, the shadow of a sly smile curling on his lips. His voice dropped low and dangerous.
"Your whole family… doesn't that include me?"
Hailey snorted in disbelief.
"For people who want a divorce, we're not exactly family anymore."
"Not if we don't divorce," Ethan countered confidently.
And he wasn't about to let that happen.
Hailey met his gaze with equal calm.
"At most, a year from now—and we will be divorced."
Ethan's lips curved into a small smile.
Her grandfather had promised: if after one year she still wanted a divorce, he would allow it.
But Ethan? He wasn't about to agree.
He thought she was far too naïve.
He wouldn't burst her bubble just yet—let her believe in the year deadline.
Otherwise, who knew what kind of chaos she might stir up.
Then, as if an idea struck him, Ethan offered carefully, "How about this—we try to get along for a year. And if after that—"
"Slap!"
Hailey slammed the laptop shut, cutting him off mid-sentence.
She stood abruptly, voice cold and final.
"I don't want to get along with you for even one day."
Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed the laptop and walked away, unwilling to share the same space with him.
Ethan's dark eyes flickered with frustration.
His charm, once so effective, now bounced off her like water off a rock.
Why did she despise him so much?
What had he done to deserve this?
But no matter how much he pondered, he wouldn't guess the true reasons behind Hailey's coldness.
Hailey retreated to her bedroom and resumed her online research.
She had already eaten dinner earlier, skipping the evening meal with Ethan.
From now on, she wasn't going to share meals with him.
Nor would she be polite or accommodating.
She'd treat him exactly the way he'd treated her before.
And she was confident he wouldn't be able to tolerate it for long.
Yes, in a marriage, nothing cuts deeper than silent treatment and cold neglect.
Ethan, with his fierce pride and stubborn heart, would break under the pressure of his wife's icy silence.
He wanted a wife like Lin Xin'er—gentle, competent, understanding.
That's why he had been drawn to her in the first place.
Hailey intended to unleash every ounce of coldness she could muster, to make him suffer and choose divorce sooner rather than later.
Otherwise, she feared this messy relationship would spiral into an endless tangle—impossible to cut, impossible to save.
Downstairs, Ethan sat alone at the massive dining table.
Plates piled high, untouched food growing cold.
Yet only one person was there to eat.
Once, dining solo didn't feel lonely.
But tonight, the taste was bitter, and the silence deafening.
Later, back in the spacious bedroom, Ethan looked around at the empty room.
Sleeping alone felt unbearably hollow.
The chessboard had been set.
The players had taken their positions.
But the game was far from over.
And somewhere in the shadows, secrets stirred—waiting to unravel and change everything.