Chapter 1
The September wind carried a hint of chill, making Elise's eyes feel dry and sore.
Elise stood at the entrance of the Civil Hall, the maroon divorce certificate in her hand felt paper-thin, but weighed on her like three years of marriage, every inch digging into her palm, making it hurt.
Gavin stood beside her, his suit crisp, his gaze cool and indifferent. He hadn't shown a single emotion from start to finish, as if today was just another formality, not the end of their marriage.
"Hold onto it. Don't lose it," Gavin said.
Elise looked down at the divorce certificate and suddenly felt like laughing.
Three years ago, when they registered their marriage, it was also another weekday.
Back then, she wore a cream-colored dress, her hair draped over her shoulders. Gavin held her bag. After the photos were taken, he leaned in and said, "From now on, you're Mrs. Wright."
She thought that was a promise.
But later, she realized it was nothing more than an announcement.
She put the divorce certificate into her bag, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don't worry. I won't lose it."
Gavin glanced at her, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he said coolly, "Mom's not in a good mood. Go back today and pack up your things.
"The house stays with me, the car was mine before we got married, and I'll have my assistant send you 30,000 dollars from the account."
30,000 dollars.
Elise felt a sharp pain in her chest.
Three years of marriage, and that's all it amounted to a number.
For three years, she'd been the model daughter-in-law in the Wright family, taking care of Gavin's sensitive stomach, trying to win over Alina Wright, her mother-in-law, who was impossible to please, and managing things at home when Gavin was swamped with his startup.
She'd even sold the gold bracelet her mother left her to fill a financial gap in his company.
She never thought she'd have to tally up everything between husband and wife.
But now, at the point of divorce, Gavin was more meticulous than anyone when it came to dividing things.
"I don't need that money," Elise said.
Gavin knitted his brows. "Elise, don't be stubborn."
"I'm not being stubborn," Elise said, lifting her gaze to him, her eyes so calm it felt almost strange to herself. "I think it's not enough."
The wind swept by, and for a brief moment, Gavin's cool facade finally cracked.
In Gavin's memory, Elise had always been soft-spoken and meek. Even when she was deeply hurt, she'd just say, "Forget it," with teary eyes.
He never imagined that on the day of their divorce, she'd so effortlessly break the facade they'd kept up.
"What do you mean?" Gavin asked.
"What I mean is," Elise said, her lips curling into a faint, bitter smile, "Gavin, you cheated, you hid assets, kept things ambiguous with Brooke Trudeau while we were still married.
"Now you want to throw 30,000 dollars at me and call it quits. Do you think I'm that easy to push around?"
Gavin's face darkened.
"Watch your words. It's strictly professional between Brooke and me," he said.
Elise shot back, "Strictly professional? Does that include texting you at one in the morning: Gavin, my stomach hurts. Can you come over and keep me company?
"Is that what you call strictly professional? Sharing a hotel bathrobe during your company retreat?
"Or maybe 'strictly professional' means even lipstick stains on your collar are business now?"
Her voice stayed low, but each line was steadier than the last.
Gavin stared at her, his gaze turning icy. "Are you spying on me?"
"I didn't have to," Elise replied. "You never bothered to cover it up."
For a moment, Gavin fell silent.
It wasn't guilt. It was the impatience of someone who's been exposed and wants to move on.
Elise recognized that look instantly. For three years, whenever she asked too many questions or cared a little too much, Gavin would give her that same dismissive stare, as if she were some naive, inconvenient woman who never knew her place.
"We're already divorced. There's no point in bringing this up now," Gavin said.
"Yeah, we're divorced," Elise nodded. "So I can finally say what I want, and not care if it pisses you off."
Gavin pressed his lips together, about to speak, when his phone suddenly rang.
The caller ID flashed: Mom.
He answered, and before he could get a word in, Alina's piercing voice blared from the other end.
"Are the papers done yet? If they're finished, hurry up and bring that woman back. Her junk is cluttering up the house. It's an eyesore.
"And make sure she hands over my pearl necklace. I've been searching for it forever. Don't tell me she's planning to walk off with Wright family stuff now that the divorce is final."
The entrance of the Civil Hall wasn't exactly quiet, but Alina's voice was so loud that, even with the phone pressed to Gavin's ear, Elise could hear every word.
Gavin instinctively glanced at her.
Elise kept her expression flat and looked away.
"Mom, that's enough," Gavin said.
"Enough? Why should I be quiet? Three years, and she couldn't even have a kid for us, but she acted like she owned the title of Mrs. Wright. Now that she's out, it's for the best. Brooke's got everything she doesn't, familyband talent..."
The call kept going.
Elise was done listening.
She walked away from Gavin, heading down the steps. Her steps were steady, never faltering.
Behind her, Gavin's voice followed, low and harsh, but the wind blurred his words, leaving them indistinct.