Chapter 3

"See you tomorrow at ten at the courthouse," Nathan said, his voice devoid of warmth.

Without another word, he turned away and sank back onto the plush sofa, his attention already elsewhere.

Evelyn's footsteps dragged as she moved toward the door, each step heavier than the last.

Just then, Serena's saccharine voice drifted through the room. "Nathan, I'm stuffed. Can I throw this cake away?"

Evelyn froze at the words, her breath hitching.

"Of course," Nathan replied without hesitation.

Hearing his casual dismissal, Evelyn squeezed her eyes shut, letting the tears mingle with the rain still clinging to her cheeks.

She fled the penthouse and returned to Reverie Villa—the home she had once shared with Nathan.

The divorce papers lay on the coffee table, just as he had promised.

Evelyn skimmed through the documents, her fingers trembling slightly as she noted the terms.

Three hundred million dollars. Two luxury estates.

Even after using her, Nathan had ensured she wouldn’t leave with nothing.

Three years of marriage, reduced to a transaction. Was this her worth?

A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she signed the papers.

A single tear splattered onto the document. She quickly wiped it away, blinking hard to stop any more from falling.

Then, her phone buzzed.

A message from her mentor.

"Evelyn, have you made your decision? This scholarship abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Don’t let it slip away."

Evelyn stared at the screen, her fingers hovering before she typed her reply.

"I’ve decided. I’m going."

For weeks, she had hesitated, torn between staying and starting over.

Now, the choice was clear.

She would take this chance.

She needed this chance.

A new life. A fresh start. One where she wasn’t just someone’s discarded wife.

After sending the message, she shoved her phone into her pocket and began packing.

Despite the fever from yesterday’s downpour, she forced herself to the courthouse the next morning, arriving right at ten.

But as the clock ticked past eleven, Nathan was nowhere to be seen.

Evelyn dialed his number.

The moment the call connected, Serena’s voice chirped in the background. "Nathan, can you help me with this?"

Then, Nathan’s voice, distracted and indifferent. "I’m busy. We’ll reschedule."

The line went dead.

Evelyn lowered the phone, her grip tightening around it.

Of course.

Even now, she was an afterthought.

But not for long.

She turned on her heel and walked away.

This time, she wouldn’t wait for him.

This time, she would choose herself.