Chapter 2

I sat in my study and read through the divorce agreement from beginning to end once more.

Black and white, clear and orderly.

In the property division section, I didn't take a single thing.

This house, which I had owned before the marriage, went to her, the car went to her, and the company shares had nothing to do with me.

All I needed to take was my own savings.

I signed my name on the agreement.

Ethan Carter.

Three years ago, I had still been full of hope that even if this marriage started with利益, maybe I could make it work.

I was really stupid back then.

I put the agreement into a file folder and set it on the table.

Then I took out my phone and opened the chat with her.

"Come home early today. I have something I want to talk to you about."

Then about two minutes later, one word popped up beside her avatar.

"Okay."

I turned off my phone and threw it onto the sofa.

I turned around and went to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water.

The kitchen was huge, with a side-by-side fridge, a built-in oven, and German-imported cookware, all arranged neatly.

But I hardly ever used it.

When we first got married, I tried cooking a few times, thinking she could eat something hot when she got home.

The first dish I made was braised ribs. She took one bite and said it was okay.

Then she answered a call and left, saying Caleb had something going on.

The second time I made sauerkraut fish, she didn't come home at all.

The third time I made a full table of dishes, busy from four in the afternoon until seven at night.

She did come back, but Caleb was behind her.

The two of them walked in laughing and talking. When she saw the full table of dishes, she froze for a second and then said, "We already had plans. We're going out to eat."

Caleb stood behind her, tilting his head at me, and said with a smile, "You worked hard."

I still feel a sour ache in my stomach whenever I think about that smile now.

After that, I never cooked again.

At seven that night, she still hadn't come home.

At eight, still not home.

At nine, my phone rang.

I picked it up and looked at it. It was a message from her.

"Something came up with Caleb, so I'll be back later. Go to sleep first. No need to wait up for me."

I stared at that message for a long time.

"Go to sleep first. No need to wait up for me."

I heard that sentence for three years.

Every time it was like this, and every time it was Caleb.

Something was always going on with him, and she was always the one who had to go take care of it.

Once Caleb said he wanted cake from that shop on the west side of the city, and she drove forty minutes to buy it, took it to his apartment, and only came home after he finished eating.

By then it was already one in the morning.

I asked her, "Did you eat dinner?"

She said, "I ate over at Caleb's place."

Then she took a shower and went into the study.

I should have understood then.

But I didn't.

I always thought that since we were married, we should at least give each other some time.

Maybe after enough time passed, she would realize I wasn't that bad.

Maybe if I did enough, she would be willing to look back at this family.

Now that I think about it, if a person doesn't have a place in your heart at all, then no matter how well you do, it's all useless.

She wouldn't like you just because you were outstanding. She would only feel that your excellence had nothing to do with her.

I didn't reply to her message.

Before, I would always reply with a simple okay to show I understood.

Sometimes I would even add a line saying then be careful, to make myself look generous and considerate.

But today, I didn't want to reply.

Anyway, in a few days, I wouldn't even be receiving her messages anymore.