Chapter 4

Kathy stared at Emily as though she had misheard her. The color drained from her face and the folded clothes in her hands slipped onto the polished floor.

“What... what did you just say?”

Emily stood motionless beside the staircase, her fingers tightening around the strap of her handbag. She had managed to remain composed in front of Xavier, Stella and Vivian, but saying the words aloud to someone who genuinely cared about her made the pain feel real.

“I got divorced.”

Kathy's eyes widened in disbelief.

“No... that can't be true.”

“It is.”

“The young master wouldn't…”

Emily let out a bitter laugh. “He already did.”

Kathy looked at the divorce agreement still clutched in Emily's hand before looking back at her tear-stained face. She had served the Carter family for over twenty years and had watched Emily grow from a young girl into the woman of the house. Never had she imagined seeing her leave the mansion this way.

“What happened upstairs?” Kathy asked softly.

Emily lowered her head. “I caught him in our bedroom.”

Kathy frowned. “Our bedroom?”

“He was with another woman.”

Kathy froze. Emily continued before Kathy could ask another question. “She's pregnant.”

For a brief moment, the older woman couldn't find her voice. She had suspected Xavier had been seeing another woman after the many nights he failed to return home, but hearing Emily confirm it made her chest tighten.

"Young Madam, I'm so sorry"

Emily forced a smile but still felt pain underneath it.

“It doesn't matter anymore.”

“It does matter.” Kathy said softly.

“It doesn't.” Emily shook her head. “He chose her. I signed the divorce papers.”

Kathy looked as though she was about to cry. “Why did you sign them?”

Emily nodded slowly. “I couldn't keep begging someone to love me.”

Those words pierced Kathy's heart. She stepped forward and wrapped Emily in a tight embrace. “My poor child”

The warmth of the hug broke the wall Emily had been struggling to maintain. She buried her face against Kathy's shoulder and cried quietly.

“I tried so hard,” she whispered between sobs. “I endured everything his mother did to me because I believed one day things would get better. I believed that if I loved him enough, he'd eventually love me back.”

Kathy gently rubbed her back without saying a word.

Emily continued, “Five years, Aunt Kathy... Five whole years.”

“I know. It was never your fault.”

“I wasn't the perfect wife, but I tried.”

“You did.”

“I gave him everything.”

Kathy's own eyes had become red. “You gave him more than he deserved.”

Emily slowly pulled away and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I've booked a hotel for tonight. I can't stay here another minute.”

“Then let me come with you.”

Emily smiled faintly. “No. I need you to do something for me first.”

“I'd do anything.” Kathy assured her.

“I want you to pack everything that belongs to me from the bedroom. My clothes, my documents, my books... just everything that's mine. Leave the rest.”

Kathy nodded immediately. “I'll do it.”

Emily reached for her left hand and slowly removed the wedding ring that had rested there for the past five years. She stared at it quietly.

The diamond sparkled beneath the chandelier, just as beautifully as it had on the day Xavier slipped it onto her finger. Back then, she had believed it was the beginning of forever. Now it simply felt like a chain she no longer wished to wear. She placed it in Kathy's palm.

“Leave this on the bedside table.”

Kathy looked at the ring before looking back at Emily. “Are you sure?”

Emily nodded. “I don't want to take anything that belongs to him.”

Kathy carefully closed her fingers around it. “I understand.”

Emily gave one last glance toward the staircase leading to the master bedroom. She had walked up those stairs countless times believing she was walking toward her husband. Today, she was walking away from him. Without another word, she turned and headed toward the front door.

The evening breeze greeted her as she stepped outside the mansion. She paused beside her car for a few seconds and looked back at the grand building that had once been her home. It looked exactly the same as it always had—large, luxurious and grand. The only difference was that she no longer belonged there. She climbed into her car and drove away.

Nearly an hour later, Emily arrived at a five-star hotel in the city center. After checking in, she entered the room and quietly shut the door behind her. The silence that greeted her was almost unsettling.

She slowly walked toward the large window overlooking Ranch City. The lights below glittered beautifully against the dark sky, making the city seem almost peaceful. Emily wondered how a place could look so beautiful while holding so many painful memories.

A knock sounded on the door about thirty minutes later. She opened it to find Kathy standing outside with two suitcases, a storage box and several shopping bags.

“I brought everything.”

Emily stepped aside. “Come in.”

Kathy placed the luggage neatly inside the room before letting out a sigh of relief.

“I packed everything you asked for. Your clothes, certificates, personal documents, books and jewelry. I left behind everything that belonged to the Sterling family.”

Emily looked through the neatly packed box. It had her favorite novels, her sketchbooks, her design journals. Even the small music box her grandfather had given her when she graduated from university.

“You remembered everything.”

“I couldn't leave behind the things that mattered.”

Emily smiled gratefully.

“Thank you.”

Kathy noticed Emily staring absentmindedly at the box.

“What are you thinking about?”

Emily hesitated for a long moment before reaching into her handbag. She slowly pulled out a white envelope. “I was going to give this to him tonight.”

Kathy frowned. “What is it?”

Emily silently handed it over. Kathy opened the envelope curiously. The moment her eyes landed on the hospital report, she froze. Her eyes darted back to Emily.

“You…” She looked at the report again to make sure she had read it correctly. Then she covered her mouth in shock.

“Young Madam…”

Emily lowered her gaze and gently rested a hand over her stomach. “I'm pregnant.”

Kathy's eyes instantly filled with tears. “My God,”

She hurried over and held Emily's shoulders. “Does the young master know?”

Emily slowly shook her head. “No.”

“You didn't tell him?”

“I wanted to.”

Her voice trembled as memories of the restaurant flooded back.

“I carried this with me all evening because I wanted it to be my Valentine's gift to him.”

She laughed softly, though there wasn't an ounce of happiness in it.

“I thought he'd be happy.”

Instead, he'd sent his lawyer. Instead, he'd asked her to sign away five years of marriage. Emily carefully took the report back and slipped it into her handbag once more.

“I'm not telling him anymore.”

Kathy looked conflicted. “But... the child is his.”

Emily nodded. “I know.”

“Then why?”

Emily looked out through the window again.

“The man I loved died the moment he chose another woman over me. If I tell Xavier now, he'll only see the child as an heir to the Sterling family.”

She gently rubbed her stomach.

“I won't let my child grow up wondering whether their father loves him, or merely wants him because he carries his surname.”

Kathy understood. It wasn't revenge. It was fear. It was a mother protecting children who hadn't even been born yet. She walked over and held Emily's hand.

“Whatever you decide, I'll stand by you.”

Emily smiled weakly.

“Thank you.”

Neither of them spoke again. The room became quiet as the two women sat together, each lost in her own thoughts while the city lights flickered outside the window.

Just then, a knock echoed through the room. Emily and Kathy looked toward the door at the same time.

“Did you order anything?” Kathy asked.

Emily frowned slightly. “I don't think so.”

The knock came again, a little firmer than before. Emily slowly rose from the sofa and walked toward the door. She reached for the handle.