Chapter 27

In the evening, Cynthia returned to the Yates residence. Matthew was in the study, practicing calligraphy; Pamela had just returned from a beauty treatment; and Henry was in the garden, trimming plants. Everything seemed normal.

As usual, Cynthia first went to the study to help Matthew mix paints and chat. Afterward, she returned to her room and began packing. She had decided to move out.

In truth, she hadn't lived at the Yates residence every day. The Yates family was accustomed to her spending occasional nights elsewhere, but this time, she planned to leave permanently.

Having lived there for three years, Cynthia felt reluctant. She was deeply attached to the Yates family, who treated her like their own daughter. They had provided her with a safe haven during the darkest moments of her life.

She sometimes thought that if Filip never returned, she could happily live with the Yates family. But since his return, everything had felt off.

Jonathan was right: Filip would never look back. She and Filip were parallel lines, never to cross again.

There was no point in clinging to Filip any longer. Perhaps it was time to let go and start a new chapter, Cynthia thought.

While lost in thought, the door burst open with a loud bang. Filip appeared at the entrance, furious.

He stormed in, grabbed Cynthia's arm, and shoved her to the ground. Already crouched, packing her suitcase, Cynthia was knocked down.

"Filip, what's wrong with you?" Cynthia shouted, defiant.

"Cynthia, how dare you ask? What did you do to Lilian that nearly caused her to miscarry?" he roared.

The mention of "miscarriage" stunned Cynthia momentarily.

Filip, seeing her innocent expression, let out a cold laugh. "Don't play dumb. Stealing Lilian's interview wasn't enough? You had to insult her publicly and even slap her? Cynthia, how did you become so cruel? If anything happens to Lilian's baby, I'll never forgive you."

Cynthia snapped back to reality. She stood, tidied her hair gracefully, and said, "Lilian told you I stole her interview?"

"She doesn't need to. I know you well enough. You've always been competitive since childhood. Whatever I learned, you followed. You always had to outshine me and take what wasn't yours," he said sarcastically. "If you treated me like that, why would Lilian be any different?"

Cynthia had always been this way. When Filip took up golf as a child, she followed, outplaying him each time. Everyone praised her.

He eventually gave up golf and took up chess. She followed suit, winning numerous national and international awards, even becoming the last apprentice of chess grandmaster Louis Drake. Frustrated, Filip never touched chess again.

Later, he took up boxing, and she followed, quickly surpassing him. Throughout their childhood, even in fights, he couldn't beat her. It seemed he'd spent the first half of his life in her shadow.

Cynthia was surprised Filip had brought up their childhood. It was true—whatever Filip learned, she followed. But she just wanted to spend more time with him. That's why she studied his interests. She never intended to outshine him or take anything from him. She never cared about fame or accolades. It had never occurred to her that Filip saw her this way. But there was no point in explaining it now.

Cynthia sighed. "Filip, no matter what I say, you won't believe me, because you only care about Lilian." She paused. "In that case, let's just go our separate ways."

Filip finally noticed Cynthia's packed suitcases—two large ones filled to the brim.

His sneer deepened. "Threatening me again? Cynthia, can't you come up with a new trick?"

Cynthia knelt, zipped her suitcase, and walked to Filip. Her voice was calm but final. "This time it's real. I'm moving out tonight, and I'll explain everything later."

Just then, the butler called them to dinner. Cynthia strode from the room.

The dinner atmosphere was tense. Both Cynthia and Filip seemed preoccupied.

Halfway through, Cynthia put down her fork. "Grandpa Matthew, Mr. Yates, Mrs. Yates, I have something to say."

Everyone turned to her, noticing her seriousness. Pamela asked, "Cynthia, what's the matter?"

"Thank you for taking care of me these past three years, but I've decided to move out tonight," Cynthia said.

Pamela was shocked, then understood and scolded Filip. "What did you do to upset Cynthia again? You stupid brat, apologize to her right now!"

Cynthia stopped her. "Mom, Filip and I have decided to separate."

"You're getting a divorce?" Pamela asked incredulously.

Cynthia spoke calmly. "Actually, we never registered our marriage, so I don't think it counts as a divorce."

Everyone looked astonished. Henry was confused. "But you two have a marriage certificate. It's still in the drawer at home."

Cynthia replied, "That's a fake certificate I bought online. Three dollars with free shipping."

Henry's face turned livid. "Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous."

Back when Matthew had forced Filip to marry her, Filip had backed out at the last moment at city hall. To placate the Yates family, Cynthia had ordered a fake marriage certificate online and photoshopped a wedding photo. In reality, she and Filip had never been married.

Pamela stood up and punched her son on the shoulder. "It was you, wasn't it? This was all your idea!"

Filip sat with a dark expression, saying nothing. He hadn't expected Cynthia to be serious. He thought she was trying to force him to choose between her and Lilian.

Cynthia remained composed. "Mrs. Yates, don't blame Filip. He did nothing wrong. He just doesn't love me."

Pamela started to cry. "But you two grew up together. I've always seen you as my daughter-in-law. How am I supposed to accept this?"

"Mrs. Yates, Mr. Yates, Grandpa Henry," Cynthia continued, "even if Filip and I separate, I will always consider you my family."

"But love can't be forced. Filip loves Lilian, and she's already pregnant. I don't want to torment them, or myself, so it's time to end this and give myself a fresh start," she added.

Pamela was utterly shocked. "Lilian is pregnant?"