Debra handed her phone to Juan. “The video evidence is all here.”


    Juan took the phone, frowning. “I came back for you, Debra. I’ll only be at ease if you’re safe.”


    “Thanks. If you want me to be safe, you should divorce me soon.”


    At the heart of it all, the reason for Melody’s actions was Juan’s refusal to divorce her.


    “After the divorce, do you want to be with Marion?”


    “Yes.”


    Her straightforward answer was like a knife twisting in Juan’s heart.


    Debra, seeing the turmoil in his eyes, spoke calmly. “I thought I made myself clearst time. You should understand how I feel. Our marriage was a mistake from the start.”


    Juan reached out, his hand gently grasping hers. “Shelia’s child is gone. Can’t we…”


    Debra jerked her hand away, her eyes shing with disdain. “Do you think that with her child gone, nothing is standing between us anymore? Juan, wake up! The obstacle between us has never been Shelia.”


    Juan grabbed her shoulders, his eyes filled with desperation and confusion. “Then tell me. What is the obstacle between us? Why did you choose Marion over me? I neglected you, but that was because we had no emotional foundation. Things are different now.”


    “Let go!” Debra shook off his hand, her voice cold and unyielding. “I chose you once, but you gave up on me.”


    Juan opened his mouth to speak, but Debra added, “You must know what people in Seamar City say about me. They call me a desperate woman to marry you. They call me cheap for imitating a college student just to please you.”


    Juan’s confidence faltered. He had heard the rumors. Some even mocked Debra in his presence, calling her apdog trailing behind him. He had never considered the weight of those rumors on Debra’s shoulders.


    Back then, he saw marriage as just another business tactic. Debra was a stranger to him and a pawn in Melody’s games. He intentionally distanced himself, eager to escape Melody’s control.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    He disliked Debra initially, seeing her as a mere imitation of Shelia and a puppet controlled by Melody.


    But everything changed at that auction. When he saw Debra in that red dress, it was the first time he saw another side of her. She was confident, bright, and elegant. It was also the first time he truly looked at her.


    Juan pressed his lips together. “I was wrong, Debra. I can make it up to you. Let’s start over, okay?”


    *Juan, there will be no starting over for us,” she said coldly. “You must have many things to handle. I’ll get out of your hair.”


    Juan clenched his fists. “I refuse to divorce. I won’t let you be with Marion. You can only be my wife.”