Chapter 4

A few seconds later, I pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing it was me, Roger instantly froze. Harper, however, puffed up her chest proudly, holding her belly, the picture of someone elevated by her womb. I walked in and sat on the sofa, projecting my phone screen. The conversation between the two of them moments ago played back flawlessly through the projector. "I studied law back in university too. Thank you for providing evidence. If this is presented in court, Roger would be the at-fault party. He'd have to give me at least half his assets." Harper lunged to grab my phone. I raised my hand and slapped her again. Half her face was knocked sideways, her cheek swollen high. "Didn't slap you hard enough last time? Want another one?" I lightly tapped her belly. "Your only bargaining chip is that baby..." "You... you vicious woman!" Harper turned her head, tears welling in her eyes as she clutched her belly. "Roger, my stomach hurts so much." Roger quickly stepped over, shielding me. "Don't cause a scene. If your stomach hurts, go to the hospital. I'm not a doctor; I can't treat you." "Roger!" "Someone! Take Miss Moore to the hospital. Ensure 24-hour care, no negligence allowed!" "Yes!" "Miss Moore, this way." Two bodyguards escorted Harper out. Another scream, quickly cut off by the closing door. Roger took off his suit jacket, loosened his tie, and sat down. "Nora, can we talk?" "Unnecessary. I'm leaving." Roger looked shocked. "What do you mean? I can agree to the divorce. Why leave?" I smiled at him. "Roger, I wasted eight years on you. I gave up the best job offer for you. Now, you want me to waste another eight years?" People shouldn't be too greedy. He betrayed me, yet still tried to keep me. How could anything be that easy? Sadness, thick and impenetrable, pooled in Roger's eyes. It instantly reminded me of us back in university. It was an ordinary day, so ordinary I couldn't even remember what classes I had that morning. If you asked me when I fell in love with Roger, it was probably that day. I was walking home late from work that night. I had an important class with my advisor the next morning, so I took a shortcut home to save time. I usually avoided that route, but it was so late. Passing through the industrial park, I was cornered by some thugs. They pushed me into a dark alley, their lustful eyes roaming over me. I was terrified. They jeered; I struggled. Their hands touched me, their greasy coats rubbing against me... Just as despair set in, Roger appeared out of nowhere, picking up a brick from the ground and smashing it into the thugs as if his own life meant nothing. Outnumbered, Roger was soon beaten bloody. I screamed with all my might, finally attracting police sirens. That's how it ended. Later, I learned that because the shortcut had few streetlights, Roger thought it was unsafe for a girl to walk alone so late. All those days I worked late, he had been escorting me home. He said he wanted to protect me. Doing this small thing for the girl he loved didn't require me knowing. In that moment, Roger was like a god, truly entering my heart. What a wonderful boy, who had once loved and protected me with such fierce devotion. I felt a pang of pity. I also knew Roger was in a difficult position now. "I don't want your cars or houses. I was never interested in your money or status." "Back then, you knelt before your parents for three days and three nights to marry me. Now, for this divorce, I want you to kneel before me for three days and three nights too. In life and in actions, one should see things through from beginning to end." That way, we could finally put an end to these eight years.