Along the way, memories from the past five years came flooding back like a tidal wave.

I remembered the day we first met.

That night, I was working the late shift at a convenience store just off campus. A storm was raging outside, and I thought to myself how nice it was to have such a quiet shift.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, a figure pushed through the door, and the automatic welcome chime rang out. Then a young woman, soaked by the rain, walked in.

She ordered a cup of hot soup from the deli counter and sat in the small dining area. Not long after, I heard quiet sobbing coming from her table.

It was the middle of the night, and she was crying inside my store. If someone else saw this, they might think I had done something to that poor girl. So, I grabbed a pack of tissues and walked over.

"Here, wipe your tears."

After taking the tissues and drying her face, she choked back a sob and said, "My family kicked me out."

My heart skipped a beat when I heard that.

Even though Sophia's face was streaked with tears, it still could not hide how beautiful she was.

I assumed she was one of those girls who had gotten into college, but her family refused to pay the tuition and instead wanted to marry her off for money.

Later on, I realized my guess had not actually been far from the truth. I wanted to take her to the police station, but she refused.

"No, I'm not going to the police! They'll just drag me back home!"

I scratched my head, unsure of what to do.

Later that night, she talked to me for hours. When the rain stopped in the early morning, she left the convenience store.

Before leaving, she asked if she could come back to talk to me again.

I looked into her bright eyes and found myself nodding almost involuntarily, bewitched by her allure. After that, she came to the convenience store often to chat with me, and we grew closer and closer.

It was inevitable that I fell for her gentle charm.

With bright eyes, a radiant smile, and skin as pale as snow, she was like a brilliant moonlight shining through the night. She lit up my otherwise dull and ordinary life.

Until one day, she pointed at the bank card where I kept my scholarship money and said, "Lucas, would you believe me if I told you my family actually owns this bank?"

"Of course, my princess. Whatever you say, I believe you."

She huffed. "That tone clearly means you don't believe me. You're just brushing me off! Look!"

She pointed at a financial news alert that had just appeared on her phone, and the photo in the article looked exactly like her.

I had to look several times before I could gradually accept the truth.

She said, "My dad wants me to marry someone for a business alliance, but I don't want to spend my whole life with someone I don't love. I was really lucky to have met you that day. Lucas, thank you for comforting me so much, but…"

Sophia, who had been holding me just moments ago, suddenly let go with a dejected look.

She raised her head with tears glistening in her eyes and continued, "But I need to get married, that way my dad won't force me into that arranged marriage!"

I frowned as various dramatic scenarios from wealthy family dramas flooded my mind. "Do you… have someone suitable in mind?"

Seeing my expression, she shyly poked my chest. "Lucas, you big idiot! That person is you!"

Back then, I was just a lovesick kid with his head in the clouds, so I agreed without a second thought.

After that, we met each other's parents and moved into a luxury penthouse her family had bought for her. However, we never got around to actually registering our marriage.

I could feel it in my bones that her family did not like a poor kid with nothing to his name like me. I was terrified and constantly tearing myself apart inside.

I was afraid that one day Sophia would leave me, that one day her family would forcibly tear us apart.

In the end, I packed my bags and went back to my hometown to take some time and rethink our relationship.

But within a couple of days, I ran into her downstairs. My first instinct was to run away out of fear, but she still caught up to me.

"Why did you leave me? The moment I realized you weren't home, I came looking for you right away. Thank goodness I found you!"

This place was incredibly far from her city, and there were no direct flights. So, she had to take a connecting flight and then drive the rest of the way.

I never imagined Sophia would go through all that trouble and travel over 2000 miles just to find me.

To say I was not happy would be a lie, but I still had a shred of clarity left in my mind.

I said quietly, "Our lives are too different. I was just scared. I am sorry… being with me will only embarrass you. I think we should…"

Before I could finish, she grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me forcefully.

Sophia's lips were warm against mine, and my mind was blank.

Suddenly, she grabbed me and said, "Let's go get married."

Just like that, she dragged me to the courthouse, and we registered our marriage.

Everything felt like a dream.

That day, I stared at our marriage certificate with a stupid grin on my face for hours. It was the happiest day of my life.

If only I had not known she had set this whole thing up, and that I was the target of her scheme.

If only I had not known she did all of this for another man.

The dream shattered instantly, revealing what it truly was. It was nothing more than a beautifully decorated illusion.

I should have seen it clearly from the moment she kept dragging her feet about getting our marriage license.

What kind of powerful family would simply ignore someone like me without even mocking or humiliating me? They had only been keeping me around to keep me under control.

I sat in the dimly lit living room, staring at the pocket watch Mom had left behind.

"Mom, you were right. I should've listened. We were always from two different worlds, and we never stood a chance."

I ran my fingers over the watch, hoping it could somehow replace Mom and forgive all my foolishness over the years.

I had already signed the divorce papers. All that was left was Sophia's signature, and I would finally be free.

That evening, I finally heard the front door open. Immediately after, laughter and playful banter between two people echoed throughout the living room.

The contrast to the previous deathly silence was stark.

Sophia walked into the living room and met my cold stare. For a split second, I actually saw a flash of panic in her eyes. Then, her expression filled with nothing but displeasure.

"Why aren't the lights on? What, are you worried about the electric bill?"

She then pulled a Richard Mille Black Knight watch out of her bag. "When you wear this watch, make sure you put on the clothes I bought you too. Otherwise, people will think you're wearing a fake, and you'll embarrass me."

She tossed the watch directly at me.

Normally, that gesture meant she was giving me a way to step down from an argument. But I no longer fell for that trick.

It was a Richard Mille Black Warrior watch, with no box or bag, and even someone as inexperienced as me could tell it was fake at a glance. After all, I had already seen the real one on Nathan's wrist.

Nonetheless, it no longer mattered.

I simply threw the divorce papers straight at Sophia's face. "Sign it."

She did not catch it, and the papers fell to the floor.

The moment she read the words on the document, her face twisted with anger. "Lucas, what the hell is this supposed to mean?"

I remained calm as I replied, "Sophia, do you not understand plain English? Sign it!"

I threw the pen onto the coffee table. "Hurry up and sign so we can get this over with. Stop dragging your feet."

Sophia, who had been furious just a second ago, let out a cold laugh the next. She raised an eyebrow as she looked me up and down, her tone contemptuous.

"Oh, I get it now. Lucas, this was your mom's idea, wasn't it? Playing hard to get? Threatening me with divorce so you can push for more and get what you want. You just want money, right? I've told you a million times, if you need money, just go to my assistant.

"Don't bother me with this petty crap. Lucas, this is the last time I'm putting up with you. Stop pulling these stunts to get my attention. It's only making me lose patience with you. Now go make dinner. Nathan will be up in a bit. He just said he's hungry, and remember, no ginger or cilantro."

I rolled my eyes at her, let out a cold laugh, and pointed at the papers. "Sophia, are you blind or illiterate? I said divorce. All you need to do is sign!"

"What? Say that again?"

I shouted, "I want a divorce!"

Suddenly, Nathan appeared from behind and kicked me. "You ungrateful bastard, you've really crossed the line! Sophia bought you a mansion to live in, sports cars to drive, and she even gave you a job! What gives you the right to talk to her like that? Get on your knees and apologize to Sophia this instant!"

My hands hit the floor as Nathan's sneak attack from behind left a throbbing pain in the back of my knees. Hearing his words, a surge of strength exploded from within my body.

I got up and immediately threw a punch right at Nathan's face.

Sophia screamed, but it did not stop me. When Nathan tried to fight back, I landed another punch that knocked him to the ground.

I shouted, "Just who the hell do you think you are? This is between Sophia and me. What gives you the right to stick your nose in our business? You want to take my place? Fine, no problem. As long as Sophia signs these papers and we get our divorce certificates, you can step in openly. Otherwise, you're just a dirty homewrecker who can't show his face in public!"

Nathan lay on the ground while Sophia's face filled with panic.

She said, "Lucas, have you lost your mind? Do you know what Nathan's condition is…"

I cut her off, scoffing. "His condition? Sophia, maybe Nathan has done so many terrible things that even God could not stand it anymore. Perhaps that is why he got sick!"

Nathan's anger intensified as he struggled to get up from the floor while cursing at me. "Lucas, you really are a piece of trash. Marrying Sophia is the greatest blessing of your life, and you don't even know how good you have it! If it weren't for her, you wouldn't even be able to pay for your mom's medical bills!"

Sophia immediately chimed in from the side. "Lucas, apologize to Nathan right now, or I'll cut off your mom's medical expenses!"

Hearing this, I let out a cold snort.

"Lucas, if you refuse to apologize, I really will cut off the money for her treatment! Security! Security!"

I immediately turned and smashed the decorative champagne bottle against the wall, holding the broken glass and pointing it at them.

Mom was already dead, and I had no family left in this world. I was all alone anyway, so who did I have to fear?

The bodyguards froze for a moment. With their professional instincts, they could tell immediately that I was not joking. For trained bodyguards, dealing with an untrained ordinary person would normally be easy.

But what if that person had nothing left to lose?

"Sophia, you want me to apologize to Nathan? That'll never happen in this lifetime! Come on then! I know I cannot beat your professional bodyguards, but at worst, I'll take one of you down with me!"

Seeing the fierce look on my face, the bodyguards hesitated and glanced toward Nathan before speaking carefully.

"Miss… Mr. Anderson is very emotional right now. Maybe you two should just talk this out."

Sophia stayed silent for a moment, then told the bodyguards to stand down and turned to glare at me with murderous eyes. "Lucas, what exactly do you want? Put down that bottle!"

I shouted, "Sign the papers."

"I won't sign them!"

Hearing Sophia's words, I suddenly laughed with relief. "So you really are pulling this disgusting stunt!"

Seeing me laugh, Sophia seemed even more convinced that I was only doing all of this to get her attention.

I said nothing and only gripped the bottle tighter to prevent the bodyguards from suddenly rushing in to take it away. Then, I slowly backed toward the entrance and turned to leave.

Inside the mansion, Sophia had nowhere to direct her rage, so she pulled out her phone and made a call.

"Riley, stop Lucas's mom's medical payments immediately!"

The other end of the line stayed silent for a long time before responding. "Ms. Monroe, Mr. Anderson's mother has already passed away. It was on the day you and Mr. Hayes held your wedding."