Chapter 4

The next morning, Julian was already gone.

All that remained in the living room were the shredded pieces of the divorce agreement scattered across the floor.

Looking at the mess, for a moment, I felt almost dazed.

Maybe Julian wasn't really that heartless toward me after all?

Did he tear up the divorce agreement because he couldn't bear to let me go?

Then my phone buzzed with a new message, snapping me back to reality.

The message was from a woman I didn't know.

A week ago, she had suddenly sent me a friend request on Instagram.

Her verification message read:

"Homewrecker, I'm back. Time to give Julian back to me, don't you think?"

Out of curiosity, I accepted her request.

Since then, she had been sending me all kinds of photos and files.

Photos of Julian with her at a concert.

Screenshots from a video of them watching fireworks together at the beach.

Even photos of them kissing in a parking garage late at night.

She was even the one who tipped me off about that agreement in Julian's study.

This time, she sent me a photo of Julian sleeping in a hotel bed, his face turned to the side.

"I heard you went through Julian's study and found that agreement. So, have you given up yet?"

"By the way, the jewelry Julian left for you—I hope you'll have it cleaned and disinfected soon."

"I'm a germaphobe. I don't like other people touching my things."

"The only reason I let Julian marry you in the first place was because you seemed clean enough. Men have needs, you know. Better he uses you than goes out looking for hookers."

"Also, you have three days to get the divorce done. Otherwise, I'm going public with our relationship."

"Don't think Julian will miss you. You have no idea how eager he's been."

"Ever since I came back to the country, he's been coming to see me almost every day. Anyway, I've got to go—Julian's waking up. We're about to take a bath together."

The messages stopped there.

And my tears fell one by one onto the keyboard. Through my blurred vision, I forced myself to reply:

"You say you don't like other people touching your things? Well, Julian's been sleeping with me for years—at least a thousand times by now."

After I sent the message, she didn't respond.

My chest felt suffocated, like punching cotton. That piercing pain shot straight through my heart.

No wonder he stormed out in the middle of the night.

I thought it was because my mention of divorce had upset him.

Turns out he was just rushing off to relive old memories with his ex.

The last thread holding my heart together finally snapped. With trembling fingers, I sent him a message:

"Julian, are you free today? Let's go to City Hall and get this done."