"Burning Roses: The Captain’s Forbidden Night" Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Goodbye, Ex-Husband
Due to the lingering soreness in her legs, Clara didn't leave the hotel that night.
She took a taxi back the following morning.
Although she and Sebastian Foster had signed the divorce papers yesterday, she had yet to move out of their marital home.
As the heir to the Foster Group and the party at fault, Sebastian had provided her with a substantial financial settlement.
However, she had refused to take this duplex apartment, which spanned nearly three thousand square feet.
She and Sebastian had been married for two years, and she had personally decorated every corner of this home.
Once, she had been full of sincerity, believing this place to be her happiest harbor.
In return, she received nothing but his cold and ruthless betrayal.
Clara would never forget that night three months ago.
He had returned home stinking of alcohol, and she had helped him to bed.
It was then that she discovered a red lipstick stain on his shirt collar and a long, straight black hair that wasn't hers.
She clearly remembered how her entire body trembled. The world spun, and it took a long time for her to find any semblance of calm.
She went to check his phone, only to find he had secretly changed the passcode.
Previously, his passcode had always been her birthday.
That night, she didn't sleep a wink.
When he woke up, she didn't scream or fight. She continued her life with him as usual.
Instead, she began gathering evidence.
Within three months, she identified the woman he was cheating with.
It was a new secretary at his company.
She looked innocent and spoke with a soft, gentle voice.
When the two of them had an affair in the car, Clara quietly retrieved the dashcam footage.
That was how she learned the secretary had a fiancé named Leo Sterling.
She had once seen Leo picking up Bianca White in front of the Foster Group building.
He had the looks, the build, and the presence—he was impressive in every way.
However, he drove a rugged SUV worth only about fifteen thousand dollars. When Bianca got into the car, her eyes were filled with nothing but disdain.
Since Bianca started seeing Sebastian, she was draped in designer labels, frequented high-end restaurants, and was chauffeured in luxury cars.
Naturally, she looked down on her "poor" fiancé.
Clara had followed them quietly.
In a café, she overheard Bianca breaking up with the man.
She expected him to demand answers hysterically or beg her to stay. Instead, he simply gave Bianca a faint glance and nodded in silence.
Ironically, it was Bianca who lost control, demanding to know if he had ever actually loved her.
The man remained silent, his thin lips pressed into a hard line as if her questions had nothing to do with him.
He was cold to the point of being cruel.
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At that moment, Clara almost felt a hint of pity for Bianca.
Being with a man as cold as a block of ice would be unbearable for anyone.
Thinking back to the way that same man had been covered in sweat and passion the previous night, Clara found it impossible to connect him to that "ice block."
As it turned out, men were only "wild" when they were in bed.
Clara walked into the bedroom and pulled out her suitcase.
As she was finishing her packing, Sebastian returned.
He was wearing a suit and tie, looking elegant, refined, and polite.
In the past, Clara had been completely deceived by this "good man" facade.
"Honey..."
Clara swept a sharp gaze toward him. "Ex-husband, we are divorced. Don't call me that ever again."
Sebastian looked at her with a complex expression. "I didn't actually want to betray you. But we've been married for two years and you refused to have a child. My father has illegitimate sons out there. If one of them produces the first Foster grandson before I do, my position in the company will be in jeopardy."
Clara let out a cold laugh. "A maggot never thinks it's dirty, a rat never thinks it's stealing, and a jerk never thinks he's a jerk. Stop acting out this 'deeply in love' drama in front of me. I don't have the power to award you an Oscar."
Sebastian’s brow furrowed deeply. "Clara, you are truly too proud and too aggressive. A woman needs to be softer."
Clara was a forensic pathologist, a profession Sebastian never liked.
Dealing with cold corpses all day felt like bad luck to him.
He had tried to get her to work at the Foster Group, but she insisted on her own career and told him not to interfere.
They had argued about it several times; the cracks in their marriage had likely formed long ago.
Bianca was different from Clara. She was soft, gentle, and spoke in a sweet voice. She admired him and followed his every whim.
"Clara, with a personality like yours, no man will ever love you in the future."
Clara glanced at him. "Did you drink poison and rot your brain? I'm divorced, beautiful, rich, and I have a career. Why do I need a man to love me? If I need a man, I'll pay for a model who can make me feel good and provide emotional value. Would I be stupid enough to enter the 'grave of marriage' again?"
Looking at the sharp-tongued Clara, who was acting like a hedgehog, Sebastian’s temples throbbed. "I know you're still hurting..."
Before he could finish, Clara brushed her long hair away from her neck.
On her pale skin, a deep, dark love bite was clearly visible.
Sebastian knew exactly what it was.
His pupils contracted. He stepped forward and gripped her shoulder. "You went out and found some random man last night?"
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Clara brushed his hand away.
She curled her red lips. "What random man? I'm a single, wealthy woman now. What's wrong with finding a compliant man to have some fun with?"
She narrowed her eyes at Sebastian, whose face was growing increasingly dark. "Oh, after last night, I finally realized the joy of being a wealthy bachelorette. He was so much better than you—incredible body, amazing stamina. Last night was pure heaven!"
Sebastian’s face turned a deep, angry purple. His fists clenched until his knuckles cracked.
"Clara Ye, you have no shame—"
Slap!
Clara swung her hand and landed a sharp blow across Sebastian’s face.
She had wanted to do that for a very long time.
"Who exactly has no shame? Sebastian, if you say one more damn word to me, I’ll send the video of you cheating with Bianca to Julian Foster."
Julian Foster was Sebastian’s father’s illegitimate son, who had been brought back into the family and was currently competing for control.
If the video of Sebastian’s infidelity were exposed, his reputation would be ruined, and his position in the Foster Group would be precarious.
Sebastian touched his swollen cheek and gritted his teeth. "Clara, I told you—as long as you accepted Bianca’s child, you would still be my wife. It was your own pride that made you refuse—"
Clara cut him off. "Stop disgusting me. What century is this? You wanted to register a mistress's child under the legal wife's name? Your brain must have been eaten by zombies! Fine, I'm done talking to a loser like you. I hope you and your mistress stay locked together forever so you don't ruin anyone else. And I hope your son is born without a soul!"
"Clara, you've gone mad!"
Clara blinked innocently. "Long time no see~ Long time no see indeed~"
Sebastian didn't understand her nonsense, but seeing her voice soften, his expression improved slightly. Just as he was about to speak, she suddenly switched to a mocking tone. "Divorce is great! Divorce is fine! Get rid of the jerk and leave the trouble behind! A single life is just divine!"
Seeing her jubilant expression, Sebastian nearly vomited blood from pure rage.
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