Chapter 2

Caleb's expression darkened. His warm palm rested against Yasmin's delicate neck—part caress, part warning. It felt as though if she disobeyed, he would snap her neck without hesitation. "You were the one who wanted this marriage. Now, you're the one asking for a divorce…" He leaned in as he spoke in a low voice that hovered between teasing and threat. "What's the matter? Found someone new?" Yasmin sensed the danger but resisted her urge to shrink back. She forced herself to stay calm. "It's not someone new. I've liked him for a long time." Caleb's gaze turned colder as he studied her face, his interest piqued. "Oh? Who?" "You don't know him." "Try me." His voice was deathly calm. It carried no hint of curiosity but as if he were considering eliminating a threat. "A senior from the university." Talking about a lover with her current husband felt absurd—especially because it was a nonexistent one, no less. Caleb chuckled as if she had told a joke. "Yasmin, you've never been one to stay interested in anything for long. Today, it's him, tomorrow, it's another. How long can you love this man?" Never stayed interested? She had loved him since she was a child, and yet, in his eyes, she was fickle. Yasmin couldn't be bothered to argue. She lowered her gaze and said flatly, "Veronica is back. I'm making room for her. You should be happy." "Should I praise you for being considerate, Mrs. Grant?" Caleb straightened, towering over her. His tall frame cast her in his shadow. Against the light, she couldn't see his expression, but the pressure around him was suffocating. And his use of "Mrs. Grant" was definitely on purpose to mock her. Yasmin was about to speak when his phone rang. He answered, responding with the occasional "Mm." Without another word, he tossed the divorce papers onto the coffee table and headed upstairs. Minutes later, he came down with a suit jacket in hand, ready to leave. Yasmin grabbed the papers and followed him to the door, still barefoot. "Why don't you sign them first?" Caleb suppressed the rage inside him and glanced at the documents. Since there were no financial disputes, Yasmin had made it clear she would walk away with nothing. The agreement was simple—Caleb could scan through it in seconds. "You're going to walk away with nothing? Mrs. Grant, even a bad deal isn't this one-sided," he advised. "Money can be earned, but people can't wait for long." Yasmin made up an excuse, eager to end this mistake of a marriage with dignity. Her words only deepened Caleb's scowl. "You like him that much?" Yasmin nodded absently, urging him to sign. "Mrs. Grant, you were a top law student. I, a layman, wouldn't dare sign an agreement with you so casually." Without waiting for her response, he turned and strode off. "Caleb!" Yasmin called out after him, watching his retreating figure. Then, on impulse, she yelled, "Believe it or not, I never planned to trap you into marriage three years ago!" "Oh, really?" His response was indifferent, and then he disappeared from sight. She knew he didn't believe her. After all, everyone assumed that marrying him was the greatest stroke of luck for a neglected, unwanted daughter like her. But she had loved him for years. Why would she ever want to force him into anything? … Yasmin was born in Glenfield, where the legal marriage age was 16. She became Caleb's wife at 18. Now, at 21, she was preparing for divorce. She was also entering her final year at Dunville University's law school. As summer break began, she moved out of the villa in Longview Bay and into an apartment near campus. Two days later, in the evening, she received a text. "Yasmin, are you free tomorrow at 2:00 pm? There's something important I need to discuss with you." A location was attached. … At a high-end cafe, Veronica sat by the window. She wore a sleeveless black Chanel dress, her sleek hair grazing her shoulders. Her delicate features radiated warmth and elegance. A black wrist brace covered her left hand from palm to wrist. Her old injury would still flare up in air-conditioned spaces. Yasmin forced herself to look away from the brace, refusing to let guilt creep in. "Yasmin, I thought you wouldn't come." Veronica stood and smiled, her voice gentle. Among the city's elites, Veronica was known as the perfect older sister. Yasmin used to think the same. "I wasn't planning to," Yasmin said as she sat across from her. "You texted me with a time and place without asking. It's kind of rude." If she hadn't wanted to prevent Veronica from showing up at her university, she wouldn't have come at all. Veronica paused, then smiled. She seemed to give a compliment. "You've grown bold after marrying Caleb. You never dared to talk to me like this before." Yasmin hadn't been afraid before. She had just been naive enough to treat Veronica like a real sister. "What do you want?" "Dad and Mom asked me to check if you've spoken to Caleb about Jeremy. His trial is next week. There's no time left." "Jeremy committed assault. The case is solid. No one can help him." After Yasmin's mother passed, her father quickly remarried Veronica's mother. Veronica, two years older, took the Whitmore name and became their father's favorite. Later, her father and stepmother had a son together—Jeremy. He was spoiled beyond reason. He only turned 18 this year. Last month, he fought over a girl with the Barnes family's heir and injured one of his eyes beyond repair. Now, the Barnes family wanted him to face jail time. "Yasmin, you're a lawyer. You know there's a way around this. The Barneses are just the Grants' dogs. Caleb can easily handle it." Veronica's tone was soft, but her words were sharp. "You can get Caleb out of my bed in the middle of the night with a single call. Asking him yourself would be more effective." Yasmin paused, then rested her chin in her palm, her voice tinged with amusement as she continued, "Besides, I don't have the standing to ask him for anything. Caleb and I are getting a divorce." "You're… divorcing?" Veronica's eyes widened in shock. Yasmin laughed, her eyes sparkling as if she had stumbled upon something amusing. "Oh? Caleb didn't tell you?" She twirled a lock of hair around her finger and leaned in with feigned surprise. "Wow, maybe you should worry about whether he's got another bitch outside, considering he didn't even tell you something this important!" If Veronica noticed the jab, she didn't react to it. "Yasmin, Caleb and I are just friends." She studied Yasmin carefully, unconvinced. "You schemed your way into his bed and pulled every trick to become Mrs. Grant… You should be clinging to him, not letting go." Yasmin sighed dramatically, shaking her head while replying, "I just can't take it anymore."