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."

"He doesn't like hangover remedies either. He's so picky, he'll only drink honey water if I make it myself. Honestly, even taking care of a relative's child was never this troublesome …"

Fearing that I might misunderstand, Nolan quickly cut her off. "Morgan, do you remember this lake downstairs? I proposed to you here when my business succeeded."

I gazed at the snow-covered lake below, momentarily lost in thought. It turned out that so many years had already passed.

Six years ago, when his startup was beginning to show results, he proposed to me. It was also winter and during the first snowfall like this.

Because I loved watching Korean dramas, I would always whisper in his ear, "If a couple watches the first snow together, they'll never be separated for life. You science guy wouldn't understand romance! This is what passionate love looks like!"

Though said unintentionally, those words were etched into his mind.

The day he proposed, the lakeside was crowded with people taking pictures. I thought it was just an ordinary date until he pulled out the carefully chosen diamond ring from his pocket and knelt on one knee before me.

At that moment, I had my back to him, still trying to find the best angle for a photo. "Nolan, did you take it yet? Hurry up, it's so cold here."

The next second, a burst of applause and cheers erupted from the passersby behind us. "Marry him! Marry him!"

Turning around, I was caught off guard and met his eyes filled with love.

Suddenly, fireworks lit up the sky behind us, mingled with the first snowflakes falling.

From then on, love in my heart was defined by Nolan.

We married smoothly and I quit my job to become his devoted wife, focusing on caring for the family.

For a year, his startup kept him away constantly and he would come home late at night every night. I would wait and wait until I fell asleep on the sofa. But the next day, I would miraculously wake up in bed.

I knew there was no such thing as magic in the world. Still, I had my own magician, Nolan Spencer.

To ease his burden, I volunteered to join his company without pay.

That day, Josie had just graduated and joined the company at the same time as me. We were best friends who shared everything and she was the only person in the company who knew about my relationship with Nolan.

Everything changed at that business dinner.

That night, Josie, Nolan and I attended together. Then, a business partner jokingly teased him, saying that bosses and secretaries often have shady dealings.

Nolan laughed at that moment, but he didn't deny it.

When the partner tried to make Josie drink, he blocked it all, saying that the girl was allergic to alcohol and he would drink in her place. But when the other party turned their attention and asked me to drink, Nolan merely nodded.

I looked at him in disbelief, but he just said lightly, "I know you can drink, don't make things difficult for me."

After three rounds, my consciousness blurred and the business partner finally agreed to sign the contract.

Before leaving, the middle-aged man in the lead handed Nolan a room key. His eyes lewdly suggested that he could use this chance to hook up with Josie.

What completely broke me was that Nolan tacitly accepted the offer and took Josie into the elevator.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe the long-term insecurity, that finally shattered me. I rushed into the elevator regardless of the consequences, demanding to know why Nolan had changed like this.

If he had chosen Josie, then what was I?

In that moment, Josie, who clearly wasn't drunk, pretended to faint and collapsed into his arms.

Nolan quickly pushed me away, saying, "Everyone does this. If I want to climb higher, I can't be the exception."