"A small Shaw Family isn't worth my attention. The resort being built in the northern development zone has skimped on materials, the greenery is less than two-thirds of the competitive standard, and the foreman is lining his pockets. Just the taxes reported on paper already show a lot of evasion... If I really wanted, do you think I couldn't take down the Shaw Family? Letting it be a stumbling block for me?"

"Aurelia, you're too naive. Balthazar Shaw agreed to let you marry me because he saw the value behind me, and he's also afraid of the forces behind me."

Mason Nightshade felt a sharp pain in his heart.

He shouldn't have told her these things. His Aurelia should have enjoyed the best love in the world.

He shouldn't have let her face these harsh truths.

"Aurelia, I..."

"Are you threatening me?"

Aurelia Shaw interrupted Mason Nightshade, her expression showing no waves of emotion.

"If you think relying on these can bring down the Shaw Family, then you're wrong. The Shaw Family reached its status today through strength, not something that can be toppled just like that."

"You don't need to sacrifice your marriage to save the Nightshade Family's business, and I don't need to sacrifice my life to join you in this game."

"Game? You think what's between us is just a game?" Mason Nightshade gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"What else?" Aurelia retorted.

She had seen for herself what happened afterward.

Experienced it personally!

"Are you trying to tell me that the man who didn't even bother to look at me married me out of love?"

"What if I say yes?" Mason Nightshade replied.

"I don't believe you." Aurelia laughed coldly, "You don't need to use a child's excuse to brush me off. I can tell if someone likes me or not. This marriage was a transaction from the start. How much genuine emotion do you think there is?"

"You haven't looked at the divorce papers yet, but that's alright. I've printed many copies and can give you one again. After you read it, if you find something unsatisfactory..."

"I find everything unsatisfactory!" Mason Nightshade abruptly interrupted Aurelia.

He was nearly driven mad by her!

Did she really have no feelings for him at all? How could such passionate feelings just end at will, with no reluctance?

Did she ever truly love him?

Mason Nightshade was in doubt, even though in his past life she loved him until the end, but... perhaps even she didn't realize her excessive obsession with unattainable things. Was it love for him or an obsession with the unattainable Mason Nightshade?

Mason Nightshade couldn't distinguish anymore, feeling an acute pain in his heart that almost made him faint.

"Aurelia, shut your mouth. If you say one more word, I can't guarantee I won't do something irrational." His gaze fixed on her, eyes bloodshot, lips trembling, his hand on her neck quivering, yet without applying any strength.

How could he bear to hurt her!

He really wanted to open her heart and take a look.

To see if he was there in her heart, to see if she truly loved him.

But.

He didn't dare to look.

"Please don't mention divorce again, alright? Hmm? I'll agree to anything you say, except divorce..."

Mason Nightshade's hands trembled as he held Aurelia's face, his dark eyes filled with hope as he gazed into her eyes, wanting to see a hint of reluctance or sadness. But there was nothing, not even a trace; her gaze was as cold as looking at a stranger, as sharp as a knife piercing into his heart, shattering all his hopes cruelly.

"Except divorce... don't even think about it." He murmured softly, as if speaking to her and to himself.