Chapter 5

At that moment, I felt no pain---only the increasingly strange looks from people around me.

I was wrong again.

How could I pin my hopes on Ethan?

I looked at Rose's smiling portrait and apologized over and over.

I'd messed everything up.

Seeing my silence, Ethan finally came to his senses.

He wanted to apologize, but I stopped him.

Ethan didn't stay with me for the rest of the funeral because Madeline called saying something happened to the baby.

Ethan left in a rush without even telling me.

That day when I returned home, I discovered I couldn't get in.

I tried for a while but couldn't open the door.

Then my mother came out from inside.

"Get lost.

Madeline is living here now.

She doesn't want to see you."

"I bought this house!" I demanded loudly.

My mother sneered coldly.

"So what?

It's under your father's name now.

We're married.

If I don't want you living here, you can't."

Then my mother threw my things out.

She said, "If you're smart, hurry up and divorce Ethan."

That was the last thing my mother said to me.

Helplessly, I dragged my suitcase away.

Suddenly I didn't know where to go.

As soon as I reached the street, a group of people blocked my way.

I didn't know these people, but they punched and kicked me.

They called me a demon, said I deserved to die.

From what they said, I knew they were Madeline's fans.

Madeline was a minor influencer with many supporters online.

They said, "Divorce Mr. Sawyer right now, and maybe we'll let you off."

I pulled out the divorce agreement.

"I've already signed it.

I won't cling to Ethan."

"Smart move."

That day they also filmed a video.

My disheveled appearance was posted online and mocked by countless people.

Ethan's company was affected as a result.

I knew this was Margaret's doing.

She'd called me before coordinating with the trending topic.

"I wanted Ethan to sign the divorce papers without knowing, but he discovered it, and he doesn't want to divorce."

"But now, for the company's sake, he'll definitely compromise first.

He'll probably propose a fake divorce.

Agree to it---I'll make it a real divorce.

Though you'll suffer some grievances."

"Just rumors and gossip.

It's not like I haven't faced them before.

As long as I can divorce Ethan, I'll do anything."

"I'm sorry, child."

She really was sorry.

Back then, when Madeline left Ethan for fame and fortune, Margaret found me and asked me to help Ethan through the darkest period of his life.

Later, when Ethan moved past his heartbreak, he held me and said, "Even though my love with Madeline was unforgettable, I only want to be with you now.

I want to be with you for the rest of my life."

Unfortunately, men's promises are like farts---gone once released.

That night, Ethan found me looking dejected.

"I'm sorry, Aria.

I didn't expect things to turn out this way."

"Let's get divorced, okay?"

"Okay."

Seeing my agreement, Ethan quickly explained, "It's a fake divorce.

Once the company gets through this period, it'll be fine."

"Okay."

I chose to play along with Ethan.

He held me and made a passionate confession.

But I turned a deaf ear.

That day we filed for divorce.

This way the process would be faster.

Looking at the proof confirming our divorce, I smiled wistfully.

Finally---finally free of this man.

For the rest of my life, I never wanted to see him again.

I cursed him---may he never meet anyone better than me for the rest of his life.

Let him be continuously hurt by Madeline, the woman who hurt him once before.

That day, Margaret transferred a large sum of money to me.

I transferred part of it to my mother with a note: Retirement fund.

I sent my mother a message: [According to government-mandated support, I've given you more than enough. This money is the last connection between us as mother and daughter. Take care of yourself from now on.]

I visited my father and grandmother one last time, then went to the airport.

Before boarding, I posted the presentation I'd compiled during this period online.

Why should I sacrifice myself to make them comfortable?

Since Ethan always thought Madeline was such a wonderful person, I had to let him know exactly what kind of goods he'd fallen in love with.

The moment the plane took off, Madeline's name hit the trending searches.

When Ethan's assistant found him with his phone, he was playing with the baby.

Seeing the trending topic, he nearly dropped the child to the floor.

"How is this possible?"