Shera spent three years being good, quiet and compliant. She bit back every sharp word, folded every ambition, and played the role of the perfect wife—all to keep her father alive. She thought Caden was her lifeline. But she was wrong. The day her father's medical priority was transferred to another woman's family, Shera stopped believing. No explanation, no apology—just a casual decision made by her husband who had never once looked at her as an equal. At her father's funeral, she didn't cry. She signed the divorce papers instead. When Caden—the untouchable, the powerful, the man who had never begged for anything in his life—grabbed her wrist with red-rimmed eyes and a voice cracking with regret, she didn't pause. She pulled her hand free, adjusted her coat, and said, "You're in my way." Months later, her own name was on the door of a fashion label that was taking the city by storm. She had turned grief into a brand, loss into a language, and pain into a runway that she walked alone—until she no longer felt alone. Caden watched from a distance, his power useless, his money meaningless, his pride in ruins. She didn't look back. She had already flown.

Chapter 1It was already ten o'clock at night by the time the last of the mourners left.Shera Jewell dragged her heavy footsteps back home, her eyes falling on the pair of shoes in the entryway.Her husband, who had been completely unreachable for the past seven days, was back.Her father's passing had been agonizingly sudden, unfolding over a mere three days, during which she had called Caden Hayes no less than fifty times—all of them vanishing into the void. From the hospital to the funeral home, and finally to the burial, she would have collapsed entirely if not for the help of a few close friends.At this moment, the heavy scent of funeral lilies and cold wax still clung to Shera’s clothes, violently clashing with the crisp cedarwood home fragrance that filled the house.Exhausted to her bones, she dropped her bag on the shoe cabinet, swapped her heels for slippers, and walked inside.In the living room, Caden was leaning casually against the window, talking on the phone.Shera stood in the hallway, staring blankly at him as his low, magnetic voice drifted over, a faint smile playing on his lips.A bitter smile tugged at the corners of her mouth; so his phone did connect after all—she had half-assumed he'd lost it.Pushed to the absolute limits of her endurance, she couldn't even muster the energy to speak, let alone demand an explanation for his disappearance.It didn't matter anymore.She had only chosen to marry him for the medical resources he wielded, and now that her father was gone, none of it was of any use to her. This hollow, loveless marriage had dragged on for three years, and it had finally reached its end.Right now, all she wanted was to go upstairs, take a hot shower, and sleep.She lifted her foot to the stairs, but just as her heel hit the third step, a voice called out from behind."Where were you? Why are you back so late?"The tone was laced with blame.Shera had always been perfectly dutiful, never bothering with a vibrant social life, always heading straight home after work to revolve her entire existence around her husband and the kitchen.Even when her father was hospitalized, she would rush back to have everything perfectly prepared before Caden got home from the office.The neatly aligned slippers by the door, the impeccably ironed shirts in his closet, the lit incense and freshly brewed coffee waiting in his study before nine o'clock every night...She had done all of it just to keep her father alive, but what was the result?The top-tier neurologist they had booked in advance had been reassigned to Germany by Caden at the last minute.In truth, her father hadn't taken a sudden turn for the worse; his condition had been critical all along, yet Caden had still prioritized the other patient without so much as a word of discussion with her.Shera paused her steps, saying nothing. The sound of footsteps approached from behind, and his tall figure brushed past her, blocking the stairway."The surgery in Germany went very well. Professor Shawcross should be back in Aurelia City soon, and we'll schedule your father's procedure then."Shera's fingertips curled tightly at her sides, the raw grief in her brow swallowed by the shadows, her voice entirely devoid of emotion. "There's no need."Caden furrowed his brows, assuming she was just throwing a temper tantrum over the unanswered phone calls. Feigning patience, he explained, "I've been keeping Helga company these past few days. Her father Zachary was having surgery, and she was worried sick."The 'Helga' he referred to was Helga Sutton, the youngest daughter of the Suttons, longtime family friends of the Hayes family.It was a perfectly crafted excuse.To soothe Helga's anxiety, he could vanish without a trace for an entire week.Shera lowered her eyes, an absurd, icy chill sweeping through her chest. If she hadn't been in the picture, Helga would likely be standing proudly by his side as his rightful wife."I see," Shera replied weakly, trying to step around him to head upstairs.Caden blocked her path, reaching out to lightly grip her shoulders. "Look, the second I finished taking care of things, I rushed back here non-stop."Shera looked at him. "Am I supposed to thank you, then?"Thank him for keeping Helga company for seven days, only to remember to come back and toss her a pitiful "non-stop" effort?Seeing her attitude, Caden's brow twisted into a tight knot, his annoyance leaking through. "What is your problem today, being so passive-aggressive? I already explained it to you. What exactly are you so worked up about?"Worked up? Shera suddenly wanted to laugh.Her father had been gone for three days, a funeral was held, mourners had come and gone—such a massive event, and he hadn't caught wind of a single whisper.Not to mention, the hospital her father had been staying at was owned by the Hayes Group.Even if theirs was a private marriage, what about the assistant who handled everything for him day in and day out?Perhaps even his assistant felt her matters weren't worth disturbing Caden over.Shera raised her eyes, looking at the face before her, and suddenly felt that everything was utterly pointless.Her lips parted slightly, the words falling as lightly as the breeze. "Caden, let's get a divorce."She had endured enough of this one-sided marriage, enough of spending every waking moment revolving around this man. She was disgusted by the lengths she had gone to just to please him.Caden froze slightly, as if processing the meaning of her words, his deep, frigid eyes scanning her critically. "Just because I didn't answer the phone?"Shera lowered her gaze, masking the last flicker of light in her eyes. "Yes. Just because you didn't answer the phone."There was no point in saying more; she couldn't be bothered to argue.She pushed the man aside and continued her way up the stairs."Shera, have you even thought about how you're going to survive if you leave me? Can you afford your father's astronomical medical bills on your own?"At the landing of the stairs, she stopped dead in her tracks.Caden stood with his hands in his pockets, eyes narrowed, his tone dripping with dark authority. "I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said today. Get some rest."The stairwell was dim, but Shera easily caught a flash of emotion in his eyes.Contempt. The inherent contempt of a man holding all the power.Caden's phone buzzed again. He pulled it out, glanced at the caller ID, dimmed the screen, and turned to head back downstairs.Shera's nails dug fiercely into her palms as she watched his retreating back, forcing down the suffocating lump in her throat."I'll have the divorce papers drafted as soon as possible. I'll courier them to your office."The moment the words left her mouth, Caden's figure paused for a fraction of a second before he resumed walking. Moments later, the sound of the front door shutting echoed from the entryway.Silence reclaimed the living room. Outside, an engine roared to life and gradually faded into the distance.Drained of all her strength, Shera slumped onto the floor. The marble tiles seeped a biting cold, but it was nothing compared to the ice in her chest.Her phone vibrated. Shera answered, hearing the voice of her best friend, Xenia Denton.Xenia was overseas and hadn't been able to make it back for the funeral, but she had sent people to help handle the arrangements."Shera, I've had my people sort everything out. When do you plan on bringing up the divorce?"Shera's fingertips felt a bit numb. She paused. "I already told him."She gazed around the massive villa. Over the past three years, she had polished every single ornament in this place countless times.Caden hated noise, so she had dismissed the live-in staff. Aside from the cleaner who came on a schedule, she handled everything else with her own two hands.She had foolishly believed this was her home, yet right now, it felt incredibly foreign.Ultimately, she brought this upon herself. She had lowered her own worth and still somehow expected the man to respect her?The other end of the line was clearly stunned by her speed, probing carefully, "So... Caden agreed?"Shera replied, "His opinion doesn't matter."Hearing that, Xenia didn't press the issue. She had watched Shera lower herself for years, and what happened with her father was absolutely unforgivable!She supported the divorce wholeheartedly. But she couldn't shake the feeling that Caden wouldn't let go easily. A divorce offered him zero benefits and endless hassle."Since you brought it up, you obviously have to move out. You still have the keys to Clearwater Villa. If you're moving these next couple of days, let me know so I can send someone to help."A faint smile touched Shera's lips, and for some reason, her nose stung. "Thank you, Xenia."Xenia chuckled softly. "What are you thanking me for? Just remember, as long as I'm around, you will always have a safety net."She sighed, her tone turning earnest. "Don't trap yourself in a relationship that isn't worth it. No one is worth losing your pride and your light over."Hot tears hit the floorboards as Shera gave a slow nod."Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. It seems Rhys Jewell is back in the country."Rhys Jewell!Hearing the name, her fingers gripping the phone suddenly tightened, an unreadable emotion shadowing Shera's eyes.Caden didn't return that night.At 9:00 AM, a document arrived via the messaging app.[Ms. Jewell, the divorce agreement is drafted. Please review it to see if anything needs to be added.]Shera logged onto her computer and read through it carefully from start to finish.[It's perfect. Thank you, Mr. Coleman.]The pages rolled smoothly out of the printer. She organized, stapled, and signed them in one fluid motion, without a shred of hesitation.The moment the pen cap clicked shut, Shera felt as though a door deep inside her heart had finally been locked.She took out her phone and scheduled a courier. At exactly noon, the papers would be delivered to the Hayes Group headquarters, right to Caden's office.She showered, changed, and packed her things.Her belongings were pitifully few, fitting entirely into a single suitcase.Three years. She had arrived with this suitcase, and she was leaving with it. It was a fitting end.The woman in the mirror had dark circles under her eyes, but that persistent cloud of anxiety that usually hung over her brow was gone. Though exhausted, her face carried a new sense of relief.It was all coming to an end. Cutting her losses in time was all that mattered; it was never too late.At 10:30 AM, Shera rolled her suitcase out of the villa.The cleaner was watering the flowers with a hose. Seeing Shera step out, she greeted politely, "Are you heading out on a business trip, Mrs. Hayes?"Shera smiled faintly, saying nothing, only offering a polite nod.Watching her walk away, the cleaner muttered to herself with a chuckle: usually, the missus would give her a long list of instructions whenever she saw her—which fragrance was wrong, where to place which ornament—but today, she hadn't said a single word.Handing the envelope over to the courier, Shera drove toward Clearwater Villa, never once looking back.——The CEO's office at the Hayes Group.Caden had just wrapped up a multinational conference call and was leaning back in his leather chair, his face etched with exhaustion as he closed his eyes to rest.A loophole had emerged in an overseas project, forcing him to rush back to the office overnight. He had been dealing with it since dawn, and right now, his head was throbbing.He hadn't eaten in ten hours, and a dull ache gnawed at his stomach.Shera had really spoiled his stomach.He had always been a workaholic with no regard for his own limits. Years of business dinners and erratic eating habits had ruined his digestive system.Knowing about his stomach issues, Shera had tirelessly prepared specialized, mild meals for him, combining them with herbal supplements to nurse him back to health—never missing a single day in three years.Even if he worked until dawn, the insulated thermos of warm stomach-soothing soup would always be waiting for him.Lately, frequent business trips and a heavy workload had caused the pain to flare up again.His executive assistant, Aiken, knocked and walked in, holding a brown envelope."Mr. Hayes, this appears to be from your wife."Caden didn't even open his eyes. He pressed his fingers against his aching temples and said casually, "Just leave it there."Aiken nodded and placed the envelope on the corner of the desk. He was about to leave when the man called out to him."Wait."Caden lazily lifted his eyelids, his voice raspy from staying up all night."Call Shera. Tell her to make some seafood soup and bring it over."He paused, remembering something else, and casually added, "And make sure to remind the hospital to schedule a consultation the moment Professor Shawcross lands in Aurelia. We need to get the surgery done as soon as possible."The moment he said it, he recalled Shera's icy "There's no need" from the night before, and his brow furrowed.He really had neglected her while rushing around these past two days.Thinking it over, he spoke again. "Go pick out a decent piece of jewelry. I'll take it home to her tonight."Things at the company were chaotic enough as it was; he hoped she would accept the olive branch and stop throwing tantrums.Aiken stood frozen, utterly baffled by these instructions, looking at Caden with clear confusion.A consultation? Hadn't Mrs. Hayes's father already passed away?"But... Mr. Jewell has already..."Before he could finish, the phone on the desk rang. It was an overseas call.Caden answered with a serious expression, waving the stunned Aiken away as he stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.Aiken stepped out of the office, muttering to himself as he closed the door. "Mr. Hayes is really working himself into a blur these days."Remembering the instructions, he dialed Shera's number. It rang a few times before she hung up. He then called the main house, and the cleaner answered, saying the missus had gone on a business trip.Aiken nodded in understanding.Chapter 2It was already ten o'clock at night by the time the last of the mourners left.Shera Jewell dragged her heavy footsteps back home, her eyes falling on the pair of shoes in the entryway.Her husband, who had been completely unreachable for the past seven days, was back.Her father's passing had been agonizingly sudden, unfolding over a mere three days, during which she had called Caden Hayes no less than fifty times—all of them vanishing into the void. From the hospital to the funeral home, and finally to the burial, she would have collapsed entirely if not for the help of a few close friends.At this moment, the heavy scent of funeral lilies and cold wax still clung to Shera’s clothes, violently clashing with the crisp cedarwood home fragrance that filled the house.Exhausted to her bones, she dropped her bag on the shoe cabinet, swapped her heels for slippers, and walked inside.In the living room, Caden was leaning casually against the window, talking on the phone.Shera stood in the hallway, staring blankly at him as his low, magnetic voice drifted over, a faint smile playing on his lips.A bitter smile tugged at the corners of her mouth; so his phone did connect after all—she had half-assumed he'd lost it.Pushed to the absolute limits of her endurance, she couldn't even muster the energy to speak, let alone demand an explanation for his disappearance.It didn't matter anymore.She had only chosen to marry him for the medical resources he wielded, and now that her father was gone, none of it was of any use to her. This hollow, loveless marriage had dragged on for three years, and it had finally reached its end.Right now, all she wanted was to go upstairs, take a hot shower, and sleep.She lifted her foot to the stairs, but just as her heel hit the third step, a voice called out from behind."Where were you? Why are you back so late?"The tone was laced with blame.Shera had always been perfectly dutiful, never bothering with a vibrant social life, always heading straight home after work to revolve her entire existence around her husband and the kitchen.Even when her father was hospitalized, she would rush back to have everything perfectly prepared before Caden got home from the office.The neatly aligned slippers by the door, the impeccably ironed shirts in his closet, the lit incense and freshly brewed coffee waiting in his study before nine o'clock every night...She had done all of it just to keep her father alive, but what was the result?The top-tier neurologist they had booked in advance had been reassigned to Germany by Caden at the last minute.In truth, her father hadn't taken a sudden turn for the worse; his condition had been critical all along, yet Caden had still prioritized the other patient without so much as a word of discussion with her.Shera paused her steps, saying nothing. The sound of footsteps approached from behind, and his tall figure brushed past her, blocking the stairway."The surgery in Germany went very well. Professor Shawcross should be back in Aurelia City soon, and we'll schedule your father's procedure then."Shera's fingertips curled tightly at her sides, the raw grief in her brow swallowed by the shadows, her voice entirely devoid of emotion. "There's no need."Caden furrowed his brows, assuming she was just throwing a temper tantrum over the unanswered phone calls. Feigning patience, he explained, "I've been keeping Helga company these past few days. Her father Zachary was having surgery, and she was worried sick."The 'Helga' he referred to was Helga Sutton, the youngest daughter of the Suttons, longtime family friends of the Hayes family.It was a perfectly crafted excuse.To soothe Helga's anxiety, he could vanish without a trace for an entire week.Shera lowered her eyes, an absurd, icy chill sweeping through her chest. If she hadn't been in the picture, Helga would likely be standing proudly by his side as his rightful wife."I see," Shera replied weakly, trying to step around him to head upstairs.Caden blocked her path, reaching out to lightly grip her shoulders. "Look, the second I finished taking care of things, I rushed back here non-stop."Shera looked at him. "Am I supposed to thank you, then?"Thank him for keeping Helga company for seven days, only to remember to come back and toss her a pitiful "non-stop" effort?Seeing her attitude, Caden's brow twisted into a tight knot, his annoyance leaking through. "What is your problem today, being so passive-aggressive? I already explained it to you. What exactly are you so worked up about?"Worked up? Shera suddenly wanted to laugh.Her father had been gone for three days, a funeral was held, mourners had come and gone—such a massive event, and he hadn't caught wind of a single whisper.Not to mention, the hospital her father had been staying at was owned by the Hayes Group.Even if theirs was a private marriage, what about the assistant who handled everything for him day in and day out?Perhaps even his assistant felt her matters weren't worth disturbing Caden over.Shera raised her eyes, looking at the face before her, and suddenly felt that everything was utterly pointless.Her lips parted slightly, the words falling as lightly as the breeze. "Caden, let's get a divorce."She had endured enough of this one-sided marriage, enough of spending every waking moment revolving around this man. She was disgusted by the lengths she had gone to just to please him.Caden froze slightly, as if processing the meaning of her words, his deep, frigid eyes scanning her critically. "Just because I didn't answer the phone?"Shera lowered her gaze, masking the last flicker of light in her eyes. "Yes. Just because you didn't answer the phone."There was no point in saying more; she couldn't be bothered to argue.She pushed the man aside and continued her way up the stairs."Shera, have you even thought about how you're going to survive if you leave me? Can you afford your father's astronomical medical bills on your own?"At the landing of the stairs, she stopped dead in her tracks.Caden stood with his hands in his pockets, eyes narrowed, his tone dripping with dark authority. "I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said today. Get some rest."The stairwell was dim, but Shera easily caught a flash of emotion in his eyes.Contempt. The inherent contempt of a man holding all the power.Caden's phone buzzed again. He pulled it out, glanced at the caller ID, dimmed the screen, and turned to head back downstairs.Shera's nails dug fiercely into her palms as she watched his retreating back, forcing down the suffocating lump in her throat."I'll have the divorce papers drafted as soon as possible. I'll courier them to your office."The moment the words left her mouth, Caden's figure paused for a fraction of a second before he resumed walking. Moments later, the sound of the front door shutting echoed from the entryway.Silence reclaimed the living room. Outside, an engine roared to life and gradually faded into the distance.Drained of all her strength, Shera slumped onto the floor. The marble tiles seeped a biting cold, but it was nothing compared to the ice in her chest.Her phone vibrated. Shera answered, hearing the voice of her best friend, Xenia Denton.Xenia was overseas and hadn't been able to make it back for the funeral, but she had sent people to help handle the arrangements."Shera, I've had my people sort everything out. When do you plan on bringing up the divorce?"Shera's fingertips felt a bit numb. She paused. "I already told him."She gazed around the massive villa. Over the past three years, she had polished every single ornament in this place countless times.Caden hated noise, so she had dismissed the live-in staff. Aside from the cleaner who came on a schedule, she handled everything else with her own two hands.She had foolishly believed this was her home, yet right now, it felt incredibly foreign.Ultimately, she brought this upon herself. She had lowered her own worth and still somehow expected the man to respect her?The other end of the line was clearly stunned by her speed, probing carefully, "So... Caden agreed?"Shera replied, "His opinion doesn't matter."Hearing that, Xenia didn't press the issue. She had watched Shera lower herself for years, and what happened with her father was absolutely unforgivable!She supported the divorce wholeheartedly. But she couldn't shake the feeling that Caden wouldn't let go easily. A divorce offered him zero benefits and endless hassle."Since you brought it up, you obviously have to move out. You still have the keys to Clearwater Villa. If you're moving these next couple of days, let me know so I can send someone to help."A faint smile touched Shera's lips, and for some reason, her nose stung. "Thank you, Xenia."Xenia chuckled softly. "What are you thanking me for? Just remember, as long as I'm around, you will always have a safety net."She sighed, her tone turning earnest. "Don't trap yourself in a relationship that isn't worth it. No one is worth losing your pride and your light over."Hot tears hit the floorboards as Shera gave a slow nod."Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. It seems Rhys Jewell is back in the country."Rhys Jewell!Hearing the name, her fingers gripping the phone suddenly tightened, an unreadable emotion shadowing Shera's eyes.Caden didn't return that night.At 9:00 AM, a document arrived via the messaging app.[Ms. Jewell, the divorce agreement is drafted. Please review it to see if anything needs to be added.]Shera logged onto her computer and read through it carefully from start to finish.[It's perfect. Thank you, Mr. Coleman.]The pages rolled smoothly out of the printer. She organized, stapled, and signed them in one fluid motion, without a shred of hesitation.The moment the pen cap clicked shut, Shera felt as though a door deep inside her heart had finally been locked.She took out her phone and scheduled a courier. At exactly noon, the papers would be delivered to the Hayes Group headquarters, right to Caden's office.She showered, changed, and packed her things.Her belongings were pitifully few, fitting entirely into a single suitcase.Three years. She had arrived with this suitcase, and she was leaving with it. It was a fitting end.The woman in the mirror had dark circles under her eyes, but that persistent cloud of anxiety that usually hung over her brow was gone. Though exhausted, her face carried a new sense of relief.It was all coming to an end. Cutting her losses in time was all that mattered; it was never too late.At 10:30 AM, Shera rolled her suitcase out of the villa.The cleaner was watering the flowers with a hose. Seeing Shera step out, she greeted politely, "Are you heading out on a business trip, Mrs. Hayes?"Shera smiled faintly, saying nothing, only offering a polite nod.Watching her walk away, the cleaner muttered to herself with a chuckle: usually, the missus would give her a long list of instructions whenever she saw her—which fragrance was wrong, where to place which ornament—but today, she hadn't said a single word.Handing the envelope over to the courier, Shera drove toward Clearwater Villa, never once looking back.——The CEO's office at the Hayes Group.Caden had just wrapped up a multinational conference call and was leaning back in his leather chair, his face etched with exhaustion as he closed his eyes to rest.A loophole had emerged in an overseas project, forcing him to rush back to the office overnight. He had been dealing with it since dawn, and right now, his head was throbbing.He hadn't eaten in ten hours, and a dull ache gnawed at his stomach.Shera had really spoiled his stomach.He had always been a workaholic with no regard for his own limits. Years of business dinners and erratic eating habits had ruined his digestive system.Knowing about his stomach issues, Shera had tirelessly prepared specialized, mild meals for him, combining them with herbal supplements to nurse him back to health—never missing a single day in three years.Even if he worked until dawn, the insulated thermos of warm stomach-soothing soup would always be waiting for him.Lately, frequent business trips and a heavy workload had caused the pain to flare up again.His executive assistant, Aiken, knocked and walked in, holding a brown envelope."Mr. Hayes, this appears to be from your wife."Caden didn't even open his eyes. He pressed his fingers against his aching temples and said casually, "Just leave it there."Aiken nodded and placed the envelope on the corner of the desk. He was about to leave when the man called out to him."Wait."Caden lazily lifted his eyelids, his voice raspy from staying up all night."Call Shera. Tell her to make some seafood soup and bring it over."He paused, remembering something else, and casually added, "And make sure to remind the hospital to schedule a consultation the moment Professor Shawcross lands in Aurelia. We need to get the surgery done as soon as possible."The moment he said it, he recalled Shera's icy "There's no need" from the night before, and his brow furrowed.He really had neglected her while rushing around these past two days.Thinking it over, he spoke again. "Go pick out a decent piece of jewelry. I'll take it home to her tonight."Things at the company were chaotic enough as it was; he hoped she would accept the olive branch and stop throwing tantrums.Aiken stood frozen, utterly baffled by these instructions, looking at Caden with clear confusion.A consultation? Hadn't Mrs. Hayes's father already passed away?"But... Mr. Jewell has already..."Before he could finish, the phone on the desk rang. It was an overseas call.Caden answered with a serious expression, waving the stunned Aiken away as he stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.Aiken stepped out of the office, muttering to himself as he closed the door. "Mr. Hayes is really working himself into a blur these days."Remembering the instructions, he dialed Shera's number. It rang a few times before she hung up. He then called the main house, and the cleaner answered, saying the missus had gone on a business trip.Aiken nodded in understanding.Chapter 3It was already ten o'clock at night by the time the last of the mourners left.Shera Jewell dragged her heavy footsteps back home, her eyes falling on the pair of shoes in the entryway.Her husband, who had been completely unreachable for the past seven days, was back.Her father's passing had been agonizingly sudden, unfolding over a mere three days, during which she had called Caden Hayes no less than fifty times—all of them vanishing into the void. From the hospital to the funeral home, and finally to the burial, she would have collapsed entirely if not for the help of a few close friends.At this moment, the heavy scent of funeral lilies and cold wax still clung to Shera’s clothes, violently clashing with the crisp cedarwood home fragrance that filled the house.Exhausted to her bones, she dropped her bag on the shoe cabinet, swapped her heels for slippers, and walked inside.In the living room, Caden was leaning casually against the window, talking on the phone.Shera stood in the hallway, staring blankly at him as his low, magnetic voice drifted over, a faint smile playing on his lips.A bitter smile tugged at the corners of her mouth; so his phone did connect after all—she had half-assumed he'd lost it.Pushed to the absolute limits of her endurance, she couldn't even muster the energy to speak, let alone demand an explanation for his disappearance.It didn't matter anymore.She had only chosen to marry him for the medical resources he wielded, and now that her father was gone, none of it was of any use to her. This hollow, loveless marriage had dragged on for three years, and it had finally reached its end.Right now, all she wanted was to go upstairs, take a hot shower, and sleep.She lifted her foot to the stairs, but just as her heel hit the third step, a voice called out from behind."Where were you? Why are you back so late?"The tone was laced with blame.Shera had always been perfectly dutiful, never bothering with a vibrant social life, always heading straight home after work to revolve her entire existence around her husband and the kitchen.Even when her father was hospitalized, she would rush back to have everything perfectly prepared before Caden got home from the office.The neatly aligned slippers by the door, the impeccably ironed shirts in his closet, the lit incense and freshly brewed coffee waiting in his study before nine o'clock every night...She had done all of it just to keep her father alive, but what was the result?The top-tier neurologist they had booked in advance had been reassigned to Germany by Caden at the last minute.In truth, her father hadn't taken a sudden turn for the worse; his condition had been critical all along, yet Caden had still prioritized the other patient without so much as a word of discussion with her.Shera paused her steps, saying nothing. The sound of footsteps approached from behind, and his tall figure brushed past her, blocking the stairway."The surgery in Germany went very well. Professor Shawcross should be back in Aurelia City soon, and we'll schedule your father's procedure then."Shera's fingertips curled tightly at her sides, the raw grief in her brow swallowed by the shadows, her voice entirely devoid of emotion. "There's no need."Caden furrowed his brows, assuming she was just throwing a temper tantrum over the unanswered phone calls. Feigning patience, he explained, "I've been keeping Helga company these past few days. Her father Zachary was having surgery, and she was worried sick."The 'Helga' he referred to was Helga Sutton, the youngest daughter of the Suttons, longtime family friends of the Hayes family.It was a perfectly crafted excuse.To soothe Helga's anxiety, he could vanish without a trace for an entire week.Shera lowered her eyes, an absurd, icy chill sweeping through her chest. If she hadn't been in the picture, Helga would likely be standing proudly by his side as his rightful wife."I see," Shera replied weakly, trying to step around him to head upstairs.Caden blocked her path, reaching out to lightly grip her shoulders. "Look, the second I finished taking care of things, I rushed back here non-stop."Shera looked at him. "Am I supposed to thank you, then?"Thank him for keeping Helga company for seven days, only to remember to come back and toss her a pitiful "non-stop" effort?Seeing her attitude, Caden's brow twisted into a tight knot, his annoyance leaking through. "What is your problem today, being so passive-aggressive? I already explained it to you. What exactly are you so worked up about?"Worked up? Shera suddenly wanted to laugh.Her father had been gone for three days, a funeral was held, mourners had come and gone—such a massive event, and he hadn't caught wind of a single whisper.Not to mention, the hospital her father had been staying at was owned by the Hayes Group.Even if theirs was a private marriage, what about the assistant who handled everything for him day in and day out?Perhaps even his assistant felt her matters weren't worth disturbing Caden over.Shera raised her eyes, looking at the face before her, and suddenly felt that everything was utterly pointless.Her lips parted slightly, the words falling as lightly as the breeze. "Caden, let's get a divorce."She had endured enough of this one-sided marriage, enough of spending every waking moment revolving around this man. She was disgusted by the lengths she had gone to just to please him.Caden froze slightly, as if processing the meaning of her words, his deep, frigid eyes scanning her critically. "Just because I didn't answer the phone?"Shera lowered her gaze, masking the last flicker of light in her eyes. "Yes. Just because you didn't answer the phone."There was no point in saying more; she couldn't be bothered to argue.She pushed the man aside and continued her way up the stairs."Shera, have you even thought about how you're going to survive if you leave me? Can you afford your father's astronomical medical bills on your own?"At the landing of the stairs, she stopped dead in her tracks.Caden stood with his hands in his pockets, eyes narrowed, his tone dripping with dark authority. "I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said today. Get some rest."The stairwell was dim, but Shera easily caught a flash of emotion in his eyes.Contempt. The inherent contempt of a man holding all the power.Caden's phone buzzed again. He pulled it out, glanced at the caller ID, dimmed the screen, and turned to head back downstairs.Shera's nails dug fiercely into her palms as she watched his retreating back, forcing down the suffocating lump in her throat."I'll have the divorce papers drafted as soon as possible. I'll courier them to your office."The moment the words left her mouth, Caden's figure paused for a fraction of a second before he resumed walking. Moments later, the sound of the front door shutting echoed from the entryway.Silence reclaimed the living room. Outside, an engine roared to life and gradually faded into the distance.Drained of all her strength, Shera slumped onto the floor. The marble tiles seeped a biting cold, but it was nothing compared to the ice in her chest.Her phone vibrated. Shera answered, hearing the voice of her best friend, Xenia Denton.Xenia was overseas and hadn't been able to make it back for the funeral, but she had sent people to help handle the arrangements."Shera, I've had my people sort everything out. When do you plan on bringing up the divorce?"Shera's fingertips felt a bit numb. She paused. "I already told him."She gazed around the massive villa. Over the past three years, she had polished every single ornament in this place countless times.Caden hated noise, so she had dismissed the live-in staff. Aside from the cleaner who came on a schedule, she handled everything else with her own two hands.She had foolishly believed this was her home, yet right now, it felt incredibly foreign.Ultimately, she brought this upon herself. She had lowered her own worth and still somehow expected the man to respect her?The other end of the line was clearly stunned by her speed, probing carefully, "So... Caden agreed?"Shera replied, "His opinion doesn't matter."Hearing that, Xenia didn't press the issue. She had watched Shera lower herself for years, and what happened with her father was absolutely unforgivable!She supported the divorce wholeheartedly. But she couldn't shake the feeling that Caden wouldn't let go easily. A divorce offered him zero benefits and endless hassle."Since you brought it up, you obviously have to move out. You still have the keys to Clearwater Villa. If you're moving these next couple of days, let me know so I can send someone to help."A faint smile touched Shera's lips, and for some reason, her nose stung. "Thank you, Xenia."Xenia chuckled softly. "What are you thanking me for? Just remember, as long as I'm around, you will always have a safety net."She sighed, her tone turning earnest. "Don't trap yourself in a relationship that isn't worth it. No one is worth losing your pride and your light over."Hot tears hit the floorboards as Shera gave a slow nod."Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. It seems Rhys Jewell is back in the country."Rhys Jewell!Hearing the name, her fingers gripping the phone suddenly tightened, an unreadable emotion shadowing Shera's eyes.Caden didn't return that night.At 9:00 AM, a document arrived via the messaging app.[Ms. Jewell, the divorce agreement is drafted. Please review it to see if anything needs to be added.]Shera logged onto her computer and read through it carefully from start to finish.[It's perfect. Thank you, Mr. Coleman.]The pages rolled smoothly out of the printer. She organized, stapled, and signed them in one fluid motion, without a shred of hesitation.The moment the pen cap clicked shut, Shera felt as though a door deep inside her heart had finally been locked.She took out her phone and scheduled a courier. At exactly noon, the papers would be delivered to the Hayes Group headquarters, right to Caden's office.She showered, changed, and packed her things.Her belongings were pitifully few, fitting entirely into a single suitcase.Three years. She had arrived with this suitcase, and she was leaving with it. It was a fitting end.The woman in the mirror had dark circles under her eyes, but that persistent cloud of anxiety that usually hung over her brow was gone. Though exhausted, her face carried a new sense of relief.It was all coming to an end. Cutting her losses in time was all that mattered; it was never too late.At 10:30 AM, Shera rolled her suitcase out of the villa.The cleaner was watering the flowers with a hose. Seeing Shera step out, she greeted politely, "Are you heading out on a business trip, Mrs. Hayes?"Shera smiled faintly, saying nothing, only offering a polite nod.Watching her walk away, the cleaner muttered to herself with a chuckle: usually, the missus would give her a long list of instructions whenever she saw her—which fragrance was wrong, where to place which ornament—but today, she hadn't said a single word.Handing the envelope over to the courier, Shera drove toward Clearwater Villa, never once looking back.——The CEO's office at the Hayes Group.Caden had just wrapped up a multinational conference call and was leaning back in his leather chair, his face etched with exhaustion as he closed his eyes to rest.A loophole had emerged in an overseas project, forcing him to rush back to the office overnight. He had been dealing with it since dawn, and right now, his head was throbbing.He hadn't eaten in ten hours, and a dull ache gnawed at his stomach.Shera had really spoiled his stomach.He had always been a workaholic with no regard for his own limits. Years of business dinners and erratic eating habits had ruined his digestive system.Knowing about his stomach issues, Shera had tirelessly prepared specialized, mild meals for him, combining them with herbal supplements to nurse him back to health—never missing a single day in three years.Even if he worked until dawn, the insulated thermos of warm stomach-soothing soup would always be waiting for him.Lately, frequent business trips and a heavy workload had caused the pain to flare up again.His executive assistant, Aiken, knocked and walked in, holding a brown envelope."Mr. Hayes, this appears to be from your wife."Caden didn't even open his eyes. He pressed his fingers against his aching temples and said casually, "Just leave it there."Aiken nodded and placed the envelope on the corner of the desk. He was about to leave when the man called out to him."Wait."Caden lazily lifted his eyelids, his voice raspy from staying up all night."Call Shera. Tell her to make some seafood soup and bring it over."He paused, remembering something else, and casually added, "And make sure to remind the hospital to schedule a consultation the moment Professor Shawcross lands in Aurelia. We need to get the surgery done as soon as possible."The moment he said it, he recalled Shera's icy "There's no need" from the night before, and his brow furrowed.He really had neglected her while rushing around these past two days.Thinking it over, he spoke again. "Go pick out a decent piece of jewelry. I'll take it home to her tonight."Things at the company were chaotic enough as it was; he hoped she would accept the olive branch and stop throwing tantrums.Aiken stood frozen, utterly baffled by these instructions, looking at Caden with clear confusion.A consultation? Hadn't Mrs. Hayes's father already passed away?"But... Mr. Jewell has already..."Before he could finish, the phone on the desk rang. It was an overseas call.Caden answered with a serious expression, waving the stunned Aiken away as he stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.Aiken stepped out of the office, muttering to himself as he closed the door. "Mr. Hayes is really working himself into a blur these days."Remembering the instructions, he dialed Shera's number. It rang a few times before she hung up. He then called the main house, and the cleaner answered, saying the missus had gone on a business trip.Aiken nodded in understanding.