Chapter 4

On the way home, James drove with a tense face, not sparing me a single glance.

I sat on the sofa, watching James, who usually stood so straight, now slightly hunched over.

Looking at his somewhat devastated expression, I felt a bit of satisfaction in my heart.

I was anticipating his emotional outburst after I discovered his extramarital affair.

Perhaps he would kneel and beg for my forgiveness, or maybe he would be furious at being exposed, or perhaps he would frantically ask me to cover for him, after all, he valued his reputation above all else.

But none of what I had imagined happened.

James just exhaled heavily, his jaw tightened, and he said in a deep voice: "Mia, it was all my fault. I forced Sarah into this. Please don't blame her."

"I've loved her for nearly seven years. She has always been the person I admire and respect the most. Sarah has lived a clean and upright life for half her life, I can't let her reputation be ruined by my hands."

"I'll agree to any compensation you want, even divorce, but please don't go after her."

Even now, James still didn't show the slightest emotional fluctuation towards me.

He wasn't angry or in tears.

He just calmly appeared before me, asking me not to trouble his beloved.

At this point, our marriage was truly a failure.

Three years of dating, two years of marriage, and James not only didn't love me, he didn't even care about me at all.

Even though I was his wife who had been through thick and thin with him, even though I had been by his side during every difficult day.

I was just like a fool.

The dull pain in my heart turned into a sharp knife twisting, making it hard for me to breathe.

My breath caught, and I struggled to hold back the tears that were about to fall.

"Divorce, and then—"

"Get out of my house."

Such a person is not worth my lingering affection.

The divorce proceedings were quickly completed, and James and I walked out of the civil affairs bureau.

Emma eagerly let go of Sarah's hand and ran over to jump into James's arms.

"Uncle James, can you be my daddy now?"

"Mommy said that once you're divorced, you can live with us properly."

What a twisted view, and she's even passing it on to her daughter.

I looked up and made eye contact with Sarah in the distance.

She nodded slightly, her eyes as clear as water, with a warm and charming smile on her lips.

But her eyes couldn't hide the challenge.

As I passed by her, Sarah whispered softly.

"What does it matter that you're young? James has been thinking about me, a married woman, for so many years. As soon as my husband passed away, he couldn't wait to become single again, wanting to give me a proper status."

I laughed silently, looking closely at her already cloudy eyes.

"Sister, you'd better take good care of yourself."

"After all, James is only 27, and you're almost 40."

"You—!"

Sarah glared at me angrily, but immediately changed back to her gentle demeanor when James approached.

"James, I've taken the car keys. You should move your things out of the house as soon as possible."

James nodded, thoughtfully adjusting Sarah's collar.

"What?"

Sarah exclaimed in surprise, staring at me with an unfriendly expression.

"In your divorce, is James leaving with nothing? How come the house and car all go to you?"