Chapter 2

I gave a slight nod, offering a bare-minimum greeting.

My gaze shifted directly to Julian.

"Come to the study. We need to talk."

Seeing my cold expression, the smile on Julian's face vanished, instantly replaced by irritation.

"Not today. It's Chloe's birthday. I don't have time to fight with you."

"If you're really that bored, go down to the kitchen and cook. It's almost noon. You might not be hungry, but Chloe is."

I let out a dry laugh. The sheer absurdity of it was overwhelming.

"Does this house not have private chefs? Why does it have to be me?"

"I'm exhausted. I'm not cooking."

With that, I pulled the divorce agreement from my bag and thrust it toward Julian.

"I only came back today to settle the divorce. Sign this, and we're done."

Surprise flashed across Julian's face. He stared at the documents in my hands, hesitating.

Then, with a sudden swipe of his arm, he smacked the papers out of my grip.

They scattered across the floor. He glared at me furiously.

"Nora, are you ever going to stop?!"

"You walk in the door with that miserable face for who to see? So what if we didn't come home yesterday? You have a birthday every single year. At worst, we'll throw you a private party next year! Now you're threatening me with divorce? Who do you think you're scaring?"

I didn't lose my temper. I just quietly bent down, picked up the scattered papers, and brushed off the dust.

Looking up at Julian, my voice remained calm.

"I'm not making a scene. I just think our marriage is completely pointless."

"Divorce is a relief for both of us."

Downstairs, my parents heard the commotion and rushed up the stairs.

Just as they were about to demand an explanation, Chloe suddenly grabbed my hand, bursting into tears.

"Please, stop fighting! It's all my fault!"

"I'm sorry, Nora. I shouldn't have been so greedy. I shouldn't have said I wanted your chicken soup. And yesterday was my idea too—I impulsively wanted to go to the beach and forgot to message you, leaving you waiting all day. It's such a tiny thing... why are you tearing your marriage apart over it?"

Hearing this, Mom and Dad's faces turned livid.

Without asking a single question, Mom started berating me again.

"I knew it! No wonder you ignored me when you walked in. You're still holding a grudge over yesterday! Aren't we making it up to you today? What more do you want?!"

"Fine! We'll just have the kitchen staff make lunch today! You really can't handle even the slightest inconvenience, can you?!"

Even Julian, who had just been glaring at me, completely forgot about the divorce the second he saw Chloe cry.

He softened his voice immediately, wrapping Chloe in a comforting embrace.

"Don't cry, sweetheart. It's your birthday. You can't ruin your makeup."

"Nora just has a terrible temper. Don't pay any attention to her. She would never actually dare to leave me."

With that, Julian guided Chloe toward the stairs.

As he brushed past me, he slammed his shoulder hard into mine.

Mom and Dad hurried after them, taking turns pampering the sniffling Chloe.

Once again, I was cast aside.

Holding the divorce papers, I stood alone in the hallway like an absolute joke.

I looked down, forcing back the burning sensation in my nose. I decided I would just file for a contested divorce through a lawyer.

But when I reached the front entrance of the villa, Julian blocked my path.

Noticing my reddened eyes, his gaze flickered with guilt for a split second, but his tone remained domineering.

"You're not leaving! Chloe won't stop crying. She honestly believes she caused our fight. Go back to the dining room and eat. Explain things to her properly at the table. It's her birthday, Nora."

"I don't want her to be unhappy today."

I snapped my head up, and the tears I had held back finally spilled over.

Broken and devastated, I stared at him and yelled, "What about me?!"

"You don't want Chloe to be unhappy on her birthday. But what about me? The one who was stood up by her own family on her birthday? Did you ever once care whether I was happy or not?!"

Julian froze. He had no answer for me.

I wiped my tears away messily, refusing to argue any longer.

I tried to push past him, but his voice came from behind, sounding like a concession:

"Fine! It was my fault! I apologize, okay?!"

I didn't stop.

Julian raised his voice, sounding desperate.

"Nora, stop right there!"

"As long as you apologize and clear things up with Chloe, I'll sign the divorce papers."