Suddenly, Roger's phone rang.
I caught a glimpse of the caller ID – Mrs. Caspar.
He hung up once, but it rang again immediately.
Roger frowned, answering impatiently. "Mom, I'm very busy right now. Whatever it is, we'll talk tonight when I get home."
I couldn't hear what Mrs. Caspar said, but Roger glanced at me and stood up, moving away to take the call.
I could guess what she was saying.
All these years, she had been dissatisfied with my existence. We didn't see each other during holidays.
Sometimes Roger sneaked back to visit them. I pretended not to know.
I had thought that as long as we two loved each other, we could overcome any difficulty.
But it was just my wishful thinking.
They were arguing quite fiercely. I didn't want to listen to their fight, so I stood up to get some fresh air.
Just outside the company building, a black Cayenne pulled up in front of me.
A few seconds later,

"The divorce proceedings aren't complicated. The property division might be a bit messy, but I'll handle it for you."
I shook my head. "No need. I didn't work during these years of marriage. I don't want a single cent of his assets."
"Miss White, don't be so generous. If it's not given to you, it'll be spent on other women. You might want Roger to have an easy time, but I certainly don't."
I was utterly confused, not understanding his motive. "Aren't you friends?"
"The moment he betrayed you, he stopped being my friend."
I didn't understand why Luke was looking at me with such profound emotion. I felt uneasy, suspecting something I dared not confirm.
I even recalled how Luke used to mock Roger whenever Roger was especially good to me.
Suppressing my confusion, I fastened my seatbelt.
Luke started the car again, this time much slower.
"Where are you taking me?"
"There's a flight to the No

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.



Suddenly, Roger's phone rang.
I caught a glimpse of the caller ID – Mrs. Caspar.
He hung up once, but it rang again immediately.
Roger frowned, answering impatiently. "Mom, I'm very busy right now. Whatever it is, we'll talk tonight when I get home."
I couldn't hear what Mrs. Caspar said, but Roger glanced at me and stood up, moving away to take the call.
I could guess what she was saying.
All these years, she had been dissatisfied with my existence. We didn't see each other during holidays.
Sometimes Roger sneaked back to visit them. I pretended not to know.
I had thought that as long as we two loved each other, we could overcome any difficulty.
But it was just my wishful thinking.
They were arguing quite fiercely. I didn't want to listen to their fight, so I stood up to get some fresh air.
Just outside the company building, a black Cayenne pulled up in front of me.
A few seconds later, the window rolled down, and I recognized the person inside.
The man rested his wrist casually on th

Chapter 5