Chapter 3

The soft piano melody sounded like static in Lucia’s ears. Even the sound of someone’s loud laughter grated on her.

Even when faced with the lavishly set table, she felt no appetite and didn’t touch a single utensil.

This outing felt like a reward for that incident, as if she was being “compensated,” and that thought alone made everything around her feel repulsive.

No, Ian must’ve thought this hotel visit would be a suitable offering.

That’s why, when she said she wanted a divorce…

“Lucia… is it the hotel? Is it not to your liking…? We can go somewhere else if you want.”

He was trying to write it off like she was some shallow woman thoughtlessly throwing out the word “divorce” because she didn’t like the dinner.

Lucia raised her lowered lashes slightly.

“Ian.”

At her stern voice, Ian finally bit his lip.

“Lucia… please. Grant me one more chance.”

“A chance?”

“Yes. You know I can’t live without you. You’re all I have.”

His soft tone was full of pleading, but the words were so clichéd.

She’d heard them far too often over the years of their long marriage. They didn’t feel sincere. No, they weren’t sincere.

If they were…

“I deeply regret having let you down this time… Truly, I do. It was my fault. Yes?”

If he meant a single word, he wouldn’t dare presume he could just apologize.

Even as her husband begged, Lucia didn’t move. She simply looked at Ian with detached calm.

His pale face, the hand trembling as it held the knife. It all looked pitiful, but that was all it was. Just how it looked.

Not even that beautiful face stirred anything in her anymore.

“If you’re truly sorry, then let me go.”

“…I can’t. I won’t.”

“…”

The way he said it, like it was obvious. The faintest trace of resignation touched Lucia’s lips.

Ten years of betrayal. Her youthful dreams faded into a marriage she never wanted. One she eventually learned had never even been necessary.

And yet, all he could say was that he was “disappointed” and felt “regret.” He still couldn’t let go of his own selfishness. There wasn’t even room left to feel disappointed anymore.

She should’ve seen this from the start.

“I love you… I love you, Lucia.”

Ian Lancaster was a greedy, cowardly man.

* * *

The moment Killian stepped into the elevator, he decided he’d send the seven beautiful blondes home. It was the red-haired woman he’d seen in the restaurant. She stepped in after him.

Her husband, an older man with white hair, had been desperately clinging to her after she asked for a divorce. She, on the other hand, had maintained a cold, detached demeanor the entire time.

‘Hmm…’

Definitely more interesting than anything else tonight.

Unable to resist his curiosity, Killian leaned slightly toward her.

“Let me guess. Your husband cheated on you?”

“What nonsense…!”

The woman didn’t answer, but someone else did. Even as the man bristled with anger, Killian continued speaking slowly, treating him like he wasn’t even there.

“So that’s why you wouldn’t eat…”

“…”

“Is that why you’re so thin?”

His gaze lingered on her gaunt frame, feeling heavy and deliberate. Wherever it landed, it felt like fingers pressing into her skin. Obvious. Unapologetic.

Tension filled the enclosed space. And once again, someone else responded.

“…You’re being incredibly rude. And no, that’s not the case.”

Ian, unable to bear the suggestive comments about his wife, clenched his jaw and snapped back.

“Is that so? With how much you were groveling, I figured you must’ve cheated.”

“…Spare us your unwanted attention.”

“Unwanted? Not sure I agree. In front of everyone, you cried like a baby. ‘I love you, please don’t leave me.’ You were practically sobbing. Seemed like a cry for attention to me.”

“I never went that far…!”

“If you say so.”

Killian shrugged, tilting his neck side to side with his hands in his pockets. Since the woman wasn’t responding, and only the husband was yapping, his interest began to fade. He turned his eyes to the golden, semi-circular floor indicator, watching the needle crawl upward.