“Lili, are you fighting with him over the birthday party for Xenia?”

The news had already gone viral, and of course, Yara had seen it.

“It’s not a fight. I’m getting a divorce.” Lilith’s eyes were empty, but her voice was firm.

Yara frowned, lowering her voice. “Did you ask him what happened? Could it be a misunderstanding?”

“If it’s a misunderstanding, you’ll see for yourself.”

Lilith pulled out her phone, opened a video, and handed it to Yara.

She hadn’t even confronted him about the cheating yet, but his attitude said it all.

Yara glanced at the thumbnail, then quickly pulled the car over.

“Holy shit!” Yara’s temper was as fiery as her bright red hair.

“Hendrix the Mutt cheated on you, and he has the nerve to kick you out in the middle of the night? He should leave with nothing!”

Lilith took the phone back. “I didn’t expose it.”

Yara couldn’t understand. “Why not? You’ve got every right!”

“If I make a scene, I’m the one who’ll look pathetic.”

Even if she called him out, what would change?

Force Hendrix to leave everything behind?

Impossible.

The Johnson Family was no match for the Fosters, and her parents wouldn’t back her up.

After all, the Johnsons still depended on the Foster Family.

Yara opened her mouth to say something but swallowed her words and kept driving.

The Stevenson Family was well-known in Rivertown, too. After Yara graduated, her family bought her an expensive apartment downtown—a luxury single-bedroom unit.

By the time they reached the apartment, dawn was breaking.

After setting down the luggage, Lilith sat on the couch, lost in thought.

Seeing her in this state, Yara asked, “So, what’s your plan now?”

“First, I’ll call Hendrix’s assistant and set a time for the divorce.”

Lilith paused, then added, “And I need to find a job. Start supporting myself.”

Fifty thousand dollars a month in allowance sounded like a lot, but for someone like Lilith, it was never enough.

She managed Hendrix’s entire life, always choosing the best for him. Every week, she’d attend family dinners at the Foster Estate and buy gifts for the elders. In the end, she barely had anything left.

She only had fifty thousand saved.

“Until you get a job, could you do me a favor?” Yara didn’t want to leave Lilith alone to brood.

But the favor was real, too. “The pianist I booked canceled on me last minute!”

Yara managed several upscale restaurants under the Stevenson Family name, with live performances by renowned pianists every day.

Lilith had studied piano since childhood, reaching a level comparable to professionals.

She understood Yara’s intention—keeping her busy to distract her thoughts. “Okay.”

Yara was too tied up with work to stay with her.

“Get some rest now. Head over to the East Branch this afternoon. I’ll be too busy to pick you up.”

“Got it. Focus on your work.” Lilith and Yara had been best friends since kindergarten.

Even though they attended different universities, their bond remained unbreakable.

As the Johnson Family declined, their friendship only grew stronger.

With Yara, Lilith never needed to hold back.

After seeing Yara off, Lilith called Hendrix's assistant, Tyler Smith, to schedule a meeting with Hendrix.

"Ma'am, are you joking?" Tyler paused for a moment before saying, "Why don't you wait for Mr. Hendrix to come home tonight?"

"We're setting a date for the divorce," Lilith stated succinctly.

As she spoke those words, an unexpected wave of emotion surged, and her eyes misted over. She forced herself to appear strong and lifted her chin.

Tyler inhaled sharply, "Uh—Mr. Hendrix is very busy; his schedule is already full this week!"

"Then next week," Lilith said, gripping her clothes tightly, her voice catching.

"I'll check his schedule when I get to the office and get back to you."

Tyler didn't dare make any decisions on his own. He hung up and immediately called Hendrix.

Instead of Lilith coming home like a good wife, he found out about her call with Tyler. Rage filled his chest, and he laughed bitterly, "Unbelievable!"

Hearing his displeasure, Tyler quickly offered, "I can make up an excuse to delay..."

"Not necessary!" Hendrix's smile was mocking and sarcastic. "Schedule it for a week from now!"

Delaying would make it seem like he didn't want a divorce; in three days at most, Lilith would come back begging!

Tyler promptly informed Lilith that they would meet next Wednesday at 9 AM outside the Superior Court.

Lilith felt exhausted but couldn’t sleep. After hanging up with Tyler, her chest felt heavy with sadness. Lying in bed, she could hear her heart pounding.

Finally, unable to hold it back, hot tears spilled from her eyes, dampening her hair and soaking her pillow.

When she received Tyler's message, any lingering hope she had was utterly crushed. Despair settled in.

What was she waiting for? For Hendrix to change his mind and admit his mistakes?

Hendrix was not the type to admit wrongdoing.

And she could not tolerate her husband’s infidelity!

Two years wasn't a long time, but she had devoted herself entirely to Hendrix during that period.

The intensity of her commitment to the marriage was immeasurable.

She had even forgotten what life was like before marrying him.

That evening, Lilith suppressed her negative emotions, applied light makeup, and headed to East Branch.

Traffic was heavy, and by the time she arrived at the restaurant, many guests had already gathered.

Yara knew she was close and stepped outside to wait for her.

When she saw Lilith get out of the taxi, Yara rushed over.

"I forgot you didn't have a car."

"It’s fine." Lilith followed her into the restaurant.

Yara had prepared a dress for her and led her to the changing room.

"You don’t look well. Did you not get enough rest?"

Lilith shook her head; her pale face showed that makeup couldn't hide her exhaustion. "I'm fine."

After changing into the elegant dress Yara had chosen, she lifted the hem and walked to an imported piano in the center of the hall.

Sheet music lay on the stand.

Taking a deep breath, her slender, fair hands rested on the keys, and the melodic sound filled every corner of the restaurant.

In a corner of the second-floor VIP room by the window, a figure in white sat watching her.

The figure leaned forward, whispering something to a foreign man sitting across.

After five minutes, as she finished playing, a server approached her.

"Miss Johnson, a gentleman in the VIP room has requested you to play a love song upstairs."

There was another expensive piano in the VIP room; Yara never let regular pianists touch it.

But she trusted Lilith, so she immediately agreed when the guest made the request.

Lilith gathered her dress and ascended the stairs. The server opened the door to the VIP room, and she stepped inside slowly.

The warm yellow light bathed the room in a romantic and elegant glow.

A wine-red tablecloth covered the table, and the reflected light danced around the three figures seated at the table.

As she locked eyes with Hendrix’s deep gaze, Lilith suddenly froze in place.