The night was deep, but sleep wouldn't come for Julian.

He buried his head in his pillow, his thoughts racing, when a hand snaked around his waist, beginning to explore.

Feeling the heat radiating from the body behind him, Julian instinctively flinched away, dodging the kiss that was about to land on him.

This act of rejection surprised Helena.

After all, in their three years of marriage, it was always Julian who initiated any affection.

For her to be in the mood for once, only to be turned down, she couldn't help but ask.

"Bad mood?"

"My stomach's acting up. I need to rest."

Julian spun a random excuse. Helena didn't think much of it, simply murmuring "Mm," and settling down to sleep in his arms.

As she drifted off, her mind replaying the day's events, she suddenly remembered the property contract.

"Where's that property contract? I want to see if there are any loopholes."

Julian's heart hammered in his chest. He stared at her, his body rigid.

"Do you really want to see it?"

Helena noticed his tense expression, her brow furrowing slightly. She gave a small nod.

After a long silence, Julian got up and went to the study to retrieve the single sheet of paper.

Just as he was about to hand it to her, a shrill ringtone shattered the silence.

Helena answered the phone first.

"Helena! It's Chloe Moon, she's drunk again, screaming outside my apartment! You have to come, I'm scared!"

The image of Milo's unhinged ex-wife flashed through Helena's mind. Her face changed, and she grabbed a coat, ready to leave.

Seeing her rush out, Julian called after her.

"Is it that 'little brother' of yours? In trouble again?"

Helena was about to say yes, but then worried he might overthink things late at night. She decided to exaggerate the situation.

"Yes. His ex-wife is back, drunk and waving a knife around. I have to take some security with me. I'm afraid it could be life-threatening."

Julian didn't try to stop her. He just told her to be safe.

After Helena left, Julian didn't close his eyes until dawn broke.

He picked up his phone to check the time and saw a new post from Milo Cross, whom he had secretly followed a few days ago.

The video showed a red sun rising slowly from behind a range of mountains, casting a golden glow across the sky.

Gasps of awe could be heard from all around. The camera panned, and for a fleeting moment, Helena's silhouette flashed across the screen.

"Yesterday's darkness is over. A new day is coming for everything."

As the final words froze on the screen, a tight, dull ache spread through Julian's chest.

It seemed Milo had successfully ended his previous marriage.

Of course he had. With Helena, the ace lawyer, helping him, and given how long she'd loved him, she probably would have moved heaven and earth for him the moment she heard the word "divorce."

Now that he was single again, it wouldn't be long before Helena asked for a divorce to be with him.

Julian didn't even need to ask. He could already picture the scene.

A self-mocking smile crept onto his face, his heart a desolate wasteland.

This divorce was going to happen sooner or later. He had just moved up the timeline.

Better to choose to leave on his own terms than to wait passively to be abandoned. At least this way, he could keep a shred of dignity. Right?

Julian put down his phone. He got up and started throwing all the matching "couple's" items they had bought into a cardboard box, then dragged it downstairs.

Just as he was doing so, Helena returned. She saw him struggling and rushed over to help.

"Why are you throwing out so much?"

Julian lowered his eyes. "We never use this stuff. Just getting rid of it to make space."

Helena nodded in understanding and took the box from him.

Watching her back as she walked away, Julian's eyes were calm.

If she had just opened the box and looked inside, she would have seen that he was throwing away things he once treasured.

With her intelligence, she would have surely pieced together the truth from his unusual behavior—that he was planning to leave.

The story could have had a different ending.

But Helena did nothing.

She simply tossed the box into the dumpster and turned away.

Without a second glance.