Freya’s POV
I let out a small, wry smile. “I don’t need you to take care of me. I can handle myself.”
“Even if you’re strong, I still want to take care of you,” Kade said, his amber gaze locking onto me. “If I’d known what Caelum Grafton–what that bastard–did to you back then, I would have…”
My phone rang, cutting off his words. The screen shed Caelum’s name. I frowned, answering.
<b>“</b>Why have you cleared out all your things from the vi?” His voice was sharp, threaded with irritation.
“I moved out. If you see anything left that belongs to me, just throw it away. No need to call,” I said, my voice calm, steady.
“Moved out? What is this supposed to mean? Are you sulking at me?”
“Not sulking. I just don’t want to live there anymore,” I said lightly. “And about the divorce… I don’t want to drag it on. I can waive the hundred million in the agreement, but I need you to finalize the divorce papers as soon as possible.”
Three more days, and the thirty–day Lunar Severance Phase would end. Once he agreed, we could be done. I wanted this marriage ended cleanly, with no lingering chains.
“Fine. You want a divorce? Thene back to the vi. We’ll talk about it now!” he barked, then hung up.
I put my phone away and turned to Kade. “I need to go to the vi.”
<b>“</b>Is this about the divorce? I’ll go with you!” Kade said immediately, having overheard some of the call.
“No. This is between me and him. I’ll go alone,” I replied firmly.
“Are you really going through with it?” His gaze bore into me.
I nced at my parents‘ casket in my mind, remembering their sacrifices. If they could see me now, would they want me to remain trapped in this hollow marriage?
<b>“</b><b>Yes</b>,” I <b>said </b>aloud, voice low but unwavering.
When I arrived <b>at </b><b>the </b>vi, Caelum was already sitting on the living
room sofa.
“Freya… <b>do </b>you really want a <b>divorce</b><b>?</b>” <b>His </b>tone was a mixture of disbelief and irritation.
“My marriage with <b>you </b><b>has </b>no reason to continue<i>,” </i><b>I </b>said inly.
“For such trivial things<b>, </b><b>you </b>want a divorce<b>? </b>What do you even take marriage to be?”
“Trivial<b>?</b><b>” </b><b>I </b><b>gave </b>him a sharp look. <b>“</b>Your mother and sister <b>treated </b>me that way–is that trivial? And your affair with Aurora- is that trivial<b>?</b><b>” </b>
His <b>face </b>darkened. “My mother and <b>sister </b><b>were </b>wrong, but they’ve <b>been </b>detained. They’ve paid the price<b>. </b><b>Isn’t </b>that enough?” Iughed bitterly. “So <b>the </b>abuser pays, the victim should just <b>be </b>satisfied? Is that what you think?”
“And Aurora and I <b>were </b>just friends! I never slept with her, <b>so </b><b>stop </b>aecusing me of adultery!”
“Do you really think infidelity is only about the body?” <b>I </b>snapped. “When everyone thinks you two are perfect together, when everyone praises you as the golden couple–did you ever deny it? Did you <b>ever </b><b>say</b><b>, </b>‘<b>I </b>already have a wife<b>‘</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
I was a business setting. I couldn’t disrupt <b>the </b>atmosphere. Besides, if I contradicted her, I would have embarrassed AuroralTM “No,” I said, voice cold, “you <b>weren’t </b>afraid <b>of </b>disrupting the atmosphere. You weren’t worried about Aurora’s face<b>. </b>You <b>were </b>asharned of me. You were too embarrassed to <b>say </b>anything because <b>I’m </b>your wife, because being married to <b>me </b>made you lose face!”
+8 Pearls
His face flushed with embarrassment, but he quickly countered, “And you? Do you think you’re wless? You have multiple patents<b>, </b><b>were </b>a drone specialist in the military, and yet never told me!”
“Yes, I didn’t mention it. Because you never cared.” I said, letting the words cut. “I told you I’d done research on drones. And what did you say? You thought I was boasting. You thought I was jealous of Aurora and trying topete with her!”
Caelum went silent, realizing he had indeed dismissed my words when thepany was expanding into drone tech.
“The one who truly despised me in this house was you. That’s why your mother, your friends, even Aurora, looked down on me!” I said, my voice sharp.
His expression shifted, a mix of red and pale. “I didn’t despise you… I just…” He faltered, struggling for an exnation that didn’t exist.
“Doesn’t matter anymore. I’m here only to settle the divorce,” I said.
He pressed his lips together, eyes narrowing. “Are you divorcing me… to be with Kade?”
I froze. My pulse jumped. How could he even mention Kade?
The air in the vi felt suddenly colder, heavy with the scent of tension and unspoken truths.