Chapter 2

The next day, I arrived at the office early, a bundle of nerves. Jaiden's assistant noticed I had been sitting there for over two hours, likely feeling awkward on my behalf. In an attempt to comfort me, they kept bringing coffee and snacks, urging me to relax.

“Ms. Armstrong, Mr. Armstrong has probably been delayed by urgent business,” the assistant suggested, rubbing their hands together with a stiff smile.

I took a sip of coffee, and the bitterness was palpable. Everyone in the company knew Jaiden was aloof towards me. The assistant was polite enough to still call me Ms. Armstrong, but to everyone else, that title had lost its significance.

Around noon, Jaiden finally strolled into the office, accompanied by his cheerful secretary, Emery Daniels. They stood close, their arms nearly touching. Emery spotted me and stepped away, a flicker of fear crossing her face.

"Jaiden," I sneered, "this is a professional setting. Walking around with your girlfriend so openly tarnishes the Armstrong reputation!"

Emery's voice was quivering, gentle yet teary, "Ada, it's not how it appears between Mr. Armstrong and me..."

“Call me Ms. Armstrong or Mrs. Armstrong in the office,” I corrected, towering over her. “Isn’t it a basic rule for a secretary? Such professionalism, huh."

Emery glared at me with resentment before hiding behind Jaiden, sniffling. Jaiden snapped in her defense, "I don’t need you lecturing my staff."

“I’ve had a revised divorce agreement drawn up. You’ll have the house and cash; I’m not leaving you empty-handed,” he said.

Hearing about the divorce agreement, Emery’s eyes sparkled. I shot her a disdainful look, and she promptly lowered her gaze.

I quickly glanced through the agreement and signed my name with flourish. Without any hesitation on my part, Jaiden coughed a couple of times.

“You’ve checked it over, once you sign…”

“No regrets, don’t worry. We’ll wrap it up in a month,” I cut him off, grabbing my bag and leaving decisively.

Grandpa, forgive me. Jaiden's heart isn't here, and I can't endure any longer.

I booked my ticket back to the countryside, finally setting off for home after so many years.

Upon getting off the train, I transferred to a minibus, then traversed bumpy dirt roads until I reached the village. The city was ever-changing, but the village was the same—old and worn down.

There wasn’t a flower shop in the village, so I spent the afternoon collecting wildflowers from the hills, arranging them neatly before placing them at my parents' graves. They had worked in a badly managed fireworks factory and died in an explosion. Just like that, I was orphaned, and it was the Armstrong Charity Fund that came to my aid.

By the time I graduated college, I joined the Armstrong company and met the Armstrong family. I worked tirelessly, intent on repaying them.

Donald Armstrong, on his deathbed, asked me to take care of Jaiden for five years.

“Ada, that boy Jaiden, he’s been too carefree,” he advised.

“I know you like him; I’ll make the choice for you.”

Back then, Jaiden was tall, handsome, with a charmingly mischievous air—the type girls swoon over. Coming from the village, seeing Jaiden in his elegant attire made him seem like a prince from a fairy tale.

“If after five years, you still find it unsuitable, you can divorce anytime. The Armstrong family will see you rewarded.”

“Ada, give Jaiden a chance, and give yourself a chance too.”

I blushed, anxiously awaiting Jaiden’s response.

I naively believed Jaiden’s agreement meant he had feelings for me. But on our wedding night, he looked at me with outright contempt.

“Ada Armstrong, you sure know how to play your cards!”