Chapter 3

"Coming home to her lifeless face every day makes me feel like my life is hopeless."

"All day long, she just revolves around me, both at the office and at home. She has no hobbies, no social circle, following me around like a shadow. It's utterly suffocating."

My mind went blank, and a sharp pain surged through my chest.

So, in his eyes, our seven years of companionship had become nothing more than a suffocating chain.

Perhaps wanting to make sure I heard every word, Natalie suddenly raised her voice:

"Lewis, I told you I won't be the other woman. You're not even divorced yet. What's the point of telling me all this?"

Lewis fell silent for a few seconds, then spoke in a wounded tone:

"Honey, do you think I'm too old for you? I'm only five years older than you. There's no generation gap between us..."

Natalie shoved him away suddenly:

"Stop trying to change the subject! At the end of the day, you just can't bear to get a divorce, can you?"

The next second, Lewis's expression soured, and he turned his back in a sulk. "I'm tired. Let's go to sleep."

Tears instantly streamed from Natalie's eyes, large drops splashing onto his cheeks.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance, yet he still sat up and kissed her tears away:

"Darling, just a little more time. Once I get back the shares Miranda's holding, and then I'll divorce her."

The video suddenly cut off at that moment.

A wave of sorrow washed over me, and the tears I thought had long since dried began to flow again, an unstoppable flood.

This company was founded with the settlement money from my parents' fatal car accident.

When we first drafted the divorce agreement, I was foolish enough to split the equity with him fifty-fifty.

I never imagined he'd try to take away even the final half that was left to me.

Since he doesn't want an amicable split, I no longer have to worry about sparing his feelings.

My hand trembled as I dialed my lawyer's number, but my voice was unnaturally calm:

"Redraft the agreement. The brand is my premarital asset. I'm not giving up a single share of the equity."

In the early morning, I picked up the revised divorce agreement, which had been drafted overnight, from the law firm. I was on my way to the office to have him sign it.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was his friend.

"Madam, Lewis is on the Upper East Side, passed out drunk. You need to come get him."

My tone was level. "Call Natalie."

"We already did. She told me to contact you..." The man stammered, "Madam, did you two have a fight? Lewis called us out in the middle of the night and just started chugging drinks without a word. He's mixing whiskey and champagne. If he keeps going like this, something terrible is going to happen."When I remained silent, he pressed on:

"Seriously, you two have been married for so long, you're bound to be tired of each other. Natalie is just a momentary thrill for him, a fun little distraction. Once the novelty wears off, he'll come to his senses."

"And if you're really that upset, you could always find a little something on the side yourself. That would make you even, wouldn't it?"

I let out a cold laugh. "Send me the room number. I'm on my way to sign a document."

He sounded immensely relieved. "That's fantastic! I knew you were the sensible one."

Pushing open the door to the VIP room, I was hit by an overpowering wave of alcohol.

Lewis was still in those silk pajamas, his collar agape, as he lounged on the sofa with a hazy, unfocused gaze.

When his friends saw me, they shot to their feet as if they'd been granted amnesty. "We'll leave Lewis with you. We've got to go catch up on sleep."

Lewis waved me over, his eyes clouded with drink, his lips curving into that familiar smile.

I approached him, my face a mask of indifference. He suddenly yanked me into his embrace, burying his burning face in my shoulder.

I felt his shoulders begin to tremble, and soon, warmth and wetness seeped through my clothes.

His voice was raw with emotion:

"Natalie, you're so damn cruel! It's freezing out, in the middle of the night… I didn't even have a coat, and you just threw me out."