His expression was a bit scary.

My voice unconsciously lowered. "And I already took a 200,000 breakup fee from your mom. It's not good to go home with you."

Levi clearly laughed out of anger.

He slammed the car to a stop by the roadside. He tugged at his already loose collar, and said, "You're proud of selling me for 200,000?"

"The 200,000 is breakup fee. After all, I gave up a year of my youth."

I wasn't proud of it either.

His mother threw the 200,000 in my face to make me leave her son. That kind of humiliation couldn't be erased by just 200,000.

"Did I agree to the divorce?" he said.

"Why wouldn't you agree? Once we're divorced, you can be with Layla."

I looked at him, puzzled. "Levi, I'm being so considerate. Shouldn't you reward me with another 200,000?"

Levi angrily grabbed my chin and forced my face towards him.

"What does Layla have to do with this? Ella, shouldn't there be a proper reason for a divorce?" he said.

Wasn't this reason good enough?

Now it was my turn to laugh out of anger.

No, I cried out of anger.

Levi, how dare you!

One early morning a month ago, he was urgently called away by a phone call.

He hastily called me the next afternoon, saying he had to go to Manvelle for a secret major case and couldn't contact anyone unrelated.

I believed him.

Every day, I worried he would get hurt, suffer, or get tired while handling the case...

But a week later, I learned from a friend that he wasn't handling any secret major case. He was on a vacation with his lover, Layla Moore.

My mother-in-law threw intimate photos of him and Layla, along with the 200,000, in my face. I could hardly believe it.

Those days, I frantically called him. His phone was either unreachable or he didn't answer.

Finally, when it did go through, it was Layla who answered.

Layla asked innocently who I was and told me Levi was in the shower.

My last bit of hope was shattered.

Under my mother-in-law's sarcastic remarks, I signed the divorce papers and moved out of the Davis residence with the 200,000.

"Fine, I'll give you another reason."

I forced back my tears and looked at him stubbornly. "Levi, listen to me. I never loved you. I wasn't happy with you. So I want a divorce. Is that reason good enough?"

His fingers holding my chin tightened noticeably.

Disappointment flashed in his eyes.

Maybe this was a man's nature. He could abandon me, but the divorce couldn't be my idea.

Not wanting to see him anymore, I pushed open the car door and got out.

Back at the rental, I pulled the blanket over my head and tried to sleep.

But the more I tried to sleep, the more awake I became.

My mind was filled with memories of being with Levi.

I remembered the first time I met Levi was at a university basketball match.

As the basketball team captain from another school, he was outstanding in both skill and looks.

Even before he arrived, his reputation had spread through my school. The girls were waiting early by the basketball court to see him.

My roommates and I watched our senior practice on the training court that day.

For some reason, the ball Levi was dribbling suddenly changed direction and hit me, knocking me out.

When I slowly woke up in the school infirmary, the first thing I saw was the face my roommates described as godly.

He was young, handsome, and sunny.

He asked me with concern, "Are you okay?"

"I..."

Before I could answer, my roommate, Stella Harris, shook her hand and said, "No, Ella is not okay. She was born with a head condition and it's sure to relapse now."

I was a bit confused.

"I don't have it."

"You do. You just forgot," Stella said, giving me a big wink.

I finally caught on and nodded belatedly.

"Yeah, I have a head condition."

Levi looked at Stella, then at me.

Then he took a paper and pen from the table. He wrote down a number and handed it to me. "The doctor said you're fine for now. If your head condition relapses, contact me. This is my number."

"Okay, thank you."

I awkwardly took the note.

After Levi left, Stella snatched the note from my hand and danced with excitement.

She was disappointed the next day.

Levi didn't accept her friend request.

He didn't accept it on the third or fourth day either.

Stella started to question Levi's orientation. Why else wouldn't he accept her request?

To test her theory, she secretly used my phone to send a friend request to Levi while I was in the shower.

Unexpectedly, Levi accepted it immediately.

Stella screamed and dragged me out of the bathroom, asking what was going on.

Looking at Levi's profile picture, I was also confused.

"Maybe he thought I was asking for medical expenses?"

That's the only possibility I could think of.

"How does he know it's you? You didn't write your name."

"I don't know."

Stella nudged my arm and urged. "Ask him why he didn't accept my friend request."

"Huh? Just ask directly?"

Stella nodded solemnly.

After editing it several times, I sent Levi a message: [Levi, why haven't you accepted my roommate's friend request?]

A moment later, Levi sent me the message: [Sorry, I don't add strangers on WhatsApp.]

Stella was heartbroken. She clutched her chest and gasped.

Curiously, I asked: [But I'm also a stranger.]

He replied: [I owed you before.]

I was about to say my head was fine when he sent another message: [Are you free this weekend?]

[Why?]

[I'll take you to get your head checked.]

[No need. My head is fine.]

[Just in case.]

Then he sent another message: [It's getting late. Go to bed early. Good night.]

"..."

I stopped typing halfway. I looked at the words "Good night," unsure if I should continue.

After some hesitation, I gave up.

Instead, I opened his Moments and found only some law-related posts and nothing personal.

He seemed to be a low-key person.

On the weekend, I met him as agreed.

It was just a check-up. I felt it was a bit unnecessary but wasn't embarrassed.

Until I saw Levi, my heart seemed to skip a beat.

He was tall. He had a clean demeanor, and the bright sun highlighted his handsome features.

He looked like a prince straight out of a manga.

At that moment, I regretted not taking Stella's advice to put on some makeup and wear a nicer dress before going out.

With my bare face, I really didn't feel worthy of the noble and handsome Levi!

As I was hesitating whether to sneak back and change my outfit, Levi suddenly walked over to me.

He gave me a faint smile. "You're here."

"Yes."

Feeling a bit flustered, I touched my head and said, "Actually, I'm really fine. No need to waste time going to the hospital."

"The check-up is just an excuse. Having dinner is the main thing."

"Huh?"

I didn't understand for a moment.

"I'll treat you to dinner as an apology."

I belatedly said "Oh." Was he using the hospital visit as an excuse to ask me out?

The happiness came too suddenly. I forgot to be happy for a moment.

He then added uncertainly, "If you don't want to..."

I hurriedly interrupted him, "I want to!"

I didn't know what Levi liked about me. I just knew he treated me well and spoiled me.

He was cold to all other girls, only showing his signature smile when he was with me.

I thought this was a sign of his love for me.

That's why when he asked me to marry him that year, I agreed without hesitation.

Later, I learned he married me for his sick Grandpa. He wanted to fulfill his wish.

It was until later, I heard his younger sister mockingly tell me that Levi liked me only because I looked like his first love.

His sister also told me his first love's name was Layla.

I looked at Layla's photo from every angle. Apart from having the same long hair and fair skin, I didn't see any resemblance.

So when Levi explained, I immediately believed him.

One day, he left me late at night, claiming to be on a business trip. But I saw photos of him vacationing with Layla.

After a sleepless night, I finally dozed off.

I slept until the afternoon when a call from Stella woke me up.

She immediately told me to dress up. There was a dinner party in the evening.

I rolled my eyes and said, "Forget it. I don't want to be thrown in the slammer again."

"Come on, last night was an accident." Stella snorted. "I strongly suspect Levi deliberately raided the place."

Exactly. I suspected the same thing.

Stella continued, "Don't worry. Tonight is just a regular welcome dinner. No male models. Levi has no reason to arrest you."

"Whose welcome dinner?"

"You'll know when you get there."

I wasn't interested in seeing old friends. However, under Stella's persistent persuasion, I arrived at a restaurant called Taylor House.

As soon as I walked in, a familiar figure caught my attention.

It was my childhood friend and classmate, Daniel Martin.

What was he doing here?

Daniel was tall and slim, with a refined demeanor. He wore silver-rimmed glasses, giving him an elegant aura from afar.

He was on the phone at the entrance of a private room.

Seeing me, he ended the call early and smiled. "Ella, long time no see."

Recovering from my surprise, I slapped his shoulder and scolded, "Daniel, are you looking for trouble? Trying to give me a heart attack!"

Daniel laughed and patted my head. "I wanted to surprise you."

"When did you come back?"