Chapter 3

I lowered my gaze, and my thoughts drifted back to the past.

Back then, Gabriella had me pinned against the desk in her office. A mischievous glint flickered in her eyes as she smiled and asked, "Doesn't this feel like an affair? Isn't it exciting?"

Her sweat dripped onto my chest. Once we calmed down, she held me and said softly, "Once we have the wedding, I'll definitely make our relationship public."

I laughed at my past self for being so stupid. I had fallen for her sweet words over and over, letting her deceive me 32 times.

I placed my hand on the divorce agreement and the resignation letter beside me. I wasn't going to let her fool me again.

…

Two hours later, while I was in the middle of handing off my work to a coworker, Gabriella sent me a message. "Bring me a cup of coffee."

She was extremely picky about the sugar and bitterness in her coffee. Across the entire firm, only I could make it just the way she liked.

I let out a sigh and stood up to prepare the drink. What I didn't expect was to find Nathaniel in the break room.

When Nathaniel saw me walk in, his lips curled into a disdainful smirk. "Samuel, your temper is getting better and better. I thought you would've rushed into Gabriella's office to catch us in the act just now."

As he spoke, he deliberately lifted his chin, revealing the glaring scratch marks on his neck.

I looked down and picked up the coffee beans. "Is that so? Do you want a cup? These coffee beans from Silverpeak taste really good."

My calm demeanor caught Nathaniel off guard. He looked me up and down as if I were a stranger.

"What are you so smug about? Do you really think Gabriella won't divorce you? To be honest, the only reason Gabriella married you back then was because of something I said as a joke. Why else would she be legally married to you but refuse to hold a wedding?"

Gabriella stepped into the break room. Panic flickered across her face as she looked at Nathaniel reprimandingly. "Nate, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Instead of getting angry, Nathaniel playfully wrapped his arms around her waist. "Did I say anything wrong? Gabriella, you clearly agreed to marry Samuel back then just to make me happy."

Gabriella's expression grew extremely complicated. She seemed ready to explain something, yet when she opened her mouth, no words came out for a long moment.

Her gaze darted around, and she didn't dare meet my eyes. Her face was full of guilt and panic.

I stood there in a daze while Nathaniel's words echoed in my ears.

In my relationship with Gabriella, I was always the one taking the initiative. I had chased her for five years. From the first innocent confession to later summoning the courage to propose, she had always maintained an ambiguous attitude, neither refusing nor agreeing.

On the day Gabriella suggested we apply for a marriage license, I was so happy that I couldn't sleep all night. I was full of joy, thinking I had finally won her over and that she truly cared for me.

But now, the harsh reality shattered all my previous fantasies.

I forced a bitter, self-deprecating smile and slid the brewed coffee toward Gabriella. "Ms. Archer, your coffee is ready. I'll be heading out now."

As soon as I finished speaking, I ignored Gabriella's panicked expression and turned to leave in silence.

…

That night, just as I was getting ready for bed, my phone suddenly rang.

It was a call from Gabriella. "Samuel, everything Nate said this afternoon was just nonsense. Don't take it to heart."