Chapter 7

Alexander stood there in a trench coat, looking down at her from his imposing height.

Though his expression remained cold, he was perfectly positioned to shield her from the wind and rain.

Emily momentarily didn't know what to say, just staring at him in stunned silence.

Another flash of lightning lit up the sky, and fear seized Emily's mind. She curled into herself like a frightened quail.

In the next moment, Alexander swept her into his arms.

Emily couldn't remember the last time they'd been this close. But in her current state, she instinctively clutched at his shirt.

The mansion door opened, then closed, shutting out the sound of thunder and rain.

As Emily gradually calmed down, she slipped from Alexander's arms with a deliberately blank expression. "You initiated the contact. I didn't overstep any boundaries."

Except for their obligatory monthly meetings, he had always rejected any physical contact with her. Even when Emily had once mustered the courage to seek his embrace, she'd only earned a cold "have some self-respect" in response.

Now that divorce papers had been delivered, Emily refused to be seen as the desperate woman still throwing herself at him.

Alexander's face instantly darkened.

He raised his hand to grip Emily's chin, trapping her between his arms.

"Boundaries? Emily, when you used to roll into my bed wearing less, you didn't seem concerned about boundaries then."

It felt like someone had slapped her face twice. Emily's cheeks burned crimson.

She stared at him, shocked and furious, her lips trembling. "Alexander, we were husband and wife then. I thought I was fulfilling my marital duties. There's no need for you to make it sound so... degrading!"

Despite her best efforts, Emily couldn't hold back her tears.

She'd been an orphan since childhood. Though the administrator at Dawn Children's Home had been kind, life in foster care was still difficult.

When she married Alexander, Emily truly believed her hardships were finally over.

Instead, she discovered a hell beyond the abyss.

Before, she had merely been poor, struggling, and tired.

After marriage, she gradually lost even her dignity and pride.

Alexander scoffed. "We were husband and wife then, but not anymore? What exactly are you pretending to be?"

What he really wanted to ask was whether she would unhesitatingly return to Daniel now that he was free.

But the proud Alexander couldn't bring himself to voice this.

Daniel—an illegitimate son nobody acknowledged, an ex-convict, a man beneath contempt—how could he possibly be a rival worthy of Alexander's concern?

Emily closed her eyes briefly.

There was no point continuing this argument. Nothing good would come of it.

When she opened her eyes again, Emily was composed. "Mr. Foster, that's all in the past. Let's discuss what matters. I came today to propose a deal."

Alexander had been seething with rage at Daniel's very existence, but Emily's words calmed him.

He released her and sat down at the tea table, methodically preparing tea with unhurried movements.

Emily's gaze fell on Alexander's long, elegant fingers.

Alexander was skilled in the art of the tea ceremony—one of his leisure interests.

Few people in the world had the privilege of tasting tea made by his hands.

Emily knew he wanted to hear her proposal, so she took the seat opposite him.

She understood her position was weak compared to Alexander's, and she had no intention of beating around the bush. She got straight to the point.

"I'm willing to defend Sophie, to clarify that she isn't a homewrecker. In return, you must promise never to interfere with Dawn Children's Home, and also—let me go."

Alexander paused with the teacup in his hand. "What else?"

He neither agreed nor refused, only asked this somewhat puzzling question.

Emily considered thoughtfully.

Perhaps the benefits she offered weren't enough?

That was simple to remedy.

"I agree to divorce you and waive all claims to any assets."

The Foster family's vast fortune was tempting, but Emily knew she had no leverage to claim it.

Free from Alexander, she could earn a living through her own abilities and still live comfortably.

Alexander crushed the teacup in his hand.

The brownish tea flowed down his fingers, mixing with fresh blood.

Emily startled, almost instinctively reaching for the clean handkerchief she always carried to wipe his wound.

Her fingers brushed Alexander's cool fingertips, and Emily snapped back to reality, immediately withdrawing her hand. "You should call the housekeeper to look at that."

She lowered her head, missing the fleeting disappointment in Alexander's eyes.

"Housekeeper? Emily, we're not divorced yet. You're still my wife."  His lofty tone made Emily's earlier earnestness seem like a joke.

"Alexander, I'm not joking about the divorce..." She wanted to say the divorce papers had already been delivered to his office, but Alexander suddenly erupted, sweeping the tea set to the floor.

Emily closed her mouth tightly, startled into silence.

"Is this game of push and pull entertaining? Divorce? Is your next step to cry to my grandmother, forcing me to apologize to you? Emily, stop this nonsense. It's tiresome." He regarded her coldly, passing judgment without allowing for defense.

Emily was completely taken aback by Alexander's reaction.

She had expected him to eagerly accept her proposal, since divorce was something he had wanted to do for a long time but had been prevented by various factors.

While she stood stunned, Alexander had already walked to the door.

"Handle Sophie's case, then return to work in the Foster Group's legal department. Drop these underhanded tactics, and I'll pretend none of this happened."  With those words, Alexander strode away.

Emily stood frozen, a bitter smile forming on her lips.

None of this happened? Did that include her late-stage breast cancer?

Thinking about it made her chest ache again.

She steadied herself against the tea table and slowly made her way toward the exit.

Nancy returned at that moment, looking at Emily with newfound contempt.

"Mrs. Foster, if you can't bear to leave Mr. Foster, then be a proper housewife and take care of the home! What decent, moral woman would stay away from home for so many days? If you can't fulfill your role as Mrs. Foster, you should step aside for someone who can!"

Emily had heard such cold mockery for three years.

Before, she never responded. After all, Alexander didn't care for her, and the staff were on the Foster payroll. Speaking up would only invite more humiliation.

But now...

"Step aside for whom? Your daughter who just graduated from high school? Don't dream about it!" Emily coldly exposed Nancy's previous delusions, successfully provoking her into a flushed, embarrassed state.

"How dare you slander my daughter! She's barely an adult, still a child. How could you be so cruel?" Nancy began shouting emotionally.

She habitually treated Emily as the easily manipulated one of the past, attempting to make her yield through sheer volume.

But Emily patiently waited until Nancy tired herself out before speaking again. "I have evidence—recordings of you and your daughter discussing how to seduce Alexander. Someone sent them to me."

Nancy instantly turned into a strangled chicken, her eyes bulging while she couldn't make a sound.

Emily checked the time—it was already past 11 PM—but she still had no intention of staying.

She'd had enough of life as Alexander's wife and didn't want to die with that identity.

The next morning, Alexander learned that Emily had not spent the night at the Foster Mansion.