Belated Awakening

I no longer looked at him and turned to leave the private room.

After a few steps, hurried footsteps followed behind me.

It was Claire.

She caught up and stepped in front of me.

Then she held up her phone screen, showing a list of visitor records on her video page. "All the views on my video came from you, Miss Fuller, right? Why bother? Pretending to act like you don't care at all, but secretly watching so closely. Aren't you tired?"

I looked at her and suddenly remembered that when I was still struggling with bit parts, I used to dress like that too.

Since I stayed silent, she seemed even more certain. "I know what kind of man Ayden is. He is disciplined and proud, never allowing anyone to overstep. But now he breaks his rules for me. You know that clearly, don't you? Why do you still cling on and refuse to step aside?"

I waited quietly for her to finish, then smiled softly. "Is that so? That's great then."

Claire froze, apparently not expecting this reaction.

I paused, then continued. "Then go make him divorce me. See if he listens to you."

The color drained from Claire's face.

She forced herself to stay calm and said. "We'll see about that. Let's see if he chooses me or you, the worn-out wife."

After Claire left, my alternate account got a notification that she and I had mutually followed each other.

Ayden still did not agree to the divorce afterward.

A few days later, Claire sent me a message.

No text, just a photo.

The lighting was dim, with a rough wall in the background.

The shooting angle vaguely captured a corner of a familiar floral tablecloth, the one my mother loved most before she passed.

My heart sank sharply.

Immediately after, a second message popped up. "Miss Fuller, guess where we are? Ayden said this place holds some sentimental value."

Sentimental value?

A chill instantly crawled up my spine.

Before I could react, a third message followed. "Ayden told me this is the old house where you and your aunt lived together back then. Oh dear, why keep this old and rundown place? I think Ayden should just have the building demolished."

That basement was my shelter during my lowest times and the place where my mother spent her final days.

Everything inside, though cheap and worn, I had carefully preserved. It was the most sacred corner in my heart that no one could defile.

Ayden clearly knew that, yet now he brought Claire there.

He even allowed her to take photos and encouraged her to send me messages commenting and planning.

My fingers trembled uncontrollably. "Get out of there!"

I could almost picture Claire nestled against Ayden.

Gloating and curiously examining that small space, freely pointing at the last remnants my mother left me.

I stared hard at the screen, but there was no reply for a long time.

I gritted my teeth and typed another message. "Did you hear me? Get out! Don't pollute the place where my mom rests!"

After the message sent, a video call request immediately popped up.

It was from Ayden.

I stared at the bouncing avatar and pressed accept.

On the screen, it was indeed that familiar corner of the room.

The camera first swept over Claire, then turned aside.

Ayden leaned against the old desk, toying with a cheap ceramic mug in his hand.

He did not look at the camera and spoke lazily to the person beside him. "See, I told you. This is the one thing she can't stand."

Then, he slowly turned his face to look at me on the other end of the screen.

He faced me, curled his lips, and said word by word. "Ella, do you still dare to mention divorce?"