Chapter 21 Fighting Fire With Fire Perhaps Elizabeths patience and tolerance had finally reached their limit .
Every word she spoke seemed designed to provoke me , as if she wanted us to fight and search for grounds for reconciliation .
I could only say her thinking was rather idealistic .
This so called grounds for reconciliation had always been about my compromising on marriage and love .
But when the person who had constantly been wronged refused to take it anymore , where did all that reconciliation come from ? I shrugged .
Think whatever you want .
Go ahead and believe Im jealous .
It doesnt matter to me .
I added dismissively , You should get some rest .
Then I walked out of the office without waiting for her reaction .
I thought the evening was finally over , but to my surprise , Elizabeth chased after me .
She grabbed my arm with surprising strength and hissed , Julian , my patience has limits ! Her voice rose with each word .
Ive tolerated you pushing my boundaries again and again because I value our marriage .
But thats not an invitation for you to keep pushing further ! Chapter 21 Fighting Fire With Fire She delivered her ultimatum without hesitation .
If you dare leave tonight , youd better be prepared to face the consequences ! She truly was an overbearing woman ! But I was no longer the person who trembled at the slightest change in her behavior .
2/8 When I stopped loving her , she became just like everyone else , nothing special .
Hah , quit the drunk drama , Ms.
Bennett .
I have work tomorrow , so Im leaving , I chuckled softly , completely dismissing Elizabeths threats .
With a casual flick of my wrist , I broke free from her grip and walked away .
Behind me , Elizabeth stared at my retreating figure , her expression both shocked and defeated , unable to process what had just happened .
She never imagined that the husband she once considered utterly ordinary would dare to dismiss her words so completely .

It wasnt until the elevator doors closed behind me that Elizabeth finally snapped out of her daze and shouted , losing her composure , Julian , I wont forget tonight ! Ill show you just how ridiculous youre being ! Chapter 21 Fighting Fire With Fire 3/8 And Ill also tell you that theres no point in being jealous in marriage .
Even if our roles were reversed , no matter what you did , I wouldnt be jealous as long as it wasnt crossing the line ! In the quiet night , Elizabeths voice echoed in my ears long after .
Even as I left the Bennett Group building , I couldnt understand what she was trying to prove tonight .
Was she seeking reconciliation ? Or was she trying to prove she wouldnt be jealous of me ? But we were about to get divorced what was the point of these games now ? Standing by the road late at night , hailing a cab , I gradually pushed thoughts of Elizabeth from my mind .
Yet she refused to let me go , acting like someone on a drunken rampage , and called me again .
Once , seeing her name would have filled me with uncontrollable joy .
Now I had felt utter exasperation .
Hello ? Will you ever give it a rest ? No , I wont ! Julian , what did I do to offend you and make you so cold and distant ? Chapter 21 Fighting Fire With Fire 4/8 Elizabeth stood at the massive floor to ceiling window of the executive office , watching the tall , striking figure on the street below with complex emotions swirling in her beautiful eyes .
She wanted to know my answer .
Elizabeth refused to believe that Julian , who had loved her so deeply , could cut off everything between them in just a few days .
Its not an offense , nor is it truly a clean break , I said softly into the phone , my voice calm and gentle .
Im not being stubborn with you .
Im just repeating your own words .
What did I say ? Elizabeth demanded , her voice rising sharply as her fingers gripped the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white .
Those who practice Buddhism must avoid indulgence in desire , I reminded her .
Intimacy is only permitted on the sixteenth day of each month .
After five years , I had returned those exact words to her .
Then I hung up , turned off my phone , and caught a taxi that had fortunately just arrived .
I disappeared into the vast darkness of the night .
Julian ! Elizabeth cried out desperately from the window , straining her eyes to see me , but ultimately finding nothing .
The phone slipped unconsciously from her fingertips as tears streamed down her face .
Chapter 21 Fighting Fire With Fire 5/8 Through the glittering cityscape , Elizabeth saw her reflection in the window glass her face was already streaked with tears .

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Her heart ached terribly , as if someone had plunged a knife deep into it .
That night , Elizabeth couldnt fall asleep no matter how hard she tried .
Even though her mind had reached the point of exhaustion and her head was beginning to throb with pain , she refused to close her eyes .
Whenever she did , she felt a terrifying emptiness inside , as if she had lost someone forever .
The next morning , Elizabeth sat motionless in her office , her face haggard , with bloodshot eyes and dark circles beneath them .
Just then , a knock sounded at her office door .
Come in , Elizabeth snapped out of her daze and responded , her voice hoarse .
Yes , Ms.
Bennett , Edward replied .
Ms.
Bennett , what happened to you ? Didnt you sleep at all last night ? Edward asked as he entered the room , nearly dropping his jaw at the sight of Elizabeth looking so worn out .
In his mind , Elizabeth had always been powerful and beautiful .
Chapter 21 Fighting Fire With Fire 6/8 Even when drunk , she had never appeared this disheveled .
Hadnt Mr.
Thornton visited her last night ? What could have happened between them ? Edward couldnt help but wonder as Elizabeths gaze slowly shifted toward him .
What do you want ? she asked flatly .
Oh , Ms.
Bennett , I apologize .
Its about the investigation you requested .
I have news , Edward replied quickly .
What investigation ? Elizabeths eyes flickered with confusion , her exhaustion evident .
Now it was Edwards turn to be confused .

He remembered that Elizabeth had explicitly asked him last night in the car to investigate where Julian was living .
Mr.
Thorntons current address wasnt that what you requested last night ? he asked hesitantly .
Did I ? Elizabeth replied .
After a moments reflection , she nodded .
I had too much to drink last night .
Many details are fuzzy .
Just leave it here and you can go , she dismissed him with a wave .
Of course , Ms.
Bennett , Edward responded , respectfully Chapter 21 Fighting Fire With Fire placing the folder on her desk before turning to leave the executive office , carefully closing the door behind him .
Judging by Elizabeths terrible state today , Edward doubted shed be able to handle any meetings .
7/8 Sighing , he instructed the staff , Ms.
Bennett is unwell today .
No one is to disturb her , and all meetings will be postponed until tomorrow .
It was simply part of his responsibilities as Elizabeths assistant .
Edward didnt realize that Elizabeth had opened the folder back in her office and discovered that Julian had rented a house , apparently planning a long term residence .
This revelation left her completely unsettled .
That bastard ! she fumed .
Does he even care about this home anymore ? About our marriage ? Julian , youve got some nerve ! I asked you to stay somewhere else temporarily , and instead youre setting up for a full separation ! Elizabeth was absolutely furious , her beautiful eyes blazing with anger .
She immediately called Edward back into her office .
Ms.
Bennett ? What else can I do for you ? Edward asked in confusion as he entered , only to have the folder thrown directly at his feet .
Her Sacred Lie