Wendy had been waiting for almost half an hour, buther phone screen stayed dark. No sign of Ethan.

She checked the time; he was probably already asleep with Lydia by now.

The night was pitch black, and the streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow.

Wendy walked home alone.

Her figure was thin and lonely, her steps unsteady, as if each one took all her strength.

Wendy pulled her thin coat tighter around her, but the cold wind still seemed to pierce her bones.

She lost count of how many times she was bumped into by passersby, but she felt nothing, her eyes empty and dazed, mechanically moving towards home.

She didn't know how long she had walked before she finally stood at her front door.

Wendy raised her hand, her fingers trembling as she grasped the doorknob.took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

As soon as she entered her room, Juniper's sharp voice pierced through the door. "Wendy, you jinx! You come home and hide in your room,trying to starve us to death? Always looking so sickly, I wonder if you can do anything useful!"

Then Sarah's domineering voice chimed in. "Seriously, you've pissed Ethan off so much he hasn't come home in days, and you still dare to come back?Get out here!"

Wendy acted as if she hadn't heard them. Her eyes were empty and exhausted as she walked straight to the bed. picked up a cup, and filled it with water.

She rummaged through the drawer for painkillers and cancer medication,her movements slow and mechanical.

These pills were her last "weapons" against the disease, especially the strong painkillers with anesthetic components. She avoided taking them unless absolutely necessary.

After all, taking too many could lead to dependency and strain her fragile nerves. But at this moment, the dual agony of body and mind left her no choice.

She poured the pills into her palm, looking at the tiny tablets with mixed emotions.

Once, she had given up everything for Ethan, her career, her health, even her dignity, all for this man.

And now? All she got in return was endless coldness and humiliation.

She laughed bitterly, swallowed all the pills with water, and tossed the bottle back into the drawer, her gaze becoming resolute.

Ethan? She didn't care anymore. After all these years of love,companionship, and marriage, what was there to hold on to?

The past was just a ridiculous dream, and now, it was time to wake up.

Outside. Juniper and Sarah's knocking grew more urgent, the noise grating on her nerves.

But Wendy felt detached, pulling the blanket tightly around herself,turning her back to the door, and slowly closing her eyes.

Let the knocking continue; her heart was as calm as still water.

From today on, she decided to let go of the past and live for herself.

As dawn broke, Wendy woke up. She never had the habit of sleeping in.

She immediately called her lawyer, Henry Phillips, her voice tired but resolute. "Mr. Phillips, please draft a divorce agreement and send it to The Knight VVilla."

The Knight Villa was a small house passed down from her ancestors.

Though she hadn't lived there for years, it was the only place that made her feel at peace.

Henry was shocked to hear she wanted a divorce, full of questions but knowing better than to bombard her right now. He softly inquired, "Do you have any 'specific terms for the divorce agreement, like property division?"

Such complex and crucial terms were best discussed in person.

Wendy hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Mr. Phillips,are you available today? If it's convenient, could you come over so we can discuss it in detail?"

Henry agreed readily, "Sure, I'll get ready and head over."

Henry was a friend of Wendy's late father, and she trusted him completely.

After hhanging up. Wendy sent him the address and then went to her vanity to make her pale, sickly face look a bit more presentable.

Looking at her reflection, with its delicate makeup barely hiding her exhaustion, Wendy smiled faintly.

After today, there would be tomorrow, and she would face the future bravely on her own.

Wendy took a cab back to The Knight Villa, where she had lived for over twenty years. Every brick, every blade of grass, was etched in her memory.

In her mind, The Knight Villa still looked as it didbefore Billy and her parents passed away, but now it was covered in dust, a relic of the past.

Wendy rolled up her sleeves and began cleaning meticulously. After about two hours, the house was spotless.

Exhausted, Wendy collapsed on the couch, letting out a long sigh.

She rubbed her temples, ready to freshen up, when she heard a car engine outside.

The doorbellrang. She took off her apron, hung it on the wall, and went to open the door. It was Henry. "Ms. Knight."

"Come in," Wendy said softly.

Henry followed her inside.

Wendy poured him a glass of water and led him to the study.

Henry wasted no time, setting up his laptop to start working.

But when he heard Wendy only wanted a few million dollars in cash,he looked at her in shock, his fingers pausing on the keyboard.

"Ms, Knight, you need to think this through! The Collins Group is worth

billions, and you should get half in a divorce," Henry said, having seen many couples fight tooth and nail over assets.

"I know, I just don't want to..." Wendy began, but the doorbell rang again,interrupting her.

"Excuse me, I'll get the door." She got up to answer it.

As she opened it, a dark figure rushed in, bringing a chill with it. Wendy instinctively stepped back.

Looking up, she saw it was Ethan.

"What are you doing here?" Wendy asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Why can't I be here?" Ethan's eyes, usually deep and calm,were bloodshot and filled with anger.

As the CEO of a public company, his presence was even more intimidating now.

He had seen Wendy's message early in the morning and rushed home.

But she wasn't there, and when he called,there was no answer.

He had someone track her phone, leading him here.

He gripped the doorknob, pushed it open, and strode inside. "What did you mean by the message you sent me last night?"

Wendy was momentarily stunned, then she laughed bitterly.

So it was about the divorce. The same Ethan who had hurled insults at her and refused to come home last night was now here at the crack of dawn because of the divorce. How ironic.

Hearing her mocking laugh, Ethan's brows furrowed, his sharp gaze scanning the room. When he saw a pair of men's shoes by the shoe rack, a dark look flashed in his eyes.

Already in a foul mood, his anger flared, and he wanted to lash out.

He had always been quick-tempered with Wendy, neversholding back his anger.

He stepped forward, grabbing Wendy's wrist, his eyes moving from the shoes to her face, noticing her makeup. His smile turned cold. "So,you want a divorce becauseyou've found someone else? Am I not enough for you?"

Wendy's heart tightened. She frowned, her eyes filled with anger and hurt."Ethan, what are you talking about?"

"You came here to meet another man, didn't you?" Ethan dragged Wendy into the living room, his grip so tight it felt like he would crush her wrist.

He threw her onto the couch, leaning in close ashis hand wrapped tightly around her throat.