Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

"Dakato is my ex-wife!" Faris blurted out.

I stared at him, genuinely shocked, but then it all started to click.

Faris and Dakato had that vibe of a couple with history, so it made sense they were once married.

Thinking back to the intense look Dakato gave Faris and her words at the bar, "If you need, I don't mind," she never said, "I still love you," or did anything dramatic, but her deep-seated feelings could be felt. "She still loves you. Don't let down a woman who loves you with all her heart," I said softly, leaning against the car window.

Faris suddenly leaned over, turned my shoulders to face him, and looked at me seriously, almost pleadingly.

"What about a guy who loves you with all his heart? Can you give him a chance?"

I didn't answer, couldn't even meet his eyes.

I'd been hurt too much, and I didn't want to hurt anyone else.

Faris seemed to get it, gave a bitter smile, and let go of me.

He leaned back, opened his window, and lit a cigarette, looking all kinds of melancholic. "If you don't have that person in your heart, no matter what he does, you won't see it. So how can you talk about letting him down?" I looked away, feeling a wave of sadness.

I thought, 'Maybe that's it. Is that why Ethan doesn't have me in his heart? It feels like he's stabbing me with a knife when he says those hurtful things, yet he stays so calm.'

"If you don't have anywhere to go right now, you can crash at my place."

Faris added with a self-deprecating laugh, "I won't try anything, promise."

I shook my head, "Thanks, but I'll check out The Emoire Artistry Group. Right now, it's the only thing that can prove I'm not a failure." "Hold on a sec."

I was about to open the car door when he stopped me.

Then Faris drove to the mall, told me to wait in the car, and went inside to park.

After a bit, he came back.

He opened my door and pulled out a pair of women's flat leather shoes from a shoebox, really fancy ones that looked pricey.

He squatted down, took my foot, and started putting the shoes on for me.

That's when I realized I wasn't wearing any shoes.

"I can do it myself."

I tried to pull my foot back, but Faris held it firmly, not letting me, and put the shoes on for me.

They fit perfectly, even though he hadn't asked my size. Looking at the shoes on my feet, he smiled, clearly pleased with himself.

"Try to wear fewer high heels in the future; they're not great for your feet."

The shoes were top-notch and super comfy. I genuinely said, "Thanks."

After that, he drove me back to The Emoire Artistry Group. When I got out of the car, he mentioned he'd smoke a cigarette before heading off. From the office window, I saw his car still parked under the streetlight.

About ten minutes later, he finally drove away.

It was late, and a light drizzle had started. Worried about Hunter and Harper, I called Luna. She said the kids had gone to bed early and told me not to worry. I wanted to ask if Ethan had come back, but the words got stuck in my throat.

Even though Ethan had been drinking, with Dennis around, he should be fine.

Despite everything, I still couldn't help but worry about him.

I spent the night in the office lounge, unable to sleep, feeling like everything was surreal and not understanding why things had turned out this way.

Later, when I got sleepy, I had some chaotic dreams. I couldn't clearly remember what I dreamed about, just a lot of people and things all jumbled together. The next morning, I woke up early.

I got up, washed up, and sat in front of the mirror, looking at myself.

A person's face really couldn't hide their emotions. When someone was sad, they looked particularly worn out, just like I did at that moment.

I took out my makeup kit and started putting on makeup.

Ethan sounded so determined. I couldn't cling to him shamelessly.

Even if we were to part, I wanted to do it with some dignity. I didn't want to look like a discarded woman, even though that was the truth.

Just as I was almost done with my makeup, my phone rang, and the screen lit up with the word "Darling," which made my heart ache again. I answered, and he asked, "Where are you?"

I said I was at The Emoire Artistry Group, and he said he would come to pick me up so we could go to the Marriage Bureau together. So early, so eager.

If Ethan could be so carefree, why should I still be heartbroken?

I gave a bitter smile to my reflection in the mirror and said into the phone, "Okay."

I put down the lipstick I had picked up and chose a brighter color from the row of lipsticks, gently applying it in front of the mirror.

When I left the office, my assistant, who had just arrived, was startled. "Ms. Russell, you're here so early?"

Her eyes zeroed in on my lips. I never wore such bright lipstick before, so it must've seemed odd to her.

I just nodded and stepped into the elevator.

As I walked out of The Emoire Artistry Group, I immediately spotted Ethan's car.

The window was down, and he was leaning back with his eyes closed, one hand resting on the window, holding a cigarette.

I took a deep breath and walked over, opening the passenger door and getting in.

He must've been lost in thought because he only noticed me when I suddenly sat down. He looked at me, his gaze falling on my lips, and he was momentarily stunned. Then he put out the cigarette and started the car.

After driving for a bit, he handed me a brown paper bag.

"You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Eat something first. I bought it on the way."

I took it and saw the logo on the bag, my eyes immediately welling up.

"Stop the car!" I said.

He gave me a puzzled look but pulled over to the side of the road.

I took a deep breath, holding back my tears, and said, "I thought about it all night and still can't understand. It was too sudden. You said it was because of our fathers, but that's not right. When it first happened, you didn't say that. So everything you said yesterday is full of holes. I don't believe it."

I got more agitated as I spoke, grabbing his arm and looking at him expectantly.

I added, "Do you have some hidden trouble? Or are you facing some difficulty? If that's the case, we can face it together. I'm not the same person I used to be. I can help you."

Ethan frowned slightly, biting his lip, and slowly withdrew his arm from my grasp.

"I have no hidden troubles," he said.

"I love you!"

The tears I had been holding back finally fell.

Since I couldn't hide my tears, there was no need to hide them.

Turned out I couldn't be carefree.

I unbuckled my seatbelt, pitifully clutching Ethan's sleeve, crying.

"I love you. I don't want to separate from you. I need you, and the children need you. They are yours, really yours."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him hard.

Ethan was forced to retreat until his back was against the car door, with nowhere else to go.

He never responded to me, remaining extremely calm, so calm that it scared me, making my lips tremble and my tears fall on his face.

He placed his hands on my shoulders, slowly pushing me away. His lips were smeared with my lipstick, looking a bit messy.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he looked at me with a rational and calm gaze.

"You're right. We're not suitable for each other. We've tried to make it work for so long, but there are too many problems."

It felt like all my strength had been drained, and I fell back into my seat.

He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt in frustration and reached for a cigarette, only to find the pack empty.

He crumpled the empty pack, leaned back in his seat, licked his lips, and finally spoke in a low voice.

"My father took your father's life. I sent my father to prison for your justice. If we could still be together under such circumstances, wouldn't that be strange? Emily, I don't want to deceive myself anymore."

I understood that no matter how humble I was, nothing could change his decision. So, I decided to keep the last shred of my dignity.

With a faint, bitter smile, I took out a wet wipe from my bag and wiped the lipstick off his lips. He was a bit stiff but didn't refuse.

For that last bit of dignity, I resisted the urge to throw myself into his arms, wiping carefully and calmly.

I could feel his gaze, but I didn't have the courage to meet his eyes. I was afraid of seeing his unfamiliarity, indifference, and determination.

After wiping him clean, I sat back and held the wet wipe in my hand, looking out the window with red eyes, and said faintly, "I don't want anything. I just want the children. Since you doubt their parentage, I don't think you would want them." "Okay."

Ethan agreed readily and restarted the car.

When we arrived at the Marriage Bureau, I threw the bag of toast into the trash can in front of him.

"People change. What I used to like, I don't like anymore."

He gave me a faint look without showing much emotion, one hand in his pocket, and walked into the Marriage Bureau.

The divorce papers were placed in front of me. I glanced at them. The house was given to me, and the children were given to me. I crossed out the part about the house, signed my name, and stamped my fingerprint. "I said I don't want anything. I just want the children."

I pretended to be carefree, but when I received the stamped divorce papers, my heart was bleeding, and it hurt so much.

Just as I walked out of the Marriage Bureau, a car suddenly screeched to a halt in front of me. The window rolled down, and the person in the driver's seat was Faris.