Chapter 3

The people who were arguing suddenly fell silent.

They dared not speak again and dispersed in a rush.

But the looks that were directed at Gracia still carried disdain.

Gracia had never experienced this kind of humiliation before.

Covering her face, she sobbed and ran off.

Rock, of course, chased after her.

Before leaving, he noticed me upstairs and shot me a fierce glare.

Another drama.

I found it a bit tiresome, and since Rock hadn't signed the documents yet, I could only wearily return home.

To my surprise, Rock was already waiting in my room.

[You arranged for those people at the store, didn't you?]

[The girl's reputation is so important, what are you doing destroying it for her!]

He immediately started reprimanding me.

It left me a bit confused.

But in a moment, I sorted things out.

I couldn't help but find it somewhat ridiculous.

[Who told you that, Gracia?]

[Mouths are on other people, if you don't want people talking, manage your own business!]

Rock was immediately silenced.

He looked uncomfortable, yet couldn't let go of his pride.

[You benefited the most from this. Gracia's reputation is ruined, and you get sympathy.]

[Who else could be the instigator if not you?]

Who cares about that sympathy?

Have I not received enough pity and sympathy over the years?

I scoffed.

[Rock, let me clarify something.]

[To everyone else, I'm just the poor woman with the title of the Young Lady of the Whites', unloved by my husband.]

[In this mess, her reputation was damaged? The only thing linking you to her is marrying her so she wouldn't be scorned. Why not propose to her and make it up?]

[What have I gained from this?]

Rock knew he couldn't argue with me.

His face turned red, and after a long pause, he managed to squeeze out a sentence.

[What connection? We grew up together, we’re good friends. People are just filthy-minded, thinking everyone has some secret relationship.]

[What’s going on with you, I don’t know, but Gracia has already been hurt.]

[And you, like nothing is wrong, don't care about the consequences of all this.]

I didn’t want to say more.

I felt a wave of annoyance.

The desire to talk about divorce had already faded.

I parted my lips, wanting him to leave.

But Rock looked at me meaningfully.

[I think you did this on purpose.]

[You really have learned something, threatening me with divorce now?]

[When did you plan it? Go ahead, tell me, have you already found someone else?]

Slap!

I raised my hand and slapped him hard on the face.

My whole body trembled with anger.

I had decided long ago to leave.

But I would never allow him to insult or question my character like this.

The room fell silent for a moment.

After a long pause, he angrily said,

[Did I hit the nail on the head? Hmph, you're absolutely unreasonable!]

With that, he stormed out without a backward glance.

I could still see his hurried figure reflected in the window as he walked away, heading east.

He was probably going out to comfort Gracia again.

Another argument.

I found it quite meaningless.

After so many years of marriage, it had always been like this.

If not because of Gracia, we would have fought over something else.

Again and again, my patience and edge had been worn down.

I no longer had the intention of going all the way with him.

But once, he had treated me with sincerity.

At first, our relationship wasn’t as bad as it was now.

I first met Rock when I was fifteen.

He was harmed by treacherous people due to his family wealth.

The first time I saw him, he was starving to the point of almost losing consciousness.

I gritted my teeth and fed him some of the stored food I had hidden, bit by bit.

In just a few days, he recovered.