He never stayed overnight here.
The squeaking and clattering sounds finally faded, and the night became thick and quiet.
As the man stood up, the faint rustling of fabric rubbing against itself filled the silence.
Kelsey suddenly felt a strong impulse. She grabbed his wrist and stared at the scars on his back. "Can you stay tonight?"
Rhett paused but didn't turn around. His back was sculpted almost perfectly, and he began buttoning his expensive shirt one by one.
Kelsey grew nervous.
Her fingers slowly tightened, wrinkling the already messy bed sheet even more. She held her breath, as if waiting for his decision.
After what felt like forever, she finally heard him say, "Okay."
Kelsey let out a shaky sigh of relief.
Her eyes turned slightly moist. The man in front of her turned around, tall, handsome, with deep eyes that seemed to carry a whole galaxy.
This was her husband, Rhett, the only heir of the Clark family, the youngest person in history to top the wealth list, a constant guest at grand banquets, and the most famous business genius in the world.
Such a perfect man was her husband.
Kelsey carefully stood up and looked into his eyes. "Can I help you change into your pajamas?"
She reached out tentatively, brushing his collar.
Rhett's eyes went cold, a faint trace of resistance flashing there, but in the end he let her unbutton his white shirt, one button at a time.
Kelsey exhaled softly, her heart filled with a strange mix of sweetness and bitterness.
During their marriage, Rhett had been the perfect husband on the surface.
He was rich, powerful, and considerate, treating her politely, like a true companion.
Sometimes she couldn't stop herself from wondering, why had a man like him chosen her in the first place?
But she didn't have time to think about that. She needed money. Badly. And this man was her only hope.
Rhett was her only pillar of support.
So even though they were husband and wife, she still had to be cautious around him, always trying to please him.
Still, he treated her well, giving her the dignity of a wife, even though she was so ordinary she could disappear in a crowd.
He gave her the title of Mrs. Clark, which let her breathe freely in society. Except for one thing, he never stayed the night.
Tonight was different. Tonight, Rhett slept beside her, breathing evenly. For the first time, he was here.
Kelsey, however, couldn't fall asleep.
She wanted to reach out and trace the lines of his face, but as soon as her fingers neared his cheek, he frowned and turned away from her.
Her hand froze midair, and after a while, she bitterly pulled it back. Closing her eyes, she finally drifted into sleep.
The next morning, Kelsey got up early, determined to make Rhett breakfast.
She tied her hair up high, showing her slender, pale neck. When Rhett walked into the kitchen, this was the sight he saw.
Kelsey turned around at the sound and smiled brightly. "Up already?"
Rhett's voice was low and soft. "Mm."
"I'll make you breakfast. It'll be ready soon. Can you wait for me in the living room?"
"Mm."
Kelsey sped up in the kitchen.
Later, the two of them sat in silence, eating breakfast together.
Kelsey was a great cook. Rhett finished his meal slowly, and for once, a small smile of satisfaction appeared on his face.
He ate gracefully, his manners perfect, every movement pleasing to watch.
When he finally set down his utensils, he looked at the woman sitting across from him. "I have something to tell you."
"What is it?" Kelsey froze, her hands still holding the dishes. She stood beside the table, her eyes on him.
Rhett tapped the table lightly with his elegant fingers, then handed her a document.
A divorce agreement.
Divorce?
Kelsey couldn't even describe the feeling she had when she saw the divorce agreement.
She sat at the dining table, her hands nervously clutching her dress. "W-why?"
She lifted her head, making rare eye contact with the man in front of her.
Even during Rhett's most tender moments at night, she had never looked at him like this.
His eyes were beautiful, cold, and impossibly deep.
There was a faint glimmer of detachment in them, as if they hadn't changed for thousands of years. No one could ever get a trace of pity or tenderness from him.
Like the employees in his company, Kelsey was afraid to meet his gaze.
But divorce wasn't a small matter. She wanted to know why he suddenly brought it up.
Even if she didn't have the right to refuse, he should at least give her a reason…
"There's no reason."
The man's voice was calm and steady.
He slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over her with a pressure that was almost unnoticeable. "Sign it after reading it."
Kelsey didn't reach out to take it. She just lowered her head, her face pale.
The air between them grew silent.
Rhett looked down and touched her almost bloodless cheek, but still didn't speak.
He suddenly thought of last night's sexual intercourse.
He had been too forceful, using his strength to restrain her.
She was clearly uncomfortable, her face pale, her fingers gripping the bed sheet tightly.
Even though she was about to rip the sheet apart, she still refused to make a sound.
The window was open, but the curtains were drawn.
The breeze carried in the moonlight, falling on Kelsey, making her look even more fragile than the pale light itself.
Rhett couldn't tell which was paler, the moonlight, or her.
Thinking of this, his gaze softened, and for a moment, his cold eyebrows relaxed. "I'll give you some time to adjust. Before that, you can keep living here."
Even after he left, Kelsey remained curled up in her chair.
She looked at the divorce agreement in her hands, her eyes dry and aching.
At least he was giving her time to adjust.
For someone as cold as him, not kicking her out immediately was already kind… Shouldn't she be content with that?
…Hospital.
Kelsey didn't have much time to be sad.
Dexter was receiving treatment, and she stood outside the ward, staring at the weak boy lying inside.
Her chest felt heavy, tired, sour, and a little scared.
She picked up her phone and hesitated for a long moment before calling Rhett...
Maybe the divorce had given her the courage to make a desperate move. He was still her husband.
She wanted him to be there for her… Could he?
The busy tone on the other end of the line gave her the answer.
Kelsey leaned weakly against the cold wall behind her.
Just then, a graceful figure walked past, followed by a sharp, angry female voice, "Rhett, I'm in the hospital right now. If you don't want anything to happen to the baby in my stomach, come and meet me immediately."
Kelsey's body stiffened, her head snapping up in shock. She thought she must have heard it wrong.
Rhett?
Her mind went blank. That name was all she could hear, echoing in her head.
Was it her husband, Rhett?
She finally lifted her head and recognized the woman. It was Elise, the rising celebrity who had recently become so popular.
Listening to Elise's arrogant tone on the phone, Kelsey's fists slowly clenched, bitterness swelling in her heart.