Chapter 3

Rachel and I began dating while we were both in college. After graduating, I gave up everything at home and moved to her hometown so that I could keep her company.

When we first started dating, Rachel had been very dutiful and treated me really well. She would do all the basic chores at home, making sure the place was clean and the meals were on the table. She was also very gentle with me.

However, as time passed, things began to change.

She got colder and colder toward me and even said that we no longer had to bother with romantic gestures because we were basically family anyway.

Now that I thought of it, I realized that she had simply just given all of her love to someone else instead, and whatever she had left for me was just perfunctory.

"Is that true, Rachel? Is everything Max just said true?"

I felt chills down my spine. All of the questions I had for her and the urges I had to interrogate her suddenly died down at that moment.

Rachel lowered her head and said hesitantly, "Yeah."

I felt my heart sink into my stomach. "Alright. I understand."

Then, I turned to Titus and said, "Titus, let's go."

Since things had already turned out like this, the only thing left that I could do for myself was to preserve what little dignity I had left.

However, Rachel abandoned Max and ran out after me before grabbing me by my arm. She said urgently, "Aaron, I have my difficulties too. Don't get mad at me. I promise I'll explain everything to you after the wedding."

"What's there to explain anymore?" Titus exclaimed, pushing her off and pulling me away instead.

He wouldn't stop cussing her out as we made our way back.

I knew that he was just saying that to comfort me, but I just didn't want to listen to anything anymore for now.

I drove him back to his apartment building and interrupted him mid-curse. I was calm as I said, "Go back home first, Titus. I'll come looking for you after I've packed up my things."

"You sure you don't need me around?" he asked, looking at me with concern.

I smiled at him so he wouldn't worry about me. "I'll be fine. Don't worry."

I knew how to end things on a good note. I could give in gracefully if needed.

Also, since now our fake divorce was actually real, there were some things that I wasn't going to let go. I was going to take back everything that belonged to me.

For example, the house we were living in now had been fully paid for in cash by me before getting married. So, even during the divorce, it would be considered my own private property and not a joint one.

I decided to sell the house and bring the money home for my parents instead.

The day I took the property agent on a tour of the house, though, Rachel suddenly came back without warning.

When she saw another woman in the house, she began interrogating me without even asking me who she was.

"Aaron Matthews! Our divorce was fake! How could you bring home another woman almost immediately?"

I couldn't be bothered to answer her and just told the property agent that we should perhaps postpone the viewing to another day instead. Then, I politely saw her out of the door.

Still, Rachel refused to let up and stopped the agent from leaving.

"You're explaining this to me right now! Or else, nobody is allowed to leave this house!"

Last time, when I was still in love with her, everything she did was good in my eyes. I even thought that her weaknesses were nothing but cute little quirks.

But now, things had changed. With the filter turned off in my brain, I realized that Rachel was actually a very annoying person after all.

"We're already divorced. You have no right to interfere in my affairs anymore," I said, pushing her aside before apologizing to the agent again and sending her off.

When I got back, Rachel was still standing in the hallway, looking furiously at me like she was demanding answers from me.

"Aaron Matthews! We agreed that it was only going to be a fake divorce!"

I looked at her like she was an idiot. "Have you forgotten that you've already married someone else?"

"I have my difficulties. Also, my marriage to Max was also fake! And the child was an accident! I really didn't know how things turned out like this!

"I don't know how Mom learned about his existence, and she told me that she was dying soon, and she wanted to see her grandson in her last days."

Rachel kept trying to explain to me in frustration, sounding like she was the righteous one all along and even blaming me for not being understanding enough.

However, all of her excuses mean nothing to me anymore. I didn't want to continue listening to her anymore either.

In addition to that, Shirley clearly looked as fit as a fiddle during the wedding. She certainly didn't look like she was anywhere near knocking on death's door.

"Rachel Brady, since our fake divorce is now real, that means we need to settle our assets and properties properly. I've already hired a lawyer for that.

"As for this house, since I was the one who paid for it, I'm planning to sell it off. Don't come back here anymore."