He Kneeled for Divorce, I Signed Without Hesitation

Chapter 2

Outside, the snow fell heavily, and my mother-in-law insisted I stay one more night.

After the beating and an entire night frozen in the snow, Arthur lost consciousness.

The servants hurriedly carried him back to the guest room, and the family doctor rushed over with his medical kit.

I stood in the corridor, listening to my mother-in-law's suppressed crying seeping through the c***k in the door.

Back in the master bedroom, I looked at the jewelry, bags, and clothes in the walk-in closet.

Every single item had been given to me by Arthur. Once, they were proof of love. Now, what were they supposed to mean?

The door suddenly opened.

Arthur was supported by two servants, swaying as he stood at the doorway.

His face was as pale as paper, thick bandages wrapped around his back. Every step made his brows tighten in pain.

"Violet..."

His voice was hoarse as he signaled the servants to leave.

"I'm sorry," he leaned against the doorframe and spoke weakly. "I was selfish... I didn't think it through."

I didn't stop folding our son's clothes.

"The savings will be split in half. Plus part of the company shares... enough for you and Leo to live comfortably. Also," he hesitated over his words, "I'll tell everyone I was the one who failed you. A peaceful divorce. I won't let you carry any bad reputation... You're still young. You'll definitely meet someone better in the future."

I finally stopped what I was doing and turned to look at him.

His eyes were filled with guilt and pain—so real, so heavy.

If it had been yesterday, I might have softened.

But now, I only found it ridiculous.

I walked up to him and asked softly, "Are you doing all this for my sake, or just to buy yourself peace of mind?"

His pupils contracted sharply.

"You're just trying to use compensation to silence your own guilt." I laughed, tears suddenly falling before I could stop them. "So you can walk away cleanly, without guilt, and take care of Vivian and her child, right?"

"No, Violet, I—"

He tried to explain urgently, but the moment he met my eyes, all his words froze in his throat.

After a long silence, he finally forced out a dry sentence. "Life... always has regrets. Some things, once missed, are gone forever."

I nodded and stepped back. "Leo and I—these five years of ours can't even compare to that regret in your heart."

His lips trembled, but in the end, only three words came out. "...I'm sorry."

I said nothing more and turned away.

Snow began falling again outside the window.

For a moment, I was dazed, remembering that winter many years ago when he had also knelt in the snow.

He had been wearing a thin down jacket, waiting for me downstairs at the rental apartment.

When I got off work, he suddenly dropped to his knees in the snow.

With frozen, red hands, he held out a crumpled velvet box. Inside was a silver ring that wasn't even particularly refined.

"Violet, I know I have nothing right now, and I'm not worthy of you... Let this snow be the witness. If you don't accept me, it's fine. I can wait... I can wait until the day I'm worthy..."

He didn't finish.

I snatched the box, took out the ring, and clumsily slid it onto my ring finger.

It was a little loose, but I held it tight.

I pulled him up, brushed the snow off him, and unwrapped my scarf to warm his frozen hands.

"I'm willing."

Snowflakes fell into his eyes, melting into tears of burning warmth.

He held me tightly and swore through tears, "Violet, I will never betray you in this lifetime. When the time comes, I'll give you a bigger diamond ring, and a wedding that makes the whole world envy you."

Back then, I thought holding that ring meant holding forever.