Divorced from the Cold CEO Who Lived by the Rules - Chapter 45

Jiang Ruan had initially only been putting on an act, but when Xu Zhen unexpectedly returned, she took the opportunity to remain kneeling. “I know I was wrong,” she said.

The Alpha knelt properly, her posture impeccable. Even though she was physically lower, it did nothing to diminish her noble demeanor. “I shouldn’t have kept things from you, nor should I have dragged you into this.”

“It’s all my fault.”

Xu Zhen stopped in front of Jiang Ruan. Truthfully, after some self-reflection, she no longer felt any strong emotional turmoil. With her busy schedule, Xu Zhen simply didn’t have the energy to dwell on relationship issues.

All she wanted was to rest.

“We’re not the same kind of people. I think separating would be best for both of us,” Xu Zhen insisted, unwilling to compromise even slightly.

The Beta’s resolve was unshakable. Jiang Ruan stared straight at her. After a long moment of silent confrontation, Xu Zhen sighed helplessly and pulled the Alpha up from the floor. “Go do your work. We’ll find time another day to finalize the divorce.”

“We both have things we value more, so let’s not hold each other back.”

“I know Grandmother has been hoping for this outcome.”

With that, she ignored Jiang Ruan and walked past her into the bathroom to remove her makeup.

By the time she finished and came out, Jiang Ruan still hadn’t left. Xu Zhen glanced at her wordlessly before climbing into bed. Lately, she had been swamped with work, barely able to catch her breath, and practically fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

The Beta’s indifference made it clear that reconciliation wasn’t happening. Jiang Ruan obediently went to wash up before cautiously approaching Xu Zhen.

Xu Zhen had been exhausted, but for some reason, she found herself unable to sleep tonight.

Lying in bed, she could hear every sound—Jiang Ruan’s footsteps, the rush of water in the bathroom, and even the faint dip in the mattress when the Alpha finally slipped into bed beside her.

Xu Zhen kept her eyes closed, unmoving, as Jiang Ruan stealthily inched closer, then carefully wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Can you forgive me?” Jiang Ruan whispered in Xu Zhen’s ear. “I promise it won’t happen again.”

Xu Zhen didn’t respond. After a pause, Jiang Ruan murmured, “I know you’re awake.”

“If you’re upset, take it out on me. Don’t keep it bottled up inside.” Jiang Ruan wasn’t good with words, nor was she skilled at comforting others. She racked her brain before adding, “Punish me.”

“Just say the word, and I’ll accept anything.”

The Alpha was being unbearably persistent. Xu Zhen frowned. “Then go back to kneeling on the floor.”

“Okay.” Jiang Ruan agreed without hesitation. She immediately got out of bed, circled around to Xu Zhen’s side, and dropped to her knees on the cold, hard marble floor with a sharp, unsettling thud.

Xu Zhen instinctively tensed to sit up but restrained herself. “You don’t actually think obeying me like this will make everything disappear, do you?”

“And your self-sacrificing act won’t work.”

Suppressing the turbulent emotions in her chest, Xu Zhen turned over. “If you want to kneel, then kneel.”

With that, she closed her eyes again, forcing herself to fall asleep.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, even Jiang Ruan’s breathing was barely audible. Xu Zhen felt as if she had fallen asleep, yet not quite—she drifted in and out of consciousness. When she regained awareness and checked her phone, only half an hour had passed.

Half an hour… Suddenly, Xu Zhen’s mind snapped back to reality, remembering Jiang Ruan still on the floor.

She quickly turned on her phone’s flashlight and rolled over to look. The sudden light made Jiang Ruan lift her head in confusion. “Awake?”

Under the dim glow, Jiang Ruan’s hair was slightly disheveled.

The cool white light accentuated her sharp, striking features, giving her an indescribable, ethereal beauty. Her aura was distant and untouchable, yet the pitiful, pleading expression of an Alpha made her irresistibly alluring—tempting enough to make one want to drag a deity down to earth.

Jiang Ruan was too bewitching like this. Xu Zhen forced herself to look away. “Still not leaving?”

“My knees hurt.” Jiang Ruan ignored the question, playing the victim. “Are you still mad at me, wife?”

The word “wife” sent a tremor through Xu Zhen’s heart, nearly shattering her resolve. “If your knees hurt, then get up. No one’s stopping you. You could just leave—”

“No.” Jiang Ruan shook her head, doubling down on her act. “And my legs are stiff. I can’t move.”

Xu Zhen didn’t believe her, so she didn’t respond.

But after another ten minutes, Jiang Ruan still hadn’t moved. Xu Zhen began to waver. Jiang Ruan was highly favored by Pu Shuangquan—if the old woman found out her precious granddaughter had been forced to kneel…

Xu Zhen didn’t want trouble. Whether Jiang Ruan was faking or not, she couldn’t let this continue.

Pushing aside the covers, Xu Zhen turned on her flashlight again and swung her legs off the bed, reaching out a hand. “Get up. Now.”

“Cramp.” The Alpha clung to Xu Zhen’s warm hand, whining. “I can’t move. Come closer and pull me up?”

Xu Zhen frowned. “So troublesome.”

Despite her complaints, she took a step forward.

Jiang Ruan was taller and heavier, so Xu Zhen had to crouch slightly, using both hands to help her up.

She didn’t think much of it, just a simple motion. But in an instant, Jiang Ruan pulled her into a tight embrace, pressing their bodies flush together.

“What are you doing?” Xu Zhen had no choice but to kneel on one knee, glaring. “Are you getting up or not?”

“No.” The Alpha rested her chin on Xu Zhen’s shoulder, whispering into her ear.

Warm breath brushed against her earlobe, sending a shiver down Xu Zhen’s spine. “Then stay kneeling.”

Before she could finish, the weight on her shoulder vanished only to be replaced by the familiar softness of lips against hers. The kiss was tentative at first, tender and cautious, but soon grew bolder, deftly dismantling Xu Zhen’s defenses.

Xu Zhen instinctively tried to pull away but accidentally knocked her phone aside.

The light hit the floor, plunging the room into darkness.

In the darkness where the naked eye could see nothing, all senses were heightened. Xu Zhen could feel the Alpha’s warm body temperature, her subtly quickened heartbeat, even her gradually heavier breathing.

Before she could process more, Jiang Ruan’s aggressive kiss quickly ignited the desires she had been suppressing.

Amidst this internal struggle, their clothes slipped away. Tender kisses began trailing down her neck, collarbone, chest, and even… to places Xu Zhen couldn’t name aloud.

“Jiang Ruan, that’s enough.” She struggled to keep her voice steady, but Jiang Ruan acted as if she hadn’t heard, continuing her relentless advance.

Xu Zhen began to resist, only to be effortlessly restrained. “I want you,” the Alpha whispered against her ear, deliberately nibbling the lobe until Xu Zhen couldn’t suppress soft whimpers.

“No.” Xu Zhen refused again, but tonight Jiang Ruan wasn’t as accommodating as before. Ignoring her protests, she served Xu Zhen with the same devotion as always.

Like parched earth receiving sweet rain, after futile resistance, Xu Zhen finally surrendered to the pleasure.

When their passionate encounter ended, Xu Zhen leaned against the bedpost in satisfied exhaustion, yet remained firm in her decision. “Do you have time tomorrow?”

“No.” Jiang Ruan knew her intention and denied her outright.

Xu Zhen scoffed coldly. “Then I’ll have my lawyer contact you. If you have no objections to the divorce agreement drafted by my attorney, just sign it.”

“Jiang Ruan, don’t make this difficult. Don’t make me lose respect for you.”

Jiang Ruan said nothing, simply carrying Xu Zhen silently to the bathroom. “I’ll manage myself,” Xu Zhen dismissed the Alpha.

After a brief wash, she returned to bed and slept unusually soundly. At dawn’s first light, Jiang Ruan woke the moment Xu Zhen stirred. “Have some breakfast.”

“No need. I don’t have time.” Xu Zhen refused flatly, reminding Jiang Ruan before leaving, “Remember to sign the divorce papers.”

Without giving Jiang Ruan a chance to respond, Xu Zhen turned away resolutely.

Of course Jiang Ruan wouldn’t sign the divorce papers easily, but Xu Zhen wasn’t worried. She knew Pu Shuangquan and others would pressure Jiang Ruan.

Xu Zhen’s status was unworthy of Jiang Ruan and the title of wealthy matriarch—many were eager to take her place.

Now with Xu Zhen’s new drama a smash hit and perfectly concluded, commercial endorsements and new scripts flooded in. She had no concerns about work for the next few years.

It seemed she could live well without Jiang Ruan.

If so, then this Alpha who now only brought her trouble was even less necessary to keep.

Busy with work, Xu Zhen soon forgot about the divorce papers until evening when her lawyer appeared, relieved. “The signed divorce agreement is here for your review.”

“She signed?” Xu Zhen froze momentarily before asking.

The lawyer nodded. “Yes, it’s signed.”

Lowering her gaze to the document bearing Jiang Ruan’s bold, forceful signature, Xu Zhen found herself uncertain what to feel.

Finally suppressing her emotions, she said simply, “Thank you for your trouble.”

The lawyer shook his head. “It’s been a pleasure working with you. I wish you smooth sailing and success in all your endeavors.”

After the other party left, Xu Zhen put away the agreement, deliberately avoiding overanalyzing why Jiang Ruan had agreed to sign. The die was cast there was no point dwelling on it anymore.

Though her heart still ached with a stabbing pain, Xu Zhen believed she could overcome it.

Assistant Lu observed the beta’s reaction but refrained from commenting on Xu Zhen’s personal feelings. Her job was to help Xu Zhen break into the top tier.

During dinner, Xu Zhen habitually browsed the news and noticed Xing Yan’s rising popularity, it seemed her position as a council member was now secure.

At the same time, many Omegas suffering from the distress of their cycles had eagerly signed up for the procedure at Jiang Ruan’s institution, desperate to break free from a life of dependency.

Omegas were a pitiable group. Though they held noble status and were pampered, the kindness they received often came with ulterior motives.

Given the choice, they would rather live ordinary, unremarkable lives like betas.

Xu Zhen turned off her phone screen, her mind unexpectedly drifting back to Pu Shuangquan and Jiang Ruan’s words. With this technology, they wouldn’t just amass staggering wealth, they could also reshape the world’s power structure, vaulting straight into the highest echelons of society.

Despite his age, Pu Shuangquan’s decisiveness in certain matters was undeniably impressive.

After letting her thoughts wander, Xu Zhen returned to work. Her new series was a hit, and everyone around her had suddenly become pleasant, making her workload surprisingly enjoyable.

At eleven that night, Xu Zhen finally wrapped up and returned to her hotel.

The moment she opened the door, she spotted the Alpha sitting upright on the sofa, working on her laptop. Xu Zhen frowned. “Why are you here again?”

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