Chapter 0008

Janet’s Pov

“What the hell is happening here?”

Rowan’s voice cut through the air like a blade. It was sharp, cold, and filled with something unreadable. My heart clenched, but I refused to look weak.

“So, you’re back, huh? Finally taking a break from playing knight in shining armor for your best friend’s wife?” My words dripped with sarcasm, sharper than I intended. But he said nothing, only frowned slightly.

He stood at the doorway, his piercing gaze sweeping over the room—over the mess his mother had made of my things. Then his eyes landed on me.

“Rowan! Thank God you’re home!” Mrs. Caroline’s voice was sharp, triumphant. She snatched the divorce papers from the table and shoved them toward him. “Read this! Look at what this… this woman is demanding in the divorce agreement! She thinks she can walk away with everything! I will make sure she leaves with nothing.”

Rowan took the papers, his jaw tightening as his eyes scanned the pages. His fingers clenched tighter with every word. A flicker of surprise crossed his face. I knew it. I knew he hadn't expected me to actually go through with it. Screw his stupid pride!

Like he could read my curse, his gaze met mine. I almost laughed. He wore this face of shock as if this was not what he wanted for a long time. I'm just granting his wishes…

Mrs. Caroline wasn’t done. “She is returning everything she has taken from us, Rowan” she snapped. “If not for this family, she wouldn’t even know what luxury life is! Now that she’s no longer one of us, she must return everything.”

She turned her gaze to the bag in my hand—the designer bag I had packed my clothes in.

“And that bag,” she said coldly. “Grandma forced him to buy it for you. That, too, stays here. Don't think for once you are going with it.”

I stared at her, not speaking a word.

Was this how little they thought of me? Like they had done me a favor, like I was some charity case? A bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. The humiliation. The insults. The years of being looked down on. The weight of it all crushed against my chest like a dagger being slowly twisted.

Rowan was still silent, still gripping the papers, his face dark and unreadable. Isn't this what he wanted? To get rid of me and replace me with the person he truly loves . I let out another hollow laugh. “And you think this will scare me?” I asked, looking directly at his mother.

"Fine. If this is really what you want, so be it. I'm returning everything back. " I said as I reached for my wrist, my fingers finding the bracelet. I yanked it off.

“This,” I said, holding it up, “was the bracelet I bought for us on our first anniversary. A couple’s pair, but Rowan never wore his.” I threw it onto the table. It had always been a meaningless piece of jewelry—an anniversary Grandma had forced him to remember, not something he had valued himself.

Next, I reached for my earrings. “And these? A gift from you, Rowan. Or rather, something you had your assistant pick up at a duty-free shop in a random airport.” I pulled them off, one by one, and tossed them onto the pile.

He had never personally picked a gift for me. Never bothered to give me anything himself. Always delegating, always distant.

I had never forgotten the way his secretary had looked at me with contempt, but I had still insisted on wearing those earrings—lying to myself that they meant something, that Rowan cared in some small way. That he was just too busy.

Finally, my fingers found the ring—the ring Rowan’s grandmother had given me.

For a second, I hesitated.This ring… it was a symbol. Not of love, but of duty. Of the years I had spent pretending to be something I wasn’t.

I pulled it off.

I stared at the ring in my palm for a long moment before placing it gently on the table. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mrs. Caroline inhale sharply. She hadn’t expected this. She hadn’t expected me to truly take nothing with me.

I gripped the handle of my bag and turned toward the door. But before I could move, Rowan held my arm as he blocked me from leaving.

“Rowan, what are you doing?” Mrs. Caroline barked. “Let her go already!”

Rowan’s voice was calm, controlled. “Go upstairs, Mom. We have some accounts to settle.”

Caroline looked like she wanted to argue, but when Rowan turned his gaze on her, she snapped her mouth shut and stalked upstairs, stiff with frustration.

Now, it was just us.

His grip didn’t loosen. His dark eyes burned into mine. “What exactly are you trying to achieve here, Janet?”

I lifted my chin, meeting his dark gaze. “What do you mean?”

He let out a dry laugh. “Using divorce to get my attention? That’s childish, even for you. Do you honestly think I’ll buy this? What do you want this time, huh?” His voice was sharp now, almost mocking. “A new bag? A new dress? Another piece of jewelry? Or is your greedy relative asking for money again?”

“Is that what you think of me?” I asked quietly.

Rowan’s expression didn’t change. His silence was answer enough.

I swallowed hard, my nails digging into my palms, tears welled up in my eyes. “You’ve always believed that, haven’t you? That I married you for money. That I stayed because I needed your wealth.”

He ran his hand through his temples as he said. "You know what? All this is bullshit. Just tell me what you want and drop the act. No one’s here to pity you anymore. Grandma isn’t here."

I took a deep breath, pushing back the tears burning behind my eyes. “Whatever you think doesn’t matter anymore. Sign the agreement. Let’s settle this. Leaving you is the only way forward for me.”

I turned to leave, but before I could take another step, Rowan’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist and yanking me back.

“Rowan—”

His lips crashed onto mine, hard and demanding.

For a second, I froze. His warmth, his scent, the force of him—it was all too familiar, too intoxicating. But then, like a slap of ice-cold water, reality hit me.

I shoved him away, my palm striking his face with a sharp crack.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” I snap, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

Rowan didn’t move, didn’t speak. His jaw clenched, his eyes dark and stormy as they locked onto mine.

“Are you really serious about leaving?” His voice was dangerously soft now, like a blade sliding from its sheath. “Try it. See what happens. Janet.”

I held my chin high. “Watch me.”

And this time, I walked away without looking back.