Chapter 2

I let out a cold laugh, and Mason's newly calmed expression instantly darkened.

"What on earth is your problem? I work hard all day at the office, and now I have to come home and deal with your attitude?"

"I know you're upset about the team bonuses being cut at the gala today, but didn't I buy you that exact necklace you saw in the magazine? Can't you just show a little understanding of my position?"

My gaze dropped to the gift box sitting on the coffee table.

I reached out and unboxed it.

The diamond's fire immediately caught the light, but what a pity.

Using cubic zirconia to pass off as a real diamond—did he really think I was so cheap that even a necklace had to be fake?

Mason probably didn't know that because I was obsessed with jewelry back then, I actually studied and got certified as a professional gemologist.

I was almost angry enough at my own past humility to laugh.

A flicker of guilt crossed Mason's face, but he put on a brave front, assuming I wouldn't notice.

"I knew you'd had your eye on this necklace for ages. I ran through half the malls in the city just to grab the last one. Stop making a fuss."

I ignored his words.

Having pushed myself through the pain since the afternoon, the local anesthetic had finally worn off, and a dull, cramping ache radiated from my lower abdomen across my entire body.

Unwilling to look pathetic in front of Mason, I reached into my bag, pulled out the medication the doctor had prescribed, and swallowed a couple of pills.

Mason's expression shifted drastically as he snatched the pill bottle right out of my hand.

"What are you taking? Don't you know you shouldn't be taking random medicine?"

Noticing how pale my face looked, Mason finally softened his tone a fraction. He squatted down in front of me,

"If you don't like the necklace, we can throw it away. I'll buy you a new one, okay?"

"Babe, you can't treat your body like this. Taking pills is bad for you."

I cut him off, shoving the printed divorce papers directly into his hands.

"I've already had my lawyer draw up the papers. Sign them if you have a free second."

"Oh, and I know Chloe is the rookie you're mentoring. Since you dote on her so much, you can just marry her and bring her home once our divorce is final."

Mason froze, his face darkening as he abruptly stood up.

"Divorce? Are you seriously talking about divorce just because I patted her on the butt at the year-end party?"

"Sure, I've been mentoring her since she joined the company, but you were the one who recruited her from campus in the first place! If something was going on between us, do you really think it would happen right under your nose? Can you stop acting crazy?"

With that, he suddenly swept everything off the coffee table onto the floor, venting his frustration.

I swallowed the words stuck in my throat and let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.

He was always like this—never caring about my emotions, just demanding that I swallow my feelings and accommodate him.

Now that I was walking away, whatever he did had nothing to do with me anymore.

I raised my eyes to look at him and nodded calmly.

"Yes. It's because you patted her on the butt. Isn't that reason enough?"

"Mason, before we got married, I told you clearly: if you ever stopped loving me after we tied the knot, just tell me straight. I'd accept it."

"But you shouldn't have lied to me behind my back. Do you honestly think we can keep living like this?"

Mason's brows furrowed tightly, and the next second, fury threatened to spill past his lips.

I spoke up again.

"Besides, we were going to have a baby."

I handed him the abortion clinic receipt.

"Too bad I already had it terminated."

Without waiting for his frozen figure to react, I turned on my heel and walked straight out the door.

From behind me came his heartbroken, roaring shout.

"Nora, how dare you? How the hell could you? That was our child!"

"If you walk out that door today, don't ever bother coming back."

The corners of my lips curved into a cold sneer.

He had used those exact words to imprison me for ten years.

I had constantly endured, compromised, and begged for peace.

And what did it buy me? No understanding at all—just his high-and-mighty arrogance and a string of escalating disrespect.

"Instead of wasting time screaming at me here, you'd better sign those divorce papers ASAP. I'll drop by the office to pick them up."

He probably thought I'd turn around and apologize like I always used to, so our fragile marriage could somehow drag on.

But as the words left my mouth, my steps only quickened.

I was finally about to break free from the chains of this matrimonial cage!