"I just don't love him anymore," Hailey Tang said, trying her best to keep her voice steady. "After getting married, I realized we're not compatible. I don't want to keep living a lie. Grandpa, I was wrong before—I shouldn't have been so blindly infatuated. It wasn't real love. Not like I thought it was."
She kept her tone soft, but her heart was pounding. She knew what this family valued—stability, legacy, appearances. And she was about to turn all of it upside down.
By taking the blame, she hoped to make things easier. Maybe if she painted herself as the one who had grown up and seen the truth, her family wouldn't resist so hard. Maybe Grandpa would understand.
But the moment her words landed, Haizhi Yuan's face darkened. "Hailey," he said sternly, "marriage isn't a game you can quit when it stops being fun. Do you think it's a toy? Something you can toss aside when you're bored?"
"I know," she said, eyes lowered. "I know I used to be reckless. But this time, I'm serious. I swear to you, Grandpa—I truly want a divorce. And I won't regret it."
"Divorce?!"
The shocked male voice rang out before she could brace herself.
Hailey turned sharply. Her uncle and aunt—Uncle Hai Rong and Aunt Zhang Yu—had just entered the room. They didn't live at the family estate, so their arrival was unexpected. And unfortunately, it seemed they'd caught every word she'd just said.
She stood up awkwardly. "Uncle. Aunt. Good evening."
Hai Rong, tall and imposing in his military-cut jacket, gave her a piercing look. Zhang Yu followed a step behind, her expression unreadable but clearly cold.
They offered brief greetings to Haizhi Yuan before taking their seats, but the tension in the room had already shifted.
"Dad," Hai Rong asked, turning to the old man, "did I hear that right? Did Hailey really say she wants to divorce Ethan?"
Haizhi Yuan sighed and rubbed his forehead, looking like he aged another ten years in that moment. "That's what she said. Who knows if she really means it. They probably had a fight, and now she's throwing around the word 'divorce' like a child threatening to run away from home."
"I mean it," Hailey said quickly. "We've already talked about it. Ethan agrees too."
"What?!"
Her grandfather sat bolt upright. "You both agreed?"
Hailey gave a small nod. "We did. Grandpa, I didn't come here to ask your permission. I came to let you know, out of respect. I hope you can accept our decision."
"No." The word came swiftly—not from Haizhi Yuan, but from her uncle.
Hai Rong stared at her, eyes hard. "You're not getting a divorce."
Hailey's breath caught. "Uncle, please—"
"Marriage isn't something you throw away because you're in a bad mood. You're a grown woman, not a rebellious teenager. You married Ethan because you begged for it, remember? You cried and begged your grandfather to approve it. And now what? You're bored? You want out because it's not a fairy tale?"
"I'm not being childish," Hailey said, trying to stay calm. "I'm not doing this out of anger. I've thought it through."
"It is childish," Zhang Yu suddenly cut in, her voice sharp and unsympathetic. "You insisted on marrying him. You said you loved him more than anything. And now, what? You want to walk away like nothing happened? Hailey, you need to grow up."
Hailey had expected this. She'd known they'd question her, accuse her, maybe even guilt-trip her. But it didn't make it any easier to hear.
Her eyes drifted to her grandfather, the one person in the room she still hoped would listen. "Grandpa," she whispered, "just this once, please believe me. I know I've made mistakes before. But this time, I'm sure."
Haizhi Yuan looked at her long and hard, his expression unreadable. "And how many times have you been sure, Hailey?"
That hit like a slap.
She swallowed. "Enough to know the difference now."
Her uncle slammed a palm down on the coffee table, making everyone jump. "That's enough. Your parents are gone. It's our responsibility to guide you—and we won't allow this. You're staying married. End of discussion."
"Uncle," Hailey tried again, her voice shaking slightly, "this isn't your marriage. It's mine. And I'm telling you—Ethan and I aren't happy. We're not right for each other. I deserve a chance to find my own life."
"And what life is that?" Zhang Yu sneered. "You think men like Ethan grow on trees? You'll never find someone like him again. Do you know how many women would kill to be in your shoes?"
Hailey felt something snap. She stood up straighter, her voice rising, cold and clear. "Then maybe one of those women should take my place. I don't want this anymore."
Zhang Yu's mouth opened to retaliate, but Haizhi Yuan raised a hand. Silence fell.
For a long moment, the old man said nothing. Then he sighed heavily and leaned back into his chair.
"You want to divorce Ethan?" he asked.
Hailey met his eyes. "Yes."
"Then convince me. Convince the family. This isn't just about your feelings, Hailey. We're the Tang family. Our choices don't just affect us—they ripple outward. You knew that when you married him. So now, if you want out, you'd better have the courage to face the consequences."
Hailey's fingers curled into fists at her sides. "I'll do it. I'm not afraid."
"We'll see," Hai Rong muttered.
Hailey didn't say another word. She simply bowed her head slightly and walked out of the room.
Only when the door closed behind her did her legs weaken slightly. She leaned against the cool hallway wall, heart racing.
She'd taken the first step.
But she knew this wasn't going to be easy.
Ethan Yu had once told her, "Our marriage isn't a game. Once you're in, there's no backing out."
He'd been half-joking at the time.
But now, she realized—
He'd meant every word.