Chapter 3
For that entire month, I did just one thing. I hired a lawyer to sue him and his precious darling.
No one could betray me and get away with it.
Then he came crawling back.
What true love indeed.
Jerome exclaimed, "Raquel, you actually sued me and Winnie!"
Seeing the fury on his face gave me a deep sense of satisfaction.
I said, "So, all your assets got frozen?
"You've received the court summons, have you? Then you'd better tell your precious little darling to get her finances in order. Otherwise, if she can't cough up the money when the time comes, she'll end up on the defaulters' list.
"Also, since we're still married, I'd advise you to stop giving her any more money. Lately, I've received quite a few anonymous tips with photographic evidence. It's more than enough to build a solid bigamy case against you.
"Don't worry. Given our decades-long history, I'm not planning to do that for now.
"But I have no connection with Winnie. I'll sue her at any moment to reclaim every penny of our marital assets.
"What's more, stop all your underhanded dealings at the company.
"I'll let it slide this month. But if I catch you pulling any more tricks, I won't hesitate to call a board meeting and expose your true colors. The board will surely consider replacing the CEO."
Jerome shuddered, a sudden wave of dread washing over him.
He realized that Raquel had been tracking his every move.
Lately, he had had this creeping feeling of being watched. Now it hit him that Raquel must have people tailing him.
He had been living under her close surveillance all this time.
After decades together, he knew Raquel's methods all too well. She had personally settled scores with every single person who'd ever crossed her.
Back then, he took pride in having such a formidable wife. Now, all he felt was sheer terror.
The reason he offered Raquel the lion's share of their assets in the divorce was not without cause.
He knew all too well how ruthless she could be, and he was terrified she'd go nuclear.
He'd envisioned a clean break with her.
But his negotiations broke down completely.
He knew he owed Raquel.
He had truly loved her once.
But after all these decades, his feelings for her were gone.
He knew just how formidable Raquel could be. At first, divorce wasn't even on his mind. He only wanted to keep Winnie outside the marriage.
He never expected to get caught.
He remembered that day when Winnie was slapped by Raquel and didn't dare fight back.
At that moment, a wave of guilt washed over him for Winnie.
He wanted to give her a proper status.
He didn't want Winnie to be the other woman anymore.
He didn't want her to be slapped again.
He made the decision to divorce after careful consideration.
He was certain that even if they got divorced, Raquel wouldn't just cast aside decades of affection, as they had grown up together.
But he was mistaken. Raquel didn't even show a trace of sentiment.
Given her vengeful nature, he should have known that Raquel would never let him off easily.
He pictured Raquel making a scene.
He imagined his own social ruin.
He thought of his son.
He remembered his aging parents.
A deep sense of helplessness settled over him.
He didn't understand why it was so hard to be with the one he loved.
He let out a long breath and finally made up his mind.
As long as Raquel stopped making trouble and let him and Winnie live in peace, he'd accept it.
After all, even without his shares, he was still the CEO with a salary high enough for him and Winnie to live on.
He said, "Raquel, I've told you that you're family to me. So I'll give you what you want. If you drop the lawsuit, I'll walk away with nothing but the clothes on my back."
Seeing him so defeated and compromised, I felt utterly lost inside.
Suddenly, I remembered the young Jerome who shielded me during the car accident.
Back then, he was covered in blood. His trembling hand cupped my face. His voice was broken and shaky.
He said, "Raquel, it doesn't hurt. Don't... cry. It breaks my heart to see you cry.
"Don't worry. I won't... die. If you don't believe me... let's make a bet."
He coughed up a mouthful of blood. It was shockingly red.
He said, "I bet I won't die.
"If I live, you marry me. If I die, you walk away."
The face from my memory slowly overlapped with Jerome standing before me now.
"Raquel, for the sake of all the years we grew up together, can't you just let this go?" Jerome pleaded.
His voice snapped me back. I looked at him, feeling upset.
"Jerome, let's make a bet," I said quietly.
Jerome froze, clearly not expecting Raquel to bring up a bet at a time like this.
It brought back memories of all those times he spent with Raquel.
He felt like changing his mind, but when he thought of Winnie, he quickly suppressed it.
"How do you want to bet?" I asked.
I looked at him seriously, and he met my gaze, just as earnest as me.
It was just like the way we used to bet.
"I bet she doesn't really love you. She's only after your money," I declared.
As soon as I finished, Jerome's face darkened.
After a beat, he responded, "She's not like that."
I could tell he was annoyed, as if I had slandered their perfect love, but I still pressed on.
"I bet when you're broke, she'll dump you and go find herself a new rich guy," I said.
Jerome snapped, "Impossible!"
"I'll bet you on this unless you're too chicken to take the wager," I urged.
Jerome retorted, "Why wouldn't I? Winnie isn't such a shallow woman."
I said, "Fine, let's make this bet. First, I reclaim all our marital assets, and you leave with nothing, not even a single share of the company.
"If your sweetheart sticks with you through thick and thin for a whole year at your lowest, you win the bet.
"Then I'll return all your company shares and split the rest of our marital assets fifty-fifty.
"At that point, you can give everything to your precious darling. I won't object in the slightest.
"And I'll even persuade our son to accept Winnie and give you both his blessings.
"I'll also talk to your parents and make sure they won't get angry with you."
Jerome stared at Raquel in shock. His mind was in turmoil.
Her aggressive attitude just now reminded him exactly of the times she used to challenge him to bet in the past.
He clearly had no intention of taking the bet, yet at that very moment, as if possessed, he found himself nodding.
He said, "Alright, you're on."
Seeing him agree so decisively, I was momentarily dazed.
Countless images overlapped in my mind.
As a boy, as a teenager, and as a man after college, he was always so unwavering.
I said, "Don't you even want to know what's at stake if you lose?"
"I won't lose!" Jerome said with conviction, completely confident in his own judgment.
He declared, "If I lose, I'll accept whatever terms you set.
"But we absolutely have to sign a separate agreement."
Confident of victory, he still wanted something in writing to prevent Raquel from going back on her word.
I shook my head. "Jerome, we've been making bets for decades. When have we ever needed a written contract?"
Jerome said irritably, "How do I know you won't go back on your word?"
I looked at him calmly.
I said, "Jerome, you begged me for this divorce.
"I'm only making this bet because of all we've been through these years. Take it or leave it. It makes no difference to me.
"You know I always honor my bets. When have I ever reneged?"