004

MELANIE

~•~

“Is that so?” I scrolled through my phone. “Maybe you should check your mailbox too. I blocked it as well.”

His expression darkened. “What exactly are you trying to do? And what is this place? When did you rent it?”

I didn’t tell him that I had actually bought the apartment.

“Don’t worry,” I said instead, closing the door behind him. “I didn’t use your money.”

Not that I could have used it without his mother finding out.

She had tracked every expense on the card Patrick gave me because she was convinced I would take advantage of their family. It was ridiculous. She questioned every gift Patrick bought me, always wondering whether I was truly worth spending money on.

“So where did you get the money?” Patrick asked, looking around the apartment. “You’re a housewife. A place like this must have cost tens of thousands.”

“That’s none of your business.”

He turned to look at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Then whose business should I care about? You’re my wife.”

“Like I said, I want a divorce.”

“Stop throwing a tantrum.”

“I’m not.” I looked at him calmly. “And when you go back, you’ll find my resignation letter on my desk.”

Patrick pursed his lips for a few seconds before nodding to himself.

“Actually, resigning is a good thing. I support it.” His expression softened, as if he had already solved the problem. “You can become a full-time housewife and focus on taking care of the family. Besides, you can just come work at my office.”

Focus on taking care of the family?

“I’m sorry,” I said, making sure the sarcasm was obvious. “But I don’t want people to misunderstand our relationship.”

A flash of guilt crossed his face. “I know you’re hurt. I was wrong.” He stepped closer. “Come home with me.”

He bent down and gently rubbed my head, just like he used to whenever he wanted to calm me down. As if that could fix everything. 

He had given me the lowest position in his company so I would have enough time to manage everything at home.

And back then, I accepted it happily because I loved him. But not anymore.

“I told you, Patrick. I want a divorce.”

“Come on, Mel.” He stepped closer. “Couples fight all the time. It doesn’t have to lead to a divorce.”

“We’re not fighting,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m just tired of this marriage and I want it to be over.”

“But I’m not tired of the marriage.” He grabbed my hands in his, caressing the back of my palms. “I’m not tired of you, Melanie. Don’t talk about extreme things like divorce. Whatever the problem is, we can work it out.”

I ripped my hand away in annoyance. He wasn’t even listening to what I had to say. “I don’t want to work anything out with you. I’m done!”

“I know you’re angry right now.” He reached out and rubbed my shoulder affectionately, the same way he used to whenever he wanted something from me.

“But if we go home together, we can talk properly. Let’s just go back first, okay? There are many things we need to handle.” He paused. “Grandma’s birthday banquet… and even my uncle has returned. If you’re not there, what will everyone think of me?”

Of course. That was the real reason he wanted me back.

There were countless things waiting for me to prepare.

I was tired of managing his family’s events and being their free caretaker.

Patrick had always admired his uncle. I had never met him before, but Patrick constantly talked about how successful and powerful he was outside the family business.

He wanted to impress him. And I didn’t want to be part of that anymore.

“I’ll go back if you sign the divorce agreement first.”

Panic flashed in his eyes for a second but it quickly faded into something colder. “Stop acting unreasonable and come back home with me.” He snapped. “You’re pregnant. You can cause trouble after you deliver the baby.”

My tongue poked the inside of my cheek at the mention of the baby. That was all he cared about, getting an heir.

"I'm not coming back."

“Oh please.” He rolled his eyes dismissively, acting like I was just acting out for no reason. “Just because you managed to secure a nice apartment doesn’t mean you can live well without me. You need to be very smart to be independent.”

“Yeah, sure. As if your company would have developed so smoothly if it wasn’t for all my ideas.”

“Vivian does more work than you, yet she’s never as proud as you are. You should learn from her.” He shook his head, as if disappointed by my attitude. “Now pack your things and let’s go home.”

Vivian did more work than me?

I almost laughed.

She had been desperate to get into the same research institute that had personally invited me after graduation. And humble? Vivian was anything but.

Humility was just another role she played whenever Patrick was watching. Unfortunately, he was too blinded by his own feelings to see through it.

The only reason she had even managed to meet the research institute’s requirements was because of the support she received from Patrick through his company.

When I didn’t respond, Patrick let out a sigh.

“I know I haven’t been very present these days. I’m sorry you feel neglected.”

He sounded sympathetic and affectionate but I’d been around him long enough to know that he would say anything to take me back home. His words meant nothing to me and my chest felt hollow listening to him speaking.

“If you come back, I promise I—” The shrill sound of his ringtone interrupted him.

He quickly pulled out his phone, and just before he answered, I caught sight of the name on the screen.

Viv.

He listened quietly to whatever she said. For several seconds, he didn’t respond.

Then, to my surprise, he said, “If you feel unwell, go see a doctor.”

I stared at him in shock. I’d expected him to run to her the moment she called. This was the first time he was refusing his stepsister.

“Sorry about that,” he hung up, muttered, turning back to me. “I was saying you should—”

His phone rang again.

This time, the moment he answered Vivian’s call, I could hear her sobbing through the phone.

I shook my head silently as Patrick’s expression changed, his fist tightening at whatever she was saying.

“I’m on my way.” 

I wasn’t surprised.

Before leaving, he looked back at me. “I will never divorce you, Melanie.” His voice was firm. “Think of something else you want, but not divorce.”

Patrick didn’t love me enough to choose me, but he was too used to having me by his side to let me go.

He couldn’t see how much I had suffered alone over the past year. He couldn’t see how much it hurt to watch him choose Vivian again and again.

He was too stubborn to release me.

So I would have to do it myself.

“I’ll return home,” I said just as he reached the door.

He turned around immediately.

“Really?”

The relief on his face was almost painful to see.

“Yes.” I looked at him calmly.

“But you have to promise me something first.”