Chapter 3

"Joanna, this is the fifth time Mr. Chase has invited you to meet and discuss things this week.

"You're still not going to see him?"

I took the glass of warm water Maverick handed me and swallowed the pills in one gulp.

"See him? And then what?

"Watch him scrutinize me like I'm a quarterly report? Listen to him 'analyze' our nonsense marriage like it's a project post-mortem? Then work with him while he kindly plans to 'process' our divorce agreement?

"That robotic, businesslike attitude of his makes me sick. I'm not going to humiliate myself by throwing myself at him anymore."

I set down the glass and took a deep breath.

"Anyway, there's no avoiding Friday's reception.

"When the time comes, we'll sign whatever needs signing and sever whatever needs severing. One clean break. He can go his way, I'll go mine.

"He can be Mr. Chase. I'll be Ms. Candor."

The sunlight warming my skin made me drowsy. Just before closing the bedroom door, I pulled a bank card from my bag and handed it to Maverick.

"No PIN. Five million dollars."

Maverick froze, staring at the closed door. A soft laugh escaped him, his murmur barely audible.

"She really is treating me like a kept man."

On the day of the reception, the banquet hall's air was thick with the ostentatious blend of champagne and perfume. Since this was my first public appearance after announcing the divorce, I held a glass of champagne and made polite conversation with various family friends and elders.

Kieran cut through the crowd and walked straight toward me.

"Joanna, we need to talk." His tone was slightly gentler than usual.

I looked up.

How things had changed. Now it was my turn to appraise him like merchandise.

"Mr. Chase, what is it?"

Kieran seemed to choke on the formality. After a moment of silence, his assistant, Scott Hudson, stepped forward with a velvet box and presented it to me. Inside lay a dazzling gemstone necklace.

"Before, I neglected you."

Kieran's tone was somewhat stiff. He clearly was not accustomed to apologizing or making concessions.

"This is a small token. As for the divorce, perhaps we could reconsider..."

I looked at Kieran.

I could not figure out what was going through his mind. Perhaps for the sake of his business empire, he was not ready to give up such an excellent "marriage partner"?

The divorce was definitely happening. But from a business perspective, even with a divorce, there was no need to make things too ugly.

No point fighting him when there was money on the table.

While I hesitated, a soft voice suddenly interjected with perfectly calibrated surprise and familiarity.

"Kieran, so this necklace was meant for Joanna. If I'd known, I would have let her choose first."

Leona wheeled herself over, her gaze falling on the necklace with an air of regret and coquettishness. Around her neck hung what was clearly another piece from the same collection.

"A few days ago, I said I didn't like its design. Too simple, I thought. But seeing it today, it suddenly looks so beautiful. I really can't bear to part with it."

She reached out and tugged lightly on Kieran's sleeve.

Kieran's brow furrowed slightly. He glanced at me, then at Leona in her wheelchair.

His tone recovered its usual matter-of-fact quality, as if he were mediating some trivial dispute.

"Joanna, Leona wants it after all. I still have business with the Hostler family. Let her have this one. Whatever style you prefer, I'll have my assistant..."

I let out a derisive laugh, though my face showed no anger whatsoever.

"Mr. Chase, I appreciate the sentiment. As for the gift? I, Joanna Candor, am not so desperate that I need to fight over someone else's leftovers."

My gaze swept pointedly over Kieran himself, my tone casual and cutting.

"Besides, once a gift is given, what sense does it make to take it back? Mr. Chase, you've been in business for so many years. Don't you understand even this basic principle?

"Since you're deliberately trying to humiliate me, I don't think we have anything more to discuss."

I deliberately raised my voice so everyone present could hear clearly.

"I'll notify my lawyer. We'll pick a date for me to file for divorce from you, Mr. Chase."

Crash!

Even the champagne glass I held "accidentally" shattered at Kieran's feet, splashing filth across his shoes.

"Sorry, my hand slipped. Some people are just too disgusting."