Chapter 3

Alexandra lost her composure in the end.

Her hand trembled, and tears welled in her eyes. "Caiden, you damn bastard!" she shouted.

Caiden's face turned from the slap, and when he looked back, he froze.

In his memory, he had never made Alexandra cry, but now he had.

His tone softened slightly. "I'm sorry, Alex. I don't want Leyla to suffer anymore," he said.

Tears fell from Alexandra's eyes.

She sneered, glaring at the man before her, each word deliberate. "Caiden, this is the last time I'll cry for you."

Caiden's heart jolted. "Alex..."

"Miss Clayton, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin your marriage," Leyla's voice interrupted.

Alexandra's gaze shifted to Leyla, who clung to Caiden's arm.

"Do you think you have the right to speak here?" she asked coldly.

Leyla's face paled.

Alexandra's lips curled, her eyes dripping with scorn. "Don't flatter yourself. Even without you, I'd still divorce Caiden."

Leyla swayed, looking as if she might collapse.

"Alexandra!" Caiden's face darkened.

Alexandra ignored him, turning to the crowd with a smile.

In an instant, she seemed to reclaim her former pride and radiance as the Clayton heiress.

"This was a private matter, and I didn't want to make a spectacle," she said loudly. "But since Mr. Fowler has laid it all bare tonight, let everyone bear witness. No matter how much he regrets it later, the Clayton family will never let him set foot in our home again!"

The Clayton and Fowler families were the most prominent in Harbor City.

No one dared interfere in their affairs.

Silence fell, so heavy a pin could be heard dropping.

Only Caiden's calm, cold voice echoed through the hall. "I won't regret it," he said.

He handed Alexandra a divorce agreement in front of everyone.

Her expression barely flickered, but her smile grew sharper, her eyes colder.

Caiden was doing this to defend Leyla.

She didn't take his papers. Instead, she pulled another document from her bag.

"Sorry, Mr. Fowler, but this is the one you should sign," she said.

When Caiden saw the bold words "leave with nothing" on the agreement, he froze.

He remembered signing this very agreement before their marriage.

Alexandra had said, "Caiden, our circle is full of fleeting relationships, but I want a lifelong partner. Can you promise that?"

Caiden had replied, "Let's make a deal. Whoever betrays the marriage leaves with nothing."

Alexandra had stared at him for a long time before smiling. "Alright," she agreed.

Now, Caiden was the one humiliated.

But he didn't let the awkwardness linger.

After a brief hesitation, he signed the document.

Alexandra watched his every move.

When the final stroke fell, she closed her eyes.

In that moment, Caiden was completely erased from her heart.

The gala, which had begun as a fundraiser, ended with this dramatic scene.

With the divorce, Alexandra gained a massive fortune.

She waved a hand and donated two hundred million.

The event shifted to casual mingling.

Alexandra swirled a glass of red wine slowly.

She was exhausted, but as long as Caiden and Leyla remained, she couldn't leave first.

Otherwise, tomorrow's gossip headlines would read, "Fowler CEO attends event with new lover, Clayton heiress leaves alone in despair."

"Miss Clayton, we really do look alike," a smiling voice said suddenly.

Alexandra looked up to meet Leyla's bright, smug eyes.

"You must know by now that Caiden always saw you as my substitute," Leyla added.

The words stung like salt in a wound, and Alexandra's blood boiled.

But her face remained calm. She raised an eyebrow. "And?"

Leyla smiled. "I'm just letting you know that Caiden has always loved me. You never meant anything to him."

Alexandra's breath caught.

Then she laughed, her gaze turning to pity as she looked down at Leyla.

"Leyla, love is the cheapest thing there is. Haven't you learned that already? Oh, and I forgot to mention-the antidote is almost ready. Do you think Caiden will stay with you once he knows he's not going to die?"

Leyla's pupils shrank. "What did you say?" she asked.

Alexandra crossed her arms. "What, disappointed?"

Leyla stared at her.

After a moment, she shook her head.

"No, of course I want him to live," she said. "And I want him to stay with me forever. So..."

With that, Leyla stepped back, smiling, and fell into the pool behind her.

A loud splash echoed as water sprayed everywhere.

Caiden, hearing the noise, dove into the pool without hesitation.

Alexandra watched coldly.

When Caiden pulled Leyla out, he demanded, "What happened?"

Leyla, shivering under a towel, said, "It's my fault for upsetting Miss Clayton. If this helps her vent, I'm okay with it."

Caiden's icy gaze shot to Alexandra.

She said nothing.

Before anyone could react, she kicked Leyla back into the pool.

Grabbing a bucket of ice, she dumped it over Leyla's head and spoke coldly. "No, this is how I vent."