City of Longing

When Cora Shepard's husband's first love, Kimberly Hayes, came back, her first move was to make Cora sign a wager.

The terms were simple. If George Lambert abandoned Cora nine times for her, Cora would give up her place as Mrs. Lambert.

Cora agreed.

The ninth time it happened, George Lambert abandoned Cora Shepard on the highway just because his first love called.

"Cora, something urgent came up. I need to go. You can get out here and take a cab home, right?"

Without waiting for her answer, he shoved an umbrella into her hands. He did not care that it was pouring outside or that she was on her period. His mind was already racing ahead to see Kimberly Hayes.

"Call me when you get home."

The moment Cora saw him enter Kimberly's address into the navigation, her heart clenched painfully.

The sports car roared away. The rain hit her sideways, soaking her dress in seconds. A biting night wind cut across her face. Cora trembled uncontrollably in the cold. She walked alone through the downpour. Her heels rubbed her feet raw, leaving them bloody.

Five hours later, she finally reached Clearwater Bay villa.

Her dress was stained crimson with blood. Clutching her cramping abdomen, she collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

Rain blurred her vision. Through the haze, she saw Kimberly approach with an umbrella, smiling.

"It hurts, doesn't it? Are you regretting that wager you signed with me now? Did you really think that after all these years, George would have even the slightest feelings for you?

"But you forgot something. He loves me most. Whatever small affection he had for you means nothing compared to that."

Cora stood shakily. Her pale face was expressionless.

"Nine times. You won. As you wished, I'll divorce George."

She stumbled forward, walking slowly toward the house. Memories of the past came flooding back with the rain.

Cora and Kimberly had been college roommates. Cora first met George during Kimberly's freshman year birthday party. One look at his cool, refined bearing made her heart race.

That day, Kimberly introduced her childhood friend George to everyone. Then, she publicly announced her new boyfriend, a campus troublemaker notorious for being a slacker.

Cora still remembered the shock, hurt, and loss of composure on George's face. She knew in that instant that he loved Kimberly.

However, Kimberly had always chased thrills. She liked rebellious bad boys who would skip class with her, race cars, and fool around in bathrooms. She had no interest in a proper, upright heir from a wealthy family like George.

She found him too controlling. Eventually, to shake him off completely, Kimberly discovered Cora's feelings and began creating chance encounters and dinner gatherings. She tried every method to push George and Cora together.

Cora witnessed George's entire journey from resistance to humiliation to numbness, and finally to acceptance.

In their junior year, they became a couple, just as Kimberly wanted. Then two years later, George proposed.

After three years