Chapter 5

That evening, my phone rang. It was Ethan's executive secretary. "Mrs. Smith, why did you agree to the divorce?"

Pressing an ice pack against my swollen wrist, I corrected her gently, "Don't call me Mrs. Smith anymore. We're splitting up. Given his rush, it'll probably be finalized in a couple of days."

"Chloe... Mr. Smith left you with nothing!"

I paused. "What do you mean, nothing?"

"He called the legal team the moment he got back to the office this afternoon. He instructed them to draft a total clean-break agreement. You won't receive a single penny of alimony, property, or assets."

Is that so? I distinctly remembered when Ethan proposed, he swore that if he ever wronged me, he would be the one walking away with empty pockets.

Over the line, the secretary continued, "He's even reclaiming every single gift he gave you during the marriage."

Right. He had been very creative during his courtship. Since I didn't care for luxury handbags or diamond jewelry, he had once bought the registry naming rights to a star for me.

"Does that include the star?" I asked quietly.

"The star?" The secretary sounded confused. A flurry of typing followed. "The star... he only bought the naming rights. He hasn't mentioned renaming it yet."

Or maybe he just didn't remember it at all. I caught the unspoken implication.

Looking back, the whole relationship felt absurd. A star named after me, as worthless and fleeting as a bond erased by a knock on the head.

"It doesn't matter. Those things were his to begin with. Give them back." I was exhausted. Besides, none of this would matter to me soon.

"Chloe, I know I'm his employee, but this contract is completely unfair to you. You did nothing wrong in this marriage. He shouldn't treat you like this," the secretary paused, her voice softening. "It's not my place to say, but... please don't sign it."

I knew she meant well. Everyone in our social circle knew I had come from an ordinary background with no surviving family, living in a small suburban apartment before I met Ethan. Now, the sole heir of the Smith Corporation was kicking his blameless wife out onto the street with zero compensation.

"Thank you," I told her sincerely. "But honestly, none of that stuff is of any use to me anyway."

"Because I'm leaving."