Chapter 2

When the car was parked under the building where the law firm was, I smoothed my hair in front of the rearview mirror.

I stared at myself in the mirror, who looked pale and exhausted.

Was that still me?

I had been a legend in the investing circle, the investment empress. Countless politicians and entrepreneurs had sought me, but I was now tormented by illness and a failed marriage.

"Are you going to give up, Cecelia? No, I won't," I said to myself.

I took a powder puff and lipstick from my handbag and carefully refreshed my makeup in front of the mirror.

Even if I were to die in six months, I would live with grace and dignity.

As I pushed open the glass door of the law firm, the receptionist immediately recognized me. Her gaze was filled with sympathy and curiosity, but she still politely led me to the private meeting room.

I hadn't been seated for long before Ethan rushed in. His hair was disheveled, and his suit was stained with coffee. He was a stark contrast to the meticulous superstar he usually was.

"Cecelia, listen to me. Lilian has really gone mad." He grabbed my wrist forcefully, and I felt pain. "She's been secretly infatuated with me. She's gone crazy and fabricated evidence to frame me. She must have been out of her mind. Those transfers were bonuses the company gave her. The video was doctored. Please don't believe it."

I forcefully shook off his hand and rubbed the red marks left on my wrist. "Ethan, do you really think I would still trust you?"

I took out my phone and clicked open Instagram. Then I showed him the official account of the Preayork Post.

"How are these doctored? The tattoo in the video, the mole on your left shoulder, and your tone when you speak-how are these doctored? The purchase contract for the Beverly Hills villa has your signature. Do I need to get a handwriting analysis?"

Ethan's face turned ashen. He stepped back to lean against the wall. He dared not meet my gaze. "I... I was just caught in a lapse of judgment. Ethan tempted me and told me that she'd help me get an Oscar nomination. So I..."

"Were you in a lapse of judgment?" I sneered. I felt a sharp pain in my heart, not from sadness, but from disgust. "You explain away a year-long affair with her with that? You used my resources, my money, to buy her a villa and jewelry? Ethan, you disgust me."

At that moment, the door opened, and my lawyer, Ryan Oliver, walked in.

He was a top divorce attorney in Preayork. He had won divorce cases for several rich women and secured their assets that belonged to them.

Ryan put a document on the table and slid it in front of Ethan. "Mr. Wood, this is the divorce agreement. Under the state law, Ms. Cecelia Wade is entitled to half of the wealth during your marriage, including houses, stocks, and the shares of your workshop. Additionally, we have collected evidence of your infidelity during the marriage. If you don't sign the divorce agreement, we will file a lawsuit. In that case, you will have to pay Cecelia a lot for emotional trauma."

Ethan picked up the divorce agreement. His hand trembled uncontrollably. When he flipped to the asset division page, he suddenly looked up in disbelief. "Half of my wealth? Cecelia, are you crazy? I worked hard to earn it. How do you deserve half of it?"

"Because I'm your wife." I leaned back in the chair and was surprisingly calm as I watched Ethan become hysterical. "During the past five years, I gave up my career in the investment industry and managed everything at home for you. I handled your PR crises. When it was exposed that you injured someone while drunk driving, I sold my mother's heirlooms to cover it up. Ethan, don't you think what I've done over the years is worth half the wealth?"

Ethan wanted to say something, but he ultimately just lowered his head.

He knew what I said was the truth and that he had no grounds to refute me.

"I'll give you three days to think it over." Ryan said firmly while putting away the divorce agreement. "If you don't sign in three days, we'll proceed with the lawsuit. In that case, the evidence that you cheated will be publicized, and your career and your reputation will be seriously damaged."

Ethan remained silent for a long while. Then he looked up with pleading in his eyes. "Cecelia, can we talk again? I know I was wrong. I'll sever ties with Ethan and make it up to you. Can we not divorce?"

I gazed at him and suddenly remembered the happy time when we got married.

He hadn't yet become famous back then. So he took the subway to auditions every day. But he saved up to buy me my favorite cake. His eyes shone, and his heart was filled with affection for me at that time.

But now, his eyes were only filled with fame and desire. He was no longer the one I had loved.

"Ethan, it's too late." I stood up, smoothing my dress. "Our relationship ended the moment you betrayed me."

I walked out of the law firm. It started to drizzle.

I didn't use an umbrella. The rain wet my face, and the cool touch cleared my mind significantly.

"Miss Cecelia Wade." Ethan's insincere voice was heard, and I turned to look at her.

She deliberately put on a pitiful expression and said hypocritically, "I know you're very angry now, but I had no choice. I love Ethan too much. I just want to be with him. Cecelia, if you could let Ethan go, I would be grateful."