Chapter 4

Keke pouted as she stood up. Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. "Please don't argue. Easton was just worried about me. I'm sorry, Sloane. Please don't fight because of me." "Keke! What are you apologizing for? If anyone should apologize, it's her!" Easton couldn't understand what was wrong with Sloane. In the past, he had kept so many college girls around, and she never batted an eye. But this time, she was making a fuss over nothing. Sloane crouched down to pick up the divorce papers, dusting them off. Apologize? She hadn't even asked Keke for compensation yet, and now she was expected to apologize first! Sloane wasn't sure if she was more disappointed or sad. She looked at Keke, who had a flicker of glee in her dark eyes. She smirked at how naive Keke was. Every woman thought they would be the last one standing by Easton's side. "What if I don't apologize?" She raised an eyebrow and looked at Easton. "Easton, forget it. It was my fault for dirtying Sloane's couch." Keke lightly tugged on Easton's sleeve while quickly lowering her gaze. She looked so pitiful, making it impossible not to notice. "If you still want to keep your bar, you'd better apologize to Keke." Easton's threat was crystal clear. Sloane carefully tucked the divorce papers into her bag. Watching as Easton shielded Keke behind him, she suddenly felt like she was the outsider in her own home. Numbness crept from her heart to her limbs. She curled her fingers slightly. It didn't matter. In one month, she and Easton would be completely done. "Fine. I'm sorry." Easton scoffed at that. Soon, he and Keke left. Sloane pulled the divorce papers from her bag then. "Josh." She called for Josh and handed him the papers. The paleness of her fingertips betrayed her emotions. "Go ahead with the process." After finishing everything, Sloane unlocked her phone, found today's date one month later, and set a reminder. There were 29 days until the divorce. … Easton didn't return for more than half a month. During that time, Sloane didn't receive a single call or text from him. She didn't care. After all, the divorce papers were already signed. Her sharp gaze was fixed on the winding mountain road ahead. Her hands were tight around the steering wheel as she lightly pressed the accelerator. As her car crossed the finish line, Sloane finally took off her helmet. Her long black hair cascaded down in the wind. "Sloane, you were amazing!" Wilder's deep eyes shone with admiration and excitement. Sloane, who was dressed in a red-and-white racing suit that made her skin appear even fairer, ruffled his hair with a smile. "It's because you were such a good co-driver." Her phone in her pocket suddenly vibrated. When she glanced at the flashing name on the screen, the smile on her face vanished instantly. With his eyebrows pulled together, Wilder caught a glimpse of the name and said softly, "Sloane, if you don't want to answer, don't." She hesitated for a few seconds before swiping to accept the call. "Lo, you didn't forget Grandma's birthday dinner tonight, did you? I'll come pick you up later." Easton's low, indifferent voice came through before she could respond. Then, a delicate and weak voice called out in the background. "Easton…" The call was abruptly cut off. The exhilaration Sloane felt from racing was completely ruined by Easton's call. Annoyance wrapped itself around Sloane like invisible vines, tightening around her heart. Sloane didn't want to return to the Chapman residence. But back when Francesca, Easton's mother, had made things difficult for her, only Easton's grandmother, Nancy, had stood up for her. Aside from Nancy, no one in the Chapman family had ever shown her the slightest bit of sincerity. No matter what, Sloane had to attend the party tonight. She would treat it as celebrating Nancy's birthday one last time. "What's wrong, Sloane?" Wilder's gentle voice pulled her back. She turned and met his sincere, earnest gaze. "It's nothing." Seeing that she didn't want to answer his question, Wilder didn't press further. Instead, he asked quietly, "Sloane, can I finally make our relationship public once you're divorced?"