Chapter 2

The room went silent. It was so quiet, one could hear a pin drop.
Angeline had a slim and petite figure. Even the winter jacket of the smallest size seemed too big for her. Her pale and sickly face was hidden by a long white scarf tied around her neck. Because she was so slim, her eyes looked huge.
She stared at Ned and said, “I’ve already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my nudes for revenge.”
Hearing this, everyone’s reactions differed from one another.
The couple sitting in the farthest corner with a wine glass in each of their hands exchanged glances. Panic was written in their eyes.
The woman put down her glass and walked toward Angeline. She slinked her hands around Angeline’s arm and said, “Angie, Ned only spread your photos because he was too angry. Don’t you think making a police report is making a mountain out of a molehill? It’s going to affect Ned’s future!
“Also, Ned’s father has already managed to suppress the news. Don’t hold it against him anymore.”
Angeline didn’t respond to the woman. She continued saying, “Ned Fletcher, it’s true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to spike your drink and force you to have sex with me. And with your authority, you know very well that finding out the truth is as easy as snapping your fingers.”
However, he still wholly believed that Angeline was the one behind his drugging incident.
He believed it despite knowing the fact that Angeline was traumatized by sex because of what happened when she was still very young.
“I didn’t want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily,” Angeline said, carefully shaking herself free from the woman’s grip.
She then placed the divorce agreement she’d been hugging onto the table. “I tried my best, but I’m tired now. Ned Fletcher, I’m giving up on you. I don’t want you anymore.”
Ned’s eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline’s face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes.
“Let’s finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me.”
It was painful for her to give up on their relationship. It felt as if Angeline was losing a huge part of herself. It hurt so much that she felt like death.
After all, ever since she was born, Ned was the one who had shown her what happiness truly was. Giving up on him felt like giving up her entire world.
Angeline picked up a wine glass on the table and raised it toward Ned. Despite the tears swirling in her eyes, she bit back the bitterness in her mouth and said, “Happy 26th birthday!”
Under everyone’s surprised gazes, Angeline finished the glass of wine in one go. Then, she set down the wine glass and left without looking at Ned again.
“Angie!” Zachary cried, grabbing his coat and running after her.
After Zachary left, the room started to get lively again.
“Did Angie just agree to divorce Ned?”
Someone picked up the divorce papers Angeline left behind and showed them to Ned. “Ned, look! Angie said she isn’t taking a single penny with her. She even said she’d pay back all of the hospital bills she’d incurred for those two years!”
“Oh my god, is that true? Congratulations, Ned!”
“This must be the best birthday present ever for Ned!”
“Are you sure she’s not just pretending to leave so he’d run after her?”
“I think that’s definitely the case. I bet she’ll come running back to Ned after three days, max!”
Someone even said to Ned, “I think you should strike while the metal’s still hot and get the divorce finalized as soon as possible. How about tomorrow?”
Ned frowned. He looked at Angeline’s signature at the bottom of the divorce agreement under the dim lighting and drew his lips in a thin line.
This wasn’t the agreement he’d sent to Angeline. He’d given Angeline her fair share of money and some properties in the agreement that he drafted up. Meanwhile, the one Angeline signed stated that she wouldn’t take a single penny from him.
Ever since realizing Angeline was the person coming between him and Ingrid, Ned had always dreamed about the day he would finally be free from her.
However, now that he had the divorce agreement in his hands, he realized that he wasn’t as happy as he thought he would be.
As everyone around him continued congratulating him, Ned’s phone vibrated. The screen lit up, indicating a call from Ingrid.
Immediately, all of Ned’s worries were forgotten. He answered the call with a huge grin on his face. “Baby, you’re here! I’m coming down to get you!”