Chapter 5

Without me, he would have ended up working in some factory, living the kind of dead-end life where you could already imagine the finish line.

Julian stayed silent.

His silence only made his friends even bolder.

“Julian, you’ve already done more than enough for her. You fed her, spoiled her, and let her live in a luxury house.

“Are you really going to waste your whole life on some washed-up housewife?”

“Honestly, if we’d known things would turn out like this, we never would’ve played matchmaker just because she bought us a few meals.”

“Seriously. Back then, she spent money so freely, I thought she was some rich heiress. It turned out she was just pretending to be wealthy.”

“At the end of the day, we’re the ones who ruined your life. Don’t worry, we’ll help you get back on the right track.”

I laughed when I heard that.

Birds of a feather really did flock together.

A few meals?

Back in college, while chasing after Julian, I paid for all three meals a day for them throughout all four years of university.

Whenever I took Julian traveling, I brought them along too.

Even when I bought Julian gifts, I made sure every single one of them got something as well.

Despite having eaten my food and accepted my gifts, they were sitting here encouraging him to divorce me.

Still, they were not doing it for Julian’s sake.

They simply believed Vivian had more money and could offer them more benefits.

“Julian, if you’re worried about your reputation, we can fake evidence and say she cheated first. That way…”

Bang!

I stopped listening and pushed the door open.

The room instantly fell silent.

Julian stiffened. Panic flashed across his face as he instinctively tried to explain himself.

Then he suddenly remembered we were still in a fight, and his expression immediately hardened again.

He glanced at the time.

“It’s not even six yet and you already left work early again. It looks like you still haven’t learned your lesson. In that case…”

I looked at him in surprise.

So he did not even know I had resigned.

Then again, he had been too busy throwing Vivian a birthday party to even check whose resignation request he approved.

He really did care about her.

I cut him off with a cold laugh.

“No need. I already quit.”

“Quit? Since when?”

Julian was startled for a moment before suddenly seeming to remember something. He rubbed his forehead impatiently.

“Fine. The project’s already secured anyway, so we don’t really need you anymore. Do whatever you want.

“I was trying to be nice and let you keep your name on the project so you could still earn some commission, but if you don’t want it, I won’t force you.”

I raised an eyebrow.

He really did not know the project had already been canceled.

I was just about to say something when the roar of an engine sounded from downstairs.

A limited-edition luxury car worth millions of dollars, something money alone could not buy, pulled up outside the house.

Julian’s friends immediately got excited and started showing off in front of me.

“Bet you didn’t know this. Vivian took her mother’s last name, Jenkins. Her father’s family name is Lane, as in the Lane Corporation.”

“That car downstairs belongs to her brother. He’s definitely here to deliver her birthday gift.”

“Lydia, you’re screwed for offending Vivian.”

“Both of your family names are Lane but your lives are worlds apart. That’s fate. You should accept it.”

They rushed to open the door, completely missing the ugly look on Vivian’s face.

Julian lifted his chin smugly.

“For the sake of our years together, if you hand over all your clients and resources to Vivian, I’ll allow you to stay home as a full-time housewife. Otherwise…”

I knew exactly what he meant. He was trying to threaten me with divorce, to squeeze out every last bit of value I still had.

I ignored him.

At that moment, the door opened.

Lucas walked in wearing a sharp tailored suit, brushing right past Julian’s friends and their eager attempts to flatter him. He came straight to me and patted my shoulder gently.

“Lydia, are you done packing? Mom and Dad are waiting for us for dinner.”

Julian stared at me in complete shock.

I calmly pulled out the divorce decree and handed it to him.

“Oh, right. I forgot to tell you that my parents already withdrew the hundred-million-dollar project.

“And as for your offer, there’s no need anymore because we’re already divorced.”