Chapter 2

Amelia was being dragged down the stairs by Luna, who had a vice-like grip on her arm. She struggled to break free, stumbling and nearly falling face-first. Instead, she collided with a firm chest.

A familiar voice spoke close to her ear, "Luna, let her go."

Amelia froze and looked up, her eyes meeting Matthew's intense, unreadable gaze.

Matthew was dressed in a sleek black suit, his expression cold and stern. Just standing there, he commanded attention with an almost palpable authority.

Matthew's face remained impassive. He glanced at Amelia briefly before looking away.

Luna reluctantly released her grip, her face contorted with anger. "Matthew, you have no idea what Amelia's done. She had the nerve to cheat on you with another man!"

"A woman like her doesn't deserve to be your wife!"

Amelia raised her hand in a panic, but halfway through the motion, she hesitated, unsure of what to do. At that moment, Matthew's gaze flicked back to her.

Feeling increasingly uneasy, Amelia felt exposed under his piercing stare. She wished she could disappear.

After a long silence, Matthew finally spoke, "Go back to your room."

Luna protested, "Matthew, this Amelia..."

"She was with me last night." Matthew's sudden interruption left Luna stunned. She instinctively thought he was joking.

How could that be?

Matthew had been married to Amelia for three years and had never touched her. And now, suddenly...

But regardless, since Matthew had said it, Luna could only glare at Amelia with hatred before turning to leave.

After Luna left, Matthew's gaze fell on Amelia. "Come with me."

Amelia felt embarrassed. She understood that Matthew was trying to save her the last bit of dignity. They both knew the truth.

"Matthew, last night..."

"I'm not interested in your affairs."

As soon as they entered the study, Amelia tried to explain, but Matthew cut her off. He placed a document in front of her. "Look it over. If everything is in order, sign it."

Amelia's eyes fell on the words "Divorce Agreement" in black and white. Her face instantly drained of color.

"You want to divorce me?" Her voice trembled.

Matthew looked up, his cold eyes emotionless. "We both know that in three years of marriage, we haven't had any real relationship. That's partly my fault."

"So, I'll give you the last bit of dignity and sufficient compensation."

Tears welled up in Amelia's eyes. She hurried forward, stammering, "No, it's not like that. Last night wasn't voluntary. It was my stepmother..."

"That has nothing to do with me."

Matthew cut her off coldly, his tone still calm. "That's your personal life. I have no interest in it. Once you sign the papers, you can seek the life you want."

"But..." Amelia wanted to say more, but under Matthew's nearly indifferent gaze, she found herself at a loss for words.

She stared at the divorce agreement, feeling her eyes burn with unshed tears.

Three years ago, when Amelia married Matthew, she knew he didn't like her.

The marriage had been arranged because her grandfather had saved Matthew's grandfather, Nolan Moore, on the battlefield. On his deathbed, he asked Nolan to take care of her.

Nolan agreed and arranged for her to marry into the Moore family.

Matthew was handsome and capable, the man every woman in Emerald City wanted to marry. Amelia was no exception. She married him with joy and hope.

But on their wedding night, Matthew left for an overseas business trip.

He was gone for six months.

When he finally returned, Amelia heard about it from others. She rushed to see him, only to be stopped by his secretary.

"Mrs. Moore, Mr. Moore is busy. If you need anything, please wait."

And wait she did, indefinitely.

Though they lived under the same roof, they were more like strangers.

Matthew rarely stayed at home. When he did, it was just to grab a document or change clothes. Most of the time, his assistant handled things.

Amelia's heart tightened, and she bit her lower lip hard.

Matthew glanced at her, a fleeting trace of pity crossing his mind.

He frowned, suppressing the strange feeling, and stood up. "Think it over. I'll be waiting outside."

Matthew left quickly, leaving Amelia alone with the divorce agreement.

He was generous, giving her $30 million in cash and several properties and businesses, enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

But that only made Amelia feel more desperate.

What crushed her was that despite seeing the marks all over her body, Matthew remained indifferent. He even helped cover for her in front of Luna.

It showed that Matthew didn't care about her at all.

Or rather, she didn't exist in his eyes.

Matthew's generosity and compensation were likely out of respect for Nolan or to maintain the Moore family's reputation.

Realizing this, Amelia couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

She wiped them away hastily, reaching for a pen, but her hands trembled so much that she dropped it.

As she bent down to pick it up, she noticed a lipstick mark on the collar of Matthew's suit jacket.

The mark indicated a close, intimate interaction with another woman.

Amelia picked up the jacket, rubbing the stain, confirming it was indeed a lipstick mark.

She desperately wanted to believe she was mistaken, but she wasn't.

Matthew had another woman. No wonder he was determined to divorce her.

As she placed the jacket back on the chair, she noticed something in the pocket. She reached in and found a tube of lipstick.

Tears fell again. She closed her eyes, trying to calm the turmoil inside her.

Without looking at the divorce agreement, she signed her name.

Holding the agreement, she walked unsteadily to the living room, where Matthew was texting someone, a slight smile on his lips.

But that smile had never been directed at her.

Noticing her presence, Matthew looked up. The smile vanished, replaced by his usual coldness.

This was the Matthew she knew.

"Did you sign it?" Matthew's voice was deep.

Amelia didn't answer. She walked up to him and asked softly, "Are you divorcing me because of what happened last night?"