Chapter 1 Seven Years of Effort Wasted

When Beatrice York finished the hospital discharge procedures alone, it was already dark outside.

Her phone kept buzzing with messages, mostly greetings from friends.

But there was still nothing from Arthur Capulet.

The smile on her face faded.

By the time she arrived at the villa, it was past nine in the evening.

The housekeeper Zanna was surprised to see her: "Mrs. Capulet, why were you discharged today?"

"Where are Arthur and Sloane?"

"Mr. Capulet took Sloane out. They haven't come back yet."

Beatrice handed her the luggage and went upstairs to take a shower.

After more than a week in the hospital, she smelled like disinfectant all over. Her daughter Sloane Capulet hated that smell.

She had just finished blow-drying her hair when she heard the door open downstairs. Sloane bounced up the stairs.

Sloane happily called out when she saw her: "Mom, you're back!"

Beatrice went forward to hug Sloane, but was pushed away right after a kiss: "Mom, I still have something to do."

She hadn't seen Sloane for over a week and couldn't get enough of being close to her. She really wanted to spend time chatting with her.

"Sloane, what do you need to do? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Sloane ran to her room and took out a crystal bottle filled with little stars, waving it in front of her like showing off a treasure.

"Look, I made this myself. Isn't it pretty?"

"It's beautiful. You're amazing."

Sloane tucked the crystal bottle into her pocket. "Great, then Jennifer will definitely like it. Dad and I folded all these little stars one by one." Beatrice's throat tightened. Before she could say anything, Sloane continued talking to herself: "Jennifer just got better from her illness yesterday. Dad said he wants to take Jennifer out to dinner tomorrow."

Beatrice's heart felt like someone was squeezing it. She couldn't help but ask: "Sloane, I just got discharged today. Don't you want to say something to me?"

"Jennifer is waiting downstairs and she'll get anxious. I'm going down now." Sloane quickly ran downstairs.

Beatrice stood there stunned, staring at Sloane, her legs unconsciously following her down.

Outside the villa, Jennifer Rivera nestled into Arthur's arms. Arthur was looking down saying something, his face showing an affection that Beatrice had never seen in their seven years of marriage.

Sloane ran to them and handed the crystal bottle to Jennifer like presenting a treasure. Jennifer crouched down and hugged Sloane.

Beatrice stood inside the villa watching this scene, her heart feeling like it was being stabbed with a knife.

"Mrs. Capulet, do you still want dinner?"

Zanna came over to ask. She shook her head and turned back to her room.

After more than half an hour, Arthur pushed open the door and walked in.

His face wore the coldness that Beatrice had grown used to.

"You're discharged?"

"Yes."

Arthur took out his pajamas from the closet. After years of marriage, they had always slept in separate rooms.

"Are you free tomorrow at lunch? Bring Sloane, let's have a meal together."

As Arthur was about to leave, she called out to him.

Arthur turned to look at Beatrice on the bed. After a long while, he finally said:

"Got it. Send me the address once you book it."

Arthur walked out of the room, leaving Beatrice sitting alone on the bed.

He didn't ask once how Beatrice was feeling, even though she had been hospitalized with pneumonia after getting caught in the rain delivering documents to him.

She lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

She got up to get some milk and heard Sloane and Zanna's voices from downstairs.

"Mrs. Capulet just got discharged today. Aren't you happy?"

"Dad, Jennifer, and I made plans to go shopping together tomorrow. If Mom finds out, she'll definitely be mean to Jennifer again."

"Mom is no fun at all. All she does is make me do homework every day. Zanna, can I have Jennifer be my mom instead?"

"Sloane, Mrs. Capulet will be upset if she knows."

"But Dad and I both like Jennifer better."

Beatrice couldn't hear the rest clearly.

She had raised Sloane with her own hands, pouring all her heart and soul into her, never expecting to hear such words from Sloane's mouth.

Beatrice's face turned pale. She stood frozen like a statue, not moving for a long time.

Like a walking corpse, she returned to her room, opened her computer, and clicked on a chemistry equation she hadn't finished from years ago.

As if trying to find something to fill the emptiness in her heart.

She didn't know what time it was when she woke up at the desk. It was almost noon.

Remembering she had arranged to have lunch with Arthur today, she quickly washed up and started looking for Sloane.

"Zanna, have you seen Sloane?"

"Sloane was just picked up by someone Mr. Capulet arranged."

"I see."

She took out her phone and called Arthur.

It took a while for him to answer.

"I've booked the restaurant. Just bring Sloane and come over later."

The other end of the line was noisy. Arthur's flat voice came through the phone:

"Something came up at lunch. Let's do it next time."

The call ended. She looked at her phone, not surprised at all inside.

She was used to it.

In Arthur's heart, whether it was work or anything else, everything was far more important than her.

He could always cancel their planned dates just like that.

Never considering her feelings.

Was she sad?

Maybe before.

But now she only felt numb. She couldn't feel it anymore.

She walked out of the villa and looked back.

Neither Arthur nor Sloane seemed to have a place for her in their hearts.

This home seemed to have no place for her either, and didn't need her anymore.

Beatrice drove through this familiar yet strange city.

All these years, she had been trying to please Arthur and carefully teaching Sloane, but she had never really explored this city.

Without realizing it, she drove to the beach where she first met Arthur.

She was about to get out of the car when she saw Arthur, Jennifer, and Sloane walking on the beach together.

Sloane was holding Jennifer's hand and leaned over to take a sip from Jennifer's drink.

Arthur's eyes were always on Jennifer, as if she was the only person in the world.

This was what Arthur meant by "something came up."

This was the Sloane she had worked so hard to carry, give birth to, and pour her heart into.

Beatrice laughed.

They looked like the real family.

Beatrice drove back to the villa and drafted a divorce agreement.

Arthur was her childhood dream, but his eyes had never held her reflection.

If it weren't for her using a favor to force his hand, and Arthur being pressured by his grandfather, he would never have married her.

She used to think that as long as she worked hard to be a good wife and a good mother, she would eventually win him over.

But reality had slapped her hard in the face.

It was time to wake up, and time to go back.

She put the divorce agreement in an envelope and left it on the bedside table. Beatrice picked up her suitcase, got in the car, and told the driver: "To Regal City."