Chapter 3

The next evening, Frederick returned from his business trip.

I sat in the living room waiting for him. Before he could raise his arms to hug me, I pushed the agreement across.

"What's this?"

He was clearly startled, sitting down beside me.

"The prenuptial agreement."

"We have two months left until the three-year term expires. But if you're in a hurry, we can end the contract early."

He frowned. "Serena, what do you mean?"

I looked up at him calmly.

"I don't care about your business with Ruby. But I don't want to stay in this position."

"Before proposing the alliance, I didn't know you had a girlfriend. I'm sorry, but I have no interest in being the one who gets in the way of true love."

Frederick's expression froze slightly.

He reached out to put his arm around me, his tone softer than before.

"She and I ended completely long ago. Those love letters were written by her. They have nothing to do with me."

I moved back slightly. His arm froze in midair.

"Don't overthink it," he said, finally placing his hand on my shoulder and patting it reassuringly.

"The three years aren't up yet. You're still Mrs. Ashford."

I nodded. "Okay."

He looked at me for a few seconds, stood up, and said he was going to shower.

That evening, we ate dinner together.

After the meal, we sat together in the media room watching an old movie.

During the end credits, we became intimate.

Afterward, he carried me to bathe as usual.

He let me fall asleep on his arm.

I almost doubted again that he liked me.

I woke in the middle of the night to find the spot beside me empty.

I instinctively looked toward the balcony.

The curtains weren't fully drawn—there was a gap.

Through it I could see a figure on the balcony, back turned to me, phone raised.

I got out of bed quietly and walked to the door.

"...I've already handled the trending topic."

His voice drifted in from the balcony, kept very low.

"I don't want this to affect the cooperation between the Ashford and Hayes families."

Silence for a few seconds.

"Ruby, what we had is in the past."

I stood behind the curtain, my fingers clenched tight.

He listened for a while longer, then said, "Get some sleep."

The call ended.

I thought he would come back, but he made another call.

"Mr. Johnson, the company needs a global brand ambassador for the new season. Contact Ruby's agent. Accept whatever conditions they ask for."

I heard the sound of a lighter.

A flash of flame—he lit a cigarette.

Smoke drifted into the night.

His profile was briefly lit by the cigarette's glow, then darkened again.

When we first got married, he occasionally smelled of smoke.

I would cough a few times. After that, I never saw him smoke again.

I stood behind the curtain watching him smoke one cigarette after another.

My feet felt cold. I realized I was standing barefoot on the floor.

I tiptoed back to bed, lay down, and closed my eyes.