Chapter 2

"Nora would never do that."

The moment the words left my mouth, William denied it with absolute certainty.

He slammed the water glass onto the nightstand.

"After what you did to her, Nora never even blamed you."

"She was the one who kept telling me you just made a mistake. She suggested keeping you at the estate to keep you out of the public eye, so you wouldn't have to face the media's backlash! She did it to protect you!"

"She is so kind. How could she ever hurt you? Adeline, you're projecting your own malice onto her again!"

Looking at William's furious face, the anger I had suppressed for years finally flared up.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I didn't cause that car accident!"

"Your brother Julian's death had nothing to do with me! I was just giving him a ride. I had no idea the brakes would suddenly fail.

I was in that car too! Even if I were jealous of their marriage and wanted to hurt Nora, I wouldn't have killed Julian, and I certainly wouldn't have risked my own life!"

William was pushed to his limit.

He grabbed my wrist tightly, his eyes blazing.

"Adeline, why are you still so unrepentant?"

"Do you have any idea that if I hadn't buried the evidence back then, you would be rotting in a federal prison right now?!"

I raised my chin, screaming back at him with all the air left in my lungs.

"Then I would rather be in prison!"

"At least there, I wouldn't have been treated like an animal in a basement for three years by you!"

Our eyes met, filled with mutual hatred.

Finally, William backed down. He threw my hand away violently.

He turned to leave, but I called out to him.

"William, bring the lawyer."

"Before the surgery, let's sign the divorce papers."

William slammed the door so hard the walls shook.

It wasn't until evening that he returned with his lawyer.

Behind them stood Asher, still in his school uniform. He must have just gotten out of class.

The lawyer pulled out the documents and started reading the complicated property division terms. I didn't want to waste my breath.

Before he could finish, I flipped straight to the last page and signed my name.

"I'm done. I don't need to hear it."

"Just take the signature."

William was clearly still livid.

He stared intensely at the signed divorce papers but didn't reach for them.

"Adeline, think carefully."

"Once I submit this to the court, there is no going back."

"Even if you regret it and beg me on your knees, I will never take you back."

Beside him, Asher spoke up, his voice cold.

"If you actually divorce Dad, I will never call you Mom again. Even if you save Nora."

I knit my brows, annoyed by their endless talking.

Since William wouldn't take the papers, I shoved them into the lawyer's hands and dismissed them.

"Do whatever you want."

"If you're done, get out. I need to rest."

"And don't forget your promise. The surgery is the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, I want to see the ocean."

Just as the two of them were about to say more, frustrated by my cold attitude, the door opened.

"Adeline."

It was Nora.