Chapter 2

The breathing on the other end of the line grew rapid for two seconds. Hugo snorted in anger.

"Fine, Mia. You've got some nerve."

After hanging up, I opened my messaging app and texted a lawyer.

Me: [Hello, Mr. Nichols. I'd like to consult about divorce procedures.]

…

When I put my phone down, the housekeeper was already helping me pack.

"Madam, are you sure you don't want any of these?" She stood in the walk-in closet, staring at the wall lined with luxury goods.

Those were all things Hugo had bought specifically for me to attend banquets. He had once said, "Mia, I don't care what you were like before. Since you married me, you need to cover up that poor, unlucky stench of yours. Don't embarrass me."

Thinking of that, I shook my head and spoke lightly, "I don't want any of the luxury items or gowns. Just pack up whatever's left."

The housekeeper looked troubled.

"Madam… other than these, there really isn't much left to pack…"

I froze for a moment, then couldn't help laughing.

She was right. After seven years of marriage to Hugo, the things that truly belonged to me had always been very few.

In this enormous villa, the space that was mine amounted to no more than half of the bed in the bedroom. That half of a bed summed up my seven years.

That night, Hugo didn't come home. I slept soundly.

The next day, I took the packed luggage and prepared to leave. I left nothing behind—except for a crystal snow globe.

From dating to marriage, that was the only gift Hugo had ever given me.

Back then, I had just come to Harpley City to study. Hugo fell for me at first sight. He was straightforward and passionate then, waiting on the road I took back to campus every day just to exchange a few words with me.

The snow globe was from that time. He said it was the first gift he'd ever bought without asking his family for money, earned through three days of part-time work.

He said the snow inside the globe would never melt, and neither would his love for me.

Seven years had passed. The snow inside the globe was still the same as ever. But his love—I didn't want it anymore.

After leaving Hugo's home, I checked into a hotel.

Less than a day later, Hugo called.

"Mia, where the hell did you run off to? Hurry back and clean up your junk!"

I replied calmly, "I don't want it anymore. Just throw it away."

Hugo paused, then asked, "Mia, are you serious?"

"Mm."

My tone was light. I truly didn't care anymore. "Throw it out. It's not anything important anyway."

That was when he seemed to hit a raw nerve.

"Not important? Do you even know that back then I—"

"Back then, what?" I let out a short laugh and cut him off.

"Are you referring to that crystal snow globe? Its retail price is only six-fifty. What kind of part-time job takes three days and pays that little?"

I'd heard this after we were married, once when Hugo was drunk. He'd said, "I just grabbed a random snow globe off the street and fooled you into marrying me. Mia, you're really easy to fool—and cheap."

Only then did I realize that Hugo hadn't changed at all. He'd simply stopped bothering to pretend.

After hanging up, I went to the law firm where I'd made an appointment.

After reviewing my situation, the lawyer looked troubled.

"Mia, you should understand this yourself. Given the Hudson family's standing, a peaceful divorce is almost impossible."

Of course, I knew that. That was why I was willing to give up what was rightfully mine.

"What if I don't want any assets? I can leave with nothing."

The lawyer looked slightly relieved, but still hesitant. "Does Mr. Hudson want a divorce as well?"

I shook my head, my heart sinking.

This wasn't the first time I'd wanted to leave Hugo.

Five years ago, the first time I asked for a divorce, Hugo said nothing. He simply locked me inside the villa for a full month.