Sarah listened to the conversation outside the study, her eyes downcast.

During her years as James’s wife, she had given everything to her mother-in-law and sister-in-law Lucy. When Lucy had her car accident, Sarah had stayed at the hospital for days. She'd always shown nothing but respect and care for Mrs. Chancer. Yet it seemed no amount of devotion could change how the Chancer family saw her.

Shortly after, Scarlett Larson called, her voice tired, "Sasa, are you sure you won't come? You used to love hunting outdoors, and you'd get to race cars too."

Sarah froze. Memories she'd buried deep came flooding back. Before marrying James, she'd loved hunting, racing cars, and good wine. Then she met James at the Larson estate and fell head over heels. After falling for him, she learned through others that James preferred gentle, trad wife. So she'd gradually given up everything she loved.

Three years had passed, and she'd almost forgotten who she used to be.

On the other end of the line, Scarlett continued rambling, "Sasa, if you don't want James to know, you can keep it from him. There's no need to give up everything for a man. Besides, James..."

"We're getting divorced," Sarah cut her off quietly.

Scarlett seemed stunned, then took a deep breath, "Did you finally come to your senses, or did James lose his mind?"

Sarah gave a small laugh, "He asked for it. I agreed."

Scarlett was speechless, thinking James must be blind. The Chancers should have counted their lucky stars to have someone like Sarah, and now they were divorcing?

"Congratulations, babe!" Scarlett's voice turned excited. "I'll pick you up soon. We should celebrate you finally seeing clearly."

Sarah hung up with a bitter smile. She looked around the master bedroom, which showed no signs of being shared by a couple. After three years of marriage, it might as well have belonged to a single person.

It really was time to end this.

Sarah went to the guest room to pack her things. She didn't have many clothes - after marriage, she'd stopped caring about her appearance - so packing didn't take long.

She removed her wedding ring and placed it on the bedside table, her eyes reflecting a mixture of regret and relief.

As she pulled her suitcase toward the door, she passed through the living room. She thought she should at least say goodbye to her former mother-in-law, but Lucy's bitter voice cut in first.

"Someone is finally leaving. Know your place - hanging around our family all these years just for money. You're nothing but a sparrow trying to fly with the eagles…”

Sarah stopped in her tracks and without hesitation, grabbed the glass of water from the table and threw it in Lucy's face.

Drenched from head to toe, Lucy exploded, "Sarah, have you lost your mind? How dare you..."

Sarah calmly wiped the water droplets from her fingers and replied coolly, "I dare plenty. I might be a sparrow, but I still have claws.”

Lucy stood there speechless, clearly shocked that this was the same Sarah everyone had pushed around.

Sarah found Lucy's surprise amusing. For three years, no matter how harsh Lucy and Mrs. Chancer had been, she'd done everything perfectly to please them without complaint. She'd always been gentle and patient, quietly enduring their bitter words and anger.

They'd forgotten that before all this, Sarah had been wild and free - drinking, fighting, and living life on her own terms.

She'd put up with enough. No more.

Sarah let out a soft chuckle.

Sarah left the Chancer mansion without looking back, wheeling her suitcase behind her. Outside, she found Scarlett leaning out of her car window, blowing her a playful kiss. "Get in, baby! Time to celebrate!"

Though Scarlett called it a celebration, knowing Sarah was freshly divorced and likely down, she just took her to a music-themed restaurant. When she heard James's reason for the divorce, Scarlett couldn't help but scoff, "Charlotte Garnett again? What's so special about her that James is this obsessed?"

Sarah stirred her coffee listlessly. "No idea..."

She'd never actually met James's dream woman. Charlotte had already left for abroad when Sarah first met James. She'd only heard that Charlotte was gentle, accomplished, and understanding. When James had fought with his grandfather over her, Charlotte had been mature enough to convince James to let it go - which had led to Sarah's arranged marriage with James.

Seeing Sarah's reluctance to discuss it further, Scarlett changed the subject, resting her chin on her hand. "Well, at least James was generous - houses, cars, and eighty million..."

She glanced at Sarah and sighed. "Though I suppose you don't need any of it."

After Sarah's father died, she'd handed the company management to her cousin Melvin Sanders, content to live off the dividends. Everyone assumed the company belonged to Melvin now, and with the prenup between Sarah and James, her family thought she had nothing left.

"You can never have too much money," Sarah replied absently.

Looking at her friend’s plain and boring appearance, Scarlett felt a pang of sympathy. "That's right! Buy yourself some nice clothes and bags, show the Chancers what they're missing! But what are you planning to do now?"

Sarah's gaze grew distant. She had double-majored in psychology and music in college but had to take a break when her father passed away, then came three years as a housewife… She had never thought about what would come next.

Scarlett squeezed her hand. "No rush. Take your time figuring it out. For now, let's go shopping, and in a few days, I'll take you hunting up the mountains.” She winked excitedly. "And guess what? Zachary Reynolds will be there too."

Sarah raised an eyebrow in surprise. Zachary Reynolds, the mysterious third son of the real estate empire, wasn't known for joining such events. But her curiosity quickly faded.

After lunch, Sarah wasn't in the mood for shopping. She just handed over her card and had the staff deliver everything Scarlett picked to her apartment.

Before leaving, Scarlett suddenly remembered something. "Oh, Sasa - I know you've been busy, but Professor Wells hasn't been well lately. You should visit him when you can."

Professor Wells had been Sarah's psychology mentor in college. She made a mental note to visit him as she headed back to her apartment.

After leaving the Chancers, Sarah had moved into a small apartment near Scarlett's place. It was regularly maintained, making it perfect for temporary accommodation.

But as she approached the building, she spotted James leaning against his car, waiting. A woman sat in the passenger seat - delicate features, gentle eyes, the perfect picture of feminine grace.

Sarah glanced at her sideways. She could see why James would fall for someone like that.

The woman stepped out of the car and walked over with James, her arm linked through his. With a warm, gracious smile, she extended her hand, "Hello Sarah, I'm Charlotte Garnett."

Sarah stopped in her tracks. Her expression remained calm, but she didn't take Charlotte's offered hand.

As Charlotte's smile faltered, James stepped in to ease the tension, "Grandfather heard about us,” he said in a deep and restrained voice. “He wants you to join us for dinner tonight. Your phone was off, so I came to get you."

"I see." Sarah checked her phone - it was indeed dead. She nodded. "I'll charge it and join you later."

The message was clear- she wouldn't be going with them.

James frowned. "I can wait while you-"

"No need," Sarah cut him off with a smile. "I'll make my own way there."

When he fell silent, Sarah glanced at Charlotte. "And tomorrow at nine, if you're free, let's get the divorce papers finalized."

For some reason, James felt unsettled. "Why the rush?"

Sarah nodded firmly. “Cause it's urgent."

James was taken aback, his expression darkening as he led Charlotte away.

After a few steps, Charlotte whispered something intimately to James, then turned back to Sarah, her eyes gentle, "Miss Sanders, I owe you my thanks."

"For what?"

Charlotte glanced back at James waiting in the distance, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her smile was sweet with nostalgia and gratitude. "When James and I separated years ago, it was just bad timing. When I returned, I thought we'd lost our chance. I know how much you loved him. If you hadn't been so understanding, we might never have gotten back together."

"You're wrong." Sarah met her eyes. "I'm not divorcing him to bring you two together. I'm not that selfless. I'm divorcing him because I don't want to love him - and I won't anymore.”

She'd spent three years trying to be the perfect Mrs. Chancer, and failed. In that time, she probably had better odds winning the lottery than making James love her. Why keep forcing it?

The moment she decided on divorce, she knew she had to let go. Yes, she'd done everything for James, only to have him bring another woman to her doorstep. But Sarah had no regrets.

Charlotte stood speechless.

Sarah considered for a moment, then added coldly, "Whatever happens between you two is none of my business anymore."

Dinner was set for eight-thirty. Sarah reached her apartment just after seven.

Maybe it was the relief of leaving the Chancers, but Sarah felt unusually light. After a shower, she put her phone on charge. There was still plenty of time.

For the first time in ages, she picked out a rose-red dress she loved, switched to contact lenses, and put on makeup.

She'd never done this at the Chancers'. When she first married James, she used to wear makeup, but his mother said it was too flashy for a proper wife. James never bothered to look at her anyway.

Now she could do as she pleased. After getting ready, she took a cab to the Chancer family estate.

"This way, Mrs. Chancer," the butler said, eyeing her transformation with surprise but maintaining his usual respect. That he was still using her married name told Sarah that Richard Chancer, James's grandfather, wasn't ready to accept the divorce.

She was right.

At the dinner table sat James and Charlotte, with Richard's face dark with disapproval, the atmosphere thick with tension.

Seeing her, his expression softened. “Sasa, come," Richard said warmly. "It's been too long since you've had dinner with me.”

James looked up instinctively, his gaze falling on Sarah. Something stirred in him.

Without her glasses, her almond-shaped eyes were striking, with their subtle upward tilt and gleaming with an inner light. Combined with her rose-red dress, she looked alluring and confident.

Nothing like the meek, compliant woman he thought he knew.