Chapter 97

Lately, Calvin had begun showing deep concern for Jasmine's work, frequently asking how things were going and offering words of support. But the more attentive and gentle he became, the more suffocated she felt. There was no comfort in his tenderness, only the familiar, stifling pressure that made it hard to breathe. She thought back to their three years of marriage. Back then, Calvin had always been distant and cold toward her. His heart had never belonged to her. It had always been tied to Olivia. No matter how many times they tried to end it, he and Olivia always found a way to reconnect. Because of her, he had hurt Jasmine repeatedly and deeply. She had chosen to end the marriage decisively, believing she could finally escape the shadow he cast over her life. But even after their divorce, Calvin refused to let her go. He used her mother as leverage, forcing Jasmine to stay bound to a household she longed to escape. Thinking of this, she felt an overwhelming fatigue wash ove