Chapter 4

Alex was silent, but his face didn't show the relief I expected.

After a long moment, he spoke, as if making a momentous decision.

"Don't be silly. Just wear white like before, and I won't fail to recognize you."

"I'm not divorcing you."

"Oh really?"

I managed a mocking smile and looked up at him.

He probably forgot what document he signed from me this morning.

I'd only worn a wig and a different dress.

Alex had simply assumed I was the new secretary.

He'd signed the divorce papers without even looking.

He'd even asked me to organize his study's safe.

Alex had carefully cut out Sera Dubois’s photo from yesterday's magazine.

I pulled open the safe; it was filled to the brim with news clippings about Sera.

Photos of her in red, in blue, in black.

No matter how Sera dressed, Alex could always recognize her.

And in the oldest photo, Sera was still in high school.

Wearing a white dress, with long, straight black hair.

Exactly the look I had painstakingly maintained for the past three years.

Lost in thought, Alex took my hand.

"Scarlett, I won't lose you again."

I pulled a sarcastic smirk, about to open my mouth and clear everything up.

But Alex suddenly pushed me away and ran off in one direction.

I followed his gaze as Sera's back disappeared into the crowd.

Halfway there, Alex seemed to remember something.

He turned back and yelled,

"Scarlett, wait for me! I'll be right back!"

But the direction he shouted in was towards another woman beside him.

She was also wearing a rose-pink dress, just like mine.

I turned and walked away without a second thought.

Alex was furious about me leaving without permission.

But that day, I was sitting in a coffee shop nearby, sorting out some paperwork for my new identity.

The entire afternoon, until it got dark, Alex never returned.

I ignored Alex. Anyway, if I just changed my clothes,

I'd be invisible to him.

With all the paperwork for moving abroad completed, the first thing I did was go shopping for new clothes.

For years, trying to get Alex to notice me, my wardrobe had been a monotonous sea of white, draining my soul.

Now, even looking at it made me sick.

A sales assistant enthusiastically presented a fiery red dress.

Just as I was about to swipe my card, a cool, clear voice cut in.

"I'll take that one too."

I turned my head and saw Sera Dubois's arrogant face.

She scrutinized me from head to toe.

"Miss Hayes, what are you still clinging to? Didn't that airport incident make it clear enough?"

"Alex doesn't love you. You can buy the most expensive clothes, but he'll still see you as air."

I couldn't be bothered with her nonsense, so I pulled out my black card from my wallet and handed it to the sales assistant.

"Wrap up this one she touched, and every single item in this collection for me."

"And please, escort her out."

The sales assistant immediately began to clear her out, but just then, Alex appeared.

He walked directly to Sera, not even glancing at me.

"Wrap up the dress for Miss Dubois."

The sales assistant was stunned and whispered a reminder:

"Mr. Thorne, but this is your..."

I was wearing smoky eye makeup and bright orange curly hair.

Alex, predictably, didn't recognize me.

"Who does she think she is?" Alex's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for everyone in the boutique to hear.

"Just some woman who popped out of nowhere. Does she really think she can compete with Sera for anything?"