Chapter 1 Let's Get Divorced

• Isabelle Berry, following the secretary's directions, arrived at Raiden Galloway's office. Despite two years of marriage, this was her first visit to his workplace.
• "Mr. Galloway is still in a meeting. Please have a seat and wait," the secretary offered kindly, pouring Isabelle a cup of freshly brewed tea.
• "Thank you," Isabelle responded politely, accepting the tea. As she settled onto the couch, her gaze wandered around the bright and immaculate reception area. The gray and white decor exuded an understated luxury that mirrored Raiden's typical tastes.
• The secretary sized Isabelle up furtively. After all, she looked rather young and spoke sparingly. Her wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, her side-swept bangs framing an innocent and gentle charm reminiscent of a young girl.
• The secretary found it hard to believe the woman before her was Raiden's wife. The revelation that the man, typically aloof and detached, indifferent to women, was indeed married left her even more astonished. The notion of him showing tenderness to a woman was beyond her imagination. Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by the noise from outside. "The meeting is probably over," she promptly informed Isabelle. "Please wait a moment while I go over and take a look."
• Subconsciously, Isabelle shifted her gaze toward the door where the secretary was heading.
• A tall figure appeared in the doorway, his head slightly tilted to the side as he engaged in a conversation with someone next to him. Raiden's chiseled profile, accentuated by the contrast of light and shadow, looked stern and serious.
• On the other hand, the person next to him…
• As the girl's bright smile came into view, Isabelle was momentarily stunned and stood up unconsciously.
• Raiden happened to look up and see her standing in front of the couch. He paused for a moment and then frowned. "What brings you here?"
• At the sound of his question, the girl who was discussing plans with him looked up to see who he was speaking to. Apparently, she was also taken aback to see Isabelle.
• After offering a polite smile to the girl, Isabelle shifted her attention back to Raiden, handing him the file envelope. "Your…" She initially intended to say "your mom" but altered her words at the last moment. "Mom asked me to bring this to you."
• His mother had always disapproved of her "doing nothing" at home. Coincidentally, Isabelle didn't want to stay home with her either, so she came by and brought the envelope over to him.
• Accepting the envelope, he inquired, "Have had lunch?"
• Isabelle replied, "Not yet."
• Raiden closed the file in his hand and looked back at the group of people following him. "The meeting will resume in the afternoon. You guys may go ahead for lunch."
• The girl next to him parted her lips as if wanting to say something. Still, she held back and replied, "Okay," in a submissive manner. Then, she gestured for the crowd, who were eyeing Isabelle curiously, to leave with her.
• Raiden took Isabelle to the cafeteria downstairs for lunch. As they waited for their meal to arrive, he remained engrossed in his work. His eyes were fixed on his laptop screen, and his slender fingers danced nimbly across the keyboard. His expression remained cool and focused, as usual.
• She rested her chin on her hand while quietly observing the man. His chiseled, stony features were undeniably attractive, and his prominent nose exuded an air of indifference and authority, particularly when he slightly lowered his head. Regardless of the situation, his demeanor remained calm and aloof, even during their most intimate moments.
• For eight years, from the ages of 16 to 24, she had secretly loved this man. Unfortunately, she no longer desired him. At that moment, the newly drafted divorce agreement weighed heavily in the bag on her lap.
• Isabelle hesitated, and her hands pressed on the divorce papers. Strictly speaking, Raiden hadn't committed any wrongdoing. He simply... didn't love her. Considering they hadn't married for love, perhaps his lack of affection wasn't a fault either.
• "What are you looking at?" Just then, his deep voice interrupted her musings.
• Her gaze shifted to the man, who didn't even lift his head as he remained engrossed in his work on the laptop screen. She had always found it delightful to watch him at work.
• "Hmm?" Raiden finally looked up, his gaze falling on her face when she didn't respond.
• Isabelle smiled at him. "Nothing," she replied. Then, as if striking up a casual conversation, she asked, "When did Katie start working at your company?"
• Katie Bailey, the girl who had stood beside Raiden just moments ago, was part of Isabelle's high school days. Isabelle joined their class as a transfer student for a year, while he and Katie had been classmates from the first to the third year of high school. Both were popular and excelled academically, often participating in various school events. Rumors once suggested they harbored feelings for each other, but for some unknown reason, they never pursued a relationship. In the end, Isabelle, who was relatively unnoticed, unexpectedly benefited from the situation.
• Being unnoticed didn't mean Isabelle didn't do well as a student. In fact, she had skipped a grade and was much younger than her peers. However, Raiden and Katie's brilliance was already very remarkable when she arrived; she joined their class halfway through the school year and graduated just as her brilliance became apparent. After that, the three of them went their separate ways.
• "Since the beginning of the year, I guess." Raiden's attention turned back to his laptop. He added, "I don't remember exactly. She joined the company through an interview with the human resources department."
• Isabelle nodded without asking any further questions.
• Their meal arrived, and they silently dined together, as had become customary in their two years of marriage. The couple preferred quietness, and it was usual for them. However…
• Isabelle's gaze shifted to the young couple at the adjacent table, who were playfully feeding each other. Envy pricked her; the intimacy the young couple shared was something she and Raiden had never experienced in their lifetime.
• In this man's eyes, only work and efficiency held significance. His life resembled a meticulously wound clock, cold and precise, every action calculated to the finest detail. Such a meticulously organized man was ill-suited for marriage, just as she was.
• "Is there something on your mind?" He suddenly looked up at her, noticing her distraction.
• Isabelle's lips pursed slightly, and as her eyes met Raiden's, she offered a smile and nodded, saying, "Yeah, there is—"
• Ding…
• An incoming email diverted his attention back to his laptop.
• She suggested with a smile, "Why don't you continue with your work? We can talk later."
• "Okay." An hour passed before he finished his work. "Any plans for later?" he suddenly asked while putting his laptop away.
• Isabelle, taken aback for a moment, realized Raiden was talking to her. "I'd like to go to the bookstore. I'll go back home later."
• He nodded. "I'll have Stefan take you there. Don't stay out too late."
• Stefan Martinez was Raiden's assistant, someone she had met several times before.
• She nodded. "Okay."
• Their lunch ended in blandness.
• It was almost 5.00PM when she returned home from the bookstore.
• Ellie Khan, Raiden's mother and Isabelle's mother-in-law, was still at home, playing with the cat. Seeing her come in, Ellie teasingly addressed the cat, saying, "Look at you! You expect people to wait on you hand and foot, from eating to drinking to using the bathroom. You don't earn money, but you sure know how to spend it. You're inconsiderate and barren. You weren't born a princess, yet you act like one. What's the use of having you, huh?" Her voice was gentle and refined, infused with a hint of banter.
• Pretending not to understand Ellie's sarcasm, Isabelle greeted her casually with a nod and then returned to her room. And sure enough, the next moment, from outside came the loud clatter of objects smashing and Ellie's angry voice swearing. Isabelle could imagine how outrageous Ellie must be at this moment. Isabelle yearned even more for the freedom she used to have before her marriage. She could take care of herself without expecting anything from anyone, and she didn't have to pretend to be polite to anyone, much less gauge anyone's mood.
• Isabelle understood Ellie's contempt towards her and the reasons behind it. After all, given their incompatible family backgrounds, she and Raiden were like chalk and cheese. They ended up together purely by chance.
• Back when they got married, she had no idea that he was a person of such prominence. She thought he was just an ordinary salaryman working hard for three meals a day like her. Had she known beforehand about the stark difference between them, she would never have agreed to marry him. After all, their marriage was a loveless one resulting from an unexpected pregnancy.
• At the beginning of their marriage, Isabelle used to dream about her future, which enabled her to tolerate Ellie's hostile attitude toward her behind Raiden's back. Now that Isabelle had different plans for her future, she didn't care about Ellie's disposition anymore.
• Finally, Ellie, in frustration at Isabelle's silent indifference, slammed the door and left the house.
• With no desire to cook, Isabelle decided to order takeout for dinner.
• Raiden had messaged her earlier, informing her of the need to work late. His company was in expansion mode, so it was common for him to be consumed by work and overtime. She had grown accustomed to his busy schedule.
• It was past 11.00PM when he finally returned home, and Isabelle was still engrossed in her work in the study.
• He was also used to her being busy. He took a shower first, and when he came back, she had washed up and was sitting on the bed with her back against the headboard, reading. Seeing him come over, she put down her book and turned off the bedside lamp on her side.
• Raiden also got into bed and turned off the lights. As soon as he lay down, he turned over, his tall figure instantly pinning her underneath him. As his refreshing masculine scent drew near, he kissed her.
• In the darkness, he was gentle and yet aggressive, shedding all his aloofness from during the day. She found it hard to imagine that the man, who was usually so apathetic and seemingly devoid of desires, could be so wild and passionate in bed.
• Their compatibility in bed was undeniable. As the hushed breaths and moans eventually faded into the darkness, Isabelle remained nestled in Raiden's arms. Their bodies, damp with sweat, felt sticky, but she didn't push him away. Instead, she gently embraced him in return, burying her face in his equally sweaty chest. "Raiden." She softly called his name with a slight pant in her voice.
• "Hmm?" His low, lust-laden voice held a fatally seductive allure in the darkness.
• "Let's get divorced," she whispered, feeling his body noticeably tense.
• Raiden lowered his gaze to look at Isabelle. His piercing dark eyes looked as if they had been swallowed by the darkness of the night, leaving only a calm and overwhelming blackness. "Your reason?" he asked, his voice as imperturbable as ever.
• "We were forcibly bound together because of my pregnancy, but fate had other plans for us and the baby. Perhaps it was meant to be this way," she replied, meeting his gaze with the same imperturbability. "I think I'm more used to being single. I feel like life is the same with or without you, but without you, I can expect a lot less and have a lot less trouble. I think you might feel the same way." After their divorce, she would no longer have to deal with Ellie and his family. Likewise, he no longer had to deal with her family of leeches either.
• Raiden remained silent, his dark eyes growing even darker as he stared at Isabelle without a word. Just when she thought he wouldn't respond, he nodded and replied calmly, "Okay."
• No explanations, no questions. Just like his marriage agreement, he responded with the same straightforward "Okay." That was the man she knew.
• She smiled at him, feeling a tingling in her nose, and her eyes stung as if on the verge of tears. It was what she had requested, but as everything concluded as expected, a bitter emotion clenched her chest. She fought back the tears, gently burying her face in his chest while hugging him for the last time.
• He didn't reciprocate the embrace; he simply allowed Isabelle to cling to him in silence.
• Finally, she gently released her hold on him. "I'll go wash up," she whispered while turning around.
• Just when she was about to get out of bed, her arm was suddenly seized, and she was pulled back onto the soft mattress. A shadow loomed over her, followed by an intense kiss that halted abruptly when he saw the panic in her eyes.
• A tempestuous darkness raged in his eyes, only to gradually return to profound calm. He rolled over, lying flat beside her. "Let's sleep," he said, closing his eyes.
• The next morning, Isabelle awoke to find Raiden was gone. The house retained its usual appearance, almost as if the events of the previous night were a mere figment of her dream. However, she knew it was different now. She packed quickly. She had few belongings, which didn't take long to pack up.
• Before she left, she took one last look around the house she had lived in for two years. After placing the keys and the signed divorce agreement on the coffee table, she sent him a text message. It read, 'I've already signed the divorce agreement on the coffee table, and I've entrusted Mr. Lane with the divorce. Let's get the paperwork done when it's convenient for you. I'm leaving. Take care.'
• Raiden was in a meeting when he received the text message. Momentarily, he seemed lost in thought upon reading it.
• No one down there had ever seen him so distracted, especially Katie. She had known him for many years but had never seen him like this before. "Mr. Galloway?" She called him softly, reminding him that they were still in a meeting.
• He glanced at her, then calmly put down his phone and continued where he had left off. Just when everyone thought he was fine, he suddenly announced, "The meeting is over." With that, he hastily retrieved his phone from the table and rushed out of the conference room, leaving everyone bewildered.
• "W-What's going on with Mr. Galloway?"