Divorce After a Hundred Betrayals

Every time my husband cheated, he'd buy me a jade bangle.

Over four years of marriage, I collected ninety-nine of them.

I forgave him ninety-nine times.

This time, he came back from a three-day "business trip" with an Imperial Jade Bangle worth millions.

That's when I knew—it was time for a divorce.

When Escent Roland walked in, I was crumpling up the "Post-abortion Care Instructions" and tossing them into the trash.

Three days ago, he'd used a business trip as an excuse to celebrate some young girl's birthday. The gift of a million-dollar apartment was right there in the photos for anyone to see.

Lost in my grief, I ended up losing our baby.

Fresh out of the hospital, I stood staring at the rows of jade bangles crammed in my jewelry box. Defying doctor's orders, I'd ordered fried chicken and an ice-cold cola.

Escent hurried over and swept it all into the trash.

"You know your stomach can't handle this. Why are you eating cold junk?"

Then he pulled a velvet box from his briefcase.

"I got this especially for you. Took a lot of effort to find it."

Inside lay an Imperial Jade Bangle.

Rich color, flawless clarity—a piece like this was rare. Worth at least two million.

He wasn't lying. It really had taken "effort."

If he'd given this to me before we got married, I might've flung my arms around his neck, over the moon.

Now? I felt nothing. I didn't even want to try it on.

Escent bent down, studying my face.

"Are you mad I didn't go with you to visit your mom's grave? We can go now."

I looked away.

"Don't bother. The anniversary's already passed."

Before we married, we agreed on three rules.

We could skip any holiday—but he had to come with me to visit my mother's grave on the anniversary of her death.

For the first three years, he kept his word.

This year, when I called, he gently told me he was out of town on business and asked what was wrong.

I checked the flights. The last one landed at 10 PM.

He couldn't make it back.

So I went to the cemetery alone.

There, at my mother's graveside, I got an anonymous email.

A photo of Escent and some young girl cutting a cake. A property transfer agreement lay on the table.

My world spun.

The next thing I knew, I woke up in the hospital. The baby was gone.

"It was your mom's anniversary… I'm sorry, darling. I forgot."

A flicker of real regret passed through Escent's eyes.

He knelt on one knee and took my hand.

"Let me make it up to you. How about another Imperial Jade? This one's two million—next time I'll get one for three."

From dating to marriage, Escent was always like this.

First, the apology.

Then, the emotional reassurance.

Finally, he'd throw money at the problem until I gave in.

In six years, no one had ever seen him lose his temper.

All our friends called him the perfect husband.

Only I knew this marriage was rotten to the core.

I was about to bring up divorce when my stomach growled.

Escent tenderly ruffled my hair.

"Let me make you some congee. You can decide later—another bangle or a new house?"

He turned and walked toward the kitchen.

His phone, left on the coffee table, buzzed.

The screen lit up.

A message from Sophia Lefèvre:

"Escent, thank you for the gorgeous apartment~ These three days were amazing ♡"

My heart clenched.

I opened her social media.

The cover photo was a shot of the two of them on some mountaintop.

The girl faced the camera flashing a peace sign, Escent half-turned beside her.

Hands trembling, I scrolled down.

Her last three days were a travel diary:

"He's here—now I can't even open my own water bottle!"

"My crush's smile is illegal 😍"

"A day in the life of a star and her CEO boyfriend~"

Every post had a 'like' from Escent.

The latest upload was a photo of the Imperial Jade Bangle.

Caption: "Ugh, so tacky. I wouldn't wear it even if it was free."

This was the only post without his like.

The phone buzzed again.

"Escent, I had too much to drink after you left. Can you come over tonight?"

From the kitchen, Escent called out gently, "The congee is almost ready."

Quickly, I installed a surveillance app on his phone, wiped my tracks, and put it back.