Chapter 5

The next day, I boarded the plane and turned off my phone.

As the plane shot into the clouds, something in my heart that had been pressed down for seven years collapsed with a roar.

After I passed through customs, a woman in a sharp suit was waiting with a sign.

“Mr. Cole, welcome. I’m Olivia Reed, your special assistant.”

She took my carry-on and spoke as we walked. “The car is waiting. You have a video conference in one hour, an inspection of the tech park this afternoon, and a welcome dinner tonight.”

Her professionalism and efficiency reminded me of myself seven years ago.

“I didn’t expect you to be so young.” After we got into the car, she looked at me through the rearview mirror. “From your file, I thought you’d be more serious.”

I smiled faintly.

The car drove onto the highway.

The moment my phone was turned on, it vibrated dozens of times in a row, all missed calls and messages from Vivian.

I did not read them and deleted them directly.

Olivia looked at me through the rearview mirror. “Do you need to handle personal matters first?”

“No,” I said. “They’re not important.”

My phone rang again.

I picked up.

“Ethan! Are you insane?! Where did you go?! Come back right now!” Vivian’s voice was shrill with rage.

I said calmly, “Ms. Blake, there is nothing left to say between us.”

“Nothing left to say?! You are my husband! Get back here right now!”

“We haven’t reached one hundred paintings yet.” My tone had no fluctuation. “When your hundredth ‘portrait’ is delivered, the divorce agreement will officially take effect. Before that, legally, maybe I still am. But in reality, we’re even.”

“Ethan, you—!”

I hung up and blocked her.

Olivia spoke. “Mr. Cole, your residence is a lakeside penthouse. I think you’ll like it.”

I looked out the window as the setting sun dyed the clouds gold and red.

“Good,” I said.