Chapter 5

Lisa waved her over. “Come here.”

Jennie Foster jogged in with a grin and pushed a cup of chocolate milk into her hands. “Drink it. It’s still hot.”

Jennie worked at the institute too, though she wasn’t involved in any of the core research.

“I already ate,” Lisa said, pulling her down into the chair beside her. “How were the past few days? Everything okay at home?”

Jennie had taken time off to deal with family matters.

“It’s all taken care of,” she said with a nod.

They chatted for a while. Then Jennie kept glancing at her, clearly hesitating.

Lisa handed her a pack of cookies. “These are good. Try one. What is it? Just say it. Why are you holding back?”

Jennie lowered her head. “I… I saw Mark yesterday.”

Lisa paused, surprised. “Where?”

Mark was usually at the office. And even when he went out, it was to private clubs or members-only places.

“At a pet store.” Jennie looked at her carefully. “He was with Annie. They looked… like a couple.”

Annie had a little Pomeranian. Fluffy and cute.

Jennie noticed Lisa’s face go pale and quickly added, “I didn’t want to hide it from you. You’ve been married for so long. How can he still… how can he do that?”

Lisa didn’t answer. Her face was drained of color, her lashes trembling slightly.

Jennie frowned and took her hand. “Lisa, you’re such a good person. Why do you have to—”

Lisa forced a smile. “I’m fine, Jennie. I already know. You’ve been gone for a few days. You must have a lot to catch up on. Go get busy.”

“Then let’s eat lunch together.”

At lunch, Jennie kept talking, rambling about work and random things, but none of it really registered.

Finally, Jennie sighed. “What’s on your mind? Can you tell me?”

Lisa looked at her, a little lost. “Jennie… what do you think of me?”

“You’re amazing,” Jennie said without hesitation. “You’re one of the best people I know.”

“I mean professionally.”

“Professionally? You’re incredible too! You’re the youngest one here. This project is the institute’s priority, and no one can replace you.”

Lisa shook her head. “I’m not that good. There are a lot of things I can’t do perfectly.”

“Well, nobody’s perfect.”

Lisa hesitated for a second. “Jennie… I want to apply for a PhD.”

Jennie nearly jumped out of her seat. “You… you’re serious? You actually changed your mind?”

Lisa had gotten into college at sixteen. The best university. The top physics program.

Her advisor had taken notice of her early on, and because of her grades, she’d been directly admitted into the graduate program.

The year she finished her master’s, her advisor encouraged her to continue into a PhD.

Lisa refused.

Because she was getting married.

Her advisor had been furious. Called her selfish. Said she was throwing her life away for love.

Over the past two years, she had achieved results at the institute. But nowhere near what her advisor had expected of her.

Lisa knew she had disappointed him. She hadn’t even dared to reach out again.

Until recently.

The part of her heart that had been consumed by love was finally loosening its grip, slowly turning back toward academia.

She wanted a divorce.

She wanted to start over.

She wanted to follow her own heart and pursue the field she truly loved.

Lisa nodded quietly. “Yeah.”

Jennie knew her well. Lisa was gentle by nature and easy to get along with, but once she made up her mind about something, she wouldn’t budge.

No one could change her.

“That’s a good thing,” Jennie said. “Professor Jefferson basically a legend in academia. You’d gain so much from studying with him..”

“I just don’t know… if he’ll even take me back.”

“How could he not?” Jennie said quickly. Then her expression dimmed a little. “If anyone wouldn’t get picked, it’d be someone like me. People fight over students like you.”

Lisa squeezed her hand. “What do you mean, someone like you? We’re the same. You’re talented too.”

Jennie smiled. “Go for it, Lisa. I’ll be waiting for good news.”

They headed back to their respective project teams. The moment Jennie turned away, the smile on her face slowly faded.

Lisa didn’t hesitate after making her decision. As soon as she got back to her office, she called Professor Michael Jefferson.

No answer.

She didn’t dare call again.

What if he was still angry with her?

Maybe she should go see him in person.

Around five in the afternoon, she received a message from Mark.

Four words: Come back and pack.

Lisa glanced at the work still on her desk and replied: I’ll need about two more hours.

She set her phone down, but before she could return to work, it rang again.

She picked it up and saw that Annie had created a group chat, adding everyone in the Powell family.

Then Annie sent a photo and tagged her directly.

@Lisa, Mark’s things are already moved in. When are you coming?

The photo was taken in the bedroom she used to share with Mark. He was arranging his toiletries on the counter. The picture had caught just his hand.

She’d posted it in the family group openly. Boldly.

Lisa let out a quiet, bitter laugh and put her phone aside again.

By the time she finished her work, it was nearly eight.

She packed quickly and headed back to Skygarden Mansion.

There wasn’t much to gather—just some toiletries and a few everyday outfits.

She packed a small suitcase and drove to the Powell estate.

After parking, she walked to the trunk to grab her luggage.

Suddenly, a string of sharp barking sounds came closer and closer.

A Pomeranian.

They were beautiful dogs. This one had thick white fur, fluffy like a little fox. Small, delicate, almost too cute.

But it was barking wildly at her.

Not playful barking. It was hostile.

Lisa liked animals. She really did.

But with it snapping and snarling at her like that, she froze for a moment, unsure whether to move.

Lisa didn’t move, but the Pomeranian grew more aggressive, barking louder and edging closer. When it lunged forward again, teeth bared, she instinctively took a step back.

That one step seemed to trigger it.

The little dog suddenly charged at her.

Startled, Lisa reacted on instinct and kicked out.

It was a small breed, barely ten pounds at most. She didn’t use much force—just enough to stop it from attacking. But the dog tumbled back several steps with a sharp yelp.

“Coco!”

Lisa looked up to see Annie running toward them.

Mark followed behind her, his gaze already cold.

Annie scooped the dog into her arms, checking it over anxiously. Then she looked at Lisa, eyes reddening. “If you have a problem with me, just say it. Coco is just a puppy. Were you trying to kick it to death?”

Lisa pressed a hand to her chest, her heart still racing.

She hadn’t expected the dog to attack her. Normally, a pet like that wouldn’t go after someone for no reason.

It was small, yes… but when it had lunged, she’d been genuinely scared.

“I—it tried to bite me,” she said, her voice unsteady.

Mark strode over. “It’s just a dog. Lisa, since when are you this timid?”

Annie quickly stepped closer to Mark, still holding the dog. “Mark, don’t argue. Let’s take Coco to the vet first.”

Lisa said nothing more. She picked up her suitcase and walked into the villa.

She unpacked, took a shower, and lay down on the bed. After a moment’s thought, she shifted herself ten centimeters to the side.

The bed was two meters wide. She took up less than a third of it.

Some time later, Mark came back.

When he saw her lying there quietly, his expression softened slightly.

Then he noticed how deliberately she was positioned at the very edge of the bed, the distance between them drawn as clearly as a line in the sand.

His face darkened.

He got into bed as well, turning his back to her. There was enough space between them to fit another person.

Lisa slept until the alarm went off.

Back at Skygarden, she had never known when Mark left in the morning. By the time she woke up, he was usually gone.

But this time felt different.

Her waist was warm.

A large hand rested against her bare skin.

Under her palm was firm, warm muscle—Mark’s chest.

She opened her eyes and saw the solid rise of his chest muscles inches away.

When she lifted her gaze, their eyes met.

Heat rushed to her face. She tried to push him away.

Mark caught her wrist and flipped her beneath him.

Her heart pounded. “What are you doing?”

He didn’t answer.

To her, intimacy should be built on love.

Without love, what was it? Just instinct. Something primal.

But clearly, for Mark, desire and emotion didn’t have to be connected.

She let him kiss her, her eyes cold and distant.

He paused.

His gaze was calm, but sharp enough to cut.

“Who are you putting on that face for?” he said coolly. “You married me. Or are you saving yourself for someone else?”

Then he got out of bed and went into the bathroom.

Lisa lay there for a few seconds before pulling the blanket over herself.

What was she, exactly?

What did a legally wedded wife even count for?

Nothing.

Maybe because Mark had never loved her.

The Powells ate breakfast together every morning.

When Lisa came downstairs, the atmosphere at the table was cheerful.

But the moment Annie saw her, her expression shifted. She clutched the Pomeranian closer and said nervously, “Lisa… please don’t kick Coco again, okay? I’m begging you.”