Chapter 2

Victoria glanced at me, then nodded in agreement. She handed me the pen. I took it, my expression unreadable, and signed my name.

"Aren't you going to read the agreement?" Victoria asked, frowning.

I smiled faintly. "No need."

She was practically walking away with nothing, signing over all our assets to me—all for Tristan, to repay a debt of gratitude.

"Let's go to the registry office tomorrow."

"Okay," I said.

Victoria's hand, holding the signed agreement, paused. She looked at me with a hint of bewilderment but ultimately said nothing. As they left, Tristan looked back, a sneer on his face, and mouthed silently, "You lost."

I certainly had lost. I'd lost my entire life. That's why this time, I refused to lose again.

A moment later, my phone lit up with a SnapChat message from Victoria.

Victoria: You went through a lot today, Julian. I'm sorry.

Victoria: Once this is over, I'll give you another wedding. We'll get back together.

Victoria: I can't just watch Tristan's depression worsen. You understand, right?

I stared at the message and couldn't help but laugh, tears welling in my eyes. It was the same in my past life. To pressure me into divorce, Victoria had gotten advice from friends and drank herself into a stupor. But she forgot that her friends were my friends too.

Harper, while urging Victoria not to ruin our marriage for Tristan, also came to me, asking for my understanding, claiming Victoria was just "exceptionally loyal." She said that if Tristan's father hadn't recognized Victoria's talent back then, investing in her and helping her start her company, Victoria wouldn't be where she was today.

I had cried back then, arguing, "She had countless ways to clarify the situation, why did she have to divorce me?"

Harper fell silent. She had asked Victoria, who replied, "Someone has to be hurt. I can only make Julian suffer. He loves me; he'll understand."

Because I loved her, I was expendable. What kind of logic was that?

Luckily, I had another chance.