Chapter 3: Without My Permission, This Marriage Will Never End  

The cold glow from the car screen illuminated Shen Shuli’s pale face as the latest news headline struck her like a bolt of lightning.  

*The Third Young Master of the Mu Family Secures a Ten-Billion Order, Multiple Patents Break Foreign Technological Blockades, Overcoming Overseas Barriers and Bringing Glory to the Nation.*  

When she returned home, Fu Yanci had not yet arrived. She packed her clothes, placed the divorce papers on the bedroom table, then turned and left with her suitcase in hand.  

As she passed through the living room, Eleven barked at her twice.  

Eleven was a stray puppy she and Fu Yanci had picked up on the side of the road while shopping last year on October 1st. It had been abandoned, barely born, whimpering pitifully.  

Her heart ached for it, and she begged Fu Yanci to let them keep it.  

At first, he refused, but he couldn’t withstand her pleading and eventually agreed. Now, the puppy was almost a year old.  

She wanted desperately to take it with her, but she hadn’t settled into a new place yet. Once she did, she would come back for it.  

At 10 p.m., when the motion-sensor light in the entryway flickered on, Fu Yanci’s fingertips still carried a lingering chill.  

A white throw pillow lay crooked at the edge of the carpet, and there was no sign of Shen Shuli curled up on the sofa.  

His fingers paused slightly as he loosened his tie, the silver cufflinks engraved with the initials *”Yan Li”* glinting coldly.  

Li Ma came out to greet him. “Sir, you’re back.”  

Fu Yanci removed his tie and set it aside, his tone casual. “Where’s my wife? Has she gone to bed?”  

Li Ma replied, “Madam came back earlier, packed her things, and left in a hurry with her suitcase.”  

“Left? Is she on a business trip?”  

Fu Yanci’s brow furrowed slightly, an ominous feeling rising in his chest.  

Li Ma shook her head. “Madam didn’t say anything.”  

Fu Yanci strode toward the bedroom, scanning the room. Everything seemed to be in place, and he exhaled in relief. Shen Shuli loved him so much—how could she possibly leave him?  

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed a few sheets of paper on the table. He walked over and saw, to his shock, that it was a divorce agreement.  

His gaze dropped to the last page—her signature was already there.  

He pulled out his phone and called her. The line rang endlessly, but no one answered.  

He tried over a dozen times, but the result was the same.  

He sent her messages.  

*”Wife, I’m home. Where are you?”*  

Silence.  

*”I brought you a gift. Do you want to see it? I picked it out carefully.”*  

Still no reply.  

*”I know I’ve been away too long. You’re angry, aren’t you? I was wrong. I won’t go on any more business trips for a while. Just tell me where you are, and I’ll come get you, okay?”*  

No response.  

Fu Yanci tried a voice call, but no one picked up, no matter how many times he tried.  

This had never happened before. Everything had been perfectly fine when he left!  

He dialed Xu Zhun’s number, his lips stiffening into a grim line, his expression terrifyingly dark. “Find out where my wife is right now. And investigate everyone she’s met in the past few days—leave no one out!”  

Meanwhile, Shen Shuli was at her villa in the suburbs, a property she owned before marriage. After the wedding, she rarely visited, only sending maids to clean it periodically.  

When they got married, she had warned Fu Yanci: if he ever made her angry, she would move out and never return.

However, for three years, Fu Yanci had doted on her to the bone, and she never had the chance to move out. Who would have thought it would come in handy now?

The front door was suddenly pounded with loud bangs.  

“Shen Shuli!” Fu Yanci’s furious roar startled the birds perched on the eaves. He kicked the door open, his brows still carrying a frosty chill. “Without my permission, our marriage will never end!”  

Shen Shuli looked at him coldly, crossing her arms as she retreated to the staircase landing. “I have nothing to say to you. The division of assets is clearly written—just sign it.”  

Fu Yanci’s pupils constricted sharply, as if doused with a bucket of icy water.  

“You know, in this world, the only person I love is you. If anyone tries to drive a wedge between us, they’re lying. Believe me, please?”  

Listening to his words, Shen Shuli felt nothing but overwhelming irony. If someone else had said them, she might not have believed it—but those words had come straight from his mouth!  

Fu Yanci pulled Shen Shuli into his arms.  

“Wife, I know I’ve been away too long. You’re angry, you resent me—I understand. Whatever you want to ask, I’ll explain everything.”  

Recalling his past words, Shen Shuli felt nothing but disgust. “Let go of me. I have nothing to say to you. Just sign the papers so we can part amicably. I don’t want this to end up in court.”  

Fu Yanci’s arms locked around her like shackles, his scorching breath brushing against her ear in a low murmur. “Then at least tell me why you want a divorce. Even if I’m to die, let me know why.”  

A metallic tang rose in Shen Shuli’s throat, mixing with the taste of rust. She inhaled sharply, but even the cold air couldn’t suppress the crimson fury in her eyes.  

“Then you tell me—why, after three years, have I never gotten pregnant? The doctor said there’s nothing wrong with my body. Did you never want us to have a child?”  

“Giving birth is like walking through the gates of hell. I didn’t want you to take that risk. Be good, we don’t have to rush—we can take our time.”  

Fu Yanci’s voice softened, his whispers laced with the scent of cedarwood.  

Shen Shuli dug her nails into her palms, swallowing back the storm of rage inside her.  

“Fu Yanci, you can’t even lie convincingly. The doctor said my uterus has fully recovered—I’m perfectly capable of bearing a child!”  

Fu Yanci pressed her face against his chest, his unease growing as his tone softened. “Fine, we’ll have one. We’ll start now!”  

With that, he swept her into his arms and headed for the bedroom.  

Shen Shuli struggled desperately. “Put me down! Don’t touch me!”  

Fu Yanci’s steps were steady and unshaken as he carried her into the bedroom, laying her on the bed before pinning her down, capturing the sweetness of her lips.  

He had held back for over twenty days—he couldn’t wait any longer to claim her.  

Shen Shuli pushed against him with all her might, but it was futile. She slapped him hard across the face. “Don’t touch me! Are you trying to force me now?”  

Fu Yanci froze slightly, staring at her flushed, furious face, his heart sinking in panic.  

“Tell me, what happened while I was away? At least give me a chance to explain before talking about divorce.”  

Shen Shuli lowered her gaze coldly, her words sharp as blades. “I think you’re filthy.”

Fu Yanci’s brows suddenly furrowed, his deep obsidian eyes clouded with confusion. “I swear, you and I were absolutely each other’s first from the very beginning. All these years, I’ve never touched another woman. If I’m lying, may I be struck by lightning.”

Shen Shuli curled her lips into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, feeling nothing but utter irony. Their child was already five years old—he had clearly cheated on her long before their marriage!

Every word from him was a lie, yet he dared to swear such an oath!

For three years, she couldn’t distinguish truth from falsehood in anything he said to her.  

“Fu Yanci, there’s nothing left to say between us. Our three-year marriage has come to an end. For the sake of your company, I won’t make our divorce public. Let’s part ways amicably!”