Chapter 1

My accomplishments were stolen, and the promotion that should have been mine was taken away.

I went to see the factory manager and submitted a transfer request.

The manager, who valued my talent, tried to persuade me to reconsider.

[Transferring to NY is no small matter.]

[It would be ten years. ]

[Your family is still here. Can your husband, Rock, really let you go?]

The sunset's glow poured through the window, casting over me. But it offered no warmth.

I stayed silent for a long while, then slowly said,

[He’d rather I leave.]

The manager looked at me with a complicated expression and sighed. In the end, he didn’t say much.

With the transfer papers in hand, I returned to the old house.

As soon as I stepped into the yard, my pace slowed.

Inside, there was an intense argument.

My husband, Rock, was kneeling in the middle of the room, his face pale with veins bulging out.

The floor was a mess, with furniture turned over, like a storm had just passed.

His father, Mathew, stood beside him, pointing his finger angrily at him.

[Look at what you've done. Cloe is your wife. How could you do this!?]

Seeing that Rock still looked unwilling to submit, his father grabbed a decorative vase and was about to smash it.

In an instant, a graceful figure rushed forward and stood in front of him.

A muffled sound escaped from the person in her arms, followed by soft, suppressed crying.

Rock shouted in panic,

[Gracia!]

Mathew's eyes bulged, his voice booming,

[How dare you, you lowly woman, come here on your own!?]

[What’s the deal with this woman? Sticking to a married man, I’ll hit both of you!]

Gracia, with tears in her eyes, raised her chin slightly, her gaze full of defiance,

[Rock is doing this for me.]

[Punish me instead!]

Mathew, who had been the head of the family for decades, wasn’t afraid of her defiance.

He raised the smoking pipe high, ready to strike.

The family elders, who were sitting nearby, watched with cold eyes, offering no intervention.

They clearly supported Mathew’s actions.

Today was supposed to be my promotion day.

The Whites' had planned a celebratory feast for me.

But the notice on the bulletin board showed that Gracia had replaced me in my position and taken my rewards.

The manager had discreetly told me that this was the Whites''s doing.

But aside from Rock, no one in the Whites' would do something like this.

That’s why this scene had unfolded.

After Mathew scolded him, Gracia desperately blocked his path.

The smoking pipe fell again.

Rock finally reacted, pushing Gracia aside.

He allowed the heavy smoking pipe to fall onto himself without saying a word.

All eyes were on them, full of disdain, contempt, and helplessness.

Some people turned their gaze to the yard and saw me standing alone by the door.

Their eyes filled with pity and sympathy.

But I felt no better about it.

No matter how much pressure his father put on him, Rock’s heart was never on me.

This whole farce seemed to be in my defense, but I was always the fool in the end.

It was pointless.

I didn’t look back. I silently went to my room.

A couple of years ago, Rock had moved to sleep in a separate room, citing our differences in living habits.

My things had never been many.

I packed them into bags.

The room became empty.

After packing, I was about to look for Rock.

But just then, he stormed into my room and slammed the door open.

[Cloe, what are you pretending to be weak for?]

[Don't you always like arguing with me? Why aren't you arguing now?]

[To make my family side with you, you act all meek and wronged, really good at playing these tricks!]

I froze for a moment, finally understanding his meaning.

So Rock thought I was trying to gain sympathy.

At this point, I didn’t need to explain anymore.

Seeing me silent, Rock felt like he was hitting a cotton wall.

He angrily turned to leave.

[Rock.]

I called after him with a sigh.

[Let's get a divorce.]