Chapter 18

Chapter 18

I gestured for him to hurry up. "I just gave you a chance, and you threw it away."

Who was really giving whom a chance? The events of recent days had left me 彻底 disappointed in Ethan. I’d made excuse after excuse for him, given him countless chances—and now he acted like he was doing me a favor.

"Let’s part on good terms. Don’t come crying to me later—it’ll only make me laugh."

Ethan sneered, trying to provoke me. With a flourish, he signed his name. The moment he finished, I smiled—a faint, pale smile.

Finally, it was over.

"According to the agreement, I’ll transfer all my shares to you in a month. But you have to take care of my mother." I reminded him, just to be sure. With all the shares in his hands, he’d be the majority shareholder—he’d run the company.

"I signed the agreement. I won’t go back on my word." When it came to matters unrelated to love, Ethan was always true to his word.

I stood up to leave. I didn’t want the house anymore—I’d taken other properties to avoid suspicion. One last glance around: this had been my father’s wedding gift to us when Ethan and I married. I felt a twinge of sadness.

Then I saw Luna standing on the stairs. Our eyes met. I didn’t miss the smile she was flaunting—bold, triumphant.

I didn’t want to fight with her. For someone who had so little time left, enjoying the rest of my days was more important. But I wasn’t going to let her get away with what she’d done. I’d passed her address and information to her ex-husband. I was sure he’d find her soon.

A little gift from me.

Luna walked down the stairs and stood beside Ethan, snuggling up to him like a bird. "Ethan, Leo’s upstairs. He wants Daddy to help him with his homework."

Ethan gripped the divorce papers tightly, his face dark. He gently pushed Luna away, annoyed. "I told you not to teach him to call me ‘Daddy.’ I’ll agree to raise him, but I can’t be his father."

Luna lowered her head, looking obedient. "Okay, I’ll correct him." But her eyes—hidden from Ethan—were filled with resentment.

I walked out of the house, looking forward to the days ahead—days that would be mine alone. I closed my eyes, embracing the sunlight, spinning in the warmth.

Then I coughed—violently. "Cough, cough, cough..."

A sharp pain stabbed my chest. I stopped, clutching my chest, bending over as I coughed. Specks of blood splattered onto the ground.

I was coughing up blood.

Sophia Carter, Sophia Carter—it’s time to start living for yourself.

At first, I could still go to work, but soon I felt too weak. I handed over all company matters to Ethan, becoming a figurehead.

To be fair, Ethan was good at his job. He hadn’t gotten the general manager position through my connections—he’d worked his way up from the bottom, taking three years. It had taken me four.

So when I realized my time was limited, I’d started planning for the future. There were only a few things I cared about.

I couldn’t bear to let my father’s company—his life’s work—fail. Ethan was the best choice; he had the ability to keep it going. I could trust him with that.

And I trusted him to keep his promise to take care of my mother. Everything else didn’t matter.

Once, I’d wondered if Ethan would remember me, miss me. Now I knew I’d been fooling myself.