Suddenly, Chloe walked in. Something’s fishy here. She claimed to be looking for a pen, but she found a marriage certificate instead.
- “You won’t show me? I’ll see it anyway!” she declared, grabbing the certificate from Jessica.
- “What are you doing?!” Jessica shrieked. “You scared me!”
Chloe looked at the certificate.
- “This is the certificate Jessica just found. She says it’s hers. But I suspect it might actually be yours. Let’s check and find out.”
Jessica, panicked, snatched it back.
- “That makes sense! Chloe Miller, what are you doing?! Why is this empty?!”
- “Chloe Miller, how dare you go through my stuff?!” Jessica exclaimed, trying to feign outrage. “This is utterly disrespectful!”
- “I thought this was Mr. Thompson’s marriage certificate,” Chloe said, genuinely confused. “Why is it blank?”
- “This is my friend’s discarded marriage certificate!” Jessica lied. “Of course it’s blank! I apologize. I misunderstood you.” She looked at Chloe, a smug look returning to her face. “You’re no match for me, Chloe Miller. Michael Thompson belongs to me alone. I’ll never let you two be together.” When they finalize their divorce, they’ll have to meet in person. The truth will come out then.
Meanwhile, a private investigator, Miss Rodriguez, was reporting to Jessica’s co-conspirator, Nicole.
- “Miss Rodriguez, I discovered that Mr. Thompson arranged a sham marriage with someone named Olivia Bennett. But for some reason, they never officially registered it. Here is Olivia Bennett’s photo.” She handed Nicole a picture.
- “Miss Rodriguez, is this information satisfactory?” Nicole asked.
- “Very satisfactory. Thank you, Miss Rodriguez.”
- “Call me again for any future jobs.”
Nicole looked at the photo of Olivia Bennett.
- “Olivia Bennett. So you’re the one who is looking for me? Let me make this clear up front. I don’t take on jobs for under $100K.”
Jessica handed her a black card.
- “This card has a million dollars in it. Do me a favor. Chloe.”
The next morning, Grandma looked at Chloe.
- “Chloe, you’re dressed up so fancy! Do you have a hot date?”
- “It’s not a date, Grandma. It’s a divorce,” Chloe said, trying to sound brave.
- “Fine, Grandma. A divorce is good! After you split up, go and snatch that boss of yours back! Grandma is quite fond of him.”
Chloe smiled weakly.
- “I’ll do my best. Don’t wait up for dinner for me.”
- “Be safe out there,” Grandma called after her.
At the County Clerk’s Office, Chloe was waiting when a woman approached Michael.
- “Chloe Miller! Chloe Miller! Husband!” she exclaimed.
Michael, confused, looked at her.
- “Who are you?”
- “I’m Olivia Bennett, your wife!” she declared. “Weren’t we supposed to meet here today?”
Chloe’s eyes widened. She’s Mrs. Thompson? The CEO’s wife?
Michael looked at Olivia, then at the photo Alex had given him.
- “You’re nothing like I had imagined.”
Olivia, undeterred, said,
- “Maybe I had some minor cosmetic work done.” She then turned to Chloe, a sneer on her face. “So you’re the mistress! Just waiting to steal my husband once we’re divorced? You shameless homewrecker!”
- “Olivia Bennett!” Michael said, his voice sharp. “Watch your language! Our marriage is a sham! This is only our second time meeting! I have no feelings for you!”
Chloe, still stunned, stammered,
- “You’re mistaken. Mr. Thompson and I are merely a superior and a subordinate. I just happened to be passing by today.”
- “Then get the hell away from here!” Olivia shrieked. “You’re an eyesore! I have things to do. You two can talk!”
Chloe, utterly fed up, turned to leave.
- “Chloe Miller! Don’t you dare!” Michael grabbed her arm. “Her behavior and the person on the phone don’t match at all. The person in our chats is nothing like you. Are you even Olivia Bennett?”
Olivia pulled out her ID.
- “This is my ID. People change. Women especially.” She snatched the divorce papers from Michael. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Chloe’s phone rang. It was her «husband.»
- “Why did you hang up? We agreed on 10 o’clock, right? Did something happen?”
Olivia, seeing Chloe’s phone, lunged at her, knocking it to the ground and breaking it.
- “What’s wrong with you?! You broke my phone!” Chloe cried.
- “If the phone wasn’t broken, how would you have mistaken my identity? It’s just a phone! You can afford a new one!” Olivia scoffed. “Let’s go. Let’s eat first.”
Chloe, furious, said,
- “I need to get my phone fixed first.”
- “How long will the repairs take?” Michael asked.
- “About an hour,” the clerk replied. “I’ll bring it over once it’s fixed.”
- “Okay. I’ll be in the private room,” Michael said to Olivia.
- “Understood,” Olivia replied, giving Chloe a menacing look. You don’t want this phone repaired. You get what I mean?
Chloe watched her go. Are you crazy?
Michael, waiting in the private room, grew impatient. Forget it. I’m done waiting. He pulled out the divorce papers.
- “Here are the divorce papers I had drafted. As of today, our one-year sham marriage is terminated.”
Olivia, who had just entered, snatched the papers.
- “I won’t leave!”
- “Olivia Bennett, what exactly do you want?” Michael asked, exasperated.
- “I don’t want a divorce!” Olivia declared.
- “Didn’t we already agree on this? How can you go back on your word? Didn’t you say you had someone else too?”
- “I lied to you!” Olivia retorted. “I only care about money. Aren’t you just divorcing me to be with Chloe Miller? I refuse! If I divorce you, I’ll get nothing at all!”
- “I’ll add 10 million in compensation,” Michael offered.
- “That’s not enough! I want 100 million!” Olivia demanded.
- “That’s impossible!” Michael exclaimed.
- “You’re the prestigious Thompson Enterprises! You can’t afford 100 million? Yuko, before I met you, I thought you were an intelligent woman. I never expected this greedy side of you.”
Olivia’s face fell. Yuko?
Michael’s voice hardened.
- “Let me make this clear. This divorce will happen whether you agree to it or not. If you continue to cause trouble, you will get nothing.”
Just then, the door burst open.
- “What’s going on in here? Grandpa!”
Grandpa, seeing Olivia, beamed.
- “Arguing? Not at all! You’re here, Grandpa! I’m Olivia Bennett, your grandson’s wife. Good, pretty, and graceful! That brat has been hiding you from me!”
Olivia, playing along, smiled sweetly.
- “It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. You’re so distinguished. Now I know where Michael gets his looks from. He takes after you!”
Grandpa chuckled.
- “Of course! I raised this boy since he was just a child! Olivia, come here.” He pulled out a wad of cash. “This 3 million is my welcome gift for you! Please take it!”
- “Thank you, Grandpa!” Olivia beamed, taking the money.
- “What are you doing, you brat?!” Grandpa snapped at Michael. “This is for your wife!”
- “Grandpa, she’s not your granddaughter-in-law!” Michael protested. “I’m divorcing her!”
- “What?! You want a divorce?! No way! I disagree!” Grandpa exclaimed. “Why would you get a divorce when things are fine? She’s such a good granddaughter-in-law!”
- “Grandpa, we never really had any real connection!” Michael insisted. “We only got married to appease you!”
- “I will not allow this divorce!” Grandpa declared. “Feelings can grow with time! Trust me! I won’t let you get a divorce!”
- “Grandpa, she’s just a gold digger!” Michael tried to explain. “You don’t know what she demanded for the divorce. 100 million!”
- “What?!” Grandpa looked at Olivia.
Olivia, panicked, said,
- “No, Grandpa, that’s not true! I just don’t want a divorce!”
- “Liar!” Michael spat.
- “Enough arguing!” Grandpa commanded. “I’ll settle this. There will be no divorce between you two!” He then turned to Olivia, a twinkle in his eye. “Grandpa, I just brewed this tea. It smells wonderful! Try some.”
Olivia, seeing her opportunity, said,
- “Grandpa, I want to work at Thompson Enterprises! First, to bond with Michael. And second, I can learn about the company’s operations. I could support Michael too!”
- “That’s perfect!” Grandpa declared.
- “I object!” Michael said.
- “What’s your problem, you punk?!” Grandpa retorted. “I’m the one who decides! You’ll start at Thompson Enterprises tomorrow! Thank you, Grandpa!” Olivia beamed.
Just then, a waiter approached Michael.
- “Your phone has been fixed.” Michael took his phone.
Olivia’s face fell as she remembered. What’s wrong with it? I dropped it earlier. Oh no, how could I have forgotten? Wasn’t she here? Is she an imposter?
Michael looked at Olivia, a thoughtful expression on his face. He remembered the phone call from yesterday, and how his «wife» had insisted her phone was stolen. He also remembered Olivia’s reaction to the name «Yuko.» Take care, Grandpa. He turned to Olivia.
- “You’re not the person I was supposed to marry. Who are you, really?”
Olivia, regaining her composure, said,
- “I am your wife! You saw my ID, didn’t you?”
- “If you are my spouse, then who sent me this message?” Michael asked, showing her the text from Chloe about the divorce.
- “My phone was stolen on the way here!” Olivia insisted. “This is clearly a scam!”
- “Really?” Michael challenged. “If you don’t believe me, call them yourself! You’re rich anyway! Scams won’t hurt you! Save my new number.”
- “There’s no need,” Michael said, his voice flat. “Other than a divorce, I want no connection with you.”
Olivia, seeing Michael walk away, quickly called Jessica.
- “Hey, it’s done! Come on over! He completely believes now that I’m his wife! I deleted Chloe Miller’s number from his phone, but Chloe Miller still has his contact info. That’s still a risk.”
- “I’ll handle it,” Jessica said, a sinister smile on her face. “Her phone will disappear.”
- “Good,” Olivia replied. “You want him, and I want the money. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”
- “Likewise,” Jessica said, hanging up.
The next day at Thompson Enterprises, the office was once again buzzing.
- “I heard Mrs. Thompson is joining the company!”
- “Seriously?! Aren’t they getting a divorce? Our intel was wrong! The Thompsons’ marriage is rock solid!”
- “Some scheming women have been spreading rumors,” another colleague commented. “The wife and the mistress under one roof? How dramatic! Some people will get schooled by the real wife!”
- “She promised to divorce her. Was that all a lie?” Chloe muttered, feeling confused and hurt.
Just then, Olivia Bennett, looking elegant and poised, walked into the office.
- “Mrs. Thompson is here! The true CEO’s wife! Such elegance, flawless beauty, and glowing skin! Right? Such a regal presence! She’s miles above us commoners!” the sycophants gushed.
Olivia smiled, basking in the attention.
- “Enough with the flattery. You’re making me blush. Chloe Miller.” She looked directly at Chloe, her eyes cold. “Thanks for keeping my husband company. Now that I’m back, your services will no longer be needed.”
- “Well said!” Jessica exclaimed, stepping forward. “Some people. Dressing fancy doesn’t make you a human being. Playing the role of a homewrecker. It’s a shame to our gender. With such a stunning wife, why would Mr. Thompson settle for trash? She’s just his plaything. Summoned and dismissed at his will.”
The office erupted in laughter.
- “Ha ha ha! Are you finished? Did I touch a nerve?”
Another colleague added,
- “If by some miracle, you become Mrs. Thompson, we’re all doomed!”
- “Her? If that gold digger wins, I’ll kneel and call her grandpa!”
Olivia, enjoying the spectacle, smiled.
- “You’re not very popular, are you? This is perfect timing. I don’t tolerate snakes in my garden. Starting today, you’re demoted to the market team’s support staff. No slacking off. I said let go of me!” She grabbed Chloe’s arm, pulling her towards the marketing department. “Work hard. You’re not leaving until it’s all done.”
Suddenly, Michael Thompson burst into the office.
- “Chloe Miller! Get the car ready!”
- “Right away, Mr. Thompson!” Alex replied, looking confused.
Michael picked Chloe up in his arms.
- “Put me down!” Chloe protested, surprised.
- “No,” Michael said firmly.
- “Let me down!”
- “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
- “I said put me down! What’s wrong with you?!” Chloe demanded.
- “What’s wrong with me?!” Michael retorted. “Answer me! Did you get the divorce?”
- “There has been a delay,” Chloe admitted. “Just give me some more time. I’ll divorce her as soon as possible.”
- “Are you playing me?” Chloe’s voice trembled. “The whole company now says that I’m the other woman! That I’ve ruined your marriage!”
- “Who said that? Tell me! They’ll regret ever spreading those rumors!” Michael said, his eyes blazing.
- “That doesn’t matter!” Chloe cried. “Neither of us is divorced yet! You need to keep your distance from now on! No more contact!”
Michael looked at her, hurt.
- “You’re not divorced either. Why? Is he unwilling? Or are you the one who is reluctant?”
- “I don’t owe you an explanation!” Chloe said, pulling away.
- “Where are you going?!” Michael asked.
- “I’m in marketing now! I need to work!”
- “Who transferred you to marketing?” Michael asked, genuinely confused.
- “No one! I asked for it myself! Is there anything else? I’m leaving.” She walked away.
- “I’ll take you to the hospital for a checkup!” Michael called after her.
- “There’s no need! I can go by myself!” Chloe replied, hurrying out.
Michael turned to Alex.
- “Mr. Thompson, find out who Chloe Miller’s husband is. Warn him. Tell him to stay away from Chloe Miller.”
- “Mr. Thompson, is this appropriate?” Alex asked, surprised.
- “Just do as I say!” Michael commanded. “Understood. Also, transfer Chloe Miller back to the design department and investigate when the company started spreading these rumors, and fire them all!”
- “Yes, sir!” Alex replied.
Meanwhile, Olivia was talking to Jessica.
- “Didn’t you promise to teach her a lesson? Why is she still unharmed? I did confront Chloe Miller for you. But Michael Thompson keeps desperately protecting her. He even fires employees who have bullied her. If the old man hadn’t protected me, I would have been expelled.”
- “What’s so special about Chloe Miller?” Olivia scoffed. “Men are a dime a dozen! If you have money, you can have as many as you want! Why be so obsessed?!”
- “You don’t understand,” Jessica said, her eyes fixed on the office. “He’s different from other men.”
- “I’ve made arrangements,” Olivia said, a wicked smile on her face. “This time, I’ll make her pay.”
Chloe was walking to the hospital alone.
- “I said don’t follow me! I’ll go to the hospital by myself!”
Suddenly, two men grabbed her.
- “Hey, beautiful. You’re not feeling well? Let us check you out.”
- “You wanted money, right?” Chloe said, trying to stall. “I have money! I’ll give you as much as you want!”
- “Did I say we’d let you go for money?” one of the thugs sneered. “That chump change of yours won’t even cover our pocket money!”
- “Boss, aren’t you just after the money?” the other thug asked his leader.
- “My place is right up ahead! Let me go and get it for you!” Chloe pleaded.
- “There’s no need for that! Just keep us entertained and we’ll let you go, right?” The thug grabbed her again. “You’re choosing the hard way, huh? I’ll take care of you right now!”
Suddenly, a woman’s voice cut through the air.
- “What are you doing?! Let her go!”
The thugs froze.
- “Sister Na doesn’t allow us to touch him!” one of them said. “Fall back!” They released Chloe and ran off.
Michael, who had been following Chloe, rushed to her side.
- “What took you so long?!” Chloe cried, relief washing over her. “I was terrified!”
- “I’m sorry,” Michael said, pulling her into a hug. “I should have come sooner. Let’s go. I’ll take you to and from work from now on.”
Later, back at Chloe’s apartment, Michael was still looking worried.
- “Why did you come here today? Didn’t you faint this morning? I came to check on you. I’m sorry for being so harsh earlier.”
- “It’s fine,” Chloe said softly. “It’s about Olivia Bennett, isn’t it?”
Michael sighed.
- “I didn’t divorce her today because she demanded 100 million in compensation.”
- “100 million?!” Chloe exclaimed. “She’s being outrageous!”
- “My mistake was not signing a pre-nup when we got married,” Michael admitted. “Now we’re headed for court.”
- “Why didn’t you get a divorce then?” Chloe asked, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes. “Is it because you can’t bear to part with it?”
- “Are you insane?!” Michael retorted, frustrated. “I’ve tried reaching him. But his phone is dead. Maybe something came up. Give me your phone. Let me try contacting him.”
Chloe hesitated.
- “Those guys just snatched my phone.”
- “It’s okay,” Michael said. “I’ll get you a new one. A brand new phone. Ten of them.” He looked at her. “Do you still remember his number?”
- “I remember,” Chloe said.
- “Never mind,” Michael said, seeing her hesitation. “I’ll contact him myself.”
- “Fair enough,” Chloe said. “I should head home now. It’s getting late.”
- “It sure is late,” Michael agreed, then reached out and gently smoothed her hair. “Wait a second. Your hair is messy. If you go home looking like this, your grandma will worry.”
Chloe felt a jolt.
- “Why can’t I move my hand?!”
Michael smiled.
- “Good night.”
Chloe, flustered, said,
- “I should really go now.”
As she left, Grandma called out,
- “Chloe, your bag?”
Is this what sweet love feels like? Chloe thought, her head spinning. No way. I need to divorce my secret husband as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Michael was home. Olivia had made him chicken soup.
- “Honey, I made this chicken soup for you myself. Please try some.”
- “Get out!” Michael snapped, pushing it away. “What’s wrong?! You’re not my wife at all!”
Olivia looked shocked.
- “Why is he doubting me again? What nonsense are you talking about?! If I’m not your wife, then who is?!”
- “Are you sure?” Michael challenged. “If you’re really my wife, then who sent me messages asking to file for a divorce?”
- “I already told you! My phone was stolen!” Olivia insisted. “This is clearly a scam message! Look carefully! The number they used is completely different from yours!”
- “Fine,” Michael said. “Since you claim to be my wife, what is the phone number I used to contact you? Recite it for me now.”
Olivia stammered.
- “Isn’t your number the one that ends with 8128?”
- “Wrong,” Michael said, his voice cold. “That’s my work phone. Not the private number I use to communicate with you.”
- “You have so many private numbers! How could I possibly remember them all?!” Olivia cried.
- “Then I’m calling the police,” Michael said, pulling out his phone. “You can explain this to the officers. In this day and age, scammers dare to target me?!”
Olivia, panicked, grabbed his phone.
Meanwhile, Chloe was waiting for her «husband» at the cafe. I’ve waited for so long. Why hasn’t she shown up yet? She pulled out her phone and dialed. “Hello? That’s the same voice from before!” She recognized the woman’s voice. “Olivia Bennett is definitely an imposter, Penang! I’m sorry. I mistook someone else for you. I didn’t mean to stand you up.”
- “It’s fine,” her «husband» replied. “Let’s just reschedule. How about tomorrow?”
- “Hmm. We’ll do as you said. Wear purple rosemary flowers.” Chloe said, remembering Michael’s earlier comment.
- “After the divorce tomorrow, we’ll settle our accounts with Olivia Bennett. Purple rosemary?”
Chloe, intrigued, thought, You want to settle scores with me? You’re bound to be disappointed. She then heard Jessica on the phone.
- “Help me put on a show tomorrow. You’ll be rewarded. Purple rosemary.”
The next day, Chloe saw Jessica wearing purple rosemary flowers.
- “Purple rosemary? Why are you here? We just met yesterday. And you’ve already forgotten me?”
Jessica looked at her, confused.
- “Why are you wearing rosemary?”
Chloe smiled.
- “Didn’t you say we would meet today? Each of us would wear a purple rosemary. I’ll be wearing it. To meet him at the registry office. To cover up this lie. But Chloe Miller must disappear. Okay. I’ll handle Chloe Miller. And make her vanish completely.”
At the County Clerk’s Office, Chloe and Michael met. Michael looked at Chloe, then at the purple rosemary in her hair, then at the rosemary Jessica was wearing.
- “How could it be you?!” he exclaimed.
Chloe smiled.
- “It’s always been me. I’ve always been your wife. But you never trust me. So I played a little game with you. Fun, isn’t it?”
Michael’s eyes widened.
- “So that message from yesterday was also from you?”
- “Yes. I sent that message. Oh, and that’s my new number. You can save it as ‘wife’.”
Michael, still reeling, retorted,
- “In your dreams! Let go of me!”
Jessica, who had arrived, watched the scene unfold. She grabbed Chloe.
- “What are you doing?! Let go of me! What are you doing?!” She then turned to Michael. “Alright, since you’re here. Go and file for the divorce now!”
- “A divorce?” Michael said, his eyes fixed on Chloe. “Fine. But you’d better prepare a hundred million right now. Or… two hundred million!” He was challenging Jessica.
Jessica, furious, pulled out her phone.
- “You, uh…”
Just then, Alex Davis burst in, looking panicked.
- “Hello? Mr. Thompson! Chloe Miller’s grandma is at the office! She can’t reach Miller! Understood! I am coming right now!”
Grandma, tearful, said,
- “Grandma! Chloe is in trouble!”
Michael turned to Grandma.
- “Grandma, tell us what happened!”
- “This morning, she went to file for a divorce,” Grandma explained, crying. “Shortly after she left, I called her. I told her to buy me two pounds of braised pork on her way back. But during the call, it suddenly went silent. The line went dead! Just static! She must be in danger! That awful husband of hers must have done something!”
Michael’s face was grim.
- “Who is Chloe Miller’s husband? Do we have any leads? Not yet,” Alex said.
- “Call the company-issued phone number,” Michael commanded.
- “We’ve already tried that! There was no answer!” Alex replied.
- “Try her personal number!” Michael said.
- “Grandma, call Chloe again!” Emily urged.
- “I’ll try,” Grandma said, dialing.
- “Grandma, give me the number! I’ll dial it!” Michael said, his voice urgent.
- “It’s 165, ending with 1306,” Grandma said.
- “What’s the full number?!” Michael demanded.
- “Are you deaf at such a young age?! The one with the number 165, ending with 1306!”
Michael dialed. The phone rang, and then he heard Chloe’s voice.
- “Chloe Miller, where are you?! Say something!”
A distorted voice came through the phone.
- “It’s you, Mr. Thompson. Who are you? Is Chloe Miller with you? Name your demands. Any demand will do.”
- “Then I want you,” Michael said, his voice chillingly calm.
- “Listen carefully! Fine! I’ll make you hear clearly!” the voice sneered.
- “Chloe, are you okay?!” Grandma cried into the phone.
- “If you want her safe, you’ll have to trade yourself for her! I’m at the Westside Abandoned Warehouse. Don’t be late!”
- “Okay, I agree,” Michael said, his voice firm.
He hung up.
- “Hello? How’s Chloe?” Grandma asked.
- “Grandma, it’s fine! It was just a prank that someone pulled! You should go home and wait. I’ll bring Chloe Miller back.” Michael turned to Alex. “Alex Davis, please escort Grandma home!”
- “Ma’am, please come with me,” Alex said, taking Grandma’s arm.
- “Bring Chloe back safely!” Grandma pleaded.
- “Understood,” Alex replied.
Michael turned to his security team.
- “Mr. Thompson, we’ve found him!”
- “Where is she?” Michael demanded.
- “The signal is very weak. It’s coming from the Southside Warehouse. The police are already on their way.”
- “Southside,” Michael muttered. “Nicole told me to go to the Westside. She was probably trying to mislead us. A weak signal. She’s not on the ground level. She’s underground.” He then looked at the blurry image from the warehouse security feed. “Mr. Thompson?”