Chapter 3

The door clicked shut.

I stared up at the ceiling, and suddenly, I burst out laughing.

Was he generous?

That was what it meant to be truly noble.

The progress bar in the air was still sitting stubbornly at 99 percent.

Where on earth was that damned last 0.01 percent stuck?

Three days later, I was finally discharged from the hospital.

Edward didn't come to pick me up. When the driver dropped me off at the villa, I saw Vivian sitting on the living room couch, draped in Edward's suit jacket.

"Claire, you're back," she said, standing up with a gentle smile. "Edward went out to get me some medicine. He'll be back soon. Why don't you sit down? I'll get you some water."

"No need," I said, heading straight upstairs.

"Claire," Vivian called after me, her voice lowering. "Are you still mad at me?"

I stopped in my tracks.

She walked up to me, her eyes red again. "I'm sorry. I really didn't expect things to turn out like this... I couldn't control my emotions.

"The doctor said my depression relapsed, and Edward's really worried..."

"Ms. Lynn," I cut her off, "if you have depression, you should see a doctor, not my husband."

Vivian's face turned pale. "Why would you say something like that? Edward and I are friends. He's only taking care of me because he feels guilty..."

"Guilty about what, exactly?" I spun around to face her. "Is he guilty for choosing someone ordinary like me instead of someone from his own social class?

"Is he guilty because you attempted suicide and now carry the scars? Or is he guilty for spending the last five years as my husband and your guardian angel at the same time?"

Vivian's lips parted, tears falling down her cheeks. "No, Claire, you're misunderstanding..."

"What exactly am I misunderstanding?" I stepped closer, fixing her with a glare. "Is it that every time your depression acts up, you happen to need him by your side at night?

"Or that you always have a breakdown whenever I'm pregnant? Or maybe it's you showing off in his shirt on your feed, even though you know he's married?"

Vivian stumbled back, bumping into the coffee table. The vase on top wobbled and fell.

Shards scattered everywhere.

Just then, the door opened.

Edward burst in and saw me standing there, while Vivian had collapsed beside the scattered shards, blood streaking her wrist.

"Claire," he shouted, rushing over and shoving me aside as he gently helped Vivian up. "What are you doing?"

I stumbled back, my waist hitting the staircase railing. I winced, gasping from the pain.

"Edward, don't blame Claire," Vivian cried, trembling as she leaned into him. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have come... I just wanted to apologize to her..."

Edward glared at me. "Claire, Vivian's weak. How could you hurt her? Do you even have a heart?"

I steadied myself, holding my aching waist, and watched the scene unfold before me.

Edward cradled Vivian protectively, his face etched with worry, while he shot me a glare sharp enough to cut.

It was a scene I knew all too well.

It had played out countless times over the past five years.

But this time, I felt utterly exhausted.

I was so exhausted that I couldn't even fight anymore.

"Edward," I said, and my voice was so calm. "This is the last time I'm asking you: is it her, or is it me?"

Edward froze.

He hadn't expected me to be this direct.

Vivian clung to his sleeve, her voice barely above a whisper as she sobbed, "Edward, I'll go... I don't want to cause any more trouble for you two..."

Edward paused for a few seconds, then finally spoke, "Vivian, go back to your room and rest. I'll have the doctor come over to treat your injury."

Vivian froze for a moment, then gave a meek nod and allowed herself to be led upstairs by the maid.

We were the only ones left in the living room.

Edward walked up to me and lowered his voice. "Claire, what do you want from all this? Vivian's ill. Can't you make some room for her?"

"She's sick," I said, pronouncing each word slowly. "So, I should give up my husband, my marriage, and my child?"

"You..." Edward's veins bulged at his temples. "You're being impossible. There's nothing improper between Vivian and me. You're jealous.

"All these years, have I ever treated you badly? Is there anything you ever wanted that I didn't give you?

"Your mother's nursing home, your brother's tuition, I've paid for everything. I've done everything for you and the Sutton family."

He grew angrier with every word. "Claire, you should learn to be grateful. If it weren't for me, your family would still be stuck in that dump of a neighborhood."

I looked at him and let out a bitter laugh.

But as I laughed, my tears started to fall.

"Yeah, Edward, the Sutton family owes you," I said, wiping away my tears. "So, for the past five years, I've been paying you back, bit by bit, with my own body, my child, and every shred of dignity I had.

"Now," I took a deep breath, "I think my debt is settled."

Edward's eyes widened in shock. He grabbed my wrist. "What do you mean by that?"

"Divorce," I said. "I don't want a single cent from you. Just settle my mom's nursing home fees until the day I die. After that, we're done."

"Are you out of your mind?!" Edward growled. "Because of what happened today? Claire, don't forget. Without me, the Sutton family is nothing."

"Well, that's none of your concern, Mr. Lane," I replied coldly.

I shook off his hand and headed upstairs.

Edward shouted angrily behind me, "Fine. Claire, you've got guts. Let's see how long you can keep this up."