Chapter 18
The man’s Adam’s apple slid as he swallowed once.
In his previous life, although he had spent a harmonious one year with Flora, he had faked his death to escape, which caused him to lose his inheritance as Duke of the Sterling family and also the Earl position. His fortune was quickly squandered, and Flora’s stepmother had always been harsh to them. The Vivian family could offer no help.
He, the Earl of the Sterling family, should never have worried about food or drink. Yet in that past life, he had to work as a clerk to earn a living. Though Flora embroidered for a living as well, their standard of living had greatly declined. They had become just ordinary people.
This was completely different from the life Ethan had envisioned. How could he spend his life so mundanely? But it had been so long since his fake death, and returning now would be considered treason. He could only continue with Flora.
It wasn’t until old age that he finally encountered Lena and got his chance.
Recalling his life as the Earl of the Sterling family, he had ignored the risk of being recognized and stepped forward to shield Lena from an assassin. If he survived, Lena would surely not blame him; if he died, at least he could be freed from the life of a commoner.
But fate gave him another chance.
Overjoyed, he decided to marry Flora first and kept his Earl title, so they wouldn’t live in poverty any longer.
However, after learning how much suffering Lena had endured because of him, discovering that Flora had deceived him, and realizing that the one he had truly cared for all along was Lena, the restless feelings in his heart could no longer be suppressed.
He clenched his fists, his expression darkened, and he didn’t answer Flora. Instead, he slammed the door and left.
He stopped Flora’s medicine and cut off her food supply, and even sent all the maids away. Since she refused to leave the Sterling Castle now, he would use other means to force her out.
This situation continued until the third day when trouble arose.
No one changed her bandages. Flora’s originally minor wound worsened. No food was delivered. Hungry, she had to get out of bed and find something to eat herself, but her condition deteriorated rapidly. The unsatisfactory food could not sustain her; within days, she collapsed to the floor.
She had thought Ethan might spare her, but when he learned she had fainted, he merely responded coldly and didn’t send anyone to
care for her.
When Flora woke, she found herself still lying on the cold floor. The room was pitch dark, and she shivered from the cold. She realized Ethan had made up his mind to drive her away. If she stayed, even if she died, he wouldn’t glance her way but feel relieved instead. But why was she suffering like this?
She was not the one at fault. If it weren’t for Lena, if it weren’t for Ethan…
She lay on the ground and wept. Her fingers clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms until they bled.
After a long while, she cleared her hoarse throat and knocked weakly on the door, saying she agreed to the divorce.
It was as if Ethan had been waiting for this moment. Soon after she spoke those words, he came with servants.
Flora’s eyes burned with hatred as she stared at him, but Ethan showed no fear. He tossed down a prewritten divorce agreement and spoke condescendingly.
I was going to send you away directly, but out of respect for our past life, put your thumbprint on this agreement.”
Flora said nothing but sneered coldly. She had no chance to take back her words now.
Several servants grabbed her hand, dipped it in ink, and pressed it forcefully onto the papers. From that moment, she was completely severed from Ethan.
Chapter 18
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She would return to Vivian Castle, continue to endure her stepmother’s torment and her elder sister’s bullying. In the future, no nobleman would seek to marry her again, and if any did, it would only be as a concubine.
She was unwilling to accept this. Why, just because she was reborn, had she lost everything?
Her body trembled, but Ethan didn’t care about her at all. Now that he had the divorce papers, he could pursue Lena without hesitation. This time, no matter what the cost, he would never let her suffer again.
With this hopeful thought, Ethan was about to leave, but suddenly Flora pulled a shard of broken glass from her clothes and lunged at him with wild eyes.
“Ethan, go to hell!”
Chapter 18
