Chapter 7
The room instantly erupted in surprise.
Many instinctively showed looks of disdain and whispered among themselves.
“Melissa was an elite graduate and a genius pianist known
internationally. Meanwhile. Owen is now a star in the legal field. How did his standards drop so low after just a few years?”
“To say she’s a housewife is an understatement. Isn’t she just a freeloader who makes no contributions, living off her husband like a parasite?”
Amelia stood in the corner and listened to all the ridicule. She couldn’t help but recall her glory days in the legal world.
Back then, any case she took on would earn her millions in commission. Wherever she went, people made their way and greeted her with respect. There was always a waiting list of people wanting her as their lawyer.
Yet, she had willingly given it all up for love, and now, she had become a parasite in everyone’s eyes.
Owen heard the whispers too, but he didn’t explain anything. He simply changed the topic with his usual indifference. “Everyone’s here now. Melissa, didn’t you say you wanted to play a game?”
The room immediately came alive again. Someone pulled out a spinning game wheel, and they began playing the game it landed on.
He was completely focused on Melissa and paid little attention to his cards, so he lost the opening round.
18
The punishment he got was to let everyone look at his photo album and notes on his phone.
His classmates swarmed forward and took his phone.
As soon as they opened the album, they saw millions of pictures of Melissa. Nobody dared to scroll further. Feeling embarrassed, they swiftly switched to the notes app.
There were notes on her likes and dislikes, sweet memories from when they were in love, and his unresolved pain and longing after their breakup.
His words overflowed with raw affection and aching regret. Everyone felt a tug at their hearts as they glanced repeatedly between Owen and Melissa.
Even Melissa couldn’t help but look at him as he swayed slightly from the alcohol, her expression clouded with a complex, indescribable sorrow.
A strange and suffocating tension settled over the room.
Amelia couldn’t pretend to be unaffected after witnessing everything firsthand, and her emotions grew out of control.
She quickly stood up, went to the restroom, and splashed her face with cold water.
When she returned and had just reached the doorway, she saw that Owen had lost the game again.
This time, the punishment was to call the love of his life and say something heartfelt.
Not long after, Melissa’s phone rang inside the room.
As soon as she answered the call, Owen looked at her intently and
smiled. saying, “When I was 18, I had nothing. But with the love of my life by my side, it felt like I had the whole world. Now, even though it seems like I have everything. I’ve lost that love, and without it, everything feels empty. I have nothing.”
Amelia couldn’t help but chuckle as he poured his heart out to Melissa in front of everyone.
But as she laughed, tears welled up in her eyes.
She held them back, so they wouldn’t fall, then silently turned and left.
After returning home, Amelia began organizing the assets that were divided after the divorce.
Owen made a lot of money during their marriage, which was legally deemed shared marital property, and she was legally entitled to half of it.
But she took neither the houses nor the cars, only the money. And she chose to donate every last cent of it to charity.
During this time, Owen never returned, and no one knew what he was busy with.
Instead. Melissa called her and asked to meet
The two met at a café and exchanged a few polite greetings.
Melissa apologized for what happened on her birthday.
“Ms. Thomas, my friends were all drunk that night and didn’t mind their words. If they offended you in any way, I hope you won’t take it to heart.”
Amelia smiled faintly before responding, “There won’t be a next time. I’m leaving Houston soon. I won’t bother remembering something so trivial.”
Melissa looked both surprised and pleased to hear that she was leaving.
“Are you leaving because of me? I’m sorry. Owen and I used to date, but that was a long time ago. I…”
Amelia noticed the joy in her eyes and lifted her gaze to look straight at her.
“Ms. Todd, have you honestly let him go? Even if you have, Owen never has. Every night. he sleeps with headphones on, listening to recordings of your piano playing. Every time he gets drunk, he calls out your name. Every year on your birthday, he buys a cake and sits alone in his study until midnight.”
She paused slightly. As she listed these memories one by one, a deep. weariness washed over her. “No matter how hard I tried, I could never reach his heart. It turns out that sincerity doesn’t guarantee love in return. I’m tired. That’s why I’ve decided to end this marriage.”
