It was Nancy who came in.

Grace gave a brief smile, knowing Alexander would never think of her, or perhaps he simply didn't want to see her at all.

It didn't matter now. She had already decided on divorce.

After putting the divorce papers in an envelope and instructing Nancy to give them to Alexander, Grace dragged her suitcase to the car and told the driver, "To the airport."

It was after nine in the evening when Alexander returned home with their daughter.

Sophia clutched Alexander's shirt tail, dragging her feet as she got out of the car.

She hadn't wanted to come home tonight because her mom was there, but Auntie Claire had said that she came specially to be with her and Dad, and they would make her mom sad if Sophia didn't return. Dad had also said that if they didn't come back tonight, mom would definitely tag along on their boat trip tomorrow…

Definitely not wanting mom to come along on that, Sophia had reluctantly agreed to return.

Still worried, she mumbled, "Daddy, what if Mom insists on coming with us tomorrow?"

"She won't," Her dad said with certainty.

Throughout their marriage years, although Grace had always tried to get close to Alexander, she would back off whenever he showed a cold attitude, afraid of making him unhappy.

In Sophia's memory, Mom had always listened to Dad. Finally reassured with this, her mood lifted, and she bounced into the house, telling Nancy she wanted a bath.

Nancy remembered Grace's instructions and handed the envelope to Alexander. "Sir," she said, "Madam asked me to give this to you before she left."

Alexander took it and casually asked, "Where is she?"

"Well... Madam packed up and returned to her home country at noon. Didn't you know?"

Alexander paused halfway up the stairs. "She left?"

"Yes," Nancy said.

Alexander hadn't given Grace a chance to explain why she suddenly came, nor did he care. Learning of her departure didn't concern him either.

Sophia was surprised and felt a little disappointed hearing that mom had left. She had thought that if Mom didn't join their boat trip tomorrow, it might actually be nice to have her around in the evening. Besides, her hands often hurt when polishing seashells, and she had wanted Mom's help making a gift for Auntie Claire!

Nancy remembered Grace's expression when leaving and couldn't help mentioning, "Sir, Madam seemed upset when she left."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. Upset? he thought. Grace had always been good-tempered and accommodating around him. So she could get angry too? That was news to him. He smiled dismissively, gave a noncommittal grunt, and went upstairs.

Back in his room, just as he was about to open Grace's letter, Claire called. After answering the phone, Alexander carelessly tossed the envelope aside and walked out. Just after he left, the envelope slid from the bed and onto the floor.

Alexander didn't come home that night.

The next day, when Nancy came up to clean, she saw the envelope on the floor and recognized it as the one Grace had asked her to give to Alexander the day before. Assuming Alexander had read it, she put it in a nearby drawer.

*****

After returning to the mansion where she had once lived with Alexander and Sophia, Grace headed straight upstairs to pack.

Six years had left her with quite a few belongings. However, she only took a few of her favorite outfits, her toiletries and makeup, and some of her professional books.

After their marriage, Alexander had provided monthly allowances for her and their daughter, deposited into two separate accounts, one for her and one for Sophia. Grace usually used her own card for expenses, never touching Sophia's card.

Most of Alexander's allowance to her had actually been spent on their daughter, leaving little in her account. Being in love with Alexander, she couldn't help buying things for him as well whenever she went shopping – premium brand clothes and shoes, cufflinks, ties, and at least three Swiss watches.

However, in the past year or so, since Sophia had been living mainly with Alexander in Aldovia, and so Grace had fewer chances to buy things for them. Now her card had about three million left.

While this amount meant nothing to Alexander, it was significant to Grace. Since it was rightfully her money, she didn't hesitate to transfer it out.

Leaving both cards behind, she took her suitcases and pulled away in the taxi, never looking back.