Chapter 4

I dragged my exhausted body back to my apartment, only to receive a phone call from my parents.

"Your father and I have lost all our dignity because of you!" my mom sobbed through the screen. "If you go through with this ridiculous divorce, don't even think about calling us your parents again!"

My mom was crying hysterically on FaceTime, while my dad sat beside her, silently smoking.

"You were the one who begged us to let you marry him! It hasn't even been that long, and now you're throwing a tantrum and demanding a divorce!"

They were right.

When Ethan proposed to me, they finally found out we had been dating secretly for eight years.

They were furious and strongly opposed the marriage.

My parents had asked Ethan to leave so they could have a heart-to-heart with me.

They said that after eight years of dating, Ethan had never once introduced me to his professional circle or public life. He was hiding me.

"He doesn't value this relationship," my mom had warned. "If you marry him, it will not end well."

But I didn't listen. I insisted on marrying Ethan.

Without my parents' blessing, we had a rushed, quiet wedding.

It was only when my parents fell ill and Ethan paid for top specialists to treat them that they finally accepted him.

The final grudge disappeared when I was framed for a massive financial error at my firm. Ethan spent a fortune and used all his connections to clear my name and keep me out of prison.

I lowered my head. "I'm sorry, Mom. Dad."

My mother's voice softened, her tone thick with tears.

"We only say these things because we're worried about you, sweetie."

"We're just terrified that you're acting on pure emotion. You say you want a divorce now, but what if you regret it later?"

I shook my head. "I won't."

Right after the call ended, I received a text from Chloe.

[Claire, I've already talked to Ethan. He'll sign the agreement and give you every penny you deserve.]

[But please, don't fight me for the Whispering Pines Estate. It's filled with so many precious gifts Ethan bought for me. I can't let it go.]

[If you agree, we can still be friends. When Ethan and I have our baby, we can even make you the godmother, okay?]

Every single word was a slap in the face.

The room was pitch black. I stared at my phone, the screen illuminating the tears running down my face.

I instinctively tried to call Ethan, but the call was blocked instantly.

I had been blocked long ago.

Before he started giving me those filler gifts, I had taken a vacation to visit him at his clinic.

Several times, I smelled expensive women's perfume in his private lounge.

I asked his assistant, but she ignored me.

I tried to check his phone when he was in surgery, but it was locked.

I ended up screaming and throwing a tantrum in his office like a crazy person.

He didn't explain. He simply called security and had me escorted out.

We spent the next few months in a cold war.

Then, he suddenly came back to my apartment and started showering me with luxury gifts.

I thought it was his way of apologizing. After all, in our years together, he rarely bought me anything. He didn't care about holidays or anniversaries. If a problem could be solved with a wire transfer, he wouldn't waste his energy on it.

Until one day, I wore those designer socks and used that designer keychain to work. A colleague of mine, who was a luxury enthusiast, asked me what major purchase I had made to get so many filler items.

I only knew luxury brands by their logos. It was only after she explained that I learned what "quota spending" meant.

To buy the highly coveted, rare bags, customers had to spend thousands on useless companion items first.

I had never received a single popular bag.

But when Chloe FaceTimed me, she often showed off her walk-in closet. The entire wall was lined with limited-edition bags and stunning dresses.

I felt all the strength drain from my body. With trembling fingers, I texted her back:

"When did you two start sleeping together behind my back?"