Chapter 6

Natalie's POV

After that argument, the villa fell into a deathly cold war.

I completely treated Ethan as air.

I no longer prepared his breakfast, no longer asked about his schedule. Even when we passed each other in the hallway, I would look away, as if he were just a transparent stranger.

For three years, I'd been completely obedient to him, loved him to my bones.

As long as he gave me the cold shoulder even slightly, sooner or later I couldn't stand it and would run to him to apologize.

He had absolute confidence and arrogance.

However, three days passed, five days passed.

I still ignored him.

That evening, Ethan came home unusually early.

He carried an exquisite velvet gift box containing a pink diamond necklace worth tens of millions.

It was a piece of jewelry I'd glanced at twice in an auction catalog last month.

He probably still naively thought that as long as he produced this, I would tear up with emotion like before and throw myself into his arms.

He pushed open the bedroom door. I was sitting by the window reading.

"Still angry?"

Ethan walked over and placed the gift box on the table in front of me, his tone carrying a kind of condescending tenderness.

"See if you like it. You looked at it twice last time, so I had someone bid on it specially. Forget about the manuscript incident. Don't quarrel with Aria anymore. Consider this necklace your compensation."

I set down my book and looked at that dazzling pink diamond necklace.

If this were before, I might have felt touched.

But now, I only felt sad.

A slap and a sweet treat.

He really did see me as a dog.

"Thank you."

I didn't refuse or show delight. I simply closed the gift box calmly and pushed it aside.

Ethan looked at my face, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Just 'thank you'? Natalie, I've already given you a way out. Don't push your luck."

"I accepted it. What more do you want?"

I raised my head.

Ethan snorted coldly.

"Good that you accepted it. Clear your schedule tomorrow night and come have dinner with me."

With that, he turned and left the bedroom.

He thought he'd successfully placated me, not knowing that I'd only accepted the necklace to avoid any more pointless arguments with him.

The next morning, I went to a law firm.

"Miss Sullivan, are you certain you want to give up all marital property and leave with nothing?"

The lawyer looked at the drafted divorce agreement and couldn't help confirming again.

"Given Mr. Foster's net worth, you could easily claim a very substantial settlement."

"I'm certain."

I picked up the pen and signed my name on the agreement without hesitation.

I didn't want a single cent.

Ethan's money made me feel dirty.

I just wanted to leave cleanly and sever all ties with him.

Walking out of the law office with the signed divorce agreement, I looked up at the sky.

The sunlight was blinding, but it dispersed the gloom that had accumulated in my heart for three years.

Tomorrow was my birthday.

It was also the day I would leave this place.

Ethan Foster, what we had is finally ending.