Chapter 2

Sophia's POV

Ever since Ethan took my wedding ring to please his mistress Isabella, I became a different person.

I stopped taking meticulous care of Ethan's life.

I stopped sitting at my desk after work every day, waiting for Ethan to finish so we could go home together.

I even stopped keeping track of any news about Ethan.

Today was Ethan's birthday.

We'd been giving each other the cold shoulder for a week.

Last week, Isabella made me a cup of coffee. Not only did I not drink it, I threw the coffee all over her.

He thought I was too rude, that it didn't befit my position.

So Ethan took my wedding ring as a way to punish me.

I did treasure that ring.

In the past, every year on his birthday, I would cook dinner and wait for him at home.

But this year I wasn't planning to celebrate his birthday.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of the front door opening.

It must be Ethan coming home.

I paid no attention.

The master bedroom door was slightly ajar. I leaned against the headboard, looking down at a book.

He quickly came upstairs and pushed open my door.

Hearing the noise, I looked up with a calm expression and just nodded slightly.

"You didn't cook?" Ethan's face showed some displeasure.

I closed the book and explained gently, "I didn't know you were coming home for dinner tonight. I'll have Grace do it now."

Grace was the housekeeper.

Ethan stared at my face, his brow furrowed.

"No need." He spat out the words coldly and turned to leave.

At the doorway, he stopped. "You forgot what day it is."

With that, he strode away.

I was stunned for a moment. Then I remembered that today was Ethan's birthday.

From his expression just now, he seemed angry?

Impossible.

I'd celebrated Ethan's birthday four times.

Every time, I prepared gifts, dinner, and cake with meticulous care.

And the result?

The gifts were casually set aside without even unwrapping.

He didn't touch the food, and it was thrown in the trash the next day.

How could someone like Ethan be angry that I didn't celebrate his birthday?

He should be happy.

I took a breath and opened my book again.

I guessed Ethan was probably going to find Isabella right now.

After all, in five years of marriage, the days he'd actually stayed in this house added up to less than a month.

But not long after, the door was pushed open again.

Ethan had returned, his expression considerably softer than before.

He stood by the bed, his tone gentler. "I'll stay home tonight. Keep you company."

Before I could speak, his phone rang in his pocket.

Isabella's name appeared on the screen.

Ethan hesitated, but still answered.

The woman's sweet, coquettish voice drifted out and into my ears.

I watched as Ethan turned his back, lowering his voice to comfort his mistress.

When he hung up, I spoke. "You don't need to stay with me. Miss Hart is young and afraid of the dark. She can't sleep alone. I'm fine. You should go."

Ethan froze. These were the very words he'd said to me in the past when he was about to go find Isabella.

I'd given them right back to him, word for word.

Ethan didn't love me.

His grandfather Richard had forced him to marry me.

"Fine. Isabella needs me." His tone was somewhat stiff. "Don't bully her again."

"I won't." I shook my head repeatedly. "Last time was my fault. I shouldn't have lost my temper with her. Go on, don't keep her waiting."

His face turned ashen as he turned and strode away.

The next day, at the Carter estate.

I knelt before Richard. "Grandfather, five years are up. I want to leave."

His hair was white, but his eyes were still bright.

"Are you sure? You really want to go? You don't love him anymore?"

"Yes, I'm sure." My expression was serious. "Ethan doesn't love me. Why should we keep tormenting each other?"

Richard sighed. "I was wrong back then."

"He does have feelings for you in his heart. He just hasn't realized it himself."

He waved his hand. "Ah, he's not worthy of being your husband."

He called over the butler and gave a few quiet instructions.

After a while, the butler came over with a document envelope and handed it to me.

"This is what you wanted. Also, I've prepared a new identity for you and some money." He looked at me, his expression full of reluctance. "You'll leave in a week."

"Remember, leave quietly. Don't let Ethan know."

"Otherwise, you won't be able to leave."

My eyes grew hot, and I nodded emphatically.

Back in the car, I opened the envelope.

The words "Divorce Agreement" at the top stung my eyes until they felt sore.

I flipped to the last page. Ethan's signature was right there.

He'd signed this divorce agreement on the very day we got our marriage certificate.

I stared at his signature for a long time, then suddenly laughed.

Ethan, in a week, I won't stand in your way anymore.

From now on, you can love whoever you want.

I'll never be your obstacle again.