Chapter 3

I wandered into a park and sat on a bench to catch my breath.

An old man was feeding pigeons nearby, the birds flocking around him and cooing.

The old man struck up a conversation with me and said warmly, "You don't look very happy, young lady."

I managed a weak smile. "Just got divorced."

"Oh, that's certainly a big deal," the old man nodded. "But you know, divorce isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, it's actually a relief."

"Maybe..." I said.

"My wife passed away ten years ago," the old man said. "I was devastated at first, but now that I think about it, that's just how life is. People come and go."

The old man's words were plainspoken, yet incredibly wise.

We chatted for a while, and I felt much lighter.

After saying goodbye to the old man, I made up my mind to return to the office.

Life had to move on. I couldn't keep wallowing in the shadow of the divorce.

Back at the office, I found all my colleagues immersed in their work.

My manager spotted me and frowned. "Farrah, do you have any idea how much you've set us back today?"

"Sorry," I murmured.

"Never mind. Just hurry up and wrap up your current project—the client's waiting."

I sat at my workstation, forcing myself to focus on the tasks at hand, though my thoughts kept drifting away.

I tried to concentrate, but flashes from yesterday kept intruding on my thoughts.

In the afternoon, the receptionist, Nova Riley, hurried over and called out, "Farrah, someone's waiting for you downstairs."

"Who?" I asked.

Nova said, "Don't know. But he's in a fancy car!"

My heart gave a lurch. "It couldn't be Raphael, could it?"

I went downstairs and saw Raphael, just as I'd feared.

There was the same Rolls-Royce, the same tailored suit.

But Raphael looked haggard, as if he hadn't slept a wink all night.

Raphael said, "Farrah, we need to talk."

I said coldly, "We're divorced, Raphael. There's nothing left for us to discuss."

Raphael said urgently, "Farrah, let me explain who I really am."

I scoffed, "Explain what? That you've been deceiving me for three whole years?"

"Farrah, I swear I never deceived you. My love for you is absolutely genuine."

"Really?" I scoffed, pointing at his car. "Then what's this? Since when do 'struggling' software engineers drive Rolls-Royces?"

Raphael lowered his head and said, "I know you're furious, but please hear me out."

"I don't want to hear it." I spun around to leave, but Raphael rushed after me.

Raphael caught up to her and blurted out, "Farrah, I love you."

I froze, turning to face him. "You love me? Then what about your fiancée?"

"Alisha isn't my fiancée—that was just something my family arranged. I never agreed to it," Raphael explained urgently.

I said, "Really? Then why were you and Alisha in our bedroom yesterday?"

Raphael's face flushed with embarrassment. "She came back unexpectedly, and I... I didn't know how to handle it."

"So you just had to hug her?" I snapped.

"It was just..." Raphael stammered.

"Just what? Just rekindling an old flame?" I cut in sharply.

Raphael said urgently, "Farrah, don't jump to conclusions."

Farrah scoffed bitterly. "You're the one who did all this, and now I'm not even allowed to judge it?"

More and more people were gathering around. I felt embarrassed.

At last, I said, "Raphael, it's over between us. Don't ever come looking for me again."

"I won't give up," Raphael said firmly, his voice unwavering. "Farrah, I'll prove to you that my love is real."

I didn't say another word and went straight back to the office.

My colleagues were all whispering among themselves, clearly having witnessed the spectacle downstairs.

"Farrah, who was that super hot guy?" Nova leaned in conspiratorially.

"My ex-husband," I said.

"Your ex-husband? You're divorced?!" Nova gasped, eyes wide in disbelief. "How could you let go of such a hot husband?"

I managed a bitter smile. "What good are looks if his character is rotten to the core?"

"Did he cheat on you?" Nova blurted out.

I nodded silently.

Nova huffed angrily, "Ugh, men these days—give them money and they all turn into jerks!"

Maybe Raphael was rotten from the start, and I was just too blind to see it.

As I left work, I spotted that damn Rolls-Royce downstairs again.

I slipped out the back door, determined to avoid any more entanglement with Raphael.

Back at the hotel, I finally allowed myself to contemplate the future.

The apartment was rented, and I left all the furniture we bought together to him.

I needed to find my own place and start afresh,

Just as I was lost in thought, my phone rang.

It was an unknown number.

I answered cautiously, "Hello?"

"Ms. Mckenzie, this is Alisha speaking."

I didn't know how she got my number.

I asked coldly, "What do you want with me?"

Alisha said, "Ms. Mckenzie, I'd like to meet with you to discuss Raphael."

I had arranged to meet Alisha at an upscale café.

She was clad in a full Chanel suit, her every gesture exuding aristocratic refinement.

Meanwhile, I was still stuck in my plain old office attire—nothing glamorous about me.

"Thank you for coming, Ms. Mckenzie," Alisha said as she settled gracefully into her seat.

"Cut to the chase," I said coldly, unwilling to exchange pleasantries with Alisha.

Alisha said, "I imagine you must be wondering why Raphael chose to conceal his true identity when he married you."

"I don't care about that anymore," I said coldly.

Alisha smiled faintly, "Oh, really? Then why did you bother to meet me?"

Her question left me speechless.

She had a point. If I truly didn't care, why did I agree to meet her?

"I can tell you the truth," Alisha said, gracefully lifting her coffee cup. "Raphael left three years ago because he refused to accept the marriage his family had arranged for him."