He Gave My Gift To Her, I Divorced Him

Chapter 4

Genevieve stood frozen in place for a long time before finally stumbling out of the store in a daze.

The snow had stopped, but the biting wind still howled.

After walking against the freezing wind for over half an hour, she finally reached home. Austin was already asleep.

The soft moonlight bathed his face, highlighting his sharp, cold features.

Genevieve stood by the bed, staring at him. She realized with a pang how much Austin had changed over the last ten years. The green, innocent boy in a high school uniform was completely gone.

It felt as though a tear had ripped open in her heart, letting the freezing wind pour in and make her entire body tremble. "Austin..." she whispered, her voice shaking.

The name left her lips, but nothing followed.

If this had been ten years ago, she would have shaken him awake and demanded to know if he still loved her.

But she couldn't do that now...

Because she was terrified that the answer would be no.

She didn't sleep at all that night. The next morning, she headed straight to the studio.

"Genevieve, about Zenith's..." The moment she walked in, Jessica gasped, startled by her haggard appearance. "Genevieve, why do you look so awful?"

Genevieve shook her head. The messy entanglement of her marriage was something she couldn't explain, and she had no desire to become the subject of office gossip.

She simply asked, "What happened with Zenith?"

Jessica snapped out of it. "The President of Zenith is here to see you. He's waiting in the conference room."

The President? Wasn't that Austin's half-brother, Gideon Hayes?

Filled with doubt, Genevieve walked into the conference room. She found Gideon casually admiring the studio's trophy wall.

He was exceptionally handsome, with eyes very similar to Austin's, though his features carried a more rakish, charming air.

Genevieve got straight to the point. "What brings you here, Mr. Hayes? The partnership between Zenith and Apex has already been terminated."

In the three years she had been married to Austin, she had only met Gideon a handful of times.

Gideon raised an eyebrow. "That was Austin's deal with Apex. I'm here representing myself today. I assume you didn't know, Ms. White, but this bidding process is actually to secure a massive new project from Brooks Corporation. Austin and I are leading competing teams..."

At that, he looked directly at her. "So, you can imagine just how critical the design proposals for this bid are."

Genevieve was stunned. As a giant in the real estate industry, a contract with Brooks Corporation was highly coveted. The outcome of this bid would likely decide the winner of the power struggle between Austin and Gideon.

She fell silent for a moment before asking, "If it's so important, why come to me?"

"I've reviewed your design. It's brilliant, and it perfectly aligns with Brooks Corporation's vision."

Gideon paused deliberately, a playful smirk playing on his lips. "Besides, word on the street is that Austin and Chairman Brooks' daughter are more than just friends. How could this drama unfold without you, the key player?"

He spoke nonchalantly, as if her entire relationship with Austin was nothing more than a show put on for his entertainment.

Genevieve frowned, on the verge of turning him down.

But Gideon held up his hand, splaying his fingers in front of her. "Five million."

Genevieve's anger instantly evaporated. Staring at his hand, the words to kick him out died on her tongue. Instead, she said, "Deal."

No one in their right mind would turn down that kind of money. Besides, deep down, she had no desire to let Austin and Summer get what they wanted.

News of Apex's collaboration with Gideon spread incredibly fast.

The moment Genevieve got home, she found Austin sitting on the sofa, his face dark and his eyes cold.

"When did you meet with Gideon?"

Genevieve calmly closed the door behind her. "He came to see me this morning."

"Call off the collaboration," Austin demanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Genevieve paused. "Why?"

Austin stood up abruptly, anger simmering in his cold eyes. "Don't you know how many people he sleeps around with?!"

Genevieve was stunned by his words, taking a moment to fully grasp what he was implying.

It felt like a knife piercing her heart, and her response was laced with bitter pain.

"Do you think everyone is like you, Austin?"

She couldn't understand how he could accuse her so righteously when he had been cheating on her with Summer for the past two years.

"You..."

Austin's face instantly changed.

But Genevieve just let out a dry laugh.

"The drinks, the Starlight Bracelet, the stickers... How many little secrets do you and Summer have that I don't know about? Do you think my love for you makes me too pathetic to call you out on your cheating? Or did you think I was so stupid that I wouldn't notice you rubbing it in my face?"

Seeing the twisted, miserable smile on her face, Austin's chest tightened. He reached out to grab her wrist.

"Calm down."

Genevieve slapped his hand away.

If she had kept playing dumb, they could have maintained the illusion of a perfect marriage. But Genevieve was done playing the fool.

"Do you remember what you promised me when we got married?"

She didn't wait for his answer. "You promised me that if you ever stopped loving me, you would tell me honestly."

"It's just a divorce. Did you really think I wouldn't let you go?"

The word "divorce" threw Austin into a panic. He pulled her roughly into his arms. "I was wrong. Please, don't be mad..."

Genevieve's eyelashes trembled, and hot tears spilled down her cheeks.

That night, Austin held her tightly in his arms. "I'll end things with her."

His embrace was warm—a warmth Genevieve hadn't felt in years.

Yet all she felt was a deep, chilling emptiness. Exhausted, she closed her eyes and remained silent.

Over the next few days, Austin seemed to have genuinely cut ties with Summer. He stopped working late like he had for the past two years and came straight home early.

But on the seventh day, Summer showed up at Apex Studio.

With bloodshot eyes, she begged the moment she spoke, "Please, I'm begging you, let Austin go."