Chapter 2
Peyton scrambled out of my courtyard in a panic.
I, on the other hand, took my time finishing my wine. "Rose."
"Yeah?" Rose's eyes were red, her voice thick with tears.
I glanced at her. "From now on, we have nothing to do with them."
Rose froze for a second, then nodded firmly, wiping away her tears. "Okay, Miss Sterling."
"Go through all the wedding gifts I brought with me and pack every single one," I said calmly. "Don't touch anything else."
"Got it." Rose rushed off, her steps quicker than before.
Over the past three years, she'd put up with as much as I had in this place.
Everyone here knew Richard didn't like me.
He only married me because three years ago, after he won a major battle, the king arranged our union as a reward for his service.
He was a soldier from humble beginnings, while I was the legitimate heiress of the Sterling family, one of Coriatwin's most powerful merchant families.
He couldn't go against the king, so he married me and ended up resenting me for it.
He thought I, a merchant's daughter, had used dirty tricks to break up his relationship with Lily, the daughter of the Deputy Director of the Royal Personnel Office.
He believed I was nothing but greedy and that I'd pushed my father to pull every connection he had to marry into power.
Therefore, for three years, he gave me nothing but cold distance, while I played the role of a devoted wife, loving him without complaint.
Now the act was over, and it was time for me to leave.
*****
Less than an hour later, Rose had the servants load up all my stuff onto the carriages.
There were sixteen trunks in total, each one heavy with its contents.
I took one last look at the courtyard I'd called home for three years, then stepped into the carriage without a trace of hesitation. "Let's go."
The carriage rolled out of Baldwin Manor.
People on the street saw the spectacle and started whispering among themselves.
"Aren't those the Baldwin family's carriages? Why are they hauling out so much stuff?"
"I heard General Baldwin's childhood sweetheart, the Winters family's heiress, returned."
"What about Lady Catherine? Is she going to be—"
The rumors were left behind, cut off by the carriage.
*****
Meanwhile, at the villa on the outskirts of the city, Richard was with Lily.
Lily, dressed in white, looked pale as she leaned against him. "Richard, I've barely returned, and I've already made things difficult for you. Maybe I should never have come back."
"Nonsense." Richard pulled her closer. "Lily, you've suffered so much these past three years. Don't worry. I'll end things with her today."
Right then, Peyton rushed in, panicked. "General Baldwin, something has gone wrong."
Richard frowned. "What's got you so rattled?"
"Lady Catherine signed it." Peyton handed over the divorce papers.
Richard took the divorce papers, and when he saw that familiar signature and the striking red seal at the bottom, he froze.
He'd imagined every possible scenario. He thought I would cry, make a scene, tear up the divorce papers, maybe threaten to kill myself; he never thought I would sign it so calmly.
My calmness made it seem as if the past three years of marriage meant nothing to me at all.
An overwhelming surge of anger and panic hit Richard, leaving him breathless.
"Where is she?" Richard's voice was cold and sharp.
"Lady Catherine... no, Miss Sterling has already taken her belongings and gone home," Peyton said.
"What?" Richard shot to his feet, the divorce papers crumpling in his grip. "She left? Without saying a single word?"
"Yes," Peyton replied, voice trembling. "Miss Sterling only said you should take care of yourself."
"Very good, Catherine." Richard trembled with suppressed rage, his chest rising and falling sharply.
It was like he'd swung with all his might and hit nothing but air. All his plans suddenly looked ridiculous.
He always thought he was the one in control, but now it seemed he was the one who had been cast aside.
People said that night, there were loud crashing sounds coming from his study until morning.
Expensive porcelain and rare books were smashed to pieces.