Chapter 4

The private dining room door was left ajar, so the voices inside carried out just loud enough to hear.

A woman's voice sounded, "When I woke up, my phone screen was still lit, showing a call that had lasted over seven hours."

"Wow, someone's really spoiled. You two were on the phone all night?"

Sean replied, "She's a timid person. When the news reported a research team going missing, she was too worried to sleep, so I had to stay on the line with her."

That news broadcast about a missing field team coincided with the timeframe of Sean's trip.

Panicked, I called him dozens of times and sent countless messages, but none of them received a response.

Swallowing my terror, I rushed to the institute in the middle of the night, only for the security guard to tell me the assignment had been canceled.

Sean had stayed on the phone with Bellona for seven hours, yet couldn't spare a few quick words in a text to let me know he was safe.

The absolute absurdity of this marriage hit me all at once.

I pushed the door open, and the bursts of laughter ground to a sudden halt.

Bellona sat right beside Sean, wearing a white dress, which made her look elegant and innocent.

Seeing me walk in, she stepped forward warmly.

"The exhibition was great."

After saying that, I walked straight past her to take a seat, leaving her outstretched hand hanging in the air.

Sean's expression darkened. He leaned in close and whispered sharply, "There are a lot of people here today. Behave yourself and don't embarrass me."

The moment I sat down, the conversation drifted right back to the exhibition.

"Honestly, Sean, that light-and-shadow hallway featuring preserved plant specimens was absolute genius!"

"Yeah, he designed that. He pushed back several projects and revised the designs dozens of times."

Sean let out a soft chuckle. "It's really not that big of a deal. Just fulfilling a friend's little wish."

His face was soft with tenderness.

So, the "overtime" he kept talking about was spent granting Bellona's offhand wish.

For her, he didn't hesitate to stay up for months grinding out designs and commuting across multiple cities. But for me?

All I wanted was a simple dinner together and a plant that couldn't be more ordinary, yet he managed to forget every single time.

It wasn't that he didn't know how to be romantic. He just didn't care to put in the effort for me.

I took a tiny sip of wine, silently watching the performance unfold.

Suddenly, Bellona addressed me. "Naomi, Sean's been so busy lately. Please take good care of the plants back home."

I hummed in acknowledgment.

"If you don't know how to care for them, I can teach you."

I said coldly, "Since you just got back, you should probably focus on your exhibition."

As I set my glass down, the thin glass struck the tabletop with a sharp, clear ring.

"An outsider like you shouldn't be stressing over what goes on in our home."

The smile froze on Bellona's face, and a flicker of embarrassment washed over her.

"I-I didn't mean anything by it. I just saw how exhausted Sean was lately, and coming home only to—"

Sean slammed his utensils down hard, and his face turned red with rage. "Naomi, that's enough! Can't you speak politely? Everyone's here having a good time, and you just have to ruin the mood."

I stood up and smoothed down the folds of my dress. "Sean, since there's someone else who can take care of your plants, you don't need me anymore. I've had my fill. I'm leaving."

"Don't you dare walk out that door today," Sean warned.

Ignoring him entirely, I pushed open the door, shutting out every bit of noise behind me.

Sean was so busy planning events for his ex that he hadn't slept at home for days. Naturally, he had no idea that every trace of me in that house was already gone.

My luggage had been shipped out three days ago. Not a single item was left behind.

On the desk in the study sat just three things—a ring, a set of keys, and a signed divorce agreement.