Confusion crossed Darren's face, and his brows drew together as if he could not believe what he had just heard. "What did you just say?"

Meeting his gaze without hesitation, Millie spoke each word with clarity. "I said divorce," she said, and her tone did not waver.

Silence spread through the room, and even the air felt heavy and still. For a long while, Darren kept his eyes on her. The warmth that once lived in her eyes had disappeared, and only a steady calm remained. At that moment, he finally understood that she was not acting out of impulse.

Without warning, a strange sense of panic stirred inside him. He drew deeply on his cigarette as though he needed something solid to steady himself, then curved his lips into a faint and mocking smile. "You have quite the courage," he said.

Memories of three painful years pressed against her chest once again, and the weight of them made it hard to breathe. "Is that not what you have always wanted?" she asked quietly.

Anger finally broke through Darren's restraint. He tossed the cigarette to the ground and crushed it beneath his shoe. "Millie, have you forgotten how this marriage even started?" he asked. "Your brother sacrificed his hand for it."

Although her jaw tightened briefly, she refused to let her voice shake. "I remember everything," she replied evenly.

At that time, Darren had still been the man she was dating. Photos surfaced of him appearing in public with Zoey, and they looked every bit like a devoted couple.

Unable to tolerate the humiliation, her older brother, Ruben Morgan, stepped forward to confront Darren. During the confrontation, chaos erupted, and Ruben ended up injuring his right hand.

Gifted and driven, Ruben had once been the pride of the family, and many believed he would build an outstanding career in medicine. Because of that injury, however, his path was cut short before he even had the chance to truly begin.

News of the conflict spread quickly, and it drew attention from both families. As one of the most respected households in their circle, the Morgans demanded that the Evans family take responsibility. The elders of the Evans family pressured Darren to marry Millie, and he had grudgingly agreed.

At the time, Millie convinced herself that Darren still had feelings for her. Meanwhile, the Morgan family saw value in forming a strong alliance with the Evans family. She knew that by marrying Darren, she had forfeited any claim against the Evans family for Ruben's injury. Even so, she went through with it—and the weight of that choice never left her.

With a cold expression, Darren spoke without hesitation. "Since your family went to such lengths to secure this marriage, you should live with it," he said. "Stay in your place as my wife for the rest of your life and learn how to behave."

Only then did she understand the truth. The gentle care he showed at the start of their marriage had been nothing more than a performance. The emotional distance after that reflected who he truly was. In his mind, it was retribution.

After a brief pause, she looked at him steadily. "Have you ever considered what this is doing to Zoey?" Millie asked. "Do you truly want to keep pulling her into this situation?"

Her words were not meant to defend Zoey, the woman who had stepped between them. Instead, they came from a place of deep exhaustion. She no longer wanted to remain trapped in a cycle that seemed to have no end.

A spark of anger ignited in Darren's eyes as he fixed his gaze on her. "When your family cornered me into this marriage, did you ever stop to consider how cruel that was to Zoey?"

For the first time that night, Millie did not see cold detachment in him. What burned there was unmistakable resentment, sharp and unfiltered.

What exactly was he blaming her for? Did he truly believe she had destroyed his future with Zoey?

Millie couldn't comprehend it because he had been the one who confessed his love to her first.

If he had been honest back then and admitted that his heart already belonged to someone else, perhaps she would have walked away and never agreed to the wedding.

Breaking eye contact, Millie turned aside. She rose to her feet, pulled open a drawer, and retrieved a neatly prepared divorce agreement. It had been waiting there for a long time. Tonight, she had finally chosen to use it.

Calm and deliberate, she said, "This is not a sudden decision. If I am bringing up divorce, it is because I am certain you will accept it."

After stepping closer, she pressed the papers into his hand. "Put your name on it. We can end this without conflict. Do not push me to handle it in a way you will regret."

His eyes scanned the page, and his fingers slowly curled around the document. "Were you even listening to what I said just now?" he asked through clenched teeth.

Holding his gaze without hesitation, she replied, "Your grandmother has already given her approval. She told me she is willing to decide on your behalf."

Although Darren now controlled the family business and rarely faced opposition, there was still one person whose authority he could not ignore. In his world, his grandmother remained the only figure capable of restraining him.

A sharp edge crept into Darren's tone as he spoke. "You had better think this through. We signed a prenuptial agreement the day we married. If this ends in divorce, you walk away with nothing. You are aware of the state of Morgan Group. It is no longer what it once was, and it survives because of my family's support. If we separate, can your family's company withstand the consequences?"

For the briefest moment, the intensity in his words almost sounded like concern, and it caused her to hesitate.

Clarity returned just as quickly. There was no care behind his warning. He was applying pressure.

Without raising her voice, Millie answered, "Whatever happens to Morgan Group does not require your involvement." Her tone remained calm and distant.

A shadow settled over Darren's expression. Without another word, he picked up a pen and signed his name in the space marked for the husband. Once finished, he thrust the papers back toward her.

"It's done. I have signed." A humorless laugh followed, and disdain filled his voice. "Still, I am certain you will not follow through with this. I'll wait for the day you come back and ask me to reconsider."

Without adding another word, Darren abandoned the conversation and headed straight out the door.

Left alone in the quiet villa, Millie tightened her grip on the divorce papers. The ache inside her had not disappeared, yet beneath that pain was a strange sense of release, as though a crushing weight had finally been removed from her chest.

Somewhere beyond the walls, a car engine roared to life and gradually faded down the mountain road. Only then did something cross Millie's mind. Acting quickly, she took out her phone and dialed a number.

Meanwhile, Brice Chapman, Darren's assistant, guided the car away from the villa complex and onto the winding road.

At such a late hour, the mountain path lay nearly deserted. Gentle music drifted from the speakers, filling the silence inside the vehicle. In the back seat, Darren leaned against the cushion with his eyes shut, appearing to rest.

Breaking the quiet, Brice spoke carefully. "Sir, Mr. Wall just called. He confirmed that Miss Murray arrived home safely."

Without opening his eyes, Darren responded with a brief, "I see."

Through the rearview mirror, Brice attempted to read his employer's mood. Although he could not make out his expression clearly, the atmosphere inside the car had turned noticeably colder ever since Darren left the villa. The confined space felt heavy, and even the air seemed difficult to breathe.

For a while, Brice kept quiet and did not risk another word. The silence stretched on until the sudden sound of his phone ringing cut through the car.

After glancing at the screen, he spoke carefully. "Sir, the call is from your wife."

At once, Darren opened his eyes. He offered no reply, yet the shift in his expression was immediate.

The ringing continued, filling the space with tension. Unable to gauge Darren's reaction, Brice finally answered the call. "Hello?"

On the other end, Millie's voice was steady and composed. "Brice, please remind Darren that we still need to submit the divorce documents tomorrow. If he would rather avoid seeing me, he can sign an authorization form and allow the process to continue."

The word divorce echoed in Brice's mind, and disbelief flickered across his face.

Instinctively, he glanced toward the back seat again, only to feel the atmosphere inside the car grow even heavier.

Still, Darren remained silent. With no other choice, Brice responded carefully, "Understood. I will inform him."

...

Even though she understood that Darren would not return home that night, Millie chose to remain at the villa until morning. When the next day arrived, she intentionally waited until regular office hours had begun before heading back to gather her belongings.

Inside the house that had once been arranged for their shared future, she instructed the staff to remove everything she had gradually placed there over the past three years. All the decorations and small details she had chosen with care were discarded without hesitation. In the end, she kept only a few sets of clothing and the most necessary items.

Over time, most of her personal savings had already disappeared because she had used them to fill the financial gaps of Morgan Group.

As for the gifts and valuables provided by the Evans family, she had no desire to keep any of them.

When she arrived at the courthouse, only Brice was waiting. Darren did not appear.

Clearing his throat, Brice said with practiced politeness, "Mrs. Evans, Mr. Evans has an extremely busy schedule today—"

Whether he intended to protect Darren's image or simply avoid discomfort, his explanation did not get far. Before he could continue, Millie raised her hand and signaled for him to stop.

She had no patience left for justifications.

Without hesitation, she stepped up to the service window and passed every prepared document to the clerk, allowing the paperwork to move forward.

The procedure moved quickly and required little effort. Within minutes, the filing was complete. They were instructed to return after a thirty-day waiting period to make it official. Once everything was settled, she collected her belongings and walked away.

Later, after paying the taxi driver, she pulled her suitcase behind her and entered the small apartment she had rented for the time being.

Although the space was modest, it was fully furnished and ready for use. After replacing the bedding with clean sheets, she lay down briefly to ease her fatigue. Soon after, she rose and began arranging her belongings bit by bit.

One by one, she hung her clothes neatly in the closet. Then she placed her toiletries in the bathroom, set a stuffed toy carefully on the couch, and fixed a small wind chime near the window.

Suddenly, the doorbell echoed through the quiet room.

As she reached for the handle, Millie called out, "Who is it?"

When the door opened, a tall young man wearing a coat stood outside. It was her brother.

"Ruben."

A heavy wave of guilt rose inside her, and it pressed so tightly against her chest that she could not even meet his eyes.

Instead of showing blame or resentment, Ruben behaved as he always had. With an easy and familiar motion, he lifted his hand and gently messed up her hair. "You foolish girl. If things were this difficult, why did you not come back home?"

At that, Millie's composure finally broke. Tears blurred her vision, and she could no longer force them back. She stepped closer and held onto him tightly. "Ruben… I am filing for divorce. It feels like I disappointed you."

A quiet laugh escaped him, warm and sincere. "You have finally made the right choice," Ruben said without hesitation. "I could not be more relieved."

Still clinging to him, Millie slowly lifted her head. "But what about Morgan Group?"

In front of Darren, she had spoken with confidence, yet deep down she knew she was not free from worry.

His expression turned steady and resolute. "I told you long ago," Ruben replied firmly. "Morgan Group is my burden to carry. It was never yours."

When their parents passed away, both Ruben and Millie were still children, and their uncle took control of the company.

From that point on, Ruben became more than just an older brother. He grew into a guardian who watched over her every step. As she grew up, he shielded her from hardship and indulged her whenever he could.

Since childhood, he had dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, after injuring his hand, that future slipped out of reach. At nearly the same time, their uncle had mismanaged the company to such an extent that it was close to ruin, and Ruben had no option but to return and take responsibility.

Despite pouring his energy into saving it over the past few years, the decline of the company continued, and his efforts could not fully reverse the damage.

Standing inside the apartment, Ruben examined the surroundings carefully. The longer he looked, the more his expression tightened. "Come back home," he said with quiet insistence. "My little princess should not be staying in a place like this."

Gently, Millie shook her head. "It is really fine. The space may be small, but it is located downtown, and transportation is convenient," she said. Then her tone softened. "Right now, I just need some time by myself."

She knew how much strain the company had already placed on him. At the same time, she understood that her own heart had not yet recovered. Staying by his side every day would only add to his worries, and she did not want to become another burden he had to carry.

"But..."

He tried to protest, but Millie did not let him continue.

"Ruben, during the three years I was married to Darren, I did not accomplish anything for myself. Now that I am ending it, I want to take this chance to discover what I am capable of."

A faint crease appeared between his brows. "Do you believe I cannot provide for you?" Darren asked, lifting an eyebrow. In his view, she had no reason to concern herself with survival.

Calm but resolute, Millie replied, "Depending on you would certainly make life easy, but comfort can slowly wear a person down." She wanted to explore the world beyond her narrow routine and gain experiences of her own. Perhaps then her thoughts would not trap her so easily.

Although Ruben fell silent, the unease in his eyes remained.

To reassure him, Millie lifted her hand as if making a promise. "I will not act recklessly," she said firmly.

After studying her for a moment, Ruben asked quietly, "So you truly intend to end things with Darren?" He knew better than anyone how deeply she had once loved Darren.

Without hesitation, Millie gave a small nod.

Doubt still lingered in his expression, yet Ruben chose not to press further for fear of upsetting her. Instead, he reached out and gently tousled her hair. "Whatever path you choose, I will stand behind you."

Moved by his words, Millie wrapped her arms around him once more. "Thank you, Ruben," she said gently.

No matter how stubborn or unreasonable she had been in the past, he never once turned his back on her. Whenever she needed him, Ruben showed up without hesitation and without conditions.

Instead of ordering takeout, he went into the kitchen and prepared a meal for her himself. They sat across from each other and shared lunch in a calm and familiar silence. Only after confirming that she truly seemed steady did he finally take his leave.

Once the door closed behind him, the apartment grew overwhelmingly quiet. To break the stillness, Millie switched on the television and let the noise fill the room. She had been seriously considering what direction her life should take next, yet somewhere between those thoughts, she drifted off without noticing.

The sharp sound of her phone ringing startled her awake. By then, night had already settled outside the windows.

Reaching for her phone, she glanced at the screen and saw Brice's name.

Although she could not guess his reason for calling, she answered without delay. "Hello?"

On the other end, Brice spoke in a controlled tone. "Mrs. Evans, I am currently at Verve Hotel with Mr. Evans for a business dinner. I happened to see Mr. Morgan here. He appears to have had too much to drink, and he is alone."

The moment Millie heard that, she rose to her feet. "I will be there right away," she said firmly.

Without wasting time, she grabbed a coat, hurried outside, and signaled for a taxi as quickly as she could.

About fifteen minutes later, she arrived outside the private room at Verve Hotel. Most of the guests had already left, yet the heavy scent of alcohol still lingered in the air.

At the table, Ruben sat slumped forward with his eyes shut. His tie hung loose around his collar, and his shirt was creased and untidy. He had always paid close attention to his appearance, so seeing him in such a state unsettled her.

She called out gently, "Ruben?"

Slowly, Ruben forced his eyes open and focused on her for a brief moment before letting them fall closed again. "Millie… what are you doing here?"

There was no doubt he had drunk far beyond his limit.

Concern tightening her chest, Millie asked, "Why are you by yourself? Where is Jonathan?"

Jonathan Miller, his assistant, was usually never far from him.

"He had other matters to handle," Ruben replied in a sluggish tone.

Gently, she leaned closer to him. "Come on. Let me take you home," Millie said.

With effort, he forced out a response before his eyes drifted shut again. "Give me a moment," he muttered. "Just one more minute… then we can leave."

No matter how hard Millie tried, she could not lift him on her own. Realizing she needed assistance, she stepped out to look for a staff member. As she walked past the restroom corridor, the voices of two middle-aged men reached her ears.

"Ruben Morgan used to stand at the top. Have you ever seen him in a position like this before? These days have not been kind to him."

"Things were different when he still had ties with the Evans family. Back then, people were willing to be patient. Now that his sister is divorcing Mr. Evans, no one feels obligated to be generous. We are running businesses, not charities. We cannot afford to let our investments sink with him."

"That is right."

Hearing those words, a sharp pressure built in Millie's chest as the image of Ruben slumped over the table flashed through her mind. She turned slightly, and her gaze landed on Darren as he stepped out of a private room nearby.

Zoey had been clinging to his arm only moments earlier. As soon as she noticed Millie standing there, she released her grip at once, as though she wanted the gesture to be seen.

With a bright and carefully measured smile, Zoey spoke first. "Millie, what a coincidence. Did you come here looking for Darren?"