Chapter 6
The moment I held the divorce certificate in my hands, I quietly let out a deep breath of relief.
For a moment, I had been afraid that Zeyu would lose patience and storm off before I arrived.
I didn't want to give him even another second of my time.
"Claire!" he called out behind me as I walked away without looking back.
"We're done now—but if you regret this…"
I drove off before he could finish his sentence.
I didn't need to hear one more word from him.
Once I was finally free, my motivation doubled.
I threw myself into my studies—devouring books, preparing for exams—and made a point to exercise every day.
I refused to let myself fall into the same kind of disarray as I had in my last life.
After half a year of relentless effort, I finally got accepted into graduate school.
During that time, Ethan called me once.
He stammered on the line:
"Mom, do you... miss me?"
I answered honestly,
"No. I didn't miss you. I've been very busy."
There was a pause.
"…Today is my ninth birthday."
"Happy birthday," I said with a smile.
"Don't you want to spend it with me?"
"Your dad said I'm not allowed to see you alone without his permission."
"Then… can't you ask him? Just this once?" Ethan's voice cracked with anxiety.
"I can't."
"Why do you always have to fight with Dad? Actually, he—"
"I don't have time for this. I have important things to do."
Then I hung up.
In my past life, I would've clung to the call, waiting for him to be the one to end it.
But look—
there's nothing that can't be cut off.
You just need enough disappointment.
One late night, after I'd already started graduate school, Zeyu called me.
I didn't block him because I assumed he'd never reach out again.
After more than a year of divorce, he had been the perfect ex—completely absent.
So when I answered groggily without checking the caller ID, I was surprised to hear his voice.
"Claire, don't think I'm giving you another chance."
"…What?"
Was this guy drunk?
"Lin Yaqi is pregnant with my child. I'm marrying her."
"Congratulations," I said flatly, even though he'd just woken me up in the middle of the night.
He gave a dry, bitter laugh and hung up.
I didn't take it seriously.
Until a few days later, I received a wedding invitation in the mail.
I thought it must have been a mistake.
But it had my full name on it.
Of course, just because they invited me didn't mean I was going to show up.
I tossed it into the trash without a second thought.
That same day, Ethan called again.
"Mom, why aren't you here yet?"
"Where?"
"At Dad and Auntie Lin's wedding. I came early this morning to hold your seat. Why didn't you come?"
My heart stayed still.
"I had other things to do," I said calmly. "But thank you for taking the seat. You can give it to someone else now."
I was ready to hang up.
But then Ethan's voice came, trembling:
"Are those other things more important than me?"
I thought for a moment, then answered seriously:
"Yes. They are."
You're not important at all.