“What do you mean by that?” Yasmin asked directly.

Caleb didn’t answer. He descended the stairs slowly, his usual sharpness dulled by exhaustion. His movements were languid, and even the slight messiness of his hair made him look uncharacteristically approachable. He set his glass down and stopped before her.

At that moment, memories from the night before flooded Yasmin’s mind: the fleeting kiss, the burning heat of his touch—every sensation still vivid. She instinctively wanted to step back but forced herself to remain. Lifting her chin, she met his gaze, refusing to show any hesitation.

“Does it still hurt?” Caleb asked, reaching for her hand to examine the injury.

“You already checked it last night,” Yasmin retorted, pulling her hand away. “Are you really that interested in the damage you caused?”

Caleb raised an eyebrow. “I checked?”

“You don’t remember what you did last night?” she asked, tilting her head.

She had never seen Caleb drunk before. Given his status, he rarely drank at social events. No one would dare pressure him.

Caleb didn’t respond; he simply studied her.

Yasmin sighed. “You came looking for me last night. You said we should meet today to discuss the divorce. Do you remember that?”

To her surprise, Caleb chuckled. Then, without warning, he gently squeezed the back of her neck, teasingly, like one would a cat.

“Yasmin, I was drunk—not brain-dead.”

“Then why are you acting like you don’t remember?” Yasmin was livid. She swatted his hand away, her frustration mounting. She had already initiated divorce proceedings; why was Caleb still acting so intimately, as if nothing mattered?

Deciding to focus on the divorce, Yasmin said, “Did you tell your grandparents about the divorce? Mrs. Grant Senior called me today. She wants me to attend her birthday banquet next week.”

Caleb didn’t seem surprised; he appeared to have anticipated this.

“Mm.”

“Mm? That’s it?”

“What do you mean?”

Caleb leaned back on the couch, creating distance. “Given Grandma’s health, she might end up in the hospital if I tell her we’re getting a divorce.” Grace had a weak heart and couldn’t handle emotional shocks. Yasmin knew this. She didn’t want to hurt Grace, but dragging things out wasn’t an option. She couldn’t stay married to Caleb solely for his grandmother’s sake, could she?

Her fingers curled into a fist. Caleb gently opened them, one by one, straightening them.

“You shouldn’t put pressure on your fingers after a burn. Didn’t your ‘senior’ take you to a doctor? Didn’t they give you any recovery advice?” The way he said “that senior of yours” held an unmistakable hint of mockery.

Yasmin let him hold her hand, then smiled. “You won’t sign the divorce papers, your lawyer is unreachable, and now you’re being touchy-feely. Mr. Grant, you’re making me wonder if you’re reluctant to let me go?”

Caleb paused, then answered easily, “Of course. This divorce was your idea.”

She remembered his previous words: he had said he’d married her for her body. Those words stung more than she cared to admit.

Yasmin withdrew her hand, crossing her arms. “So, you don’t want a divorce?”

Caleb didn’t respond. From the beginning, he hadn’t agreed to it.

Yasmin found the discussion pointless. “Fine. We won’t get divorced, but on one condition: you cut all contact with Veronica. If you can do that, I’ll stay as Mrs. Grant.”

Caleb frowned. “Yasmin, making demands isn’t unreasonable.”

Yasmin scoffed. “Men are something, aren’t they? When we reason with you and set conditions, you call it unreasonable.”

His gaze darkened. “With the injuries you caused Veronica, she could’ve pressed assault charges. You could’ve faced criminal liability.”

Yasmin clenched her jaw, locking eyes with him stubbornly. She shut her eyes tightly, then reopened them, her expression composed.

“I didn’t hurt Veronica,” she said slowly.

She paused, but Caleb remained silent. Then she chuckled. “I know you won’t believe me. You never believed me when I said I didn’t scheme to marry you three years ago, so why would you believe I didn’t hurt the girl you’ve loved since childhood?”

The more Yasmin thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. All her years of devotion and love were wasted.

Caleb parted his lips, but he caught the shimmer of tears in her eyes. His heart winced.

Yasmin said bitterly, “I was wrong three years ago. I shouldn’t have gotten drunk and slept with you. That was my fault. I admit it. I apologize. I regret it.”

Caleb’s expression darkened. “An impulsive mistake? Yasmin, do you regret it that much? Do you hate being married to me?”

She replied without hesitation, “Yes. If I had a second chance, I would never have sought you out that night. I would’ve chosen any other man. At least, I wouldn’t have lost my reputation and destroyed my marriage over one reckless night.”

What was so great about marrying Caleb? Three years together, and he still didn’t love her. Three years later, he still chose Veronica. The burn on her wrist was the price she paid for her one-sided love.

Caleb lowered his gaze. “Is that so?” Then, he met her eyes. “You want a divorce? Fine. Convince my grandmother at her birthday banquet.”

Yasmin’s scent lingered briefly before fading. The villa was silent. Caleb could hear his breathing, yet it felt difficult. The ringing of his phone broke the silence.

“Grandpa,” he answered.

“Are you upset?” Benjamin had raised Caleb and knew something was wrong.

Caleb remained silent before adjusting his tone. “No.”

Benjamin got to the point. “I heard there’s trouble between you and Yasmin.”

“Who told you that?”

“Doesn’t matter. News travels fast.” The bar incident had spread, despite Caleb’s denials.

“Yasmin lost her mother young, her father favors his second wife, and she even spent time in a psychiatric hospital. Her reputation is far from ideal. As the future head of the Grant family, she was never supposed to be your wife.” Despite his age, Benjamin spoke with vigor.

“Caleb, don’t forget. Three years ago, you told your grandmother and me that you only wanted to marry Yasmin.” Everyone assumed Grace had forced the marriage, but Caleb had asked for it. “If that’s the case, then stop letting these divorce rumors spread. Your grandma doesn’t need that stress.”

“I understand. I have no intention of divorcing her,” Caleb said calmly. “Next week is Grandma’s birthday. You and Yasmin will come home a day early.”

Benjamin added, “And your mother is back.”