The clerk looked at the couple, their first reaction one of pity.

They were such a perfect match; they even looked like they were made for each other. How did it come to this?

"Are you both sure you want to get a divorce?"

The clerk sighed to themself, pushed up their glasses, and professionally began the process.

"Absolutely!" Holly Sinclair answered immediately.

Tristan Sterling looked at her.

His gaze was glacial.

’Answering so decisively. Is she that desperate to leave?’

"Sir?"

Seeing his silence, the clerk looked toward him.

"Mm," Tristan Sterling grunted noncommittally, his face a blank mask.

He exuded a chilling aura.

The clerk flinched, instinctively recoiling.

That single sound was laced with utter reluctance.

’It seems this gentleman doesn’t actually want to go through with it.’

"And what was the date of your marriage?" the clerk asked as they took notes.

"Uh..." Tristan Sterling’s brow furrowed.

"August 4th, 2022," Holly Sinclair answered.

That day was the Qixi Festival.

It was a date she had carefully, meticulously chosen.

But she was always the only one who had ever cared.

"Sir, you don’t even remember your own wedding anniversary?" A flash of contempt crossed the clerk’s face.

’No wonder he can’t keep his wife if he’s so careless about his marriage.’

Tristan Sterling was speechless.

’Why bother remembering such an insignificant date?’

The clerk asked, "Do you two have any children?"

"No."

"No."

This time, they answered in unison.

The clerk continued, "And the reason for your divorce?"

Holly Sinclair said, "No feelings."

Tristan Sterling: "..."

’No feelings?’

’Who was it that used to trail after him like a little shadow, constantly calling his name?’

’And now she says she has no feelings for him?!’

"And you, sir?" the clerk asked, looking at Tristan Sterling.

"The same!"

Tristan Sterling snapped, his voice cold and sharp.

The clerk then asked a few more questions before handing them a form.

Finally, they were told there was a one-month cooling-off period for the divorce.

They would have to come back in a month to receive their divorce certificates.

Holly Sinclair quickly filled out the application and left.

From beginning to end, she didn’t even spare him a single glance.

A deep sense of unease settled in Tristan Sterling’s chest.

She was too calm!

So calm it was as if she had become a different person.

He would rather she fought with him, or threw a tantrum, or even hit and cursed him. Anything was better than this look of utter indifference.

He felt that she was now like sand slipping through his fingers; the tighter he tried to clench his fist, the faster it flowed away.

Holly Sinclair had just walked out of the main hall when she heard hurried footsteps behind her.

"Holly!"

He grabbed her by the wrist. "I’ll give you a ride."

"That’s not necessary."

She wrenched her hand away, clearly repulsed by his touch.

Her petite frame radiated a chill that pushed everyone away.

With that, she turned and walked away.

Watching her leave without a single look back, Tristan Sterling’s expression darkened.

A wave of inexplicable irritation washed over him.

’Can she really bear to leave?’

...

「Hospital Ward」

"Come on, Brother. Be good and take another sip." Holly Sinclair patiently coaxed her brother to drink his herbal medicine.

Noah Sinclair had been awake for several days. Aside from not being able to get out of bed yet, he was recovering well in other respects.

"Don’t wanna... It’s bitter..."

Noah Sinclair’s face scrunched up like a toddler’s, and he struggled to form the words.

A gentle smile touched Holly Sinclair’s lips, but her heart ached with sorrow. Coaxing him as if he were a child, she said, "Be a good boy. You have to drink your medicine to get better soon."

Her brother now had the mental capacity of a young child and couldn’t take care of himself.

Growing up, he had always been the one to protect her.

’From now on, it’s my turn to protect him.’

"Look, Brother, I brought you some milk candies. They’re my favorite, remember? You used to buy them for me all the time," Holly Sinclair said, taking the candy from her bag and placing it in her brother’s hand.

"Candy... I’ll drink it, I’ll drink it..." Noah Sinclair’s face lit up at the sight of the candy.

Looking at her brother’s contented smile, Holly Sinclair didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad.

As she fed the bitter medicine to her brother one spoonful at a time, her eyes couldn’t help but turn red.

"Brother, I’m divorcing Tristan Sterling. Once you’re a little stronger, we’ll leave Mistcroft. We can go live in another city, how does that sound?" Holly Sinclair said with a smile, pulling out a tissue to wipe the corner of her brother’s messy mouth.

Noah Sinclair didn’t answer. He just unwrapped a milk candy and popped it into his mouth.

"I’m sorry, Brother. It’s all my fault. If only I had listened to you back then and not secretly fallen for him... If our lives had never crossed, you wouldn’t have ended up like this..." Holly Sinclair’s smile grew more bitter as she murmured guiltily.

"So sweet..." Noah Sinclair didn’t understand what she was saying. He just kept chewing his candy, happy and content.

Holly Sinclair snapped back to reality and gave her brother a gentle, strong smile. "Yes, that’s right. From now on, our lives won’t be bitter anymore. They’ll only be sweet!"

Tears welled in her eyes, but her voice was exceptionally firm.

Outside the hospital room, a tall figure silently watched the scene unfold.

Tristan Sterling had come to the hospital to have his dressings changed.

After he was done, some unknown impulse had drawn him here.

Seeing the longing for a new life on her face, his mind filled with the image of her kneeling before his grandfather, resolute and determined to get a divorce...

She truly no longer held any lingering affection or love for him.

’If that’s the case...’

’Fine! A divorce it is!’

’It’s not like he loved her anyway.’

’If she hadn’t drugged him two years ago, they never would have been caught in this cursed relationship.’

’Once they divorced, they could each go back to their own lives.’

’Perfect!’

...

「Bar」

"Congratulations on escaping hell, baby! Come on! Cheers!"

Wendy Wyatt had just returned from filming out of town. When she heard that Holly Sinclair and Tristan Sterling were divorcing, she immediately insisted on celebrating with her best friend by drinking the night away.

Holly Sinclair agreed it was worth celebrating.

She had already made her plans. As soon as she got the divorce certificate, she would take her brother and move to another city.

Forget everything here and start over.

Holly Sinclair raised her glass and drained it in one gulp.

"You finally ditched that good-for-nothing bastard! You’re amazing, sweetie!" Wendy Wyatt was thrilled for her friend, planting two big kisses on her cheeks.

She’d long since had enough of that jerk Tristan Sterling. Her best friend was head over heels for him, but he was completely blind to it.

In just two short years, he had completely torn her precious friend to shreds.

And what he did to Noah...

’He really deserves to die!’

Wendy Wyatt secretly gritted her teeth, her eyes darkening. "So... is Noah doing okay?"

Holly Sinclair nodded and reassured her softly, "He’s doing well. You don’t need to worry."

"Mm." Wendy Wyatt forced a smile.

Noah Sinclair was the man she had secretly loved for many years...

Not wanting to show too much emotion, Wendy Wyatt quickly changed the subject. "Have you heard? The Linton Family is on the verge of bankruptcy."

"Bankruptcy?" Holly Sinclair was slightly surprised.

’The Linton Group is under Tristan Sterling’s protection. How could it go bankrupt so easily?’

"The Sterling Group terminated all of its partnerships with the Linton Group."

Wendy Wyatt smiled gleefully, then furrowed her brow and tilted her head at Holly Sinclair. "Do you think... Tristan Sterling was behind it?"