Chapter 2

"What?" Xavier was slightly furious. "I've spent hundreds of thousands on her. Are you expecting me to seek your approval? Did you ever bother to do the math when the Joyner family reaped billions from me?" Although their marriage was kept secret, Lily knew full well that her family had continuously siphoned resources from him after their marriage. However, she couldn't comprehend it. "That's different! We're husband and wife. How could she ever compare to me?" "You're the one who can't compare to her!" The disdain in his eyes was like a barbed blade, stabbing deep into Lily's heart before it was wrenched out. "The money I spent on her yesterday was merely a fraction of her accomplishments. How could you possibly measure up?" Her heart instantly felt as if it was bleeding and utterly shattered. The indifference in his eyes was something she had never seen before. The man who had once lost control in her embrace in bed and whispered sweet nothings in her ears seemed like a stranger to her now. "Why didn't you marry her instead of me if she's such a wonderful person?" Her voice quivered as tears welled up in her eyes. "Didn't you choose me because you loved me?" Lily's vision slowly blurred with tears. She could only make out the hazy outline of his face, but the indifferent look on his face was unmistakable. She could see it very clearly. It was as if he was mocking her innocence and foolishness to believe that he ever loved her. Xavier's face darkened with impatience. "Are you done talking?" An irrational woman was beyond reason to him. He walked past her and continued to head upstairs. His avoidance was the final blow that shattered the last remnants of her composure. "Let's get a divorce!" She subconsciously closed her eyes as the words escaped her lips. She had mustered every ounce of her strength to say them. A marriage without love was not something she wanted! Xavier never dragged Sarah into the conversation and attributed all their issues to her unreasonable behavior. She didn't need to show him the video as it wouldn't change anything. He wouldn't admit it. She would only end up bringing humiliation upon herself for being abandoned! "You have 500 thousand dollars a month as your pocket money. All you need to do is tend to the garden and sleep with me. Isn't this kind of treatment good enough?" Xavier stopped before continuing with his brow furrowed so tightly that it could crush a fly, "What are you making a fuss about?" Her grievances meant nothing but unreasonable to him. "Treatment?" Warm tears streamed down her cheeks as she met his icy gaze. "Are you looking for a wife or a punching bag?" Did money and the occasional night together define marriage? How was this any different from being paid for her company? The only distinction was a piece of paper. Was it a contract that legitimized the transaction of the marriage? Was that what marriage meant to him? A realization struck her when she thought of the grand birthday surprise tonight that made everyone envious. This kind of marriage was all she deserved in his eyes! A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips. There was a hint of disdain in his dark eyes. "Did I say anything wrong? Do you think you can return home and be the cherished daughter of the Joyner family if we get a divorce? Don't be naive, Lily. Know your place!" "I have hands and legs. I can survive without going back to them." Lily forced herself to swallow her tears and climbed the stairs ahead of him before she pulled out a white suitcase from the corner and started stuffing it with her clothes. There was no point in her returning to that family with a detached father and submissive mother. She had long since had enough of it! Xavier's face tightened. He followed her upstairs but didn't stop her. He looked at her coldly as she packed her things. It was 4:00 am. The world outside was cloaked in darkness while the room glowed brightly as if it were daylight. Lily's face was pale as she zipped up her suitcase and stepped out of the cloakroom. Xavier stood there as she walked past him. "Lily, don't expect me to come running after you. I don't have that kind of patience." "See you at the courthouse at nine tomorrow morning." Lily's heart trembled once again at his words. She could feel the tone of annoyance and disdain in his voice. "I'm busy these days. Schedule an appointment with my assistant if you want a divorce. Don't accuse me of being heartless. If you change your mind before then, I can pretend none of this ever happened." Xavier glanced back to see that she had packed her suitcase to the brim. She had taken the framed photos of herself from the bedside table and the two small stuffed toys. He felt displeased. It felt like a valued employee of his was resigning. How ungrateful of her! Did he ever not give her what she wanted? He had never restricted her spending and trusted her to manage everything at home in their two years of marriage. He couldn't fathom what had driven her to this, but he was certain she would return. The Joyner family wouldn't allow her to get a divorce. She would be forced to return once she went back home. He also didn't take it seriously when she claimed that she could stand on her own feet. How could she handle the 9-to-5 grind when she had been raised in comfort all along? His mood was still worse even with those thoughts when he watched her resolute retreating figure. He walked out of the bedroom and stood by the second-floor railing. He saw her grabbing the car keys in the foyer and said in a lowered voice, "I bought that car for you." The car wasn't expensive, costing only around 200 thousand dollars. Xavier had indeed bought it for her. He had bought it for her when she first started learning to drive. She didn't dare drive an expensive car as she worried that she might leave any scrapes or bumps on it. Therefore, she chose a cheaper model, and Xavier paid for it with his money. He could give Sarah a gift worth hundreds of thousands but was unwilling to give her this car that was only worth around 200 thousand dollars. It was late autumn now. The wind howled outside the window, and the withered leaves were scattered across the ground, creating an air of desolation. Lily felt a deep chill within her. She tightened her grip on the car keys and steadied her breath before tossing them in the foyer and walking out with her suitcase. The night wind swept over her as soon as she stepped outside, tossing her long dark hair in disarray. Her slender figure slowly faded into the dim landscape. Xavier looked at her silhouette intently until the door was closed. His eyes trembled slightly before he turned back to return to the bedroom and stared out of the floor-to-ceiling window at her solitary figure under the streetlight. Their villa was on the outskirts. It was an hour's drive from the city. She wouldn't make it far without a car or bus. His belief was unwavering. However, it began to crack as the time passed before it was utterly shattered. Lily braved the biting wind and walked on with her suitcase until she disappeared from his sight. Xavier sneered. She wasn't only an ungrateful person in his eyes now but was also foolishly prideful. … Lily only called her best friend, Maryanne Devereux, after she walked out of the outskirts. She had been walking against the biting wind for an hour. Her lashes were dusted with frost by the time Marryane arrived. Her hands on the suitcase were red and chapped from the cold. Maryanne jumped out of the car and pushed her into it before tossing her suitcase into the trunk and sliding into the driver's seat. She had only mentioned on the phone that she was divorcing Xavier, and Maryanne had a million questions. However, she didn't know where to begin when she saw her devastated appearance. The car's heater was turned on to the highest. The warmth quickly melted the frost clinging to Lily's lashes and brows. A layer of mist formed around her eyes. The heart she once thought unbreakable crumbled instantly as tears streamed down her face. The large teardrops fell onto her reddened hand. They seared her skin.