Chapter 2

After signing, Ethan stood up, his expression somewhat uncomfortable.

"I'm worried about Stella. I won't be staying home tonight."

I smiled bitterly to myself.

Of course.

In his heart, Stella Quinn always came first.

Even the rare times he came home were only to deal with Stella's problems.

Noticing my dazed expression, Ethan continued his instructions:

"I'll send a driver to pick you up tomorrow morning. Remember not to let any reporters notice."

He finished speaking and, like countless other nights over the years, left me with nothing but his retreating figure.

Clutching the signed agreement, I suddenly felt a pang of reluctance.

Just as Ethan was about to leave, I called out to him.

"Don't you... want to see what's actually in the agreement?"

Ethan turned around, his expression slightly mocking:

"Isn't it just about money?"

The moment those words left his mouth, tears I'd been holding back spilled from my eyes.

So this was who I was in his eyes.

Ethan sighed and reached out to pat my head.

"Emma, I've told you before—we're husband and wife. What's mine is yours."

"If you're not satisfied with the check amount, I don't mind if you want other things."

"But tomorrow, you must appear in front of those reporters. Understand?"

I watched the concern for another woman in his eyes and nodded bitterly.

Ethan looked satisfied.

I wanted to say something more, but he spoke first.

"Send another copy of that agreement to my assistant. He'll transfer the money to your account."

"As for tonight, just get a good night's sleep and wait for the driver tomorrow."

Before leaving, he instructed the housekeeper to pack some things I'd need at the maternity center.

After all, if you're going to put on a show, you have to do it properly.

I'd have to stay there for several days to convince reporters to stop suspecting Stella.

When the roar of his car engine started outside, I was still standing dazed in the living room.

Ethan and I hadn't spoken this closely in a very long time.

I should have hugged him just now.

But then I remembered the last time—because Ethan's clothes had picked up my perfume scent, Stella had thrown a fit.

To appease her, Ethan secretly took Stella abroad for vacation and had his assistant send her countless jewelry pieces.

To keep reporters from suspecting Stella, I didn't leave the house for an entire month until the two of them returned from their trip.

I turned around, my gaze falling on the divorce agreement on the table.

I felt nothing but relief.

This marriage should have ended long ago.

After I discovered Ethan's first affair with his new secretary, Linda Rogers, I went crazy.

I not only sent photos of the two of them to reporters—making "Foster Group CEO's Affair" trend on social media for an entire week and causing the stock price to plummet—I even notified Linda's parents in their remote village.

At the time, Linda had just graduated from college. Unable to handle her parents' abuse and the public's accusations, she attempted suicide by cutting her wrists.

Although she was saved in the end, Ethan still exploded at me in fury.

"Emma, she's so young—how could you hurt her in such a vicious way? I was the one who forced her into this relationship. If you're angry, take it out on me."

I looked at the protective look in his eyes for that girl and thought about the provocative photos Linda had sent me. My anger only intensified.

"Fine. Since you forced her, I'll just call the police. I'll tell everyone that the great CEO of Foster Group used his power to rape his own—"

Before I could finish, Ethan slapped me across the face.

That was the first time he'd ever laid a hand on me.

But I could already see the tragedy this marriage would become.

From then on, I stopped questioning his affairs.

But Ethan still worried I'd treat his other women the way I'd treated Linda, so after each affair, he'd proactively have his assistant send me bags, jewelry, or checks.

Looking at the room full of jewelry and handbags, and the enormous balance in my account, I found this marriage so pathetically laughable.

Now, it was time to end it.

I sent the final page of the agreement's terms to Ethan's assistant.

"The husband agrees to transfer 30% of current assets to the wife."

Although the assistant was surprised that Ethan would be so generous this time, thinking about the comments regarding the illegitimate child trending online, he understood.

Stella Quinn was the woman who'd been with Ethan the longest, so he would definitely do everything possible to protect her reputation—even if it meant using me.

"Mrs. Foster, rest assured. I'll transfer the funds to your account as soon as possible."