Chapter 4

The next day, I stood before my vanity mirror, applying lipstick. Last night's tears had run dry, and today I needed to be the perfect Castellano heiress again.

Since Stephen wanted professional, I'd give him professional.

Tonight was the Los Angeles Medical Center's annual charity gala. As the newest Montgomery family daughter-in-law and representative of Castellano Pictures, I had to make a flawless appearance. Even if my heart was already shattered.

The luxurious ballroom of the Los Angeles Medical Center glittered under crystal chandeliers, glasses clinking as medical elites in evening wear mingled and laughed. I held Stephen's arm, wearing a perfect social smile, but the chill in my heart was colder than the March Los Angeles night wind.

Last night when I tearfully asked why he loathed me, he only said "it's complicated." Tonight we had to play the perfect couple in front of everyone again, and I was nearly at my breaking point.

"Dr. Montgomery, you're so lucky!" Dr. Williams, the cardiology chief, approached with champagne, eyes full of envy. "Marrying such a beautiful and elegant wife - you two are the model couple of our medical community!"

Stephen nodded politely. "Thank you, Dr. Williams."

His voice was as flat as if he were responding to a case report. I maintained my graceful smile while screaming internally: Model couple? If you knew this man flinches when touching my hand, would you still say that?

"Stephen is always so modest," I added sweetly, my hand gently stroking his suit sleeve. "We're indeed very... compatible."

I felt Stephen's body stiffen slightly, another stab of pain piercing my heart. Even basic spousal contact in public made him so uncomfortable.

"Karolyn, how do you keep your marriage so harmonious?" a doctor's wife asked curiously. "My husband treats me like air whenever he talks about work."

I almost laughed bitterly. Harmonious? Stephen treated me more distantly than stranger patients.

"Karolyn is very understanding. She never interferes with my work," Stephen suddenly spoke.

Understanding? Or because you never let me get close? I raged internally while responding gracefully, "A doctor's work is important. I understand."

Understand my ass! What I understood was my complete failure in this marriage.

"I'll go greet some of father's old friends," Stephen whispered in my ear, then released my arm.

I watched his tall figure disappear into the crowd, familiar loneliness washing over me. Four months, and he felt spending even one extra second with me was a burden.

I downed my champagne in one gulp, trying to suppress the bitter taste in my throat. Maybe it really was time to end this.

Then I saw that scene.

In the side chamber of the ballroom, my husband Stephen was intimately conversing with a blonde female doctor. The champagne glass in my hand instantly felt scalding.

Dr. Sarah Brown - the cardiovascular surgeon who had shown obvious interest in Stephen at the last family gathering. Now her eyes sparkled with adoration as her slender fingers lightly touched Stephen's arm.

My heart felt like someone had viciously twisted it.

"Your surgical technique is truly artistic," Sarah's voice was sickeningly sweet. "I'd love to observe and learn."

Then I saw the image that broke my heart - Stephen's lips actually curved into a smile! That focused, gentle, even slightly proud expression was something I'd never seen before!

"Medicine requires constant communication and progress. You're welcome to observe anytime," his voice carried a warmth that made me jealous to the point of madness.

He had never looked at me that way!

When I feigned illness, he professionally and coldly checked my temperature with the back of his hand. When I deliberately sprained my ankle, he insisted I see a specialist. When I tried to get close, he always found excuses to escape. Every attempt was mercilessly deflected by his "professional distance."

And now, when discussing medical topics with this strange woman, his eyes lit up - that was the attention I'd dreamed of but never received!

I struggled to maintain my perfect smile, silently grateful that my childhood etiquette training prevented me from losing composure in any situation. But inside I was burning with rage - all my efforts this month, all my attempts, all my tears, had become a joke in this moment.

"Karolyn? Are you alright?"

A concerned voice came from beside me. I turned to see Olivia approaching. My stylist best friend had also been invited to tonight's charity gala.

"I'm fine," I forced a smile. "Just a bit tired."

Olivia followed my gaze and instantly understood. "Who is that woman?"

"Dr. Sarah Brown, cardiovascular surgeon," my voice sounded terrifyingly calm. "An old friend of Stephen's father."

"Old friend my ass!" Olivia lowered her voice. "Look at how she's practically throwing herself at him! And Stephen is actually..."

"Actually enjoying being adored," I finished for her, my nails nearly embedding in my palms.

I watched Sarah rise on her tiptoes to whisper something in Stephen's ear, and he smiled even more brilliantly! That composed, confident, charming smile was what I'd dreamed of seeing!

"I'm going over there," I set down my champagne glass, jealousy and despair mixing into a terrible anger.

"Karolyn, calm down," Olivia grabbed me. "This is a public place."

"I know." I walked over in my heels, my voice deadly sweet. "Stephen! You two seem to be having such an engaging conversation?"

Stephen turned, his smile instantly fading as he resumed that eternally unchanging polite mask. "Let me introduce you. Sarah, this is my wife Karolyn. Karolyn, this is Dr. Sarah Brown."

His tone was as flat as if introducing a stranger.

Sarah gracefully extended her hand. "I've heard so much about you, Karolyn. I heard you two are childhood sweethearts."

"Something like that," I shook her hand, using all my strength not to crush her fingers. "Our families are old friends."

But we didn't even have basic spousal conversation.

"Stephen just shared some cutting-edge cardiac surgical techniques with me," Sarah's eyes flashed with smugness. "It was truly enlightening. You two must often discuss medical topics, right?"

I almost laughed out loud.

"Of course," I looked at Stephen, my eyes full of sarcasm. "My husband is always very willing to... share his professional knowledge."

At least with other women.

Stephen seemed to sense something, frowning. "Karolyn, you don't look well?"

"I'm fine," my smile grew more brilliant. "I just didn't expect you to be so... enthusiastic with medical colleagues."

"Sarah is father's friend. Of course I should be polite," Stephen's voice carried some tension.

Polite? You call that polite? You were just smiling at her like a lovesick teenager!

"Of course, you're always very professional," my voice grew colder. "Especially when dealing with... important people."

Sarah keenly sensed the awkward atmosphere. "I'll go greet some other colleagues. You two chat."

After she left, Stephen immediately turned to me. "Karolyn, what was that about?"

"Nothing," I watched Sarah's elegant retreating figure, the rage in my heart about to explode. "I just admire your social skills."

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean." I turned and walked away, not wanting to embarrass myself here.

Stephen followed, his voice carrying rare urgency. "If I did something wrong just now..."

I stopped and turned to face him. This man could smile so tenderly at other women, but always wore this confused, innocent expression with me.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Stephen," my voice was terrifyingly calm. "You performed perfectly, very professional."

I found a quiet corner to sit down and took out my phone to search. The screen soon displayed results: "Top Divorce Law Firms in Los Angeles."

My finger tapped on the screen, browsing through various law firm information. Four months - I was done with this one-sided torture. He wanted professional? I'd give him a completely professional ending.

"Davidson & Associates - Specializing in High Net Worth Divorce Cases"

"Miller Law Group - Los Angeles Premier Family Attorneys"

"Peterson Family Law - Protecting Client Privacy, Fast Divorce Processing"

Each link seemed to beckon me, telling me freedom was within reach.

I stared at my phone screen, my mind flashing back to the recent scene - Stephen's smile toward Sarah, the tenderness in his eyes I'd never seen, and his business-like tone when introducing me.

So he wasn't incapable of being tender with women - he just didn't want to be tender with me.

I selected the first law firm's website and was about to click to schedule a consultation when suddenly—

"Beautiful Karolyn!"

A voice with a heavy Latin accent came from behind, interrupting my action.