Chapter 2

In the photo, Julia was smiling so brightly. It took me back to the day I proposed to her.

She'd cheered with joy, saying she was the happiest girl in the world.

Ten years had passed. That happy girl had become a top-tier attorney, a legal powerhouse who'd achieved all her dreams.

And I—I'd worn out my heart for her, only to be reduced to dead weight in her eyes.

I reached up and took the photo down from the wall.

Julia's voice came from behind me. "Why are you taking that down?"

I glanced sideways at her, then dropped my gaze. "It's dirty. I don't like looking at it."

She gave a dismissive hum, then seemed to remember something. She stepped forward and straightened my collar. "Tomorrow is the firm's IPO celebration. Make sure you look presentable."

Julia's law firm was something I'd built from the ground up. With the firm going public, I needed to be there myself.

I didn't say yes. But I didn't say no, either. Because I noticed that her wedding ring was gone. In its place, on the faint tan line left behind, someone had left a hickey.

As Julia turned to leave, I said, "Julia, let's get a divorce."

…

I'd expected Julia to explode when I brought up divorce. But by the next morning, she was as composed as ever.

"Whatever you said yesterday—I'm pretending I never heard it. We've been married ten years. Nothing's so bad it can't be smoothed over.

"Today's a big day for the firm. There'll be heavy hitters at the celebration. Don't go flaking out on me now."

Her voice was soft. For once, she was lowering herself to appease me.

But I knew better. She was just squeezing the last bit of value out of me.

I got into her car, keeping as much distance between us as I could.

Julia glanced at me in the rearview mirror, a flicker of impatience in her eyes. "Everyone's going to be there today. Don't start any drama. And I have a surprise for you later."

I let out a quiet sigh at her words. My chest ached, and even breathing felt like a struggle.

She still thought this was just me being jealous and throwing a tantrum.

When we got to the hotel for the celebration, Ken was waiting outside. The moment he saw Julia, his eyes lit up. The way their gazes met was unmistakably intimate.

"Took you long enough. I've been waiting forever."

Ken took Julia's bag with practiced ease. When he noticed me, he raised an eyebrow, his expression dripping with disdain.

I ignored both of them and walked straight inside.

The moment I appeared, every pair of eyes in the room turned to me.

Just as Julia had said, most of the people here today had come because of me. Before I'd stepped away from the legal world, I'd been the undisputed champion of the bar. Every case I took on, I won.

Back then, if anyone needed a defense attorney, I was the first name that came to mind.

But I'd given it all up for Julia. I walked away at the peak of my career and vanished from the scene.

I was lost in thought when Julia grabbed my arm and pulled me back to the present.

I subtly slipped my arm out of hers.

Just then, some old law school classmates approached with drinks in hand, their voices full of envy.

"Harry, long time no see! You and Julia are still as solid as ever."

"No kidding—we were all so jealous back in school. And here you are, years into marriage, still like newlyweds."

I listened to their flattery, offered a faint smile, and said nothing.

Until someone asked, "But it's been so long—you two still aren't planning to have kids?"