Chapter 2
The final stroke of her pen fell into place just as the door swung open.
Gabriella turned and saw Alex standing in the doorway, holding Lucas’ hand.
Dressed in matching black tailored suits, the two were the picture of elegance. Their sharp features and refined demeanor were so strikingly alike as though they had been carved from the same mold.
“Why did you call so many times? Where’s the soup? Don’t tell me it’s still not ready. You’re home all day doing nothing but housework, and you can’t even handle this?”
Although Lucas’ face was full of impatience, Gabriella didn’t bother addressing his tone and simply replied calmly, “It’s ready in the kitchen.”
Lucas immediately let go of Alex’s hand and dashed toward the kitchen.
Alex stepped forward and said curtly, “Lucas is still young. I’ll teach him to be more respectful.”
Gabriella didn’t take his words to heart.
Lucas was, after all, the child she had nearly died giving birth to. Even though he had always been somewhat distant toward her, at least he used to call her “Mom”.
But ever since Melody returned, something had changed. Gabriella had no idea what Alex had told Lucas, but the latter was now convinced she was the villain who had torn his family apart.
His attitude toward her had plummeted, and now, he wouldn’t even look at her, let alone speak to her with any kindness.
“That won’t be necessary,” Gabriella said with a shake of her head.
After a pause, she looked up at Alex and added calmly, “Alex, I’ve already signed the divorce papers. I don’t want custody or money. As soon as the mandatory waiting period is over, I’ll be gone.”
She’d barely finished her sentence when Lucas came running back while clutching a thermos with excitement. His eager voice drowned out the rest of her words.
“Dad, let’s hurry! Aunt Mel is all alone in the hospital. She must be so scared!”
It was only then that Alex seemed to snap back to reality. His gaze shifted back to Gabriella, and he asked nonchalantly, “What did you just say? I couldn’t hear you.”
Of course, he hadn’t been listening.
Gabriella studied him as her mind replayed the distant, unfocused look in his eyes just moments ago.
Even though he was physically here, his thoughts were somewhere else—back in that hospital room, with Melody. That explained it.
Gabriella didn’t bother repeating herself. Instead, she shook her head and said quietly, “It’s nothing.”
He wouldn’t care, anyway. It didn’t matter if he knew about her plan to leave.
After that, Gabriella silently watched as Alex and Lucas disappeared through the doorway.
They would be gone for days, which gave her plenty of spare time. While they were away, Gabriella submitted her application to the National Research Institute.
She was a prodigy who was awarded a doctorate at just 22. If she hadn’t chosen marriage out of gratitude back then, she would’ve undoubtedly become the nation’s pillar.
Many of her former peers had already gone on to win the prestigious Novelle Prizes.
Now, she had repaid her debt and had no family left to hold her back. All she wanted to do was to finally pursue the future she had once given up.
A few days after submitting her application, Gabriella received a call from an unknown number. When she answered it, the voice on the other end was thick with excitement and disbelief.
She recognized it instantly—it was an old classmate.
“Gabriella! Are you really coming back? Everyone is talking about it. You were the most gifted among us, and then you just vanished! Our professors never stopped lamenting what a loss it was.
“But now you’re coming back, they’re over the moon! We’re equally happy for you as well. Honestly, this might shake up the entire academic field.”
Catching the teasing tone, Gabriella smiled faintly.
It had been a long time since she had smiled like that.
“Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll dedicate myself entirely to contributing to academia. As for everything else… I don’t want any of them anymore.”
Just then, the door suddenly swung open, followed by Alex and Lucas’ voices.
“What don’t you want?”
