Chapter 4

Suddenly, there was silence on the other end of the phone. It lasted for exactly five seconds.

"What did you say?"

"It's her former classmate Scott Yeager's baby. She wants to do right by him, so she’s divorcing me."

Jenny's voice rose by an octave. "Pregnant? With someone else's baby?"

"Yes."

"But... but..." Jenny struggled to finish her sentence.

"So you don't have to worry about whether we'll have a child anymore. You'll have a grandkid soon." I finished speaking and hung up.

I put the phone in my pocket and went out.

Felix had agreed to meet me at a barbecue restaurant. When he arrived, I had already drunk three bottles of beer.

"Go on, tell me what happened." Felix sat down and started chewing on a beef brisket.

"Christine cheated. She's pregnant. Not my baby."

Felix's mouth froze in mid-air, and the beef almost fell out. "Damn."

He put down the beef, his expression changing from shock to anger. "That bitch! You worked day and night for three years to afford a house, yet she ended up getting knocked up by someone else?"

"Yeah."

"What are you planning to do?"

"Divorce. She'll leave with nothing."

Felix froze slightly and then laughed. "Leave with nothing? She agreed?"

"She did."

Felix cursed again, "Damn. Is she out of her mind? Giving up over eight million dollars for some random guy?"

"She said she has to take responsibility for him."

"Take responsibility? Take what responsibility? If that guy truly loved her, would he let her walk away from her marriage with nothing? Has this woman been kicked in the head?"

Felix was right, but I did not reply and simply opened another bottle of beer.

"Are you alright?" Felix looked at me, his expression turning serious.

"What could be wrong with me?" I looked at the golden liquid in my glass. "I'm free."

"Really?"

"Really." I took a big gulp. "I worked hard for this house for three years. Now, I understand. Who cares about a house? Without a home, even the biggest house is empty."

"Then what will you do next?"

"Take the money, move to another city, and start over."

Felix was silent for a moment before raising his glass. "Okay, I support you. Here, cheers."

We drank until 3:00 pm.

When I got home, I received a message on my phone from Christine. It was a document—a divorce agreement. I opened it and glanced at it. She really meant what she said. All her assets were clearly listed, and they all belonged to me.

I signed electronically at the bottom of the document. Clean and decisive.

Then I hit Send.

I sent Christine a message: [I signed it.]

She replied instantly: [Received. I'll come at 8:00 pm to move the rest of the stuff.]

I checked the time. It was 7:40 pm.

Twenty minutes left.

I put my phone away, leaned back in the cab, and closed my eyes.

When we were almost at the entrance to my apartment complex, I asked the driver to pull over. It was about a ten-minute walk from the complex entrance to my home. When I got to my door, I saw someone standing there.

It was a man wearing a dark gray cashmere coat. He heard footsteps and turned around. I recognized him—Scott.

He saw me and smiled. His smile was impeccable, so impeccable that it seemed rehearsed countless times.

"Jared?" he called my name, his tone carrying a carefully restrained air of superiority.

"Mm," I responded flatly and went to open the door.

"I'm Scott Yeager." He stood behind me and said softly.

"I know." I opened the door and walked inside.

Scott followed me inside. "I'm here to apologize."

"No need to apologize." I changed into my slippers and sat down in the living room.

Scott followed me and sat on the couch. "I know you hate me."

He looked at me, his eyes reddening.

"I don't hate you." I leaned back on the couch, my tone the same as when I spoke to Christine.

"What happened between Christine and me... was just an accident." He lowered his head, his voice choked with emotion. "She was drunk and kept calling your name that day. I took her back to her hotel, and she mistook me for you..."

"Is that so?" I played along with a smile.

"I know you won't believe anything I say, but I'm sincerely here to apologize." Scott looked up, his eyes brimming with tears.

"I know I ruined your marriage, and I'm sorry. But the child Christine's carrying is innocent. I know you suffered a lot to buy a house. I understand your pain." He said he understood, but there was smugness in his eyes.

I did not reply.

"Actually..." Scott bit his lip, as if hesitating whether to speak.

"Actually what?" I asked cooperatively.

"Actually, I've known Christine since college. She pursued me for two years, but I never agreed." His voice carried a hint of wistful reminiscence.

"She was broke back then, a girl from a small town who had nothing. I couldn't stake my future on her." He said it with self-righteousness, as if being materialistic was something to be proud of.

"But now, it's different. She has her own studio, a property, a car, and a successful career. A successful woman should have a man worthy of her."

He looked at me, his pity undisguised. "Jared, don't blame me for being blunt. You've been with Christine for five years, yet you can't even afford a house. Do you think a marriage like this can last?"

I laughed. It turned out Christine had not told him she had agreed to leave the marriage with nothing.