Chapter 2

No one outside the York family knew what happened between them and Medea back then.

But Gordon knew one thing clearly—during the past six years, even though Cesare was overseas the entire time, he never once contacted Medea.

“The Yorks won’t interfere for her anymore.”

Gordon thought of how Medea had walked away earlier and suppressed the irritation rising in his chest.

“Today’s Annie’s birthday. If she wants to throw a tantrum, let her.”

As for divorce, the gossip surrounding Sharon had already gotten out of control.

If he divorced Medea now, it would only confirm the gossip and drag Sharon’s reputation through the mud.

There was no way he would divorce at a time like this.

Besides, he knew Medea.

She loved him too deeply to ever let go so easily.

“That’s true. She only stayed with the York family for three years. It’s not like Mr. York would really treasure her forever.”

“And without the Yorks backing her, Medea would be the one suffering most if she really were to divorce Gordon.”

…

Medea took a cab back to the villa.

The exhausting day had already drained her completely, but she still forced herself to call her best friend, Pearly Lowe.

“Pearly, help me prepare a divorce agreement.”

At first, Pearly thought she had misheard.

Then her voice rose in surprise. “You’re divorcing Gordon? Why? Sure, he’s cold, but he’s treated you pretty well.

“Besides, with the Begum family protecting you, the Watts family wouldn’t dare do anything to you. And haven’t you loved him for years? After everything between you two…”

“It’s not like that,” Medea said softly. “Back then, I married him because he saved me.”

And because, in some small way, he reminded her of that person.

Her feelings for Gordon had always been complicated.

Perhaps some of what she felt came from emotional projection, while the rest was simply gratitude.

That was why she obediently remained Mrs. Begum for six years.

The first time she met Gordon, she hadn’t felt anything particularly special.

He had only seemed strangely familiar to her.

Later, after he pulled her out of the fire, vague feelings slowly began to grow in her heart.

But by then, she had already returned to the Watts family.

She was no longer the treasured princess of the Yorks.

So, she buried that secret crush deep inside for a very long time, until Gordon’s grandmother, Dorothy Begum, proposed that Gordon marry her.

Those hidden, unspoken feelings eventually blurred together, and for all kinds of complicated reasons, she spent years trapped in a thankless marriage.

It wasn’t that she loved him so deeply it shattered her heart.

More than anything, she was simply unwilling to accept it.

Pearly could hear the determination in Medea’s voice and only asked one final question.

“Then why decide to divorce all of a sudden?”

She understood Medea well.

Medea looked delicate on the outside, but underneath, she was stubborn to the core.

She had already endured six years.

So how had she suddenly decided to divorce him?

Medea’s tone remained calm. “Gordon and I have had a sexless marriage for six years.”

Pearly froze. “Wait… he can’t do it?”

Medea didn’t bother explaining.

She only smiled faintly. “Something like that.”

If he couldn’t give himself to her emotionally, it amounted to the same thing.

“Divorce him. Seriously, divorce him immediately. I’ll bring the papers over tomorrow.”

Pearly sounded furious. “He looks perfectly fine on the outside, but he’s got problems in bed? That’s basically ruining someone’s life.”

Yeah.

Who would’ve thought she would willingly waste six years on him like this?

With that kind of patience, she probably could’ve devoted herself to saving the world instead.

Before hanging up, Pearly hesitated for a moment before asking carefully, “Dea, getting divorced probably won’t be that easy. Does the York family know about this? Do you want to talk to Cesare…?”

Sharon’s return to Kingsford had already stirred up enough gossip.

Divorcing at a time like this would be a direct slap to the Begum family and practically confirm every rumor surrounding Gordon and Sharon.

How could Gordon possibly agree?

Medea lowered her voice softly. “I left the York family a long time ago.”

Cesare had his own life now, and her problems were hers to deal with.

She no longer had the right to trouble him.

Medea quietly ended the call.

She was unusually exhausted that night, and after washing up, she quickly fell asleep.

Perhaps because old memories had resurfaced, she slept poorly the entire night.

The next morning, she headed downstairs, planning to make a trip to the hospital.

But there were already two unexpected guests in the villa.

When Gordon saw her, his expression eased slightly for once. “Annie’s not used to new environments yet, so Sharon and Annie will be staying here for a few days. You don’t mind, do you?”

Medea almost laughed at the excuse.

Her husband had barely passed on, yet Sharon already seemed determined to give her daughter another father.

“Do whatever you want,” Medea replied calmly.

She was planning to move out soon anyway.

She changed into a dark knit dress, her eyes lowered slightly.

There was a lazy, effortless elegance about her.

A different kind of beauty.

Gordon paused briefly before pursing his lips. “Don’t worry. They won’t disturb you.”

Medea couldn’t be bothered to respond and turned to leave.

But beside her, Annie had already picked out a room.

Her gaze wandered around before finally landing on Medea’s bedroom.

“Gordon, I want this room.”

Then her eyes lit up at the teddy bear sitting on Medea’s bed.

With an excited squeal, she ran over immediately.

“I like this teddy bear too! I want this one!”

The moment Medea saw the bear in Annie’s hands, her brows furrowed slightly, her voice turning cold.

“Put my things down.”

Linda York gave her that teddy bear.

Annie had always been spoiled rotten. Of course she refused to listen.

She tugged roughly at the teddy bear’s ears while clutching Gordon’s hand, looking at Medea with open provocation.

“Gordon, I like this teddy bear and this room. Can you make the bad woman move out?”

“Annie!” Sharon immediately scolded her daughter. “We’re guests here. Miss Watts was already kind enough to let us stay. Don’t be rude.”

After lecturing Annie, Sharon turned toward Medea awkwardly. “Miss Watts, could I buy the teddy bear from you?”

“No.”

Medea took the teddy bear back from Annie’s hands and rejected her without hesitation.

Annie’s lips trembled as if she were about to cry, and Gordon frowned slightly.

“It’s just a teddy bear. Why are you arguing with a child?”

Medea almost found it laughable.

Even if he had always treated her like a stranger, he should at least have known she could never sleep without that teddy bear beside her.

After six years together, had he ever truly paid attention to her at all?

“Until the divorce is finalized, I’m still Mrs. Begum, and half of this house belongs to me,” Medea said flatly.

“As long as I say no, your beloved woman and your little princess can be thrown out at any moment.”

The moment she finished speaking, Annie’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She puffed up angrily and blurted out, “Gordon already said he’s going to be Mommy’s and my family from now on! You’re the one who doesn’t belong in this house…”

“Annie!”

Before she could finish, Sharon hurriedly interrupted her and lowered herself apologetically.

“Miss Watts, Annie and I won’t disturb you.”

Her attitude was humble enough that Gordon’s expression softened slightly.

Only then did he tell Sharon to take Annie upstairs to rest.

Medea got straight to the point.

“Since you’ve already brought them here, give me the Farcrest villa. I’ll move there in a few days.”

She looked at him calmly. “I’m sure you don’t want us living under the same roof either.”