Chapter 4

"If you follow up with the treatment, you could live for a few more years! Joshua, you've wasted so many years on Sophia, and for what? You got nothing in return. It's time to focus on yourself." Jayden's voice was urgent. I knew he couldn't bear the thought of me leaving the world so soon. I pressed my lips together before saying softly, "Jayden, I want to divorce Sophia." "Divorce?" Jayden shot up from his seat and walked over to me, staring with doubt written all over his face. "Did I hear you right just now?" I nodded, and the memory of that day at the hospital resurfaced in my mind. Once, Sophia had been the only light in my life, my everything. However, now that my time was running out, I wanted to live for myself. I wanted to know what life without her might be like. After recovering from his initial shock, Jayden said I had finally come to my senses and clapped me on the chest. He said he wanted to celebrate with me over a proper meal. "Joshua, the way you love Sophia isn't even like you anymore." Sophia was my everything. It wasn't weird for me to turn into someone else entirely while loving her. However, what surprised me the most was how easily I had talked about divorcing her. That afternoon, Jayden and I had a simple meal together and reminisced. By the time I dragged my weary body back home, it was already nine at night. She wasn't home, likely still at the hospital with Edison. For countless nights, I had been alone in this empty house. As always, I picked up my phone and called her several times but she never answered. I tossed my phone onto the couch and glanced toward the kitchen. Over the past three years of marriage, I had cooked countless meals for her but she had never touched any of them. I had thought that if I kept trying, she would eventually see my worth. However, I now understood that some people were mistakes from the very beginning. That evening, I waited for her on the couch late into the night. She never came home. When the clock struck midnight, I got up and started gathering the few belongings of mine that were in this house. By six in the morning, I was carrying my suitcase out of the home I had once dreamed of and left. A few days later, Sophia called me. "You haven't been home for the past few days?" I tightened my grip on the phone and tried to keep my emotions in check. "Did something happen to Edison again?" The only reason I could think of for her to call me was that Edison needed my blood. "No." Her answer was as cold as ever, as though she had been born with ice in her veins. My grip tightened and I took a deep breath. "Sophia, let's get a divorce." "What did you say?" The shock in her voice was evident, and I could picture the disbelief on her face. In the three years we had been married, no matter how many rumors surrounded her or how many times she cheated on me, I had never once brought up divorce. However, this time was different. I was dying. In the time I had left, I wanted to be good to myself. Soon, her voice was dripping with sarcasm as she said, "Joshua, is this your way of forcing me to cut ties with Edison?" "No." As soon as I denied it, a thought flashed through my mind. If she were truly afraid of losing me and decided to leave Edison, would I still want the divorce? I had loved her so deeply for so long without even a flicker of reciprocation. However, if she did love me… "Joshua, you—" Before she could finish, the sound of the housekeeper's startled cry came through the line. "Ms. Holmes, are you okay? Why did you suddenly faint?" My body froze and I stood up immediately. "What happened?" "Mr. Palmer, Ms. Holmes fainted suddenly. I don't know why," the housekeeper stammered. I was already heading out at the time. "Call a doctor immediately. I'm on my way." "Yes, Mr. Palmer." After the housekeeper replied, I hung up and went home immediately. Half an hour later, I arrived at the villa. I hurried inside only to find Sophia sitting on the couch, looking perfectly fine. She was chatting and laughing with Edison as if nothing had happened. For a moment, I was transported back in time to the first day I met her. That day, the sunlight had poured in through the window, illuminating her bright, carefree smile. She was like a beam of light that dispelled the shadows in my tiny room. She said, "Don't worry, kid. Even if your family can't afford it, mine can! I'll cover your tuition fees." That day, I swore I would work hard and repay her kindness. However, when I saw her again years later, she had become Edson's girlfriend. Edson was, well, that kind of man. After letting me in, the housekeeper announced my arrival, marked by my silence. "Ms. Holmes, Mr. Palmer is here." My hands curled into fists at my sides. Sophia's family had never liked me. So, even after we got married, the staff continued to call her by her maiden name. I used to think it was just a title, something that didn't matter. However, now I realized it symbolized her disdain for me which was deeper than I had imagined. She turned to look at me, irritation evident on her face. "Joshua, what are you up to now?" I didn't answer, my gaze shifted to Edison. He stared back at me with eyes full of mockery, though his voice was soft and pitiful when he finally spoke. "Sophie, Joshua looks pale. Maybe he was overworked and didn't get enough rest." "What kind of work does he have at that lousy studio?" Sophia said while laughing coldly. She then turned to me and said with a disdainful tone. "Joshua, Natalie said you didn't come home for the past few days. What games are you playing?" Before I could reply to her, Edison's careful voice echoed in the villa's living room. "Joshua, you don't think there's something improper between me and Sophie, do you? Let me explain. Our relationship isn't what you think it is. We're just—" Before he could finish his sickly sweet performance, I stormed over, grabbed his collar, and punched him square in the face. I didn't stop there. I threw him onto the ground, straddling him as my fists landed again and again. I wanted to kill him. After all, I was dying anyway. Why not drag him down with me? Blood soon covered his face, and he curled into himself on the couch, wailing in pain. "Joshua, why are you hitting me?"