Two days later, Fiona's composing work won first prize.

Henry specially held a grand celebration banquet for Fiona.

Under the crystal chandeliers, he stayed by Fiona's side the entire time, shielding her from toasts, adjusting her dress.

He looks unusually gentle and considerate.

The guests whispered, "Henry was so good to his childhood sweetheart, yet so cold to his wife. If Amelia hadn't humbly tried to salvage it every time, this marriage would have ended long ago."

I stood in a corner, swirling my champagne glass, ignoring their gossip.

Halfway through the banquet, I walked alone to the artificial lake for some relaxation.

The evening breeze was a bit cool, making me feel more awake.

"Can't take it anymore, huh? I told you I was the one Henry loved."

Fiona's voice came from behind me, dripping with smug victory.

She strutted over in high heels, sneering: "If I were you, I wouldn't have the face to stay here."

I couldn't even be bothered to look at her: "Get out of my way."

"Why are you so arrogant? You pursued Henry for four years, and you've been married for three years, but you still haven't gotten his eyes on you even a second. It's truly pathetic of you." Fiona said with a mocking tone, "Do you believe that even if I pushed you in the lake now, he wouldn't even care about you?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Fiona pushed me hard—

"Thump!"

The cold lake water instantly submerged my mouth and nose. I struggled to call for help, but more water poured in.

In my blurred vision, I saw a figure rushing over frantically, jumping into the lake without hesitation.

"Amelia!!!"

Henry's voice was filled with unprecedented worry.

He swam towards me frantically, his arms holding my waist tightly.

In a daze, I saw his eyes, and the fear and anxiety within them were so real that I was momentarily stunned.

Fiona, standing on the shore, was completely stunned. She couldn't believe her eyes—

Henry, who was always indifferent to me, was now jumping into the lake like a madman.

The way he held me was as if he were protecting a treasured possession that had been lost and found.

No! It is impossible!

She must have seen it wrong.

After being rescued, Henry knelt on the ground and gave me CPR, his slender fingers trembling constantly, until I coughed up some water, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next second, his expression suddenly froze, as if he had suddenly realized that he shouldn't show such concern.

He stood up, quickly collected all his emotions, and returned to his cold demeanor:

"How can you fall into the lake even when just attending a party?"

I sat on the ground, soaked to the bone, clutching the wet hem of my dress tightly, but my voice was unusually clear: "I didn't fall in myself. Fiona pushed me in."

Fiona's eyes immediately reddened, and she shook her head desperately: "Amelia, I didn't! How could you frame me like this?"

"Fine." I trembly took out my phone from my pocket, "Since you won't admit it, then let the police investigate. It is attempted murder. You will definitely receive the punishment you deserve."

I was about to dial 911 when Henry grabbed my wrist, stopping me.

"It's enough." His voice was impatient, and the force in his hand was so great it almost crushed my bones. "Fiona didn't do it on purpose, don't make a fuss to get my eyes."

I suddenly looked up, unable to believe my ears: "Get your eyes? Fiona almost killed me!"

"Aren't you standing here perfectly fine?" Henry emphasized his tone, his eyes warning, "Don't make trouble."

I suddenly felt incredibly sad.

I know Henry needs Fiona to stimulate me.

But for this ridiculous game, he doesn't even care about my life?

"I'm not making a fuss." I said, word by word, firmly pressing 911, "I have to call the police."

"I said it is enough!" Henry suddenly raised his voice and snatched my phone, "You're losing your mind right now. Go back and reflect on yourself."

After speaking, he waved for the guard: "Take her to the isolation room until she figures things out."

As the guards dragged me towards the isolation room, I struggled violently.

"Henry! Are you crazy?" My voice hoarse, I shouted, "She's trying to kill me! You clearly know!"

My fingernails scratched several bloody marks on the guard's arm, and my high heels fell to the ground in the struggle.

But the guard's strength was too strong. I was like a butterfly with pinned wings, fluttering helplessly.

Before falling completely into darkness, the last thing I saw was Henry standing in the backlight, a faint curve on his lips.

He was laughing.

He's actually laughing.

I suddenly got the point. He's feeling smug because I'm jealous of other women.

……

This isolation room, less than three square meters, had no windows, and a sense of suffocation instantly engulfed me.

"Let me out..." My voice began to tremble.

My claustrophobia kicked in, and I was overcome with immense fear.

I remembered when I was ten years old, and my stepmother locked me in the basement for three days and three nights.

That feeling of being abandoned by the whole world, I felt it again after so many years.

But this time, it was caused by someone who claimed to love me, for the sake of his so-called game.

I huddled in the corner, digging my nails deep into my palms.

I heard the sound of rats crawling in the darkness, and I bit my lip tightly, afraid to make a sound.

Time became blurred, and I didn't know if it had been an hour or a whole day.

I refused to eat any of the food that was brought, and I knocked the water glass to the ground.

My throat was so dry that I couldn't make any sound, but the psychological torment was even more devastating than the physical pain.

The next day, when the door of the isolation room finally opened, the harsh light made me instinctively close my eyes.

"Are you still pursuing that matter?" Henry's voice came from above me.

I weakly raised my head and saw the man standing against the light.

After a day apart, he was still impeccably dressed in a suit, and even his cufflinks were perfect.

While I was a mess, disheveled and pathetic, like a madwoman.

I suddenly laughed, laughed until tears streamed down my face: "I won't pursue it anymore..."

I said weakly, "I won't pursue anything anymore."

I just wanted freedom.

Away from Fiona, away from Henry, away from this terrible place.

Henry frowned, looking at my abnormal reaction, somewhat surprised.

His brief pause betrayed his unease.

But soon, he returned to his cold expression: "Remember what you said."

He turned and left, not seeing the resolute light in my eyes.

Henry, making me suffer is what you want?

You said you liked me, but you cause me pain and get me into trouble.

You said you like me, but you don't even care about my life.

Fine, if you enjoy my suffering because of you, then you've won.

You've achieved your goal.

But this is the last time you have the opportunity to hurt me.

I dragged my weary body out of the isolation room and happened to hear Fiona's spoiled voice coming from the second floor: "Henry, there's going to be thunder tonight. I'm a little scared, can you coax me to sleep?"

I clearly saw Henry frown slightly, as if he was about to refuse.

The moment Henry saw me, he put on a gentle expression instead and said kindly to Fiona: "Okay."

He put his arm around Fiona and went into the master bedroom, without even giving me a glance.

I smiled bitterly and silently returned to the guest room.

I no longer had the strength to invest anything in this marriage, and instead poured all my energy into submitting to the Music Arrangement Competition.

I used to be the most promising genius in the music department, but Henry forced me to resign just because he saw my male colleague drive me home.

Because I loved him, I gave up my dream.

Now, I've finally picked up my creative inspiration again, planning to go back to music.

But just as I was focused on composing, the door was suddenly pushed open.

Henry and Fiona walked in.

Henry glanced at my composed drafts, and his face immediately darkened.

"I told you I don't like you doing these things." He kicked my stand, "If you still want me to agree to withdraw the divorce application, get rid of your composing thoughts."

Looking at his indifferent expression, I was suddenly overwhelmed by immense sadness.

Who cares what he likes?

Does he think he can still threaten me now?

But I didn't say anything, I just put away my drafts.

Henry thought I had compromised and left with Fiona, satisfied.

But what I didn't notice was that before Fiona left, her eyes lingered on my composed drafts for a few seconds, a hint of amazement flashing in her eyes.

Three days later, the competition organizer called—my work was suspected of plagiarism.

"What? Whose did I plagiarize?" I couldn't believe it.

"Fiona's work is exactly the same as yours. She's a well-known composer; we can only disqualify you."`

I suddenly remembered Fiona's gaze at the drafts before she left that day, and hurriedly rummaged through the room for the original drafts, but found nothing.

"Are you looking for this?"

Fiona's voice came from behind me. I turned around sharply and saw her holding my original drafts in her hand.

Fiona smiled triumphantly: "Just because I said I liked it, Henry gave it to me without hesitation."

She leaned close to my ear and whispered, "See? Henry likes me. Just accept your fate and stop asking to withdraw your divorce application. Everyone will be better off if you leave sooner."

My mind went blank, and I rushed to confront Henry, but only received a cold response:

"I told you a long time ago that I don't like you touching music-related things. If you had listened to me and given up, this would never have happened."

"You give the composed drafts to Fiona, and I'll go with you to withdraw the divorce application."

I looked at the man I had loved for seven years, my heart aching as if it were being torn apart.

Why is he always acting like this?

He always ignores my preferences and never cares about my feelings.

If I hadn't seen those love letters, I really wouldn't have believed that this man ever liked me.

I know it's useless to say anything now because the original manuscript is lost.

I've been judged guilty of plagiarism.

I said "Okay" then dejectedly returned to my room, locking myself in the darkness.

Until a phone ring pulled me back to reality.

"Amelia, are you making a comeback?" My professor's excited voice came through, "I saw your work at the Music Arrangement Competition!"

"Professor, I didn't plagiarize..."

"Of course you didn't!" My professor said decisively, "The music has a soul. Your talent is unmatched by others. How could you possibly plagiarize?"

She sighed, "It's just a pity that you gave it all up for Henry back then..."

"I was foolish before," I wiped away tears, "I've already filed for divorce and plan to start over."

"That's great! Would you like to come to my company in Vienna? Your older classmates are here, and we'll help you become the brightest star in the music creation field!"

"Really? Can I?"

"Of course you can!" My professor pretended to be angry, "I know your talent best. If you hadn't suddenly given up back then..."

I took a deep breath: "Okay, I'll go. I'll leave as soon as the divorce is finalized."

As soon as the words left my mouth, Henry pushed the door open, his eyes gloomy: "Where are you going?"

I quickly hung up the phone, forcing myself to remain calm:

"Didn't you agree to withdraw the divorce application? Let's go quickly."

Henry nodded immediately, but he seemed to realize he had shown too much eagerness and added:

"However, if you make another mistake in the future, I will still file for divorce."

I smiled wryly to myself.

There will be no next time.

I'm going to live a life that belongs to me.

We were silent the whole way.

The car stopped in front of the district court.

Henry unbuckled his seatbelt and said, "Get it done quickly, I'm busy."

I looked at the familiar doors of the district court and unconsciously slowed my pace.

I need to find a way to get Henry away. I absolutely can't let him come in with me.

"I..."

Just as I was about to speak, Henry's phone rang.

"Fiona? Don't cry, I'll be right there."

Henry hung up the phone and said to me, "Fiona needs me now. Here are my documents, you go in yourself to withdraw the application, and message me when you're done."

I lowered my eyelashes, hiding the relief in my eyes: "Okay."

After Henry left, I pushed open the doors of the district court.

The familiar deputy clerk greeted me with a smile: "Are you here to withdraw the divorce application again?"

"No," I handed over the prepared documents, my voice calm: "I'm here to get the divorce certificate today."

When I got back home, I placed Henry's copy of the divorce certificate on the coffee table and picked up my suitcase, which I had already packed.

The sound of the door closing was very light, but it cut off my seven years of wishful thinking completely, like a knife.

On the way to the airport, I rolled down the car window.

I closed my eyes and felt the air filled with the scent of freedom.

Goodbye, Henry.

This time, I truly don't want you anymore...