At the lunch gathering earlier, not only did Violet peel shrimp for Daniel, she even shared a bowl with him.

Only then did I realize the truth: Violet’s so-called obsession with cleanliness was selective, and sadly, I wasn’t on the list of people she made exceptions for.

I had spent ten years trying to warm a heart that never thawed for me.

So… Why not let go and set us both free?

…

Violet and Daniel had barely left when my phone rang.

“Mr. Sargent, you’re the primary funder of this research project. Are you sure you won’t be attending the seminar today?”

The image of Daniel’s smug expression as he walked out surfaced again in my mind, and I smiled sadly.

“I’ll be there.”

Violet had earned a reputation as a medical prodigy, particularly celebrated for her breakthroughs in anti-cancer drug research.

She was admired and well respected.

What she didn’t know, however, was that every one of her projects required massive financial support.

Without that backing, even a prodigy would struggle to take a single step forward.

And I was her largest investor.

I never told her, because I didn’t want her to feel pressured or indebted to me.

All I ever wanted was her heart—freely given.

After changing and heading out, I immediately spotted Violet and Daniel standing by the roadside, looking anxious.

Only then did I remember that all the cars at home had been sent in for maintenance.

“Haven’t been able to get a ride?”

Daniel let out a helpless sigh, frustration creeping into his voice.

“This place is too remote. And with the bad weather, no drivers are accepting our request.”

“If we wait any longer, we really will be late.

“If you hadn’t insisted on making a scene, we wouldn’t be this pressed for time.”

Daniel never wasted a single chance to throw shade at me.

I ignored him and walked straight toward my private car, which had just arrived.

That was when Violet noticed me and hurried over.

“This car’s yours?” Violet asked.

“At least you’re being sensible. I’ll let what happened slide.”

She reached for the door handle, but I stopped her.

“This is my ride.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but Daniel rushed over before she could speak.

He looked slightly harassed.

“What are you doing, Mr. Sargent? What do you mean that this is your ride?”

As he spoke, he held up his phone and showed the screen to Violet.

“I booked this car. It’s not your ride, Mr. Sargent.”

Violet’s expression toward me changed instantly.

“Are you being that petty, John? You’re fighting Daniel over something this trivial?”

Daniel’s face twisted into a horrible smile.

“Sorry, Mr. Sargent. The car’s too small, so there’s no room for you. If you really need a ride, maybe try faking an illness and calling an ambulance.

“Can you face the consequences if the Professor were to arrive late?”

I pressed my lips together as anger surged behind my eyes.

Sensing the shift in my mood, the driver quickly got out of the car to explain.

“Apologies, Sir and Madam. I’m here for Mr. Sargent. Please step aside.”

He then respectfully opened the back door for me.

Violet stared at me..

“He’s here to pick you up? Where are you going?”

I didn’t respond. I simply glanced at Daniel’s phone screen and let out a cold, derisive laugh.

“You booked a Chevrolet Bolt. This one’s a Bentley. Even if you don’t recognize the emblem, surely you can read the license plate?”

Daniel’s face flushed red, then pale.

He looked at Violet with wounded eyes.

“It’s true I’m not as rich as Mr. Sargent and don’t know much about luxury cars… but does he have to humiliate me like that?

“And who knows—maybe some mistress sent that Bentley for him.”

A sharp slap cracked through the air, and a red handprint bloomed across my left cheek.

Violet’s expression turned especially dark.

“No wonder you picked a fight today and insisted on a divorce. Turns out you’ve hooked up with some skank.

“You disgust me.”

…

I pressed my tongue against the side of my face where she had slapped me.

All it took was one careless insult from Daniel, and Violet didn’t hesitate to strike me in front of everyone.

She had never truly loved me.

When I didn’t respond, she assumed I was guilty.

Right in front of me, she reached out and took Daniel’s hand. Their hands intertwined.

I pulled out my phone and snapped several photos of them together.

“What are you doing?” she demanded.

“I’ll have my lawyer send you another copy of the divorce agreement. If you still refuse to sign, I’ll file a lawsuit,” I said calmly.

“And since you’re the one at fault, don’t expect a penny from me.”

Violet stared at me for a long time. Then, overwhelmed by rage, she let out a scornful laugh.

“Don’t you dare try to threaten me with your filthy money.

“Let me be clear—even if we get a divorce, I’ll be the one to initiate it. You’re not worthy of me.”

With that, she grabbed Daniel’s hand and got into my car.

The driver looked at me, clearly caught in an awkward position.

I shook my head, unwilling to argue over something so petty, and got into the front seat.

Through the rearview mirror, I noticed their hands still tightly intertwined.

I looked away, but the image stayed in my mind.

My thoughts drifted—unbidden—to three months ago, when Violet woke in the middle of the night with a sudden pain in her stomach.

Her face had gone deathly pale. I had been so worried that I instinctively reached out to soothe her, gently pressing her abdomen.

But the moment my hand touched her pajama fabric, she doused me with scalding water.

She apologized afterward, of course. But the helpless, bitter frustration from that night lingered with me for weeks.

Maybe that was the moment I truly began to let go of my love for her.

The car soon pulled up at the exhibition center.

The moment I stepped out, Violet shot me a sharp glare and snapped, “Why are you getting out? This isn’t a place for you!”

Daniel, standing beside her, chimed in with fake concern, “Don’t say that, Professor. Maybe Mr. Sargent just wants to sit in and observe.

“He may lack a formal education, but having a heart eager to learn isn’t a bad thing, right?”

“John? Audit a seminar? He’s more likely to embarrass us,” Violet sneered.

The two took turns ridiculing me, leaving me no chance to speak.

Just then, someone walked over to greet Violet.

“Professor Miller, we meet again. The gentleman beside you must be your husband?”

Violet glanced at me coolly, then effortlessly wrapped her arm around Daniel’s.

“That’s right. This is my husband, Daniel Webster—he’s also a researcher at my institute.”

At that, the crowd immediately showered them with flattery.

“Professor Miller and Mr. Webster are a match made in heaven! Together, there’s no doubt you’ll achieve even greater things in the pharmaceutical field!”

Amid the sycophantic praise, the two walked into the conference hall, hand in hand.

Even though I had already given up on Violet long ago, watching this still stirred a dull ache in my chest.

For the many years we’d been married, no matter how busy I was, I always made it home in time to cook her dinner and draw her a bath.

I loved her with everything I had, and I did everything I could to protect our hard-won marriage.

Yet she had never once acknowledged me as her husband in front of her colleagues.

I was hurt, but I never confronted her.

I kept waiting for the day she would finally accept my love.

But all that waiting led to this: her publicly declaring another man as her husband.

In that moment, the ten years I spent loving and protecting her became nothing more than a cruel joke.

Just then, a sharply dressed man strode up to me and took my hand.

“Good evening, President Sargent. I’m Emille Forest, the head of the research institute and organizer of this symposium,” he said.

“We’ve been waiting so long for your arrival—it simply wouldn’t mean anything today without you here.”

…

After ushering me inside, Emille was quickly called away by another staff member.

I had no choice but to walk into the conference hall alone.

But before I could reach my seat, Daniel stepped out to block my path.

“You followed us in? Don’t tell me you plan on sitting here—can you even understand what’s being discussed?

“And you do realize that this is an invite-only event, right? Do you have an invitation? Better watch out or the security guards might toss you out.”

He smiled as he spoke, but his eyes gleamed with hostility.

I looked at him calmly.

“This doesn’t concern you. Move.”

Not wanting to waste another second looking at Daniel’s smug, self-satisfied face, I stepped past him.

What I didn’t expect was that as soon as we brushed shoulders, Daniel would put on a performance—deliberately throwing himself to the ground.

He knocked over the table behind him with a loud crash.

One by one, the entire row of tables toppled like dominoes, falling with a thunderous clatter.

The hall, noisy just moments ago, fell into stunned silence.

All eyes turned toward the chaos—toward Daniel and me.

“Daniel!”

Violet rushed over and helped him to his feet, her face twisted with fury as she turned on me.

“How dare you, John! Who permitted you to be here anyway? Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?

“Apologize to Daniel! Now!”

Daniel gently tugged on Violet’s sleeve, his voice full of false modesty.

“It was my fault, Professor…

“And besides, Mr. Sargent doesn’t even have an invitation. If people find out, he really could get thrown out.”

Violet softly patted the back of his hand.

“You don’t need to speak up for him. If he hadn’t shoved you, how else would you have fallen like that?”

She stepped up to me again, her eyes cold.

“Apologize, John. If not, I’ll have security throw you out,” she hissed.

I stared at Violet and almost laughed.

I had always believed her to be calm and intelligent—turns out even she could be led around like a fool.

So this is what true love looks like.

“He already admitted it was his fault,” I said steadily. “Yet you’re still trying to pin this mess on me?”

Without thinking, Violet raised her hand.

But before her slap could land, I caught her wrist.

“Are you going to hit me again just to protect your lover?”

I flung her hand aside.

Gasps rippled through the crowd. All eyes turned to Violet and Daniel, their expressions curious, especially those who had just been sucking up to them at the door.

Violet’s face turned a furious shade of red as rage burned in her eyes.

“You’re beyond saving!” she spat.

“Security! What are you waiting for? Throw this man out! He doesn't even have an invitation!”

I looked at the woman who had been my wife all these years.

Her face was twisted in fury, her voice shrill with indignation.

All I felt inside was a cold, hollow void.

Thank God our marriage was almost over.

Security arrived swiftly.

They recognized Violet, and without asking questions, they prepared to drag me out.

But just then, Emille came rushing in with a group of staff behind him.

“Stop! What do you think you’re doing?” he shouted.

“President Sargent is the key guest of today’s seminar!

“He’s not only the largest investor in this research project—he’s also the institute’s biggest shareholder! Are you all trying to get fired?”