Chapter 2

2.

Just as I was drifting off to sleep in the basement, Clarissa unlocked the door.

She looked down at me with an icy, expressionless face.

"Grandpa wants you to go back to the estate for dinner. Don't say anything stupid."

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked away.

Once before, Clarissa had locked me in this basement and completely forgotten about me.

If Grandpa Hughes hadn't unexpectedly dropped by the house, I probably would have died down there.

Grandpa had been furious over the incident and gave Clarissa a severe dressing down when she rushed back.

No matter how many times I tried to explain that I hadn't snitched, Clarissa remained convinced that I had run crying to Grandpa.

Ever since then, our relationship had grown increasingly bitter.

When I finally came out of the basement, Clarissa had already left the house.

I cleaned myself up and got ready to call an Uber.

"Get in!"

Just as I stepped past the front gate, Clarissa's voice called out from her car.

I looked at her, slightly bewildered.

She snapped impatiently, "Hurry up! Stop dragging your feet."

"No need. I'll just take an Uber."

A flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Throughout our entire marriage, I had always been completely obedient to her every whim.

This was the very first time I had ever refused her.

Especially when she was the one offering to ride together.

Clarissa scoffed irritably, "Grandpa told me to bring you. You think I actually want to ride with you?"

Hearing that, I climbed into the passenger seat without another word.

After replying to an email, I noticed Clarissa's gaze darting toward me through the rearview mirror.

The moment our eyes met, she casually shifted her focus back to the road ahead.

In the past, whenever I was in the car with her, I had an endless stream of things to say.

Even if Clarissa didn't utter a single syllable, I would keep talking the entire drive just to fill the silence.

Today, however, I didn't say a single word from the moment I got in.

When we pulled up to the Hughes family estate, I pulled on the door handle only to find it locked.

I reminded her flatly, "The door is still locked."

She turned to look at me, her eyes filled with scrutiny.

"Where did you learn this new trick? Trying to play hard to get to catch my attention?"

"When we see Grandpa in a minute, don't keep that gloomy deadpan face. Otherwise, he'll think I'm bullying you again."

I nodded indifferently.

As soon as we pushed open the doors, Grandpa grasped my hand warmly.

He asked with genuine care how I had been doing and whether Clarissa had been treating me poorly.

Looking at the kind, elderly man before me, my resolve to divorce wavered for a brief second.

However, when Clarissa affectionately linked her arm through mine and acted sweetly toward Grandpa, a wave of nausea washed over me.

I subtly slipped my arm out of her grasp and continued talking to Grandpa.

During dinner, Grandpa asked about Clarissa's progress in learning how to manage company affairs.

The only reason I had joined Hughes Corp in the first place was that I promised Grandpa I would help Clarissa secure her position as CEO.

Yet Clarissa possessed immense pride, so I had kept that promise a secret all along.

Even when she pointed at my nose and called me a gold-digging freeloader and a dog of the family, I never revealed the truth.

Back then, I loved her and foolishly believed that one day she would recognize everything I had done for her.

Now, I no longer cared to wait.

"Jesse... Jesse..."

Clarissa's overly sweet, theatrical voice snapped me back to reality.

I looked up to see her giving me a threatening glare across the table.

I offered a faint smile and patted Grandpa's hand.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. Clarissa is a quick learner. She'll be ready to take over the company on her own very soon."

Grandpa didn't look pleased upon hearing that. Instead, he asked with deep concern:

"Jesse, did Clarissa threaten you into saying that? I know very well what kind of person she is."

I could barely suppress a bitter smile as I quickly reassured him:

"No, Grandpa. Clarissa has really matured lately."

Hearing that, Grandpa broke into a relieved smile.

I felt happy too.

Soon, I would finally be free.

Grandpa's seventieth birthday gala was in three days. Once that passed, I would officially finalize the divorce with Clarissa.