Chapter 3

Charlotte's tears dripped down, falling into the cracks of the floor as she slowly unclenched her fists.

They were right; I really was delusional to think things could ever be different,' she thought.

Ever since she was a kid, her dad was always cheating and beating her and her mom. She should've known better. Men never change.

Charlotte braced herself with her arms, slowly forcing her body upright, then pulled out her phone and called her senior fellow student Andrew Mason overseas. "I've thought about your offer for me to stay on for my PhD. I accept."

"When will you be back here?" Andrew asked.

Charlotte glanced at the time. "I'll be leaving here in seven days."

Seven days was enough time for her to move out, get the divorce, and wrap up everything here.

That night, Charlotte got to watch fireworks light up the Crestharbor sky all night, thanks to Olivia's big night.

Every headline was about Richard and Olivia.

Fireworks in Crestharbor cost dollars per second, and Richard kept them blasting all night long.

Everyone said Richard blew a fortune to make his girl smile.

But what they didn't know was, she used to get that kind of treatment, too.

She used to believe that if Richard was willing to spend money on her, go out of his way for her, that was what love was.

But now she finally got it. Money was never a problem for Richard, and all those grand gestures? If you'd got the cash, anyone could pull them off.

Charlotte didn't sleep a wink that night. When Richard came back the next morning, there were still hickeys on his neck.

Richard looked at her and said, "Charlotte, we need to talk."

Back then, whenever Richard came home from business events with the scent of another woman's perfume on him, he'd always get flustered and rush to explain himself.

"Honey, I swear, I was in the office talking business with them. I kept it completely clean, I promise," he'd say.

But now, he didn't even bother to put on an act.

Charlotte took a few steps back, her eyes burning with undisguised disgust. "You're filthy. Go wash yourself."

Richard's face twisted with embarrassment, but he still went upstairs to shower.

During the half hour she waited for him, Charlotte spotted the cookies she'd mailed him; still untouched, not a single bite taken.

The clothes she'd sent were still hanging there, tags dangling, never worn.

And the handwritten love letter she thought was so full of love? The envelope was still sealed, never opened.

Charlotte's fingertips turned icy, and she couldn't help but let out a cold, bitter laugh. Turns out, his heart had changed long ago.

When Richard came back downstairs, Charlotte was in the middle of dumping all those things into the trash.

Richard frowned, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Charlotte, you really didn't have to make such a scene out there yesterday.

"I sent you overseas so you'd come back more understanding and gracious; not to turn into some petty, jealous woman."

Charlotte looked up at him. It was still the same face, but now it felt so strange it sent chills down her spine.

Back then, even if Richard was stepping out for half an hour to grab something, he'd always let her know. She always told him he didn't have to, she trusted him completely.

But Richard would get mad, saying, "Charlotte, do you even love me? You should be jealous. If I'm gone for more than half an hour, you should be jealous."

But now he had changed his tune, saying her aggressive, overbearing manner made her look like a jealous woman.

Charlotte felt her heart drop like a stone, her face ghostly pale as she stared at him. "So what is it you want from me?

"You want me to divorce you? Step aside and hand you over to her?"

Richard's chest tightened, his brow furrowing.

Back then, Charlotte couldn't even stand to hear the word "divorce."

But now, she was the one who had actually brought up "divorce" and "stepping aside" in a fit of pique.

Richard's eyes turned cold, his voice laced with warning. "Charlotte, quit tossing around 'divorce' like it's some casual word.

"Don't go thinking you're some new-age woman because you went off and got a degree. Stop coming back here acting all high and mighty about fairness.

"You can yell at me, fight with me, whatever. But keep your drama away from Olivia. She's sweet and innocent, nothing like you, so don't mess with her."