Compared to Samuel''s emotional outburst, Sierra was so calm that she seemed cold.


    "If you don''t have any objections, let''s sit down in the living room and talk this through properly. But if you''re nning to say more of that ''I don''t mind your past, I still want to be with you'' nonsense, then I don''t see any point in continuing this conversation.


    "Samuel, take a moment to think if you want to have a real conversation with me or not."


    With that, she turned and went to sit on the couch.


    Just then, Maggie brought in the tea and began pouring a cup for everyone. "Ms. Remington, how should I address these youngdies?" she asked politely.


    "No need to worry about us," Mathilda answered. "Just pour some for Ms. Remington."


    "How can that be?" Maggie said, unfazed. She poured a cup for each person before stepping back.


    Samuel sat in his wheelchair, looking like he hadn''t processed what just happened. Or maybe he had and just couldn''t believe that Sierra had ignored himpletely and gone straight to the couch on her own. She didn''t even offer to push his wheelchair.


    Sierra sipped her tea and frowned at the sight of Samuel sitting there like a statue. "Samuel, you broke your leg, not your whole body. Don''t tell me you''re expecting me to serve you now."


    She couldn''t forget how Samuel had repeatedly med her after what happened instead offorting her. So now, even if she felt a twinge of sympathy seeing him like this, she pushed it down.


    Samuel''s eyes turned teary. He bit his lower lip, then slowly wheeled himself over to the couch.


    Sierra looked at Maggie. "Maggie, please pour him a cup of tea."


    "Of course, Ms. Remington." Maggie stepped forward, poured the tea for Samuel, then quietly stepped back.


    Sierra looked at him and said in a calm voice, "Have some tea. Cool your head.


    "Oh, by the way, Sophia and Zachary are back. They''re taking Ms. ir and my parents to dinner tonight. Zachary said he wants to officially propose to Sophia in front of our family.


    "I asked Sophia if she wanted to let you know. She said she''s okay with you hearing about it, but there''s no way she''ll let you attend the dinner."


    Samuel reached for his cane, stood up carefully, and sat down next to Sierra.


    The very next second, she stood up and moved to a different couch to sit next to Mathilda.


    Samuel stared in disbelief. After a long pause, he clenched his jaw and finally said, "Sierra, what the hell are you doing? I haven''t even judged you, and now you''re judging me, huh?"


    "What makes you think you have the right to judge me?" Sierra remained calm. After everything she''d been through these past few days, she''d already processed how he tried to manipte her.


    "I don''t ept your emotional abuse. I''m doing just fine. Whether you approve or not, I''m still Sierra, and I''m doing great.


    "All that crap you said about Sophia was maniptive too. Samuel, you''re disgusting and despicable. I honestly feel ashamed and disappointed that I ever loved you.


    "I even regret listening to Ms. ir and going abroad with you. I should''ve stayed in Dithoria State with Sophia, facing everything together."


    Samuel gritted his teeth. "But such a thing happened to Sophia. She''s dirty now.


    "Cee, you''re my wife. You''re not like her. Don''tpare yourself to someone like that. You were assaulted, and I was heartbroken, but I still love you. I''m willing to be with you."


    "Shut up," Sierra snapped, her voice rising. Her emotions were getting hard to control. "Samuel, I don''t want your so-called love.


    "If you truly loved me, you wouldn''t keep bringing up what happened to me. You''re constantly reminding me and throwing it in my face. What''s your goal?


    "You just want me to feel ashamed, to feel guilty, to feel like I''m not good enough for you. You want me to think I''m lucky you''re still willing to be with a woman who''s been ''tainted''. You want me to see you as some kind of savior.


    "But let me tell you something, Samuel. This isn''t the ancient times anymore. A woman doesn''t need to throw herself off a cliff to prove she''s still worthy after something like that.


    "We were the victims in this whole ordeal. Why the hell should we punish ourselves for what someone else did? Times have changed. Women don''t need a man to survive anymore.


    "If you loved me, you wouldn''t keep acting like you''re doing me some huge favor by not leaving. You can''t get past it, but instead of admitting it, you act all noble, like you''re making some great sacrifice.


    "You make me sick."


    By now, Sierra''s eyes were teary. This was exactly why she hadn''t wanted to see him. She knew that if she did, he''d say something that would cut her to the bone.


    The things he''d said about Sophia had already shown her exactly what kind of man he really was. There was no way he''d say anything different to her.


    She didn''t want to give him another chance to hurt her. But Samuel—shameless bastard that he was-couldn''t stop himself from pretending to be some magnanimous hero, all while secretly judging her.


    It was as if she couldn''t live without him.


    Mathilda saw Sierra''s eyes turn watery and immediately handed her a tissue. "Ms. Remington, he''s not worth your tears." "Thank you," Sierra said softly, wiping her eyes. "Samuel, I came here to tell you one more time that I want a divorce.


    "I''ve already hired awyer. If you don''t want to have a civil conversation, he''lle talk to you in my stead next time.


    "Oh, and thiswyer? He''s a close friend of Natalie''s who has never lost a case. A cross-border divorce might beplicated, but it won''t be a problem for him."


    "Cee, I don''t ept this," Samuel said sadly. "I can''t ept you treating me like this. I didn''t try to manipte you, and I don''t look down on you. I just...


    "I just don''t know how to say the right thing."


    "No," Sierra said, taking a deep breath. "It''s not that you don''t know what to say. Every single word you''ve said came from your heart. The things you said to Sophia were your real thoughts.


    "And the things you said to me were real, too. You want me to be grateful to you. You want me to love you the way I used to. And then you get to stand on your pedestal and ''forgive'' me.


    "Well, guess what-you''re wrong."


    She stood up. "I''m asking for a divorce. I don''t want to have anything to do with you anymore."