Chapter 2

The next morning, 9:59 AM.

The doorbell rang right on time.

I opened the door to find Lucas's lead attorney, Mr. Harrison, standing there with a serious expression.

"Mrs. Ashford." He pushed up his glasses and handed over a document folder. "These are the divorce papers Mr. Ashford asked me to bring you. Please look them over. If there are no issues, you can sign."

"No problem, absolutely no problem." I grabbed the papers eagerly and flipped straight to the last page without even reading them.

Mr. Harrison clearly wasn't expecting me to be so decisive. He paused, then reminded me, "Ma'am, don't you want to review the terms? Especially the section about asset division?"

"No need." I picked up a pen and signed my name. "I trust Mr. Ashford's integrity, and I trust your professionalism."

Mr. Harrison's expression turned strange, like he wanted to say something, but he kept his mouth shut.

I finished signing and handed the papers back to him.

"Mr. Harrison, when will the money hit my account?" That was the important part.

"...Mr. Ashford said it will arrive within an hour of your signature."

"Great." I nodded with satisfaction. "Now hurry along—I've got a flight to catch."

Behind his glasses, a flash of complete shock crossed his face.

He probably expected me to cry, to make a scene, to cling desperately, to scream and demand to know why.

Too bad he was wrong.

All I wanted was to get my money and start my rich new life.

I closed the door, grabbed my suitcase, and left that cage that had trapped me for a year without a single backward glance.

Lucas. The Ashfords.

I hoped we'd never meet again.

An hour later, my phone got a text alert from the bank.

Looking at that long string of zeros, I squinted happily.

Never before had I understood so clearly that money truly was a wonderful thing.

It could soothe any wound and bring unparalleled security.

I didn't go straight to the airport. Instead, I went to the most expensive residential development in the city.

"Hello, miss. Do you have an appointment?"

The sales agent eyed my suitcase with a barely concealed look of judgment.

"No." I shook my head and said directly, "I want to buy your best penthouse unit. Full payment."

The sales agent's professional smile froze on her face.

I didn't waste words—just pulled out my phone and showed her my bank balance.

The next second, her attitude did a complete one-eighty.

Half an hour later, I swiped my card and bought an eighty-million-dollar penthouse suite.

Move-in ready.

Standing before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the bustling city below, I let out a long breath.

Freedom felt so good.

I touched my still-flat belly and said softly, "Babies, do you like our new home?"

After getting settled in, the first thing I did was call my mom.

The phone barely rang once before she picked up.

"Emma! You finally remembered to call me? How's life treating you at the Ashfords'?"

Hearing my mom's caring voice, my eyes instantly welled up.

"Mom..." My voice came out choked.

"What's wrong? Who's bullying you? I'm coming over right now!"

"No one, Mom." I quickly said, "I just missed you."

I took a deep breath, steadied my emotions, then dropped the bombshell.

"Mom, I got divorced."

Silence on the other end.

A full thirty seconds of silence.

I could picture my mom's shocked expression.

"Di... divorced?" Her voice went up an octave. "That bastard... how dare he divorce you? Is there another woman? My daughter isn't something he can just throw away!"

"Mom, I'm the one who wanted it." I told a small lie, not wanting her to worry too much. "I just felt we weren't right for each other."

"Well, good then," my mom immediately changed her tune, her voice full of heartache and anger. "I always told you—that family has no warmth, and that Lucas is like a block of ice. Marrying into that family, of course you'd suffer!"

"Where are you now? Come home right away! I'll send your dad to pick you up!"

"Mom, I'm fine. I bought a new place at Central Park Tower."

"Central Park Tower? Those apartments aren't cheap. Where'd you get that kind of money?" my mom asked suspiciously.

"Settlement from Lucas."

"At least he has some conscience." My mom snorted, then added, "No, I'm still worried about you being alone. I'm coming over tomorrow!"

"Okay." I agreed with a smile.

After hanging up, my heart felt warm.

This was what it felt like to have family backing you up.

No matter what decision I made, they would always be my strongest support.

Meanwhile, at that moment, the temperature at the Ashford mansion had dropped to freezing.

Mr. Harrison placed the signed divorce papers on Lucas's desk, his expression complicated.

"Mr. Ashford, Mrs. Ashford—no, Ms. Emma—has signed."