Chapter 2 D X As soon as I said that , the entire room fell silent for two seconds . I could see the fleeting joy on their faces as if they couldn't wait to kick me out of the house the very next second . Franco's look was resigned , as if he'd expected this moment all along , his eyes nearly cold , though I could still see the faintest trace of something I couldn't quite identify . " Alright , fine . You said it yourself . Don't regret it , Suzy , " he warned , his voice colder than it should have been . I didn't flinch . " Oh , I won't regret it , " I replied , my voice calm , almost detached . I didn't expect him to be surprised by how quickly I agreed , but Franco was . His face twitched , his confidence faltering , like a weight had suddenly fallen on him . He couldn't quite understand it , but I could . After all , I had already made my peace with this . Of course , he already had a plan . He took a divorce agreement from the drawer , gave it to me , and instructed me to sign it , as if it were a business deal . With their hopeful expressions fixed on me , I leaned down and signed , feeling the full force of their gaze . Franco followed suit without hesitation , his signature almost a reflex . Then , he spoke , and the words felt like cold metal . " This is just a fake divorce . Over the next month , I'll use all my resources to fix Maxwell Group . I'm divorcing you to spare you the downfall . You have to understand . I have good intentions . After a month , we'll remarry . " ' Good intentions ? ' I repeated inwardly . I wanted to tell him that there was no such thing as a fake divorce , only a real one . But what good would that do ? The truth wouldn't change anything . I could see it in Franco's eyes . This wasn't about saving me . It was about saving him . As I turned to head back to my room , I heard Tommy's excited voice from the door . " Great ! Now , Grandpa and Aunt Ingrid can finally get married ! Aunt Ingrid will be our grandma from now on ! " His words immediately quieted , and I knew why . Andrew probably held Tommy's mouth shut to prevent him from speaking further . I smiled , but tears suddenly slipped down my cheeks without warning . My Husband Staged Our Divorce to Marry His First Love 1/4 42 % 23:15 Mon , Aug 11 ០ 60% X For thirty years , I had sacrificed my dreams , set aside any career ambitions , and poured everything into being Franco's wife . I had raised our kids , and when they were too busy to care for their children , I had raised my grandchildren , too . I never took a day off . I thought my efforts , my heart , my endless giving would somehow earn their love , but now it hit me - how foolish I had been . In their eyes , I was just the lazy woman who never did anything but hang around the kitchen . Why should I keep trying ? Why should I keep investing myself in a family that preferred Ingrid ? If they wanted her , then fine . They could have her . In a week , I'd be gone . Forever . The next morning , I quit all my jobs , except for the cleaning position at the music hall . My manager told me a big - time client had reserved the entire venue for a private concert to celebrate his wife . He needed everyone working , and since I was the one he trusted , he asked me to stay for the day with the promise of three times my regular pay . I couldn't refuse , so I agreed . 南 に What I didn't expect , though , was that the man who had rented out the entire music hall was none other than Franco . It turned out Ingrid had an interest in music and wanted to hold her own concert . Franco spared no expense to make it happen . He even invited hundreds of prominent figures to witness her ' big moment . ' Years ago , I stumbled upon an online post about one of my handmade bags . To my surprise , it went viral , and people begged me to open an online store . I felt such pride knowing others were loving something I'd poured my heart into . So that night , I talked to Franco about it , eager to finally pursue something I cared about . But instead of excitement , his face turned red with anger . " Suzy , you're thirty years old and have a family ! Can you stop thinking about yourself ? If you spend all your time on this , who will take care of the kids and me ? " Then , Franco even said , " Don't be so selfish . You're my wife and the kids ' mother . You need to take responsibility for this family . " And so , my dreams of doing something for myself were once again crushed . Now , months later , as I watched them hand in hand at the music hall , the crowd was buzzing with excitement . Chapter 2/4 5.0 % 23:16 Mon , Aug 60 % х " Mr. Maxwell never brings a partner to events . This must be Mrs. Maxwell , right ? She's so beautiful . " " And she's also a famous musician , truly a strong woman ! " " I heard Mr. Maxwell and his wife never had a wedding . He recently proposed to her again , and they're flying to Grandshire soon for their wedding ." I could hear their voices all around me , and every word hit me like a slap in the face . I had repeatedly asked Franco to take me to events like this , to meet his friends , and to show the world we were a couple . But he always refused . " It's our life . What's the point of showing off our love to others ? Don't you know that the more you flaunt it , the quicker it fades ? Stop being so vain , Suzy . " So , all this time , he didn't dislike bringing a partner to events . He just didn't want to bring me . The difference between love and indifference was huge , and I finally saw it so clearly . Then Ingrid saw me and called out , her voice loud enough for everyone to hear . " Suzy , what are you doing here ? " Franco turned to look at me . His face , once warm and gentle , now froze into something cold and distant . " Suzy , are you stalking me ? " Franco sneered . " You really can't change , can you ? I told you before that nothing is going on between Ingrid and me . She's my sister . Why can't you let us go after the divorce ? " I wanted to say something , but before I could even open my mouth , Ingrid stepped in front of me , grabbing my hand and looking up at me with her best - injured expression . " Suzy , you don't lack food or clothing at home , " Ingrid castigated . " Why are you working as a cleaner ? Are you trying to make people think you're being mistreated , living a hard life , while letting us live comfortably ? " Her voice was full of grievance , and the guests around us started to whisper . I suddenly became the focus of everyone's attention , and for the first time in my life , I felt embarrassed and exposed . Ingrid didn't stop there . Twisting the narrative , she continued , " Suzy , don't treat yourself like this . Come back home with me . If you're upset , take it out on me . Don't ruin your health , okay ? " Her tone was mockingly sweet , but her grip on my arm was firm , digging in and causing me to wince . I shook her off , not with much force , but enough to send her stumbling backward . As a result , she collided with a nearby table corner , and blood flowed down her forehead . " Ingrid ! " Chapter 2 3/4 5.8 % 23:16 Mon , Aug 11 X Franco rushed over to her , shoving me aside in the process . I wasn't prepared , so I stumbled and fell five steps , twisting my foot at an awkward angle . But Franco didn't even look at me . He picked Ingrid up and carried her out like I wasn't even there . I watched them leave , my lips curling bitterly . It didn't matter . I was leaving soon , and whether he cared or not , it was all irrelevant . In six days , I would be gone for good . Chapter 2