Chapter 2
Maxwell's expression was cool, uninterested.
"Just rest in the hospital. Don't trouble yourself with gifts for us."
He glanced at his phone.
Arthur pouted, bored.
Wendy took in their reactions, her smile faint.
They might not care now—but when they saw the divorce papers, they'd be thrilled.
She wondered what she was to them.
A stand-in? A housekeeper? Or simply the most familiar stranger under the same roof?
The thought slipped into words.
Before she could finish, a sweet, lilting female voice chimed from Maxwell's phone:
"Maxwell, pick up my call, or I'll be mad!"
She froze.
As a CEO, his ringtone had always been the default tone.
But she realized—this was a recording of Chloe's voice. He'd set it as her exclusive ringtone back when they were together.
Even now, six years later, he hadn't deleted it.
He'd probably been waiting all this time for it to ring again.
Without hesitation, he answered.
A faint sound of sobbing came through.
Maxwell stood instantly, grabbing his coat.
"I'll be right there."
His voice was uncharacteristically gentle.
At the door, he paused, looked back, and said calmly:
"A friend's in trouble. I'll go help. Rest well."
His lie was clumsy—too eager to get to her side to notice.
What "friend" had a ringtone like that?
Arthur was already at his heels.
"Mom, I want to go with Dad."
In that moment, Wendy understood—they hadn't heard a word she'd said.
They'd come to the hospital from Chloe's place, but their hearts had never left her side.
She lowered her gaze. "Mm."
No answer from them—but she'd gotten the truth she needed.
After they left, she called her lawyer.
"Please draft a divorce agreement and send it to me."
"Do you wish to seek custody of young master Arthur?"
"No," she said softly. "I don't want anything from the Lu family."
All she wanted now was freedom.