Chapter 4

After taking a shower, Wendy dried her hair with a towel while replying to messages on her phone.

She hadn't bothered unpacking her suitcase. She wanted to be ready to leave again at a moment's notice.

After all, this house no longer felt like home.

Still, being back stirred up memories she'd rather forget.

She'd loved Sean Shaw for ten years.

For most of that time, she'd followed him around like a lovesick puppy, desperate for even a scrap of his attention.

Back when she was seventeen or eighteen, she'd genuinely believed she couldn't live without marrying Sean.

She'd even flown all the way to Japan after hearing about a famous shrine where people prayed for lasting love.

She'd climbed more than a thousand steps to reach it, dropping to her knees at every step, convinced that the greater her sacrifice, the more likely her wish would come true.

She'd made a generous donation, tied a ribbon bearing both their names at the shrine, and brought home a good-luck charm she'd carefully chosen for Sean.

Less than a week later, she spotted that very charm hanging from Sophie's purse.

Sean's explanation had been simple.

"Sophie's always been sickly. She needs the protection more than I do."

Back then, Wendy had been foolish enough to wonder if she was being too petty.

Her love for Sean had blinded her.

She'd been willing to swallow every humiliation just to stay with him.

Wendy took a deep breath.

During her three years overseas, she'd constantly checked Sophie's social media, watching her post about all the sweet moments she shared with Sean.

Of course it hurt.

Every picture, every little glimpse of their closeness felt like another stab to the heart.

But that pain had also forced Wendy to confront just how humiliating her devotion had been.

How foolish she'd looked.

How little any of her sacrifices had been worth.

After three years of forcing herself to face the truth, she'd finally stopped expecting anything from Sean.

She'd come back for one reason.

To get a divorce.

Just then, someone knocked on her door.

Wendy assumed it was Liam.

But when she opened it, she found Sophie standing outside.

Sophie was wearing a low-cut nightgown, her expression shy and bashful.

"I'm going to bring Sean something to help him sober up in a bit. Wendy, should I wake you for breakfast tomorrow morning? Oh, and the bedrooms here are soundproof, right?"

In the past, whenever Sophie pulled one of her little stunts, Wendy would immediately rush to defend herself.

But her frantic explanations had only made her look foolish next to Sophie, who could win everyone's sympathy simply by lowering her head and shedding a few silent tears.

Sophie's tricks weren't even particularly clever.

Yet somehow, they always worked.

The truth was simple.

People just didn't like Wendy enough to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Wendy leaned against the doorframe and folded her arms.

"Haven't you been here plenty of times over the past three years? Shouldn't you know whether the bedrooms are soundproof?"

Sophie's expression changed instantly.

She quickly recovered and said, "Of course I've been here. Lots of times, actually. I asked on purpose, Wendy. Couldn't you tell?"

Wendy let her gaze drift down to Sophie's chest before looking back up.

"Oh, I could tell. By the way, you might want to consider getting implants. Otherwise, when Sean touches you, he probably feels like he's touching himself."

Sophie nearly choked with rage.

It was true that her figure couldn't compare to Wendy's.

Neither could her face.

As much as people might hate Wendy, no one could honestly call her unattractive.

Sophie's face turned red, then pale.

She glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before lowering her voice.

"Sean and I have slept together plenty of times over the past three years."

She'd expected those words to devastate Wendy.

Instead, Wendy simply nodded.

"Congratulations. Enjoy my leftovers."

Sophie stared at her in disbelief.

Wendy really had changed.

In the past, anything involving Sean could send her into an emotional breakdown faster than anyone else.

But now she barely seemed to care.

Sophie's hand tightened into a fist at her side.

Apparently, three years abroad had taught Wendy a thing or two.

At the very least, she wasn't as stupid as she'd once been.

Or was this just some new tactic?

Either way, it wouldn't matter.

No amount of scheming could compete with being the one Sean favored.

Three years ago, Sophie had driven Wendy out of Kingswell with her tail between her legs.

She could do it again.

Sophie's expression softened, and a smile returned to her lips.

"Well, get some rest. I might be getting a little exercise tonight."

The suggestive meaning was impossible to miss.

Wendy merely smiled and shut the door.

She was still jet-lagged and had no patience for Sophie's nonsense.

The door nearly slammed into Sophie's nose.

Sophie was so furious she wanted to scream.

But this was Sean's house.

She couldn't afford to let anyone see her lose control.

Taking a deep breath, she picked up the drink she'd prepared to help Sean sober up and headed for the master bedroom.

Later that night, Wendy was drifting in and out of sleep when she thought she heard something.

She rolled over.

There it was again.

A faint thumping sound, like something repeatedly hitting a wall.

And here she'd thought the house had decent soundproofing.

Apparently not.

Annoyed, she took out her melatonin, swallowed two tablets, and put in her earplugs.

Then she settled back into bed and went to sleep.

As for how long the noises continued, that was none of her business.

She'd been transferred back to Kingswell for work, and tomorrow morning, she had to start at her new company.

She needed her sleep.

The next morning, Wendy washed up, got dressed, and stepped out of her room.

She ran into Sean at the top of the stairs.

He was already dressed for the day, looking as impeccable as ever.

Wendy had finally come to terms with something.

Sean hadn't really done anything wrong. He simply didn't love her.

She'd been so confident in his feelings back then that she'd pushed their childhood friendship into a marriage that had only made them miserable.

If she'd let him go sooner, perhaps he wouldn't have grown so cold toward her.

Looking at things from Sean's perspective, she could finally understand how exhausting her constant devotion must have been.

"Morning, Sean."

She greeted him calmly.

Sean looked at her in silence for a few seconds.

Then he walked past her and headed downstairs without a word.

Wendy followed him.

As she approached the dining table, she spotted Sophie already sitting there.

Sophie had changed into fresh clothes, but her eyes were slightly red. She looked as though she hadn't slept a wink.

And beneath the collar she'd carefully arranged around her neck, faint marks were still visible.

For some reason, Wendy found herself remembering what Sean had been like in bed.

She'd always been the more adventurous one, and she'd teased him more than once about being too rigid and predictable.

He hadn't appreciated those comments.

On more than one occasion, he'd made sure she didn't get any rest until morning.

Apparently, it was Sophie's turn to experience that side of him.

But Wendy had absolutely no desire to sit down and have breakfast with the two of them.

Just looking at them made her uncomfortable.

She walked over, grabbed two pieces of toast, and headed for the door.

Sophie quickly stood up.

"Wendy, aren't you staying for breakfast?"

Wendy turned around.

Sophie deliberately tugged her collar lower, fully exposing the marks on her neck.

The sight was more than Wendy cared to see.

She gave a small smile.

"No, thanks."

Then she looked at Sean.

"Oh, and Sean, if you're free tonight, we should talk about the divorce."

With that, she glanced at her phone.

It was her first day at the new company, and she was running late.

She hurried toward the door.

As she passed Liam, he spoke up.

"Mrs. Shaw, the chef made your favorite soup this morning. It's..."

But Wendy was already opening the front door.

She didn't even stay to hear the rest.

Liam could only swallow his remaining words.

Meanwhile, Sophie's eyes lit up with excitement.

Had she heard that right?

Divorce?

Wendy had actually brought up divorcing Sean herself?

It was almost too good to be true!

Sophie had fully expected Wendy to come back with another round of schemes to win Sean over.

She'd never imagined Wendy would be the one asking to end their marriage.

Sophie could barely contain her delight.

She hurried over to Sean, taking quick little steps.

"Sean, did you hear what Wendy just said?"

Sean remained as cool and unreadable as ever.

He quietly picked up his spoon.

"Mm."

Sophie was practically bursting with impatience.

"Well? What do you think?"

But Sean's gaze had settled on her neck.

His voice was flat.

"What happened to your neck?"