Chapter 1

"I want a divorce."

In the fourth year of her marriage, Pearl Whitmore decided to end it. However, the lawyer across from her seemed to think she was wasting his time. He raised an eyebrow. "Young lady, divorce isn't a one-person decision."

Pearl understood why the lawyer was not taking her seriously. She had come straight from teaching at the school, still in her hoodie and jeans. She did not look like someone filing for divorce.

However, she had prepared thoroughly before coming. She said methodically, "I just need you to draft a professional divorce agreement. I'll get my husband to sign it."

She and Ethan Sterling had no children, and she wanted none of the assets. The agreement was simple enough to fit on two pages.

When she got home and opened the door, a pungent smell hit her nose.

Pearl looked over. Vivian Shaw and Ethan were eating takeout, with half a slice of blue cheese sitting on the dining table. They were talking about something, laughing so hard that they were practically leaning into each other.

When Ethan noticed Pearl standing in the doorway, he immediately straightened up and asked in a measured tone, "Pearl, I didn't know you were coming back. I only ordered two portions. What do you want to eat? I'll order something for you."

"No need. I already ate at the school." Pearl glanced at the food and lowered her eyes.

For years, she had never dared eat anything with a strong smell, all because Ethan had rhinitis. He said he hated it when there were weird odors at home.

Pearl pulled out the divorce agreement from her bag. She handed Ethan a pen. "The school has a liability waiver that requires a family member's signature. Could you sign it for me?"

Pearl was an orphan, and Ethan was her husband, making him her only family.

"Let me take a look." Ethan frowned slightly and reached for the document.

Pearl had not expected him to actually want to read it carefully. He had never paid much attention to her affairs. Ever since Vivian returned to the country a month ago after her divorce, he had been even less attentive.

Pearl's fingers tightened around the divorce agreement, and her body went rigid. She did not know whether she should let him see it right now.

"Ethan, what's gotten into you?" Vivian's red lips parted, and she teasingly swatted Ethan. "Why are you being so rigid with Pearl? You look like you're about to bite someone's head off. You're scaring poor Pearl."

"Am I?" The furrow in Ethan's brows instantly smoothed. His eyes crinkled with a smile as he took the document from Pearl. With a flourish, he signed his elegant name where she pointed.

Pearl felt relief wash through her, followed immediately by a flash of self-mockery.

Ethan was only cautious and formal around her. When Vivian was by his side, his vigilance disappeared, and he became completely relaxed.

If he had just looked a little closer, he would have realized this was not a liability waiver but a divorce agreement.

Nevertheless, he was too busy responding to Vivian's teasing. "Deep down, I still see Pearl as a little sister. Gotta keep up the big brother act."

Only as a sister?

Pearl's movements froze. She thought about how he used to pin her beneath him every night, panting as he pulled her into his chest. That was not what he had said then.

Pearl's parents died when she was young. After Oliver Sterling learned about her family situation, he often invited her to his home for dinner under the pretense of having her help organize research materials.

Through these visits, Pearl came to know Oliver's son, Ethan.

Oliver was a clinical medicine giant, but his only son had not followed him into medicine.

Instead, Ethan had founded his own gaming studio in college. Even before he turned 30, he had become a regular fixture in financial magazines as one of the new elites.

With his superior looks and the halo of wealth, he was the dream boyfriend of countless young women. Pearl was no exception.

After a few encounters with Ethan, her heart started racing whenever she saw him. However, she knew their statuses were worlds apart. She kept her admiration buried in her heart. Even when sitting at the same table with Ethan for meals, she never dared look at him openly.

Four years ago, when Oliver and his wife, Yolanda Brooks, went on a business trip together, they asked Pearl to go to their house to mail a document for them.

That night, Pearl had just sent out the envelope and was about to leave when a completely drunk Ethan stumbled in from outside and collapsed into her arms.

Ethan had gone at her forcefully. Pearl half resisted, half yielded. The two of them eventually made their way to the bed, where Ethan roughly left a bite mark on her shoulder. His voice, thick with alcohol, carried a hint of resentment. "You know perfectly well that I like you!"

Pearl only learned later that Vivian had a shotgun wedding with a foreigner that very day. Before that, she did not even know about Vivian's existence.

When Ethan had approached her, Pearl had been overjoyed, thinking her secret crush was finally reciprocated. In the darkness, she gave herself completely to him, body and soul.

The next day, Yolanda came home and discovered their reckless behavior. She made Ethan promise on the spot to take responsibility. Hence, they registered their marriage.

Over the past four years, the couple spent little time together because Ethan was busy with work and Pearl lived on campus. When Ethan acted cold toward her, she always assumed it was just his natural personality.

She willingly gave everything, never expecting anything in return.

A month ago, she used her scholarship money to book a high-end restaurant to celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary, which was also her 24th birthday.

She had booked Ethan's time with him half a month in advance, even repeatedly confirming it with his secretary.

Ethan had also promised her that he would definitely be there. However, that evening, she waited until the restaurant closed. Ethan's phone remained unreachable.

After being asked to leave by the staff, she saw the news on her phone about a sudden car accident nearby. Her heart immediately clenched with worry.

Within two hours, she ran to every hospital in the area but found no trace of Ethan. Finally, she managed to get through to Connor Ford on the phone.

Connor was one of the few people close to Ethan who knew about their relationship. He sounded surprised. "Ethan didn't tell you? Vivian Shaw came back to the country today. He's at the hotel throwing a welcome party for her."

Pearl had never heard Ethan mention Vivian's name. When she arrived at the hotel and saw for herself, she discovered that the only travel blogger Ethan followed, Vivi, was actually Vivian.

When she reached the door to the private room, a large group of their old classmates was playing a drinking game. Amid the raucous cheering, Ethan swept Vivian up in a princess carry and downed a full glass of liquor in one gulp.

Pearl had never seen Ethan so happy. She burst into the room, hoping Ethan would give her a reasonable explanation. However, when Ethan saw her, his face showed only embarrassment.

He introduced her to everyone around them, saying, "She's my relative's younger sister."

With that, Pearl finally understood. She had never been part of Ethan's life.

At this moment, watching Ethan and Vivian naturally swap food from each other's plates, Pearl quietly tightened her grip on the divorce agreement in her hand.

Once the mandatory cooling-off period ended, she would get the divorce certificate and leave Ethan, who had never truly been hers.