Dear Ex: Your 'Love Test' Blew Up

My lips pressed tightly together as I packed my things.

While leaving, I heard Lydia Montague's mocking voice.

"Esme sis, aren't you just like me-depending on a man? And you thought you had so much backbone?"

My hand on the suitcase paused. I responded defiantly:

"Did you forget? He and I aren't divorced yet. He's still my husband..."

Suddenly, Theo Pembroke gripped my arm tightly.

"Esme Fairchild, who gave you the guts to bully Lydia in front of me? And the warning I gave you-have you forgotten them all?"

My heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle.

Since we got married, he had never made my identity public.

People only knew he was married, but women still surrounded him.

Since I couldn't join the dance competition, there was no reason to wait another week to leave.

With that thought, I felt a little better.

Before going home, I stopped by the law office and printed a divorce agreement.

Then I sent another text to that phone number.

"No need to wait a week. I'll leave in two days."

Back at the villa, I sat on the couch in a daze.

Theo Pembroke came home at this hour, which was rare.

He stood at the entrance, meeting my gaze.

It was as if he saw his past self.

After work, sitting in the living room, waiting late into the night, finally waiting for the husband to return home.

I walked up with a smile, thoughtfully helping him take off his coat and shoes.

"Honey, was today tiring? I learned a new massage technique, would you like to try it...?"

These past few years, except for working as a dance instructor at the institute, I spent all my remaining time revolving around him.

Day after day, yet I never received a single kind look from him.

Now stepping out of it and examining the past as a bystander, I found myself utterly foolish.

Seeing I didn't respond, Theo Pembroke frowned.

"What are you thinking? Running away?"

I found it a little funny.

"What if I wanted to run away? What would you do?"

He walked over to me and suddenly pushed me down on the sofa, cleverly changing the subject.

"You don't like our son, then let's have a daughter. Daughters are more obedient and can keep you company. That way, life at home might be a bit better for you."

When I married into this family, the servants saw that Theo Pembroke treated me with indifference, and since I had a mild temper, they didn't take me seriously either.

All the hard and dirty work was dumped on me.

Back then I loved Theo deeply, and never once complained to him.

He saw my situation but watched coldly from the side.

My thoughts returned as my nightgown was pulled off.

His kisses fell on my body.

Fierce and domineering, carrying a hint of punishment.

No matter how he provoked me, I stayed completely unmoved.

Turns out, when you no longer love someone, your body doesn't respond.

Theo lost interest and got off me.

"Esme Fairchild, I know your body well. You shouldn't be reacting like this."

He grabbed my chin and examined me.

"Tell me, have you slept with another man?"