Chapter 6

In the middle of the night, that familiar, cool scent slowly drew closer.

Yannick slipped his arms around me from behind, his chest pressed against my back as he gently coaxed, "Nico, how about I take you to Havenport to watch the fireworks?"

"From now on, I'll spend all my time with you. If you want to see the northern lights in Northfrost or watch the penguins in Southveil, I'll take you wherever you want to go. Just please, stop being mad at me, okay?"

When I didn't argue, he paused for a moment before adding, "Once you've calmed down, make some time to apologize to Yvonne. I don't like seeing her cry. Too much crying is bad for her eyes."

Only then did I realize that all his efforts to appease me had been nothing more than a way to keep Yvonne from getting upset.

For a moment, I almost let his tenderness fool me into believing that, deep down, there was still a place for me in his heart.

I slowly removed his arms from around me and spoke in an even voice. "I've finalized the divorce papers. I'll have my lawyer send them to you tomorrow."

Yannick fell silent for a long time. At last, he let out a long sigh. His eyes grew more conflicted as he looked at me. "Nicolette, I'm starting to regret this. You're nothing like Yvonne."

His words struck me like a bolt of lightning. My entire body stiffened, and suddenly, I couldn't even find the strength to speak.

So this was what it felt like to be kicked when you were already down.

The next morning, I woke to find a bowl of my favorite rice pudding on the dining table. A note lay tucked beneath it.

The handwriting was Yannick's.

"If you don't want to apologize, fine. It's just that Yvonne's been under a lot of stress lately, so I'm going abroad with her for three days to do some shopping and cheer her up. When I get back, I'll take you to see the fireworks. Don't worry. I won't let you down this time."

After reading it, I tossed the note aside and left the rice pudding untouched. Slowly, I slipped the wedding ring off my finger and gently placed it on top of the note, along with the divorce papers.

Once I was done, I grabbed my suitcase and drove off to say goodbye to Dad.

The moment I walked in and saw him, I threw myself into his arms. All the hurt I'd been holding in for so long finally spilled over. Tears streamed down my face, quickly soaking his shirt.

He gently patted my back, just as he used to when soothing me to sleep as a child. "There, there. You're all grown up now. Still acting like a little kid?"

I couldn't help thinking back to my childhood. Back then, our family struggled financially, and Dad had to raise me while also caring for Yvonne, who'd been entrusted to him.

We had only enough savings to send one of us to college.

I was afraid Yvonne would be hurt, that she'd think Dad was favoring me simply because I was his biological daughter. Though I desperately wanted to go to college, I still chose to give up my chance for her.

I still remember how tears streamed down her face as she struggled to hold herself together and said, "Don't worry, Nico. I'll study hard and make sure you and Dad can live in a big house someday."

Back then, Yvonne was my hero growing up.

When someone bullied me and called me a poor little nobody, she taught me to pick up rocks and fight back. When boys at school harassed me, she grabbed a mop and beat the hell out of them.

As I grew older, I slowly came to realize that neither Yvonne nor Dad could stay by my side forever. An overwhelming fear began to take root in my heart.

That was when Yannick came into my life, like a prince straight out of a fairy tale.

He promised to stay by my side for the rest of our lives and to work hard so I'd always have beautiful dresses to wear.

But real life wasn't a fairy tale. Sooner or later, every dream had to end.

From the moment I told Dad I was leaving, he never once pressed me for an explanation. He simply respected my decision.

I looked at the white strands at his temples, my throat tightening as I choked out, "Dad, I'm going to divorce him."

Dad showed little reaction. He simply continued patting my back and murmured, "Okay."

I looked up at him helplessly, my eyes red-rimmed. "Dad, do you think I'm doing the right thing?"

His voice was calm and gentle. "Sweetheart, marriage is like a lamp. If its light keeps flickering and going out, would you still call it a good lamp? Marriage is the same. If things keep going well one moment and badly the next, then it's not a good marriage."

"Go on. I've already taken care of everything. That company will be yours from now on."

At the airport, I sat quietly in the VIP lounge, waiting to board. While scrolling through my phone, I came across a news story about Yannick spending a fortune at a jewelry store. I paused for a few seconds, then scrolled right past it.

With only a few minutes left before boarding, my phone screen suddenly lit up.

It was Yannick.

"These outfits are all the rage with young women these days. I wasn't sure what your style was, and I couldn't decide which ones you'd like, so I just bought them all for you."

"When we go to Havenport to watch the fireworks the day after tomorrow, you can wear a different outfit each time."

I lowered my gaze and quickly typed out a reply.

"Don't bother. I don't need them anymore."

In the few seconds before I blocked him, I could see that he was still typing. But I didn't hesitate for even a moment before blocking him.

After all, whatever he wanted to say no longer mattered to me.