Chapter 2

I stared at her in shock.

Sophia took a sip of coffee before explaining, "The first group has to provide proof for their family members. Charles and I are only professor and student, so that doesn't count."

I tremblingly picked up the divorce papers and gritted my teeth. "So?"

She nervously adjusted her glasses, but her voice remained as calm and cold as ever. "So you need to divorce me first and give him your place as my husband. That way, Charles can get on the Noah's Ark Car. Ethan, it's only a fake divorce. I'll only have a fake marriage with him. Don't take it too seriously. A piece of paper is just a title. You're the only one I care about."

I lowered my head and gave a bitter laugh.

I didn't know when it had happened, but Sophia and I had gone from talking about scientific research to talking only about houses, cars, and money.

Maybe it happened sometime after we got married. Or maybe it was the day Charles became her graduate student. I couldn't remember anymore.

This was the most she had talked to me in a long time.

And she was only talking this much because she wanted a divorce.

My feelings were a mess. I sniffed and signed my name without hesitation.

Sophia frowned when she saw how quickly I signed. Her voice held a hint of displeasure. "Ethan, after this extreme heat apocalypse is over, we can get married again."

I turned my head and waved my hand like I didn't care. "If this really is the end of the world, a piece of paper doesn't mean much. We don't even know if we'll still be alive next month. You should focus on figuring out how to save the world instead."

Her voice became serious. "That's not what I meant. Don't get upset with me because of some young man."

I ignored her. I went back to bed, pulled the covers over my head, and lay down.

Thankfully, it was already nighttime, so the room was dark. She didn't notice how sad I was.

Sophia soon lay down beside me. We turned our backs to each other.

She was as distant and cold as always. We were lying right next to each other, yet somehow, the distance between us had never felt greater.

I quietly wiped away my tears.

By now, air-conditioning systems in many places had already burned out. There was no guarantee that our own AC wouldn't be next.

The thought of being trapped in this heat with no way to cool down kept me awake until midnight.

Suddenly, a phone rang.

It was the special ringtone Sophia had set for Charles.

She quickly fumbled to silence it.

Maybe she was afraid of waking me. Even beneath the covers, I could feel the nervous look she gave me.

Sophia quietly walked into the living room and opened the door.

Then she asked in a whisper, "Charles, why are you here this late?"

Charles sounded like he was about to cry. "Ms. Carson, my AC broke down. I can't take this heat anymore. I had nowhere else to go, so..."

He was pulling a suitcase behind him and looked pitiful. "Could I stay here for a few days?"

I suddenly gripped the edge of my blanket.

Charles and I both waited for Sophia's answer.

But just like with those precious tickets, I always seemed to lose in the end.

Then I heard the door open wider.

"Come in," Sophia said. "Just don't wake Ethan. He's a light sleeper."

Charles finally smiled. "Thank you! You're the best!"

But before stepping inside, he suddenly stopped. "But will Mr. Coleman mind if you let me stay here?"

Sophia was silent for a moment before answering in a proud tone. "You don't need to worry about him. You're my student. There's nothing wrong with you staying at my house for a few days."

I felt completely hopeless.

After Sophia settled Charles in, she was about to return to the bedroom.

Suddenly, Charles grabbed her hand. He carefully asked, "By the way, you gave me your family ticket earlier. Did Mr. Coleman agree to that?"

Sophia gently explained, "Charles, you're my best student. I need you to help with my research. Ethan will understand. Everything I'm doing is for the good of humanity."

I let out a cold laugh.

She was so good at dressing up her selfish motives as something noble that I had no way to argue with her.

She always spoke so calmly and logically.

It was the same every time she silently endured my anger and questions, as if my emotional outbursts were nothing but a joke compared to her calmness.

Before I knew it, my tears had soaked my pillow.

At the same time, my phone suddenly lit up.

I received a text message. "Ethan, the tickets are secured. A private car will pick you and your mother up in three days."