Chapter 3 Divorce Agreement

Elodie fought back the burning sensation churning in her stomach and pushed open the front door.

Complete darkness. Adrian still hadn't come home—she was used to it by now.

In the dim light, Elodie collapsed onto the sofa and pulled out the divorce papers she'd already prepared from her bag. Black words on white paper, five years of marriage. Her fingertips gently traced over the title as the stabbing pain in her stomach grew more intense. Trembling, she swallowed two painkillers and curled up into a ball.

This house had once held all her fantasies about marriage, but now every single item in it seemed to mock her foolishness. In this wrong marriage, she'd lost everything—even her life, which was now on a countdown.

Forcing herself to take a shower, Elodie lay in bed and fell into a deep sleep, overwhelmed by pain and exhaustion.

When she woke up the next day, the empty villa was still hers alone.

Elodie took the divorce papers to the company, only to find that Adrian had gone to a charity gala at The Summit Royale.

She frowned slightly. She could wait, but right now she didn't want to wait another minute.

She went to the hotel restroom and looked at her paper-white face and bloodless lips in the mirror. She applied light makeup, barely covering the sickness and exhaustion written all over her face. Taking a deep breath, Elodie clutched the document folder and pushed open the ballroom door.

Glittering gold and jade, wine glasses clinking everywhere.

Before Elodie had fully entered, her peripheral vision caught two familiar figures in the corner.

Adrian wore a custom-tailored suit, standing tall and looking dazzlingly distinguished. And beside him, Chloe was standing on tiptoe, slowly leaning toward the man's thin lips. A handsome man and beautiful woman—a painfully perfect match.

Her heart seized violently, the pain making it impossible to breathe. Elodie watched the indulgent tenderness on the man's face, feeling as if she'd been publicly slapped across the face.

It wasn't that he couldn't be gentle—his gentleness just never belonged to her.

Yesterday's grievances and all the old and new resentments flooded over her like a tide. Elodie walked quickly toward them in her heels.

"That's enough." Her voice was cold, the words seeming to squeeze through her teeth.

The burning sensation in her stomach hit again. Elodie's body swayed slightly, her fingertips pressing hard against the cold wall to barely keep herself steady.

Chloe jumped like a startled deer, instinctively hiding behind Adrian. "Ms. Turner, you've got it wrong. I was just fixing Adrian's tie. Please don't overthink it." She apologized with her mouth, but her eyes showed nothing but provocation.

Her rationality returning, Elodie couldn't be bothered with her at all.

She looked directly at Adrian's face and handed over the document folder, her tone decisive: "What you two do is none of my business. Sign this, and you can be together openly. Also, I'm officially resigning from the Stewart Group."

Back then, to be closer to him, she'd worked countless nights to climb to the position of Legal Director. But now, it all meant nothing. When she said "resign" and "divorce," she felt strangely relieved.

Adrian lazily looked down, glancing at the folder like it was trash.

His eyes were full of cold mockery: "What, changing tactics? Elodie, you used the dirty trick of sleeping your way into marrying me, and now you're playing hard to get? You're truly shameless."

His words cut like knives into her heart.

"I'll say this one last time—I was a victim too back then." Even knowing no one would believe her, Elodie couldn't help defending herself.

Adrian said nothing, but his mocking gaze had already sentenced her to death.

"Ms. Turner, there are so many people here. Whatever it is, let's talk about it when we get back. Here, have some water and calm down." Chloe picked up a glass of water and considerately approached her.

Elodie frowned and instinctively raised her hand to block it.

However, before her hand even touched the glass, Chloe suddenly cried out!

The glass shattered on the floor. Most of the water splashed onto Chloe, instantly soaking through her light-colored dress and outlining her curves.

Chloe shrank into Adrian's arms looking helpless, tears welling up in her eyes: "Adrian... please don't blame her, I'm sure she didn't mean it."

She was putting on this two-faced act again!

Elodie stood frozen in place. Before she could speak, she met a pair of deep, furious eyes.

The next second, sharp pain shot through her wrist! A brutal force violently shoved her away!

Elodie's thin body lost its balance, her head slamming hard against the solid marble wall. A wave of dizziness hit her. She forced herself not to fall, but when her trembling hand touched her forehead, her palm was covered in shocking crimson.

She was bleeding.

But when she looked up, she saw Adrian gently taking off his jacket and draping it over Chloe, then scooping her up in his arms.

The man looked down at the bleeding Elodie from his height, his eyes looking at her like she was a vicious lunatic: "Listen carefully—this is a charity gala, not a place for you to make a scene. Get out."

With that, he turned and walked away with the person in his arms. That final "get out" completely crushed Elodie's last shred of dignity.

The guests around immediately started whispering:

"Isn't that Mrs. Stewart? She'll use any disgusting trick to get a man's attention."

"Poor Ms. Johnson, so gentle and kind, being bullied by this crazy woman. She should just leave. The thought of being at the same gala as such a vicious woman makes me sick!"

Under the contemptuous stares of everyone in the room, Elodie covered her bleeding forehead and stumbled out of the ballroom.

Outside, the night was pitch black and freezing. Her tears finally broke through.

Suddenly, a large shadow fell over her head.

A deep, inscrutable male voice rang out in the night wind:

"Is this what you wanted?"