Chapter 2： The man doesn't like women
1234 Words
After his morning workout, Calvin settled on the sofa to catch the morning news, exemplifying a level of self-discipline that seemed almost superhuman. Regardless of how late he slept, he always managed to rise on time, stick to his morning routine of exercise, breakfast, and catching up on the news, operating with the precision of a well-programmed machine.
However, this morning was different. The news cycle ended, and Selina hadn't appeared downstairs.
With no change in his expression, Calvin headed upstairs to change his clothes, casting a cool glance towards Selina's firmly shut door.
Her words from the previous night lingered in his mind, stirring a flicker of displeasure. After quickly changing, he returned downstairs.
He took his seat at the dining table with a stern expression and commanded in a measured tone, “Ask Mrs. Calvin to come down for breakfast.”
Emma, the housekeeper, hesitated as she approached him, her voice trembling slightly, "Sir, the lady isn’t here. She left this in her room."
This morning, Emma had received a message from Selina instructing her to hand over some documents she left behind. Emma had wanted to say something earlier but was deterred by Calvin's serious demeanor as he watched the news. Now, seizing the moment, she handed him the hot-potato documents.
"What is it?" Calvin's inquiry was sharp, seeing Emma's nervous manner.
He took the document from her, and the bold print "Divorce Agreement" jumped out at him.
The papers turned his normally icy demeanor even colder, yet a sardonic smile played on his lips.
Emma, sensing the tension rise dramatically, quickly excused herself to the kitchen.
Calvin skimmed the document with an almost predatory speed. When his eyes landed on the section about asset division, a derisive snort escaped him, his eyes flashing with scorn.
"She doesn't even pretend well."
She was leaving without claiming any of his wealth, effectively walking away with nothing.
The terms of the agreement seemed insincere. Selina had always shown an interest in his money; how could she possibly want to leave with nothing now?
But his smirk faded as he read the stated reason for their divorce.
It read simply, “The man's s****l orientation is unclear, which has made normal marital relations impossible and resulted in an irreparable breakdown of the marriage.”
Though the claim wasn’t true, the insult stung, darkening his already stern face, his irritation manifesting as a cold smirk.
Calvin picked up his phone and dialed Selina’s number.
“Hello?” Her voice was lazy, tinged with detachment.
“Selina, what does this mean?”
Detecting Calvin’s barely contained fury through the phone, Selina hesitated, knowing he only used that controlled tone when enraged.
But they were divorcing, so his mood was irrelevant now.
“Didn’t I make myself clear last night? Can't CEO Calvin understand?”
Her voice, now cold and distant, sounded alien and even a bit spiteful through the phone.
Calvin, crumpling the paper in his hand, his voice icy yet seething with barely suppressed rage, pressed further, “I’m asking about the reason for the divorce.”
Selina paused before replying with a mocking lilt, “After all these years sleeping apart, only touching me when you're drunk, and then acting like you've touched something vile the next morning—shouldn't I have doubts?”
It was hard to believe these biting words were spoken by the usually gentle Selina, who now seemed as defensively sharp as a porcupine.
Calvin's grip on the paper tightened, his voice calm yet authoritative, “Come back and remove this trash yourself, or you'll regret it.”
Selina inhaled deeply, her voice soft yet resolute, “Calvin, whatever happens, I’ll handle it. Just sign it. Let’s set a time to finalize everything. Holding the title of Mrs. Calvin has held you back long enough.”
“Do as you wish.” His voice was frosty.
Dropping those words, Calvin ended the call, uninterested in her dramatics.
For Selina, those words felt like a release from a heavy burden. She had carefully stayed by his side for five years, but it hadn't been enough to warm his heart. It was time to end it.
She whispered to herself, "Selina, once you walk away, never look back."
Now, lying in her modest apartment, where she didn’t need to accommodate anyone else’s habits or worry about anyone's well-being, life seemed as serene and content as the days before her father's death, waiting for her mother to wake her up each morning.
This apartment, though small, was purchased with her own money during the divorce preparations. Living here, she felt a peace she hadn’t known in a long time.
Relaxed at last, she lazily lay in bed gazing at the ceiling, drifting off again, only to awaken in the
late afternoon.
She had planned to have dinner with Hilary, but after being stood up due to a last-minute work emergency, Selina wasn’t phased. She spent the evening alone, enjoying her freedom as she shopped, dined, and roamed through the mall.
Back at his office that night, Calvin reviewed documents in the quiet. The sudden ring of his phone broke the silence.
Nonchalantly, he answered. The excited voice on the other end chirped, “Calvin, guess who I spotted at the bar?”
“If you have something to say, just say it.”
Calvin, massaging his temples, maintained his usual cool disinterest.
Knowing Calvin could hang up at any moment, Luther quickly revealed, “Your wife. She’s alone and seems in good spirits. And, boy, she’s not lacking for company.”
Calvin's pen halted, his voice becoming a dull echo, “If my investments don’t meet expectations this year, I'll withdraw next year.”
Understanding the subtext—that Calvin was criticizing his idleness—Luther retorted teasingly, “Your money is more than you could spend in several lifetimes. Are you planning to have your son cremate it with you? Just a heads-up—be careful not to be so busy making money that others spend it for you. One day you might look in the mirror and see nothing but green.”
With that, Luther quickly hung up, denying Calvin the chance to respond.
After the call, Calvin's grip on his pen tightened, his eyes glinting coldly.
Then, a dismissive smirk crossed his lips as he lowered his gaze back to his documents, regaining his composure.
After finishing all his work and enduring a video conference that lasted over an hour, Calvin returned home around ten o'clock.
The dark, empty house was unsettling since he disliked having strangers at home, and Emma usually didn’t stay overnight.
Previously, no matter how late he returned, Selina would always leave a light on for him in the living room.
This was the first time in five years that hadn’t happened.
Seeing her slippers by the shoe cabinet and recalling Luther’s words, Calvin’s lips curled slightly, a chill passing through his narrowed eyes.
After taking a bath and settling into his study to review documents, he reached for his water cup only to find it empty.
He disliked being disturbed while working, yet Selina, ever inconsiderate, would often come in to refill his water, bring him milk, or offer fruit.
Thinking of Selina, Calvin pinched the bridge of his nose.
Just then, his phone rang inopportunely. Seeing the name on the screen, his frown deepened.
- Writer
