As Ansel took in the wreckage around him, his expression darkened instantly. His eyes burned with fury as he shouted, "Odessa! What the heck are you doing? When is this going to stop?

"These were the things we promised to cherish for the rest of our lives. Why would you destroy them like this?"

Odessa lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "When love turns ugly, holding on to the remnants only brings more pain. It's better to let it all go."

She swallowed hard, forcing back a sob. "Let's get a divorce."

"Odessa, how many times have you said that in the past two days?" Ansel snapped. "I rushed back the moment I saw your message. Can you stop overreacting?

"I've already told you—what I have with Sydney is just a fling. Why are you being so petty and jealous over her?"

Odessa shook her head. "It's not that I can't tolerate her... It's that she can't tolerate me."

Ansel's expression stiffened as he roughly pulled her to her feet. "Look, your entire family's gone. Without me, what do you have left?" he snapped.

His words sliced through Odessa like a knife.

After her parents' sudden death, all her relatives had turned on her like vultures. It was Ansel who had been her sole support.

From that moment, Odessa saw Ansel as her only family. He was like a piece of driftwood in a stormy sea, the only thing she could cling to in order to survive.

But now, she was already dead. Such threats no longer affected her.

Still, she never imagined Ansel could be so heartless.

More often than not, it was those closest to her who knew exactly where to cut the deepest.

"Why…" Odessa's voice quivered, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Ansel froze, suddenly realizing how cruel his words had been.

He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her, his tone softening. "I'm sorry, Odessa. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Odessa pushed him away, pain flickering in her eyes. "Why did you stop loving me all of a sudden?"

Ansel pulled her back into his arms, pressing gentle kisses to her tears. "Don't be absurd. I never stopped loving you."

"Then let's get divorced." Odessa's voice was faint, yet the words struck like a blade.

Ansel's restraint shattered. Overwhelmed by rage, he shoved her against the wall. "Why, Odessa? Why are you so determined to divorce me?"

"Because I'm already dead, and my final wish is to divorce you. I want to sever every last thread between us.

"After you left that night, I was dragged into an alley by a thug…"

Odessa began to tell him everything, but the moment she mentioned returning from the dead for seven days, Ansel's patience snapped.

"Odessa, you're 27 years old, for heaven's sake! I'm not an idiot. Can you please stop with these ridiculous stories?

"If you really can't stand Sydney, then just go abroad for a while!"

With those dismissive words, he turned to leave.

"So you'd rather ship me off than end things with her?"

Ansel's steps faltered, but he didn't turn around.

"Think whatever you want!" he snapped. "Once I'm done fooling around with her, I'll come back home."

Odessa slumped to the floor, shaking her head in despair. She knew she wouldn't live long enough to see that day.

From that point on, a cold war began between her and Ansel.

With just five days remaining, her anxiety grew heavier by the hour.

She eventually decided to message Ansel. After a long wait, his reply finally came. "I won't be home for the next few days. Just try to calm down. Once you're feeling better, we can talk."

Odessa's hands trembled as she read his cold, distant words.

While suppressing her emotions, she got into her car and drove straight to Halberg Group. But the moment she stepped into the lobby, she was stopped.

"I need to see Ansel!" she insisted.

The new receptionist answered politely, "I'm sorry, miss. It's currently lunch break, and Mr. Halberg isn't seeing visitors right now. If you'd like to meet him, please schedule an appointment."

"I'm his wife."

The receptionist blinked in surprise. After a brief pause, she shook her head. "Ms. Wainwright has made it clear that no one is allowed to disturb her and Mr. Halberg—not even you."

A bitter laugh slipped from Odessa's lips. It had been ages since she last stepped into the office. She never expected things to have changed so drastically.

"Odessa!"

Just then, Sydney walked over, dressed in a vibrant dress that made her glow. In her hand, she carried the season's latest designer handbag.

"Where's Ansel?" Odessa asked, her voice laced with fury.

Sydney let out a mocking chuckle. "Shouldn't you be the one to know? You're his wife, after all. Or maybe… he just doesn't want to see you right now."

Without raising her voice, the poison threaded through her words was enough to make heads turn.

Many of the longtime employees recognized Odessa, their expressions shifting the moment she entered the room.

Ansel had long upheld the illusion of a faithful husband. But now, the familiar tension between wife and mistress was on full display for everyone to see.

To make things worse, a few employees recalled that Sydney had once been a struggling student who Odessa personally supported. The memory only deepened the curiosity etched across their faces.

"Well, Odessa, since you have no idea what Ansel's doing, let me fill you in. He's taking a nap. I was keeping him company, but one of my girlfriends invited me to go shopping, so I stepped out."

As Sydney spoke, her fingers lightly traced her necklace. Odessa couldn't help but notice the kiss marks along the edge of her neckline.

"Look, Odessa, if you don't have anything important to say, you should go. Ansel doesn't want to see you right now. If that changes, I'll be sure to let you know."

Odessa could feel the eyes of everyone on her, each one like a needle pricking at her composure. Her anger surged without warning, and she slapped Sydney hard across the face.

After a moment of silence, gasps and murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.

Sydney stood dazed, her head tilted to one side as she stared blankly at the floor.

As clarity slowly returned, she spotted a figure just at the edge of her vision. All of a sudden, she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. "Odessa, it's all my fault! Please, don't be mad at Ansel anymore!"

Odessa hadn't expected such a reaction. Just as she was about to accuse Sydney of putting on an act, a tall figure pushed through the crowd.

"Sydney!"

It was Ansel.

"Ansel, I—" Odessa began.

But before she could finish, Ansel shoved her roughly.

"Odessa, stop this madness! This is an office! Wasn't making a scene at home enough? Do you want everyone to see you like this?"

Odessa staggered backward and collapsed onto the floor. A groan slipped from her lips as her face turned pale.

Ansel didn't even look at her. He hurried to Sydney's side, gently cupping her face. "Does it hurt?"

Tears slipped down Sydney's cheeks. "It does... I need you to blow on it to make it better."

Ansel softly blew on the injured spot, his voice surprisingly gentle. "I warned you to stay away from her, didn't I?"

Curled up in his arms, Sydney shook her head. "Ansel, don't blame Odessa. It's my fault. I must've upset her by accident."

Ansel lifted her carefully and turned to the crowd gathered around them. "Why are you all just standing there?" he barked. "Get back to work!"

At his terse command, the crowd broke apart in an instant.

His gaze then shifted to Odessa, still seated on the floor. His cold stare was unlike anything she had ever encountered.

When their eyes met, a sudden chill ran through her. She had never imagined Ansel could look at her with such disdain.

The warmth and tenderness they once shared now felt like a cruel, bitter illusion.

Without another word, Ansel stepped forward and hauled her to her feet. His grip was unyielding, devoid of any mercy.

"Let's take this to the office," he said flatly.

Odessa stumbled, nearly twisting her ankle as he pulled her along. She yanked her hand, trying desperately to break free. "No, let's talk here."

"Odessa, my patience isn't endless!" Ansel snapped. "I'm honestly so disappointed in you. You're acting like a total shrew."

"A shrew?"

Odessa's body trembled, a bitter smile touching her lips before fading away. Tears quietly traced down her cheeks.

"I never imagined hearing those words from you. So, you think I'm disgraceful, huh?

"When you were running wild like that, did you ever wonder how it would all end?"

"That's enough!" Ansel's voice thundered through the room. "What do you want from me? What will it take for you to stop?"

Without hesitation, Odessa pulled out the divorce papers. "I want a divorce!"

Odessa's voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to bring the entire lobby to a standstill.

One by one, curious faces emerged, all eyes drawn to the tense moment unfolding. Every gaze settled firmly on Odessa.

She tightened her grip on the divorce papers, but her eyes remained unwavering and determined.

Ansel's expression hardened. His fists clenched tightly as he spat, "Odessa, must you really do this?"

She held his stare, wiping away a tear. "No matter how many times you ask, my answer won't change. Just sign the papers. Let's finally be done with each other."

Ansel said nothing. His cold eyes bore into her, the air around him thickening with tension.

From the sidelines, Sydney's heart soared, bursting like fireworks lighting up the night sky.

She didn't hesitate to stoke the fire. Gripping Ansel's collar, she looked up at him, tears glistening in her eyes. "Ansel, please… put me down. This is all my fault. Don't fight with Odessa because of me."

Sydney's sobs scraped at Odessa's patience, but she met them with a cold, unwavering smile. "Come on, Mr. Halberg, just sign it. Your little princess needs you."

Hearing her say "Mr. Halberg" pushed Ansel over the edge. His face darkened, and a bitter laugh slipped out. "Fine, Odessa. So you want a divorce that badly, huh? Don't expect me to take it back when you come running!"

Odessa closed her eyes. "I won't regret this," she declared firmly.

"Great. Then let's get divorced!" Ansel snapped.

Without hesitation, he set Sydney down and yanked the papers from Odessa's hands, his fists clenched tight with tension.

His cold voice cut through Odessa like a blade. Tears brimmed at the edge of her eyes, but she swallowed them down.

She gave the receptionist a strained smile and said, "Could I borrow a pen, please? Thank you."

"Sure… no problem."

As the receptionist handed Odessa the pen, Ansel's eyes shifted to her.

He said nothing, but the fire simmering in his bloodshot eyes was unmistakable. Startled, the receptionist quickly withdrew her hand, her voice trembling. "Sorry… I don't have a pen."

Just as Odessa moved to find one herself, a fountain pen slipped from Sydney's purse and clattered onto the floor.

"Ah! I'm so sorry! It just slipped right out!" Sydney exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with panic.

But despite her unease, she remained rooted in place, not reaching down to pick it up.

Odessa didn't hesitate. She grabbed the pen and pressed it into Ansel's hands, her voice cold and relentless. "Sign it."

Every eye was fixed on him. It was painfully clear to everyone that he didn't want a divorce. His earlier outburst was simply his wounded pride lashing out in desperation.

But that no longer mattered. The line had been crossed.

Ansel's gaze darkened as he stared at the pen, fury twisting his features. In a swift motion, he snatched it from Odessa's hand and tossed it into the trash. He turned to Sydney and shouted, "Who told you to bring that pen out?"

Tears welled in Sydney's eyes. "You said you had an important meeting today… I just thought you might need it."

For a brief moment, Ansel's heart softened. He took a deep breath and turned back to Odessa, his face shadowed like storm clouds. Without a word, he tore the divorce agreement to shreds.

"Alright. We can proceed with the divorce, but this agreement is riddled with problems. I'll have my lawyer draw up a proper version and inform you when it's ready."

Odessa saw straight through his excuse. She shook her head, her voice sharp and unwavering. "Then have your lawyer come now. I don't want a single cent from you. I'll walk away with nothing. I just want to end our marriage as soon as possible."

Ansel seized her wrist, dragging her close. His bloodshot eyes burned with desperation as he hissed, "Odessa, do you even realize what you're saying? How do you expect to survive without me? Have you ever stopped to think about that?"

Tears welled in Odessa's eyes, dampening her long lashes. The sorrow in her gaze surged like a rising tide, threatening to drown everything.

She leaned in, voice barely above a whisper. "I told you… I've already died. I only have five days left."