Chapter 4

The "Divorce Agreement" stipulated that:

Elara would have custody of Lily and keep the house we currently lived in. Given that the company was about to go public, my company equity would remain untouched, but I would give her $8 million as compensation, to be paid in one year.

Cynthia was heartbroken for me when she saw the compensation amount.

"You built this from nothing over these past few years, piece by piece, and you just give it away. How many projects will it take to earn that back?"

I comforted her, "After all, I wronged her. We should be thankful. If she insisted on splitting our marital assets equally, it would be far more than this."

Cynthia leaned her head on my shoulder. "I just worry about your health."

She was very efficient and quickly helped me book the divorce registration.

I sent the time to Elara, and she replied with a simple, "Okay."

During the waiting period, Cynthia was visibly happy.

Yes, from the first time I brought up divorce two years ago, we had encouraged each other and walked this path together, bearing a lot, experiencing a lot.

She still couldn't quite believe it.

"Why did she suddenly agree?

"Is she really not playing any tricks?

"Happiness came too suddenly!"

Not just her, but a part of me also felt a little confused.

One night, exhausted, Cynthia was sleeping soundly on my chest. I stared at the moon outside the window, smoking, my thoughts a tangled mess. Suddenly, I remembered a small incident.

A little over a month ago, I was in a meeting when Elara called, her voice tinged with anger:

"Why did you give Lily's piano competition spot to Cynthia's daughter?"

I was annoyed at the time and scolded her:

"Lily participates every year. Chloe has never had an opportunity like this before. What's the problem with letting her have it just once? Besides, that institution is funded by me anyway. Lily will have plenty of chances in the future!"

Elara was silent for a long time, then said softly:

"Do you know how hard Lily worked for this competition? She said she wanted to prove with her talent that her father didn't play favorites, and she wanted to win a championship to make you proud..."

I hated being guilt-tripped by her like that and roughly said, "I'll buy her a gift to make up for it later. Chloe is a poor child—"

She hung up before I finished speaking.

On the day of the competition, I drove Cynthia and Chloe to the venue.

We got stuck in traffic halfway there, and I saw Elara. She was riding a scooter, with Lily on the back.

Elara didn't drive. The road from home to the institution wasn’t far but was extremely congested, so she often rode a scooter to take Lily to piano lessons.

It was a very windy day. Both mother and daughter looked disheveled, their hair a mess.

I turned to look at Chloe. She was wearing a beautiful, delicate princess dress, sipping milk and nestled in Cynthia's arms.

The scooter was grazed by a car that cut in, and Elara and Lily fell to the ground.

I instinctively started to get out, but Cynthia pressed my hand, slowly shaking her head:

"She already dislikes me and Chloe. This situation will only make her angrier. Don't worry, they're not hurt, they're already getting up."

I looked over. Mother and daughter were helping each other stand.

Chloe suddenly rolled down the passenger window and yelled, "Lily!" Then, proudly and loudly, she added, "We're going to the competition in Declan’s car! Are you going to the competition too?"

In a moment of panic, I met Elara’s gaze.

I thought she would make a scene.

But she only gave me a fleeting glance, then turned to comfort Lily and quickly rode off with her.

...

Ever since I decided to take this path, bearing the public scorn, I had deliberately avoided thinking about anything that might weaken my resolve.

I couldn't be unfair to one person only to be unfair to another.

I told myself that compensating her more was good enough. A full-time homemaker, never having worked a day, would still get so much money for free. She wasn't getting a raw deal. Compared to many, she was already lucky.

I extinguished my cigarette butt.

And stopped the sudden rush of memories in my mind.