Chapter 4

The night wind blew through the car window, sending strands of hair flying in every direction.

Throughout the entire ride, Roxanne's mind replayed the image of Caitlin standing beside Andre again and again.

Perhaps she had been hurt too many times because, at this point, she no longer felt pain. All that remained was an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

Why did the 30-day cooling-off period feel this long?

She rubbed her stinging eyes. In a moment of carelessness, she failed to notice the car ahead reversing illegally and crashed straight into it. A loud bang echoed through the air.

Her leg became trapped beneath the twisted frame of the car door, and blood flowed freely down her skin. In an instant, all color drained from her face, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

Despite the stabbing pain, she stayed rational and called for emergency services.

After she was rushed into the emergency room, the doctor conducted a full examination. The injury was not life-threatening, but a minor operation was necessary. The doctor asked her to contact a family member.

Roxanne's parents lived far away in another city, so she called Andre. However, after over a dozen calls, he did not answer a single one.

She remembered that he was likely surrounded by colleagues and friends right now—and perhaps even the woman he had been secretly in love with for years. Most likely, they were raising their glasses and discussing life, laughing without a care in the world.

Why would he have time to answer her calls?

A nearby nurse, noticing that she had not been able to reach anyone, could not help but ask a question, "Your husband really can't come?"

Roxanne shook her head, her voice surprisingly calm. "We're already in the midst of divorcing. It'll be completely finalized within a month."

The nurse was caught off guard, her expression visibly shocked.

"But your marriage is technically still in effect, is it not? You could at least call him to come and sign something."

At that moment, as memories of the past three years of marriage surged through her, Roxanne was filled with emotions.

Just to have one meal with him, she stayed up and waited countless nights, only to be met with a single sentence like, "I have to work overtime and won't be coming home."

Just to be able to hold a conversation with him, she studied legal codes and regulations, only to have him dismiss her confidence with one phrase, "You're just an outsider."

Just to make him happy, she had prepared a birthday surprise, but all she received in return was, "I'm tired. I don't have the energy."

From beginning to end, Roxanne was the only one who clung to the relationship with blind devotion. Every incident and every disappointment was proof that he had never loved her.

Andre would not come. Roxanne could no longer lie to herself.

"A husband who can't be reached after his wife got into a car accident… What does it matter whether he comes or not?"

The nurse sighed after hearing that, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Then call a friend."

In the days that followed, it was Erica who stayed by Roxanne's side and took care of her.

It was not until five days later that Andre finally received word and rushed to the hospital. When he walked into the ward and saw her injured ankle, confusion appeared on his face.

"Why didn't you tell me you were in a car accident?"

Roxanne had intended to explain, but the moment she looked up and saw the expression on his face, she was unexpectedly reminded of those dozen missed calls. She swallowed the words stuck in her throat and responded with a faint smile.

"You were busy. I didn't want to bother you over something so minor."

Hearing that, Andre felt a twinge of guilt and began to explain the events from a few days ago. "Roxy, that day with Caitlin was just a coincidence. Don't overthink it."

"Has Caitlin's divorce process been finalized?"

It was rare for her to ask such a question. A flicker of surprise crossed Andre's eyes, but he still answered truthfully, "It's done. The divorce is official."

The smile on Roxanne's face deepened. In a soft voice, she said, "Congratulations. I hope mine can go as smoothly as hers."

Andre did not understand what she meant by that. Just as he was about to ask, his phone rang again. When he saw the caller ID, he hesitated for a moment, then stepped out into the hallway to take the call.

It was half an hour before he returned. When he arrived, the door to the hospital ward was slightly ajar, and Roxanne's voice floated out from inside.

"Yes, I'm just waiting for the divorce cooling-off period to end. There are 15 days left. Then it'll all finally be over…"

That property division agreement suddenly resurfaced in Andre's mind. Thinking of her earlier, cryptic words, he felt his heart skip several beats. He pushed the door open at once.

"Divorce cooling-off period? Who's getting divorced?"