She had planned to clear her husband's name through a different approach — but it seemed Mike had other plans. He had decided to throw her under the bus instead.
MK got dressed quietly. When she reached for her phone, she remembered smashing it against the wall earlier.
"Damn it," she muttered, forcing her face back into its usual calm composure.
"I need a new phone," she mumbled, grabbing her bag.
Outside, the city suddenly felt foreign. She could see people glancing at their tablets and phones, scrolling through news headlines — her headlines.
"Why can't they mind their own business," she thought bitterly as she made her way to the nearest phone store.
As MK stepped out of the shop, still inputting her information into the new phone, a commotion erupted nearby. Someone had recognized her — and the media had been alerted.
She let out a quiet, ironic smile. "Here goes," she thought, stepping forward.
"Mrs. MK, is it true you've been cheating on your husband all along?"
"Were you trying to ruin his reputation by drugging him?"
Questions bombarded her from every direction. Cameras flashed. Voices shouted over one another. MK stood still, expressionless, letting them speak. She had learned not to show emotion; her heart might be in turmoil, but her face remained composed.
"Don't you feel bad for what you did?" someone asked, noticing her calmness.
"They want me to cry," she thought. "They want me to break." But she refused to give them that satisfaction. Her reputation might be gone, her dignity shattered — but her pride was hers to keep.
A journalist raised his voice over the chaos. "What do you have to say to your husband, Mrs. Kent?"
MK looked straight at the cameras. "I'm sorry, Mike Lewis, for not being a good wife," she began. Every word was deliberate. "I truly am sorry for stealing a year and a half of your life when you could have been with someone better." She paused. "I'll sign the divorce papers right away."
Then she put on her sunglasses and walked calmly to her car.
No one had expected that. She hadn't argued, pleaded, or defended herself. She hadn't even broken down. The media fell silent for once — stunned.
And elsewhere, Mike Lewis's jaw dropped as he watched the broadcast. It felt like a low blow. He had saved his own reputation at the cost of hers — but her quiet grace hit harder than any accusation.
Divorce? he thought, panic rising. She can't leave me. Everything I've achieved… it's because of her.
It was true. Michelle had guided him through every major decision, helped him navigate social circles, even crafted the proposal that recently brought him fame. Without her, he would be lost.
"She can't leave me," he whispered.
A knock on his office door snapped him out of thought.
"Come in."
It was Derek. "This form came in — they need your signature," he said.
Mike nodded absently, signing the papers, then quickly picked up his phone to call MK.
After a few rings, her voice answered. "Yes?"
"MK, I— you can't—" he began, but she cut him off.
"Sign the papers if you want me to complete the project," she said firmly.
"What?" he blurted, stunned.
"Sign them, Mike." Her tone was sharp, controlled.
"Okay," he said finally, picking up the pen again. "Done." He hesitated. "About the project—"
"I'll send you the file when I'm finished," she said flatly, then hung up.
For a moment, she considered not completing it — letting his company crumble. But she sighed, rubbing her temple. "Damn it," she muttered. She would finish it, not for him, but for the work she had started.
Mike sat back, torn between relief and regret. Even after everything, she was still helping him.
---
Meanwhile, Shriya had taken a break from her usual assignments. She told herself it was routine — the fallout always passed. She had seen countless people break, lose everything, even end their lives after her operations. But this time felt different. Something about MK haunted her.
A month passed. Social media finally calmed. Now, the headlines focused on Starlight Company's success — a new international investment deal. Only a few stray comments about MK appeared now and then.
MK smiled faintly when she read them. The company Mike had gone to pitch to was one she'd studied before. The proposal that secured their deal? Her work — written in her quiet apartment, away from the spotlight.
"MK, are you okay?" Jesse asked, breaking her thoughts.
"Yeah," MK replied softly. "I just feel… grateful for people from my past."
Jesse frowned, clearly confused, but let it go. Through all the chaos, she had stood by MK — one of the few who hadn't doubted her.
"Weren't you mad when the news broke?" MK had asked once.
"That idiot deserved it," Jesse had said without hesitation, making them both laugh despite the pain.
Now, Jesse noticed MK pacing, clearly nervous about something. "You wanted to ask me something?" she said.
MK hesitated. "You have to promise not to laugh."
"I'll try," Jesse said, grinning.
MK took a deep breath. "How long does it take… for the body to, um… you know…" She made vague gestures, cheeks turning red.
Jesse's eyes widened, then she burst out laughing. "Oh—oh wow, okay! That caught me off guard."
"Jesse!" MK said, mortified.
"Sorry, sorry," Jesse said, still chuckling as she composed herself. "Well… it depends. Once you've been sexually active, it can take months, weeks, even days for your body to crave it again. Sometimes it's triggered by things you see, eat, or even your time of the month." She stopped when she noticed MK's embarrassed look.
"You miss him, don't you?" Jesse asked softly, realizing what this was about.
"Kind of," MK admitted, eyes downcast. She didn't elaborate. Jesse didn't know that she'd been a virgin until that night — that a stranger had taken something she could never get back. Now, confusingly, her body ached for something she had never wanted before.
Something she had never needed — until now.