Violet only came back home to grab a change of clothing three days later.

As soon as she entered the villa, she called out Dylan's name as always. However, even after calling him many times, he didn't appear. Only a few of her maids did.

"Where's Dylan?"

Violet frowned when she saw how clumsily her maids were in helping her put on her home slippers.

The maid stammered for a bit before finally answering, "Mr. Cloud isn't home, Ms. Violet."

Violet walked in with her slippers. Dylan wasn't home again? The last time this happened, it was because Violet had accompanied Archer to the hospital for his burns. Dylan had also disappeared for days to go painting.

This time, she had also accompanied Archer to the hospital. But before leaving, Dylan had graciously told her he could go to the hospital by himself.

And yet, here he was, kicking up a huge fuss once more and running away from home.

Violet immediately looked up at Valerie as if she'd been snapped by a whiplash.

"What did you just say?"

Valerie had always been intimidated by Violet. She flinched and took a step backward on instinct. However, she insisted, "Dylan's already divorced you. You never liked him anyway. So, why aren't you with Archer yet?"

"How did you know that Dylan and I are divorced?"

Valerie gulped. "Didn't you tell me to deliver him some ointment the other day?"

She'd just happened to see the divorce agreement on the table. It was just that she thought Dylan had been lying about it. But now that Dylan still hadn't returned after so long, Valerie was starting to believe that the divorce was real.

Violet's face turned black after hearing Valerie's explanation. She didn't even have to think to know that Dylan hadn't been joking when he left the divorce agreement behind for her. He had really wanted

A short while later, Valerie led a group of wealthy heirs and heiresses over to Dylan to make fun of him.

When Dylan looked up, he was already surrounded by the group of people.

Valerie looked at him in glee. "So what if you've been married to my sister for years? Dylan, you're still here cowering in a corner, watching her from afar as she gets all lovey-dovey with Archer.

"I told you long ago that Archer is the only person my sister likes. She only got together with you to heal her wounds. If you know what's best for you, you should just fuck off and get out of her life. Why are you still leeching onto her so shamelessly?"

Dylan was in a rush to pack his things and leave, so he didn't give a shit about the group of people. He turned, intending to leave.

However, the group of people started becoming more and more reckless. 

"Keep dreaming, you ugly bastard! You'll never win her heart!"

"If Archer hadn't gone abroad, did you really think you'd have married into the Padden family at all?"

"Don't you know what kind of shitty background you're from?"

"Take my advice and leave the Padden family immediately if you know what's best for you!"

The people kept pushing Dylan around while showering him with insults.

"Are you dumb or deaf?"

"We're fucking talking to you! Aren't you listening?"

Seeing that Dylan didn't respond to any of their provocations, one of them, who had a terrible temper, couldn't hold himself back anymore and shoved Dylan toward the back.

There was a loud crash as Dylan landed heavily on the table of cocktail glasses stacked up neatly in a pyramid. The glasses shattered at once and rained down on him, the clear cocktail liquid mixing with Dylan's blood and pooling on the ground in a shocking scene.

At once, everyone's attention was on Dylan.

Violet's eyes shook when she witnessed the scene from the stage. She immediately let go of Archer's arm and hurried over.

When she saw Dylan lying on the ground in a pool of blood, her eyes were full of indescribable anger. She immediately bent down to help him up.

She immediately called for her private doctor and glanced around at the surrounding guests.

"Who did this?"

The guests were shocked to silence. Violet's face was as dark as thunder. Just as she was about to continue speaking, the bodyguard suddenly came up to her and said, "Ms. Padden, Mr. Niall just said that he's having a terrible stomachache. You need to hurry and take a look at him!"

Violet didn't let go of Dylan. She just frowned slightly.

"Is it very serious?"

There was an urgent look in the bodyguard's anxious eyes. "He's in so much pain that he's writhing on the ground."

Violet hesitated. She was now the one in a dilemma. She looked at Dylan, hesitation apparent on her face.

"Dylan, I—"

Dylan knew what she was trying to say. He struggled to sit up, away from her arms, with a calm look on his face.

"I know. He has a very sensitive body and could die from any sort of discomfort. And you're used to taking care of him."

Violet didn't think that Dylan would recite the exact words she had planned to tell him. Her lips quivered slightly, but she couldn't say a thing.

However, Dylan was already struggling to stand up. He continued, "It's okay. Go and be with him. Send the doctor to him as well. I can clean up after myself."

Violet didn't know why she felt a sense of panic when she saw how unperturbed Dylan looked. 

He had always been gracious and forgiving in the past. However, he was very badly injured this time, and it just didn't make sense that he would still be as gracious and forgiving this time. He was going overboard with it.

In fact, he was so gracious that Violet couldn't even see herself in his eyes anymore.

Dylan wasn't like this in the past. His eyes used to be filled with images of her. When did things turn out this way?

Violet wanted to speak again, but suddenly, she heard Archer's pained cries and screams in the distance.

Finally, Violet didn't hesitate anymore. She just looked at Dylan apologetically and said, "Dylan, I'll come and see you later. I'll make this up to you."

Then, she turned and left quickly without hesitation.

Dylan watched as Violet hurried over and helped Archer to the door while trying to comfort him. A mocking smile appeared on Dylan's lips.

However, Valerie and the other troublemakers thought that Dylan was just sad about being abandoned once more.

She scoffed, "I thought Vi would take pity on you since you're looking such a sorry sight, but she still abandoned you in the end. You'd better leave if you know what's best for you, Dylan Cloud."

Dylan couldn't be bothered with the group of people anymore. He asked the servants to be led to an empty room, put some medication on his cuts, and changed into a fresh set of clothes. Then, he shuffled and hobbled out.

He got back to the villa and went straight upstairs to pack his belongings. Then, he brought his belongings downstairs and left the divorce agreement both he and Violet had signed on the table.

He'd just opened the front door when he came face to face with someone coming in through the door.

The first thing Valerie did when she saw Dylan was to yell angrily at him. "Why did you run off like that? Vi made me give you some medication. I really don't know what's going on in her head! She should be taking care of Archer instead of getting concerned about you.

"She even forced me to find you. You just wasted my entire night looking for you!"

"I don't need it. Leave it for Archer," Dylan said calmly. Then, he pushed Valerie's hand away, wanting to leave.

It was also then that Valerie just realized Dylan was holding a suitcase in his hands.

Her face changed. She grabbed Dylan's wrist at once.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

Dylan looked back at her calmly.

"What do you think I'd be doing taking my suitcase with me? Isn't it obvious that I'm leaving? Since your sister loves Archer so much and you also want him to be your brother-in-law instead, I'm now leaving the relationship so he can ascend the role."

Valerie's eyes widened when she heard him. She looked shocked, unable to believe her ears.

After all, everyone knew just how deeply infatuated Dylan was with Violet. How could he just up and leave like that?

Valerie seemed to have come to a conclusion on her own. Her voice shook with anger as she said, "Stop acting, Dylan Cloud! You love my sister too much to leave her! You were the one who begged her to marry you, so it's impossible that you would want to leave her.

"I understand now. You're just playing hard-to-get! Let me tell you that this won't work on Vi!"

Dylan's eyes were calm as he responded, "I've left the divorce agreement on the table. You can see it for yourself if you think it's fake. Also, Valerie, why are you still gripping my hand? Are you sad that I'm leaving?"

Hearing this, Valerie immediately let go of Dylan's wrist.

"That's impossible! You don't know how long I've been wanting you to leave! I'm going to set off fireworks as soon as you're gone! I'm sure Vi will be extremely overjoyed when she finally learns that you're gone for good!"

For some reason, Valerie didn't believe herself when she spoke her last sentence.

Dylan didn't look at her anymore. He just said, "Well, congratulations on getting what you both have always wanted."

Then, he walked out of the door.

Valerie felt as if things were slipping out of her control when she saw Dylan leaving without even a backward glance. She panicked and yelled at him, "Dylan Cloud, where are you going? Aren't you going to tell Vi?"

Dylan stopped in his steps. He turned around to look at Valerie and the huge villa behind him.

To repay the Paddens, he pretended to be in love with Violet for five years and eventually became ridiculed for being a shameless leech.

He had abandoned his dreams and gave up on his future. In some sense, he'd even lost himself.

For five years, he did his best to be a good husband to Violet, dutifully taking care of all the house chores. Despite this, he was never respected or even allowed to preserve his dignity in the household.

He had spent the last five years being suppressed like this.

Finally, he was done repaying the Paddens. He was going to be free at last.

This was the first time Dylan smiled so earnestly, so sincerely, and so carefreely.

"Me? I'm going to live a life that belongs only to myself now."

From that day onward, everything that happened here no longer had anything to do with him. 

He didn't want to see the Padden family anymore. Neither did he want to see Violet ever again.

He just waved his hand in a carefree manner and disappeared under the moonlight with his suitcase in tow.

Violet only came back home to grab a change of clothing three days later.

As soon as she entered the villa, she called out Dylan's name as always. However, even after calling him many times, he didn't appear. Only a few of her maids did.

"Where's Dylan?"

Violet frowned when she saw how clumsily her maids were in helping her put on her home slippers.

The maid stammered for a bit before finally answering, "Mr. Cloud isn't home, Ms. Violet."

Violet walked in with her slippers. Dylan wasn't home again? The last time this happened, it was because Violet had accompanied Archer to the hospital for his burns. Dylan had also disappeared for days to go painting.

This time, she had also accompanied Archer to the hospital. But before leaving, Dylan had graciously told her he could go to the hospital by himself.

And yet, here he was, kicking up a huge fuss once more and running away from home.

Violet felt frustrated to the point that she got angry.

She walked over to the couch and saw the 

Chapter 9