Chapter 2

Rosalie lowered her head, smiling bitterly.

What else could she ask for? She was sure she had exhausted all the luck in her life to get a chance to marry the man before her.

Her parents were ordinary employees at SK Enterprise. They had been trapped in the control room during a fire, but had managed to shut down the critical systems before they died. Their actions prevented the release of toxic substances and avoided more casualties.

The media had reported on the incident for several days straight, sharing recordings of her parents' last conversation with the outside world.

Orphaned at the age of ten, Rosalie was taken in by her aunt, who was the only option available. However, the woman smoked, drank, and gambled. A year later, Rosalie’s aunt squandered all the money SK Enterprise had given the young girl to compensate for the loss of her parents.

When Rosalie was eleven years old, her aunt dumped her at the doorstep of SK Enterprise.

Clutching her backpack tightly to her chest, Rosalie waited at the company's entrance for two days. She was hungry and tired, but had nowhere else to go.

Finally, when the chairman of SK Enterprise saw her as he passed by, he took her home. From then on, he provided for Rosalie, taking care of everything from her education to her daily needs. Eventually, he had her marry his grandson, Theodore.

Theodore didn't oppose the marriage, but he privately told Rosalie, "Even if we get married, I can't give you affection. If Cynthia comes back, our marriage will end. You can't object when that time comes."

Rosalie's heart ached at his words. It was as if he had taken a knife and stabbed her heart.

But she knew that if she refused to marry him, his grandmother, Rebecca Jarvis, would definitely blame Theodore and wouldn't let it go. Rebecca might even ruin her health out of anger.

So, even though it hurt, Rosalie could only nod and bear it.

"No problem. Anyway, I only see you as a brother. I don't have any romantic feelings for you. If you want a divorce, just tell me anytime. I won't hold you back,” she had said.

That was how their marriage began.

After they got married, Theodore treated Rosalie like a precious treasure. Everyone thought he loved her very much, but she knew he was only doing these things because he was a responsible man. He treated her kindly out of duty, not love.

Now, that duty had ended.

Rosalie finished the last bite of egg on her plate and stood up. "I'm full. I'm going back to the room."

She stood up, pulled out the chair, and was about to leave. However, as she stood up, she realized her head felt heavy and her feet light. She stepped forward too quickly. With a twist of her foot, she tumbled forward.

"Ah!"

Instinctively, she covered her belly. She panicked and tried to stop her fall, but she was suddenly lifted up and cradled in a pair of strong arms.

"What's the rush? Are you hurt?"

Theodore carefully checked her body. When he found nothing wrong, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't do this again. You're all grown up, but you're still like a child,” he said with a hint of reproach.

"I'm fine. Maybe I didn't sleep well last night," Rosalie said, avoiding his gaze.

What was the point of his concern?

Rosalie tried to shake off his hand, but Theodore seemed to sense something and furrowed his brow. He lifted her higher and more securely in his arms.

"Ah!" A startled Rosalie instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. "What are you doing?"

"I'm carrying you so you won't fall again."

"I'm fine! Put me down, okay? This isn't appropriate."

"What's not appropriate about it?"

"We're getting a divorce."

Theodore looked at her blankly, a hint of displeasure flickered briefly in his eyes.

"We still need to sign the papers. We're still husband and wife before that happens. Or are you trying to say that you never wanted me to touch you from the beginning, and now you can't wait to keep your distance?"

His tone was somewhat harsh. He made it sound as if the divorce was something she had coldly proposed, something he could only reluctantly accept.