Half the Fortune, All My Freedom

Since we're already divorced, I no longer have any duty to entertain these clowns.

In the decorative mirror in the hallway, I saw my reflection.

My skin was sallow, my eyes were sunken, and my gaze was full of a bone-deep exhaustion.

I was only thirty, yet I looked fifty.

I tugged at the corner of my mouth. The man in the mirror smiled too.

Yes, I looked old. I looked awful.

But from now on, I wouldn't.

I had just taken a step when Serena's voice sounded behind me.

I was a little surprised. I hadn't expected her to actually follow me out.

"I know you're only acting out of anger.

"How about this? Move into that little villa in North Ridge first. I'll visit you when I have time.

"Even if you no longer have the title, all these years still mean something."

She crossed her arms. Her tone carried a trace of impatient charity.

I refused coldly. "No, thank you. I'm divorcing you willingly.

"If you really have even half a shred of feeling left for me, please transfer my share of the assets as soon as possible."

With that, I didn't look at her face turning ashen. I turned and strode away.

When I walked out of the hotel, the winter wind struck me head-on, but I felt lighter than I had in years.

By the time I got home, my belongings had been thrown into a corner by the door like trash.

People were coming and going inside the villa. Movers were carrying things out.

Richard and Margaret Prescott's laughter floated through the open doorway, full of joy.

"Mason is so much better. It hasn't even been three months, and our Serena is already pregnant."

"Unlike a certain useless man who occupied the position and couldn't give us a child."

I lowered my eyes, hiding the mockery in them.

Serena and I had once had a child too.

I only found out after she'd already had it removed.

She said she was still young and didn't want to be dragged down by a child so early.

Later, when her parents blamed me harshly, I took all the responsibility onto myself.

Serena simply watched me get cursed out by her parents without saying a word on my behalf.

Back then, I kept making excuses for her. I told myself she just wasn't good at expressing herself.

Now, thinking back, love and the absence of love had always been obvious.

In less than three hours, news alerts on my phone went wild.

"Prescott Group Parents Welcome New Son-in-Law in High Profile Move. Former Husband Thrown Out."

"Serena Prescott Publicly Announces Grand Wedding With Mason Clark."

Serena, who had always been sparing with words in front of the media, gave a rare interview and warned everyone:

"Please don't spread baseless rumors and hurt Mason. I will pursue any false statements to the fullest extent."

The public recognition and protection I'd dreamed of for years, she finally gave today.

Only I wasn't the person receiving it.

I swiped the video away and stared at the text message showing that five hundred million had arrived in my account.

Then I smiled.

I casually booked the most luxurious private club in Riverton.

My phone buzzed nonstop. My best friend, Miles Dawson, called.

"Caleb? Are you all right?"

His voice on the other end was cautious, full of worry.

I was in a good mood. I even laughed out loud.

"I'm great. Are you free? Come out for a spa and massage. My treat."

Miles shrieked. "Have you lost your mind?"

I relaxed under the hands of several masseurs and said lightly, "I haven't lost my mind.

"I've just gotten divorced."

There was a long silence on the other end.

He couldn't believe that I, the man who had thrown away every ounce of dignity for Serena Prescott, could be so calm.

After all, he'd seen with his own eyes how humble I'd been for Serena all these years.

"Come over," I said. "I need to talk to you about something anyway.

"I want to start a company."

"Holy shit!"

This time, Miles's shout was full of wild joy.

"You finally came to your senses!

"I told you years ago that you were being stupid. You were the top finance prodigy at Franklin University, and you ran off to work like an ox for the Prescott family.

"The media even called you a kept man. I felt suffocated just watching it happen."