Chapter 3 Married Life Is Seriously Lacking?

Every time Hugo had come home before, Evelyn would fuss over him with care and attention. But today, she couldn't summon a single ounce of warmth. When he questioned her, she answered coldly, "No." Seeing her so prickly, Hugo stepped forward, taking her hand on the suitcase handle, his voice softening. "Still mad?" "Does it even matter if I'm mad?" Meeting his gaze, Evelyn's lips curled into a bitter smile as she bit back with sharp sarcasm. "A man who's rarely home all year actually cares about this?" "I'm trying to talk to you nicely. Why do you have to be so snide?" he asked, frowning. "What's left for us to say?" Evelyn's words cut like knives. "Last night I was giving your sister a blood transfusion at the hospital and nearly passed out, and you were out flaunting your mistress. Did you even think about how that made me feel?" Hugo's face darkened at the harsh words. Suddenly realizing something, his deep eyes fell on her bare fingers, sharp and piercing. "Where's the ring?" "Threw it away." Hugo's handsome face darkened with anger. He knew better than anyone how much she had cherished that wedding ring, never taking it off all these years. And now she dared to say she had just thrown it away. "Evelyn, you can act however you want, but there's a limit," Hugo said, gripping her fingers tightly. He demanded, "Where did you throw the ring? Tell Wilmot to go find it." Evelyn finally lifted her head and met his cold gaze. Though they were legally husband and wife, it didn't feel like he was speaking to a spouse. It was more like a boss scolding an employee. The weight of his authority pressed down on her, making her uneasy. Her fingers ached from his grip, echoing the pain of her shattered heart. Her bloodshot eyes glimmered with tears as she said, "No need to find it. You've already been taken by someone else. What's the point of keeping the ring? Hugo, let's get a divorce!" At her words, Hugo's expression turned icy, and the air around them seemed to grow even colder. "Evelyn, do you even know what you're saying? Divorce isn't something you just toss out casually," he said. "I'm not joking. I'm divorcing you!" she said firmly. "Reason?" Hugo narrowed his eyes. Evelyn met his cold gaze, her pale lips parting slightly, her voice steady. "You're hardly ever home, your heart belongs to another woman, and our married life has been seriously lacking. Are those reasons not enough?" "Married life has been… seriously lacking?" Out of everything she said, those words alone snagged Hugo's attention, a sharp pulse jumping at his temple. He couldn't help but wonder if she was mocking him for his shortcomings in bed. "Mrs. Grant, I didn't realize your needs were so… demanding!" His voice was low, tight with restrained anger. Suddenly, he straightened and lifted her onto the coffee table. His tall frame loomed over her, radiating pressure. Evelyn was forced to arch back, her spine pressing against the cold glass. "What are you trying to do?" Evelyn panicked and tried to struggle. But against his absolute strength, she had no power to resist. Hugo leaned over her, his hand sliding over her tulle dress, moving slowly up her thigh. He yanked the zipper down across her chest, and a sudden chill ran over her skin. Evelyn's face went pale, one hand clutching her chest. "Hugo, what are you doing? We're in the living room!" Yet Hugo didn't stop. His fingers lingered at her collarbone, circling teasingly, a quiet mockery in every touch. She gasped in broken syllables. "Stop!" Hugo watched her expression with satisfaction and said, "Take a good look at that helpless, wanting expression on your face. If you divorce me, who's going to satisfy you then?" In the living room, maids could appear at any moment, and if they happened to glance her way, they would catch the shame and embarrassment on her face. It reminded her of five years ago, when everyone thought she had slept with Hugo just for money, subjecting her to endless insults and ridicule. Evelyn felt both humiliated and furious. She hadn't expected that during such a serious discussion about divorce, Hugo would still try to take her. Gritting her teeth, she shoved his chest away with both hands, her eyes blazing with anger. "Hugo, that's enough! Don't touch me with hands that have touched someone else. I've already had the divorce agreement prepared, and I expect you to sign it as soon as possible!" Hugo's face remained cold, but he saw a flicker of resolve in her gaze. In all these years of marriage, whenever he got angry, Evelyn had always cowered and tried to appease him. But today, she made him feel completely out of control. "You think a marriage can end just because you say so?" Hugo grabbed her chin, his voice sharp and commanding. "You schemed your way into my bed back then, so you should have expected the consequences today. Even for the sake of the Grant family's reputation, now that you hold the title of Mrs. Grant, you're not stepping down." Evelyn's face drained of color. Of course, he was still blaming her for what had happened years ago. "I already told you, I was drunk that night. I didn't know what was happening…" "That excuse doesn't convince me," Hugo sneered. "All I know is, when I woke up, the person lying beside me was you." Evelyn froze, her throat tight and her eyes burning. The surveillance footage from that night had been destroyed, leaving her to carry that false stigma for five long years. Hugo lowered his gaze, seeing her lost and despondent. The passion he had just felt had completely vanished, replaced by a growing irritation. At that moment, his phone rang. Evelyn glanced at it—it was Jane. Hugo's expression changed. He didn't answer in front of her and slipped the phone into his pocket. "Don't bother going to the office lately. Let Taylor handle the work for now. Stay home and take some time to reflect. Think carefully about how to be a proper wife." After giving the order, he grabbed his suit jacket and left in a hurry. Watching him walk away, Evelyn's eyes glinted with mockery. Sure enough, just one call from Jane, and Hugo would abandon her without a second thought. This time, she didn't feel lonely or sad like before. She picked up her suitcase and left the villa without hesitation. She would never spend another day alone in an empty house. … Last year, Evelyn used her salary to buy an apartment in a downtown neighborhood. It wasn't very big—just over 1,100 square feet—but at least she wouldn't be left homeless after the divorce. The apartment was regularly cleaned by a housekeeper and was fairly tidy, so she only needed to do a bit of tidying up before moving in. That evening, Liana showed up with grilled ribs and craft beer, and they celebrated on the balcony as they ate. "Congratulations, Evie! You've finally escaped that nightmare. But what's your next plan?" Evelyn's expression darkened, and she pressed her lips together. "I don't know. I can't go back to Grant Group. I think I should find a job first." Liana suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, by the way." She pulled out her phone and showed Evelyn a picture. "Speaking of work, this is a class reunion invite. I heard Mr. Miles will be there this year, too. This could be your best chance to get back into the AI field. Do you want to go?" Evelyn stared at the invitation, quietly clenching her fists, feeling a surge of excitement she couldn't hide.