Chapter 10: You’re a Pathetic Ex-con
The meeting spot Sarah had chosen was a small, desolate grove just three miles outside her company's office.
The area was eerily quiet, the air thick with a sense of isolation.
It wasn't a place many people visited, but Edward knew it well.
He'd often walked these paths with Sarah before when her grandfather sometimes joined them.
Those had been simpler days. They would talk, laugh, and joke.
Despite knowing that Edward came from a poor background, her grandfather never judged him. He'd never looked down on him; he'd always spoken of Edward's "positive energy".
As a fortune-teller, Grandfather observed that there was an unseen evil force lurking in the family's backyard.
It was also noticed that this evil force was growing stronger, slowly draining the vigour and vitality of almost everyone in the family, and gradually eroding the family's fortune.
It even caused his health to deteriorate day by day.
Fortunately, he found Eward—whose aura he believed had a unique power that could counter the mysterious, dark forces.
Edward had never taken much stock in such things, but he did not let Sarah's grandfather down. Since his marriage to Sarah, her grandfather's health had improved and the family business had also begun to flourish.
Despite Edward's humble job as a deliveryman, earning barely enough to get by, her grandfather had insisted that it was his presence that had brought prosperity to the family.
Edward smiled wistfully as he stood at the grove's entrance, recalling the old man's kindness. He hadn't seen him in years, but he still remembered his words.
"I wonder how the old man's doing," he thought, a touch of warmth in his chest. "I should pay him a visit sometime."
But just then, a sleek white sports car roared into view, pulling him out of his thoughts.
It circled him several laps, the engine's growl echoing and the exhaust fumes polluting the once-fresh air before the car abruptly screeched to a stop right in front of him.
The window rolled down slowly, revealing a man in dark designer sunglasses, his smile smug.
"Did I scare you, man?" the driver chuckled, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Edward was taken aback, a surge of annoyance rising in him.
He opened his mouth, ready to give the stranger a piece of his mind, but then the passenger door on the other side clicked open.
A familiar figure stepped out, and all his anger evaporated.
It was Sarah.
She hadn't changed much.
Her hair was still meticulously styled, coiffed into a high, elegant bun.
She looked as stunning as ever, wearing a soft pink dress that accentuated her curves.
She's still as beautiful as ever, Edward thought.
He quickly shook off the moment of annoyance, his smile returning.
"Sarah, you're here! I've missed you so much!" he called, his arms wide open, eager to embrace her.
But Sarah smoothly sidestepped him, avoiding his touch with expertly grace.
"Don't get my dress dirty," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "You're just a filthy, broke ex-con. I need to go to his birthday party after this."
Edward's heart sank. His smile faltered, replaced by confusion and hurt.
"Who's this rude guy, Sarah?" he asked, his voice sharp.
Sarah turned her head slightly, not meeting his gaze, her tone cold.
"It's none of your business. Let's talk about something more important. Let's get a divorce, Edward."
The words hit him like a thunderclap.
Divorce?
He struggled to keep his composure, forcing a chuckle.
"Come on, you're kidding, right, Sarah?
I get it—it's April Fool's Day. You're just messing with me. You're so amazing you know how to prank me now."
Sarah didn't laugh. Her head remained lowered, her expression unreadable.
"I'm not joking," she said flatly, her voice icy.
Edward was still reeling, but he tried to convince himself it was all just part of some twisted joke.
"Come on, Sarah, this isn't real. You even brought in this professional actor to make this more believable, right?"
He waited for her to crack a smile, but it never came.
Instead, Sarah raised her head, her eyes colder than ever as she fixed him with an unblinking gaze.
"You need to face the truth, Edward," she said with a dismissive shrug. "You've been living in denial for too long. It's over."
Edward's heart clenched. He tried to reason with her, his voice pleading.
"But why, Sarah? I've done everything I could for you. I've obeyed you, worked hard..."
Sarah's lips curled into a smile, but it was anything but warm.
"Worked hard? You mean delivering takeout and sitting at home eating and drinking, pretending to provide for me? Is that what you call 'working hard'?"
Edward's face flushed with humiliation.
"I didn't have a choice, Sarah. I've done everything I could, given everything I had. You know that."
Sarah's eyes narrowed.
"Really? You think delivering a few meals makes you worthy of me?"
"You can't say that. I've even spent three years in prison—Who was I doing that for?"
"Oh, and now you're going to throw your prison time in my face?" Sarah said coldly, "You're a pathetic ex-con now. And I'm the CEO of Grander Company. How can I continue to stay with an ex-con? It's over between us!"
At that moment, the man with the glasses got out of the car. He walked straight over to Sarah.
Sarah leaned closer to him and whispered something in his ear.
The intimacy of the gesture sent a pang of jealousy and rage through Edward's chest.
Suddenly, Sarah and the man both burst into laughter, a sound so cruel it felt like a knife in his gut.
Edward could barely control his shaking hands.