So that was how he saw her. And me? A scheming manipulator.
We had been married for years, yet he still believed I was capable of something so vile. I had done nothing wrong, and still, he refused to stand by me.
The pain pressed against my chest until breathing felt difficult. My lips trembled, but no words came out.I swallowed the tears threatening to fall and forced a brittle smile. "Is this really what you think of me? When you promised nana you'd treat me well, did you already plan for this? If you knew you couldn't forget her, why did you marry me? If you knew you'd treat me like this once she returned, why didn't you tell me from the start?"
His expression softened slightly. "I'm sorry. I was too hasty."
Sorry.
"If you have an issue, come to me," he continued. "There's no need to drag Lilian into it."
An apology wrapped around a warning—for the sake of the woman he loved.
"'Sorry' is all you have to say? After trampling over me like I don't have feelings?"
He fell silent.
I looked at him steadily. "Let me ask you something. If we had a child, would you still treat me this way? Would you still divorce me?"
"There are no 'what ifs,' Alicia," he replied coolly. "And even if there were, I wouldn't let a child be dragged into this mess."
Something inside me finally broke.
"Fine," I said quietly. "Do whatever you want. I don't care anymore."
I turned and walked out without hesitation.
Back in my office, I took out the Divorce Settlement Agreement and stared at it for a long time. Then, slowly, I signed my name—stroke by stroke.
Alexander's heart had never been mine, and it never would be.
Two years of marriage… and this was how it ended.
From this moment on, we were no longer husband and wife.
I picked up the phone and called my assistant.
"Take this document to CEO Hawthorne's office."
Third-Person POV
Vicki James, Alicia's assistant, took the document and headed toward the CEO's office without a second thought. After all, Director Alicia was the boss's sister—there was nothing unusual about delivering paperwork.
"Are those for the CEO?" Jane Smith, Alexander's assistant, asked when Vicki arrived.
"Yes. They're from Director Alicia."
"Alright, I'll pass them to him." Jane stood from her desk at the entrance.
"Thanks, Jane," Vicki replied before leaving.
Jane entered the office and placed the file on Alexander's desk.
"What's this?" he asked without looking up.
"I'm not sure. Director Alicia's assistant brought it. She said it was for you."
Jane stepped out after that, leaving him alone.
Alexander stared at the folder for a long moment before finally opening it.
The bold title at the top made his breath catch.
Divorce Settlement Agreement.
His expression darkened. He flipped to the last page—and there it was. Alicia's signature. Neat. Elegant. Unmistakable.
Even here, her handwriting was flawless.
He stared at her name for a long time before closing the file and setting it aside. Leaning back in his chair, he rubbed his temples, the memory of the pain in her eyes resurfacing.
This was what he had wanted from the start… wasn't it?
Then why did it feel so wrong now?
His thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of his phone. He glanced at the screen before answering.
"Alexander, you saw the trending topics, right? I'm sorry. If I'd been more careful, this wouldn't have happened," Lilian's soft voice came through.
When he didn't respond immediately, she called again. "Alexander?"
He returned to himself. "It's fine. I've handled it. It won't affect you."
"Really? Thank you so much. You're always so good to me."