Vivian rented an apartment upstairs from Ethan and Pearl, and she came down to visit almost every day.

Ethan, who used to work overtime constantly and rarely came home, suddenly seemed to have all the time in the world. He would wait at home every day.

After dinner, they would watch TV in the living room. This time, Vivian invited Pearl to join them.

"I haven't finished my thesis yet. You two go ahead and watch." After Pearl replied, she returned to the bedroom.

Vivian's cheerful laughter drifted in from outside. "Pearl's such a good student—not like me. Back then, I was always making you help me with my homework, Ethan."

Pearl stayed busy with her laptop until 11:00 pm. She did not notice Ethan shuffling in wearing slippers. He reached for the document folder on the desk, and Pearl's heart lurched. She tried to stop him, but it was too late. The signed divorce agreement was inside.

"What's this?" Ethan frowned as he pulled out a sheet of paper from the folder and tossed it on the desk. "You're applying to go to Arcanum for aid work?"

Pearl looked closely. The application form for the school's Arcanum aid program was on top. "That's not mine. I printed it for my roommate. She doesn't have a printer in the dorm."

Pearl's expression did not change, and Ethan believed her. He then lost interest in her folder.

Pearl breathed a sigh of relief. She did not want Ethan to know about the divorce yet. This marriage had been built on her one-sided wishful thinking from the start. Hence, she wanted to leave this marriage with dignity and composure.

"I heard the Arcanum aid program requires spending three years in the poorest parts of Arcanum. It's pretty tough."

Ethan's long fingers tapped the table intermittently as he said slowly, "You don't need to join in on that. My dad's old connections are enough to get you a good job at a hospital in the capital."

His words sounded caring, but Pearl smiled bitterly inside.

She was first in her major every year. During her time in graduate school, she had published over a dozen papers. With her own abilities, she could easily stay in the capital and pick any position she wanted. She had no need for connections.

Ethan did not even know these things. In their past four years together, he had never tried to understand her.

In contrast, Pearl even knew Ethan's favorite air conditioning temperature. When they slept, she would lower the temperature in advance, only to end up shivering and sneezing in the middle of the night.

Today, she refused to force herself anymore.

Sure enough, as soon as they lay down, Ethan tossed and turned. "Why is it so hot today?"

"It's not hot. I'm cold," Pearl said this flatly, then turned over with her back to Ethan and pulled most of the blanket toward herself. She thought Ethan would adjust the temperature himself.

Unexpectedly, Ethan's long arm reached out and pulled her close from behind. His warm breath brushed against Pearl's neck, carrying a hint of desire.

Ethan worked out regularly. With one forceful pull, he flipped Pearl around into his embrace, and overwhelming kisses rained down on her.

Pearl struggled, but it was useless. Ethan was always dominant in bed, completely unlike his usual refined and calm demeanor.

She frowned and turned her head. She looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. It was Friday today.

Over the past four years, they spent every Friday night like this. Before, she thought it was because they had not seen each other all week, which was why Ethan was so insatiable.

Then, a few nights ago, she was unable to sleep and kept scrolling through Vivian's social media account. That was when she discovered that Vivian would post new videos every Friday.

Vivian was a travel blogger. Every video showed her traveling around the world with her foreign husband. Aside from scenery shots, nearly every frame was of them showing off their relationship.

The thought that Ethan had only spent all those intimate nights with her because of Vivian's posts made Pearl feel sick.

She dry heaved, and Ethan's movements finally stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Ethan turned on the wall lamp. The dim yellow light illuminated his chiseled profile.

"I'm not feeling well today... Ugh..."

Pearl had only meant to stop Ethan from continuing, but her stomach churned violently, as if her insides wanted to come out.

"Let me take you to the hospital. Could you be..."

"No!"

Pearl knew what Ethan was suggesting, but they always used protection. It was impossible.

"Let's go to the hospital anyway. Whether you are or not, you look pretty miserable right now." As he spoke, Ethan had already gotten dressed and picked up his car keys from the nightstand.

He was about to help Pearl up when his phone rang. Ethan glanced at the caller ID and immediately answered. Whatever the person on the other end said made Ethan frown slightly before he let out a helpless laugh.

After ending the call, he turned to Pearl. "Vivian's watching a horror movie alone, and she's terrified..."

Under the lamplight, Ethan's expression showed hesitation.

Pearl understood what he wanted to say. "Go keep her company. I'm fine."

As she spoke, Ethan's phone rang again. The urgent ringtone seemed to press him forward.

He glanced at it and quickly stood up. After walking a few steps toward the door, he seemed to suddenly remember something.

His face showed a trace of guilt. "I'll take you to the hospital when I get back."

Watching the door close, Pearl smiled bitterly. When he got back? That was the most useless phrase. She did not like waiting.

The nausea made it impossible to sleep. Pearl simply sat up and pulled out the Arcanum aid program application form from the document folder.

She had been hesitant about going abroad. However, given the circumstances, she would inevitably run into Ethan after the divorce if she stayed in the capital after graduation. It was better to go abroad and gain some experience for a few years.

When she reached the marital status section of the form, she decisively wrote down 'single'.

Ethan did not come home all night. Early the next morning, Pearl saw a new post on Vivian's social media account.

"Going through a rough patch, but lucky to have someone willing to say 'let's go' and join me for a spontaneous midnight hike up Fishtail Mountain!"

Though the photo was primarily a selfie of Vivian, the tall male figure in the background was unmistakably Ethan.

Her followers in the comments were already gossiping.

"Free-spirited girls really are irresistible. The line of guys chasing Vivian probably stretches across the ocean."

"I knew Vivian wouldn't stay down after that cheating scumbag ex-husband. What an inspiration!"

"The mystery man in the background looks so tall. When are you going to show us his face?"

Pearl laughed softly. If these fans knew this 'mystery man' was married, what would they think?

Vivian had also left a comment. "Does anyone know the legend about Fishtail Mountain?"

According to legends, couples who climbed to the summit together would be soulmates for life. When Fishtail Mountain went viral online last year, Pearl had wanted Ethan to go with her.

She had begged him several times, but Ethan had only replied with a straight face, "Pearl, I thought you weren't the type to blindly follow trends?"

She had been speechless at the time and had to give up.

It was the same activity. However, when she proposed it, he said she had no mind of her own. When Vivian did it, she was carefree and independent.

That was the difference between love and indifference.

Pearl simply could not understand men. How could desire still function without love? To avoid a repeat of last night, she decided to pack up her belongings and take everything with her. She would not return here until she had the divorce certificate in hand.

Pearl lived on campus most of the time anyway. She had very few things here. All her clothes fit in a single suitcase.

Finally, she opened the nightstand drawer and took out a thick album of instant photos. Every single photo was of Ethan, but each one was a candid shot of his profile. It was because Ethan never cooperated when she wanted to take photos, much less pose for her.

Unlike the photo Vivian posted, where even though Ethan only showed his back, you could tell he had deliberately angled himself for the shot.

When she left, Pearl took the album downstairs and threw it in the trash. It was worth less than trash now.

As graduation approached, Pearl became so busy she barely had time to breathe. For two straight weeks, she hardly thought about Ethan at all.

After her Friday group meeting ended, Pearl looked at the missed calls from Ethan on her phone, somewhat confused.

In the last four years, no matter what happened, she had always been the one to contact Ethan first. Sometimes, she even had to make appointments through his secretary.

"Phone calls are the most inefficient form of communication. It's a waste of time."

Remembering what Ethan had told her before, she deleted the notifications, intending to ignore his calls.

Unexpectedly, Ethan called several more times in succession. Then, text messages followed.

"My dad wants us to visit him together."

Ever since Yolanda passed away two years ago, Oliver had never recovered. His health deteriorated almost overnight. He resigned from all his positions and voluntarily moved into a care facility.

Before, Pearl used to organize visits every ten days or so. Since last month's upheaval, she really had not been to see him in a long time.

Pearl felt a pang of guilt. Even though she and Ethan could not remain husband and wife, both Oliver and Yolanda had genuinely cared for her.

While she was still in the capital, she really should visit Oliver more.

Ethan drove to pick her up. As soon as they met, he asked, "Why haven't you been coming home lately?"

"Busy with school."

"That's good. Vivian thought you were angry that she and I were getting too close."

Ethan lightly tapped the steering wheel. "I told her you're not that petty, but she didn't believe me. She says she's moving out next month to avoid any awkwardness."

"Tell her there's no need. I don't mind at all." Pearl's voice was languid.

Ethan frowned slightly. This was exactly the answer he had wanted, but hearing Pearl say it so casually made him feel something was off.

At the red light, he wanted to look at Pearl's expression more carefully. However, she had already fallen asleep in the passenger seat.

After more than a month of not seeing him, Oliver looked much older. His hands trembled as he opened a box and pulled out an emerald bracelet, pressing it into Pearl's hand.

"Pearl, this was Yolanda's. It's the Sterling family's heirloom meant to be passed down to daughters-in-law. She passed so suddenly that she never had the chance to give it to you. Today, I'm putting it on you myself, in case I pass away one of these days too..."

"Oliver, please don't talk like that."

Seeing her once vigorous mentor now frail and elderly, Pearl's eyes grew moist. However, she knew clearly that she and Ethan were about to divorce. She could not accept this heirloom meant for a Sterling daughter-in-law.

However, Oliver insisted on slipping it around her wrist. He continued, "You were still in school before, and you and Ethan didn't have a proper wedding. Now that you're graduating soon, you should make time for a ceremony. That was Yolanda's dying wish."

Neither Pearl nor Ethan responded. Oliver went on about the wedding for quite a while, then pulled out two tickets and handed them to Ethan. "These are from Peter for you two. His son is directing this musical. It's happening tonight."

"Peter?" Ethan frowned.

Oliver immediately smiled. "Pearl knows him. He's my friend at the care facility. Last time Pearl visited, she happened to run into Peter, who collapsed on the roadside after having a heart attack."

Oliver looked at Pearl with pride. "Thanks to Pearl's quick emergency care, Peter survived. He's always remembered Pearl since then. He even said he wants to attend your wedding ceremony and congratulate you both."

"That happened? Why didn't you tell me?" Ethan looked at Pearl. He had known nothing about it.

Pearl did not expose him in front of Oliver. After she saved that man, she sent Ethan several voice messages. He had not replied to any of them at the time.

Now, she understood. He had never bothered to listen to her voice messages at all.

After leaving the care facility, Pearl wanted to take a cab straight back to school. However, Ethan waved the tickets in his hand. "Someone went out of their way to save these for you. It would be rude not to go."

Thinking of Oliver and Peter's thoughtfulness, Pearl took the ticket and decided to go.

On the way, Ethan said he needed to swing by home to get his work phone.

Pearl thought to herself that when he had spontaneously gone up that mountain with Vivian, his work phone had rung all night in the study, yet he had been fine with that. When he was with her, however, work suddenly became so important.

With that thought, Pearl took off the bracelet from her wrist. The things that did not belong to her should be returned to their rightful owner sooner rather than later.

She had just removed the bracelet when she looked up and saw Vivian stepping out of the elevator.

"Ethan! No wonder you weren't home when I went looking for you. Where were you?"

Vivian completely ignored Pearl and bounced over to Ethan like a rabbit. Pearl consciously took a step back.

"You were looking for me? What for?"

"To get you to join the competition, of course! Look, I already got the bikes ready for you..."

Only then did Pearl notice there were three bicycles in the elevator along with a lady with blonde hair. Pearl recognized the lady as an influencer named Joy Walker who had appeared in Vivian's videos before.

Joy greeted them cheerfully, then teased Vivian with a knowing look, "So, this is the mystery man from your photo! He really is gorgeous!"

Her gaze landed on Pearl standing behind them, puzzled. "And who's this?"

Both Vivian and Ethan looked embarrassed. Pearl simply pointed at Ethan. "I'm his sister."