Chapter 4

After Sonia got out of the car, the car was left in silence.

The neon lights outside flickered as the tall buildings receded.

For a moment, I felt as if the seven years' worth of memories I had with Neil had also been left behind us.

After entering the neighborhood, I parked the car and looked over at Neil through the rearview mirror. "Neil, let's talk."

He slowly woke up and rubbed his eyes, looking impatient. "What's there to talk about? Did you apologize to Ruby and transfer the money like I told you to?"

I took a deep breath, my eyes filled with exhaustion. "I'm trying to discuss things with you. Could you..."

Before I could finish, his phone suddenly dinged a few times.

Neil glanced at the screen, his expression changing abruptly. He got out of the car and went to the driver's seat, grabbing my arm and pulling me out without saying a word.

"What are you doing?" I exclaimed in surprise. Caught off guard, I twisted my ankle in my high heels, and a sharp pain shot through it.

Neil did not even glance at me. He climbed into the driver's seat and said urgently, "Sonia said she feels like she's being followed and she's scared. I have to check on her!"

I steadied myself against the car door, the pain in my ankle and the chill in my heart mingling together.

For a moment, I found it utterly absurd and could not help but sneer. "Neil, think about it! How long has it been since she got out of the car? Is she not home yet? Besides, her house is in a completely different direction from ours. Does she think you can get there faster than the police?"

Neil looked at me incredulously, as if I were a cruel villain. "Enough!"

He seemed to have found the perfect outlet to vent, glaring at me and yelling, "You just want to force me to renovate that stupid marital house, don't you? I'm telling you, I refuse! I'm also divorcing you! Are you happy now?"

With that said, he sped away, leaving only a cloud of foul exhaust fumes.

I stood there, my ankle throbbing in pain, but my heart was deathly calm.

That night, I called my brother, Liam Montana, who lived a thousand miles away. I poured my heart out about everything that had happened over the past two weeks.

On the other end of the line, Liam's voice trembled with anger, but it eventually softened into gentle comfort. "You did the right thing. Come home. I'm waiting for you here!"

I thought, 'Home. Yes, I still have a home, a truly warm one.'

Thinking of this, my eyes instantly reddened, and the strength I had been holding onto for a long time crumbled at that moment.

Soon, I could finally escape everything here and go home.

The next morning, I took out the divorce agreement that Neil had already signed.

It was the one he gave me during his proposal.

Back then, Neil confidently said, "Ellie, this is my promise! If I ever wrong you, I'll leave with nothing! Please believe me!"

I chose to believe his love, thinking this divorce agreement would never see the light of day. Now, it had become my escape route.

I signed two copies of the divorce agreement and went to Neil's company.

At the reception desk, I overheard him mentioning my name to some colleagues, his tone carrying a familiar contempt.

"You can't spoil a woman like Ellie, or she'll really think she can do whatever she wants! She forced me to buy that stupid house, so I refused to let her renovate it! Look, we didn't even spend that money. Divorce? Does she dare to divorce me? She's a haggard old woman. Who would want her after we divorce?"

I felt only a strange calm while hearing this. No more emotion stirred within me.

I placed the envelope containing the divorce papers at the front desk. "Please give this to Neil Young. Thank you."

That afternoon, I boarded the plane home.

As soon as I landed, I received a call from Neil. His voice came through. "Ellie, are you out of your mind? Why haven't you paid for my grandmother's nursing home? Do you know she almost got kicked out? I'm telling you, it's completely over between us if anything happens to her! Pay up immediately! Otherwise, we're really getting a divorce!"

Listening to his accusatory yelling, I strode toward my brother, who was waving at me a short distance away.

"As you wish. We're already divorced."