Dana was so furious, her face went pale. Her voice shook as she snarled, "What kind of spell did Julian cast on you? How can you love him this much? I'm telling you right now. Either me or him will stay in this family! Choose!"

But Evelyn still held Julian's hand tight. "Julian is the only one I have ever loved. He's the only one I want!"

Her open declaration of love humiliated me openly, even though I was her original husband.

Julian looked at me smugly, as if he had taken the most precious thing in the world from me. However, I felt nothing at all.

Evelyn left with an arm around Julian's waist.

Dana had never expected her daughter to go this far for a man. She collapsed from anger right there on the spot.

-

While Dana was being treated, Evelyn refused to answer any of my calls.

Claire stood nearby with her eyes lowered. "Stop calling. She won't answer."

I opened my mouth, wanting to say something. In the end, I stayed silent.

By the time I pulled myself together, Claire was leaning against the wall, watching me with a dark look in her eyes. "Do you still have hope for her?"

I clenched my fists. "That's none of your business."

She shoved me against the wall and leaned in close to my face. "How is it none of my business? You're about to marry me. How can you still be thinking about another woman? Do you want to turn me into the laughingstock of the whole city?"

I let out a quiet laugh and tossed the question back at her. "Have you ever heard of a younger brother marrying his older sister?"

That casual line seemed to bring Claire back to her senses. She let go of me and frowned.

"I know you're still mad about what happened five years ago, but I did it for the Shaw family too. Can't you try to understand me?"

But how was I supposed to give her any more of my understanding?

Five years ago, Claire came to me, her foster brother, when the Shaw family ran into financial trouble. She said that if I agreed to a marriage arrangement with Evelyn, the Shaw family would survive the crisis. She also said that if I stayed by Evelyn's side for five years, she would marry me.

I had fallen for Claire the first time I saw her, so when she made that promise, I agreed without hesitation.

That was, until a month ago.

After I secured a major project from Evelyn for the Shaw family, I went to find Claire and shared the good news. But outside the door, I overheard her talking to her best friend.

"The five-year promise is almost up. You're not actually going to marry your foster brother, are you? Another woman has already had him for years. Aren't you afraid people will laugh if word gets out? The Shaw family had only just got back on its feet. You should marry a man who can help the family. What good would it do to marry your foster brother?"

My heart pounded so hard, I did not dare make a sound. I bet my last shred of hope on Claire.

Yet she only puffed out a mouthful of smoke and said, "I only said I would marry him back then to trick him into agreeing to the marriage arrangement. How could I possibly marry him for real?"

At that moment, the last bit of hope that kept me alive shattered.

In her eyes, I had never been anything more than a tool she could use to get what she wanted.

When I got home that night, Evelyn was in the kitchen making dinner for Julian. The sight of her busy as a bee in the kitchen left me dumbfounded.

In our five years of marriage, I had always been the one doing those things. Evelyn had never once stepped into the kitchen. She used to say that a CEO like her could not do that kind of work.

And yet here she was, she was awkwardly following a recipe and teaching herself to cook all for Julian's sake.

When Evelyn noticed me, she reminded me coldly, "Julian likes peace and quiet. From now on, you sleep on the first floor. The second floor is for Julian to move around."

My steps stopped on the stairs. I turned around and went to the guest room on the first floor.

I was leaving, anyway. It didn't matter where I stayed.

Evelyn had not expected me to agree so easily, and there was surprise in her eyes.

Julian and Evelyn were pretty much inseparable for the next few days. They bathed together, ate together, and went shopping together, just like what a couple deeply in love would do.

I didn't make a scene as I simply watched them show off their affection in silence.

With five more days left in the divorce's waiting period, Julian suddenly suggested climbing a snow-covered mountain. He insisted that I come, too.

Halfway up, Evelyn had left to get something, leaving Julian and me alone. The gentleness on his face vanished at once, replaced by a cold stare. "Why are you still hanging around here? Do you really think Evelyn will fall for you eventually?"

I frowned as I said, "I'll be leaving very soon."

Julian let out a cold laugh. "Why should I believe you? I won't believe it unless you're dead!"

Before I could react, he shoved me hard down the mountain. I grabbed his wrist with instinct and dragged him down with me. Snow came crashing down and buried us under.

Pain ripped through my body. When I was still in a daze, I heard Evelyn arrive with the rescue team.

One of the rescuers told her, "Based on their level of injuries, the person on the right should be rescued first. He's badly hurt and close to getting a shock. The one on the left isn't in immediate danger. He can afford to wait."

"Save the one on the left first!" Evelyn answered without a second of hesitation.

I knew she didn't like me, but hearing her choose Julian without even hesitating still made my chest tighten.

Soon, Julian was pulled out safely. Only then did Evelyn urge them again. "Hurry and save Robin. He has to stay safe."

But at that moment, Julian dropped to his knees in front of me with red eyes. "Mr. Shaw, what have I ever done to you? Why did you push me off the cliff?! If you're angry that I took Evelyn from you, then I'll give her back to you."

The worry in Evelyn's eyes vanished at once. Her voice turned cold. "Forget it. Let him fend for himself."

The pain was so intense I was about to pass out. I wanted to explain, but I could not get a single word out.

Evelyn stopped looking at me and left with Julian.

I tried to call out through the narrow gap, but my vision went black, and I lost consciousness.

-

When I woke up, I was already in a hospital bed.

When Evelyn looked at my sorry state, a flicker of pity appeared in her eyes. She tried to touch me, but I hit her hand away.

She noticed the distance in my attitude and frowned.

"Your body's fine now. You'll be able to get out of bed in a few days. I didn't know what really happened, so I blamed you by mistake. A witness who happened to pass by said you weren't the one who pushed him. It was Julian. I've already punished him."

I let out a cold laugh. "Oh? How did you punish him?"

"I made him go a week without watching TV, using his phone, or racing..." Evelyn counted.

I laughed, and Evelyn's face darkened at once.

"Robin, don't push your luck. Julian didn't mean it. He's already been punished. What more do you want?"

Evelyn walked out after saying that.

Meanwhile, I smiled bitterly as my body shuddered.

-

On the day I was going to leave, I went to the family court for divorce.

I took off my wedding ring and left it on the table with Evelyn's copy of the divorce certificate before dragging my suitcase out the door.

When I got to the airport, I happened to run into Evelyn and Julian, who were leaving on a trip.

Evelyn looked in my direction when she sensed my gaze. But the next second, Julian called to her and pulled her attention away. By the time she looked over again, I had already passed through security and disappeared into the crowd.

I sent her a message.

[Your divorce certificate is in your study. From now on, you can be with Julian openly.]

Then I deleted all her contact information, pulled out my SIM card, and threw it in the trash.

At long last, it was all over.