Chapter 3

In the end, Yvonne was the only person who ever mattered to him.

Burying the grief deep down, I picked up the folder and stumbled out of his office.

The moment I stepped out into the hallway, a sudden wave of hypoglycemia hit me, and the world went black.

I was unconscious for an entire day.

When I opened my eyes, Julian's assistant was sitting beside the hospital bed.

Seeing me awake, she immediately dialed Julian to report.

Through the phone, Julian's cold voice came through loud and clear:

"Since she's awake, tell her to go home, grab her ID, and meet me at the courthouse. I'll wait at the entrance in two hours. You get back to work."

After hanging up, the assistant avoided my gaze, clearly embarrassed.

I pushed myself up, gave her a weak, polite smile, thanked her for staying, and told her she could head back to the office.

Once she left, I dragged my weak body into a cab, went home to get my documents, and drove straight to the courthouse.

Even so, I arrived one minute late.

Julian stood by the entrance, his brow furrowed with impatience. "What took you so long? Don't tell me you're having second thoughts about the divorce."

I didn't answer. I just offered a faint, tired smile and walked ahead of him through the doors.

We submitted the paperwork. The clerk informed us that due to the mandatory thirty-day cooling-off period, we would have to return in a month to finalize the decree.

As we walked out of the courthouse, Julian said plainly:

"Pack your things and move out of the penthouse. Yvonne is moving in."

Thinking of his sick mother, Eleanor, I couldn't help but say:

"Eleanor's health is delicate right now. A shock like this might worsen her condition. Let's keep the divorce from her for now."

Julian hesitated for a moment, then replied:

"Fine. You keep taking care of her for this month so the family doesn't cause trouble during the cooling-off period. We'll handle everything else once the thirty days are up."

I nodded, drove back to the penthouse, packed my bags, and headed to the Sterling estate.

When Eleanor saw the luggage in my hands, a wide smile spread across her face.

"Chloe, are you moving in to keep me company?"

"I don't need you fussing over an old woman. You should be spending time with Julian, working on your marriage."

A bitter knot tightened in my chest.

Fighting through the ache, I linked my arm through hers affectionately. "Mom, I just wanted to spend more time with you."

Eleanor smiled helplessly, patting my hand gently. "Julian might seem distant, but deep down, he's a good boy. Once he comes to his senses, he'll treat you the way you deserve. Chloe, be patient with him."

I kept a steady smile on my face, but my heart was weeping.

Julian would never change.

And I wasn't going to wait for him anymore.

The next day.

Somehow, Yvonne found out that I had moved into the Sterling estate, and she demanded to meet me.

The moment I sat down across from her at the café, she sneered:

"Chloe, have you no shame at all? You're practically divorced from Julian, yet you still run to the family estate to suck up to my future mother-in-law?"

I looked at her, finding the whole thing ridiculous.

"First of all, our divorce isn't finalized yet. Eleanor is still legally my mother-in-law. Even after the divorce, the Sterling and Vance families have been close for generations. Our families will always be connected. By what right are you lecturing me?"

Yvonne paused, then let out a dark, grating laugh.

"Thanks for the reminder. If you keep lingering around them, his parents will always compare me to you, and they'll never accept me."

My stomach dropped, an uneasy sensation creeping up my spine.

A second later, Yvonne's voice turned sinister:

"It would be much better if you disappeared for good."

Before I could react, she hurled her glass of water straight into my face.

The liquid splashed across my eyes, burning with a sharp sting.

Within seconds, dizziness overtook me. My vision blurred, and the world faded into darkness.