Chapter 1 Let's Get Divorced

• It was just after 11 at night. Isabelle Berry, having finished her nightly routine, sat on the edge of the bed engrossed in a book.
• The bathroom door suddenly opened, and Raiden Galloway emerged, towel-drying his hair.
• His robe was loosely tied, revealing his well-defined muscles, with droplets of water from his damp hair falling onto the plush carpet.
• As he approached, Isabelle set aside her book and turned off her bedside lamp.
• Raiden climbed into bed, switching off the light on his side. Almost immediately, he rolled over, his body enveloping hers, his freshly showered scent mixing with a gentle kiss.
• Once the lights went off, Raiden became both tender and intense.
• His usual daytime demeanor of disinterest vanished, leaving Isabelle to marvel at how a man normally so detached and seemingly desireless could transform into someone so fervent and unrestrained in the privacy of their bedroom.
• Their connection seemed flawless, filled with intense moments that slowly quieted down into the stillness of the night.
• Isabelle found herself wrapped in Raiden's embrace, their skin slightly sticky from sweat, yet she made no move to distance herself.
• Instead, she returned his embrace, resting her head against his chest.
• "Raiden," she murmured, her voice breathy from exertion.
• His features were strikingly handsome, defined by sharp angles and a high, prominent nose that lent him a cold, aloof air, especially as he inclined his head slightly.
• Despite the intimacy they had just shared, his expression remained composed and detached, his usual stern demeanor undisturbed.
• "Hmm?" His voice, husky and inviting, filled the silence of the night.
• "Let's get a divorce," Isabelle said softly, feeling him stiffen slightly at her words.
• She dismissed it as her imagination. How could a man so guarded and detached show any real reaction to her words?
• In truth, Raiden had not wronged her in any way—he simply did not love her.
• Their marriage had not been born out of affection, so the absence of love was not a failure.
• She had harbored a secret affection for this man from her sweet 16 until her composed 24, but now, her feelings had waned.
• The room was enveloped in a protracted silence, amplifying Isabelle's growing unease.
• Raiden's eyes, dark and penetrating, seemed to merge with the shadowy room, reflecting a deep, consuming darkness.
• He finally broke the silence, his voice trembling slightly, "The reason."
• "Our union was dictated by the circumstances of the child we never had. Perhaps it was never meant to be," she responded with a measured calmness, meeting his intense gaze. "I've grown accustomed to solitude. Life seems unchanged with or without you, but alone, my expectations are fewer, and my life simpler. You likely feel the same."
• Her words hinted at the relief of no longer dealing with his family or hers post-divorce—each no longer burdened by the other's demanding relatives.
• Raiden's expression was unreadable as he gazed at her. A flicker of pain briefly crossed his features, obscured by the dim light.
• Isabelle waited, thinking he might remain silent, but he nodded in agreement, his voice clear but simple, "Okay."
• His acceptance was as straightforward and resolute as his proposal had been—an echo of the man she knew so well.
• A bittersweetness tinged Isabelle's smile as emotions welled up within her. She had desired this end, yet the resolution left a hollow ache in her heart.
• Memories intruded her thoughts—of seeing Raiden at the company with a vibrant woman delivering him documents.
• Her name was Katie Bailey. When Isabelle was a transfer student who had skipped a grade in high school, she had been classmates with them for a year. Both Raiden and Katie were attractive and academically successful, making them popular in all school activities. There were whispers that the two had a mutual interest in each other, but for some reason, their relationship never materialized, and ultimately, it was Isabelle who ended up with Raiden.
• Now, Katie had actually started working at his company.
• Raiden might still harbor special feelings for Katie, just as the rumors suggested. Isabelle wondered, if Raiden had married Katie instead, would her own situation have been different?
• Lost in her thoughts, Isabelle tried to hold back the sadness welling up in her eyes.
• She buried her face in his chest, embracing him tightly one last time.
• Raiden initially seemed like he might return her embrace, but his hand stopped midway, falling back as he allowed her to cling to him without reciprocation.
• Isabelle finally let go.
• "I'm going to freshen up," she whispered, attempting to leave the bed when suddenly Raiden grabbed her arm, pulling her back.
• Her body landed softly back on the bed, enveloped by his shadow and a barrage of halted kisses that ceased at her evident panic.
• Raiden's eyes swirled with a tumultuous storm that slowly subsided into a profound stillness.
• Then, he rolled over to lay beside her.
• "Go to sleep," he said quietly, closing his eyes.
• The following morning, Isabelle awoke to find Raiden already gone. The house remained unchanged, making the previous night's events feel almost dreamlike, yet Isabelle knew everything was different now.
• Isabelle swiftly packed her belongings, which were few, and thus, she was quick to organize.
• She left the keys and the signed divorce papers on the coffee table, casting a final glance around the home she had inhabited for the past two years.
• Descending the stairs, she encountered Raiden's mother, Ellie Khan, who was leisurely lounging in a wicker chair, amusing herself with the family cat.
• Upon noticing Isabelle descending the stairs, she smirked at the cat, saying, "You, always sleeping till late, making everyone cater to your every need. You don't earn a penny, yet you're quite the spender, and that belly of yours is so uncooperative. You lack the privileges or status but act entitled—what good are you, huh?"
• Her tone was refined and gentle, yet each word dripped with irony.
• Isabelle chose to ignore the underlying barbs, offered a brief greeting, and departed, wheeling her luggage behind her.
• The door shut behind her, followed by the unmistakable sounds of objects being disturbed and Ellie's curt swearing.
• Imagining the scowl that must be twisting Ellie's features, Isabelle found herself longing for the independence she had relished before her marriage. Back then, she was self-sufficient, with no expectations from others, no need for pretense, no appeasement of whims.
• Ellie had never truly approved of her, a reality Isabelle had always recognized.
• Their worlds were starkly different, and her marriage to Raiden had been nothing short of a fluke—a twist of fate that had momentarily aligned their disparate paths.
• Unaware of Raiden's elite status at the time of their marriage, Isabelle had believed him to be a simple worker like herself, striving just to make ends meet.
• Had she known the true breadth of the gulf between their societal standings, she would never have consented to their union—a marriage devoid of love, conceived out of convenience.
• In the early days, Isabelle harbored some faint hopes for their future together, tolerating Ellie's duplicitous treatment behind Raiden's back out of a sense of marital obligation.
• Now, resolute in her decision to divorce, she no longer cared for Ellie's opinion or approval.
• Pausing outside, she sent Raiden a final message: 'I've left the signed divorce papers on the coffee table. I've assigned all related matters to the lawyer. Please handle the formalities when convenient. I'm leaving now. Take care.'
• When Raiden received the message during the meeting, it visibly threw him off.
• The people in the room, including Katie who had known him for years, had never seen him look so unsettled.
• "Mr. Galloway?" Katie's voice broke through his reverie, gently prompting him back to the moment.
• Raiden glanced her way, set his phone down with deliberate calmness, and picked up the thread of the meeting. Just as the room relaxed, thinking he had regained his composure, he abruptly announced, "Meeting adjourned." He snatched up his phone and strode out of the room, leaving everyone exchanging puzzled looks.
• "Mr. Galloway, what happened?"