Chapter 7 Hearing a familiar voice , I turned my head . Nathaniel Ford looked at me with disbelief , his eyes red , looking utterly lost and abandoned . Seeing that I had no intention of acknowledging him , Ethan Sterling stepped in front of me , shielding me with a raised eyebrow and a sharp , disdainful glare at Nathaniel . " So you're that wretched ex - husband of Amelia's ? Let me introduce myself . I'm Ethan Sterling , Amelia's boyfriend now . " Ethan deliberately emphasized " now " , and Nathaniel's face went pale . He immediately reached out , trying to take my hand . " You're lying , right ? You're my wife ... come home with me , Amelia . " Nathaniel's trembling hands reached out to me , the woman he had longed for day and night . But before he could get close , Ethan pushed him aside . I couldn't help but find the scene almost laughable , and I spoke coldly , " Home ? Are you talking about the villa you shared with Jessica Sinclair , or the Ford family estate ? " " Nathaniel , do you need me to spell out what's on the divorce certificate ? I don't want you anymore . That so - called home is all yours- keep it for Jessica . " Nathaniel grasped at some last shred of leverage , pleading humbly , " Jessica's already in prison . I've made her pay a thousand times over for the suffering you endured . She was only a tool to keep you from leaving me . That first love - she was never real . The only person I've ever loved is you . " He thought I didn't know any of this . His eyes glimmered with hope , longing for me to turn back . But I didn't react . I said calmly , " Nathaniel , I know all of this . Stop making excuses . You've always been the one pushing me away . Your so - called love only caused me endless pain . That isn't love - it's your selfish possessiveness , and I reject it . " To force me into the role of his first love , Nathaniel had caged me under the guise of love , keeping me from flying free . He planned to wait until the world abandoned me , then swoop in as my savior , making me live only for him . But he was wrong . I had never waited for anyone to save me . I was my own savior . With every word , Nathaniel's face paled , until all color drained from him . By this point , he , being clever as always , knew I truly meant it : I would never want him again . I thought that , with his pride , Nathaniel would simply return home after being scolded . Yet over the next two weeks , he tortured himself by kneeling outside my villa every single day . He barely tended to his domestic affairs , buying the villa across from mine just to catch glimpses of me . One rainy night , seeing his sculpted figure outside my window , Ethan , feeling a pang of jealousy , wrapped his arms around me and muttered unhappily , " Amelia , have you softened your heart ? " Ethan's lashes quivered as he carefully guided my hand to his chest , a jealous man trying to act magnanimous . I couldn't help but smile and let out a gentle sigh . Pressing my lips to his , I soothed him softly , " He doesn't deserve it . " Nathaniel watched helplessly as Ethan lifted me into the bedroom . He had no reason to stop it . His already weak body spun with dizziness , and darkness overtook him . When Nathaniel woke , he found himself in a hospital room . He thought it was me and felt a brief moment of relief - until a soldier barged in , crushing it . The doctor's expression was grave , " Mr. Ford , your stomach cancer was discovered too late . I'm afraid ... " Chapter 7 Nathaniel paid no attention , eyes fixed on the window , interrupting calmly , " How many days do I have left ? " " At most , half a month . " He froze , staring blankly at the blood he coughed up . Then , letting out a miserable laugh , he dismissed everyone , retrieved the jade bracelet I once wore , and spent day after day refusing food or water . I had long since stopped feeling anything for Nathaniel , unaware of when he would disappear , living my own life fully . When I saw him again , he was gravely ill . This time , I came as an overseas business partner to discuss a contract . I sat down , keeping an eye on the clock , speaking in a strictly businesslike tone , " Mr. Ford , one minute remains until this meeting ends . " Nathaniel , happy that I was willing to talk to him , smiled weakly , " Amelia , I wronged you back then . I was selfish , and you suffered so much because of me . I'm truly happy you left and found yourself again . " Seeing my impatient expression , he smiled faintly , " As compensation , I've transferred all of Ford Industries ' assets into your name . I know that alone can never make up for the pain I caused . If there's a next life , I hope we could do it all over again ." With that , Nathaniel drew his last breath . I finished tidying the documents , turned decisively , and left without looking back . From that moment on , all love and hatred tied to Nathaniel Ford was erased , and my life - truly my own - began .