Chapter 2
My parents died when I was young, and I depended on my grandma to raise me. We were really poor.
Edward was the one who supported me financially, so I could stay in school.
After I graduated, I landed a job at Edward's company as his assistant.
My feelings for him started as admiration, but eventually turned into love.
But Edward was cold and distant. To avoid his family's constant matchmaking, he asked me to marry him.
Because I always did as I was told.
Even after we got married, he never let me show up in public as Mrs. Grant, and he never took me to meet his family.
I never complained. I just kept to myself and did what was expected.
So when I asked for a divorce, Edward looked genuinely shocked.
But then he just gave a mocking smile. He said, "If you've really thought it through, we can go to the courthouse and get it done tomorrow."
Ryan hopped into the car, carrying a delicate little bag, snapping me out of my thoughts.
Ryan sent: [This is the figurine my mentor's daughter has been dying to get. I had to search all over the city before I finally found it.]
He explained this to me.
I wasn't really into that kind of stuff, so I just let it go and didn't ask any more.
He sent: [I saw your ex-husband in the elevator just now. Is that why you're feeling down?]
Ryan was clearly a bit jealous.
I said, "I saw him from afar and just took a detour. Didn't even bump into him."
Ryan clearly wasn't happy with that answer.
Ryan: [But you look like you've got a lot on your mind. How about I don't go back to campus tonight and keep you company?]
Ryan only spent a few nights each month with me; the rest of the time, he always made sure to head back to campus.
He always followed that rule, but tonight, he was making an exception.
"Not tonight. I've got work to deal with," I replied, turning him down flat.
For a moment, Ryan looked like he was about to say something, an impulse flickering in his eyes, but he quickly held himself back.
It suddenly hit me. As long as I was the one in control here, who he was didn't really matter to me at all.
He was young, energetic, and always knew how to cheer me up, talk about emotional value maxed out.
Plus, with him pretending to be deaf and mute, he kept things nice and quiet.
And come on, I was dating my ex-husband's brother. No matter how you looked at it, I totally scored.
After dropping Ryan off at the school gate, I drove back to my apartment.
I'd just finished my shower and was about to crash when someone started pounding on the doorbell like they were trying to break it.
There was Edward, standing outside with a face as dark as thunder.
"Emma, I know you're in there," he called out.
He sounded just like that overbearing woman from the soap opera.
"What, too scared to open the door? Got a man hiding in there or something?" he sneered.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. He really underestimated me.
Ryan and I always met up at hotels; I never let him set foot in my apartment.
Edward went silent for a few seconds, then pulled out his phone and dialed a locksmith.
I grumbled, "What a psycho," and reluctantly opened the door.
Edward barged in like a cop on a raid, rushing around the bedroom, then poking his head into the bathroom and kitchen.
I just stood off to the side with my arms crossed, watching him fuming and throwing a fit. If you didn't know any better, you'd think he actually cared about me.
When he didn't find any other man hiding in my place, he honestly seemed kinda let down.
He turned to me and said, "Back then, you were on your knees at my feet, begging and swearing you'd obey my every word. Was all that just so you could enjoy this life of luxury and indulgence?
"I should've never pitied you."
Edward looked at me as if I were something he needed to throw out.
"We're divorced," I said, "So you have no right to tell me what to do anymore."
His expression was hard to read, and I caught a faint whiff of alcohol on him.
He'd been drinking the day he proposed to me, too.
That night, after he sealed a huge deal and cemented his spot as CEO of the Grant Group, Edward, just a little buzzed, suddenly whipped out a ring and handed it to me.
"Emma, marry me. I'll make sure you never have to worry about a thing, as long as you play by my rules and never walk away from me," he said.
My heart was pounding. His proposal was so out of the blue, I honestly thought he was just drunk.
That night, I went to his villa, and we went wild together until dawn, losing ourselves in each other.
When I woke up the next morning, I felt ashamed and awkward about my reckless behavior the night before.
But he just looked at me coolly and said, "We can go to the courthouse and get married tomorrow, but don't expect a wedding ceremony. Would you still marry me under these terms?"
Lying in the sheets that still held his warmth, I felt a chill deep inside.
"I am," I said.
Back then, I really did love him. No doubt about it.
But now, I just shot him a smirk, half-mocking, half-amused.
I said, "Edward, it's pretty late. You didn't come all the way here just to chat, did you?
"I've already had a taste of what a younger guy is like, so trust me, I'm really not looking to hook up with you again."