Chapter 2

2

As soon as the words left my mouth, Sebastian's phone chimed with a message notification. He swiped the screen, and a visible smile touched his eyes. My grip on the papers tightened involuntarily.

With a look like that, it wasn't hard to guess who was texting him. Sebastian typed on his screen with one hand. With the other, he took the papers and signed his name without even looking up.

After he finished, I stared at his bold, confident signature. "After the one-month cooling-off period, our divorce will be finalized. I will move out of the Thorne estate," I said softly.

Right now, all of his attention was on chatting with Hazel. He didn't even respond to what I said. A long moment later, he put his phone away and returned to his usual cold demeanor.

"If you want to buy anything, just tell my secretary. You don't have to wait for an anniversary."

I stared at him in disbelief. I couldn't help but ask, "Did you even hear a word I just said?"

Sebastian casually loosened his tie and leaned back against the sofa. "Didn't you just make me sign a property purchase contract as an anniversary gift? Is there anything else?"

A wave of sour bitterness spread through my chest. Even though he had come home, his entire mind and soul were completely focused on Hazel. He totally forgot I was his wife.

But thankfully, my days of being invisible were almost over. I shook my head and put the agreement away.

Sebastian stood up and headed upstairs. As he passed the dining room, he glanced at the cold food on the table. He made a rare promise.

"Next year, I'll come back early to celebrate our anniversary with you."

I looked at his broad back and forced a weak smile. Next year? Sebastian, there won't be a next year for us.

The next morning, I didn't wake up early to cook Sebastian his special gut-healing soup. I had already given the recipe to our housekeeper, Mrs. Higgins, the night before. When I came downstairs, breakfast was already served.

Mrs. Higgins looked confused. "Ma'am, didn't you say you wanted to nurse Mr. Thorne's stomach back to health yourself? Why did you give me the recipe last night? Are you not going to cook for him anymore?"

I looked at the steaming bowl of soup and simply hummed in agreement. Ever since Sebastian started working at the company during college, he became a total workaholic. Running between school and work ruined his eating habits, leaving him with severe stomach issues.

More than once, I saw him relying on painkillers just to survive the agonizing stomach cramps. Back then, my heart ached for him. I urged him that his health was more important than work.

Sebastian simply swallowed a painkiller with a blank expression. "I need to take full control of the company as soon as possible."

I didn't understand why he was in such a rush back then. But since that day, I specifically learned how to make that gut-healing soup. I cooked it in different ways just to make his stomach feel a little better.

I kept this habit even after we got married. Under my careful nursing, his stomach pain rarely flared up anymore. Looking back now, the real reason he was so desperate to gain power in his family was so he could marry Hazel.

At the dining table, Sebastian sat down to eat as usual. The moment the spoon entered his mouth, he frowned and looked at me. "Why does it taste different today?"

"Mrs. Higgins made it today," I replied.

He blurted out instinctively, "Haven't you always been the one making it? Why the sudden change?"

My tone was completely flat. "I'm tired."

No matter how much effort I poured into this marriage, there was never any space for me in his heart. Living like this was simply too exhausting.