Chapter 2

Andrew let out a laugh, as if he'd heard the most ridiculous joke. "Divorce? Julia, do you know what you're saying?

"You married me at twenty-five and haven't worked a single day in ten years. After the divorce, what are you going to do?"

He used this excuse so many times before.

The day after our wedding, Andrew told me to quit my job.

He said a capable man would never let his wife have to work or be seen in public.

Back then, I was so in love that I believed every word. I willingly locked myself away in this 2,000-square-foot house, waiting for him to come home every day.

Over time, I completely lost touch with the outside world.

I had no friends, couldn't go out for a meal without him by my side, and was too scared to leave the house alone.

I became timid, suspicious, and constantly worried about what I might lose.

When I said I wanted to see a therapist, he wouldn't let me, insisting I was bored, not actually sick.

Even after I found out he was keeping a mistress thirteen years younger than him, I didn't dare to confront him or cause a fuss.

He had me completely under his control.

But right now, I was going to break this cage from the inside.

Even if there was nothing waiting for me out there, or if I ended up bloodied and broken, I didn't care.

I said coldly, "Andrew, how I survive is none of your concern.

"I've got everything on you and Lily: photos, hotel records, bank transfers. If you don't agree to the divorce, everyone in Riverside City will know what kind of person you really are by tomorrow."

Andrew's face darkened.

It wasn't because of what I said.

It was because the moment Lily heard I would expose them, she broke down, gasping for air between sobs and slapping her belly as she cried.

"Andrew, I don't want this baby anymore. I can't take people pointing at me and calling me names," she wailed.

"Please, don't be like this," Andrew said.

"I've already put up with so much. No name, no status, and I've accepted it. But why should our child be branded as an illegitimate kid the moment they're born, with everyone pointing fingers and shaming them?" Lily sobbed.

"Lily," Andrew called softly.

"Andrew, divorce her. As long as you do that, I won't be scared of anything anymore," Lily pleaded.

Whenever Lily started crying, Andrew's judgment went right out the window.

He wrapped her in his arms, his voice dropping to a gentle, coaxing tone, as if he were comforting a child. "You and the baby belong to me. No one can ever lay a finger on you."

Then he turned to me, his expression turning stormy.

"Julia, if you want out, then so be it. I'll get my lawyer to draft the agreement," he said coldly.

"Fine," I replied. "I want sixty percent of the assets."

Andrew's jaw tightened. "Now you're asking for sixty percent, like that? You haven't made a single dollar in ten years. Why do you think you deserve sixty percent?"

"Because we never signed a prenup," I replied firmly. "Because, legally, I'm still your wife.

"And because you really don't want your little girlfriend to have all her secrets exposed online."

I should hit them where it really hurts.

Threatening Andrew was useless.

But threaten his precious Lily, and suddenly, I got all the power.

Lily sniffled, tugging at Andrew's sleeve. "Andrew, give it to her. I never cared about your money. I've always been with you because of who you are."

If anyone else said that, I'd probably scoff.

But Lily really meant it.

She never touched the sports car Andrew bought her.

She never wore the diamonds he gave her, not once.

All she wanted was for Andrew to travel with her: scaling mountains, diving into the sea, filming wild adventures no one else would dare to try.

She started a social media account to chronicle her journeys with Andrew.

The account was simply called "Lily and Andrew," and it had over 700,000 followers. The comment section was flooded with fans begging for new posts every day.

I never really understood what was going on in Lily's head.

But thinking about it now, I was not really any smarter than she is.

I was as clueless.

Lily's words really did the trick. Andrew couldn't say no.

Andrew gritted his teeth and agreed to sixty percent.

Half an hour later, the lawyer arrived.

Andrew and I signed the divorce agreement.

I capped the pen and stood up. "Andrew, according to the agreement, this house is mine now. Please leave with Lily.

"Tomorrow morning at nine, meet me at the courthouse to file it. Then, you can head to the rainforest with her."

Andrew didn't say a word. He took Lily with him and stormed out, slamming the door behind them.

The engine roared to life downstairs.

I stood by the window, watching that black Porsche disappear into the night.

In my previous life, it was that car that ran me down.

The day the news of Lily's death reached Andrew, he completely lost it, demanding I pay for her death.

He had no idea I was pregnant with his child, too.

The child he'd spent years begging me to give him.