"Nora, do we have to get divorced? What about the kid?"

He looked at me, his usual swagger completely gone, struggling to get the words out.

"If we don't divorce, I'll terminate the pregnancy," I stated flatly.

He let out a helpless sigh, rubbing the corner of his eye.

The bright sunlight glinted off his eyes.

He was crying again.

He hung his head, mustering his strength before he could finally speak.

"Then... I'll do as you say."

When it came to dividing the assets, I gave him a smile.

"I wonder if Sophia will still be into you when you're flat broke?"

"She probably will be. After all, you guys were childhood sweethearts."

"Wanna bet?"

Back when Benjamin was at rock bottom, Sophia bounced and booked it abroad for her "future," ghosting him for a full decade.

Did she dip because Benjamin was a broke boi? Nobody really knows.

But I bet that whole drama became a massive thorn in Benjamin's side.

Even though my little game was super obvious, he still took the bait.

"I bet. And it's not for Sophia."

I watched him sign the divorce papers, the ink proclaiming "husband leaves with nothing," and a smirk just naturally played on my lips.

Benjamin, I told you before.

If there isn't enough love, then I want a truckload of cash.

Having a mountain of money is also pretty sweet.

After Benjamin and I called it quits, Sophia didn't exactly win the lottery either.

Which, honestly, was totally in the cards.

She only jetted back because her family's empire had crashed and burned.

The dude she was with gave her the boot, and they split.

She always aimed for the stars but had zero game, with a serious case of princess syndrome, refusing to hustle to support herself. So, she crawled back to Benjamin as her safety net.

That "chance encounter" at the hospital? Totally her master plan.

I'm not Benjamin.

I dropped some serious coin on a private investigator to dig up all her dirt.

That apartment Benjamin bought her and all the transfers before the divorce? All marital assets. I snatched them all back.

Now that Benjamin's a broke dude with zilch, how could she possibly be living it up?

One day, on my way home from work, she ambushed me.

Weirdly, she was rocking zero makeup, her complexion looking kinda rough from the pregnancy.

Looked like Benjamin wasn't exactly rolling out the red carpet for her.

Honestly, you can still live a decent life without being loaded.

As long as you and your partner are a team, Benjamin's skills could totally help you bounce back.

But Sophia either didn't get it, or just plain didn't wanna.

She was after Benjamin's bank account, not to rough it out with him.

Pedestrians were hustling and bustling, the street buzzing with life.

Then, she suddenly dropped to her knees right at my feet with a thud.

"Please, give Benjamin his share of the assets! How are we supposed to live if he has nothing?"

"This is what he gets for cheating on me during our marriage. It has nothing to do with me. Please don't bother me again."

One second she was kneeling, playing the pitiful damsel.

The next, she shot up and started screaming at me.

"How can you be so heartless, you witch! You've taken everything Benjamin worked over a decade to build!"

She jabbed a finger at me, stalking closer with each step.

Seeing her swollen belly, I had no choice but to backpedal.

Suddenly, she whipped a dagger from her purse and lunged at me like a wildcat.

At the absolute last second, Benjamin dove in and threw himself in front of me.

"Nora, you and the baby, run!"

My hand brushed his back, and I felt a warm, wet liquid seeping through.

Once again, I found myself sitting by a hospital bed, staring at an unconscious Benjamin.

Only last time, I was a frantic mess, ready to trade my soul to God.

This time, my heart was as still as a frozen lake.

The doctor said Benjamin wasn't in critical condition.

But the wound's location was... tricky. He might be dealing with a dull ache for the rest of his life.

Sophia was hauled off by the cops.

The cold steel of handcuffs clamped onto her wrists as she thrashed around, totally losing it.

As the last sliver of sunset vanished, Benjamin's eyes fluttered open.