Chapter 3

Three days later, I unlocked the door to our penthouse.

I had spent a whole year personally designing and supervising the renovation of this place.

Every corner, every piece of furniture held my highest hopes for our future marriage.

But now, the air was thick with the suffocating scent of cheap perfume.

A pair of rhinestone-studded heels sat carelessly kicked aside by the entryway.

A few lace bralettes were scattered across the leather sofa in the living room.

Nicholas was in loungewear, carrying two plates of sliced fruit out of the kitchen.

Seeing me at the door, he paused, his brow furrowing.

"Why didn't you tell me you were being discharged? I would have picked you up." He walked over, reaching for my bag.

I dodged his hand and walked straight toward the master bedroom.

"No need. I'm just here to pack my things."

Nicholas’s face immediately darkened. He strode over and grabbed my wrist.

"What kind of drama are you playing now? I was busy taking care of Olivia the past few days and couldn't visit. Do you have to act out like this just to get my attention?"

I stared coldly at his hand gripping my wrist, my gaze ice-cold.

"Let go."

My voice wasn't loud, but it carried an absolute, chilling finality.

Nicholas flinched under my gaze and instinctively let go.

"The heating in Olivia’s apartment broke, and she’s too weak to handle the cold. I let her stay here for a few days."

He tried to explain, his tone dripping with self-righteous justification. "Can’t you show a little basic compassion?"

I ignored him, walked into the bedroom, and pulled out my suitcase.

In the closet, my clothes had been shoved into a dusty corner, while most of the space was taken up by Olivia's dresses.

On the vanity, my expensive skincare products had been carelessly pushed aside to make room for her cluttered bottles.

I didn't touch anything she had contaminated. I only packed my documents, a few everyday outfits, and my most important personal belongings.

Light footsteps pattered from the living room.

Olivia stood at the bedroom doorway, barefoot, wearing my brand-new silk pajamas.

Those pajamas were custom-made for our honeymoon.

She had intentionally pulled the collar low, revealing a few suggestive red marks on her collarbone.

"Catherine, please don't blame Nicholas. I was just so scared, I begged him to bring me here."

Olivia looked at me with wide, innocent eyes, looking as if she were the victim.

Holding a glass of water, she slowly walked over to the vanity.

"Catherine, are you mad at me?"

As she spoke, she fake-stumbled, deliberately bumping against the edge of the vanity.

"CRASH—"

The pendant sitting right in the center of the vanity was swept onto the floor along with her glass.

The sharp sound of shattering glass and jade echoed through the room.

The beautiful pendant was smashed to pieces.

That was the heirloom my grandmother had left me on her deathbed.

I had kept it safely on the vanity, terrified of losing it.

I stopped packing and stared fixedly at the shattered fragments.

The floating comments exploded again.

【Brilliant! Destroying the things Catherine cares about most is the way to go!】

【Catherine will definitely hit her now. The moment she does, Nicholas will despise her forever.】

【Can't wait for the drama!】

Hearing the noise, Nicholas rushed in.

Seeing the broken pieces on the floor, his frown deepened.

"Olivia didn't do it on purpose. Don't look at her like you want to murder her."

He instinctively shielded Olivia behind him, blocking my view.

"It's just a pendant. It’s not worth much. I’ll have my assistant bid on ten better ones at the auction house tomorrow to make it up to you."

With one careless sentence, he dismissed the emotional anchor I had cherished for twenty years as worthless junk.

Three years ago, to buy this penthouse, Nicholas had drunk himself to gastric bleeding while entertaining clients in a heavy rainstorm.

Clutching my hand from his hospital bed, his face pale, he had promised:

"Catherine, this home will only ever belong to you."

Back then, even a tiny frown from me would make him panic.

Now, he thought my precious treasure was just a cheap object that could be bought with cash.

I looked at him and suddenly laughed, tears stinging my eyes.

"Nicholas, you can't afford to replace this."

I zipped up my suitcase, lifted it, and walked out.

"Catherine! If you walk out that door today, don't ever think about coming back!" Nicholas roared in embarrassment and anger behind me.

I paused at the entryway, pulled out my house key, and quietly placed it on the shoe cabinet.

"The house is yours. Enjoy it."

I opened the door and stepped out into the freezing wind, never looking back.