Chapter 3

3

Zachary froze as if someone had choked him mid-sentence.

However, years of my humble devotion made it impossible for him to take my words seriously.

After a brief five-second pause, he sneered.

"So now you're pulling the divorce card to threaten me?"

"Clara, take a good look in the mirror. Who else would ever want you besides me?"

"As long as you refuse to apologize to Hailey, don't expect me to come back!"

He slammed the door and stormed out, disappearing for days.

Left alone in the quiet house, I actually felt a wave of relief. My mood improved dramatically.

Once my ankle healed, I met with a divorce lawyer to work out the division of assets.

When Zachary founded the startup, I invested a chunk of my own savings for equity and received annual dividends. I was far from living off his handouts.

During our marriage, Zachary bought multiple properties, all considered marital assets. I wouldn't leave a single penny behind.

After meeting the attorney, I went out for drinks with my girlfriends.

For six years, my entire life revolved around Zachary.

I used to decline every party invite just to make sure he had a warm dinner waiting when he got home.

While he was gone, I had the time of my life with my friends.

I didn't get home until midnight.

When I flicked on the light, I was surprised to find Zachary sitting on the couch after nearly a week away.

His face was dark, and he glared at me coldly.

"Where the hell have you been until this hour?"

I ignored him, swaying slightly as I walked toward the bedroom.

As I passed him, the scent of alcohol on my clothes made his brow twist into a tight knot.

"You've been drinking? With who? Some side piece?"

"No wonder you brought up divorce and went dead silent for days! Tell me, who is he?"

He lunged forward and snatched my phone from my hands.

I was tipsy and didn't have the strength to stop him, so I just watched him scroll aggressively through my messages.

I had just texted my friend that I made it home safely before coming upstairs.

After frantically checking for a while, his brow finally smoothed out, and he let out a cold grunt.

"Good thing there's no one."

"Don't stay out this late again. I come home and there isn't even a hot meal waiting."

Zachary's double standards were truly remarkable.

He could vanish for weeks and enjoy candlelit dinners with Hailey.

Yet he couldn't stomach the thought of me interacting with any other man, demanding I cook him dinner on time every single day.

Even when he didn't plan to come home, he never bothered to let me know.

He just left me sitting alone in front of a table of cold food.

Zachary stared at me for a moment. Seeing that I didn't argue, he spoke with an air of charity.

"Fine. It's late. Let's go to bed."

He loosened his tie and stepped closer to me.

A wave of heavy, unfamiliar perfume hit my nostrils.

A sudden surge of nausea rose in my throat, and I threw up right onto him.

Zachary's crisp white shirt was covered in foul-smelling vomit.

His face turned pitch black, his teeth grinding together. "Clara, look at what you've done!"

I sobered up slightly, pulled a tissue, and wiped my mouth.

"Sorry. I had too much to drink. I'll sleep in the guest room tonight."

I turned on my heel, walked into the guest room, and locked the door behind me.

Through the door, I could still hear Zachary furiously shouting my name.

Exhaustion washed over me. I closed my eyes and fell into a peaceful, uninterrupted sleep.