Hailey Tang's chest rose and fell sharply with every measured breath. A cold, bitter laugh slipped past her lips as she shot back, "I bet you'll find some other excuse by then. Another reason to stall."
Ethan Yu's gaze turned ice-cold, piercing through her like a blade. "Hailey Tang," he said slowly, voice heavy and severe, "I'm not at the point where I need you so badly that I'd beg or scheme to keep you."
The words hit like a slap—stinging and yet, paradoxically, hauntingly honest.
She said nothing.
Ethan continued, tone low but firm, "When I signed that agreement with you, it was already my decision to divorce. Apart from the law officially recognizing it, in my heart, we're already over. Do you really think I'd play games with you after that?"
Hailey's eyes flickered with confusion, doubt clouding her mind. She still couldn't fathom why he was putting her through this.
"Then why not just go through with the divorce?" she asked, voice quieter but laced with frustration.
Ethan's posture stiffened. "I have my reasons. And I expect you won't disappoint me this time—make sure you complete this task." Without waiting for a response, he turned sharply and strode toward the door.
Hailey nodded quickly. "Fine. I'll do it. I'll get that agreement." There was a stubborn edge to her voice—this was her battle now, and she would win.
Ethan glanced back with a cold gleam in his eyes. "You better."
Trying to hold on to some control, Hailey asked quickly, "Since we've signed the agreement, can I tell others we've agreed to divorce?"
She wanted to make sure he wasn't setting some trap to control her with rumors or public opinion—if everyone knew, maybe he couldn't backtrack.
Ethan smirked, sarcastic and dismissive. "Do as you please."
With that, he left without another word.
Hailey pursed her lips. His attitude, sharp and indifferent, made her feel oddly petty—as if her very desire to be free was a small, childish thing.
But his words held truth. By signing the papers, in their minds, they were divorced, even if the law hadn't caught up.
Their hearts had already drifted apart. The papers were just a formality.
Once she fulfilled his strange demand, they would be completely strangers again.
Understanding this eased her mood a little.
Still, she was puzzled—why make such a bizarre demand?
Why force her into a design project she had no experience with?
What was Ethan really playing at?
What Hailey didn't know was that Ethan's conditions were deeply tied to a conversation he'd had with her grandfather the night she returned from New York.
The memory of that phone call haunted Ethan vividly.
"Ah Yu," the old man's voice was stern, unyielding over the line, "I'm asking you now—do you want to divorce Hailey or not? If yes, then go get it done immediately. If not, tell me where you stand."
Ethan's voice had been hesitant, conflicted. "Grandpa, to be honest, I wanted to before… but now, I'm not so sure."
"What do you mean by 'not so sure'?" came the impatient reply.
"I don't want to. Hailey wants the divorce."
"Then try to change her mind. If she insists, then you have to let her go. She's still young. Her life isn't ruined yet. Let her be free before you cause her more harm."
Ethan had been puzzled. When had he ever trapped Hailey, chained her to him?
Hadn't it always been her chasing him, pulling him back, refusing to let go?
The old man's words, however, opened Ethan's eyes to another truth.
"Hailey met you when she was only twelve. Since then, everything about her changed. She used to be brilliant—so capable, so full of promise. But after she fell for you, she stopped caring about anything else. She learned nothing, gave up everything. The whole world she knew became just you."
"Her parents passed away long ago. And I'm old now. If you leave her, when I'm gone, no one will protect her. She'll lose all her support."
"What comes after that, you don't need me to explain. The cruelty of the world will tear her apart."
The cold truth sank deep into Ethan's bones.
Hailey wasn't just his wife on paper anymore—she was someone fragile, someone who had surrendered everything for him. And if he walked away now, she might shatter completely.
He had to hold on—to force her to stay close enough to regain herself, to grow, to survive.
His strange demand wasn't just a game.
It was a lifeline—for both of them.
Back in the present, Hailey stood by the window, staring out at the gray sky. Her heart was a whirlwind of pain, frustration, and an unspoken longing.
She was losing everything she once trusted—her freedom, her future, even the man she had loved.
But maybe, in the midst of all this chaos, she could find a new way to hold on.
Ethan's shadow loomed behind her, quiet but insistent.
"Hailey," he said softly, almost a whisper, "I'm not asking you to stay with me because I need you. I'm asking because I don't want you to lose yourself."
Her fingers clenched the windowsill.
"And if you fail… if you quit halfway…"
His voice hardened, "Then you lose more than just me."
A shiver ran down Hailey's spine.
She realized now that this wasn't just about a divorce.
It was a test of survival. A war between what was lost, and what still could be saved.
Would she rise, or fall?
Outside, the wind began to pick up, rattling the glass.
Inside the house, two hearts battled silently in the space between words.
Neither willing to give up. Neither able to move on.
To be continued…