Chapter 4

I looked at the furious Clara, completely speechless.

Yes, I didn't stay for the video conference, but I had explained everything to her assistant before I left.

I refused to believe that her executive assistant couldn’t handle a simple reading task.

My allergic reaction had been getting worse by the minute. I couldn't afford to wait for her to pick me up.

“I wasn’t feeling well. I told your assistant everything she needed to know before I left.”

My explanation only made Clara angrier. “Not feeling well? You did it on purpose!”

“Would it have killed you to wait a little longer? Marrying you was the biggest mistake of my life!”

She snatched a small box from her designer bag and threw it at me. “To make it up to you, I even drove all the way to the south side to get you a custom birthday gift!”

“And how do you treat me? You’re just a petty, small-minded bastard trying to get revenge for yesterday!”

“If I knew you'd act like this, I would have thrown it in the trash.”

I opened the box. Inside was a pair of plain black socks.

These socks weren't custom-made at all. They were free promotional items given to customers who bought a custom Tom Ford suit.

I looked up, the disappointment in my eyes no longer hidden. “You should have thrown them away.”

Because yesterday on the yacht, Julian had been wearing a brand-new Tom Ford suit.

He had even posted about it: *“My first bespoke suit. Thank you, babe, for the amazing reward. ❤️”*

“What is that supposed to mean?” Clara snapped.

I unlocked my phone and held up Julian's post right in front of her face.

“Was this custom-made for me, or was it a freebie from his suit? Giving me a pair of promotional socks as a birthday gift... Clara, I love you, but I’m not an idiot!”

I yelled, my voice cracking. Clara choked on her words, unable to say a single thing for a long moment.

“Throw them out. I don't need them.”

For the past year, no matter what holiday it was, Clara had only ever gifted me socks.

My drawer was practically overflowing with them.

In the past, because I loved her, I chose to ignore the red flags. I kept telling myself that as long as she came home to me, it was enough.

But now, I was done lying to myself.

“It’s the thought that counts! Do you only care about expensive things?” Clara defended herself weakly.

Realizing that talking to her was like talking to a brick wall, I turned around and walked into my room.

I pulled out my phone and contacted my family’s legal team, asking them to draft a divorce agreement.

I wanted to end this farce as quickly as possible.

After arranging everything, I lay down to rest. Suddenly, a loud knocking began at the door.

I ignored it, but the banging continued for ten solid minutes, getting louder and louder.

I was a light sleeper. This constant pounding was driving me insane. I had no choice but to get up and open the door.

Clara was standing there, her eyes red and watery.

She looked incredibly aggrieved. “Ethan, you’re misunderstanding me.”

“I really did pick out that gift for you. If you don't like it, I’ll throw you another birthday party, okay?”

“I’ll charter a yacht for you too.”

I looked at her, my heart completely numb. “Whatever.”

With that, I shut the door right in her face.

But Clara didn’t leave. For once, her voice carried a rare, gentle tone through the wooden door.

“Ethan, it’s really not what you think.”

“Stop being mad at me. I’ll make it up to you with a better gift.”

“I’ve booked a private winery for us this afternoon to celebrate your birthday. I’ll come pick you up.”

“Sure, do whatever you want,” I muttered half-heartedly, closing my eyes to go back to sleep.

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