Chapter 32
It had been Monica who demanded the breakup first, and yet, when Leonard agreed without hesitation, she was the one who couldn’t accept it.
Leonard repeated himself patiently, his voice calm, almost gentle. "I said, then let’s break up."
Back then, he had been ready to register their marriage. She had refused.
Thinking about it now, perhaps that had been a blessing in disguise—no divorce proceedings, no property division to untangle.
Monica stared at him viciously, her chest heaving with fury.
"Leonard Kale, I’m giving you one last chance. Get down on your knees right now and apologize. If you kneel, I’ll pretend you never said that."
Her chin tilted high, arrogance dripping from every word.
Leonard almost laughed.
Only now, fully awake, did he realize how utterly pathetic he must have been before—for Monica to speak such shameless nonsense with such brazen confidence.
"I don’t need your forgiveness," he said evenly. "I said we’re breaking up. I want you out of my life."
The firmness in his tone planted the first seed of unease in Monica’s heart.
This couldn’t be happening. Her live ATM machine was walking away.
How could she accept that?
Her current lifestyle—luxury shopping, high-end restaurants, designer everything—had all come from Leonard. She had to admit, he had always been extraordinarily generous.
If they truly broke up...
What would she have left?
Her so-called friends would laugh at her.
"I don’t agree!" she snapped. "Leonard, do you have some other woman on the side? Is that why you suddenly want to break up? You were never like this before!"
Leonard looked at her coldly, watching her descend into hysterics.
Suzy stood off to the side, quietly observing. Both of them watched as Monica raged, flailed, and nearly lost control.
Unfortunately, when she realized that throwing a tantrum wasn’t working, she quickly forced herself to calm down.
She gripped her handbag tightly and shot Leonard a venomous glare.
"Fine. Break up, then! Leonard Kale, you’ll regret this! I’ll see how you beg me to come back! I will never forgive you!"
She spun around dramatically and stormed toward the door.
"Wait." Leonard’s voice stopped her.
She froze mid-step. A flicker of smug triumph crossed her face as she turned back, convinced he had come to his senses.
"What? Regretting it already? I knew it. I’ll take a step back—kneel now, unfreeze my card, and I’ll forgive you."
Suzy’s jaw nearly dropped.
She stared at Leonard.
Don’t tell me he’s actually going to...
But Leonard didn’t kneel. He walked straight toward Monica instead. Without a word, he grabbed her right hand.
Monica smiled in satisfaction, certain he was about to beg her to stay.
"Apologize quickly," she demanded. "I don’t have time to waste on this nonsense."
But Leonard wasn’t looking at her face.
His gaze was fixed on her wrist.
On the bracelet.
The jade bangle he had originally prepared as a gift for Suzy—snatched away by Monica and now gleaming arrogantly on her arm.
Finally, Leonard spoke.
"If we’re breaking up, then return everything I gave you. I won’t argue over the money. But the things I bought for you—give them back."
Before Monica could react, he seized her wrist. With a rough, decisive motion, he yanked the bracelet off.
She screamed as the metal edge scraped against her skin.
"You’re crazy! Why are you stealing my bracelet?! Leonard, are you that shameless? You’re a grown man!"
Leonard let out a short, humorless laugh. "It was never yours. How is it stealing? I paid for it."
The moment she saw the bracelet in his hand, panic flooded her face. She lunged at him.
"That’s mine! Mine!"
For reasons she couldn’t explain, Monica had always felt that bracelet was important. Her instincts told her it was valuable—more than just in price. She had a strong sense that she needed to keep it.
Her intuition had served her well before. It had helped her seize opportunities, climb higher, secure benefits.
It was that same intuition that had driven her to fight so desperately for this bracelet.
Not just because it was expensive, but because she felt she had to have it.
Now, watching it slip from her grasp, she clawed and scratched at Leonard in a frenzy.
"Give it back! That’s mine! Leonard, you bastard!"
But this time, there was no tenderness left in him. He grabbed her by the wrist, dragged her to the door, and shoved her out into the hallway.
"Get out."
The door slammed shut with a thunderous bang. Monica stood frozen outside, entirely stunned.
She had never imagined Leonard would throw her out. Hadn’t he loved her more than his own life? Hadn’t she been his savior?
Unless...
Unless he had realized something.
The thought drained the color from her face.
Her phone rang.
Hands trembling, she answered.
Whatever she heard made her expression change drastically.
Moments later, she hurried away down the corridor, heels striking the floor in frantic rhythm.
***
Inside, Leonard let out a long breath. When he turned around, he found Suzy staring at him in wide-eyed disbelief.
Embarrassment flickered across his face right away.
"Well... that was awkward," he muttered. "Sorry you had to see that."
Suzy shook her head.
Honestly, she thought she was hallucinating. Her uncle had actually grown a backbone.
Let’s hope this isn’t just temporary, she thought. Let’s hope he’s truly woken up.
They exchanged a quiet look.
"Uncle," Suzy said softly, "I’m just glad you finally came to your senses."
Leonard’s ears turned faintly red. After a long pause, he managed only a small, awkward, "Mm."
He placed the bracelet on the coffee table. For a moment there, he hesitated.
It had been worn by that despicable woman. Now it felt tainted.
Across from him, Suzy’s eyes were glued to it. The surface shimmered faintly in the light, a subtle glow dancing along its green depths.
She swallowed.
"Uncle... since you’ve taken it back... and it was meant for me... can I still have it?"
Leonard looked startled.
Then something complicated—relief, guilt, affection—softened his features.
"Of course. It was always meant for you."
He picked up the translucent green bracelet and held it out to her. "It’s just... she wore it. I feel uneasy about that. If you mind, I’ll find you a better one another day."
Suzy almost laughed.
Mind? She was certain now—this thing was extraordinary.
"I don’t mind at all," she said firmly. "And you specially picked it out for me."
Leonard nodded slowly. "Alright."
After a few more quiet words, he retreated to his room, still carrying the weight of the day on his shoulders.
Suzy returned to her own room, clutching the bracelet.
Her heart beat faster as she studied it. She knew it was something special.
But how did she activate it?
She examined it for a long time, turning it over in her hands.
Nothing happened.
With a casual thought, she placed it into her space for safekeeping.
Then, craving something sweet, she tried to retrieve a cup of milk tea from her space—and froze.
The space didn’t respond.
It was as if it had completely shut down.