I was about to take my phone out to call Ray when a voice spoke up behind me.

"Good morning!"

It was Nadia. She was wearing an overall skirt, and her hair was tied in a high ponytail. For a moment, it was like I was looking at the college version of myself.

I watched as she greeted everyone while smiling brightly.

"Good morning, Mrs. Prunier," the receptionist greeted Nadia with a slight bow of her head. She emphasized the greeting while looking at me scornfully.

"I've brought coffee—it's my treat. I even made it myself," Nadia announced.

"Thank you, Mrs. Prunier. Our CEO is truly lucky to have you. You're not only beautiful but talented, too—unlike some women these days who are only delusional."

The receptionist complimented her while snidely taking a jab at me.

Nadia lowered her head shyly at this. Then, she skipped onto the elevator.

Meanwhile, I was left standing there awkwardly. I called Ray several times, but the calls were all immediately rejected.

Hence, I texted him, "Come downstairs and invite me up if you want to preserve her reputation."

My hands were shaking uncontrollably. Tears had already started flowing down my face.

All these years, I had tried to pretend that I didn't care about Ray's affairs. I kept thinking to myself that the affairs didn't mean anything. I also told myself that these girls were all passing fancies and that I was the one he loved.

Shortly after I sent the text, Ray's assistant came downstairs and escorted me up.

I spotted Nadia as we neared Ray's office. Her skirt fluttered gently, and she clung to Ray while throwing a tantrum.

When she noticed me coming, Nadia quickly straightened herself up. She said to Ray, "I should let you get back to work."

Then, she made her way to the door.

When I spotted the emerald pendant resting against Nadia's chest, I unconsciously reached out and stopped her. It was the same one I had gotten for Ray when he had fallen seriously ill. I had to climb a mountain and beg for it.

I opened my mouth to speak, but it felt as though there was cotton stuffed down my throat—I couldn't make a sound.

Ray narrowed his eyes at me from behind Nadia.

"Is there a problem?" he silently warned me.

Snapping back to reality, I released her arm.

"Sorry—that's a beautiful pendant," I said to her.

"Thank you," Nadia replied.

"It seems you didn't take yesterday's warning seriously," Ray stated darkly. Now that Nadia had left, his expression had reverted to the cold and unapproachable one I was used to seeing.

He turned, grabbed a document, and tossed it at me.

As I skimmed through it, I realized it was a project my father's company was working on.

"I meant what I said, Claire. Your father could be left with nothing but the clothes on his back if I wanted it so. How long do you think you can continue living like a pampered princess when that happens?" Ray added threateningly.

I licked my dry lips. It turned out he had always resented me all these years.

Years ago, Ray and I confronted my father to tell him about our relationship. The old man was furious.

Dad had refused to allow me to marry Ray because Ray had nothing back then. However, Ray had even gone on his knees at the time. He had also stubbornly refused to let go of my hand and endured it all as Dad humiliated him.

But today, Ray threw a divorce agreement at my face. It reminded me of when Dad had thrown a wad of cash in his.

It seemed karma had made its way to me, and it was now my turn to experience such humiliation—but did it really have to be this way? Ray merely needed to tell me he didn't love me anymore, and I wouldn't have made him stay.

When I picked up the divorce agreement, I couldn't help chuckling mirthlessly when I saw he had already signed it. It seemed he genuinely loved Nadia.

"Can I ask you a question?" I said to him. I looked up from the agreement and back at him.

Taking in his pretentious appearance, I asked, "What do you like about her?"

Ray didn't answer. Our seven years of marriage ended in silence.

…

Ray brought Nadia along to city hall on the day we were to collect our divorce certificate.

"Is this to save the trouble of making a second trip?" I couldn't help asking sardonically.

Ray hid Nadia behind him like a mother hen protecting a chick.

"I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't know you and Ray were married," Nadia apologized. "I definitely wouldn't have come between you two if I had known, but you've seen how unhappy Ray was in your marriage. And now that you've divorced him amicably, I hope you can be happy for us."

The words coming out of her pretty mouth made me want to die.

"I hope you don't mind, but I would like to invite you to our wedding," she added as she handed me an invitation.

I wordlessly looked at Ray, hoping to glimpse a sliver of the old him—the one that used to love me. However, his gaze was focused entirely on the blushing Nadia, so much so that he wouldn't even spare me a glance.

I couldn't believe they were already handing out wedding invitations when our divorce certificate was still hot off the press.

Ray and Nadia's extravagant wedding was even featured on the news. He was smiling adoringly while holding a white-gown Nadia, which made me think back to our wedding day.

Ray and I hadn't had any guests—it had just been us, holding hands. It had seemed so sad and lonely. Yet, I had felt like I was the happiest person in the world.

I had already packed up all my things and booked a flight out of the country. As for the villa he had left to me in the divorce, I had already listed it for sale on a real estate platform, too.

I called Ray one last time before boarding my plane. "I've put the house up for sale. If there's anything you want, remember to pick it up—"

"No need, just throw it all away," he cut me off. Ray's reply was curt, and he ended the call before I could say anything else.

Did he hate me so much that he didn't even want to hear my voice? I was about to block Ray's number when a text from him came through.

"Hey, do you have a death wish?" it read. Then, his next text sent chills down my spine and spiked my heart with fear.

"Who gave you permission to reveal the secrets of our marriage? Can't you at least come up with a more subtle way to get your revenge?"

I immediately tapped the news notification on my phone, and sure enough, the latest headline was about Ray's extramarital affairs and that his new wife was one of his mistresses.

I called Ray. When he finally answered, I immediately said, "I didn't—"

However, he interrupted me again. "Don't think you'll get to live in peace now that you've done this. Do you think I'm still the same person you and your father used to bully?"

I didn't even think to hang up before frantically hailing a cab and rushing to my childhood home.

"Dad! Where are you?" I yelled once I arrived.

I collapsed by the door, sobbing as my heart raced. I didn't know what crazy thing Ray might do now that he had been triggered.