Chapter 4

The fact that Peter agreed to Cara's suggestion so casually was simply proof that he didn't care about me.

This meant that if I accepted his arrangements now and went back to being his wife, Cara would continue to appear in our lives going forward.

"I don't want a single thing. All I want is to end this marriage."

It dawned on Peter that I wasn't just throwing a tantrum. Not only was I unwilling to accept his overtures, but I was also hell-bent on getting a divorce.

The irritation in his chest boiled over into anger in an instant.

"Ada, have you forgotten our agreement? If you divorce me, you won't get a single cent! And what about your family's business? Your mom's treatment? Do you honestly believe that without me, your stepfather, Eric Patton—who's already got himself a new flame—would bother to take care of your mom?"

Of course he wouldn't.

I knew perfectly well that if it weren't for that ungrateful Eric turning his back on Mom and refusing to care for her, leaving me desperate and with no other choice, I would never have agreed to this laughable arranged marriage.

Peter and I had always been two parallel lines. Now, I was simply letting everything return to its proper course.

I zipped up my suitcase once more and said coldly, "Do whatever you want."

Peter was struck dumb. He couldn't fathom why the tactic that had always worked without fail on me in the past no longer had any effect.

However, his pride wouldn't allow him to lower himself any further.

Thus, he watched in silence as I walked toward the door.

It wasn't until I pulled the door open that he could barely contain the panic rising in him. He almost called out to stop me, but then he remembered what Cara had said to him before he came.

"Ada is just too bored at home, so she wants to stir up drama, like something out of a TV soap. I've seen plenty of women like this who've grown accustomed to the good life.

"As long as you ignore her and leave her hanging, it won't be long before she comes slinking back on her own. And when she does, she'll even apologize to you."

Thinking of this, Peter felt a surge of irritation.

He reached into his pocket for a homemade honey-lemon cough drop. Maybe it was the dry weather, but he always coughed a little whenever he smoked. So, I tried all sorts of ways to make it easier on him.

Peter figured that I wasn't entirely useless after all. When the time came, he would make sure I apologized properly and sincerely repented, so that I'd never dare threaten him with divorce again.

He quickly convinced himself of this.

After leaving Peter, I hesitated for a long time but eventually went to see my mentor, Miranda Shor.

The gray-haired woman saw me dragging my meager suitcase and simply stepped aside to let me in without saying anything, just like she had during every visit of mine before.

My eyes stung despite myself, and the tears spilled over.

Back when I gave up on further studies to get married, Professor Shor was the one who objected most vehemently. Even on the day of my wedding, she hadn't given up sending me messages.

"Ada, hardship is only temporary. There is no obstacle in this world that can't be overcome. Your difficulties can be resolved in other ways. Don't let one moment of foolishness cost you your entire life. The life of a wealthy man's wife only looks glamorous from the outside.

"The sacrifices you'll have to make are all invisible. A degree might give you a brief shine, but ultimately, you're still asking someone else for money. And as long as you're taking someone's money, you're always going to be under their thumb."

Later, time proved that Professor Shor had been right about everything.

In the beginning, Peter was quite satisfied with my academic credentials.

But then Cara came into his life.

She said that before Mom adopted me, I was nothing more than someone from the lowest rung of society. And even now, despite having a degree, I still couldn't shake the bad habits ingrained in me since childhood.

Thus, I needed to learn the rules of their social class and develop proper spending habits.

I depended on Peter for money. He could grant it, withhold it, or dispense it in whatever absurd manner he saw fit.

Once I had cried my fill, Professor Shor finally said calmly, "I hope you haven't let your professional knowledge slip away. I have a job here that requires going into the mountains and wading through rivers to collect data. Do you want to take it?"

For a moment, I was stunned. I never expected that not only would she not blame me, but she would also be willing to give me a job, which was exactly what I needed most at this moment.