Chapter 2

I was Victoria’s husband in name only. For years, that title had been like an invisible net, binding me tightly to this relationship, leaving me unable to breathe.

Victoria and I first crossed paths in college. I was her junior, and we were both finance majors.

My father had once been the Quinn family’s driver. He worked for them for over a decade and was practically treated like family. A few years ago, my father saved Mr. Quinn’s life during an accident. That debt of gratitude led Mr. Quinn to bind Victoria and me together on his deathbed. He wanted us to marry.

At the time, Victoria was still drowning in the pain of losing the man she had secretly been in love with for years. Her first love had died in an accident, leaving her devastated.

During her darkest days, when she was hit by both losses at once, I stayed by her side, helping her out of the shadows inch by inch.

Perhaps it was out of gratitude. Perhaps it was also out of confusion about the future. In the end, she went along with the marriage without really thinking it through.

In truth, we never registered the marriage, nor did we ever live as husband and wife. Whenever I tried to bring these issues up, Victoria would shut me down without hesitation, always using the company’s growth phase as an excuse.

I once believed that since she had agreed to this marriage, it meant she at least felt a trace of affection for me. I thought that my companionship and devotion during these years might have quietly moved her heart.

I compromised again and again. I turned down offers from major corporations and joined Victoria’s company as a technical manager right after graduating. At first, it was to help stabilize the company. Later, after Mr. Quinn passed away, it was to help her hold everything together.

The exposure of our relationship was not my intention, but it turned me into a thorn in my colleagues’ eyes.

I worked diligently at the company and was meticulous at home, hoping that through actions alone, I could slowly soften her and make her see me in a new light.

However, it was not until Leon appeared that I finally understood something. Some people’s hearts were as cold as rocks. No matter how hard I tried, I would never be able to warm them.

I packed up my things and left the company without looking back. The moment I stepped out of the office building, I pulled out my phone and submitted my resignation. The HR manager approved it without hesitation.

I could almost picture Victoria’s cold smile when she found out I had quit. Still, at this point, none of it mattered anymore.

I returned to the apartment my colleagues liked to label our love nest. In reality, it was nothing more than a place we shared. After one last look at the familiar furnishings, I quietly packed up the few belongings that were mine and prepared to leave.

On the way to my new place, I suddenly felt like drinking, so I stopped and bought a few bottles of alcohol. By the end of the night, I was completely drunk, heartbroken over how little all these years had been worth.

Even so, I raised a glass to celebrate the freedom I had finally reclaimed.

In my hazy stupor, I suddenly heard a voice.

“Oh, what happened here? Why are you lying on the floor? Are you feeling unwell?”

I rubbed my throbbing temples, sobering up a little. Someone handed me a glass of water. Only then did I see that it was a young woman. I paused for a moment, caught off guard and a little disoriented.

“Who are you?”

She seemed surprised that it was my first question. She tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled. “Didn’t the landlord tell you? I’m the previous tenant of this place. I came by today to pick up a few things I left behind. Nice to meet you. My name is Lynn.”