Whispers rippled through the crowd—probably betting on how spectacular my outburst would be.

But I only lifted my gaze, met his eyes calmly, and said two words:

"Okay."

Everyone froze. The probing in Ethan's eyes gave way to shock, and he stood there blank for a moment, not reacting.

Before either of them could say anything else, the host's voice rang from the front of the banquet hall, announcing that the birthday banquet was beginning.

According to the program, next came the gift presentation segment.

Guests stepped forward one by one, delivering carefully prepared gifts to Richard, offering auspicious words of blessing.

Soon it was Victoria and Ethan's turn. She clung to his arm with one hand, the other protectively cradling her lower abdomen, holding that pine-and-crane painting as they walked slowly toward the main seat.

"Uncle Richard, I wish you blessings as vast as the ocean and a life as enduring as the mountains."

"This is a birthday gift Ethan and I specially picked out for you. I hope you like it."

Richard's gaze fell on the painting, and his eyes brightened—just slightly.

But when his gaze swept over Victoria's protruding belly, they went dark again.

With so many guests present, he held his tongue. He nodded faintly and had the butler take the gift.

"Thoughtful. Take your seats."

Victoria's smile stiffened—she hadn't expected such a cold reception—but she didn't dare push it. She followed Ethan obediently back to their seats.

The moment they sat down, all eyes turned to me.

"What about the young madam of the Gilbert family? She hasn't given a gift yet, right?"

"What did Miss Ye prepare for the old man?"

"If Miss Donaldson rushed to present a painting, then Miss Shen's gift must be even more valuable, right?"

I took a deep breath and slowly rose from my corner, walking step by step toward the front of the hall.

Better to take this chance to cut all ties.

I took the microphone from the host and said, word by word:

"Thank you to all the guests for taking the time to attend the chairman's birthday banquet."

"Today, besides offering birthday wishes, I also have one thing to announce—Ethan Gilbert and I are getting divo—"

Before I could finish, the floor beneath me began to shake violently.

"Earthquake!"

Someone screamed it first, and then the banquet hall erupted into chaos.

Guests fled in all directions, screaming, tables and chairs knocked crooked or overturned entirely.

In the chaos, I looked up instinctively—and saw Ethan shoving through the crowd, running like crazy toward me, shouting my name:

"Alex Simmons!"

For a moment, my mind went blank.

The way he ran, the panic on his face—it overlapped, slowly, with that boy from seven years ago who had thrown himself in front of a knife for me.

My heart clenched.

But right then, Victoria's shrill voice cut through:

"Ethan, I'm so scared! Don't leave me!"

I watched his steps halt abruptly. He turned toward her.

Not even a second of hesitation.

He ran back to Victoria, leaving me standing there alone, completely frozen.

The chaos intensified. The crystal chandelier overhead groaned with the shaking ground. The next second, it tore loose and came crashing down—straight toward me.

My pupils shrank. My mind went white.

At that critical moment, a dark figure rushed forward and shoved me hard.

With a deafening crash, the chandelier smashed into the spot where I'd just been standing. Fragments exploded everywhere.

I staggered, caught myself, and finally saw who had saved me—Marcus, Richard's personal bodyguard.

He stood up and turned to me. "Miss Ye, it's dangerous here. The chairman asked me to escort you out—and to give you this."

He handed me a document.

I took it. A divorce agreement. The one Richard had prepared in advance.

Following his gaze, I looked toward the main seat. Richard was being escorted out by several bodyguards.

I bowed deeply in his direction. "Chairman, thank you for looking after me these seven years—and for saving my life today."

Then I followed the bodyguards out of Gilbert Mansion.

On the other side, Ethan had escorted Victoria to a safe clearing outside. Only after confirming she wasn't seriously hurt did he let out a breath.

But before he could even catch it, the scene in the banquet hall came flooding back.

Unease coiled around his heart like vines, tightening. The more he thought, the more panicked he became.

Like something important was slipping through his fingers.

"No. I'm going to find her."

He stood abruptly. Victoria grabbed his sleeve. "Ethan, my stomach hurts—maybe the earthquake scared the baby. It feels awful…"

Before, he would've checked on her immediately. Now, he shook her off. "Have an assistant take you to the hospital. I have something to do."

He turned and ran toward the mansion without waiting for her response.

He burst into the banquet hall, shouting my name. "Alex! Alex!"

Only the wreckage answered.

He grabbed a servant cleaning up the mess. "Where is Alex Simmons?"

The servant flinched. "Miss Ye left with the chairman's bodyguards… She said she and the Gilbert family don't owe each other anything anymore."

"Left…?"

His pupils contracted. Panic crashed over him like a wave.