His detached tone made it sound as though all the hardships we had survived together

were nothing more than an irrelevant footnote in his story.

“What more do I want?”

I looked at him coldly.

The air between us was frozen in silence

until his phone kept pinging with message alerts.

He frowned at me after checking them.

“Do you really have to go this far?”

“She’s an orphan. She doesn’t have many options for work.”

“You’ve ruined her job. How is she supposed to live?”

I laughed coldly.

“Isn’t she living off you?”

“Three-thousand-dollar dresses, fifty-thousand-dollar jewelry, a seven-million-dollar mansion.”

“Ethan, how come I never noticed you were this generous with employees?”

He sighed again and started explaining patiently.

“Olivia is an orphan. When she came to me, she was starving, skin and bones.”

“Seeing her reminded me of you back then—so small and pitiful.”

“Anyone would have pity. I couldn’t just let her die.”

I found it laughable.

The man who once treated me as his most precious treasure

was now using me as an excuse to justify another woman.

“If you cheated, just admit it. Don’t pretend you’re some savior.”

“Sign the divorce papers. Stop wasting my time.”

I shoved the divorce agreement toward him.

Ethan only glanced at it, unmoved.

“Sophia, divorcing over something so small—it’s not worth it.”

Not worth it.

Cheating wasn’t worth divorcing over.

Even being openly provoked by the mistress wasn’t worth it.

I let out a cold laugh.

Then slapped Ethan hard across the face.

“Every cent you spent on her came out of our marital assets.”

“If you don’t sign the divorce agreement, I’ll go ask her for it myself.”

“Do you think she can pay me back after just losing her job?”

Ethan roared my name in fury.

“Sophia Carter, don’t you dare!”

His icy hand clamped down on my wrist, nearly breaking it.

I was forced to raise my chin, staring back into his furious dark eyes.

The corner of my mouth lifted in a mocking smile.

“Why wouldn’t I dare?”

“What’s mine doesn’t get taken by anyone.”

“Except for the things that are already dirty.”

Ethan was shaking with rage.

Before he could speak, his phone rang.

It was Olivia’s special ringtone.

He flung my hand away and answered in a hurry.

Olivia’s soft, whiny voice came through the receiver.

“Ethan, my landlord is here giving me trouble. I’m scared. Can you come help me?”

His face grew grim.

He grabbed his jacket and rushed out—

not once looking back at me.