Chapter 2

My gaze landed on the thick wad of cash. Three, maybe four thousand. Enough for the doll Lily had been eyeing for weeks.

The skewers were sold out. Only an idiot would walk away from honest money.

"Alright, I know this place inside out."

I smiled, taking the money, not feeling any embarrassment.

Victoria's voice was unsteady. "You...you never used to care about money like this. Small money."

"There was that time...some heir tried to buy me a drink for half a million. You broke a million-dollar bottle of cognac over his head. It cost us a deal worth ten times that."

Looking at my grease-stained, cheap T-shirt, her expression was indescribable.

"Your skin is sensitive. You couldn't wear cheap polyester. You only wore tailored pure wool suits, and even a pair of plain socks cost enough to buy your entire stall."

She couldn't understand how the once dashing, extravagant man could have changed so much.

I didn't respond, just smiled and pointed towards the building on the distant cliff, like a castle in the clouds.

"That structure, built right on the cliff face, is a local landmark."

I naturally introduced the attraction to her, then turned back to ask.

"Have you been up there?"

Victoria had been watching me, and she shook her head blankly.

"Go take a look. When you see the vast world spread out before your eyes, you'll understand."

I once thought I could never let go of Victoria.

Now, thinking back, it was truly laughable.

Victoria met my honest gaze, devoid of any love, and felt a pang in her heart.

"Okay."

On the way up the mountain, I acted like a dutiful guide, enthusiastically telling her about the local culture and traditions.

When we passed other vendors, I'd greet them cheerfully.

"Alex, moonlighting as a guide again?"

"Young people certainly have stamina, working late guiding tourists up the mountain for extra cash."

Victoria looked at my slender profile and quietly asked.

"Do you often work as a guide?"

I answered frankly. "Sometimes I show tourists around, but none of them are as generous as you."

I flashed a wide, genuine smile.

Victoria finally realized, at that moment, that I was genuinely happy about this small sum of money I would have scorned before. It wasn't about trying to get a rise out of her.

"Alex, don't be like this."

She suddenly grabbed my hand, her voice earnest. "Even if we're divorced, I don't want to see you fall apart like this."

"You're not an ordinary person. Even if you've been to prison, you can still make a comeback."

She pulled out her phone and quickly typed in a bank account number.

"I was always afraid to contact you. I thought you were doing well, but I never expected you to...This money is what I owe you. Take it and start a new business."

Without a moment's hesitation, she typed in the amount: five million.

I just watched Victoria, silent.

She thought I was silently accepting the money, but then her phone screen flashed a notification: the recipient's bank account was closed. She was completely stunned.

"Alex...do you hate me?"

She looked up at me, her eyes brimming with tears.

"This is the account you opened when you proposed. The number was my birthday and lucky numbers. You said you'd keep it forever, that every time you spent money, it was saving happiness for me. Don't you want me to be happy anymore?"

My gaze calmly shifted to the man behind her.

"Your happiness is here."