Chapter 2

I gripped my phone tightly against my ear, listening to Raven's casual voice: "Need money? Or what?"

I pressed my lips together: "I broke your perfumes."

Raven let out an "oh," unconcerned: "Fine. I'm hanging up then."

Before she could disconnect, I quickly spoke: "Where are you?"

She paused on the other end. A moment later, all the chaotic music sounds disappeared, leaving silence so complete you could hear a pin drop.

"What. You want a divorce?" Raven's previously lazy tone turned slightly cold in an instant.

"After the divorce, where would you go? Back to the Blake family? Would they let you have an easy time?

"Did you fight with Aurora again?

"You'd better not forget—your business still has my financial backing.

"Darling. Shut up now, and I can pretend I didn't hear anything."

I listened to Raven's entire string of words in considerable astonishment.

I really had no idea how she'd gone from me asking where she was to assuming I wanted a divorce.

But I knew she'd always been like this—beneath her seemingly easygoing exterior lay a lofty indifference.

She could speak moving words of love with her romantic almond-shaped eyes completely devoid of warmth, and she could easily discard past lovers.

She moved between numerous men but never gave her true heart to anyone.

And I wasn't exactly good-tempered myself. In street terms, I was an arrogant, domineering lunatic—especially after I got sick, I became especially tormenting. Otherwise, I wouldn't have turned the entire Lane household upside down in my previous life.

My earlier good mood had come from seeing what they'd done after my death. I'd been so moved that I'd wanted to be gentler with them in this new life.

Who knew neither of them would appreciate it.

"Fine, let's divorce right now. Take your daughter and get lost," I said coldly with a sneer, deliberately saying the opposite of what I meant.

As soon as I spoke, I locked eyes with Aurora, who was coming downstairs with books in hand. Her dark eyes showed no discernible emotion.

She looked half like her mother, half like me, but her personality resembled neither of us.

I wanted to see how they'd react to hearing about divorce.