Chapter 3 Signing the Divorce Agreement

"What!"

Alex’s expression shifted in an instant, and he stormed downstairs in swift, decisive strides, cutting her off mid-sentence. The room was suddenly left with only Emily behind.

She opened her mouth, but ultimately swallowed back the words "I'm pregnant."

This was the first time Emily had seen him lose his composure.

Alex had a calm and detached personality. From a young age, he'd been groomed as the heir to the Bakers, taught never to show his emotions.

Even with company projects worth hundreds of millions, he'd never frowned.

But now, just hearing that Grace had fainted, he'd turned pale with anxiety.

Had that worried expression on his cold face ever been directed at her, even once?

Emily's delicate face was full of bitterness and gloom, and her heart ached painfully.

The noisy voices of servants drifted up from downstairs.

She could faintly hear the sound of Alex personally driving Grace to the hospital.

Emily suddenly laughed out loud. As she laughed, tears fell.

Three years of a contract marriage, living like a shadow that couldn't see the light, guarding a marriage that existed in name only.

She'd always thought that over time, feelings would develop, that Alex would eventually turn around and see her.

But instead of waiting for his affection, she'd received divorce papers and news that he was about to reconcile with his first love.

If that's how it was, there was no need to let Alex know about his child.

She didn't want her child to call someone else mother either.

“This is for the best!” Emily whispered through her tears. Brushing them away, she turned toward the closet and began packing her things.

In these three years, she'd bought pitifully few clothes here, spending more on professional books instead.

Basically, one suitcase could hold everything.

She only packed her own clothes.

The jewelry and designer bags Mrs. Baker had gifted her went untouched. Every piece stayed perfectly in place, as if untouched by her hands.

These things were never what she wanted.

Emily dragged her suitcase toward the desk, her eyes lingering briefly on the divorce papers. Then, with quiet resolve, she turned and walked out without a backward glance.

This time, she didn't look back.

From now on, she was no longer Mrs. Baker, just Emily.

Alex only returned home as night fell, carrying the doctor’s reassurance that Grace’s fainting spell had been fleeting, caused merely by low blood sugar, and nothing more.

As soon as he entered, it was pitch black.

Usually, no matter how late he came home, Emily would be curled up on the sofa reading, waiting for him.

When she saw him, she'd immediately put down her book, her eyes lighting up as she rushed toward him, asking if he'd eaten, if he was tired, and so on.

Now, she hadn't even left a light on for him.

Was she angry that he'd asked for a divorce?

Or did she think he wasn't offering enough?

Alex’s brow tightened. “Emily, come down. We need to talk.” Silence answered him. “I’m exhausted, and I don’t have time for games,” he added, his voice sharp with frustration.

Still waiting for no answer, Alex narrowed his dark eyes.

Asleep this early?

He rose silently and ascended the stairs, yet his eyes lingered in the study, drawn irresistibly to the divorce papers sprawled on the desk, Emily’s signature already etched in bold, final strokes.

Alex's eyes narrowed dangerously, a hint of darkness spreading.

He then picked up the divorce agreement and examined it carefully. It definitely wasn't fake.

Alex felt inexplicably irritated.

For a moment, the elegance of that familiar handwriting held him captive, he couldn’t bring himself to sign. One stroke, and the line between choice and consequence would vanish forever.

The irritation in Alex's heart instantly grew, and even he couldn't explain why.

The pen was thrown back on the desk with a dull thud.

Alex's dark eyes were terrifyingly deep.

It was just a contract marriage, three years completed, time to part on good terms.

This was the ending he'd planned all along.

Yet she had departed as if untethered, leaving him to wonder, was it all a carefully staged performance? Alex tugged at his tie with growing irritation, his hand drifting almost automatically to the teacup on the desk.

It didn't have a single drop of water in it!

In the past, whenever he handled company business, there would always be calming tea or cooling soup on the desk...

Just then, his phone rang.

Alex laughed coldly. "In the end, you still have to come to me. If you knew this would happen, why put on an act?"

He naturally assumed it was Emily calling.

However, when he picked it up, the screen showed the name "Grace."

His grip on the phone immediately tightened.

Alex was silent for half a second. "Hello."

Grace’s voice quivered gently, barely above a whisper. “Alex… my head’s still spinning. Will you… stay with me for a while?”

"I'm alone at the hospital, and I'm a little scared."

Normally, Alex might have left immediately.

But at this moment, his brow furrowed involuntarily. "The doctor said it's just low blood sugar. The caregiver I found for you is very professional, don't worry."

“I’ve got company matters to deal with. I’ll hang up now.” Without giving Grace a chance to respond, he ended the call abruptly.

On the other end, Grace listened to the dial tone, the vulnerability on her face fading, replaced by gloom.

She gripped her phone tightly, her nails nearly digging into her palm.

Alex wasn't at the company at all!

He must have gone home… yet that woman, Emily, still lingered in his thoughts. A sudden, sharp gleam of calculation lit Grace’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Emily dragged her exhausted body back to her own apartment.

This was a place she'd bought before getting married.

Small, just 650 square feet, a single bedroom, but it felt like her own private sanctuary. Emily set her suitcase in the corner and sank into the sofa, letting the quiet embrace her.

After resting for a long while, she took out her phone, her gaze pausing on an entry in her contacts.

This company had risen to international fame in recent years, focusing on a fusion of minimalism and Western aesthetics.

It perfectly aligned with Emily's design philosophy.

Three years back, she had sent in her resume, and it hadn’t gone unnoticed. Sophia Lee, the design director then, had been instantly struck by the brilliance of her work.

Sophia had personally called to invite her to join, even willing to apply for a position at the Paris headquarters for her.

Back then, her thoughts and heart had been entirely consumed by Alex, and she had turned the offer down. Now… Emily drew in a steadying breath and dialed the number.

Soon, the call was answered.

Sophia's cheerful voice came through. "Emily?"

Emily pressed her lips together. "Yes, Director Lee, hello."

There was two seconds of silence on the other end. “What, you’ve changed your mind? Finished being a full-time wife?” The words sounded casual, almost indifferent, but Emily sensed the subtle warmth hidden underneath.

She curved her lips into a genuine smile. "I had some personal matters that delayed things before. I'm sorry!"