To stay available for customer calls at all times, Jeff kept a Bluetooth headset in his ear. Right now, it was playing an old rock track full of nostalgia.
As the melody played, Jeff's thoughts drifted back to three years ago, when he first met Emily Harper...
Jeff came from one of the world's most elite wealthy families. Most people knew only of mysterious dynasties like the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, or Astors.
But they had no idea the most secretive family of all was the Sterling family.
The Sterlings' assets exceeded a hundred billion dollars, yet they remained extremely low-profile—their names never appeared on any public rich lists.
Their approach to raising heirs was unique.
Jeff's grandfather placed immense importance on character building.
From age five, Jeff trained in martial arts while also mastering piano and violin.
By eighteen, he had completed a four-year business degree at a top American university.
To further temper his character, his grandfather arranged for him to marry into a second-tier family in Chicago—the Harpers—three years ago.
Over those three years, Jeff endured every kind of humiliation in the Harper household, but he bore it all and successfully completed the trial.
He had planned to come home today, reveal everything to his wife, and tell her he was worth billions.
But after what happened... "Heh, Emily Harper, I can't wait to see your face the day you learn who I really am."
Jeff looked forward to that moment.
Jeff went back to Northridge, Riverfront Residences, a spacious ninth-floor apartment. A place Emily and Jeff lived at.
At eight o'clock in the evening, after finishing his last deliveries, Jeff walked through the door.
"You're back? No need to cook tonight. I ordered takeout—come eat."
Emily had come home early and, unusually, had set the table for him.
In the past, every meal had been prepared by Jeff.
He slipped off his shoes and said flatly, "No thanks. I'm just here to pack my things."
With that, he headed straight to his bedroom.
Jeff's room had always been separate from Emily's. They were husband and wife in name only and had never shared a bed in three years.
Emily clearly got upset and followed him in, hands on her slim waist.
"What? Running away from home now? Is it really worth it over something so small?"
Jeff kept folding clothes into his suitcase and replied angrily, "Something small? You think cheating is trivial?"
Emily's eyes darted away, speechless for a moment.
"So what? Do you actually expect me to apologize? You eat our food, drink our water, live in our house—even if I did betray you, you just have to suck it up!"
Jeff slammed the suitcase shut.
"I've sucked it up in your Harper family for three years! I treated you like a princess, yet in all that time, you never once took me seriously!"
"Your mother, Susan Harper, has humiliated and slapped me in front of everyone countless times—I never talked back!"
"Your father, Robert Harper, used me like free labor for every dirty, backbreaking job. I've been injured more than once, and every medical bill came out of my own delivery earnings!"
"When your uncle and his kids bullied me, the whole family pretended not to notice!"
"From today onward, I'm done enduring it! Emily Harper, let's get a divorce!"
At the word "divorce," Emily froze for a second before bursting into laughter.
"Haha, you dare bring up divorce? Don't say I didn't warn you—after we're divorced, you won't be living in a luxury apartment like this or driving that Audi anymore!"
Jeff sneered. "Heh, a luxury apartment? An Audi? I don't need them."
Emily shot back, "Fine. I've wanted a divorce for a long time anyway. I still don't know what my grandfather was thinking, forcing me to marry trash like you! The Harpers are at least a near-first-tier family in Chicago with assets over a billion dollars. Someone poor like you was never worthy of being my husband!"
With his packing finished, Jeff had no interest in listening to more insults.
"Then tomorrow morning, we'll go to the courthouse and file for divorce."
"Not tomorrow," Emily refused immediately. "Tomorrow is my grandmother's eightieth birthday. The whole family has to gather at her place before ten. Besides, I need to discuss this with my family first."
Their marriage had been arranged by the elders.
Three years ago, Emily had no right to refuse.
Today, she likewise had no right to dissolve it unilaterally.
Prominent families worked that way—many decisions were out of their hands.
Jeff knew she couldn't decide alone.
"Then explain it clearly to your family as soon as possible. I'll wait for your call."
With that, Jeff grabbed his suitcase and left.
"Bastard! Trash! You'll regret divorcing me! In a few days, you'll come crawling back on your knees begging!"
Emily chased him down the hallway, cursing all the way to the elevator, but Jeff ignored her completely.
Because he knew how absurd her words were.
A man worth over a hundred billion dollars begging to return to a family worth only a billion?
Emily Harper, you're dreaming.