Chapter 2

Sophie Reed POV

Three days later, Brandon Foster’s assistant forcibly dragged me to Foster Tech’s new product launch.

“Sophie Reed, today’s launch determines whether the company can secure follow-up investment from Zahn Group. Miles Zahn is sitting in the audience today.”

In the backstage corridor, Brandon Foster adjusted his suit while pressing down on my shoulders, half coaxing and half forcing me. “Sit obediently in the audience and let the media capture footage of us looking like a harmonious couple. I can’t have any negative news about relationship problems, understand?”

I stood quietly in the shadows, not even bothering to nod as a pretense.

But when the staff led me into the venue, I realized there was no seat for me in the most central VIP seats in the front row.

In the seat representing the company family representative sat Nina Young, perfectly composed.

She wore a white haute couture gown and was speaking softly and gently with the investors below the stage.

As for me, the staff led me all the way to the very corner, behind the media section.

“Hey, why are you sitting here?”

A female employee who didn’t know who I was came over and tapped the table in front of me, her attitude arrogant. “These rows are reserved for partner media. Don’t get in the way here. If you damage the equipment behind you, can you afford to pay for it?”

I looked up at her without explaining, then stood coldly and stepped back into the dim exit corridor behind me.

The launch began soon after, with thunderous applause.

When it came time for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Nina Young walked gracefully onto the stage under everyone’s gaze and stood beside Brandon Foster as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The two of them held the golden scissors together, and the flashbulbs flickered like daylight. Below the stage, a familiar business partner teased suggestively, “Mr. Foster, Ms. Young’s white dress... Anyone who didn’t know better would think today wasn’t just a product launch, but your wedding ceremony too.”

A burst of knowing laughter erupted through the venue.

Brandon Foster’s body stiffened onstage.

His gaze swept over the front row in near panic, trying to find me. But the front row was empty. I wasn’t there at all.

Facing Miles Zahn, the investor below the stage, Brandon Foster gritted his teeth. In the end, he did not open his mouth to clarify.

He merely curved his lips as if accepting it, revealing an ambiguous smile, allowing Nina Young to quietly lean a little closer to his side.

Standing in the shadowy corridor, I calmly watched the whole scene unfold.

The last flicker of feeling inside me died away for good.

I lowered my head, unlocked my phone, and logged into the airline’s internal ticketing system.

Because the driving unit had already submitted the compulsory divorce application for me, my household registration status had been changed in the backend to single, pending deregistration.

Without hesitating for even a second, I directly clicked to confirm a one-way flight to London half a month later.

At the same time the ticket confirmation chime sounded, the launch was announced over.

I turned and was about to leave, but at the corner of the corridor, Brandon Foster rushed over and blocked my path.

Brandon Foster’s tie was crooked, and his eyes were filled with panic and the irritability of being interrupted.

He stared hard at the phone in my hand, whose screen had not yet gone dark, and interrogated me. “Who were you texting just now? Was it those thugs who drive street races? How many times have I told you that you’re not allowed to contact those people anymore?”

His expression was agitated, and he reached out to snatch my phone.

I calmly and unhurriedly put my phone back into my pocket, then lifted my eyes to look at him.

“It has nothing to do with you.”

I brushed his hand away and passed him coldly, walking toward the exit.

Brandon Foster froze where he stood, an icy sense of losing control curling through his chest.