Chapter 1 Divorce

"Justin, could you come home with me?"

Ignoring the mocking looks from everyone else in the private room, Cecilia Green pleaded with her husband. Justin Quinn, who was lounging on the sofa, glanced at her with cold, indifferent eyes but said nothing. He just went back to talking and drinking with his friends, treating her like she didn''t even exist.

Swallowing her pride, Cecilia tried again through gritted teeth. "Justin, today is our wedding anniversary."

"I have zero interest in celebrating some meaningless anniversary." Justin grabbed his glass and downed the wine in one gulp. Under the dim lights, his eyes looked colder than ever.

"But—"

"Cut the act, Cecilia Green. I know exactly what you want."

Justin cut her off with a harsh sneer. He pulled out his checkbook, scribbled a number on it, and threw it on the table in front of her.

"Isn''t this what you''re really after? Take it and get lost."

His expression stayed ice-cold, but the irritation in his eyes was growing. "Yeah, just grab the cash and leave. You''re totally killing the vibe here."

"There''s always women like her. They''ll do anything for money."

Hearing the cruel comments from everyone in the room, Cecilia clenched her fists so tight her nails dug into her palms. Being humiliated by her own husband in front of all these people on their anniversary—she''d never felt so stripped of her dignity. The whole room went dead silent.

"Sorry, guys. I''m late." A woman''s voice cut through the tension.

Erin Watts strutted in wearing a backless pencil skirt and plopped down right next to Justin without even glancing at Cecilia. She set down her purse, leaned her head on Justin''s shoulder, and spoke in a sickeningly sweet voice. "Justin, sorry I''m late. You''re not mad, are you?"

As if suddenly noticing the weird atmosphere, she finally looked over at Cecilia. Her eyes swept up and down dismissively before she let out a contemptuous laugh. "Justin, isn''t that your wife? What''s she doing here?"

Justin didn''t answer. He just kept drinking.

Then Erin spotted the check on the table. "Cecilia, begging for money again, huh?"

She flicked the check toward Cecilia with an arrogant smirk. "How pathetic! How did a gold-digger like you ever manage to marry Justin? If you''re so desperate for cash, come to me instead and stop bothering Justin. He can''t stand the sight of you."

Erin''s cruel words cut through Cecilia like a knife, but everyone else just laughed.

This wasn''t the first time Erin had attacked her like this. Usually, Cecilia would just smile politely and take it. But insulting her on their wedding anniversary? That was like taking her dignity, throwing it on the ground, and stomping all over it.

Cecilia felt completely humiliated. Right now, her four-year marriage to Justin felt like nothing but a sick joke. Justin just sat there, holding his wine glass with that aloof attitude like some kind of king, acting like none of this had anything to do with him.

Cecilia smiled—not from happiness, but from bitter self-mockery. Even now, part of her still hoped Justin would stand up for her, even though he was the one who''d hurt her the most all these years.

If she''d known back then how things would turn out, would she have made the same reckless choice?

She touched her left eye. She''d already lost her sight because of Justin, but hardly anyone knew about it.

She remembered learning to cook for him, never giving up no matter how many times she cut her fingers. But Justin never ate a single thing she made. Even when she brought food to his office, Justin would just toss it in the trash right in front of his employees and warn her, "Cecilia, you think I''d be touched by your cheap little gestures? Don''t flatter yourself."

Justin was never there when she needed him most. He was celebrating Erin''s birthday when Cecilia had a high fever. He was at the movies with Erin when Cecilia was cowering in bed, terrified of the thunder during a storm.

Cecilia had spent almost every single day alone for the past four years.

Justin had proven to her over and over again that he''d never loved her, not even a little bit.

Cecilia had gambled everything on love, and she''d lost. She''d given her all, hoping to win Justin''s heart, but all she got in return was humiliation and contempt.

This time, she wasn''t going to take it anymore. She bent down, picked up the check from the floor, and tore it to pieces right in front of everyone. Her heart was shattered, just like those torn pieces of paper. Fighting back tears, she rushed out of the room.

She ran to the end of the hallway before finally collapsing against the wall, gasping for breath. After standing there for a moment to collect herself, she called Justin.

"What? Regretting leaving without the money?" Justin''s voice was cold.

After a brief pause, Cecilia said with deadly seriousness, "I want a divorce."