Molly had just gotten into the car when her mother-in-law called, asking her to come to the Old Estate.
She hung up and glanced outside. Miles had changed his clothes and was waiting by the entrance, clearly intending to go with her.
In front of his family, their marriage had always appeared to be one of "mutual respect."
This time, Molly didn't move. She'd made up her mind to divorce him, and she was done catering to Miles's feelings.
The tall man finished a cigarette before finally losing patience and rapping on her window.
"I'll drive myself," Molly said, her tone flat.
"My mother can't be upset." She had surgery coming up soon. If they arrived separately, she'd overthink things.
Molly didn't respond. Even if her mother-in-law got upset, that was his doing, not hers.
She raised the window, but Miles spoke suddenly. "The brooch—you don't want it anymore?"
Molly looked at him. One hand braced against the roof of the car, his posture deceptively relaxed, yet he had her completely cornered.
She pressed her lips together. In the end, she got out.
Sharing a car with Miles—this was the first time in three years of marriage.
Something she'd once longed for so desperately now brought her no joy at all.
The driver was steady. Molly sat pressed against the window, catching in her peripheral vision the crisp press of his trousers, not a single wrinkle.
Neither of them spoke.
Twenty minutes later, the car arrived at the Vance Old Estate.
Miles fastened his suit jacket, stepped out, and took her hand.
Molly's fingers trembled. Looking down at their interlaced hands, she felt worse than she had waiting up for him all night.
She was repulsed. She tried hard to shake him off, but couldn't.
Miles said nothing, his expression as emotionless as ever. He wasn't even gripping tightly, yet she couldn't break free.
Molly laughed in frustration. "Your parents are smart—they'll see right through us. Just give me the brooch, and I'll help you get through this with them."
Miles studied her, his gaze heavy. He didn't believe she'd actually go through with the divorce.
He stayed silent. Molly took that as agreement.
After all, he'd proposed to someone yesterday. How could he bear to keep his precious darling hidden away any longer?
Since she couldn't shake him off, she let him hold her hand.
When they entered the living room, Mrs. Vance looked pleased to see them hand in hand. Then something crossed her mind, and she shot her son a look, her tone sharp. "Get upstairs. Your father's waiting."
She immediately turned warm again, pulling Molly aside to talk.
"Molly, what happened online—he was completely out of line. I owe you an apology." Mrs. Vance spoke with genuine concern.
Everyone in the Vance family treated her well. Everyone except her husband.
"I know you've been wronged. Tell me what you want, and I'll make that bastard pay!"
Molly appreciated her mother-in-law taking her side, but the more she did, the more Miles resented her.
She was exhausted by this life. "Mom, I want to divorce him."
Mrs. Vance had expected Molly to be furious, but she never imagined it would come to divorce.
"Molly, he's not planning to go abroad again after this. I'll make him cut things off with that woman. Give it time—he'll come to love you. It would be such a waste to give up now." Mrs. Vance was desperate.
"There's no point dragging out something meaningless. Cutting losses early is the right thing to do. Even after we divorce, I'll still visit you."
Seeing that Molly had made up her mind, Mrs. Vance didn't know what else to say.
Molly hugged her gently. "You're the best mother-in-law in the world. Because of me, you and your son have grown distant. Let me go talk to Dad—don't be too hard on him."
Mrs. Vance went with her.
"You've been abroad for years, far from the Vances' core management. Taking over the company won't be easy. If word of a divorce gets out—even from a secret marriage—it would be extremely damaging." Noah Vance's voice was stern.
"If you agree to let me divorce Molly, I'll give up my share of everything in the Vance family."
