Shock overtook Theo as he stared at Olivia, disbelief clear in his eyes. "Olivia, you're talking about divorce... just because of this? And after that, how do you plan to live? With that accordion of yours? What you earn in a lifetime wouldn't even match what my company pays in taxes in a single day."

The way he brushed her off carried no warmth, as if her feelings didn't matter at all.

Silence fell over Olivia as she looked at him, her expression empty. The man in front of her felt unfamiliar.

Since their school days, she had cared for Theo. Back then, he carried an easy confidence, and there was a time when he stepped in and drove away the girls who bullied her.

From that day forward, she had given him her heart.

Now, nothing remained in that space but emptiness. Lifting her chin, she spoke with quiet resolve. "Theo, you don't get to decide that I should give up my career just to satisfy the person who saved you. If you keep forcing this on me, I'll walk away from this marriage."

That was enough to break what little patience Theo had left.

Without another word, he changed into a fitted black suit that made him look even more distant.

Before leaving, he cast her one last look, then walked out and said, "Think it through, Olivia. Are you really ready to give up being Mrs. Harvey?"

Left behind, Olivia sat on the edge of the bed, unmoving as she swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat.

Mrs. Harvey? A faint, bitter smile appeared.

Was that all she meant to him? Just a name tied to his?

...

By the next morning, every detail in the divorce papers had been reviewed and finalized. After printing them out, Olivia went straight to Theo's office.

Rising above the city skyline, the Harvey Group's headquarters dominated the downtown area, a towering structure of glass and steel that reflected its power.

Without anyone stopping her, she made her way to the top floor. The door to the CEO's office was slightly open. Just as she reached for it, a voice came from inside.

There was no mistaking it. It belonged to Xander Watson, Theo's closest friend, carrying that same careless edge.

From where she stood, Olivia could imagine the scene inside. Theo would be sitting back on the sofa, cigarette in hand, that familiar look of indifference on his face.

Moments later, his voice followed, sharp and clear. "I'll give her one more chance. If she doesn't do what I say... I'll just find someone else."

The papers in Olivia's hand wrinkled as her grip tightened. The edges pressed into her skin, but she barely felt it compared to the pain rising in her chest.

Before she could stop it, tears slipped down and fell onto the pages.

She wiped them away, drew in a steady breath, and pushed the door open.

Their laughter stopped at once. Both men turned toward her. Theo's expression shifted, though only slightly.

His eyes moved to the documents she held, and something in him tensed.

She... wasn't really here to end things, was she?

A slight crease formed between his brows. "What do you need? Didn't I make it clear not to disturb me while I'm working?"

Keeping her expression steady, Olivia walked forward and extended the documents toward him. Her tone stayed even, yet firm. "I already told you last night. We're ending this marriage. I've signed everything."

A cold glint flashed through Theo's eyes as his gaze dropped to the papers on the desk.

It didn't take long for him to spot the reason written there—irreconcilable differences caused by the husband belittling the wife's career. A sharp, mocking laugh slipped out. Without hesitation, he grabbed the documents and ripped them apart, scattering the torn pieces into the air.

Fragments of paper drifted down. Some settled lightly against Olivia's shoulders.

Rising from the sofa, Theo crossed the distance in a few steps. His hand shot out and caught her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

Close enough to see herself reflected in his dark gaze, Olivia felt a chill run through her.

A sneer formed on his lips. "Don't get ahead of yourself. You're not leaving me unless I allow it." Letting go, he turned and headed for the door. Just before stepping out, he spoke again without turning back. "If that's all, go home. I have a meeting."

He left without waiting for a reply. The office door shut behind him, leaving Olivia standing there with Xander, the silence turning awkward.

Drained in both body and mind, Olivia eventually got into the car and headed back.

What exactly was Theo thinking? He clearly leaned toward Jennifer, so why refuse to let her go?

To him, was she nothing more than a title? Something he owned? Or just a piece in whatever arrangement he had with Jennifer?

As soon as she stepped through the front door of her home, a scent hit her—sweet, heavy, and unfamiliar.

A frown touched her face as she was about to call for the housekeeper. But before she could speak, a figure in a wheelchair came into view.

Recognition followed a blink. It was Jennifer.

"What are you doing here?" Olivia asked, her voice turning cold.

"My caregiver went home on leave for a few days, so Theo had me stay here. He said you'd take care of me."

Those words hit harder than expected.

So this was the reason... Theo refused to divorce not out of anything meaningful, but so she could tend to Jennifer?

A quiet, hollow laugh left Olivia.

Then something caught her eye. In Jennifer's hands sat the one thing Olivia held closest. Her expression tightened at once, anger rising fast. "Who told you that you could touch that?"

"Oh?" Jennifer murmured, turning the trophy slowly in her hands. "It really is stunning." Her tone stayed soft, yet something darker crept beneath it. "This is the highest award an accordionist can receive, right?"

A faint pause followed. "Such a shame..."

Her gaze lowered, and the look in her eyes shifted.

Without thinking, Olivia stepped forward. "Jennifer, give it back!"

Her hand reached out, but Jennifer pulled the trophy closer to herself, refusing to let go.

"Olivia, you really haven't learned anything," Jennifer replied, her voice losing its softness as it sharpened. "You've stayed by Theo's side for years, yet he's never loved you. If you don't walk away soon, you'll end up just like this."

Her sentence hadn't even finished when Jennifer lifted the trophy overhead and hurled it down without hesitation.

A sharp crash split the room as the crystal burst apart, fragments scattering in every direction like shattered ice.

A tremor ran through Olivia, her body no longer steady.

That trophy... it wasn't just an object. For three long years, she had pushed herself without rest, practicing until her fingers ached just to earn a place at the International Accordion Championship. That trophy had marked the peak of everything she built, the one thing she placed above all else, kept carefully on display as if it held her entire journey.

Now, nothing remained but broken pieces across the floor.

The sight cut deeper than she expected, as if something inside her had been torn apart alongside it. Moisture filled her eyes, blurring everything. Without a word, she lowered herself to the floor, ignoring Jennifer completely. Her hands moved slowly, almost carefully, gathering the scattered shards as though putting them together might bring back what she had lost.

A smug curve lifted Jennifer's lips as she watched—but that expression faltered the moment she caught movement at the doorway.

Recognition flashed in her eyes, followed by something calculated. In an instant, she shifted, letting her body drop from the wheelchair as if she had lost all balance.

Right then, the door swung open. Stepping inside, Theo took in the scene at once.

Jennifer lay on the floor near Olivia, her legs cut by the shards of crystal beneath her, streaks of red standing out sharply.

What he saw made his expression harden in a heartbeat. "Olivia!" His voice broke through the room, sharp and furious. "What are you doing? What did Jennifer ever do for you to treat her like this?"

"I didn't do anything!" Olivia said, her voice breaking as she shook her head, tears clinging to her lashes. "She destroyed my trophy... and then she dropped herself on purpose!"

A harsh sound left Theo, his expression turning savage. "Your trophy?" he said, and before she could react, he shoved her aside and moved straight to Jennifer.

Carefully, he crouched beside her, his hands hovering near her injuries as if afraid to touch. "Does that thing matter more to you than her legs?"

From the floor, Olivia looked up at him. The man before her no longer felt like the one she married. His face twisted with fury, his eyes fixed on her with nothing but blame, as if she had become someone he couldn't stand.

Slowly, her gaze shifted. Jennifer leaned into Theo, her body trembling, yet the look she gave Olivia carried something entirely different.

That expression said everything. A bitter taste rose in Olivia's throat. She could no longer bear to watch this staged act.

"How moving," she said, a quiet laugh slipping through, though her voice trembled. "You really do look perfect together... like something out of a tragic romance." Her tone dropped, losing all warmth. "So tell me... has this been going on behind my back the whole time?"

The question hung heavy in the air. Theo's face darkened at her accusation.

Jennifer stiffened, the pain from her injuries still evident, yet those words struck deeper. Her breathing turned uneven as she clutched at Theo, pressing herself against him as if seeking protection. "T-Theo... How could she say something like that? We've never done anything wrong..."

At the sight of Jennifer in pain, something inside Theo snapped completely.

He turned sharply toward Olivia, anger spilling over as his hand lifted without restraint. "Say whatever you want about me, but don't drag her into your nonsense."

Instead of shrinking back, Olivia looked straight at them. Her chin rose, her gaze steady, filled with something darker than hurt.

That unyielding look made Theo hesitate. Mid-motion, his hand stopped. A breath left him, heavy and restrained, before he slowly lowered it.

When he spoke again, his tone had turned cold. "Olivia... what you did tonight won't go unanswered."

He didn't wait for anything more. Carefully, he lifted Jennifer into his arms, holding her as though she were something fragile, something irreplaceable, before walking out without a glance back.

Watching them leave, Olivia didn't move. A faint, empty smile touched her lips.

Silently, she lowered herself again and began picking up the broken pieces scattered across the floor, one by one. Each fragment went into a box, handled with care, as if there was still a chance to put everything back together, to restore what had once meant everything to her.

Once it was done, she stood. Without hesitation, she packed what she needed, held the box close, and walked out of the house she once called home.

Morning came soon after. Reaching for his suit as part of his usual routine, Theo stopped when he found the rack empty.

A crease formed between his brows. "Where's Olivia?"

He was used to everything being prepared for him.

Rushing forward, a maid spoke quickly, her voice tense. "Mr. Harvey... Mrs. Harvey gathered her things and left yesterday."

"Who said she could leave?" Theo asked, his voice turning cold.

Without waiting, he pulled out his phone and called Olivia. The moment the line connected, his tone sharpened. "Stop this nonsense. Come back immediately."

A light laugh came from the other end, but it held no warmth. "We'll live separately from now on," Olivia said. "Since you refuse to sign the papers, I'll handle the divorce myself. I don't need your approval."

Before he could respond, the call ended.

For a second, he stood there, staring at the screen. When he called again, the call didn't go through. She had blocked him.

"Good," he muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening. "Olivia... if you walk away, then don't bother coming back."

Irritation lingered as he grabbed the same suit from the day before, barely caring about the creases. He threw it on without a second thought and headed out, the door slamming behind him with enough force to shake the room.

After ending the call, Olivia made her way straight to the orchestra.

After leaving the Harvey Estate, she had taken up a room at a hotel.

With the weekend came a scheduled group rehearsal for the orchestra.

The moment she stepped inside, the conductor, Farrell Chavez, approached her, his expression weighed down with concern. "Olivia," he called out, keeping his tone calm. "You need to sort things out with Mr. Harvey."

Letting out a slow breath, he continued, his voice filled with regret, "We... we can't let you stay in the orchestra anymore."

There was no need for explanation. Olivia already knew Theo was behind it.

Given his position as the orchestra's biggest shareholder, everything depended on him.

Anger stirred within her, but she held it in. She understood why the conductor had no choice, yet asking Theo for mercy wasn't something she'd ever consider.

Without a word, she gave a small nod and started toward the exit.

Before she could get far, the faint sound of wheels followed behind her.

Lifting her gaze, she saw Jennifer approaching.

"You really are impossible to shake off," Olivia said, her tone flat. She pressed her lips together, unwilling to spare Jennifer another moment, and moved to walk away.

Rolling forward, Jennifer blocked her path, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Olivia... you still don't understand, do you? Theo has always chosen me. Those pictures? I made sure you'd see them. I wanted him to see. The second he saw them, I knew he wouldn't be able to stay away from me. I've told you before. He was never yours."

Anger had already taken hold of Olivia after losing her place in the orchestra, and Jennifer's words only made it worse.

She faced Jennifer again, her stare turning cold. "You really feel proud after ruining someone else's marriage?"

Before Jennifer had the chance to respond, Olivia's hand struck her—smack!

Shock hit Jennifer as she held her cheek, unable to process what just happened.

Standing over her, Olivia let out a faint, cold smile. "Quit your pathetic games. If you try that again, I won't stop at just that."

Without waiting, she turned and began to leave.

Suddenly, something shifted in Jennifer's expression. Rage took over, and in one quick motion, she pulled out a small blade and lunged at Olivia's hand.

"Ah—!" Pain tore through Olivia's fingers. She lowered her gaze and saw a deep cut across the back of her hand, exposing flesh. Blood surged out at once, then fell to the floor in steady drops.

A sharp breath escaped her as she spoke. "So this is how far you'll go."

Her brows drew together, and the look in her eyes turned even colder.

At that moment, her phone rang, sharp and insistent. Theo's name lit up the screen.

The moment she picked up, Theo's voice burst through the line. "Olivia! What gave you the right to lay a hand on Jennifer?"

There was no denying his feelings for Olivia. Still, the woman who once saved his life stood above all, and he would never overlook anyone hurting her.

For a brief second, Olivia went still. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Farrell standing nearby, his head lowered while he tapped quickly on his phone. It didn't take much to figure out who had told Theo.

Keeping her tone steady, she spoke. "Theo, I didn't expect you to keep someone so eager to report back to you." A short, cold laugh slipped from her lips.

"I'm willing to forget what you did to Jennifer." Unmoved by her reaction, Theo continued as if nothing had been said, "Come back home and stop this divorce talk. If you don't, losing your spot in the orchestra won't be the end of it. You won't be allowed on any stage again."

A surge of anger ran through Olivia, making her whole body tense. "You're disgusting!" she snapped, gripping the phone tightly as her breath came hard.

Without hesitation, Theo spoke again, his tone just as cold as before. "Pay attention, Olivia. Grandpa's birthday dinner is tomorrow. He's been asking about you. Show up like you should, and I might consider letting you return to the orchestra."