That same night, I packed up everything and moved out of the home that once belonged to us.

I would never return.

Let that place bury the naive, laughable love I once believed in.

I drove back to my hometown that night.

Since I had told them in advance, my parents had left the lights on for me.

“Julian, why are you alone? Why isn’t Ivy with you?”

My mother glanced around, and indeed, I was the only one stepping out of the car.

I signed, my eyes betraying my exhaustion.

“Mom, Ivy and I are getting a divorce.”

“What?!” My parents looked at each other in shock.

My father quickly spoke up, “It’s better that way. I could see it in that girl’s eyes that she was full of ambition and calculation.

“Being with someone like that long-term is dangerous.”

My parents had disapproved of my marriage to Ivy from the start, but I had foolishly clung to the belief that we were in love.

Alas, I only realized now that I had been deceiving myself all along.

“Come on in, let me cook you a bowl of chicken soup,” Mom said as she led me inside.

I finally got to eat something warm.

Dad asked, “Must be exhausting, isn’t it, managing so many companies?”

“Not at all, Dad.”

All these years, for the sake of Ivy’s fierce ambition and competitive drive, I had never revealed my true identity to her.

In her eyes, I was merely someone with strong business connections, nothing more.

Little did she know that these connections were all actually the Ward family’s businesses.

To help her achieve her goals, I’d even let the Ward family sign a losing deal. All these were to fuel her reckless business ambitions.

Now that she had betrayed me, I no longer needed to cater to her ever-expanding desire to climb the ladder.

The business world is a battlefield.

I would very much like to witness who’d support her without me by her side.

The next day, Ivy paid no mind to my departure. She was convinced that I couldn’t live without her, and that I would be crawling back to her after sulking for a couple of days.

When she received the divorce papers at her office, she froze for a moment.

“Fine, I’ll sign it. Even if I do, you wouldn’t dare go through with it!”

Afternoon came, and all senior executives of Bennett Group were summoned for an emergency meeting in the city, Arlaide.

Meanwhile, I sat leisurely in a café near my hometown, sipping coffee while listening to the villa owner explain property listings.

Autumn sat across from me, and I said, “Found one you fancy? I’ll pay cash for it. You can move in tomorrow.”

“Wow, Mr. Big Shot has finally come to his senses and is willing to spend money on me?”

I reached out and tapped her nose.

“Oh, please. When have I ever been stingy with you?”

She pouted and wrinkled her brow unconcernedly.

“By the way, are you really set on divorcing Ivy?”

“Mhm.”

“Great! Once that’s done and over with, maybe you’ll consider me?”

“Huh?”

While I was still puzzled, a call came in.

“What on earth are you playing at, Julian?!”