So even when she said "divorce," he hadn't believed her—thought she was just playing games?

Molly let out a soft laugh. "I finally understand how you felt back then. I'm truly sorry, Mr. Vance."

Miles's hand froze mid-motion as he was about to light the cigarette. He looked up at her. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and there was a fragility about her—something broken—that he had never seen before.

It caught him off guard.

But before he could dwell on it, she had already turned and walked away.

Molly had just gotten into the car when her mother-in-law called, asking her to come to the Old Estate.

She hung up and glanced outside. Miles had changed his clothes and was waiting by the entrance, clearly intending to go with her.

In front of his family, their marriage had always appeared to be one of "mutual respect."

This time, Molly didn't move. She'd made up her mind to divorce him, and she was done catering to Miles's feelings.

The tall man finished a cigarette before finally losing patience and rapping on her window.

"I'll drive myself," Molly said, her tone flat.

"My mother can't be upset." She had surgery coming up soon. If they arrived separately, she'd overthink things.

Molly didn't respond. Even if her mother-in-law got upset, that was his doing, not hers.

She raised the window, but Miles spoke suddenly. "The brooch—you don't want it anymore?"

Molly looked at him. One hand braced against the roof of the car, his posture deceptively relaxed, yet he had her completely cornered.

She pressed her lips together. In the end, she got out.

Sharing a car with Miles—this was the first time in three years of marriage.

Something she'd once longed for so desperately now brought her no joy at all.

The driver was steady. Molly sat pressed against the window, catching in her peripheral vision the crisp press of his trousers, not a single wrinkle.

Neither of them spoke.

Twenty minutes later, the car arrived at the Vance Old Estate.

Miles fastened his suit jacket, stepped out, and took her hand.

Molly's fingers trembled. Looking down at their interlaced hands, she felt worse than she had waiting up for him all night.

She was repulsed. She tried hard to shake him off, but couldn't.

Miles said nothing, his expression as emotionless as ever. He wasn't even gripping tightly, yet she couldn't break free.