Chapter 2

With Mr. Henderson’s help, I quickly rented a small, furnished apartment.

I didn't care about the layout, the price, or the neighborhood.

My only requirement was immediate move-in.

By the time I signed the lease and returned to the freezing mansion, it was already evening.

The late-stage stomach cancer made even walking a struggle.

Still, suppressing the sharp pain, I went into the kitchen and prepared a few dishes.

When I finished setting the table, I realized with a pang of self-loathing that every single dish was Victoria’s favorite.

Over the years, memorizing her likes and dislikes had become an instinct.

I had completely forgotten what I liked.

I sat in the chair, hoping we could end this marriage on decent terms.

I reheated the food eight times.

It wasn't until three in the morning that the front door finally clicked open.

The strong scent of expensive cologne hit my nose immediately.

It was Tristan’s favorite fragrance.

And on her neck, a fresh hickey sat right over a fading one.

She was slightly drunk.

But when she saw the beautifully arranged, steaming food on the table, her face twisted in annoyance.

"What is this, Julian?" she sneered. "Do you honestly think playing the domestic husband is going to make me feel sorry for you?"

She brushed past me and headed straight upstairs.

She didn't even look at me.

As she passed, I noticed something else.

The wedding ring I had personally designed for her was gone.

There wasn't even a tan line left on her ring finger.

"Victoria," I said, my voice quiet and calm. "I left the divorce papers in the study. If everything looks okay, just sign them."

She paused on the stairs, turning her head to look down at me with pure disdain.

"Julian, are you really trying to divorce me over a piece of paper in my safe?"

"I'm not even dead yet."

She let out a harsh laugh, completely ignoring my fragile state.

She casually lit a cigarette.

"Don't forget how you practically begged to marry into my family back then."

"Tristan’s health is failing. That will was just a gesture to give him some peace of mind. It’s not even legally binding."

She remembered every detail of Tristan's poor health.

Yet, she couldn't see how thin and skeletal my own body had become from the cancer.

Love and indifference were so clearly defined.

But she had forgotten.

Ten years ago, when her stepbrother kidnapped her during a family power struggle, I was the one who risked everything to find her.

Against my family's warnings, I tracked her down.

In that warehouse, I took a knife to the chest for her.

In the hospital room, she had held me tight and sobbed, "I will take over the Sterling Group and make sure you have the best life. If I ever betray you, may God strike me down."

She did take over the Sterling Group.

But the "best life" went to someone else.

All I got was a rushed, cheap wedding, a rented suit, and a cold prenup.

I smiled, though my eyes burned. "So, do you still remember that you owe me your life?"

Victoria’s face turned incredibly cold.

After a long silence, she let out a soft, mocking laugh.

"It's been ten years, Julian, and you're still holding onto that? You think I owe you?"

"How much do you want? Is a million dollars enough to settle the debt?"

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

So, my life was worth exactly a million dollars to her.

The last spark of hope in my chest died.

I forced myself to remain calm and said softly, "No need, Victoria. I just want us to part ways cleanly."

With that, I turned to walk away.

Behind me, her furious voice echoed through the empty hall.

"Fine! Have it your way!"

"Just don't come crawling back to me crying later!"

Cry?

In this seven-year marriage, I had already cried all my tears for her.

***