Cora had not expected George to appear suddenly. She froze for a moment. "Nothing. I was just saying you've been gone these past few days and weren't at the hospital."

Seeing her calm expression, George did not think much of it. "I've been busy working overtime on a new project lately, so I couldn't come take care of you."

Watching him lie so effortlessly, Cora's eyes flickered slightly.

"If you're that busy, you don't need to come. I can take care of myself."

She meant every word, but George thought she was upset. "It's my fault. I've mostly finished the work. I'll spend more time with you from now on."

As he spoke, he prepared to take her home. He even had his assistant send over many designer bags for her to choose from.

Looking at these gorgeous, expensive luxury goods, Cora calmly refused them. When she said she did not like them, George quickly had his people prepare new ones.

"I'll send you other gifts, then. What do you like? Jewelry? Clothes? Let's buy everything. There has to be something you like, right?"

Cora felt not a ripple of emotion at anything he mentioned. For three years, he had sent piles of gifts on every anniversary and holiday. These items, with their similar logos and styles, filled the walk-in closet. At a glance, it looked like some luxury store's warehouse.

She used to think this meant he cared, so even though she was not interested, she would happily accept them.

Yet today, hearing that he did not even know what she liked, she finally understood. He was simply too lazy to put in any thought, so he chose these kinds of gifts.

With prices like that, he could not go wrong. Hence, this time, Cora stated her position directly. "I don't need any of it. You don't need to send me these things anymore. Don't trouble yourself."

This was the first time George had heard her say something like this. Panic suddenly rose in his heart. "You're my wife. Preparing gifts for you is only natural. How could it be trouble?"

What if she was not his wife anymore?

How laughable. He still had no idea he had already signed their divorce papers.

…

Over the next few days, George stayed home without going out. Cora slowly began packing up her things.

She packed up unused cosmetics and clothes, the suits and electric razors she had bought him, their matching mugs, and photos of them together.

Seeing her suddenly clear out so many things on a whim, George was astonished. He was about to ask when Kimberly's call came through.

George instantly forgot about it. He answered the phone and left.

Cora also saw the caller ID on the screen. She knew he was going to keep Kimberly company.

After watching him leave, she threw all these items into the trash. She had just finished cleaning up when she received a call from George's assistant, Janet Lowe.

"Ms. Shepard, please come to Nightfall Club right away. Mr. Lambert is in trouble!"

Hearing the usually composed assistant suddenly become so anxious and panicked, Cora frowned. She grabbed her bag, hailed a cab, and looked up the club on her phone during the ride. It was a racing club.

Had George not gone to see Kimberly? Why did he suddenly go to a club?

When she arrived at the scene and saw the man facing George, Cora understood immediately.

It was Tyler Finch, Kimberly's college boyfriend who loved drinking, smoking, fighting, and street racing. She had heard from others that after they broke up, Tyler would still harass Kimberly from time to time.

From the looks of it, he had probably hit hard times again and come to pester his ex-girlfriend. And the reality was not far from what she imagined.

Tyler threw a racing suit in front of George.

"Kimberly doesn't like uptight rich boys like you at all. She likes adventure and thrills! Since you keep saying you'll protect her, race me. Whoever loses has to stay away from Kimberly forever!"

George picked up the racing suit with a cold expression. "It's a deal."

Hearing that he was really going to race, the group of friends around them panicked and kept trying to talk him out of it.

"George, he's been racing for years. You've never even been on a track. There's no way you can beat him! Don't gamble with your life like this, okay?"

"Yeah, you're married now. There's no need to risk your life for Kimberly! If something happens to you, what about Cora?"

Even so, George would not listen to a word. He even automatically ignored Cora's name when his friends mentioned it. Instead, he looked deeply at Kimberly, who was standing to the side.

"I won't lose. I can give her the thrills she wants too."

Hearing his resounding declaration, Cora's eyes flickered. She unconsciously clenched her hands.

Several friends saw that Cora had arrived and rushed over, asking her to help persuade him. They pushed her toward the prep room.

Looking at the door so close in front of her, Cora's emotions churned. She did not understand racing, but she knew George had no chance of winning.

Racing against a professional driver so rashly, he might not even make it off the track alive.

Although she had already decided to let go, she still could not bring herself to watch him go to his death. So after careful consideration, she raised her hand to push open the door.

The next second, Kimberly walked out from inside. Seeing Cora, her eyes lit up with a meaningful smile. "Did you come to convince George to give up the race? I'd suggest you not waste your effort, because George won't possibly listen to you.

"Do you know how much he loves me? Once, on a whim, I said I wanted to run away with him. He got on a plane with me without any hesitation. After we were caught and brought back, he'd rather endure family punishment than betray me.

"In high school, so many people sent me love letters. He tore up every single one he saw, forcing them to transfer classes or drop out. He even got into a fight with a whole group of people for me and ended up hospitalized while covered in blood.

"To him, you're just a fallback option, a second choice. How could he possibly give me up because of something you say?"

Looking at Kimberly's undisguised gloating expression, Cora felt a sharp pain in her heart.

"He loves you that much, but what about you? Since you've chosen to be with him, why aren't you stopping him when you know he'll definitely lose and might even die?"

Kimberly looked as if she had heard something hilarious. She showed a mocking expression.

"Why would I stop him? Don't you think it's fascinating to watch a man abandon his principles and throw himself into danger for you? Since I've decided to choose him, of course, I want him to prove that he loves me enough to give up his life for me.

"This is the perfect test, isn't it? Of course, it's normal that you don't understand. After all, George would never risk his life like this for you."

Each word hit Cora like a blow, making her chest tighten painfully.

Many words surged to her throat. Her lips parted slightly, but she could not get a single word out.

Watching her expression, Kimberly took her phone and dialed George's number.

"Since you still won't give up, I'll prove it to you one more time. Call him and say you've been in a car accident and you're in the operating room. Let's see if he'll give up this race for you."

The dial tone echoed through the hallway. Soon, the call connected.

"Cora, I'm in a meeting. Whatever it is can wait until I get home."

He did not even give Cora a chance to speak before hanging up.

Looking at the screen going dark, Cora's hand dropped limply to her side. She lowered her head. A resigned smile curved her lips as she said softly, "You won again."

On the winding, twisting track, two race cars alternated positions, neither giving an inch.

Cora stood in the viewing area, watching the constantly changing speeds on the screen.

George's car maintained the highest speed, but he could not shake off Tyler, who kept varying his pace with practiced ease. Even a novice could see that Tyler was deliberately provoking him the entire way.

George paid him no attention. He pushed himself to the limit, flooring the accelerator on the final lap. But even giving it everything he had, his car was still a considerable distance behind Tyler's.

Then, on every curve, Tyler would swing to the outside lane, deliberately closing the gap between their cars.

Seeing this utterly humiliating behavior, everyone thought George would surely lose and began sighing in disappointment.

Cora picked up her bag, preparing to leave.

A few seconds later, hysterical screaming erupted behind her. She turned at the sound to see George's black race car crash into Tyler's like a madman on the final curve.

In an instant, the white sports car swerved violently to avoid the collision, forced to veer off the track.

George seized the opportunity and shot across the finish line. The price he paid was losing control of his speed and slamming straight into the guardrail.

The entire car flipped on its side. The front end shattered into pieces and burst into flames.

Witnessing this scene firsthand, everyone in the viewing area gasped. No one had expected George to be crazy enough to win the race this way.

Even Kimberly, who had seemed somewhat bored, screamed and ran onto the track. Seeing her appear, George, covered in blood, stumbled out of the car.

Then, he brought her over to Tyler's car and raised his hand high, making the gesture reserved for winners.

"You lost. For the rest of your life, you're never allowed to come near Kimberly again!"

Cora had known him for nine years. He had always been cool, refined, steady as a rock. This was the first time she had seen George so spirited and fierce.

It would also be the last.

Amid the thunderous cheers, she turned silently and left. This time, she would have no lingering attachments.

…

It was the early morning hours, and George still had not returned. He only sent a message saying he would be on a business trip for a week.

Soon after, Kimberly also sent a photo of George taking her and a group of friends to a victory celebration.

[George said he's taking me abroad to celebrate his victory.]

Cora only replied with one word: [Great.]

Taking advantage of this time, she packed her luggage and made a detailed travel itinerary. After finishing her plans, she first booked a flight back to her hometown.

The airline called to confirm the itinerary. She listened carefully and repeated it back. "Yes, I booked the ticket for a week from now..."

"A ticket? Where are you going?"

Hearing George's voice, Cora turned to find he had returned without her noticing.

She avoided his confused gaze, hung up the phone, and answered honestly. "Back to my hometown to see my parents."

George nodded without asking further. He pulled out an exquisitely wrapped gift.

"Cora, you said before you didn't want jewelry or bags. I picked out a perfume for you this time. Do you like it?"

Cora unwrapped it and sniffed it perfunctorily before setting it down. "I like it."

Her flat response surprised him. He stepped forward and gently pulled her into his arms, sounding concerned.

"What's been going on with you lately? I was away on business for so long, and you didn't send me a single message. Are you in a bad mood?"

Cora had not expected him to notice such a small detail while he was with Kimberly. However, she remembered how she used to share everything with him, from seeing a flower to hearing some gossip.

For three years, he had endured daily messages from someone he did not love. When that person suddenly stopped, any normal person would notice.

Thinking of that, she did not find it strange anymore.

Seeing her remain silent, George thought she was truly upset. He leaned down to kiss her, but she pushed him away, which was a stark contrast from her usual behavior. She turned toward the bathroom.

"It's just my period."

Looking at her retreating figure, George felt stunned. Her period started quite a while ago. Was it still not over?