This Time, I Choose Myself

Carter Group’s lavish anniversary gala was packed with the city’s elite. The host warmly invited Ethan Carter and his most important partner to pour the champagne tower together. I stood beside him and watched his gaze soften as he turned toward Sophie Miller in her pure white gown. In front of everyone, he held out his hand to her. “Sophie, you’ve worked so hard lately. This honor belongs to you.” In my previous life, this was where I had desperately fought to keep my place beside him, using the baby I had just discovered I was carrying and a promise to secure the Brookhaven project. I thought I had won. Until, just before my due date, Ethan brought a heavily pregnant Sophie to the Carter estate and threw divorce papers in front of me. Only then did I understand. I was nothing more than a tool he used to strengthen his position in business, something to discard once I had served my purpose. Now that I had a second chance, I was done playing their game. I watched without emotion as Sophie took Ethan’s arm and walked toward the champagne tower, the symbol of Carter Group’s success. Under the dazzling lights, they looked like the perfect couple. I quietly stepped back, took out my phone, and deleted the message I had drafted for Ethan with my pregnancy results attached. The ceremony ended. Sophie approached with a wineglass in her hand. Her voice sounded apologetic, but smug satisfaction gleamed in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Carter. You should have been the one up there with Ethan.” Ethan walked over with his own glass, his tone cold. “Vivian, this is an important company event. Think of the bigger picture instead of sulking. Sophie has done a lot for the company. Bringing her up there shows our employees that Carter Group values their contributions.” I looked at him, a faint smile curving my lips. “Am I sulking? Miss Miller, did I ask you for an apology? You seem awfully eager to make me the unreasonable one. That feels a little manipulative.” Sophie’s smile froze. Ethan’s brows drew together. “Vivian, watch what you say. Sophie was only trying to be considerate—” “Then thank you for your consideration, Miss Miller.” I cut him off coldly. “Ethan, Mr. Lawson from the Brookhaven project just arrived. Shall we go say hello?” Sophie spoke sweetly as she slipped her hand around his arm. Ethan nodded, his voice indifferent. “Come with us, Vivian. You can talk to Mrs. Lawson.” The sight of them made me sick. “No, I’m not feeling well. I’m going home.” Ethan’s voice turned icy. “Vivian Bennett, don’t throw a tantrum here.” Sophie’s face filled with fake concern. “Mrs. Carter, today is so important. It wouldn’t be right to leave Ethan to handle everything alone.” I looked at her and suddenly smiled. “With such a capable partner by his side, I’m sure everything will go smoothly for him.” Ethan’s face darkened. With a cold snort, he turned away and left with Sophie without another glance at me. As I watched them go, the last lingering attachment from my previous life finally disappeared. “Vivian Bennett. It’s been a few years. You’ve changed.” A deep, teasing voice sounded beside me. I turned and paused in surprise. The man wore a perfectly tailored dark suit without a tie, the top button of his shirt casually undone. He leaned against a column, looking relaxed. I had no idea how long he had been watching. “What? Don’t recognize me after a few years?” “Julian Hayes.” I said his name. Julian smiled faintly. “Being Mrs. Carter really has changed you. You’re so… accommodating.” I frowned slightly, fighting back a wave of nausea from the pregnancy. “Do you make a habit of eavesdropping?” Interest flickered in Julian’s eyes. He raised a brow and stepped closer. “Eavesdropping isn’t nearly as satisfying as stealing someone’s wife. Wouldn’t you agree, Mrs. Carter?”A faint smile spread across my face. “You’re quite the joker, Julian.” He chuckled. “Still, Vivian, the little girl who dared to put caterpillars down my shirt would never have put up with this.” I froze as the memories came rushing back. Julian and I had been neighbors as children. He had always looked every inch the little heir to a wealthy family, while I had been notorious for causing trouble. None of the other children wanted to play with me. Only him. He never objected to my pranks. Even when I picked on him, he would just look at me and smile. Then, in high school, his family went bankrupt. They moved out of the neighborhood, and I never saw him again. I couldn’t resist teasing him. “You have a good memory.” Julian smiled. “You don’t look well. Would you like a ride home?” I was still hesitating when Ethan’s icy voice rang out. “Vivian, what are you doing?” I looked at him without expression. His face darkened. “Aren’t you going to explain?” “Explain what?” Julian adjusted his cuff at an unhurried pace. “Vivian isn’t feeling well. I was going to take her home. Don’t read too much into it, Ethan. We’re old friends. I knew her long before you ever came along.” Holding back his anger, Ethan ordered me, “Wait for me in the lounge. We’ll leave together when the gala ends.” Once, I would have obeyed. But now… “No need. The bigger picture comes first. You should stay and entertain your guests.” Outside the hotel. A jacket, still warm from its owner, settled over my shoulders. Julian stood behind me in only his shirt. “I’ll drive you.” I pulled the jacket closer and didn’t refuse. “Thank you.” “You were never this polite when we were kids.” Back at the house. I had barely walked through the door when my best friend Chloe called. “Vivian, the trending posts… Have you seen them? Are you okay?” [Carter Group CEO Ethan Carter spotted with innocent-looking beauty outside hotel. The two appeared very close.] [Ethan Carter’s new flame revealed! Late-night hotel outing, CEO tenderly shields mystery woman from cameras.] [Fairy-tale marriage over? Trouble in paradise for Vivian Bennett.] Beneath the ugly headlines were photos of Ethan and Sophie, shot from suggestive angles. The relaxed, almost doting smile on his face hurt to look at. I had once thought he was simply cold by nature and bad at expressing himself. I had even blamed myself for not being good enough to warm his heart. Now I understood. He was only cold to me. Chloe’s concern turned to anger. “Vivian, I’m so furious. What kind of marriage alliance is this? I honestly don’t get it. What are you getting out of any of this?” “Chloe.” I gently interrupted her, my voice calm. “Don’t worry. I’m not putting up with it this time.” She fell silent for a moment, clearly surprised. “Really?” Once, I had naively thought it was a rare blessing to marry someone I loved in an arranged business match. I had given up my career and shaped myself into the wife he needed. He didn’t want me directly involved in company affairs. Instead, he needed me to move effortlessly through the city’s most exclusive social circles and build him a vast, solid network. For three years. I had sat through boring concerts with Mrs. Walker just so she would put in a good word with her husband about Carter Group’s projects. I had patiently endured Mrs. Lawson’s difficult temper and secured her husband’s crucial support at a board meeting. I even remembered every society wife’s and heiress’s birthday and preferences. I quietly chose the perfect gifts and defused countless potential conflicts before they ever arose. I thrived in those circles. Everyone praised Mrs. Carter for being gracious and thoughtful.Whenever I saw a business report about Ethan winning another major project and his net worth soaring, I felt my sacrifices had been worth it. I loved him, so I had willingly been the woman behind his success. But now… I no longer wanted to. I heard movement downstairs. After reassuring Chloe, I hung up. Ethan was home. He came inside reeking of alcohol, his brow furrowed. He didn’t even notice that I wasn’t waiting for him downstairs. He tugged irritably at his tie and dropped onto the couch. Leaning back, he closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. I stood at the top of the stairs and watched him coldly. “Vivian, get me some water.” His eyes remained closed as he gave the familiar order. I didn’t move. After a while, when no response came, he opened his eyes and looked toward me, frowning harder. “Vivian, did you hear me?” I stayed where I was. As if he had run out of patience, he began accusing me. “What was your problem tonight? You just walked out. Mrs. Lawson finally agreed to attend, and instead of staying to keep her company as the hostess, you left early. Do you have any idea how hard I had to work to smooth things over? If the Brookhaven project falls through over something this stupid, do you know how much money Carter Group will lose?” Listening to his self-righteous complaints, I almost laughed. Ethan knew my value. He understood exactly how useful my connections were to him. But in his eyes, all my efforts were simply what I owed him. I looked at his face, flushed with alcohol and irritation. Images from my previous life flashed through my mind: him coldly throwing me out of the Carter estate, Sophie nestled in his arms, stroking her pregnant belly as she flaunted her victory. Suddenly, I laughed. Ethan stopped talking and looked up at me in shock. “What are you laughing at?” I stopped, walked down the stairs, and stood before him. The love and patient endurance that had once filled my eyes were gone. Even the disappointment I should have felt had vanished. Only coldness remained. “Ethan, you’re worried the project will fall through? You’re worried Carter Group will lose money?” I leaned down slightly and met his drunken gaze. “Did you ever worry about how your wife might feel seeing her husband trending online with another woman? Whether I might be hurt? Whether it might break my heart?” He froze. Guilt flickered across his face, but anger quickly replaced it. “The media is making something out of nothing. Since when did you become so unreasonable, Vivian? You actually believe those posts?” “Something out of nothing?” I gave him a cold smile. “You’re the CEO. She’s your secretary. No matter how well you work together, it’s still a professional relationship. Did you need to be that intimate? Haven’t you spent enough time treating me like a fool these past three years?” “I’ve spent those three years working those social circles for you. Without me, would you have secured Mr. Lawson’s project, Chairman Walker’s support, or Commissioner Parker’s approval so easily?” “You enjoy every benefit of my work, then stand in front of everyone and give your secretary all the credit. All the recognition.” I took a deep breath, forcing down the emotions rising inside me. “You don’t get to have it both ways, Ethan.” For a moment, he seemed stunned. Finally, he staggered to his feet, though irritation still edged his voice. “Vivian, I was wrong tonight. Our PR team will deal with the posts. Once we land Brookhaven, I’ll give you anything you want.” Anything I wanted. That promise had kept me fooled until now. I no longer needed it. From now on, I would get what I wanted myself. “No need, Ethan. I want a divorce.”