Chapter 3

Julian froze. His eyes locked onto the signature line, but he didn't move.

I knew what he was thinking.

If this were the past, I would have torn the papers with tears in my eyes.

I would have choked out, “Julian, how can you just throw me away?”

Without a massive fight, this never would have happened so easily.

Julian looked up at me, his tone still lazy and arrogant. "What's the rush? Even I'm not in a hurry."

"I can't wait," I said. "Two o'clock. Are you coming or not?"

His eyelid twitched.

"Chloe," he pushed the agreement back to the center of the table. "Are you still dreaming?"

"You don't want me to wake up," I said, changing my approach, "and tear these papers up in regret, do you?"

The tension grew thick. Suddenly, Vivian came downstairs.

"Chloe, please don't be angry. I just don't want my baby with Julian to be called a bastard when they're born."

"The divorce can wait until my baby is born and registered!"

As she spoke, her eyes turned red, looking as though she was more reluctant to end this toxic marriage than I was.

Julian glanced at Vivian.

Her words "don't be angry" felt like a slap to his fragile ego.

Since when did Julian Vance need to be rushed into a divorce?

"Chloe, do you really think I don't dare to sign?"

He laughed suddenly, grabbing the pen from the table.

"Julian—" Zach tried to stop him.

"Shut up," Julian snapped without looking up.

Once he signed, he threw the pen heavily onto the table.

With his signature smirk back on his face, he said, "I keep my word. Everyone here is a witness."

"Once Vivian has the baby, we'll get remarried."

He stood up, leaning close to my ear.

"You're the woman I dragged back from the gates of death, Chloe. None of those cheap girls out there can compare to you."

"We'll let you raise this child. You're the only one worthy of raising my heir, understand?"

I let out a soft laugh.

So this was his twisted way of "loving" me.

I said nothing. I grabbed my pre-packed suitcase and walked out the door.

Vivian's voice floated from behind me:

"Julian... do you think Chloe is really not coming back this time?"

Julian didn't answer.

In his original plan, we were supposed to divorce but still live together. I was supposed to keep my right to live in this villa.

My sudden departure was indeed out of his expectations.

But it wouldn't change the final outcome.

"You little troublemaker," he muttered, pinching Vivian's cheek. "Now that she's gone, you must be secretly celebrating, aren't you?"

"No, I'm not!" Vivian pouted. "My family raised me better than to ruin someone else's marriage... I'm doing this all for the baby."

She looked so fragile and innocent, like a delicate flower trembling in the wind.

It instantly melted Julian's irritation.

"Alright, don't look so sad. I was just teasing."

Vivian was much smarter than the other girls.

She never provoked me.

She never called me to declare her ownership, saying things like “He's with me now.”

She simply acted as if she was just trying to "join" our family.

If I said one harsh word to her, Julian would think I was bullying her.

I had met girls who were younger, prettier, and had more personality.

But they were always too impatient. They rushed him to choose, rushed me to leave.

Only Vivian remained patient. She moved in quietly with her pregnancy.

She called me "Chloe" with a sweet smile, acting sweeter than a real sister.

She had achieved what none of Julian's ex-lovers could.

At 1:50 PM, I sat on the bench at the attorney's office.

I dialed Julian's number for the ninth time.

Finally, he picked up.

"Where are you?" I asked.

Julian's voice sounded casual. "I'm with Vivian at her prenatal checkup. I can't leave. Just wait for me, I'll head over when we're done."

"I told you, we have an appointment at two."

"The divorce papers aren't going to run away," he said, sounding like he was coaxing a throwing-a-tantrum child. "Wait until Vivian is finished. I'm hanging up."