Episode 3

"Listen, Sora. I don't have all day to deal with your childish behavior."

Kairo slammed the door, echoing through the house, ignoring the fact that his wife had just tried to kill herself. He walked straight towards the sofa, looking down at Elena.

Elena didn't flinch. Her bandaged left hand rested casually on the sofa armrest, her right hand holding warm documents.

"Who asked you to deal with it?" Elena retorted flatly. "I didn't ask you to come home. Just go back to the office, or wherever you usually go when you're sick of seeing my face."

Kairo's steps stopped abruptly. His eyebrows furrowed sharply. Usually, such a harsh sentence would be met with Sora's hysterical crying. But this woman in front of him... looked bored.

"Don't provoke me," Kairo growled. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a checkbook and a gold pen. Sret. He tore off a check.

The paper floated down into Elena's lap.

"Take it," Kairo ordered coldly. "Fill in the amount yourself. Buy bags, buy jewelry, or rent an island. Just stop embarrassing the Diwantara name with this small-town suicide drama."

Elena stared at the blank check. For Sora, this was a ticket to heaven. For Elena, this was a professional insult. She pinched the check with two fingers, as if holding garbage.

"You think everything is settled with this?"

Kairo loosened his tie. "Isn't that your language? Money? Don't be a hypocrite. You married me for money. Take it and be quiet."

"You're right. Money is indeed a universal language," Elena admitted, smiling wryly. "But sorry, Mr. Kairo. The bargaining value of this check is too low for my self-esteem now."

Srek!

Elena crumpled the check into a paper ball, then flicked it right at Kairo's chest. The paper ball bounced off the CEO's expensive shirt, falling and rolling away, worthless.

Kairo's jaw hardened. "You... what do you want? Are you challenging me?"

"Negotiating," Elena interrupted. She stood up, shoving the printed document in front of Kairo's face. "Read."

Kairo brushed it away roughly, but his eyes caught the large title.

PROPOSAL FOR TERMINATION OF MARRIAGE COOPERATION AND ASSET LIQUIDATION

Kairo laughed dryly. "Cooperation? Since when have we cooperated? You're just a parasite clinging to a big tree."

"This parasite is self-aware and wants to get down," Elena replied sharply. "Because our positions are not equal, I'm submitting my resignation."

The word resign sounded foreign. Kairo snatched the document, flipping the pages roughly. His eyes narrowed as he read the points of demand.

Debts paid off. Studio apartment. 5 Billion.

"Five billion?" Kairo snorted cynically. "So this is the price of your life? You cut your wrist just to extort five billion?"

"I'm being realistic," Elena replied calmly. "That's a reasonable severance pay for a year of hard work as your wife. Enduring your coldness, pretending to be happy, taking care of this empty house. You're a stingy boss, Kairo."

"Hard work?!" Kairo slammed the document onto the glass table. Brak! "Your hard work is just maxing out credit card limits and embarrassing me!"

"That's why I'm quitting!" Elena snapped, her voice rising an octave.

She pointed to the document. "I know I'm a bad wife. You hate me. You're disgusted. That's why I'm offering a way out! Sign it, transfer the money, and you won't have to see me again for the rest of your life. We'll talk business in court next week."

Elena stared straight into those jet-black eyes.

"I'm serious. I'm sick of this marriage. I'm sick of you."

The sentence hung in the air.

All this time Sora had always begged for love. Now she says she's sick of it? Kairo's ego was stung. He, Kairo Diwantara, being dumped by his parasitic wife?

"You're sick of it?" Kairo whispered softly, his voice turning dangerous.

He moved forward slowly. His gaze locked onto Elena's lips. Danger alarms were ringing in Elena's head. She tried to back away, but her waist hit the dressing table. Trapped.

"Yes, I'm sick of it," Elena tilted her head up, defiant. "Surprised your wife finally has a brain? Hurry up and sign and get out."

"Your room?" Kairo laughed without humor. "This is my house, Sora. Including you."

Kairo's hand grabbed the document on the table.

Sreeet!

Kairo tore the proposal in two. Then four. Then eight. He destroyed it without blinking.

"That's my work!" Elena protested, trying to grab the scraps of paper that Kairo was now scattering into the air like snow.

"Nonsense," Kairo hissed. "Business? Court? You think it's that easy?"

Kairo slammed both hands on the dressing table, on the left and right sides of Elena's body, trapping her. The scent of musk and masculine anger enveloped Elena.

"You think this marriage is a revolving hotel door? Can come and go as you please?" Kairo lowered his head, his face inches from Elena's face. His black eyes burned possessively.

"You signed a lifetime contract when you forced your way into my family a year ago, Sora."

Elena's heart was pounding because of adrenaline. "Contracts can be cancelled if there's a penalty. I'll pay the penalty. Let me go."

"There is no monetary penalty."

Kairo smiled wryly, cruelly. His hand gripped Elena's chin, forcing her to look up.

"You want to play business? Fine. My first rule: I never let go of my assets. Even if that asset is trash."

He brought his face closer again, whispering hoarsely.

"You want to get out of my cage? Don't dream, darling. The meeting isn't over yet, and you're still mine."

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