### Chapter One “Ms. Anya, the divorce papers we discussed are drafted and should have arrived by now. Did you receive them?” I took the documents sent by Mr. Davis from the courier, murmuring a soft, “Yes, Mr. Davis. Thank you.” The call ended just as the delivery van drove away. I turned and walked into the house. Moments later, I heard the front door open behind me. Julian’s deep, resonant voice drifted closer, stopping right behind me. “Anya, I’m so sorry, this business trip has been insane. I’ve been swamped with work and haven’t even had a moment to breathe, let alone check my phone and call you.” As he spoke, Julian Vance rounded to face me, his cheek gently brushing my stomach, eyes crinkling with a smile. “Has our baby been keeping you busy these past few days?” “Julian Vance.” My sudden utterance made him pause. He was ten years my senior. I used to playfully call him ‘honey,’ or ‘babe,’ but it was only during our most intimate moments, when he pushed my limits, that I’d find myself whimpering his full name. Before he could even process it, I flipped the divorce papers in my hand to the last page, concealing the text, and handed them to him. “You once promised me a gift after the baby was born. Well, I’ve decided what I want. Just sign right here.” My voice was flat, devoid of emotion. He took the papers without hesitation, picked up the pen, and swiftly scrawled his signature at the bottom. I hadn’t expected him to be so quick, not even glancing at the content. A flicker of surprise crossed my face. “Aren’t you afraid to sign a document without even reading it? What if it leaves you penniless?” Julian only chuckled, a doting smile playing on his lips, and gently pinched my cheek. “Everything I have is yours, Anya. And once the baby arrives, it’ll all be for you two.” The words had barely left his mouth when I smiled. Too bad for you, Julian. Because this time, the only thing I want is my freedom. My retort was cut short by a sudden ring. It was Julian’s phone. Though he snatched it quickly, I still caught a glimpse of the glaring name on the bright screen: Seraphina Hayes. “Company emergency, I need to take this.” He pocketed his phone with a natural demeanor. Seeing me nod, he turned and headed towards his study. He took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, looking back at me, still standing rooted to the spot. “Oh, by the way, you called me so many times these past few days. Was there something important?” A sharp pang went through my heart, but I shook my head. “No, nothing.” Hearing my reply, he didn’t press further, disappearing into the study. Julian’s silhouette vanished completely as the study door clicked shut, leaving me to lower my head and let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Nothing,” indeed. Just a car accident that left me fighting for my life, and the loss of our baby. The day of my car accident and miscarriage, I called him seventy-eight times, desperate for him to see our child one last time. But he was busy watching the sunrise with Seraphina Hayes, his first love, who had just returned from abroad. He didn’t want anyone to disturb that precious moment of peace, so he rejected my calls. In the end, he simply turned his phone off. It was then I learned that Seraphina was his first love, his childhood sweetheart. And me? I was just a placeholder. Even though I was young, I understood that you don’t bring someone new into your life if your heart still belongs to someone else. Julian was ten years my senior. How could he not understand something so fundamental? Gazing at the signed divorce papers in my hand, I managed another bitter smile. Julian Vance, since you love her so much, I’ll give you back to her permanently. ### Chapter Two I took out my phone and called Mr. Davis, my lawyer. He answered quickly, and I spoke first. “Mr. Davis, the divorce papers are signed. When can we finalize everything?” On the other end, Mr. Davis seemed surprised that the agreement was signed so quickly, his tone betraying a hint of astonishment. But his professional training kept his curiosity in check as he replied, “The legal process typically takes about a month.” With the exact timeframe confirmed, I handed over all divorce matters to him. After hanging up, I set a thirty-day countdown on my phone. That night, Julian stayed in his study. The next morning, as I left my room, I saw him dressed in a suit, ready to head out. He paused when he saw me, then quickly resumed his normal composure. “I’ve got something urgent today, so I won’t be able to come to your prenatal appointment. You don’t mind going alone, do you? We can still grab dinner at your favorite place later, as a treat.” Prenatal appointment? A wave of sarcasm washed over me. The baby was gone, there was no need for any appointment. But looking at Julian, standing by the door, I ultimately said nothing, just nodded. He didn’t leave, though. Instead, he gestured to his cheek. I pretended not to understand, remaining still. When I didn’t react, he finally spoke. “Forget your goodbye kiss?” It was a tradition we’d started when we were first married, our love still fresh and vibrant. Every time Julian left the house, I’d send him off with a goodbye kiss. But now, I just shook my head. “Aren’t you in a hurry? You should just go.” “You really are getting less clingy the older you get.” Julian chuckled, but didn’t insist on the kiss, walking straight out the door. He hadn’t been gone long when I changed and left myself. But my destination wasn’t the hospital. It was Dr. Alex Kincaid’s lecture. I’d heard he’d just returned from abroad and was giving a lecture at the university today. I arrived a bit late, with streams of people already exiting the auditorium. As they passed me, I could hear their excited chatter. “Dr. Kincaid is seriously incredible, winning a Nobel Prize so young! His research is groundbreaking!” “I know, right? Definitely worth coming to this lecture.” … I walked against the flow of people into the auditorium. Some were still inside, gathered around the central figure of the lecture – Dr. Alex Kincaid himself. Too many people surrounded him. After watching for a while, seeing no sign of the crowd dispersing, I decided to leave. Just as I turned, a surprised voice called out my name. I looked back and saw Alex Kincaid trying to squeeze his way out of the crowd. “Anya, long time no see.” My eyes crinkled with a smile. “Alex, long time no see.” We chatted briefly, catching up, before I hesitantly brought up the real reason I was there. “I’d like to join your research institute, if that’s possible?” Alex’s face lit up with surprise and delight. “Yes, of course, you can!” “Anya, you were the star of our department, a true genius who skipped multiple grades as soon as you enrolled! But your parents thought a life in research was too demanding for a young woman, they wanted you to take an easier path, and our professor had no choice but to offer the position to me. If you hadn’t left back then, that spot—and even the Nobel—would’ve been yours!” His expression then softened with concern. “But our institute is in Germany. Will your family approve?” I smiled. “Back then, my parents believed a young woman shouldn’t have to struggle. They wanted me to have a comfortable life, so they pushed for a suitable marriage with a ‘reliable man.’ But I’m filing for divorce now. So, finally, I can chase the life I truly want.” Hearing about the divorce, Alex’s excitement was palpable. “When can you leave?” “In a month.” Alex mirrored my smile. “Great, I’ll be waiting for you.” ### Chapter Three “Anya!” Alex and I were engrossed in conversation when a familiar voice suddenly called from behind me. I instinctively turned around, seeing that all-too-familiar face. Julian, impeccably dressed in a suit, stood tall a short distance away, his expression darkening as he looked at Alex. “Anya, aren’t you going to introduce us?” He was always so composed; this was the first time I’d ever seen such clear jealousy in his eyes. But why was he jealous? His heart, clearly, belonged only to Seraphina. “This is Dr. Alex Kincaid, a senior colleague from my university days.” I pushed away the distracting thoughts and introduced Alex first, then turned to Julian. “And this is… my husband, Julian Vance.” After the brief introductions, Alex and Julian shook hands. As their hands parted, faint red marks were visible on both. They both subtly put their hands behind their backs, but the palpable tension in the air was enough to make my skin crawl. I pushed down the strange feeling in my heart and waved to Alex. “Well, I should head back now. See you around.” Julian and I walked away side-by-side. I didn’t turn to see the flicker of disappointment that crossed Alex’s face. We hadn’t walked far when Julian broke the silence, his tone clipped. “What are you doing here?” “It’s been a while since I was last at the university. Just felt like coming back for a visit.” I paused, coming up with a casual excuse, and walked alongside him. “Weren’t you supposed to be incredibly busy today? What brings you here?” As I finished speaking, we reached his car. I instinctively headed for the passenger seat, but just then, the window lowered, revealing a face I’d never truly known, yet wasn’t unfamiliar with. Julian, surprisingly composed, offered a smooth explanation when he saw my gaze land on Seraphina. “Just ran into an old friend, catching up.” It was a perfectly normal explanation, but my eyes lingered on the bag of snacks he was holding. I suddenly remembered he had once been a student at this university. And now, it seemed, Seraphina was too. Whether they were merely catching up or rekindling an old flame, only they could truly say. But deep down, I already knew the answer. “Hi there, I’m Seraphina Hayes. You must be Julian’s wife, right? You’re so young and lovely.” Seraphina smiled and waved at me, her tone overly familiar. I managed a tight smile and a nod. Seeing she had no intention of getting out, I simply got into the back seat. Perhaps my silent retreat emboldened Seraphina, for throughout the drive, she completely ignored the fact that Julian’s wife was sitting in the back, playfully teasing and laughing with him as if I weren’t there. She clutched the bag of snacks Julian had given her, then picked up a pastry and held it to his lips, laughing. “Julian, these taste exactly like they used to! Try some?” Julian, focused on driving, didn’t think twice. He turned his head and took a bite of the pastry she offered. Immediately, her playful chide filled the car: “Oh, Julian, how clumsy of you! You almost bit my finger!” Julian’s eyes crinkled with amusement. As he glanced up, his gaze suddenly met mine in the rearview mirror. A flash of panic crossed his face. He quickly pushed Seraphina away. “Anya, would you like to try some too?” “No, thanks. I don’t eat those.” I shook my head, my gaze averted. But Seraphina wouldn’t be deterred. “Are you sure? They’re delicious! Back when we were students, Julian used to sneak out of school to buy them for me all the time!” “At first, he was the model student, never daring to climb over the wall. He’d always come back with scratches. I told him not to bother, but just because I liked them, he actually learned how to scale the wall perfectly. After that, he never got hurt again.” Seraphina’s every word dripped with nostalgia, constantly highlighting how devoted Julian had been to her back then. Her gaze frequently darted to the rearview mirror, clearly hoping to see a flicker of displeasure in my expression, anticipating my reaction. But I remained quiet, listening silently, offering no response. Finally, she had to settle for a slightly sarcastic glance at Julian. “Your little girl certainly has a good temper.” Julian let out a soft laugh at that. “She’s very sensible.” ### Chapter Four Time slipped away with Seraphina and Julian’s back-and-forth chatter. Soon, the car pulled up in front of the Vance family villa. I got out, but Julian remained in the car. He lowered the window. “Seraphina and I have an alumni reunion later. You’re pregnant, so it wouldn’t be comfortable for you to go. Just head inside and rest, okay?” There was no struggle, no questions, just a quiet resignation. I turned and walked into the villa. The moment I stepped inside, the car restarted and gradually drove away. I braced myself for him not coming home that night. Yet, in the middle of the night, half-asleep, my phone suddenly rang. I picked it up. It was an unknown number, but I had a pretty good idea who it was. I answered, and Seraphina’s voice indeed came through. “Julian’s drunk. You should come pick him up.” With that, Seraphina hung up, not giving me a chance to react. I sat on the bed, staring blankly at the address Seraphina had sent me for a while. Finally, I got up, changed, and left the house. I wanted to see exactly what Seraphina was trying to pull by deliberately calling me there. Fifteen minutes later, a waiter led me to the door of Julian’s private room. The door wasn’t fully closed, and through the gap, I saw two figures in an intimate position. They seemed to be playing a game. Julian and Seraphina were biting opposite ends of the same biscuit stick. As the surrounding crowd cheered them on, the biscuit grew shorter and shorter, their lips drawing closer and closer. Until the last piece of the biscuit was gone, and neither of them pulled away. The next second, Julian’s lips landed on Seraphina’s. Both paused, startled. Seraphina was the first to react, her face flushing crimson as she feigned shyness and tried to pull back. But Julian, as if truly lost in his drunken state, suddenly grabbed the back of her head, pulling her into a deep, lingering kiss. The cheers around them intensified, but standing outside the room, I felt like I was seeing Julian for the very first time. In front of me, he had always been composed, steady. This was the first time I’d ever seen him so utterly unrestrained. At that thought, I let out a self-deprecating laugh. Anya, what are you doing? Your husband is kissing another woman in there, and you’re just watching? I shook my head, ready to leave, but a figure suddenly rushed out and blocked my way. It was Seraphina. Her lips were flushed, her eyes still holding a hint of lingering passion. “Anya, you saw that, didn’t you?” “Since you saw it, you should know Julian’s heart has always belonged to me. A golden boy like him, why would he ever truly love a young girl like you? You only caught his eye because your face resembles mine. My advice? Be smart. Sort out your situation and walk away now, and you might actually salvage some dignity. Because if you wait until Julian gets bored and kicks you out, you’ll be the laughingstock of our entire social circle. You wouldn’t want your child to end up like you, pitifully waiting at home for Julian to return every day, would you?” “Julian will divorce you and marry me, eventually. If you don’t walk away gracefully now, don’t come crying to your family when he finally kicks you to the curb and you’re left with nothing.” “Does Julian Vance know?” Seraphina was expecting to see me furious, but my first question made her frown. “What?” “Does Julian Vance even know the woman he’s apparently loved for all these years is this two-faced?” Without waiting for Seraphina’s reply, I walked straight into the private room. Ignoring the sudden silence that fell over everyone, I pulled Julian to his feet and steered him out. He was truly drunk, completely out cold. As I helped him into the back seat of the car, he kept mumbling Seraphina’s name. I looked at his face for a long time, then spoke with a hint of bitterness. “Just a little longer, Julian Vance.” Just a little longer, and we’ll both be free. Julian woke up the next day. He blinked, surprised to find himself home, but the previous night’s heavy drinking had left him with no memory of what happened. He could only ask me, sitting by the bed and applying lotion, “How did I get home yesterday?” “I picked you up,” I replied, my expression unreadable. Hearing that, a complex emotion flickered across Julian’s face. He asked in a low voice, “Did I… do anything out of line?” I met his gaze calmly, then shook my head. I finished applying my lipstick, preparing to leave. Julian swiftly reached out, grabbing my arm. “Where are you going?” “To see Alex Kincaid.” At those words, Julian’s face darkened, a rare sight. He pulled me back, his voice softening into a coaxing tone. “Anya, stay away from him from now on. The way he looks at you… it’s not right.” He probably expected me to agree immediately. Instead, I looked him dead in the eye. “What’s ‘not right’ about it? Isn’t it the same way you look at Seraphina Hayes?” “Seraphina is my friend.” As if I’d exposed some hidden thought, Julian’s expression stiffened, but I refused to cooperate. “Alex is my friend too.” He choked, rubbing his temples with a pained expression. “Anya, I usually let you have your way with everything, but this? This is where you listen to me. I’m a man, and I know how other men think.” Then, as if to appease me, he reached for the bedside drawer. “Don’t go, okay? Look, I bought you a gift before my business trip. It’s perfect timing for you to have it today.” The moment the drawer slid open, perhaps not having been properly placed, a stack of papers – our signed divorce agreement – slipped out with a soft *thud* and landed at Julian’s feet!
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