00:53 " Besides , " he continued , his tone patient and condescending , " you can't take care of yourself . You'll just be a burden on society . And if you get sick or hurt , I'll be the one who has to worry . " " When you get back , we can look for a new necklace , one that's exactly the same . Things are just things . We have a life to live . " " Liam , " I said calmly , " I'm not coming back . We're divorced . " My refusal to bend finally wore down his patience . " That was just a game ! The month is almost over . We can go back to City Hall and get rema rried . " " It's a simple rule . Don't you understand ? " I couldn't comprehend his logic , why he always expected me to be the one to give in , to play by his twisted rules . And now , I didn't want to understand . " You were the only one playing , Liam . I was always serious . " " A divorce is a divorce . Don't contact me again . We're done . " I hung up the phone and let out a long breath , a sense of relief washing over me . That was it . A final , clean break . It was time for a new life . 11 On the twelfth day , after a marathon of early mornings and late nights , Ethan finished his work ahead of schedule . Our trip for one became a trip for two . We went skiing in the Alps , soaring down the slopes like birds during the day , and relaxing in a cozy tavern at night , sipping wine and listening to music . We hiked the Jungfrau , measuring the world with our own two feet , laughing and cheering at the summit , marveling at the sheer joy of being alive . We wandered the ancient streets of the old town , soaking in the beauty of centuries past , taking pictures together in front of breathtaking views . We saw , we photographed , we painted . By the end of our trip , the living room of our hotel suite was filled with canvases . I wondered how I would ever get them all home . " You could sell them , " Ethan suggested . I was hesitant . Ethan had praised my work to the heavens , but I chalked it up to bias . I had no confidence that strangers would feel the same . But in the end , I decided to give it a try . We framed the paintings and set up a small stall in a public square . To my surprise , we drew a lot of attention . Children loved the simple , lively portraits of animals , while adults were drawn to the atmospheric landscapes . By sunset , we had sold a dozen paintings . I counted the money , my heart soaring . So much . Money that I had earned myself . Ethan , who had been helping me all day , looked at me with wide , sparkling eyes . " My wife's a rich woman now . And her husband is starving . " I waved my hand grandly and bought two hot dogs from a nearby vendor . " On me ! " I , Kiara Reed , was not some freeloader . I could support myself . I could take care of others . After we ate , we lay on the grass and watched the stars , a perfect end to our trip . Suddenly , a shooting star streaked across the sky . I grabbed Ethan's arm and made a wish . When I opened my eyes , he was staring at me , the moonlight reflecting in his adoring eyes . I looked away , flustered . " What are you looking at me for ? Look at the stars ! " " The stars can't grant my wish . Only you can . " I laughed awkwardly . " That's ridiculous . I don't have that kind of power . " " Yes , you do . " " When I was a senior in high school , all the scholarship spots were taken by kids who didn't need them . I was starving , I couldn't afford to eat . I had nowhere else to turn , so I filled out my information on one of those no - questions - asked websites . " 09:53 Chapter 2 09:53 8 " I prayed that someone would see me , that someone would help me . I didn't need much , just enough to eat . " " And then my wish came true . A wonderful woman sponsored me . She didn't just give me money ; she cared about me . She praised me when I won awards , she encouraged me when my business was struggling . " " I lost my parents a long time ago . I didn't have any friends at school . You became my family ." Ethan spoke slowly , deliberately , as if he had been rehearsing these words for years . I , on the other hand , was a mess , sobbing uncontrollably . " I was so ... awful ... to you ! I just ... cut you off ! " To be abandoned by the person you considered family ... how much that must have hurt him . Ethan gently wiped my tears . " It did hurt . I thought I wasn't good enough , that I wasn't worthy of being in your life . So I channeled that pain into my work . I was determined to become successful enough to stand before you again . " It was all a terrible misunderstanding . I shook my head frantically . " That's not it at all ! I just thought ... I thought I couldn't help you anymore , and I didn't want to be a bother . It's all my fault . I was so stupid . " Hearing me apologize , he pulled me into a hug . " You did nothing wrong . You're just too kind . " 12 A long time later , I finally calmed down . I sat up straight . " Okay . What's your wish ? I'll grant it , no matter what . " Ethan's gaze was intense . " I want to be on the same legal document as you ! " I was prepared for anything , even if it meant climbing a mountain of knives or diving into a sea of fire . But I wasn't prepared for that . My brain short - circuited . Two adults , on the same legal document ... how do you do that ? I looked at him , confused . Sometime during our conversation , Ethan had shifted from sitting on the ground to kneeling on one knee . And in his hand , as if by magic , was a large , sparkling diamond ring . " Kiara , I love you . Marry me . " It was sudden . I had , after all , just ended a terrible marriage . But Ethan wasn't Liam . And I wasn't the weak , helpless Kiara I used to be . This trip had helped me find myself , had given me the strength to save myself . Even if the future wasn't perfect , I wouldn't wallow in self - pity . I would keep fighting , keep living . There was so much beauty in the world , waiting for me to discover it . So I asked my heart . And my heart said yes . I held out my left hand . " Ethan Vance , I want you to be my family . " Back in the States , I moved into Ethan's spacious penthouse . He said that before , it was just a house . Now that I was here , it was a home . I couldn't quite describe the feeling . Happiness , I guess . Once I was settled , I created a new online account and started posting the paintings from our trip to Switzerland . The likes and follows started pouring in . To my surprise , someone left a comment : [ This style looks so familiar . Are you RisingKiara , the artist who disappeared a few years ago ? ] That was my old username . I couldn't believe someone remembered me . I replied : [ I am . ] The person responded instantly : [ OMG OMG OMG YOU'RE BACK ! I've missed your work so much ! Are you taking commissions ? ] [ I am . ] My inbox was flooded with messages . I was overwhelmed , overjoyed . I immediately texted Ethan to share the good news . He sent back a thumbs - up emoji . A little while later , my follower count started to skyrocket . I suspected he had bought me followers and went to confront him . He just grinned . " I couldn't help but show off my amazing wife to my company . You don't mind , do you ? " 09:53 Chapter 44 09:53 My face turned beet red . We had only been married for a few days , and he was already calling me his wife so naturally . A few months ago , I never would have imagined that my life could not only escape the darkness but also fall into such sweetness . So don't ever give up . You never know what's waiting around the corner . But I also never imagined that while I had moved on , someone else was still stuck in the past . I was out buying art supplies when Liam found me . He stormed up to me , his voice tight with suppressed anger . " Kiara , stop this nonsense . Vie re going to get remarried , right now ! " I just stared at him . How absurd . Dude , if you'd shown up a little later , I might have a kid by now . 13 We sat across from each other in a coffee shop . The owner brought our coffees himself . " It's an honor to have you here , Mrs. Vance . This one's on the house . The paintings you let us display have brought in so many new customers . You're our lucky charm . " I couldn't refuse , so I just thanked him politely . When he left , Liam's expression was grim . " You're painting again ? " I nodded . A flicker of panic crossed his face . And in that moment , I understood . He had done it on purpose . All those years , Liam had provided for me , yes , but what he really wanted was to turn me into a helpless doll , com- pletely dependent on him . He forbade me from working , from having friends , from having any life outside of him . His moods were my world . His whims were the leash around my neck . He reveled in that absolute control . But now that I could stand on my own two feet , he was afraid . " Making money is hard work . You should leave that to me . You don't have to do any of this . " He tried to cajole me . " We can get remarried right now , and you can go back to your simple , happy life . " I couldn't help but laugh . Even now , he still thought I was a fool . I opened my phone and pulled up a picture of my marriage certificate . " Liam , I'm married . " The bright red document , the official seal - they pierced through his carefully constructed composure . His mask shattered , revealing the furio- us beast beneath . " Ethan Vance ? How do you know him ? Why would he be interested in you ?! " I tilted my head . " Why wouldn't he be ? I'm a catch . " I had won national awards , I had been called a genius , I had gotten into a top art school on my own merit . I was a great person . Of course , someone would like me . Liam was taken aback . He couldn't deny it . He was drawn to this new , confident woman in front of him . But that only made him angrier . How dare she leave him for another man ? But he had no leverage anymore . The feeling of powerlessness , of being out of control , overwhelmed him . It bent his spine , bowed his head . After a long silence , I heard him say , " Kiara , I'm sorry . " "I was wrong . I'll never make another stupid bet again . I'll change . Just forgive me . Come back to me . " His eyes were red . He had never been so vulnerable . But I felt nothing . " That's not possible . " 14 I left before he did . It was an insignificant interruption , forgotten as soon as it was over . I went back to my life , to my art . When Ethan had free time , we would go on trips to the countryside . He had recently taken up photography , and he was always taking pictures of me , of the scenery . Our house was filled with photo albums . Everything was perfect . Until one day , a wave of hateful comments appeared under my latest post . [ Don't be fooled by this woman ! She's not who you think she is ! ] [ She's a cheater and a gold digger ! She abandoned her husband for a richer man ! ] [ I know her ! She pretends to be so sweet and innocent , but she was living off her husband for years . The second someone better came along , she kicked him to the curb ! ] 09:53 Chapter 2 09:53 A lot of people defended me , but others believed the lies and joined in the attacks . My comments and DMs became a toxic swamp . I panicked for a moment , but then I saw a pattern . I found the account that was leading the charge and sent a private message . [ Zoey , is that you ? ] She replied instantly . [ Yes , it's me ! You've made Liam miserable ! He's sick , he won't eat , he's like a zombie ! I'm going to get revenge for him . I'm going to ruin you ! ] Her messages were a stream of vile insults . There was no reasoning with her . I logged out and tried to think of what to do . Ethan called almost immediately . " Don't worry . I've already notified our legal team . We're collecting evidence from the comments and suing them for defamation . We'll make them pay . " A warmth spread through my chest . It felt so good to have family protecting me . But I still had to deal with the source of the problem myself . I went to the hospital where Liam was staying . When I walked in , Zoey was kneeling by his bed , trying to coax him to eat . " Get out ! " he yelled at her . " It's because of you that Kiara won't forgive me ! I don't want to see you ever again ! " But the moment he saw me , his anger vanished , replaced by a joyful surprise . " Kiara , you came to see me . " 15 Zoey was shoved aside , her face a mixture of red and white . She glared at me with pure hatred . I ignored her and spoke to Liam . " I'm not here to see you . We're divorced . It wouldn't matter to me if you died . " Liam froze . Those were his own words , coming back to haunt him . The pain was so sharp it took his breath away . " I'm here because you two are disrupting my life . Can you please just stay away from me ? " " Liam , stop torturing yourself to play the victim . The pain you're feeling now is not even a fraction of what I went through for years . " " And as for you , Zoey , the cease and desist is on its way . What you've done could land you in jail . " The color drained from Zoey's face . She scrambled to Liam for help . " Liam , help me ! I was just trying to stand up for you ! This bitch doesn't love you ! I'm the only one who really cares about you ! " When Liam realized what she had done , he was furious . He slapped her hard across the face . " How dare you ? " The heartless man felt no pity . He told her he would make sure she could never work in this city again . Zoey had lost her last lifeline . She collapsed to the floor in a heap and was dragged out by security . Her future was bleak . Now that we were alone , Liam tried to placate me . " Kiara , I had no idea she was doing that . I promise , you'll never see her again . I'll take care of it . " " And what about you ? " " I don't want to see you again either . Can you take care of that ? " He fell silent . His face was contorted in pain , his body trembling . " Kiara , " he asked , his voice shaking , " we've known each other for twenty years . Can you really just throw all that away ? Don't you remember any of the good times ? Can't you just ... forgive me this one time ? " I shook my head , my answer clear and final . " We've known each other for twenty years . And I've been miserable for ten of them . " "Liam , I thought I would never forget the good things you did for me . But now , when I look at you , all I can think about is you sleeping with ano- ther woman , your constant put - downs , your endless betrayal and lies . " " I've been hurt enough . I don't owe you anything . If you have any conscience left , you'll leave me alone . " I had said my piece . The man's tears were not beautiful . I didn't spare him another glance . I turned and walked away . Behind me , I could hear his choked sobs of regret . I knew then that I was truly free . It was the middle of winter , but the sun was shining brightly . Outside the hospital , Ethan was leaning against his car , his arms open , waiting for 09.53 Chapter me . I ran into his embrace , feeling the warmth . From now on , I would always have love and a family by my side . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!