Back at her desk, Roselyn set the documents aside, reached for her phone, and took a picture of the divorce agreement.

She sent the image to Jenifer Riley, Adrian's mother.

The day after she received her diagnosis, Roselyn had already met with Jenifer to talk about ending the marriage.

For a long time, Jenifer had wanted Adrian free from this relationship so he could finally marry the Hudson heiress and secure the backing of a powerful family.

Now that Roselyn was terminally ill and her time was uncertain, Jenifer only grew more eager to remove her from the Riley family.

She had made a clear offer. If Roselyn could get Adrian to sign, thirty million would be given as compensation.

A reply came through almost at once. "Understood."

After that, Roselyn slipped both the medical report and the divorce papers into her bag. She then opened her drawer and took out a resignation letter she had prepared two days earlier.

The choice had already been made, so there was no reason to hesitate. It needed to be done properly.

Holding the letter along with a set of completed documents, she made her way to the finance director's office.

Gerald, the finance director, was a middle-aged man with glasses, who carried a calm and scholarly air.

The moment Gerald saw the paper she handed him, his expression changed, and concern quickly followed.

"Ms. Hudson, are you leaving?"

Over the years, Roselyn had been the one he relied on the most. Her presence had kept Gerald's position steady.

Once Roselyn was gone, nothing would feel certain anymore.

A small nod came from Roselyn. "Yes. Thank you for everything you've done for me."

Since the marriage had never been made public, almost no one knew Roselyn was Adrian's wife.

Gerald leaned forward and lightly caught her sleeve. "If this is about your pay, I can talk to management. A raise and a promotion aren't out of reach."

A small smile formed on her lips. "It's not about that."

"You're really going through with this?"

"Yes."

Once she chose to walk away from Adrian, staying in his company no longer made sense.

The certainty in her voice left Gerald with nothing more to say.

With a quiet sigh, he picked up his pen and signed the letter.

After setting it down, Gerald looked up again. "What should I write as your reason for leaving?"

Roselyn met his gaze and spoke firmly. "Health reasons. Work can wait. Life can't."

Surprise showed on his face, and he didn't press further.

Both the resignation and the divorce would take one month to complete.

When that time passed, she would finally be free.

That evening, Roselyn returned home. She walked over to the calendar she had bought the day before, tore off the first page, crushed it in her hand, and threw it away.

The fresh page showed July 1st in bold red. By August 1st, one month later, she would walk out of this house for good.

Donna, the housekeeper, approached with a plate of fruit. Her eyes landed on the calendar resting on the table. "Ma'am, what made you buy this? It looks... old-fashioned."

A faint smile appeared on Roselyn's face. "It's easier this way. I want to see the days pass. My birthday's coming up, so this helps me keep track."

Donna looked puzzled.

A phone could have done the same thing.

Hardly anyone used something like that anymore.

Donna held back whatever questions lingered in her mind. She placed the fruit on the table, then quietly headed back to the kitchen.

Just before stepping fully inside, she stopped at the doorway. "Ma'am, I almost forgot. I called Mr. Riley earlier. He said he's tied up with a business dinner tonight and won't be coming back."

Roselyn reached for a grape and ate it. "Alright, noted."

The response caught Donna off guard.

In the past, news like that would've set Roselyn off. She would've called again and again, trying to confirm where he was.

Nothing ever slipped past her. She had to know every detail.

There was even a time when she secretly installed tracking software on Adrian's phone.

Later, for reasons unknown, Roselyn ended up in the ICU after slitting her wrist.

Now, she remained completely calm without questions or any reaction.

That quiet felt wrong.

A ringing sound broke the silence as the phone on the coffee table lit up. Roselyn glanced over. Stefan Hudson, her cousin, was calling.

Roselyn picked it up, and his voice came through, careful and measured. "Hey, Roselyn. You done with work? Am I catching you at a bad time?"

Roselyn's gaze dropped to the sliced apple in her hand. "I'm free. Just got back home. What's up?"

A short pause followed before Stefan continued, "I just got promoted, and my salary went up too. Mom and Dad were talking about you earlier. They want you to come have dinner with us."

Roselyn didn't hesitate. "Alright, I'll come."

"I'll swing by and get you," Stefan said.

Once the call ended, Roselyn stood up and went to change.

Before leaving, she told Donna she wouldn't be home for dinner, then stepped out of the villa.

Donna stayed where she was, watching her leave, though she kept her thoughts to herself.

She still believed Roselyn hadn't let go of Adrian. Someone like her wouldn't stay silent for long.

Something was bound to happen.

...

As she walked, Roselyn glanced at the message Stefan had just sent on WhatsApp.

His car had stalled from running out of gas, and he told her to wait for a bit.

Roselyn replied with a short "Okay."

Stefan was three years older than her. At twenty-seven, he was still unmarried, which had his parents constantly worrying.

Whenever marriage came up, he would brush it aside and refuse to take it seriously.

Roselyn didn't keep in touch with most of the Hudson family, but things were different with her uncle, Frank Hudson's household. Since they never had a daughter, they had always treated her as one of their own.

Back then, when Roselyn's mother walked away from the divorce with nothing, it was Frank's family who stepped in to help them.

To Roselyn and her mother, they were the closest family they had.

After passing through the main gate of the residential area, Roselyn waited for a few minutes before her phone rang again.

"Roselyn, traffic's bad right now. I've got a friend nearby, so I asked him to come get you," Stefan said.

Before he could finish, a black Bentley stopped right in front of her. The driver lowered the window, revealing a face she hadn't seen in years.

Still holding the phone, Roselyn hesitated before replying, "I think... he's already here."

The man had defined features, dressed in a black shirt with the sleeves pushed up, showing his forearms.

Kevin Wheeler looked at her, and his thoughts drifted back to five years ago.

At that time, Roselyn used to trail after him with her books, calling his name and asking him to explain things.

Time had changed her. That earlier version of her was gone, replaced by someone more composed.

Now, Roselyn stood there in a fitted lavender dress, her hair tied into a high ponytail. There was unease in her eyes, and she looked noticeably thinner.

Kevin's gaze deepened as he looked at her. "Get in."

Time had moved on, yet Kevin still carried that same distant grace, though something in him now felt more grounded and settled.

Back then, five years earlier, Roselyn had gone to the countryside to see her uncle, Arthur Cunningham. During that visit, Arthur had brought home a man who had tumbled down a hillside.

That man, as fate would have it, was Kevin Wheeler.

It was only later that Roselyn came to understand the meaning behind his name in Oresey.

No family matched the Wheelers in wealth or power.

Being the only heir, Kevin held control over a large part of the northern region's economy. Power and privilege had always been part of his life.

Light itself seemed drawn to him, as if it chose to rest on him.

After the call ended, Roselyn put on a polite smile. "It's been a while. How have you been?" she said.

Kevin gave a short reply. "I'm fine."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. Knowing someone like him meant Stefan had truly climbed high.

Once they got into the car, Roselyn took her place in the back seat. Her posture stayed straight, and her hands rested on her knees.

She sat stiffly, like a student in front of a strict teacher, careful not to make any mistake.

Kevin didn't need to speak. The air around him already felt heavy.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Roselyn thanked him and quickly pushed the door open.

A faint look crossed Kevin's face. Was she really that uneasy around him?

Inside the elevator, only the two of them stood there, and the same tension crept back in.

Kevin broke the silence. "How's Arthur?"

For a brief moment, Roselyn didn't respond. Tears slowly filled her eyes. "He's gone. It's been six months."

Even as Roselyn spoke, her voice wavered, and the grief she tried to hold back still showed.

Everything had happened without warning. Losing him had not been something she could accept easily, and the pain had stayed with her for a long time.

Without Arthur back then, she and her mother would have had nowhere to turn.

Hearing that, Kevin went quiet. He had been away overseas for years and had only come back recently, so he hadn't known any of this.

Regret passed through Kevin's eyes. He lifted his hand and rested it lightly on Roselyn's head. "I'm sorry."

The touch caught Roselyn off guard, and she stiffened before lowering her head at once.

A soft sound signaled the elevator had reached the third floor.

As she stepped out, something pulled Roselyn's attention toward a private dining room with the door left slightly open, and she stopped.

Noticing her reaction, Kevin followed her line of sight. Inside, several people sat around a table, laughing and celebrating. At the center, a large cake had been placed.

Near the table, a man stood close to a woman with their backs facing the door, and he carefully put a necklace around her neck.

The sight struck Roselyn hard, and her eyes turned red right away.

Looking at her, Kevin spoke in a low voice. "You know them?"

"Yeah..." Roselyn said, forcing her tone to stay steady. "That's my husband. And the woman with him is his mistress. She's also my half-sister."

That necklace Adrian had just placed on Emma had been something he secured months ago. He once told Roselyn it would be her birthday present.

Now, it rested on Emma instead.

The situation felt almost unreal.

Talking about something like that felt humiliating, yet Adrian had never tried to keep things hidden. People around them had known all along, while Roselyn remained the last to find out. Behind her back, she had turned into something people laughed about.

Since the divorce would be finalized in a month, keeping quiet no longer mattered.

Pushing down the bitterness, Roselyn looked away and headed for another private room.

For a short while, Kevin stayed where he was, watching her leave before he finally spoke.

"Roselyn."

At the sound of her name, Roselyn stopped and turned around.

Kevin walked closer, his voice calm and firm. "Your uncle once saved my life, and I haven't forgotten that. Ask for anything, and I'll make it happen."

Those words caught Roselyn off guard, and her eyes brightened.

Doubt crept in for a moment. Was he serious?

She hadn't expected Kevin to go this far.

"Then... thank you," Roselyn said, her voice filled with sincerity.

...

Walking into the private room, Roselyn greeted them. "Uncle Frank, Aunt Janice, Stefan."

Without hesitation, Janice Hudson reached for her and guided her to sit beside her. Concern showed on her face as she looked Roselyn over. "What happened to you? You've gotten so thin. Have you been working so much that you're skipping meals?"

Her hand rose to her cheek, and Roselyn hesitated, unsure what to say.

Once work took over, everything else faded into the background.

Meals often slipped her mind until the pain forced her to notice, and medication had become something she depended on.

If not for the checkup last week, she wouldn't have realized the truth. What she thought was a small problem had already turned into stomach cancer.

From what the doctor said, it wasn't just her eating habits that caused it. The strain she had been carrying for so long had also played a part.

Everything she kept inside had slowly taken its toll.

The past repeated itself in the worst way. Emma's mother had once taken Roselyn's father, and now Emma had done the same by taking her husband.

How ironic.

Both of them had torn apart other families, and somehow, Roselyn had let her own life fall apart because of them. The whole thing felt almost ridiculous.

At this point, her body demanded more than just medicine. She needed a steady routine and a calm state of mind.

The moment Roselyn stopped letting them matter, a sense of relief slowly settled in.

When no answer came, Janice leaned closer, concern showing on her face. "Roselyn, did you hear me?"

Coming back to herself, Roselyn gave a small smile. "I've been eating on time. It's just the weather. Wearing lighter clothes makes me look thinner."

Just then, Frank slid the menu over to her. "Go ahead and pick anything you like. Don't think about saving money for Stefan. He just got promoted today, so this meal is for him."

Taking the menu, Roselyn looked at him. "Congrats, Stefan."

With a nod and a grin, Stefan replied, "Come on, don't hold back. Order whatever you want."

After a quick look through the options, Roselyn chose a few simple and affordable dishes.

Looking over Roselyn's choices, Frank couldn't hide his dissatisfaction. "Why are you only eating this? A salad and soup won't do anything for you. You've lost too much weight. Get something proper."

Before Roselyn could respond, Frank reached for the menu and added several warm dishes she used to enjoy.

As the meal went on, Janice kept filling Roselyn's plate, making sure each serving was something she liked.

Despite that, Roselyn barely touched the food. After a few bites, she found it hard to continue.

Janice caught on right away. "Roselyn, what's the matter? Does it not taste good?"

Roselyn gave a small shake of her head. "It's fine, really. I had something earlier, so I'm not very hungry."

In truth, her condition had taken away her appetite, but she kept that to herself to avoid worrying them.

Not long after, a dull discomfort spread through her stomach. Roselyn pushed her chair back and stood. "I'll step out for a bit," she said before heading toward the restroom.

As she passed the smoking lounge, familiar voices reached her ears. They belonged to people who often stayed around Adrian.

"Adrian, you're staying out tonight again? Didn't your wife start calling you already?" one of them said.

"Knowing her, she definitely did. Adrian probably shut her down right away."

"She used to watch his every move. Anyone would get tired of that. No surprise he lost interest. After so long, there's nothing left."

"Come on, Emma's on a different level. Looks, figure, family, everything. Anyone would pick her."

Their careless tone made it clear Adrian had never tried to stop them from speaking like that.

Lowering her head, Roselyn let out a quiet laugh at herself and turned away.

Inside the lounge, Adrian sat with his head lowered, a cigarette between his fingers. Through the drifting smoke, a familiar figure caught his eye.

Without hesitation, he stubbed the cigarette out and stepped outside.

His sudden move made the others follow, each putting out their cigarettes as they went after him.

"Roselyn," Adrian called sharply. "So this is your new move now? Calling wasn't enough, so you decided to trail after me?"

The people around him went still, glancing at one another with unease.

None of them had expected her to appear here.

Roselyn's brother, Cristian Hudson, had specifically chosen a private VIP room to keep Emma's birthday dinner quiet. Roselyn's presence disrupted that sense of control.

No one could tell how much Roselyn had already heard.

Roselyn halted where she stood, and a sudden ache tightened in her chest.

Without warning, a memory came back. There was a time when Adrian had stood in front of her, shielding her without hesitation.

That version of him overlapped with the man in front of her now. He once cared deeply for her.

At some point, that love shifted into irritation and distance.

Taking a slow breath, Roselyn composed herself before turning back with a faint smile. "You're mistaken. I came here to eat. You're not the reason I'm here."

Roselyn moved to leave for the restroom, but Adrian reached out and caught her arm.

Adrian's patience snapped. "Roselyn, do you have to do this here? I'm meeting people for work. You're making things uncomfortable."

Without raising her voice, Roselyn pulled her arm free. "What exactly did I do?"

Even something as simple as walking to the restroom was now considered a problem. The thought almost made her laugh.

When she saw the shift back then, Roselyn held on to Adrian and wouldn't let go.

She knew what it felt like to be loved, so when that feeling disappeared, she recognized it right away.

Trying to force things back to how they used to be had been her mistake.

That wouldn't happen again.

A shift passed over Adrian's face, and his gaze turned even colder.

Sensing the tension, Adrian's friends quickly stepped in, trying to ease the situation.

"Roselyn, don't take it the wrong way. We're really just here for work."

Roselyn gave a small nod. "Alright. Then go ahead and continue."

Without waiting for anything else, Roselyn turned and walked off.

Once she faced away from them, a faint, mocking smile appeared on her lips.

Whether he was talking business or sharing something more personal with another woman no longer held any weight for her.

After one month, Adrian would simply become someone from her past.

As she disappeared from view, the group stood there, still unsettled.

"Adrian, she's always watching you closely."

"You might want to follow her and fix this before it gets worse."

Adrian looked toward where Roselyn had left, his irritation building. He took another cigarette from the pack, and someone stepped in to light it.

Taking a deep drag, he exhaled sharply. "Enough. Drop it."

After a few moments, the tension eased. Adrian turned around and headed back into the private room as though nothing had happened.