Chapter 2

Remembering what she had seen in the evening and feeling sick, Edith flailed her limbs as she fought. "Let go of me."

James was unmoved. He took her to their bedroom in great strides and threw her on the bed. "There's a bed where you can sleep on. What's the drama this time?"

Just hearing the word 'drama' sent Edith fuming, and she retorted without thinking, "You're the drama. Hell, you and your family."

For a split second, she thought he cared, but she quickly came to her senses, remembering how tender he was toward another woman.

But when it came to her, he'd just stop her flat as if it was a habit.

Sitting up, she studied him.

He had a handsome face that would leave anyone intoxicated—pronounced facial features, a captivating gaze, and then there was that tall and muscular form of his.

And aside from his good looks, he had money and power, making him the obsession of every woman in Jazztown.

That was why Edith was so thrilled to learn that they were going to marry—his handsome face was exactly what she looked for in a man.

But after they got married, she realized that he didn't like her and was cold to her.

But that was fine—just looking at that handsome face sent her juices flowing.

That was why she'd act cute or create little dramas out of nothing to draw his attention, believing that it was easy for women to pursue men, and that he'd fall for her one day.

It was only today that she realized she was mistaken—he loved someone else and would never love her.

Now, tired and done with all the drama, she didn't want his love either.

Seeing that she was silent and jealous again, James loosened his necktie and calmly said, "Susie and I are just friends. I was just helping her out with some trouble."

Friend?

Flirting past daylight, a man and a woman alone in the same house? And he was saying they didn't do anything?

Hell, she had screwed him twice just this month alone, and now, it left her feeling defiled.

Scrambling out of bed with all her limbs, she was intent on scrubbing herself clean.

That was when James caught her by her waist, pulling her back to bed and pinning her down beneath himself.

She struggled as hard as she could and accidentally struck his one weakness.

James breathed a dull grunt, but he soon held her wrists over her head, his gaze darkened.

Edith was all too familiar with that look, and she gritted her teeth—he wanted it.

He was always so cold to her, only ever becoming nice in bed, and his sweet-talking had always been so precious to her that she'd stop getting upset right away.

But now that he tried to pull the same trick again, Edith didn't want to let him get what he wanted.

As James leaned down to kiss her, she suddenly said, "Since you said you're just friends, then choose between her and me."

James' lips paused right beside her ear, and the air around them seemed to turn cold as he stayed motionless.

Edith's heart skipped a beat, but she bit her lip to remain determined. "I'll believe you if you promise to never see her again."

She felt his weight on her fading as he straightened and released her hands.

Their eyes were locked, with her feline glare fixed on him, forcing him to choose.

There was silence—time felt longer when one waited.

After a minute or perhaps just seconds, James said coolly, "I have my own social circle."

Those words were like a hammer bludgeoning her heart, but she bore with the pain and flashed a hollow smile. "I'm your wife. Does that not measure up to some friend you haven't met for two years?"

James' black eyes were dead serious as he growled, "I've spoiled you, even with all the drama you caused. Know your limits when making demands."

Spoiled?

He called the two years of neglect 'spoiling'?

Well, what was she hoping for at this point?

Was she really incapable of seeing who was going to be abandoned, seeing how different he treated her compared to Susie just this afternoon?

Blinking back tears, she hugged her legs as she said very calmly, "I want a divorce."

James didn't even flinch, merely holding her chin as he growled, "That's the third time you've asked that this month. Are you done? Tell me when you are."

He still believed that she was being dramatic—coercing him.

Clenching her blanket, she repeated firmly, "I'm not joking. I'm serious."

There was nothing to be read from James' face as he looked into her sharp glare and shrugged. "I know you're upset finding out about your roots, but I should warn you that a divorce isn't a game. I'll pretend I heard nothing if you admit you're just being impulsive."

So he already knew that she was a phony heiress.

But for the whole week, he didn't let it show or offer any words of comfort.

Even when she asked for a divorce, he was just so calm and rational, treating her like she was throwing a tantrum.

It felt like she was the only one who lived their marriage.

And no matter how warm a person's heart could be, it would get cold anyway.

Shoving James' hand off, she said slowly and clearly, "I'm not being impulsive. I want a divorce."

James' eyes lingered on her pretty face for a couple of beats, but he eventually lost patience and breathed coolly, "Suit yourself."

Picking up his suit, he strode out, and Edith soon heard his car engine kick to life.

She breathed a sigh of relief, as the pressure she felt from James faded with his departure.

Still, she laughed sardonically after calming down—she really thought they would have a huge fight over a divorce, but she only fought alone.

It was time she gave up.

-

James never returned that night, and Edith couldn't sleep well either.

Aside from not being used to his absence, too much was weighing on her mind.

It wasn't just going to be the divorce—she had to plan for the future too.

In all likelihood, she couldn't keep her job as secretary after the divorce, and it felt like a waste just thinking about it.

He had refused when she hounded him for the job, as she wanted to see him every day.

But she showed him a good time, offering variety for a whole week to finally get him to relent, and he allowed her to join a group interview with fresh graduates.

No one had expected it, but she got the job, even rising through the ranks to become a staff member in the CEO's secretarial department.

She went the extra mile for the job so that James approved of her—so that she convinced him she wasn't playing around.

Even Levi West, James' personal assistant and the only person in the building who knew about her and James, was at first convinced that she only worked to kill time.

Eventually, he too changed his opinion of her, acknowledging her abilities.

At this point, she had done so much for James' sake, not because she liked it.

She loved designing dresses and studied it back in college. Before marrying James, she worked under the famous Ruby White, and her pieces had won multiple international awards.

But to bring herself closer to James, she gave up on her hobby and specialty.

And she regretted that now—she should have empowered herself instead of giving up on her own future for a man.

-

Having made up her mind, Edith arrived early at Shatner Tower early the next morning, writing her resignation letter and handing it to Levi.

Levi was greatly surprised. "May I ask the reason, Ms. Conrad?"

He once considered Edith yet another troublemaking heiress, intent on clinging to James—that she had taken the job on a whim and would soon give up enough due to how demanding it got.

However, she didn't just persevere—she persevered for two years and performed admirably.

Now, even James himself had to approve of her ability, so why give up now?

That was when Edith winked at him and smiled. "Nothing. I just got tired of the job and want to stay home as a housewife."

It was such a sloppy excuse that Levi didn't buy it at all.

Did she have a fight with Mr. Shatner?

Before he could reason with Edith, however, James had arrived to work, and Levi hurried over to receive him.

James' arrival was always the highlight of the day, and Edith turned to look at him out of habit.

He was still wearing the same suit as yesterday and didn't come home the whole night, so he must have spent it with Susie.

Turning away, she told herself not to care.

Still, just before James entered his office, he told Levi, "Coffee."

"Yes, Mr. Shatner," he replied and turned to give Edith a look—she knew James' tastes best.

Edith rolled her eyes but headed to the pantry anyway, deftly grinding the coffee beans.

Without sugar or milk—just how he always had it.

She was just about to pick it up when she paused.

He loved her coffee, didn't he?

Well, here was one to remember!

-

James was talking to Levi about work when Edith entered the office, but neither of them paused despite seeing her, as if she didn't exist.

Keeping a poker face, Edith put down James' coffee and left without pausing to look at James.

Sensing the strange vibe between the couple, Levi waited until he was done briefing James.

Then, he braced himself to add, "Sir… Ms. Conrad wants to resign."

James was picking up his coffee when he paused, but soon, calm returned to his face. "Let her,"

Levi was speechless—wasn't he going to talk to the missus?

Edith herself had climbed the ranks to become the CEO's secretary, and in a major corporation where a promotion was exceedingly difficult every step of the way.

The competition for the CEO's secretary position was fierce, and plenty of others in the company yearned to take that position.

While James might be unable to empathize with Edith, being the CEO and all, Levi could, being a fellow white-collar worker himself.

Heck, it was a waste just thinking about it.

But who knew? She was the CEO's wife, and the CEO might have plans.

Deciding not to say more, Levi stood there and waited for James to sign the documents.

As for the coffee, James took a sip and seemed finished with it.

Once James was done, Levi headed out with the documents and told Edith about James' response.

Naturally, Edith had expected that—if James could take a divorce in stride, why not her resignation?

Resigning himself, Levi said, "Everyone has tasks at hand since it's year's end. It won't be easy replacing you out of the blue, and the transition will be slow, but I'll try to make it quick."

"Sure," Edith replied.

Since she was so determined, even Levi had no reason to persuade her to stay. "Alright. Now get ready for the conference in ten minutes."

Edith nodded.

Five minutes later, she was bringing the files to the conference room when she heard the clamor down the hallway.

"Emergency! Someone passed out!" someone was crying out.

Edith's heart skipped a beat.

She had only screwed around with James' coffee—was it really that bad?