Chapter 2

When Cedric opened the package and saw the divorce papers, he tossed them into the nearby trash without hesitation.

A flicker of contempt crossed his face.

Another cheap tactic to get his attention.

Katniss was so predictable.

That night, Katniss went to bed early after her evening routine, only to be plagued by nightmares.

One moment, she was at the altar with Cedric, vowing to stay by his side forever; the next, she was reliving yesterday's scene of catching him checking into a hotel with another woman.

All the women he'd been with appeared like ghosts, haunting her sleep.

"Cedric!"

Katniss jolted awake, her body drenched in cold sweat.

She sat against the headboard, pale-faced and breathing heavily, when suddenly the lights flicked on. She squinted, making out the silhouette of a man standing in the doorway.

Cedric stood there in a black shirt, his gaze cold and distant.

"Calling my name in your sleep, yet sending me divorce papers?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Katniss's face grew even paler.

"I know what you want—a baby to secure your position as Mrs. York. I'll give you that."

Cedric removed the tie from around his neck, walking toward Katniss step by step.

As he moved closer, the faint sweet perfume on him drifted to her nostrils.

The scene from last night flashed through her mind again.

Cedric's hand was already on her shoulder, ready to remove her thin silk nightgown.

Katniss snapped back to reality and, with strength she didn't know she possessed, shoved him away.

"Don't touch me. It's disgusting!"

She had never rejected his advances before.

After all, she had loved Cedric for years and genuinely wanted to have a child with him.

But she couldn't accept his infidelity, especially not when he came to her straight from another woman's bed.

Cedric's expression darkened instantly, his tone filled with displeasure.

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

Katniss pulled the blanket higher, watching him warily.

"I wasn't joking about the divorce. I'm serious."

This marriage had become a cage custom-built for her. Since they wed, she had been gentle and attentive, cooking for him and learning to be the perfect wife.

She had naively believed that if she persisted, she would eventually win Cedric's heart.

But reality had slapped her hard, painful yet sobering.

She couldn't make him faithful.

"We're both exhausted. This choice is best for both of us. I'm giving you one day to consider the divorce. If you sign within the deadline, I'll walk away with nothing. But if you miss it, I'll take legal action and claim half of your assets."

"The choice is yours."

Cedric's eyes flashed with frost as he studied her, his narrow eyes sweeping over her.

In their years of marriage, Katniss had tried countless ways to get his attention, but this was the first time she'd mentioned divorce.

"All this because of what happened last night? Katniss, can you stop being so unreasonable? Lillian just got back to the country and was drunk. What's wrong with me taking her to a hotel?"

At that moment, Katniss felt like someone had thrown sand in her eyes.

She couldn't see clearly, but the pain was unbearable.

She was being unreasonable...

And Lillian was just so lovable?

From Cedric's completely different attitude, she knew she had lost to Lillian completely.

"Cedric, I've had enough of your endless affairs. You need a docile, understanding wife who will tolerate your cheating, but I can't do that anymore!"

Katniss took a deep breath, got out of bed, and pulled another copy of the divorce papers from the nightstand.

Worried that he might ignore the one sent to his office, she had her lawyer prepare two copies.

"To protect your billions in assets, I suggest you sign now. After tomorrow, I'll be taking half."

Cedric's gaze was penetrating as he stared at her face, as if trying to drill a hole through it, before shifting to the divorce papers she held out.

Cedric didn't take them, and Katniss didn't let go, creating an awkward standoff.

"Excessive greed comes with a price. From the day you married into the York family, you knew what you were facing. Now you're telling me you not only want my money but also expect me to be faithful?"

"Katniss, don't you find yourself ridiculous?"

The contempt in his final words was undisguised.

He raised his hand and swatted hers away, causing the divorce papers to scatter across the floor.

Cedric grabbed his jacket and turned to leave.

Katniss stared blankly at the scattered papers, her already shattered heart bleeding anew.

Their marriage was indeed a business arrangement.

It was because of him that the struggling Astor Group had been saved, but that didn't mean she hadn't loved him. What woman wouldn't want a peaceful home with the man she loved most?

"Cedric, I really did love you, but now all that remains is the memory of having loved."

"Loving you is exhausting. I can't hold on anymore. Can't we both be free?"

She murmured, staring at his back.

Cedric had already reached the doorway but stopped at her words. He turned, fixing her with a cold stare as she stood there looking lost.

"Katniss, divorce? Don't even think about it."

With those words, he might as well have sentenced her to death.

Cedric strode away, leaving Katniss to collapse on the floor, all strength drained from her body.

The next morning, she composed herself and headed downstairs, ready to go to the office.

Cedric was already in the living room, reading the latest financial newspaper.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up.

Katniss, expressionless, ignored his presence and walked straight to the entryway to change her shoes.

She had given herself two nights to fall apart.

She was young, with too much life ahead to waste on this toxic relationship.

Cedric's eyes flashed with displeasure, "Katniss, how long are you going to keep this up? Enough is enough."

Katniss finally glanced at him, her beautiful face twisted with mockery, "What am I doing?"

Cedric was momentarily speechless.

Katniss continued, "This is exactly how you always wanted me to be. Now you have it."

She used to cling to Cedric, sharing every little detail of her life with him, only to be met with indifference or coldness. He said he needed his space.

Now she was giving it to him.

Katniss pushed open the door and left.

Cedric's expression was complex. Just then, his assistant called.

"Mr. York, Mrs. York has started competing for that resort project we were interested in."