Genevieve and Paul left the hospital together. Genevieve, out of options, decided to take a desperate step-she went to the Montgomery family.
Paul, on the other hand, was in a daze. He couldn’t even recall how he had managed to leave the hospital. His mind was consumed with thoughts of Kimberly.
He remembered that when they had first married, Kimberly wasn’t like this. Back then, she had hidden her sharp edges from him, softening herself in his presence. She had even tried cooking for him once, though she nearly set the kitchen on fire. He vividly recalled coming home from work that day to see her, covered in soot, proudly presenting a plate of charred food.
Her eyes had sparkled then, shining like stars. He realized now that was the moment he had fallen for her.
But as time passed, his job demands increased, and his late nights became more frequent. Kimberly began to change. She would lose her temper without warning. To placate her, no matter how exhausted he was, he would hold her close and whisper sweet words to calm her.
Paul once believed all women were foolish for falling for lies and hollow promises. But thinking back on Kimberly’s gaze during those moments, he realized he’d been wrong.
Women weren’t foolish for believing lies-they chose to trust. Kimberly had chosen to trust him, to hold on to their marriage, even when he had been too arrogant to acknowledge her efforts.
Before their marriage, Paul had thought of Kimberly as a spoiled princess, someone who wasn’t his type. She had been born into privilege, never having to worry about anything in life. All she needed to do was look beautiful and enjoy her perfect world.
But Genevieve… she was different. She came from nothing and had to rely on her body to survive. Yet Paul somehow saw her as pure, her soul as clean.
Perhaps it was because the first time he met Genevieve, she had appeared so pitiful that it stirred his protective instincts. First impressions were powerful. Humans are inclined to sympathize with the weak, and in doing so, he had forgotten the wife who had been changing herself for him at home.
Paul thought Kimberly’s temper was growing worse, not realizing that it was her desperate attempt to grab his attention.
In love, Kimberly was like a child, clumsily believing that causing trouble would make him notice her. She adored the way Paul would pamper her after her outbursts, making her feel like his most treasured possession.
She had been carefully defending their marriage all along, only to push Paul further and further away. And now, at last, Paul understood: the one who had suffered the most wasn’t Genevieve-it was Kimberly.
Women are sensitive creatures. How could Kimberly not have known about his indulgent nightlife? She, so proud and strong, had endured it all, silently shedding tears he had never seen.
Paul was filled with regret. What had he done to her?
He held the divorce agreement in his hands. Her signature was clear and resolute. The memory of their wedding day flashed in his mind.
On that day, she had worn a dress with tiny floral patterns. She wasn’t her usual proud, fiery self; instead, she had been pure and gentle, looking at him with bright, hopeful eyes.
“If I sign this, I’ll officially be your wife. You have to treat me well,” she’d said, her gaze glowing with anticipation.
He had nodded. “I will. I’ll treat you well-for the rest of our lives.”
She had cheerfully signed her name, then sat to the side, waiting for the staff to process their marriage certificate. Despite the short wait, she had been as nervous as a student awaiting exam results, clinging to his arm.
“Why is it taking so long? Did I fill something out wrong?”
“Don’t worry, it’s fine,” he had reassured her.
In that moment, he had found her endearing. The spoiled princess had a kind, lovable side after all. When they finally received their marriage certificate, she had been as ecstatic as a child receiving her dream gift.
“Paul! Paul! I’m officially your wife now. If you ever wrong me, just watch how I’ll deal with you!” she had said, her joy lighting up her entire face.
Paul had married her largely because of her family background. At the time, he hadn’t considered her feelings or taken her seriously.
A woman who agrees to marry you is prepared to stand by your side through thick and thin, to grow old with you. But what had he done? He had ignored her, never truly cherishing her.
Yet she had quietly tolerated it all, until today, when she could endure no longer.
“I’m letting you go,” she had said when she signed the divorce papers. It had sounded so simple, just a few words. But now Paul finally understood the weight behind them.
Even during their divorce, she had maintained her proud demeanor. But now he realized that her pride had been a mask, a protective armor. He would rather she had screamed at him, hit him, anything but those light, final words: “I’m letting you go.” nature is twisted. Only after losing her did he realize she was the one he should have cherished all along.
Tears fell onto the divorce agreement, blurring his vision. For the first time in years, Paul felt utterly worthless.
“Kim… Kim…” he murmured, clutching the papers as he stumbled into the middle of the street, oblivious to the blaring horns around him.
A car screeched to a halt, tires skidding against the pavement.
“Bang!”
Paul was thrown several meters, his body landing with a dull thud on the ground. The divorce agreement floated down slowly, finally settling beside him.
The driver rushed out of the car. “Are you okay? Can you hear me?”
Paul’s tears streamed down his face as he whispered something unintelligible. The driver leaned closer, trying to catch his words.
“Kim…” was all Paul said, his voice faint.
Blood pooled beneath him as the driver frantically called for help.
The sound of the screeching brakes reached the hospital, startling Emily, who was peeling an apple. The fruit slipped from her hands and hit the floor.
“Oh, come on! You’re jumpier than a mouse,” Eric teased, enjoying how easy it was to fluster her.
Emily set the knife down quickly. “No, that sounded like an emergency stop. I think something’s happened!” She ran to the window to look outside.
“What does it matter to you? You’re always sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong,” Eric muttered, annoyed. He hated unnecessary drama. Even if a car exploded right in front of him, he wouldn’t care.
“It looks like an accident. Someone got hit!” Emily cried. Her voice faltered. “Wait… that person… they’re wearing the same clothes as your dad.”
“That’s impossible,” Eric said, standing up. He wasn’t particularly fond of his adoptive father, but the man had treated him decently. Concern crept into his voice.
Emily’s face turned pale. “No, I’m sure of it. That’s him!”
Eric hurried out, heading straight for the scene.
When Kimberly heard the news, her face went ghostly white.
By her side, Mr. Blake snorted angrily. “Serves him right! A scumbag like that deserves it.”
“Dad!” Kimberly snapped, shooting him a glare.
But her hands trembled as she gripped the bedsheet tightly. Hadn’t he left with Genevieve? How had he ended up in an accident?