Chapter 3

Derek didn't need to treat me like a buddy.

The Gilbert family had been looked after by the Hart family for a whole decade. By now, we were nothing but dead weight.

Therefore, when word of our divorce got out, everyone in the Hart family seemed to finally let out a breath of relief.

After I signed the divorce papers while burning up with a fever, I passed out for two days straight.

When I finally woke up, Derek's signature was already at the bottom of the papers on my nightstand.

I froze for a few seconds, and besides feeling lost, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

This whole thing wasn't graceful.

All these years, every time I helped him clean up his messes with his exes, he'd wire me money. I saved every penny, but now I was still making sure I had a safety net when it came to splitting up our assets.

He was too smart not to notice my greed, yet he signed without a second thought.

That left me feeling hollow for a long time. Maybe he'd been waiting for me to finally bring up divorce.

For him, cutting a check to end the drama was way better than wasting another ten years tangled up with me.

With my fever gone, I tiredly started packing my stuff.

Ten years, and all I ended up with were just two half-empty suitcases.

I lugged them downstairs, while the house staff and the driver were watching from inside and out. "Mrs... Ms. Gilbert, should I let Mr. Hart know you're leaving?"

I shook my head. "No need."

Nobody said goodbye, and nobody tried to stop me.

They just froze for a couple of seconds, then got back to whatever they were doing.

I didn't really feel sad. They knew I was just a guest in this house all along.

As the car pulled out of the Hart residence, I didn't look back.

All those memories stretching back to my childhood finally closed their chapter right then.

The driver broke the silence. "Do you need a tissue?"

That was when I realized my face was streaked with tears.

I was supposed to feel relieved, but just like a bird trapped in a cage, when it suddenly got set free, it couldn't help but feel lost.

From the Hart residence to the airport, I got my boarding pass and a new SIM card.

The moment I settled into my seat on the plane, sleep took me over almost instantly.

An endless fatigue seemed to cling to me these days, refusing to let go.

I felt off balance, just wanting to quietly nurse my wounds in my sleep.

After a long flight, I finally landed on the far side of the world.

I was completely unaware that Derek was turning Rivenar upside down, desperately searching for me.

Lariban was the place Joyce always dreamed of reaching, but she never made it. I did.

As I strolled the decaying streets, I kept slipping into the illusion that I was Joyce.

No one ever knew that I worked hard at painting in secret, not out of any real passion for it, but just so I could be more like her.

Every time I became more like her, it felt like I was inching closer to Derek, just a little bit at a time.

By cruel twist, Joyce gave up painting and never picked up a brush again.

Meanwhile, I ended up celebrated as a genius whose paintings spoke.

Those ten years with Derek were when my work hit its absolute peak.

Now, dozens of my paintings were displayed in the largest gallery in Lariban.

I spent nearly half a month in a haze before finally walking into the museum on the day the exhibition was about to end.

As expected, there were far fewer people around.

Bundled up in my coat, I wandered at ease, lingering in front of each painting.

I wandered past Flames and The Cage, finally coming to a stop in front of Blossom.

Someone beside me paused, eyes falling on the withered face of the girl in the painting, just as mine had.

He said, "She burned her life away, but it was just a pointless struggle, like a moth to the flame."

He gave a quiet laugh, but the smile was chilly. When he glanced at me, it felt like he was looking right through me, searching for someone else.

That look made me feel uneasy. After all, Derek had always made me feel this way for the past ten years.

I stepped aside, but he just trailed after me, taking his time.

"You two are a lot alike," he said.

I froze, my fingers instinctively tensing.

His voice came quietly. "Joyce said you had more talent for painting than she did. She also believed you were the one meant for Derek. She said you were born free and wouldn't be trapped."

My palms were starting to sweat.

However, his tone turned sharp, a mocking smile curling on his lips. "But it never crossed her mind that you'd be foolish enough to give up on freedom and willingly become a puppet."

A sharp pain shot through my chest. I spun around and glared at him, rage burning in my eyes.

I said, "Marvin, wasn't it enough that you destroyed her? You—"

Before I could finish, my words caught in my throat. I saw Derek not far away, his face thunderous.

He walked over, exuding an icy aura.

Without saying a word, he pulled me away from Marvin, making sure there was space between us. His eyes flashed with fury, but there was a mocking edge to his glare.

"Is this the thrill you talked about last time? Guess you Gilbert sisters really do go for the same type," he said with a sneer.

Then, with a sudden move, he seized Marvin by the throat and pinned him straight against the wall.

The crash rang out, and through gritted teeth, Derek bit off every word. "Didn't I tell you to disappear?"

Marvin lounged against the wall, completely unfazed, making no effort to break free.

He said, "Mr. Hart, you promised to increase the investment ages ago. Why would I bother coming after her if you'd actually followed through?"

He shot me a sideways look, nothing but disdain in his eyes. "You guys got Joyce killed. There's nothing you can do to fix that."

I listened in a haze, seeing Derek's hand tighten as Marvin's face turned red.

"Wait," I called out, my voice cracking with urgency.