Finally, I was released from prison after Nolan Spencer sent me there five years ago.

On the day of my freedom, the first snow of winter was falling and he was there to meet me, holding the very scarf he had once knitted for me with his own hands.

The moment he stepped closer, I instinctively moved back to keep my distance.

His joyful smile froze on his face and he spoke with a tone of self-mockery. "So after all these years, you're still blaming me? I thought you would've moved on. I'm sorry, I acted impulsively without considering the consequences. I didn't know the conditions inside were so bad."

"You've lost weight, but you're even more beautiful now," Nolan added.

I took the scarf and wrapped it around my neck without a word, feeling utterly indifferent to what he had to say.

Maybe I had resented him once, perhaps I had even hated him. But right now, all I knew was that we were already divorced.

Moreover, I had met someone new inside and he promised me that we would get married when he got out.

——

With the scarf on, the winter chill seemed to fade and I finally felt in the mood to answer.

"As I recall, I asked the prison guards to contact you many times over these five years, but you never came to see me. Don't you think it's a bit hypocritical to say all this noble-sounding stuff now?"

Nolan's expression instantly turned awkward, a flicker of some unreadable emotion, almost like guilt, appearing in his eyes. "You contacted me many times? I'm sorry, I've been traveling for work these past few years and have rarely stayed in this city. I didn't receive any messages from you and I thought you were still blaming me, so I didn't dare to visit you … "

Thinking of his possessive secretary, I couldn't help but laugh. "Right, I should have guessed. After all, Josie Simmons arranges all your schedules. It's very easy for her to prevent you from receiving messages from me."

I sneered, "To be honest, I was surprised you came to pick me up today. Didn't Josie use any work-related excuse to stop you this time? Then it seems work isn't that important to you."

Noticing the sarcasm in my words, his face darkened even further. "Josie is just my secretary. My private life is my own business. I've realized my mistake about what happened before. Since you went in, I've kept my distance from her and haven't told her many things."

I raised an eyebrow. "So? Is Mr. Spencer explaining himself to me? There's no need. We're over."

Nolan broke down in an instant. The commanding aura of a successful businessman vanished without a trace, as if he had reverted to the boy who blushed in my presence.

He tried to clarify, "You know the divorce was unavoidable. The company was at a critical stage in its going-public process. I had to stabilize the shareholders. If anyone discovered my wife was in prison, it would have severely damaged the company's reputation. Morgan, please don't be angry with me anymore. After you went in, I spent an entire month cleaning up the mess you left behind."

Seeing my displeased expression, he hurriedly explained. "I'm not blaming you. I'm just saying it's all in the past now. The storm has passed and that's the best outcome. I promised you we'd remarry once you were released."

My first instinct was to retort. Why did this man think I would wait for him for five whole years? Why did he think that after he sent me to jail, I would still want to be with him when I got out?

Alas, before the words left my mouth, he was already pulling me into the car. The heater had been turned on in advance and he chattered excitedly about everything I'd missed these past five years.

At the end, he cautiously observed my expression in the rearview mirror.

"I've prepared a welcome dinner for you. After dinner, I'll take you home. Nothing in the house has changed. It's exactly the same as it was before you came."

Realizing I still needed time to find a new place and a job, I had no choice but to leave with him.

The moment we entered the hotel, Nolan immediately instructed the waiter, "Please take my wife to the reservation we made earlier."

Turning to me with a smile, he began unbuttoning his tailored suit. "Morgan, go sit down and rest. I'll be back soon."

After I sat down, the waiter came to pour wine, smiling as he teased, "Madam, your husband really treats you well. This table has the best view. He booked it a whole month in advance!"

He was just a waiter, so I couldn't be bothered to explain that we were divorced.

"Where did he go?" I asked.

The waiter immediately lit up with a smile. "Mr. Spencer has gone to the kitchen. He said you don't like outside food, that you won't eat anything he hasn't cooked himself. He brought a whole bunch of imported ingredients early this morning and he's probably already started cooking by now."

"Madam, in all my years working here, I've never seen a husband so devoted to his wife. You must be very happy, right? I won't disturb you anymore. I'll get back to work now. Call me anytime if you need anything."

After the waiter left, I fell deep in thought.

Happy? Perhaps once.

But after he sent me to jail five years ago, those fleeting illusions had long been ground to dust.

I've eaten all the food in prison. Compared to that, restaurant food was quite delicious.

Soon, Nolan returned to his seat, the smile on his face undisguised. "Try it. Does it taste … special?"

I stared at him coldly and let out a mocking laugh. "Special? Don't tell me you think it's special just because you cooked it? Nolan Spencer, there's something I never told you. Actually, your cooking … is terrible. If there's anything special about it, it's especially terrible."

Nolan's face instantly paled and he grew visibly flustered. "But … you used to say you didn't like outside food. I was afraid you wouldn't be used to it, so I … "

"You said 'used to.' Or do you think prison food tastes better than outside?" he asked, his eyes instantly reddened. "That's not what I meant. I just wanted to make you happy."

"There's no need, really no need." I smiled mockingly.

He looked genuinely hurt. Anyone seeing him would think he was the one who had just spent five years in prison. "You've really changed, Morgan. You never spoke to me like this before. You're still blaming me, aren't you?"

A long silence followed as we stared at each other.

He attempted to find the love I once had for him in my eyes, but when he realized there was only cold indifference, his composure shattered completely.

Just as he was about to speak, a familiar voice came from behind him. "Mr. Spencer, it really is you! I thought I was mistaken. Oh my, isn't this Morgan? You're out? Congratulations! My apologies for coming so unprepared. I didn't have a proper gift for you."

Josie, dressed in a limited edition Chanel suit, took a seat and naturally picked up my ex-husband's wine glass.

Nolan immediately grabbed her wrist and snatched the glass away. "Why didn't you tell me Morgan had contacted me? Josie, have I not made it clear? You are just my secretary. You have no right to interfere in my private life! Also, my wife is sitting right across from me. Do you really think it's appropriate for you to sit next to me?"

Josie soon looked terribly wronged. She stood up and began to apologize repeatedly. "Mr. Spencer, I'm sorry. I overstepped."

"Please let me explain. I've been very busy with work; I hardly have time to check messages from the prison. I knew Morgan wanted to see you, but by the time I saw the messages and could reply, several days had already passed. And it just happened to be when you were away on business, not in the city, so…"

Seeing that Nolan showed no sign of forgiving her, Josie turned to me with pitiful eyes. "Morgan, could you help me explain to Mr. Spencer? I really didn't mean to. Anyway, you're out now. Let bygones be bygones. I'll definitely be more careful in the future!"

She was acting super humble, like it'd be the worst crime in the world if I didn't forgive her. I saw the same old tricks way too many times five years ago. Now, it didn't even bother me.

I didn't care about Nolan anymore, so naturally, I didn't care about the people around him either. "Hmm, I don't blame you. You're right, it's all in the past. There's no point dwelling on it now."

Nolan finally broke into a smile. "Morgan, I knew you wouldn't blame me. Josie, go sit beside her. I don't want her to misunderstand."

With Josie joining the table, he had to call the waiter to add more dishes. I listened as he rattled off a string of unfamiliar dishes, even thoughtfully reminding the waiter of Josie's dietary restrictions.

A flash of provocation flickered in Josie's eyes. "Miss Jackson, please don't overthink it. I was actually the one who introduced Mr. Spencer to this restaurant. We often eat here because of overtime and business dinners and after a while, he memorized my preferences."

The implication was that in the five years I was locked away, she and Nolan had shared too many special memories.

She expected me to react like before—to make a scene and confront Nolan. But this time, I only smiled. "It's only natural for a man to look after a woman, especially when you're his subordinate. It's his duty. Besides, he's given me hundreds of thousands in year-end bonuses before. This little thing is nothing."

Josie clenched her teeth, struggling to maintain her calmness. "You're right, Morgan. Mr. Spencer is a good man. Otherwise, I wouldn't have worked for him this long."

As if recalling something, she poured wine for me with a smile. "I heard life in there isn't easy. Some cliques bully newcomers. Morgan, you weren't bullied, were you?"

Nolan sat up straight, her face filled with worry.

"You really want me to be bullied?" I responded calmly.

Josie's smile froze. "How could you think that? I was just worried about you … "

She then continued, "I've seen news reports about the poor conditions in prison, how new inmates only get leftovers, get beaten if they don't do chores for the older ones and even that some women develop preferences for other women. If the other person refuses, they might get attacked in their sleep ... "

Realizing she'd misspoke, Josie smiled apologetically. "That's not what I meant. It's just that you're so pretty, Morgan. I was afraid someone would bully you."

I smirked. "Then I'm sorry to disappoint you, no one bullies me."

"Besides, those who had tried to bully me had already been taught a lesson by that person."

I didn't voice that last part because there was no need to tell these two.

Nolan finally let out a sigh of relief. "I was so afraid of bringing up bad memories that I never dared to ask. Thank goodness you're okay."

"What if something had happened?" I questioned.

That man reacted confidently. "Then I'd never forgive myself."

I smiled, tapping my fingers on the table. "Really? I had no idea. While I was suffering inside, you were worrying about me outside."

Just as Nolan was about to speak, Josie cut in. "That's right, Morgan. Mr. Spencer was in a terrible state these past five years and his insomnia was severe. He had to drink himself senseless every night to fall asleep. And strangely, when he was drunk, he would only let me pick him up and take him home."

"There were several times his call came in at three in the morning. Since Mr. Spencer's villa is in the suburbs and I couldn't get a cab, I had no choice but to spend the night at his place."