Chapter 7 I leaned against the vehicle, perfectly at ease, and let my gaze travel over Everett. I couldn't help but wonder-if I were still his "Mrs. Vance" right now, would he stand in front of me so calmly and speak so openly? I shook my head and gave a low, self-deprecating laugh. Everett furrowed his brow in confusion. "What's so funny?" I met his gaze without flinching, my smile widening into something both dazzling and derisive. "Shouldn't one laugh at a joke? Everett, divorced or not, ours is not a relationship for reminiscing." "You know next to nothing about me, and I have no interest in revisiting a past that includes you." Leaving his hesitant expression behind, I slid into the driver's seat, fired up the engine, and sped away. Back home, I washed up and collapsed into bed, memories of the past flooding in with Everett's presence. During those three years of marriage, I had performed the role of the devoted wife, yet genuine respect from him was never part of the bargain. During my six years abroad, I rarely dwelled on the past, devoting most of my time to reclaiming the adventurous life I had missed. But now, he forced me to revisit the memories I had deliberately ignored. I hugged the covers tightly and turned over, exhausted, eventually drifting into sleep. Late at night, I was woken by a neighbor's hunting dog barking incessantly. In the haze of sleep, Everett's cold indifference and Isabella's mockery faded from my mind. I dressed and went to the window, only to see Everett standing outside in a black coat. The winter temperatures in Valeria could drop to twenty or thirty below zero. If he stayed out there all night, he'd probably become an ice sculpture. I had no idea what he wanted, but I opened the door and let him in-the last thing I needed was a frozen general causing a scandal on my doorstep. By the warm fireplace, I handed him a cup of coffee. His fingers were red from the cold, and he trembled as he held the cup. After a long moment, he smiled at me. "Thank you.' I felt a tramax of muni. I frowned, my voice sharp. "What exactly do you want?" He lowered his eyes. Frost on his eyelashes melted into tiny droplets. His voice shook slightly. "I know the truth about what happened with your mother. I came to apologize, and I also want to ask... do you still hate me?" I studied his open yet bewildered face, my emotions tangled. Those three years of my affection, grievances, and restraint had truly been completely ignored by him. I exhaled, regretting letting him in. "I don't hate you. It's just that I've nearly forgotte you exist." Everett went completely still. A look of genuine confusion, so rare for him, flickered in his eyes. He had always been privileged and successful, indifferent to those around him, as if the world should revolve according to his plans. Perhaps I was one of the few anomalies in his orderly life. Chapter 7 70.00%