Chapter 2

There are no windows in the storage room. I couldn't tell day from night. I could only judge by the time in the upper right corner of the phone screen.

At ten o'clock in the evening, it has been six hours since I was locked in. I sat against the wall. The light on the phone screen went out clearly in the darkness.

Desmond's call came in. "Cecilia, are you sure you want to execute it now?" His voice was low. He was probably worried that I would regret it.

"Sure." My voice was calm. "Prenuptial agreement is ready, right?"

"Yes," Desmond said. "The 100 million inheritance your father left you back then was in the company account under Simon's name for the past three years.

"I've already contacted the Sumonlia bank, and I'll be able to transfer it all to your overseas account tomorrow morning. And the villa, Serenity Garden, in your name, the title certificate has been notarized. Simon has no right to dispose of it."

I close my eyes. "What about immigration?"

"It was submitted three days ago," Desmond said. "Expedited processing, you will get the visa tomorrow afternoon.

"I've also booked a flight for Amerland in the early morning of the day after tomorrow. My friend will pick you up there.

"He has a local law firm that can help you with the follow-up settlement procedures."

I opened my eyes. Looking at a certain point in the darkness. "Thank you for your help over the past three years, Desmond."

He was silent for a few seconds. "Cecilia, have you really thought it through? If you leave, you may never come back."

I smiled. The smile went unseen in the darkness. "What's there to come back to? Here's just a husband who doesn't love me, and a failed marriage."

Hang up the phone. I called my best friend, Rayna Steele.

"Hello, Cecilia?" Her voice was filled with tears. "Where are you now? I'll pick you up.

"I heard that bastard Simon locked you up? Is he crazy? This is abuse. I'll call the police right away."

I cut her off, "Rayna, calm down. I'm okay.

"Go to my house and get my passport and my bank card. They're in the bottom drawer of the nightstand."

Rayna was stunned. "Why do you need a passport?"

"Divorce," I said. "And go abroad."

"What?" she screamed. "Are you serious?"

I said, "Really. I'm calm. This marriage was a mistake from the beginning. I don't want to consume it anymore."

Rayna was silent for a long time. Then said. "Okay, I'm on your side. Simon, that scumbag, is not worth wasting a minute on him."

*****

After hanging up, I get to one last thing. I send a message to my mother: [I'm going abroad, Mom. Take care of yourself. Don't worry about me.]

Finished sending, I deleted all the chat logs. Then I turned off the phone and hid it back in my underwear. Darkness swallowed everything again. I closed my eyes and started to recall these three years.

*****

Three years ago, after my father passed away, he left me an inheritance of 100 million. Simon said he would help me take care of it. I believed him and transferred all the money to his company account.

He promised to give me a 20% annual income. He did give me money every year for the past three years. But I knew that money was just a fraction of my own principal.

He used my money to expand the Moran Group's territory. The company's market value tripled. I became his nominal wife and a real top gifter. But he never even touched me.

On the wedding night, He said, "Cecilia, I married you to repay your father's kindness. But I have someone in my heart.

"In these three years, I will give you the status of Mrs. Moran, and you will not be wronged. After three years, we parted peacefully."

I thought time could change everything. I thought as long as I was gentle, considerate, and understanding, he would love me one day.

But I was wrong. There was only Sylvia in his heart.

*****

Outside the door of the storage room, footsteps came. I opened my eyes. It was James.

He paused outside the door for a long time. Then whispered. "Mrs. Moran, how are you?"

I didn't answer. He sighed, "I'll bring you some water. Mr. Moran said you can't eat. But he didn't say you can't have some water."

Under the door, a bottle of mineral water was stuffed in. I looked at the bottle of water but didn't get it.

"Thank you, James," I said. "But I'm not thirsty. Please take it back."

James was stunned. "Mrs. Moran, take care of yourself." The footsteps went away.

I continued to sit against the wall. Images of the past three years flashed through my mind. Every scene cut to my heart. But now. I didn't hurt anymore because I didn't love him anymore.

Since Simon wanted me to calm down here, I would make him regret it. He'd come to understand that losing me had been the greatest mistake of his life.

In the darkness, I had been planning everything. The countdown had begun.