Ep 2

As if this marriage had never mattered to him.

Watching Hong Yi stand there so indifferently, I didn’t even realize when the wedding ceremony ended.

I was taken to Hong Yi’s house afterward.

The mansion was eerily deserted.

When we arrived, we learned that his father was critically ill. There were no guests, no celebrations. Every servant in the house was busy attending to his father. Only two maids came to escort me to my room, which had already been prepared.

The room was beautifully decorated.

I removed my wedding dress and went to bathe. The bathroom was exquisite — rose petals scattered everywhere, even floating in the bathtub. It felt ironic, almost mocking, how romantic everything looked.

When I finished bathing and stepped out, I realized there were no clothes prepared for me — only a nightgown.

I hesitated.

Embarrassed.

But eventually, I wore it.

I turned off the lights and sat quietly on the bed. It was already very late at night.

Then, the door opened slowly.

Hong Yi walked in.

Without much conversation, he handed me a necklace.

It was breathtaking.

The Ocean Tear.

A priceless jewel worth one hundred million — the only one of its kind in the world.

I remembered telling him about it when we were children. I had once said how much I loved Ocean Tear.

I couldn’t understand what he was thinking.

He remembered my wish.

I thanked him softly.

That night passed like a dream — blurred, distant, unreal. His gaze lingered on me in a way that stirred my heart, even though I knew it meant nothing. The clock quietly ticked past three in the morning, and the night felt endlessly long.

Then suddenly—

A voice outside the door.

A maid rang the bell, her voice trembling as she spoke.

“Master… your father has passed away.”

My body stiffened.

Hong Yi immediately told her to be quiet.

“My wife has just fallen asleep,” he said calmly.

I lay still, pretending to sleep, listening to everything.

Hong Yi sat alone on the sofa.

And then, he cried.

It was the first time I had ever seen his sadness — raw and unguarded. My heart tightened, but I didn’t dare move.

After a while, he left the room.

When morning came, he was already dressed neatly, sitting across from me with a calm expression.

“You’re awake,” he said.

“I’m giving you a divorce.”

I didn’t react.

“You’re free now,” he continued. “You don’t need to be your father’s puppet anymore. I know you were forced to marry me. And I know… you don’t love me either.”

I was surprised — but deep down, I had always known this would happen.

I composed myself and replied calmly,

“You’re right. I don’t love you either. And I accept the divorce.”

Then I added quietly,

“My father only wanted property. He would use any means to get it.”

Hong Yi already knew that.

He placed a pill on the table.

“Take this,” he said. “You won’t have any problems. If you ever need anything, you can contact me.”

“There’s no need,” I replied.

With trembling hands, I picked up the pill and swallowed it in front of him.

Maybe… this really was the right thing.

He turned and left without looking back.

I packed my belongings shortly after and returned to my father’s house.

And just like that—

My marriage ended

before it ever truly began.

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