Chapter 2

He reached out and grabbed her chin, his grip so strong it felt like he could crush her bones. "Liliana's back, she's forgiven me, and I'm going to marry her. This spot was always meant for her. Someone as cold-hearted as you has no place in the Prescott family."

Raine's chin ached under his grip, and the pain in her stomach twisted tighter with every second. She looked at the man she'd loved for ten years, and suddenly, it all just seemed utterly absurd.

Ten years of devotion, three years of enduring in silence. Yet, all she got in return was the label of cold-hearted and a divorce agreement.

Maybe it was for the best.

She didn't have much time left anyway. There was no point in clinging to this soul-crushing marriage, to keep carrying all these made-up accusations, and watch him be all lovey-dovey with another woman, as the last bit of her life drained away.

Raine pushed Sebastian's hand away. She picked up the pen from the table, and without even glancing at the terms, flipped straight to the last page and signed her name.

Raine Hayes.

Her handwriting shook with every stroke, just like her love that had teetered on the edge for ten years.

It felt like a moment of closure. Signing away her feelings as she signed her name.

Sebastian watched her sign, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. He hadn't expected her to be so decisive.

He thought she'd throw a fit, cry, and beg not to sign, use William's will to threaten him, or come up with every trick to stay in the Prescott family.

But she signed it so simply that it left a strange heaviness in his chest.

That feeling was quickly drowned out by the thrill of finally reuniting with Liliana.

He picked up the divorce papers, glanced at her signature, and said coldly, "Perfect. You have three days to move out of Prescott Manor. Take the cheque and don't ever show your face to me again. And stay away from Liliana. If you mess with her, I'll make sure you never set foot in Ostville again."

With that, he turned and walked out, not even bothering to look back at Raine. The gust from his coat left nothing but icy bitterness in the air.

The front door slammed shut with a thunderous bang, leaving the living room in dead silence.

Raine couldn't hold herself together anymore. She slid down beside the sofa, sinking to the floor, clutching her stomach as pain wracked her body. Her whole frame trembled, and cold sweat soaked the back of her shirt.

The diagnosis report in her pocket was crushed in her fist, crumpled beyond recognition. Curled up on the freezing floor, Raine finally let the tears fall, unable to hold them back any longer.

Ten years of love, three years of marriage. All reduced to a divorce agreement and a terminal diagnosis.

Raine was not going to wait for Sebastian anymore. She did not have the time to wait.

Raine stayed curled up on the cold floor for a long time, until the pain in her stomach finally eased a little. Only then did she slowly push herself up, using the sofa for support.

She left the one hundred million cheque untouched.

For the past three years, Raine hadn't spent a single penny of Sebastian's money. Being Mrs. Prescott brought her nothing but endless shame and ridicule.

She had her own design studio, and she earned enough to live on her own income. She was never the greedy, shallow woman Sebastian accused her of being.

She returned to her bedroom on the second floor, the place she'd called home for three years. It was ridiculously spacious, but felt more like a freezer than a sanctuary.

Not once did Sebastian ever sleep here. All his warmth and patience had always been reserved for Liliana.

Raine opened her closet. There weren't many clothes, most of which she bought by herself. She never touched the fancy dresses Sebastian sent anyway.

She packed a small suitcase with a few changes of clothes, her years of design sketches, and carefully tucked the diagnosis report away.

After packing, she took one last look around the room. There was not a shred of attachment in her heart.

Dragging her suitcase downstairs, Raine caught Arthur's gaze.

He hesitated, words stuck in his throat. "Mrs. Prescott, are you..."

"Sebastian and I are divorced," Raine replied, her smile carrying both relief and a hint of bitterness, "Please don't call me Mrs. Prescott anymore."

Arthur sighed, saying nothing more.

For three years, he'd watched Raine keep watch over this empty house, watched Sebastian freeze her out, watched her get hurt time and again. But not once did she complain.

Arthur felt sorry for her, but there was nothing he could do.

Raine dragged her suitcase out of the Prescott Manor. Outside, a light rain was falling, the drops pattering against her face, chilly and sharp.

She didn't bother with an umbrella, just walked through the rain with her suitcase, like a kid with nowhere to call home.

She rented a small apartment in Ostville. It was a cozy one-bedroom. It was nothing fancy, but it was warm and bathed in sunlight, nothing like the Prescott Manor, which was always cold and empty.

By the time Raine finished unpacking, night had already fallen.

The pain in her stomach flared up again. She took the painkillers the doctor had prescribed and huddled on the couch.

As she stared out at the city lights, she suddenly felt utterly alone.