Back in the Game

Jared did not return home until late that night.

The first thing he did was step into the children’s rooms and kiss their sleeping faces.

I looked at the freshly drafted divorce papers in front of me, feeling an unexpected twinge of regret.

Jared was, after all, a good father. He just did not love me.

My thoughts were interrupted when his angry voice cut through the silence.

He grabbed the container of protein powder from the table and threw it into the trash, his expression tense. “What is this? Are you preparing for the Supermodel Showdown?

“I told you before. Your only duty is to give me more children and be my wife.”

After all, as long as I kept having children, I would never step back onto the runway to stand in Natalie’s way.

In this house, contraceptives and fitness regimens were forbidden, but they were also my secret weapon against him.

When I gave birth to Annie and he was tied up with Natalie, I calmly told him that after delivery I planned to return to the runway. Within five minutes, he had rushed into the delivery room.

On Anna’s birthday, while he was shopping abroad with Natalie, I went to the gym. Within half an hour, he was on his private jet heading home.

Every time I hinted at a comeback to outshine Natalie again, he would abandon everything and return to the family.

When I didn’t answer, his voice softened.

“I’ll spend more time at home with you. Don’t touch that stuff. You don’t need to work on your figure.”

I smiled lightly, brushing him off.

“I’m not training for the competition. The doctor just recommended I add more protein.”

Relieved, he exhaled and even sounded apologetic as he said, “Tomorrow I’ll take you to your favorite French restaurant. You’ll get all the protein you need there.”

The next day, we had barely sat down when his phone rang. It was Natalie’s special ringtone.

He answered, and his usually cold expression softened into a faint smile.

“Natalie has an important engagement. As her boss, I need to handle the arrangements. Is that alright?”

It sounded like a question, but his tone left no room for refusal.

As he turned to leave, I handed him two documents.

“Medical paperwork. I just need your signature.”

My face was composed, but my voice trembled slightly.

If he took even a moment to read carefully, he would see the truth. They were divorce papers, along with a waiver of custody rights.

He frowned slightly, about to question me, but his phone buzzed again and again.

I gave it a quick glance. It was Natalie urging him on.

He hastily picked up the documents. Just before signing, he paused.

My heart tightened.

Then he said casually, “Stop drinking protein powder. I know your body. You don’t need it.”

When I nodded, he signed smoothly.

On the way back from the divorce attorney’s office, I scrolled through the trending news and saw Natalie’s latest headline.

So much for her important engagement. It had actually been a romantic beach date with Jared.

Jared was kissing Natalie’s lips tenderly, and their intimacy was way too obvious.

The comments overflowed with blessings for the couple.

Now and then, someone remembered me. “Wait, isn’t Clarissa Mrs. Johnson? She was the top model who once outshone Natalie!”

However, the mockery soon drowned those voices out.

“She’s just a washed-up wife who trapped her husband with kids. How could she compare to our Natalie? She should get out of the Johnsons!”

“I heard she even signed up for Aeterna’s competition. Stealing a man wasn’t enough; now she dares to steal a career, too?”

“After seven years away, what does she have to fight Natalie with?”

I tightened my grip on the phone, a cold smile curving my lips.

Then I opened my contacts and sent a message to Aeterna’s organizer.

[I’ll agree to appear as your special opening guest. I’ll walk the runway to open the show.]

The reply came quickly.

[Great. One million per step.]