It was quiet around the cemetery at night.

I hadn't walked around alone at night in a long while.

Mom used to hold my hand in the past, and later on, I would hold onto Hayden's arm instead.

From now on, though, I would be moving forward alone. I believed I would be able to adapt to it.

I only arrived home at 1:00 am.

Hayden wasn't asleep yet. Instead, he was staring at his phone screen and typing messages.

His nervous expression dropped as he saw me return, and he immediately rushed over to hug me. "Where have you been? None of my calls went through, and you didn't reply to any of my messages. If you hadn't come back, I would've gone to the police and reported you missing!"

I was stunned for a moment, after which I broke free from his embrace. "I just wanted to spend some quiet time with my mother."

A trace of guilt flashed across his face at my words. He had even promised to visit Mom earlier.

Suddenly, his expression shifted. He pulled out an exquisite little gift box from his pocket and held it out to me.

Seeing how serious he looked, I opened the box and was stunned to see a diamond ring nestled inside.

Hayden once seriously confessed to me and said that he would get down on one knee to propose to me with Mom as our witness. He wanted her to watch as we received our marriage certificate and bear witness to our happiness.

I waited countless days and nights since that day, eagerly looking forward to the promised day, but those expectations had since dried up.

I closed the box and handed it back to Hayden.

He frowned slightly before recalling what had happened earlier today and explaining, "Yet another day has passed. Just wait a little more, and I'll be able to divorce Scarlett. I'll definitely fulfill my promise from back then.

"How about the day after tomorrow? I'll formally propose to you then, and we'll order a certified copy of our marriage certificate right away. I'll even personally put the ring on your finger."

I could no longer feel moved by his words and simply replied indifferently, "I get it, but I'm too tired right now. I'm going to sleep first."

Hayden had truly experienced my nonchalance for the first time, and his happy expression disappeared instantly.

He attempted to hug me from behind as I turned around, but Scarlett stepped out of our bedroom just then. She was even wearing my nightclothes.

She rubbed her eyes before running over to take Hayden's hand. She swung it lightly while cajoling, "Lucy's back now, so stop fretting and come to bed already."

Hayden looked at me and said quickly, "Scarlett fought with her mother, so I let her stay in the guest room for one night."

He stared closely at me as he spoke, as if deathly afraid that I would misunderstand the situation.

I replied expressionlessly, "Sure. It's fine. I'll just stay over with my mother."

Hayden looked at me in astonishment, surprised that I would agree so readily.

Scarlett showed no hesitation upon hearing my answer and smugly walked back into the bedroom.

Hayden was still trailing after me as I dragged my suitcase out of the house.

He bit his lip and kept his hand on mine, refusing to let go. His eyes were filled with heavy guilt.

Scarlett was still nagging at him to return, so he said quickly, "We'll go to the city hall early the day after tomorrow to get our marriage certificate, then visit Mrs. Atwell immediately afterward."

Early the next morning, I visited the company to settle the handover of affairs.

As soon as I entered the building, many people whispered and cast curious gazes at me behind my back.

It was no wonder that they were all giving me strange looks. As it turned out, Scarlett was already sitting at my desk.

Although the other employees were looking straight at their computers, they couldn't help glancing at us out of the corner of their eyes.

Scarlett declared arrogantly, "I've come to work at the company. I've decided that this spot is pretty decent, so you can pick somewhere else to sit instead."

I glanced at her and nodded. "Alright. I'll move my documents elsewhere."

There was nothing special about our conversation, but our colleagues all assumed that I didn't dare to argue with her because she was Hayden's legitimate wife.

They couldn't discuss their views openly while I was still here, but it didn't stop them from casting me disdainful looks as they worked.

Although I wanted to explain myself, I had no idea how to.

Scarlett was Hayden's legal wife, after all, so I would only become more of a laughingstock the more I tried to explain myself.

As I picked up the documents and stood to leave, Hayden walked over to us. He looked panicked when he saw me leaving my desk. "Where are you going?"

"I—"

Scarlett cut me off rudely. "She's making room for me because I want to sit here."

As I turned to leave, Hayden hurriedly grabbed me by the wrist. "Don't leave. This is your workstation, and nobody can—"

I interrupted him, explaining, "If she likes it, then just let her sit here."

I had already resigned, after all, so I didn't care who wanted to sit in my original spot.

Hayden was stunned for a while. He was conflicted and only came back to his senses after I had already left.

In full view of everyone, Hayden slapped Scarlett and swept all the office supplies she had happily arranged on the desk to the floor.

"I may have agreed to enter a fake marriage with you, but how dare you take advantage of it? Have you forgotten your place? I warned you not to blame me for flipping out on you if you offended Lucy!"

Just after I left the company building, my phone chimed, notifying me of several new text messages.

"I'll wait for you in front of the city hall tomorrow morning. Let's visit Mrs. Atwell after picking up our marriage certificate. I'll also arrange for Mrs. Atwell to receive consultation from a specialist tomorrow."

I smiled helplessly.

It was too late, Hayden.

I had already packed all my things and boarded a plane.

…

The next day, Hayden put on a suit and rushed to the city hall to wait for me right after finalizing the divorce from the courthouse.