Chapter 4

“Are you serious?”

Jesse stiffened, disbelief written all over his face.

“Of course.”

I looked away as though it meant nothing and spoke slowly.

“I only made up that lie because I was afraid you would divorce me.”

He paused, still seeming unconvinced.

“But he knew everything about me. Every single thing from my childhood until now.”

I let out a scoff.

“Exactly. I know you too well. I know what kind of threat would work best against you.”

Jesse said nothing. He simply frowned deeply and stared at me, his thoughts impossible to read.

I pressed my forehead against the floor, making sure he could not see how hard I was struggling to hold myself together.

After all, this was the first lie I had ever told him since the day we met.

Maybe there really had been a phone call from ten years in the future, and maybe he truly would come to regret everything one day.

But I could not go on like this anymore.

I sniffed, lifted my head, and put on a mocking expression.

“Have you made up your mind? Are you signing or not? You won’t get another chance after this.”

Jesse’s hand struck my face so hard that my entire cheek instantly burned.

“I’ve tolerated your outbursts, your temper, and everything else, but this has crossed the line. Quinn Galloway, you’re truly insane!”

He gestured for his assistant to come over.

“Print out the divorce agreement. I’m signing it now.”

I thought I was already numb to pain, yet the hollow space in my chest still throbbed with a cold ache.

The assistant soon returned with the newly printed agreement.

After signing his name, Jesse hurled it at my face.

“You will receive half of my assets. Not a single cent will be withheld from you. But remember this: I never want to see you again.”

Only then did the bodyguards finally release me.

I struggled to my feet, picked up the agreement, and walked away.

It started raining again on the way home.

The downpour drenched me in an instant, yet I realized I had never been more clear-headed.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.

“Quinn Galloway, I’m you from ten years in the future. You must divorce Jesse Pellam! But whatever you do, don’t do anything foolish. Don’t hurt yourself, and don’t set anything on fire. Otherwise, Jesse will make you suffer for the rest of your life!”

I was silent for two seconds before I answered, “It’s already done. We’re divorced, and I won’t do anything foolish again.”

The future version of me on the other end of the line seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

“I can finally stop worrying. Take care of yourself. Live your own life.”

After the call ended, I nodded firmly.

Two phone calls from ten years in the future had foretold two completely different endings for Jesse and me, but I no longer cared which one was true.

I had already had enough of living in constant fear.

When I returned to the estate, I began packing my belongings.

A few old clothes and a handful of personal documents were all I had accumulated over the years.

The only thing that still caught my eye was the portrait of the two of us on the nightstand.

Jesse always said he did not like having his picture taken, and in the ten years we were married, we never even took a wedding photo.

Yet the room I had just left was filled with pictures of him and Gianna in every corner, from surfing to watching the snow beneath a setting sun.

It was as though every corner of the world held memories of the two of them.

As for Jesse and me, we were like the fictional couple in that portrait—together every day, yet forever beyond each other’s reach.

I smashed the frame and tore the portrait in half, taking with me the part of our life and memories that belonged to me.

I had just arrived at the airport when my phone rang again.

One glance at the screen told me it was Jesse calling.

I hung up immediately.

He kept calling, and I kept declining, until he had no choice but to send me a stream of WhatsApp messages.

[I never told you how I got the scar on the sole of my foot!]

[Was that phone call real?]

[You actually lied to me! You’ve never lied to me before!]

[Quinn, where are you?]

I turned off my phone and fastened my seat belt.

An hour earlier, I had called Dad.

His private jet was taking me toward another city, one without rain.