Chapter 3 No More Ties or Involvement Between Us

Then, Yvette sneered. "And if I find out you dared lay a finger on him, I'll make sure you regret it." A sharp pang stabbed at my chest. So in her eyes, I would always be nothing more than a petty, jealous husband who was eager to harm any man she cared about! I stared at her beautiful face, bitterness curling my lips into a cold smile. "Yvette, not only do you have hearing problems, but it seems your brain isn't working either. If I wanted to go after him, do you think I would announce it to you?" I took a deep breath and continued, "I don't want to argue with you. I'm telling you plainly—I'm definitely divorcing you. I'll explain everything to Grandpa and make sure it doesn't affect you. Think it over carefully." With that, I shook off her hand, leaving the dishes on the table as I headed upstairs. A few minutes later, the sound of the door slamming echoed across the house. Yvette must have stormed off again. I let out a long sigh. Even though I had been given a second chance at life, her words still stung. Luckily, it was only a sting, not the soul-crushing pain I had felt in my previous life. I collapsed onto the bed and closed my eyes, hoping for a proper rest. But before I could drift off, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen and saw it was my father-in-law, Lucas Jenning. I hesitated for a long moment before finally answering it. "Lucas." Lucas' booming voice immediately filled my ears. "Owen, your mother-in-law asked me to check in on you. Have you been using those medical herbs we sent you to make your meals as prescribed?" My eyes flickered to the corner of the room, where the unopened boxes of herbs were still stacked neatly. I lied smoothly, "Of course. I've been making them every week, just as instructed. Yvette and I have been eating them regularly." Lucas was obviously pleased by my answer. Yvette was his only daughter, and with his family's vast fortune, he was desperate for a grandchild to carry on the Jenning family's name. In the year we were married, I lost track of how many times I had been hounded about it. But with our divorce imminent, I wasn't in the mood for his meddling. "Lucas, having a child depends on fate. It'll happen when the time is right. We can't force it." I thought my gentle explanation would end the conversation, but Lucas was unexpectedly relentless. "Fate? What are you talking about? Don't give me that nonsense," he said. "I chose you because you're decent, good-looking, and smart. You've got the right genes to pass on to a child!" He continued, "Let me tell you something, Owen. If you're not capable of doing your part, and if even the doctors can't fix it, you better step aside. There's no shortage of men willing to give us a grandchild." His words struck a nerve, and I felt a surge of anger ignite in my chest. I had spent years bending over backward for my in-laws, playing the obedient son-in-law to perfection. If they told me to go east, I wouldn't even glance west. But now, all those years of compliance had led to a worse state, and they even attribute Yvette's inability to conceive a child to me. I swallowed my pride for so many years, only to be repaid with endless humiliation. I didn't even want Yvette anymore now, so why should I care about her parents? "You think having a kid is something I can just decide on my own?" I spat. "How about you use that big brain of yours to think before you speak and put the blame on me? "You've seen my medical reports. Have you found a single problem with me? Is everything my fault? Fine. I'll find someone else to have a kid with right now. Would you accept that child as your precious heir if I had one?" Lucas was stunned into silence. He couldn't believe I had just talked back to him. He was so shocked that he stuttered. "W-What? You're the one lacking, but you're blaming my daughter? And you're even talking back to me? Have you lost your mind?" I sneered. What an unrelenting old man! "I'm telling you that it's your daughter who can't have kids. Instead of wasting your time blaming me, maybe you should focus on her. And clear your head while you're at it!" Before he could respond, I hung up and swiftly turned off my phone. Throwing myself back on the bed, I let out a deep, satisfied laugh. I even rolled around on the bed in delight. How satisfying! Letting go of this marriage was the most liberating thing I had ever done. Since I had nothing to lose, I wasn't afraid. From now on, whoever wanted to put up with this nonsense could go ahead. I was done with it! I was busy the entire day, and I was exhausted. I drifted off quickly, and it was 10:00 pm when I woke up. I headed downstairs and found the villa dark and empty. Unsurprisingly, Yvette didn't seem like she was coming back, just like in my past life. A faint, mocking smile crept onto my lips. I was used to this by now. I calmly cleaned up the dishes from earlier, then made myself a proper dinner. I wasn't going to starve or hurt myself for anyone's sake anymore. After eating my fill, I packed my bags without hesitation, leaving the villa I had once meticulously decorated. For now, I would stay at a hotel. Tomorrow, I had two important matters to handle. One was the divorce. The other was more critical. Failure wasn't an option! The next morning, I was woken by my phone ringing insistently. It was Yvette. "Owen!" Yvette snapped on the other end, her voice sharp and venomous. "What did you say to my father last night?" I was still groggy as I rubbed my head. Briefly recalling the chat I had with Lucas, I couldn't help but burst out laughing. "It sounds like you already know what I said." I chuckled. "By the way, when are your parents taking you for that checkup?" Yvette stayed silent for a long moment, but I could already picture her face—dark with anger as she tried to hold herself together. Sure enough, her voice was filled with anger when she finally spoke. "Owen, reverse psychology doesn't work on me. I have zero interest in sleeping with you, got it?" I stretched lazily, rolling onto my side as I made myself comfortable. "Stop flattering yourself. I have no interest in sleeping with you." She scoffed haughtily. "That's not what you used to say. Also, why don't I see breakfast waiting for me?" My eyes snapped open, and I gritted my teeth. This wretched woman had never treated me well, but she had no problem bossing me around. Not to brag, but my cooking was pretty good. Yvette never had the habit of eating breakfast, and I was afraid she would develop stomach issues because of that, so I went out of my way to teach myself how to cook. Ironically, I was the one who ended up with stomach problems. Even fate seemed to favor her. Even though our relationship was frosty in the year we were married, she genuinely enjoyed the meals I made. In my past life, I foolishly thought it meant she cared for me and that I had stood a chance. Now, I saw the truth. This wretched woman just treated me like a free housekeeper. I wouldn't cook another meal for her ever again. When I didn't answer her for a long time, she grew impatient. "Where are you?" I had no intention of indulging her temper tantrum. "Check the table on the second floor." A moment later, I heard her going up the stairs. As she did, she continued to lecture me like the pampered young lady she was. "You've been getting bolder lately! Why is breakfast on the second floor? You know I always eat on the first—" Her footsteps stopped abruptly, and so did her voice. It was as if she had vanished into thin air. After a long silence, her angry voice came through the phone. "Owen Yates, what's the meaning of this? Why is there a divorce agreement here?" Before I left last night, I printed two copies of the divorce agreement. As we were going to divorce sooner or later, there was no point in dragging it out. I could picture her face in my mind, her once-beautiful features now surely stormy with anger. I felt oddly calm, perhaps even a little smug. "Why else would it be there? I've already signed my part. Don't worry, I'll leave with nothing. I don't want a single penny from you. From this moment on, we'll go our separate ways. There'll be no more ties or involvement between us, and we'll never see each other again."