I stared at my empty palm, dumbfounded.

"Taylor, move aside, blocking the way!"

It dawned on me that Louisa was right beside me.

I quickly got up to give Jaxton space.

But his large hand pressed on my shoulder. I gazed blankly as Jaxton crouched down to meet my eyes.

"Taylor, be my girlfriend, date me, hmm?"

His magnetic voice surprised me as I lifted my gaze.

His lips touched my forehead, cool and soft.

It felt like my mind exploded into a blank slate.

The ringing of my phone snapped me back to reality.

The ride-hailing driver was waiting downstairs.

I hurriedly packed my bags, carefully placing the dried rose in the suitcase.

It was 9 p.m. when I reached the airport.

With an hour left before boarding, I found a dessert shop and ordered a cup of hot milk.

The warm sensation eased my stomach a bit.

As I left the dessert shop, the boarding gate was within reach.

I hurried forward but bumped into someone.

When I looked up, my throat tightened, the apologies stuck in my throat.

I took a few steps back almost involuntarily.

Jaxton was dressed in a white shirt and black pants, his gaze fixed on my face.

It was a look demanding an explanation.

My slow reaction brought back the fact that we were divorced, and I had already resigned.

So, straightening my back, I said, "Excuse me, Mr. Munoz, I am boarding now."

But before I could move, Jaxton stopped me.

"Where to?" He advanced towards the corner, his towering figure casting a powerful presence.

"Jaxton." I took a deep breath, meeting his gaze with a deliberate calmness. "Privately, we are divorced; publicly, I have resigned. So, I don't need to report my whereabouts to you."

"Oh?" He lowered his head further, his scent enveloping me. "Even as your ex-husband, I have the right to know why you keep disappearing without a word."

I was speechless.

He softly nibbled on my ear, whispering, "Taylor, selling the apartment overnight, resigning, and buying a flight ticket. What are you fleeing from?"

Like a cat with its tail stepped on, I pushed him away forcefully. "What do you mean by fleeing? I am free, I can go wherever I want. Move, I am boarding!"

"You might not be able to leave."

He didn't budge, his deep gaze locked on me. With a gesture from him, Roger walked over.

"Mrs. Munoz. You still owe the company a billion dollars in breach of contract, you cannot resign."

I looked at the glistening gold card in his hand and almost burst out laughing in anger. "Roger, are you kidding? Am I some kind of high-end talent? Sign such a contract with the company? A billion? That can buy this rotten company!"

"If you can't make up that money, Mrs. Munoz, you can't leave Olivano.

"This is a contract, with your signature."

"Are you stupid, signing such a slave contract?" Jaxton's fingers grazed over the signature on the contract. "Taylor, be careful with the contracts in the future, lest you get sold and have to count coins for the seller."

"You!" I took a deep breath, thinking, "Those are just excuses! Contracts or no contracts, Jaxton could toy with me with one finger!"

"I don't like unclear situations." Jaxton squinted at me as if searching for something on my face. "Tell me the answer. If the answer satisfies me, I'll tear up this contract."

My heart skipped a beat. A dull pain in my chest made it hard to breathe.

I thought, "The answer.

What is the answer?

My answer will never satisfy him."

"Dumbstruck?" Jaxton grabbed my chin, his intense gaze piercing. "Why divorce? Give me a reason."

I wanted to speak, but my throat felt blocked.

"Taylor, think clearly before you speak. You don't always get a chance."

"I've already explained. It's just that the high life is boring, the pressure is immense, and I don't love you as before. I don't want to continue. I've thought this through for a long time!"

I finished my sentence in one go, fearing I would break down in tears.

"Jaxton, I don't love you anymore. You're not so hung up to keep pestering, are you?"

Of course, Jaxton wasn't one to hold on.

He stared at me intensely for half a minute, then turned and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure, I felt drained, leaning against a marble pillar, holding back tears.

I don't know how I made it back to my room. I just felt my shattered life collapse once more.

I stayed awake from dusk till dawn, mechanically getting ready.

I worked all day without sleep or hunger.

I felt like I was turning into a hermit.

As the workday ended, Logan clapped his hands. "Today, our team is hosting Mr. Munoz, with a lavish seafood feast and KTV..."

My temples throbbed. I was about to excuse myself for tonight's event, but team leader Logan Perez said, "Who leaves early buys the bill."

I could only shut my mouth.

The office girls buzzed like energized bees, planning beauty and clothing store visits. By the time we reached the dinner venue, it had turned into a mini banquet.

Looking down at my plain dress and flats, I felt out of place.

Rebecca Hansen, "the Company Beauty", stood in front of me. "Taylor, could you respect the Colorlight Restaurant's standards? If you can't afford a dress, you can rent one."

Glancing at her exposed bosoms, I retorted, "What? Does your nightclub outfit match this restaurant's standards?"

Rebecca, the daughter of Olivano's richest man, was always arrogant. She seethed with anger and was about to slap me. I braced for a slap, but she just smiled, moving her hand behind her back.

"Mr. Munoz."

Her cloying voice made me stiffen, the familiar scent filling the air. With a glance catching Jaxton's shiny shoes and trousers, I instinctively clenched my fists.

Jaxton sat amidst adoring gazes. Rebecca immediately sat by his side, adjusting her clothes to reveal more skin.

"Mr. Munoz, what would you like? Spicy or mild? Any allergies? Seasonings..."

"Ms. Dempsey is from Anderlin?"

Suddenly singled out, I fumbled with my fruit fork, a melon falling onto the table.

Jaxton's gaze met mine, calm but deep as the vast cosmos.

"I've read up, Ms. Dempsey and I are from the same place. Season it as per our hometown taste."

I sat there in silence.

The taste of Anderlin people leaned towards spiciness, yet Jaxton's palate preferred mild flavors, steering clear of anything too stimulating.

I had barely finished seasoning when Rebecca swiftly swiped the condiments from my hands, placing them with a smile on Jaxton's seat.

Seated, I gazed at the seafood feast before me, only belatedly realizing my allergic reaction to seafood. I couldn't touch a single bite of it.

As I prodded at the fruit in front of me, Rebecca's cloying voice kept intruding, making this meal even more unbearable.

"I heard Ms. Dempsey used to be a crab shucker?"

Jaxton's voice created an eerie silence at the table, all eyes inexplicably fixated on me.

It was true; I had been a crab shucker, all because of that expensive deep blue wristwatch.

"Then thank you, Ms. Dempsey."

Jaxton wiped his hands with a towel and sipped his red wine, every move exuding elegance and sophistication.

Rebecca's gaze could have drilled a hole through my face, but she graciously rose, giving me her seat.

So, under the watchful eyes of everyone, I began shucking crabs.

The crab-shucking skills were actually learned for Jaxton.

In that short gig, crab shucking was the most lucrative.

Yet, post-marriage, it was hardly useful since I couldn't eat seafood, barely seeing it on our table.

If there was fish, Jaxton would patiently remove the bones for me.

I was distracted for a moment. A sharp crab leg pierced my finger, drawing blood.

I bit my lip to suppress a gasp.

Jaxton rolled up his sleeves, revealing his elegantly toned forearm, beckoning the waiter over. "Waiter, cancel the crab feast."

I tightened my grip, thinking, "Jaxton hasn't even glanced at me.

He probably won't notice this tiny injury."

"Sir, is there an issue with the dishes?"

"Not fresh enough. Find your head chef, prepare signature dishes without seafood ingredients, and bill accordingly."

I thought, "Indeed... perhaps the ingredients weren't fresh enough? After all, he's quite particular about taste."

He will no longer do anything for me.

I have severed the last chance.

I am not the one he loves, yet ironically, I have developed this self-delusional habit.

Just like now, I subconsciously think he canceled the crab feast for me.

How absurd."

I picked up a nearby cup and took a sip.

"Get this lady's wound taken care of."

His words almost made me choke on the drink in my mouth.

For the third time, all eyes at the table converged on me.

By the time I finished tending to my wound, Rebecca had already returned to Jaxton's side.

I sighed in relief. With the seafood removed, the new dishes sparked my appetite.

As everyone began toasting in turn, I buried my head in my meal, ignoring Logan's meaningful glances.

Rebecca's voice rang out. "Taylor, we've all made toasts. It wouldn't be right if you didn't raise a glass."

She had a point.

So, I lifted the glass of water in front of me. "Mr. Munoz, I don't drink alcohol. Here's a toast with water instead."

The water was downed with the swagger of a drink.

Jaxton lightly tapped his glass, staring at me for a few seconds before finishing his wine.

The table erupted in murmurs.

The table was filled with people offering him toast with drinks, but he chose to respond to me solely.