Chapter 2

Christina's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, impatience filling her eyes.

"This again?" she retorted with a snort, her smile ice-cold, with a hint of disdainful amusement. "Fine. When do you want to file the divorce paperwork?"

Eli opened the car door and got in. "Right now."

Soon, they arrived at the courthouse. When the clerk asked why they were getting divorced, Christina curled her red lips and looked at Eli.

Eli said calmly, "Irreconcilable differences."

Christina's expression instantly turned ugly.

After looking at Zachary, who was still in Eli's arms, the clerk tried to persuade him.

"All married couples fight, Mr. Jefferson. Marriage isn't easy, so please don't make a decision out of anger. Your son is only about a year old, right? Surely you wouldn't want him to grow up without his mother."

By the time the clerk finished speaking, Christina had already signed her name to the divorce petition without a trace of emotion.

"You think you can use Zach to manipulate me, Eli? You're dumber than I thought. Anyway, it'll take 30 days for the divorce paperwork to be finalized.

"I suggest you take the time to screw your head back on properly and stop acting like such a loose cannon. This is the last time I'm going to indulge in one of your temper tantrums!"

She tossed down the pen and strode out without sparing Eli another glance. The clerks in the office exchanged looks, their eyes filled with nothing but sympathy as they looked at Eli.

Tears splashed onto the divorce petition as Eli slowly signed his name before handing it back to the clerk.

"Please proceed with the filing."

This was the third time Eli had asked for a divorce.

The first time, Jason accused him of stealing something. Christina didn't defend him right away. Instead, she allowed Jason to search him in front of everyone, making him prove his own innocence.

That was the first time it'd occurred to Eli just how little she thought of him. He didn't sleep that night. The next day, he asked for a divorce and packed his bags to return to his hometown.

By then, Christina had left on a business trip abroad. She rushed back on a long-haul flight and spent the entire night standing outside the Jefferson residence. With reddened eyes, she explained that she knew he hadn't stolen anything. She had only allowed Jason to search him because she thought it was the quickest way to prove his innocence.

And because Eli truly did love her, he relented and changed his mind about the divorce.

Sometime after that, Jason selectively took screenshots the parts of Eli's conversations with Christina where he'd expressed his love for her and posted them in the company-wide group chat.

What had originally been a mutual exchange between Eli and Christina was made to look like a one-sided crush on his part.

His reputation was completely ruined. His coworkers mocked and ostracized him. In a moment of desperation, he revealed that he and Christina were already married and exposed the truth that everything was Jason's malicious slander.

However, to protect Jason, Christina publicly denied having any relationship with Eli and even fired him.

After all that, she simply explained to him in a nonchalant tone, "Because you exposed everything in public, Jason would've been put in a difficult position at the company. Besides, it doesn't matter if other people know whether it's real or not. All that matters is that I know you're my husband."

That was the first time Eli had gotten into a major fight with Christina. He asked for a divorce for a second time.

Unfortunately, Christina became so emotionally agitated that she fainted and had to be taken to the hospital. When she woke up, they found out she was pregnant.

For the sake of the child, Eli swallowed his grievances yet again.

With every concession he made, especially after Zachary was born, Christina seemed to have become convinced that he only ever asked for a divorce in a bid to get her attention.

Alas, this time, Eli was serious about it.

He came out of the courthouse after signing the paperwork, just in time to see Christina's car speeding off.

A breeze brushed against his damp eyes. He recalled the day the two of them registered their marriage.

Christina was a tough woman who rarely showed her emotions, but when they took a commemorative photo on the day they got legally married, her smile was more radiant than any she'd previously shown.

At the time, Eli held Christina in his arms, his heart weighed by guilt. "Christina, it's all my fault. My family background is too ordinary, and I don't know how to win your parents over. I'm sorry you're suffering because of me."

Christina smiled as she hugged him back. "How could you possibly be blamed for that? It's my parents. They're too narrow-minded and domineering. The only condition they had for letting us register our marriage was that we keep it a secret. They won't even let us have a wedding.

"I know you've already given me everything you can. I'm more than satisfied. Just give me a little more time. I'll convince my parents. When I do, we'll have a grand wedding and let the whole world know that you're my husband."

Back then, Eli was convinced that Christina loved him, even if it were just a little bit.

Well, as it turned out, it truly was just a little bit—so little that even the slightest gust of wind could blow it away.