Drifting Apart With Time

On the third anniversary, which also happens to be Natalie Sherman's birthday, her husband, Lester Garrison, gives her a very special gift—a divorce agreement.

Calmly, Lester picks up a pen and drops his signature on the bottom left corner of the agreement. Then, he pushes the document in Natalie's direction.

"Rene is very stubborn, and it's very difficult for me to appease her. Only when I'm divorced will she agree to accept me as her lover.

"I've already signed the divorce agreement. You should do the same. Don't worry, we're just faking this divorce."

Lester's tone is very casual, not to mention he sounds emotionless, too. It's as though he's discussing what to have for dinner tonight.

Natalie Sherman had stopped concerning herself with how Lester Garrison lived his private life outside their marriage.

Still, Irene Sterling was a name she knew well, thanks to the entertainment news that was all over the internet.

Irene was a newly signed young actress under Lester’s company. She was a young woman in her 20s, brimming with youth and vigor.

Most interestingly, Lester had been pursuing her for nearly two months, yet she showed no interest in him at all.

In the past, Lester would usually have lost interest in his lovers within a month.

Irene was different. Not only did she hold his attention longer than the rest, but she also got him to bring up a pretend divorce with Natalie.

Natalie took the divorce papers from him with a subtle smirk. "Is this the gift you've gotten for me? It's quite an unusual one, I'd say."

Confusion crossed Lester's face. When he finally recalled the occasion that day, he seemed apologetic.

"I've been busy being nice to Rene on set recently. It totally slipped my mind that it's our anniversary and your birthday today. I'm sorry. I'll get my assistant to bring over a gift later."

With his new love interest in sight, there was indeed no room left in his heart for Natalie anymore.

Her smirk oozing with sarcasm, Natalie replied, "Never mind. We're getting a divorce soon anyway. Keep your gifts for someone else."

Lester frowned at her words. Displeased, he retorted, "It's just a pretend divorce. We just have to sign the papers to make Rene happy. It's not like we're really getting a divorce certificate."

Was that really the case?

Nevertheless, Natalie had made up her mind to divorce him for real.

Keeping that thought to herself, she picked up the pen and signed the paper solemnly.

She was putting an end to her three years of marriage.

After she signed the papers, Lester sighed in relief. He took a photo of the divorce papers and made a phone call.

The person on the other end said something that pleased Lester very much. In a gentle tone, he coaxed, "I've already gotten a divorce, so you and I can officially start dating now. Wait there. I'll pick you up, then we'll have a little celebration."

After ending the call, he got up and took his coat as he headed outside. Right before he closed the door, he seemed to remember something and turned to Natalie.

"Rene has just agreed to go out with me, so I'll be with her today. Next year, I'll celebrate our wedding anniversary and your birthday with you."

Then, he hurriedly shut the door, eager to meet his young lover.

Naturally, he didn't hear Natalie's soft reply. She murmured, "Lester, there won't be a next year."

After the rumble of his car diminished into the distance, Natalie went upstairs and opened the safe. She retrieved the marriage certificates stowed away at the back of the safe.

She stared at the two beaming faces in the photo attached to the certificates.

It was a photo of her and Lester, with her being 24 years old and him being 26.

They stood close together, their eyes shining with affection for each other and with anticipation of the life ahead together.

Her gaze then subconsciously fell on the signed divorce papers.

How did it all come to this?

She remembered the first time she met Lester. It was during a wrap-up celebration after a shoot.

Back then, she was new to the acting industry. She had incidentally bumped into Lester around the corner, who was clutching his stomach and whose face was as pale as a sheet.

Realizing his stomach wasn't feeling quite well because he'd had too much to drink, she'd pulled out a bottle of yogurt from her bag and given it to him.

Because of her act of kindness, Lester took an interest in her. Over time, he developed romantic feelings for her.

However, Lester was out of the league for most people; he was the legitimate heir of the powerful Garrison family.

Having a realistic understanding of herself, she'd never expect someone from a wealthy family like him to fall in love with an average woman like her. She was sure he wasn't taking things seriously, so she rejected him without hesitation.

To her surprise, Lester didn't give up. In fact, he had always been by her side. Despite being a proud CEO of a company, he decided to wait on her as though he were her assistant.

During mealtimes, he prepared food for her and sent it to her on set. When she fell sick from working nonstop, he anxiously took her to the hospital. After every scene that required her to be underwater, he'd immediately serve her some ginger tea.

She wasn't a robot without feelings. His continuous show of affection slowly moved her.

Once, there had been an accident while she was descending from a wire stunt. Right before she crashed into the ground, Lester threw himself beneath her to cushion her fall. That was the moment she fell for him.

She had escaped the incident unscathed, but he had had two ribs broken.

After they had started dating, Lester had told his family she was the only woman he would marry. He didn't give in even when his family punished him for his decision.

Not wanting to be his burden, Natalie worked around the clock for four whole years. Finally, she won Best Actress and earned the Garrison family's approval.

On the day of their wedding, the whole internet had showered them with blessings, wishing them a blissful marriage. Some even exclaimed at how rare it was to see someone as loyal as Lester among the rich.

Natalie had thought so too. She had thought their marriage would be long-lived and filled with affection.

However, in the second year of their marriage, she started spotting lipstick stains on Lester's shirt.

The first time it happened, she bawled her eyes out.

Lester, who'd always been proud, knelt before her as he swore it was his business rival scheming against him. He vowed that it would never happen again.

Considering how long they'd been with each other, Natalie chose to forgive him.

However, he soon began staying out all night.

Countless times, she bombarded him with calls and demanded an explanation like a crazy woman. She stalked him and argued hysterically with him when he returned home.

All he did was watch her release her anger. Then, he'd calmly persuade, "Nat, no one in our social circle would stay loyal to one woman forever. All you have to know is you're the only one I love, and my wife will only be you."

Besides him, everyone else she knew gave her similar advice—His lovers wouldn't be with him forever. All she had to do was hold on to her role as his wife, and he'd eventually return to her. She only had to wait.

Therefore, she waited, only for him to bring up a pretend divorce for the sake of his lover.

The moment she saw him sign his name, something broke free in her.

Did she marry Lester for the Garrison family's wealth and authority?

No, she didn't.

She married him only because they were in love.

However, their love had become a pile of wreckage that stank.

Even their marriage, which they both cherished, had become Lester's tool to please his lover.

If that was the case, their marriage had lost all meaning.

Coming to her senses, Natalie picked up the divorce papers and went to the courthouse.

The staff made sure the documents were complete before telling her to pick up their divorce certificate a month later.

As she walked out of the courthouse and into the sun, she felt a sense of ease for the first time in a long while.

Then, she dialed a number that she'd saved long ago.

"Allen, I'd love to accept your offer to join your production in Echalon."