Chapter 3

Isadora's POV

I didn't reply to any of them.

My lawyer William had already filed for divorce, based on the adultery evidence I'd collected and our prenup. He said the judge could approve it as early as this week.

Today I needed to go back to the apartment for an important document—my original patent applications from our startup days, kept in the study's safe.

The elevator stopped at the penthouse. As I unlocked the door, I heard soft music inside.

I pushed open the door. Candles lit the living room, elegant dinner on the table. Aurelius and Cordelia were in the kitchen. She wore my silk robe—that champagne-colored La Perla I rarely wore.

They both froze when they saw me.

Aurelius stepped away from Cordelia quickly. "Isadora? What are you doing here?"

I looked at Cordelia in my robe and felt nothing. Three days ago this might have made me furious. Now it just seemed pathetic.

"Getting something," I said, walking to the study.

"Wait!" Aurelius followed. "You can't just disappear! We're married—if there's a problem, we should talk!"

I ignored him, opened the safe, and grabbed the patent documents.

"Isadora, I'm sorry," Cordelia followed us, clutching the robe. "I just... Aurelius said you weren't coming back, so..."

"So you decided to have a date at my place?" I turned to face them.

"This isn't a date!" Aurelius said. "Cordelia had a stressful day. I brought her here to relax. You're overthinking this!"

"Overthinking?" I laughed coldly. "You really think I'd waste time stalking you?"

"Then why did you suddenly come back?" His eyes narrowed. "Are you spying on me?"

I stared at this man I'd shared a bed with for seven years.

"Get over yourself."

"Isadora, your behavior has me worried," Cordelia bit her lip. "Freezing cards, moving out... Are you having a breakdown? Maybe you need help?"

She adjusted the robe deliberately—pure provocation.

The old me might have exploded. Now I just found it childish.

"You two can continue," I collected my documents. "But the security system's been reset. You should leave soon."

Aurelius's face darkened. "What do you mean?"

"Starting tomorrow, no one gets in without my authorization."

"This is OUR house!"

"No. MY house. MY name on the deed, remember? And soon, it won't be mine either."

My phone rang. Linda, the real estate agent.

"Isadora, great news! The apartment sold. The buyer can sign tomorrow."

I watched Aurelius's face without explaining.

"You SOLD the house?" He stared at me. "Have you lost your MIND? This is our HOME!"

"Our?" I glanced at Cordelia in my robe. "Don't you think that sounds ridiculous?"

I hung up and headed for the door.

"Isadora!" Aurelius grabbed my arm. "What do you WANT? Are you trying to ruin us?"

I looked at his hand—the same hand that had been touching another woman.

"Ruin us?" I pulled free. "We were already ruined."

After leaving, I went straight to the office. Though I'd resigned, there was still handover work.

More importantly, I needed to complete divesting my shares.

Through complex trust operations, I'd transferred my company shares overseas. Aurelius thought Nexus was his empire, but the core algorithm patents were mine, and the major clients came through my network.

Without me, this company wouldn't last three months.

But he wouldn't know that yet.

Friday afternoon, Aurelius asked me to meet at the Plaza Hotel coffee shop.

I arrived on time. He stood when I walked in, wearing his negotiation face. Two cups of coffee waited on the table.

"Have a seat." He gestured across from him, tone charitable.

I sat without touching the coffee.

"Isadora, I've been thinking," he said. "Your behavior has made me realize my attention to Cordelia gave you the wrong idea."

Wrong idea? I watched him quietly.

"So I've decided to give you a chance. Come back to the company. Cordelia screwed up several projects—I need you to clean up the mess."

He spoke like he was doing me a favor.

"In exchange," he picked up his coffee, "I might not bring up the separation. But you need to apologize to Cordelia for your behavior."

I watched his confident expression. He actually thought this was a good deal.

"You want me to apologize to her?"

"Yes. You've been terrorizing Cordelia all week. She's a sweet kid—she doesn't deserve this crap." He said matter-of-factly. "You're my wife. Be the bigger person."

Be the bigger person. Again.

"Aurelius," I looked at him, "why the hell should I apologize to your side piece?"

"What side piece?" He frowned. "Cordelia's my assistant. You're being crazy!"

"Crazy?" I pulled out my phone, opened the photos. "Are these crazy too?"

His face went white.

Photos of him and Cordelia embracing, kissing in the office. The private investigator got clear shots.

"Isadora, I can explain..."

"No need." I pulled out a manila envelope and pushed it across. "The judge already saw these."

His hands shook as he opened it. Court seal on the document inside.

Divorce decree.

"This is BULLSHIT." He stared. "When did you..."

"My lawyer filed three months ago. Based on the prenup and your adultery, the judge approved it yesterday."

Aurelius stared at the document.

"Isadora, you can't do this! We can work things out..."

"Work out what?" I stood. "Aurelius, we're already divorced."

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