Chapter 1

"Hello, I want a divorce."

In the third year of her marriage, Roxanne Levine decided to file for divorce. But she did so without telling her husband.

Across the desk, the lawyer, Nathaniel Shepherd, responded in a formulaic tone after hearing her intent.

"If you wish to proceed with a divorce, both parties need to sign the divorce agreement. After that, there will be a one-month cooling-off period before the divorce is finalized. Did your husband not come with you today?"

Roxanne paused for a few seconds. "I'll make sure he signs it."

"Very well. I'll draft a divorce agreement for you."

Chapter 1

"Hello, I want a divorce."

In the third year of her marriage, Roxanne Levine decided to file for divorce. But she did so without telling her husband.

Across the desk, the lawyer, Nathaniel Shepherd, responded in a formulaic tone after hearing her intent.

"If you wish to proceed with a divorce, both parties need to sign the divorce agreement. After that, there will be a one-month cooling-off period before the divorce is finalized. Did your husband not come with you today?"

Roxanne paused for a few seconds. "I'll make sure he signs it."

"Very well. I'll draft a divorce agreement for you."

After a short wait, Roxanne received the document. She lowered her head and walked down the stairs, her thoughts drifting to everything that had happened recently.

Just as she reached the front desk, a familiar voice called out to her.

"Roxy? What are you doing at the law firm?"

She looked up. The moment her eyes met Andre Spencer's deep gaze—eyes that seemed to pierce right through her—her heart skipped a beat.

Who would have thought that she would end up consulting someone from her husband's law firm for a divorce proceeding?

Even so, it was fine. He would not find out. After all, he had never really paid attention to her.

With that thought, she took a deep breath, trying to hide the tension in her voice.

"I'm here to ask about a few things. By the way, the property transfer Mom and Dad mentioned last time is ready. I need your signature."

As she spoke, she pulled out the divorce agreement. She flipped directly to the last page, laid it flat on the counter, and handed him a pen. The last page of the agreement contained only a signature line. As a lawyer, Andre instinctively frowned as his professional reflexes kicked in.

He was just about to take a closer look when, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a familiar figure stepping out of the elevator. He hesitated for only a second, then took the pen and signed his name where Roxanne indicated.

"Alright. If there's nothing else, you should go. I still have work to do."

The weight in Roxanne's heart eased, but almost immediately, a touch of self-mockery crossed her face.

If he had only taken a second glance, he would have known that what he had signed was not a property transfer agreement but a divorce agreement.

Unfortunately, his attention had been completely captured by Caitlin Bradford, who had just appeared.

Looking at that beautiful face, Roxanne felt a whirlwind of emotions inside her. Her hand tightened around her purse as she turned and walked out of the law firm.

As the automatic glass doors closed behind her, two voices drifted faintly into her ears.

"Andre, who was that just now?"

"A new client. She came to consult about a divorce," Andre replied, his usually indifferent tone carrying a rare touch of softness. "Why'd you come so early today? Give me a few minutes and I'll take you out for lunch, okay?"

Hearing the gentle, coaxing tone from inside and looking down at the signed divorce agreement in her hand, Roxanne gave a bitter smile.

Yes, she truly was here to consult about a divorce. Very soon, in just one more month, Andre would finally get what he had always wanted.

Roxanne and Andre were secretly married. Other than their parents, no one knew they were husband and wife—not even the woman Andre had loved for many years.

The secret marriage had been Andre's decision.

They were college classmates. On the very first day of school, Roxanne fell in love with Andre, the campus heartthrob, at first sight. She pursued him relentlessly for four years, but he remained completely unmoved.

Still, Roxanne had not been too disheartened. That was because although he had not said yes to her, he had not said yes to anyone else either. It seemed as if he was naturally distant from women.

After graduation, she focused on her career while he continued his studies. The two of them never crossed paths again, but she never forgot about him.

Two lines that once seemed destined to remain parallel forever suddenly intersected three years ago—because of a blind date.

At their first meeting, Andre was direct. He asked if she had any thoughts of getting married.

Roxanne did not know why he was in such a hurry to marry, but after years of holding onto her feelings, she was overjoyed at the chance. She assumed his family was pressuring him, so she agreed without a second thought.

It was only after they got married that she slowly uncovered his secret. It was not that he was indifferent to women; it was that he loved someone deeply, someone he could never be with.

That woman was Caitlin—his best friend's younger sister.

He was five years older than she was, and she had always treated him like a big brother. This one-sided love was doomed from the start. He longed for her while she remained unaware.

Caitlin had no idea about Andre's hidden feelings and married her boyfriend of three years right after graduating.

Andre had been devastated. To escape the heartbreak, and under the heavy pressure from his parents, he rushed into marriage with Roxanne.

After learning the truth, Roxanne spiraled into despair. However, she eventually pulled herself back together.

She believed that time was on her side. If she tried hard enough, surely, he would take notice of her one day.

However, even after three years into their marriage, his attitude toward her had never once felt warm. They were never even close to being intimate.

Just as her faith was beginning to collapse, Roxanne discovered a photo album. Inside were photos of a woman, spanning from when she was just 6 years old to 25 years old. Under normal circumstances, it should not have bothered her so much.

However, what if the woman was the one her husband had been secretly loving for years? And what if that album was being updated with new photos even after their marriage?

Roxanne could not pretend to be unaffected.

What made it worse was that the following night, Andre—who never drank—got completely drunk. His usually cool and distant eyes were filled to the brim with joy, almost spilling over.

After probing around, she soon learned why—Caitlin had gotten divorced.

At that moment, she smiled bitterly and resolved to end this hopeless marriage once and for all.

Perhaps it was the divorce agreement in her bag, but when Roxanne returned to the home they had shared for three years, something inside her felt different. She looked at the cozy space she had built with her own hands, and a flood of memories came rushing back.

Her gaze moved around the room and finally landed on the wedding photo in the living room—the one she always kept spotless.

When she saw Andre's forced smile in that photo, it stung so much that she could not help herself. She took it down and threw it straight into the trash bin downstairs.

That night, Roxanne spent hours sorting through their marital assets.

Andre returned and immediately noticed the missing wedding photo. He looked at Roxanne, who was busy writing something, and for once, furrowed his brows and asked, "Where's the wedding photo?"

"The nail came loose. I was afraid it might fall and hit someone, so I took it down."

Andre did not press further. He placed the takeout meal beside her hand and turned to go into the study.

The sharp aroma hit her nose, and Roxanne paused. She opened the bag. The sight of the fiery red food inside made her heart break.

They had been married for three years, and because of her chronic stomach issues, she had always kept to a light diet. However, her husband did not even know that.

If it were the old her, she would have forced herself to eat it just to make him happy no matter how spicy it was.

Yet now?

She picked up the entire bag and went downstairs to throw it away.

Starting today, she would throw away every grievance and heartbreak she had endured in this marriage—him included.

Chapter 2

It was late into the night, but Roxanne remained wide awake.

She buried her face in the pillow, her mind tangled with thoughts. Suddenly, an unruly hand slipped around her waist. Feeling the warm breath against her back, she instinctively shifted away, dodging the kiss that was about to land on her.

Her resistance caught Andre by surprise. After all, in the three years since their marriage, it had always been Roxanne who eagerly sought his embrace.

This rare moment of his own desire being met with rejection made it impossible for him not to ask, "Are you in a bad mood?"

"I'm on my period," Roxanne replied, making up an excuse on the spot.

Andre did not think much of it. He responded with a quiet hum and gently tucked the blanket around her. As was his habit before bed, he mentally reviewed the day's events. Suddenly, he recalled the property transfer agreement from earlier and asked about it.

"Where's the property transfer agreement? Let me check if there are any loopholes."

Roxanne's heart began to pound, but she fixed a steady gaze on him.

"Do you really want to see it?"

Noticing the tension in her expression, Andre frowned slightly and gave a small nod.

After a long moment of silence, Roxanne got out of bed and went to the study. She pulled out the document and was just about to hand it to him when an abrupt ringtone cut through the quiet.

Andre answered the phone.

"Andre! Gary is drunk again and yelling outside. Come quickly, I'm so scared!"

Thinking of Caitlin's ex-husband—someone known for his aggressiveness—Andre's expression changed. He threw on a coat and prepared to leave immediately.

Watching his hurried movements, Roxanne called out to him. "Is that your friend's sister who's getting divorced? Something happened again?"

Andre was about to confirm it but was worried that she might overthink things as it was already so late at night, so he decided to exaggerate the situation instead.

"Yes. Her ex-husband got drunk again and is waiting outside with a knife. I need to check on her. Otherwise, it might be dangerous—possibly life-threatening."

Roxanne did not try to stop him. She simply told him to be careful.

After Andre left, Roxanne remained awake for the rest of the night. Even as daylight filled the room, she never once closed her eyes.

She picked up her phone to check the time, only to notice that Caitlin—whom she had secretly followed on social media just a few days earlier—had posted a new video to her feed.

In the video, the sun slowly rose between the mountains, spilling its golden light across the sky. Excited gasps echoed from all directions. The camera panned, and Andre's figure flashed briefly across the frame.

"The darkness of yesterday is over. Everything will soon be reborn."

Staring at those final words frozen on the screen, Roxanne felt a sharp pain in her heart.

It seemed Caitlin had successfully ended her previous marriage.

Of course, she had. With Andre—the top lawyer in his field—by her side, and with how many years he had been in love with her, he would have poured everything he had into helping Caitlin the moment he heard she was getting a divorce.

Now that she was single again, it was only a matter of time before Andre asked for a divorce so that he could be with her.

Roxanne did not even need to imagine it in detail; she could already picture how it would happen.

A bitter smile crept onto her lips, her heart sinking into quiet despair. A divorce was imminent. All she did was bring it forward.

Rather than waiting passively to be discarded, choosing to leave on her own terms was the only way to preserve the last shred of her dignity, was it not?

Roxanne set the phone down, stood up, and began gathering all the matching items she had once bought for them. She threw them into a cardboard box and dragged it downstairs.

Just then, Andre returned and saw her struggling. He rushed over at once.

"Why are you throwing out so many things?"

Roxanne lowered her gaze. "They were never used. Better to throw them out before they take up more space."

Andre nodded in understanding and took the box from her hands. Watching his silhouette gradually fade into the distance, Roxanne's expression remained calm.

In truth, if he simply opened the box and looked inside, he would have realized that everything about to be thrown away was things she had once treasured dearly.

With his intelligence, he would surely recognize what her unusual actions meant—she wanted to leave.

There was still room for a turning point in their story, but Andre did nothing. He tossed the box directly into the trash bin, then turned away.

There was no hesitation in his moves.

Chapter 3

One afternoon, Roxanne's computer suddenly froze. In order to quickly finish organizing her files, she borrowed Andre's laptop.

While she was waiting for the documents to transfer, a new message notification suddenly popped up. She clicked it without thinking and saw that it was a message from the law firm.

"Andre, we're having a company dinner tonight. Are you bringing your girlfriend?"

Seeing that message, Roxanne's hand trembled slightly.

In the three years they had been married, Andre had never made their relationship public. In the eyes of others, he had always appeared to be single. That was also why, when she went to his law firm for legal consultation, not a single person had recognized her.

Would he say yes this time?

Roxanne did not know. She did not dare to hope.

Andre, seated beside her, glanced up at her the moment he saw the message as if trying to gauge her expression.

Noticing his gaze, Roxanne gave a faint smile. "Are you going to take me to the dinner?"

What she truly meant to ask was, 'After three years, are you finally going to acknowledge me?'

Andre did not know how to respond. He opened his mouth but said nothing.

That brief moment of silence pierced straight through Roxanne's heart like a blade, leaving behind a dull, lingering pain. She forced down the ache and put on an indifferent expression, pretending to be relaxed.

"I have something to do tonight. Even if you wanted to bring me, I probably wouldn't have time."

Andre's tension eased slightly, and his expression returned to normal. "Next time, then. When there's another chance, I'll take you."

Roxanne did not reply. She lifted her hand to shield her eyes and silently answered him in her heart. 'Next time? Andre, there would be no next time.'

…

That evening, Andre attended the dinner alone. As soon as he stepped into the venue, several of his drunken colleagues surrounded him.

"It's been three years, and we still haven't seen you bring a girlfriend to these events. Andre, that's not cool!"

"Come on, let us meet your lady already. How long are you going to keep her hidden away like a secret treasure?"

Under their teasing and pressure, Andre pulled out his phone. There were two names he could choose from—Caitlin or Roxanne. After hesitating for a long time, Andre finally tapped on the first contact and sent a message.

Before long, Caitlin arrived at the address he had given her.

The moment she pushed open the door, the entire private room lit up with excitement. Everyone burst into praise, complimenting Andre on his excellent taste.

As the evening wore on and the alcohol flowed, Nathaniel suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom. On his way out, he handed a document folder to Andre and asked him to pass it along to a lady downstairs.

It was a small favor, and naturally, Andre did not refuse. He took the piece of paper the client's phone number was written on and headed downstairs, glancing through the documents inside along the way.

He waited and waited but saw no sign of anyone. Finally, he took out his phone and dialed the number—only to realize that the contact was already saved in his phone. The moment the name 'Roxy' appeared on his screen, Andre froze.

He pulled the document out of the folder. Just as he was about to open it for a closer look, a pair of blinding headlights shone directly on him.

Shielding his eyes slightly, he looked up. Upon seeing Roxanne's figure, suspicion immediately rose in his heart. He raised the folder and questioned her. "A divorce property division agreement? Roxanne, what's the meaning of this?"

Roxanne was just as surprised, but her expression remained calm. She lied without hesitation, "It's Erica who wants a divorce. I helped her make an appointment with Mr. Shepherd."

Andre's instincts told him this was not as simple as she made it sound.

Frowning, he was about to open the agreement and read it for himself when a hand suddenly reached out from behind and hooked around his arm.

"Andre, didn't you come out to meet a client? What's taking you so long?"

As Caitlin pressed close to him, Andre became flustered and panicked. He did not even dare look at Roxanne's expression, much less figure out what to say.

Yet rather than explain, he was reluctant to push away Caitlin, who was willingly leaning into him at that moment.

Roxanne, however, remained far calmer than he had expected.

She took two steps forward, reached out, and retrieved the agreement from his hands. Then, with a slight nod, she spoke with polite detachment.

"Thank you, Mr. Spencer. My friend and I are in the middle of handling her divorce, so we won't trouble you any further."

Chapter 4

The night wind blew through the car window, sending strands of hair flying in every direction.

Throughout the entire ride, Roxanne's mind replayed the image of Caitlin standing beside Andre again and again.

Perhaps she had been hurt too many times because, at this point, she no longer felt pain. All that remained was an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

Why did the 30-day cooling-off period feel this long?

She rubbed her stinging eyes. In a moment of carelessness, she failed to notice the car ahead reversing illegally and crashed straight into it. A loud bang echoed through the air.

Her leg became trapped beneath the twisted frame of the car door, and blood flowed freely down her skin. In an instant, all color drained from her face, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

Despite the stabbing pain, she stayed rational and called for emergency services.

After she was rushed into the emergency room, the doctor conducted a full examination. The injury was not life-threatening, but a minor operation was necessary. The doctor asked her to contact a family member.

Roxanne's parents lived far away in another city, so she called Andre. However, after over a dozen calls, he did not answer a single one.

She remembered that he was likely surrounded by colleagues and friends right now—and perhaps even the woman he had been secretly in love with for years. Most likely, they were raising their glasses and discussing life, laughing without a care in the world.

Why would he have time to answer her calls?

A nearby nurse, noticing that she had not been able to reach anyone, could not help but ask a question, "Your husband really can't come?"

Roxanne shook her head, her voice surprisingly calm. "We're already in the midst of divorcing. It'll be completely finalized within a month."

The nurse was caught off guard, her expression visibly shocked.

"But your marriage is technically still in effect, is it not? You could at least call him to come and sign something."

At that moment, as memories of the past three years of marriage surged through her, Roxanne was filled with emotions.

Just to have one meal with him, she stayed up and waited countless nights, only to be met with a single sentence like, "I have to work overtime and won't be coming home."

Just to be able to hold a conversation with him, she studied legal codes and regulations, only to have him dismiss her confidence with one phrase, "You're just an outsider."

Just to make him happy, she had prepared a birthday surprise, but all she received in return was, "I'm tired. I don't have the energy."

From beginning to end, Roxanne was the only one who clung to the relationship with blind devotion. Every incident and every disappointment was proof that he had never loved her.

Andre would not come. Roxanne could no longer lie to herself.

"A husband who can't be reached after his wife got into a car accident… What does it matter whether he comes or not?"

The nurse sighed after hearing that, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Then call a friend."

In the days that followed, it was Erica who stayed by Roxanne's side and took care of her.

It was not until five days later that Andre finally received word and rushed to the hospital. When he walked into the ward and saw her injured ankle, confusion appeared on his face.

"Why didn't you tell me you were in a car accident?"

Roxanne had intended to explain, but the moment she looked up and saw the expression on his face, she was unexpectedly reminded of those dozen missed calls. She swallowed the words stuck in her throat and responded with a faint smile.

"You were busy. I didn't want to bother you over something so minor."

Hearing that, Andre felt a twinge of guilt and began to explain the events from a few days ago. "Roxy, that day with Caitlin was just a coincidence. Don't overthink it."

"Has Caitlin's divorce process been finalized?"

It was rare for her to ask such a question. A flicker of surprise crossed Andre's eyes, but he still answered truthfully, "It's done. The divorce is official."

The smile on Roxanne's face deepened. In a soft voice, she said, "Congratulations. I hope mine can go as smoothly as hers."

Andre did not understand what she meant by that. Just as he was about to ask, his phone rang again. When he saw the caller ID, he hesitated for a moment, then stepped out into the hallway to take the call.

It was half an hour before he returned. When he arrived, the door to the hospital ward was slightly ajar, and Roxanne's voice floated out from inside.

"Yes, I'm just waiting for the divorce cooling-off period to end. There are 15 days left. Then it'll all finally be over…"

That property division agreement suddenly resurfaced in Andre's mind. Thinking of her earlier, cryptic words, he felt his heart skip several beats. He pushed the door open at once.

"Divorce cooling-off period? Who's getting divorced?"

Chapter 5

Roxanne never expected Andre to return.

Fortunately, Erica happened to come in at that moment. Roxanne quickly forced down her panic and raised her hand to point.

"Erica. She's the one getting a divorce."

Erica glanced at the two of them and immediately caught on, nodding with quick understanding. "Uh... Yes, I'm the one planning to get divorced. The process is already underway."

Andre was not particularly close with Roxanne, so he naturally had little interaction with her friends.

Although he had met Erica once or twice, he knew nothing about her personal circumstances. Upon hearing this, he frowned. "If you wanted to divorce, why didn't you come to me first?"

Erica could not keep up the lie. Her words stumbled from her mouth, unsure and fragmented.

Seeing this, Roxanne quickly stepped in to take over the conversation. "You were busy handling Caitlin's divorce case at the time. I was afraid you'd be overwhelmed, so I didn't want to disturb you."

The moment she mentioned Caitlin, Andre immediately became uneasy. Flustered, he chose not to press further. "If there are any problems later on, you can come to me."

Though they managed to cover everything with just a few words, Roxanne felt no relief in her heart.

Given Andre's professional instincts and sharpness, there was no way he would not detect the strangeness behind this series of events. Yet the moment anything involved Caitlin, he seemed to lose all sense of reason and judgment. He would cast everything aside without a second thought.

People often said love made one blind. Roxanne finally understood what that meant.

She watched as Andre tapped rapidly on his phone, his whole body tense and restless. She silently counted the seconds in her mind until he would leave. When she counted down from ten to one, he indeed stood up and found an excuse to leave.

"Roxy, something came up at the firm. I need to handle it for a while. When are you being discharged? I'll come pick you up."

Roxanne knew he was lying, but she no longer cared. "Five days from now."

…

On the day of her discharge, Roxanne waited from morning until night, but Andre never appeared.

The moment she opened her social media app and saw the beach photo that Caitlin had posted, showing her in a swimsuit, Roxanne seemed to understand everything. She made a call to Andre.

Before she could say a single word, the sound of waves crashing through the speaker had already betrayed him completely. However, Andre remained unaware and offered the usual excuse.

"Roxy, I'm on a business trip in another city right now. Is something wrong?"

He had truly forgotten about his promise to pick Roxanne up from the hospital. No matter how many times something like this happened, Caitlin was always the one who mattered.

As for Roxanne, she was always the second choice, the one he could never quite love.

Fortunately, Roxanne had finally woken up. She no longer wished to stand in the background, waiting for him like a fool.

Roxanne did not remind him, nor did she expose his lie. She responded with the same gentle concern as always. "When did you leave? How many days will you be gone?"

"I left two days ago. I should be back tomorrow."

Roxanne gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment. After casually reminding him to take care of himself, she ended the call.

She hailed a ride on her own and stood by the roadside, opening her calendar and counting down the days until the divorce would be finalized.

Ten days—only ten days until complete freedom.

By then, the sky would be vast, the road would be open, and she would be free to live as she pleased.

No one came to pick her up from the hospital, but such a small thing hardly mattered anymore. There was no reason to dwell on it.

Chapter 6

After returning home, Roxanne initially planned to speed up the moving process. However, her leg injury had not fully healed, and her movement was still limited, so she hired a moving company to come and assist on-site.

Cardboard boxes of all sizes filled the living room. Several workers bustled around, packing and lifting items, moving in and out of the house with the door wide open.

When Andre returned and saw the chaotic scene, he immediately asked what was going on. Roxanne calmly delivered the explanation she had prepared in advance.

"The Northwich apartment has been fully renovated. It's closer to where you work, so I thought we'd move there. It'll be more convenient."

Thinking of the property transfer agreement he signed last time, Andre nodded.

After changing his shoes, he walked over to the couch and sat down. As he mentally recalled the layout of the new apartment, he made small talk with Roxanne.

"I remember you like gardening. When the time comes, why not leave the east balcony empty for your plants?"

After a few seconds of silence, Roxanne softly replied, "There's no need. I've given up on that hobby."

Andre instinctively glanced at the vase of fresh lilies on the table, feeling that she was not telling the truth.

Just as he was about to persuade her otherwise, he suddenly noticed that the boxes being moved out by the workers all seemed to contain his belongings. His attention shifted, and he changed the subject without thinking.

"Why are all of these mine? Where are your things?"

"They've already been moved."

Hearing her answer so quickly, Andre assumed she meant her things had already been sent to the new apartment. He did not question it further.

He stood up and poured himself a glass of water, then casually gave some instructions. "Please make sure all the boxes are labeled clearly. When they arrive, don't place them in the wrong rooms."

Roxanne looked at him quietly, her gaze flickering for a moment. She swallowed the words she almost spoke.

There would be no mistake. It was because the only things in the apartment would be his.

Once everything was settled, Andre supported Roxanne as they made their way downstairs. As soon as the elevator doors opened, the two of them came face-to-face with Caitlin and her brother, Xavier. For a moment, all four of them froze in place.

Andre had not anticipated such an encounter. A flicker of panic flashed through his eyes. He quickly let go of Roxanne's hand, stepped forward, and stood in front of her.

"What are you two doing here?"

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Caitlin wanted to check out your place, and I've never been here either, so we asked your parents for the address and thought we'd surprise you."

Caitlin, however, kept her gaze fixed on Roxanne the entire time. If she remembered correctly, she had seen this woman at least twice; once at the law firm and once outside the private room.

A strong gut feeling stirred her curiosity about Roxanne's identity, so she smiled and tested the waters with a couple of probing questions.

"Andre, who's this lady?"

For once, Andre fell silent as if weighing how exactly he should introduce Roxanne.

Roxanne's expression remained calm and unbothered, even pleasant. She extended a friendly hand toward Caitlin.

"I'm Roxanne, Mr. Spencer's college classmate. I'm currently in the middle of a divorce, so I came to ask him for help. I didn't expect him to be moving today. What unfortunate timing."

Her words snapped Andre out of his daze. Guilt briefly passed through his eyes as he glanced at Roxanne, but he soon followed her lead and introduced them to each other.

Although everything appeared normal on the surface, Caitlin still felt a lingering sense of unease. Yet with so many people around, she thought it best not to press further. Instead, she urged Xavier to help carry some boxes.

Caitlin then walked over to Roxanne's side and struck up a conversation. "Roxy, why are you getting a divorce?"

Roxanne had not expected her to be so forward. She paused for a few seconds and then smiled gently.

"My husband's in love with another woman."

Chapter 7

Upon hearing that Roxanne was going through something similar, Caitlin immediately felt a surge of sympathy and could not help but offer some comfort.

"I went through almost the same thing, but it's alright. Once the divorce is finalized, everything will get better. Andre will definitely help you through this."

Yes, he truly had helped her with the most difficult part—the signature.

Roxanne nodded and picked up where she left off. "I heard he personally handled your case. He must've put in a great deal of effort."

A shy smile appeared on Caitlin's face, and her tone lightened. "Yes, Andre really helped a lot. He gathered evidence so I could sue my ex-husband while also staying by my side to protect me. If he hadn't stepped in, I might've died because of that lunatic long ago."

Watching Caitlin speak so sweetly as she reminisced about such traumatic memories, Roxanne stood still for a moment. Then, she suddenly blurted out a rather inappropriate question, "Do you like Andre?"

The moment she asked, Caitlin stiffened. She hesitated for a long time before answering in a faltering voice.

"I'm not sure. At first, I only saw him as a big brother. Since we were young, he'd always take me out to play, look after me in every way, and even prepare all kinds of gifts.

"When someone bullied me in school, he'd step up to confront them, sometimes even getting into fights and ending up covered in bruises. After he found out about my divorce, he was the one who approached me and offered to help.

"Later, my brother told me that Andre has actually liked me in secret for many years… He's always so aloof, so untouchable. I never imagined he'd be the kind to secretly fall for someone. I really don't know how he ended up liking me."

As she went on and on, Roxanne felt an overwhelming mix of emotions rising within her. Through Caitlin's words, she came to know an Andre who was completely different from the one in her memories.

It turned out he was not cold by nature; he simply did not like her enough. It turned out he was not indifferent to everything; she was just not the person who could ignite his passion.

The tragedy was that she had fallen too deeply and realized the truth far too late. She had wasted so many years on him in vain.

Lost in her memories, Caitlin did not notice the complex and meaningful expression that had settled on Roxanne's face.

After their conversation, Caitlin already regarded Roxanne as someone she could confide in. She summoned her courage and slowly voiced a question that had been troubling her for a long time. It was a question she had never voiced aloud, not even to those closest to her.

"Roxy, what do you think of Andre?"

Roxanne understood exactly what Caitlin was implying. She lifted her head and remembered the house that was about to be emptied. Then, she shared what was truly in her heart.

"I've known him for twelve years, but only recently, after spending more time together, did I realize that I never really understood him. So, if you're asking what kind of person he is, I'm afraid I can't answer that.

"But what I can tell you is this—this is the first time I've seen him like someone this much."

Caitlin nodded thoughtfully, a sense of reassurance settling into her heart.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon and evening approached, she took Roxanne's hand and suggested they have dinner together.

At that very moment, Andre, who had just come downstairs, overheard the invitation and stopped in his tracks. His face was filled with reluctance.

Seeing his expression, Roxanne's lips curved into a faint smile, and she declined Caitlin's offer.

"I have something to take care of tonight. I won't impose on you."

Andre did not give the siblings any chance to respond and guided Roxanne straight into the car. "You two go ahead. I'll meet you after I drop her off at home."

The moving truck followed behind them as their car exited the residential complex.

Andre's heart pounded in sync with the red and green lights at each street corner, his mind racing to come up with a reasonable explanation. However, Roxanne was the first to break the tense silence, her voice calm and detached.

"There's no need to be so nervous. Didn't we agree before we got married to keep it a secret from everyone except our parents? We'll only make it public when both of us feel ready. If you're not ready yet, I understand."

Andre's anxious heart gradually settled when he heard the softness of her tone. He took a deep breath, and his voice carried a trace of gratitude.

"Thank you for understanding. Honestly, I've slowly started to accept being married. Just give me a little more time and I'll make it public."

Roxanne gave a barely audible hum in response and turned to gaze out the window.

It had been three years since they got married, and it was still a secret. Now, he was asking for even more time.

However, she no longer wanted to wait. She was tired.