Providence New World

The day Ian Shorts returned home with the divorce papers and his mistress, I was vomiting blood profusely due to the system's penalty.

Ian looked at my pale face and said, "You should've been dead long ago."

I didn't reply.

It didn't matter, Ian. I was about to be erased from this world.

But why did you attempt suicide so many times after I disappeared?

Under the butler Daniel Pauley's watchful gaze, I vomited again in the bathroom.

Ian and his mistress Zoe Johnson were still together now.

After freshening up, I listlessly ate my breakfast.

The familiar sound of a car engine came from outside, and Daniel, more excited than me, ran out to take a look.

"Mrs. Shorts, Mr. Shorts has returned!" he announced, awkwardly tapping his hand.

"Oh no, I forgot to make breakfast for him too."

Saying this, he hurried into the kitchen.

Honestly, I wanted to say there was no need.

Ian certainly wasn't here for breakfast.

With steady footsteps, Ian approached me.

He was wearing a black trench coat today, and the collar revealed a white shirt underneath.

I felt a bit dazed, recalling our school days when he always wore wrinkled white shirts.

"Having breakfast?" he remarked.

What else would I be doing, eating you?

I lowered my eyes, aware that I had only a week left.

Then there was no need to cater to Ian's emotions anymore.

Normally, if I acted this way, Ian would have stormed off, but this time, I didn't hear him leave.

How strange!

I looked up to see Ian pressing his lips together, his expression cold and stern.

I hadn't noticed just now that Ian was still clutching a contract in his hand.

My heart skipped a beat.

Right, according to the system's timeline, Ian was going to divorce me.

I lowered my head weakly, feeling a bitter ache in my chest.

I said, "Mr. Shorts, you could have just sent the divorce papers through your assistant. Why bother coming yourself?"

I looked at him again, and Ian's face darkened, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the contract.

"Since you know what it is, find a time to sign it," he said, placing the contract on the table and tapping it.

He was about to leave when my mocking laughter stopped him.

He said, "You think I let you down?" Evelyn, you're no longer the heiress of the Riley family anymore."

The familiar pain surged through me.

I stopped him, "Ian, do you hate me that much?"

His eyes showed a moment of shock.

"Have you forgotten? Without me, you were just a poor student living off free meals..." I retorted.

Ian smirked, "So what? Weren't you always trailing behind me?"

His words left me speechless.

Yes, our beginning was my one-sided pursuit.

In the brief silence, Daniel heard the commotion and came out.

Seeing my pale face, Daniel hesitated before speaking up, "Mr. Shorts, please say less. Mrs. Shorts hasn't been feeling well lately..."

Ian's eyes flashed with coldness. "Not feeling well? Is she dying?"

Then he laughed dryly. "You should've been dead long ago."

His words chilled me to the bone.

How could he say such words?

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside, and Zoe peeked from the doorway. "Ian... why isn't it over yet?"

She was innocent as a daisy.

Ian turned slightly, blocking my pale face from her view.

"It's nothing," he said. "It's all over."

With that, he took a few steps toward the door.

"Ian!" I called out, stopping him.

He turned back impatiently, warning me with his eyes not to speak recklessly.

I pressed my lips together, realizing our years of affection seemed like a joke.

"It's all over," I said, holding up the contract. "I'll sign it."

Hearing this, Ian finally relaxed his expression.

"I'm glad you've come to terms with it," he said. "Don't worry, I'll ensure your future is secure."