Chapter 2

My chest tightened as our eyes locked.

He stood across the room, his gaze fixing on the marriage certificate lying in the bin by my feet.

His expression was as cold as frost.

After a few silent seconds, he stepped into the room.

He bent down and picked the certificate out of the trash.

"Throwing out our marriage certificate? You really think that solves anything?" Julian scoffed.

His tone chilled even further as he added, "Crashing your car couldn't force me to the hospital, so now you’re trying a new routine?"

The wound on my forehead throbbed with sharp pain, and the nausea from my concussion made it hard to keep my balance.

I braced myself against the desk, not even having the energy to look at his face.

If this were the me of the past three years, I probably would have thrown myself at him, crying and screaming my eyes out.

Right now, my head was spinning and my body ached.

Facing this man—someone I once harbored a secret crush on, who now treated me with absolute apathy—I felt only suffocation.

A deep revulsion stirred within me. Not knowing how to deal with him, I kept my voice barely above a whisper:

"I just came to pack my documents."

Julian began loosening his tie, his hand pausing for a beat.

Seeing me keep my head down and quietly pack my things, his brow furrowed deeper.

He took a stride forward, blocking my path.

He was tall, and being this close to him radiated an overwhelming, suffocating pressure.

"Savannah, know when to stop."

He glared at me coldly. "I've already wired fifty million into Mandy’s studio. Even if you totaled ten cars, I wouldn't pull my investment. How long do you plan on throwing these tantrums?"

His scent drifted toward me, making my muscles tense instinctively.

In my active memories, I was still a college student yesterday, someone who hadn't even held this man’s hand.

This proximity made my entire body stiffen.

I gripped the desk and took a step back, widening the distance between us.

"That fifty million came from you. It has nothing to do with me."

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, as if he hadn't expected me to be so compliant.

Then, assuming it was another game, he sneered, "Smartened up today, haven't you? No screaming, no smashing things. Realized those theatrics don't work on me anymore?"

Not wanting to argue, I simply replied, "I was an idiot back then. I won't be anymore."

He looked down at me with disdain. "Looks like a few days in the hospital actually did you some good."

I zipped up my bag, pointed at the certificate on the table, and said calmly,

"Let’s go to City Hall tomorrow and finalize the divorce."

Julian's expression instantly shifted.

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What kind of trick are you pulling now?"

I shook my head, a bitter curve touching my lips. "I’m exhausted. And I assume you’re tired of this too. Once we’re divorced, you can be with Mandy out in the open. Isn't that what you want?"

The impatience in his eyes resurfaced.

"Playing hard to get? Savannah, you haven’t worked a single day since we got married. Do you honestly think you can survive on your own?"

"I’ve explained this hundreds of times—I have zero personal feelings for Mandy! I’m only looking after her because she’s my mentor’s daughter. What is so wrong with that? Why do you constantly drag our marriage into this?"

I looked up into his eyes, swallowing the rising lump in my throat.

Word by word, I asked, "Can you swear to God that you don't have a single ounce of feeling for her?"

Julian froze, unable to give an immediate answer.

Then, annoyance flared in his voice. "I told you I don’t! Why can’t you ever trust me? Does it kill you that much to see me take care of my mentor’s child?"

A faint smirk touched my lips. I had no desire to debate right and wrong with him.

The undeniable fact was that a third person had always crowded our marriage.

Tormenting each other like this was completely pointless.

Even though I had lost the memories of those three years, the pain had been real.

Even if I hadn’t consciously lived through it, I could still feel the crushing despair lingering in my chest.

It was suffocating me.

All I wanted was to get away from here. Grabbing my bag, I said, "Take your time to think it over, but let’s sign the papers soon. I have things to handle tonight, and I won't be staying here."

Avoiding his gaze, I walked briskly toward the door.

From behind, Julian’s cold voice echoed: "Are you sure about this? Step out that door, and there is no coming back."

My steps paused for half a second, but I kept walking down the stairs without looking back.

The moment I stepped outside, the cool night breeze stung the cut on my forehead.