Chapter 2

I looked at Monica and asked softly, "What is it to my husband that you're upset?"

Monica's face went pale.

James frowned. "Olivia."

"What, did I say something wrong?" I stared at him. "Mr. Carter, you risked your life in front of the cameras to save your first love.

"Wasn't that moving enough? Should I give you a standing ovation too?"

People in the hallway were peeking over at us.

James's face darkened, and he lowered his voice. "This isn't the place to talk."

"So you do know this is embarrassing?" I snapped.

I gave a bitter laugh, but my eyes stung with tears.

"James, I almost died out there," I said.

He paused for a second and then said, "Monica can't swim."

I stared at him, suddenly at a loss for words.

So that was it.

She couldn't swim, so I was supposed to be left to drown.

I nodded, my voice barely audible. "So, you think I can swim?"

James froze.

His brows drew together, like he was finally starting to get it.

I didn't give him a chance to say anything else.

"Let's go home," I said. "I need to talk to you."

The car ride was so quiet that it felt suffocating.

James sat beside me, his phone buzzing nonstop. It was calls from the PR team and the board.

He answered a couple, his voice calm and clear, like a machine that never made mistakes.

He said, "Handle the trending topics first.

"Find out where the leaked video came from.

"Make sure Riverstone's account doesn't post anything tonight."

After hanging up, he turned to me. "I'll take care of this."

I stared out the window at the city lights rushing by, saying nothing.

He added, "The media will all say the same thing. You won't be embarrassed."

That was when I finally turned to look at him.

I snapped, "James, what's embarrassing isn't being the talk of the internet.

"It's finally realizing how much I matter to you."

His brows drew tighter. "Do you really have to make a scene right now?"

I couldn't help but laugh.

It had been three years.

I'd taken every bullet for him in the Carter Family, stuck with him through the company's worst days, handled Helen's constant nitpicking and trouble, and even stayed by his grandmother's side day and night when she was hospitalized.

But after nearly drowning, he told me I was being dramatic.

I leaned back, too tired to even fight anymore.

When we got back to Skyview Residence, I headed straight upstairs into the master bedroom.

James came in right after me.

I opened the bottom drawer in the walk-in closet and pulled out the divorce papers I prepared long ago, setting them on the bed.

"Sign them," I said.

James froze, his eyes finally showing some emotion as he stared at the papers.

"You've been prepared for this all along?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. "I was planning to wait, but now there's no point."

He picked up the papers and flipped through a couple of pages, his face growing colder.

"Olivia, is this divorce your way of making me explain myself?" he asked.

"I'm not forcing you," I said, meeting his gaze calmly. "I'm letting you know."

He tossed the papers back onto the bed. "I'm not signing them."

"You didn't hesitate at all when you jumped in to save Monica." I looked up at him. "So why are you suddenly getting cold feet when it comes to divorce?"

"That's not the same thing," he said.

"Maybe not to you," I replied. "But to me, it is."

I walked over to the dressing table, took off my wedding ring, and put it in the jewelry box.

"James, I saw everything clearly in the water today. When you jumped in, you only focused on her. Right then, I knew there was no point in holding onto this marriage anymore," I said.

James stared at the ring, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"I told you. Monica's situation is different," he said.

"And I told you, I can't swim," I replied.

He looked like he'd choked on something. His voice got lower. "Didn't you go swimming at the club?"

"I was standing in the shallow end, taking pictures. Does that mean I can swim?" I shot back.

James went quiet.

For the first time, I saw an almost desperate look on his face.

But it was too late.

Some things couldn't be fixed by saying he was sorry.

I pointed at the papers. "Take your time reading them. But you've got only three days."

James looked at me, and after a long pause, he finally said, "Grandma's been in poor health lately. Don't let her know about the divorce yet."

I was already exhausted, but hearing that, I couldn't help but scoff, a bitter laugh escaping me.

"When you left me to drown in the sea, did you ever think about whether your grandma could handle it?" I shot back.

His jaw was clenched tight.

"Olivia, I admit I messed up today, but it's not worth ending our marriage," he said.

"So what would it take for you to see it that way?" I stared at him. "Do you have to bring Monica into this house, or wait until everyone in Silverlake City is laughing at me?"

"Can you stop making this out to be so ugly?" he said.

"It's not me making it ugly," I said, enunciating every word. "It's you who made it ugly."

With that, I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door.

James blocked my way. "Where are you going?"

"Somewhere I won't have to keep humiliating myself," I said.