Chapter 2

2

Summer froze instantly, her pupils trembling with shock.

“Are you crazy?” she snapped, her voice rising. “There is a limit to your ridiculous paranoia!”

After ten years together, arguments between us were rare.

We had developed an unspoken habit of avoiding pointless conflicts.

It was not because we lacked grievances, but because we were simply exhausted.

“Cole, I know the presentation put you in an awkward spot,” she stammered defensively. “Caleb is an investor for our firm! He paid a fortune to purchase that ring in advance.”

“Every single word I said was scripted by my PR team just to fit the design theme. Can you stop making wild assumptions out of thin air?”

Her agitation was glaringly obvious.

The more defensive she acted, the more guilty she truly was.

I cleared my throat and asked quietly.

“Where is the bracelet I bought you? Why aren't you wearing it? Do you not like it?”

She paused for two seconds, instinctively pulling her sleeve down to cover her bare wrist.

“I took it off before my shower and left it by the sink,” she lied quickly. “How could I not like a gift from you? I promise to wear it every single day from now on.”

I let out a cold chuckle and stared straight into her eyes.

“What bracelet?” I asked evenly. “I bought you a bottle of French perfume. You never even opened the gift box, did you?”

Summer’s face instantly hardened.

It took her several seconds to scramble for another excuse.

“Cole, are you interrogating me?” she countered sharply.

“I already told you that Caleb and I are strictly business partners! How could you take a promotional stunt so seriously?”

Ten years of marriage had made me want to maintain our dignity until the very end.

Yet she insisted on tearing away the last shred of respect between us.

I unlocked my phone, held the screen right in front of her face, and met her gaze.

“Tell me then,” I said coldly. “What kind of business deal requires you to book a room at a boutique lovers’ hotel at midnight?”

Summer’s face drained of all color.

She instinctively reached for her purse to check her own phone.

She finally realized her mistake.

In her drunken haze, she had accidentally paid for the room using my linked credit card.

Even cornered like this, Summer refused to back down.

“Caleb had too much to drink at dinner,” she argued stubbornly. “I merely helped him book a room so he wouldn't drive drunk. Is being helpful a crime now?”

I didn't utter another word.

I stood up from the couch and walked toward the master bedroom.

I had played the fool for half my life, but this time, I chose to face reality.

“Summer, let’s get a divorce.”

Ignoring her stunned, wide-eyed expression, I stepped inside and locked the door behind me.

A ten-year marriage had finally reached its expiration date.