Chapter 2

The air seemed to freeze.

Daley narrowed his eyes, trying to see if Jane was joking.

But he failed.

All he saw was a calm and resolute expression that felt completely foreign to him.

He let out a mocking laugh. The alcohol had dulled his reactions, but it only made him even more arrogant than usual.

"Jane, what kind of stunt are you trying to pull this time?" he sneered.

He strode over, looking down at her with a smirk. "Is this really about what happened at the party? I told you, Naomi didn't do it on purpose.

"You're seriously throwing a tantrum over something so petty, and now you're talking about divorce?"

"Petty?" Jane repeated, her voice laced with disbelief and sadness.

It wasn't any single thing that wore her down, it was three years of disappointment, building up day after day, night after night.

"If you think it's petty, then let's call it petty," she said. She didn't want to argue anymore. It was pointless.

She pointed at the divorce papers on the coffee table. "I've already signed them. Take a look, and if you're okay with it, sign them too."

Daley's gaze fell on the thin sheets of paper on the coffee table, and his face instantly darkened.

He strode over, snatched up the divorce papers, and tore them to shreds without even glancing at them.

The scraps of paper fluttered down like snowflakes.

Daley growled, like an enraged lion, "I don't agree. Jane, don't push your luck. Because I've tolerated you doesn't mean you can walk all over me!"

Jane stared at the scraps of paper, her gaze steady and unflinching.

She had expected this.

"Daley, this isn't a discussion. I'm informing you," she said, her voice calm and unwavering.

Her calm composure pushed Daley completely over the edge.

He grabbed her wrist so hard it felt like her bones might break.

"Informing me? How dare you?" he snarled, dragging her right in front of him, his eyes burning with rage.

"Jane, don't forget that I gave you everything you own. Without me, you're nothing!"

Jane felt the pain in her wrist, but she didn't even so much as frown, her expression remained perfectly calm.

She looked at him quietly, at the man she'd loved for years, who now seemed so unfamiliar and utterly repulsive to her.

"You say you gave me everything? Daley, tell me, what did you ever really give me?" Her voice was icy, almost mocking.

"I gave you the title of Mrs. Atkinson and a comfortable life! Isn't that enough?" Daley shouted, sounding self-righteous.

"Mrs. Atkinson?" Jane let out a bitter laugh, tinged with sadness. "You mean the kind of Mrs. Atkinson who gets ignored by her own husband and becomes the butt of everyone's jokes?

"A comfortable life? Before I married you, I wasn't wealthy, but I managed fine on my own. I never needed you to support me."

She yanked her hand free and took a step back, putting some distance between them.

Jane said, "For three years, I gave up my career, my friends, and everything. I centered my whole life around you. I thought if I tried hard enough, you'd finally notice me.

"But I was wrong.

"You never truly cared about me."

Daley was left speechless by her words.

He stared into her eyes, seeing nothing but lifelessness, and suddenly felt a wave of panic rising inside him.

This feeling was completely foreign, and it made him uneasy.

He was used to her obedience and dependence, used to her always waiting for him.

He never thought she'd leave him.

Daley said, his voice softening as he tried to explain, I've been really busy with work. Naomi just graduated. She doesn't know much yet. It's only natural for me to help her out."

"Right, that's only fair," Jane nodded, her tone flat, as if she truly agreed.

But then, she changed direction.

"So, I'm stepping aside for you two," Jane said.

"What do you mean?" Daley's heart dropped.

Jane said coolly, "Literally. No need to tear them up. I printed a whole stack."

She turned, grabbed her bag from the sofa, and pulled out another identical set of divorce papers.

"Daley, let's keep it clean. I don't want a dime from you. I'm leaving with nothing," Jane said.

Her words hit Daley like a ton of bricks, smashing his pride.

He'd always believed she was after his money and the luxury and prestige that came with being Mrs. Atkinson.

But now, she was saying she didn't want a single dollar from him.

His sense of superiority and control shattered instantly.

Daley growled, furious and embarrassed, "Do you really think I care about that little bit of money you have?

"Jane, don't even think about leaving so easily. As long as I don't sign, you'll always be Mrs. Atkinson!"

He thought that would scare her.

But Jane looked up at him, her gaze calm, as if she were looking at a child being unreasonable.

"It doesn't matter," she said.

Then, the doorbell suddenly rang, breaking the silence.

The crisp chime cut through the quiet night, sounding especially jarring.

Daley paused, startled. "Who could be here at this hour?"

Jane didn't answer him. She headed straight for the door and opened it.

There was a man waiting outside.

He wore a tailored suit and stood tall, exuding an elegant, intellectual vibe. His gold-rimmed glasses framed eyes that were sharp and intense.

He nodded politely to Jane and spoke in a calm, courteous tone.

"Mrs. Atkinson, I'm Crispin Heptinstall, your attorney," he said.

Daley's eyes widened in shock.

He looked at Crispin, then at Jane, who remained calm as ever. A sense of foreboding instantly settled over him.

Crispin looked past Jane, his eyes settling on Daley and the pile of shredded paper by his feet.

He pushed up his glasses, the lenses flashing coldly.

"Looks like Mr. Atkinson already got a look at the first agreement."

His tone was calm, but there was a pressure that brooked no argument.

"That's alright. as Mrs. Atkinson said, we've prepared plenty of copies," Crispin added, his voice steady.

As he spoke, Crispin pulled another document from his briefcase and handed it to Jane.

"Mrs. Atkinson, if you're certain about pursuing a contested divorce, we can begin the proceedings right now," Crispin said.

Contested divorce.

Those words hit Daley like four daggers straight to the heart.

He'd always thought she was upset, that a little coaxing would fix everything.

But she had already brought in a lawyer.

She was dead serious.

She really meant to walk away from him.

The realization struck Daley hard. He suddenly lost all composure, thrown into chaos.

"Jane!" Daley rushed toward her, making a desperate grab to stop her.

But Crispin calmly stepped in front of Jane, blocking Daley without hesitation.

He was a little taller than Daley, and his aura was as strong.

Crispin said, his voice steady, "Mr. Atkinson, please calm down. Any threats or violence will be presented in court as evidence, and it'll only make things worse for you."

Daley's hand froze in midair.

He stared at this stranger, who now stood between him and Jane, shielding her and warning him in a calm, professional voice.

A wave of humiliation and anger he'd never felt before surged through him.

"Who are you? This is a private matter between me and her. Stay out of it!" Daley snapped, his voice sharp with anger.

Crispin adjusted his glasses, a faint, almost mocking smile tugging at his lips.

"From the moment I took on Mrs. Atkinson's case, this stopped being a family matter. It became my case," Crispin said, his tone calm and unyielding.

He paused, his gaze sharp as a blade, locking onto Daley.

"And my job is to fight for everything my client deserves, and to make sure she's never hurt again," Crispin added.