CHAPTER 7
1298 Words
Kennah tried to hold his hand.
But Earl refused.
He immediately stepped back, putting distance between them. His movement was fast, almost like a reflex. His eyes were cold, filled with emotions he himself could not fully understand.
“Bring your ID,” he said fiercely while staring straight into Kennah’s eyes.
There was anger there. Pain. And something heavier underneath.
He could not explain why his chest felt so tight. Why his heart was beating so hard. But something inside him was pushing him forward, forcing him to say the words he never imagined he would say to the woman he loved for five years.
“We’re getting a divorce at the Civil Affairs Bureau!”
The words hung in the air.
For a moment, everything became quiet.
Kennah took a deep breath.
Then she smiled softly.
“Okay, look. Stop making scenes, Earl,” she said in a calm voice, like she was talking to a stubborn child instead of a husband asking for divorce.
She walked closer to him again, her heels making soft sounds against the floor.
“I could take you to a villa,” she continued gently. “I could make you live the best of your life. A life of the wealthy.”
Her voice sounded warm. Persuasive.
“Don’t be angry anymore. We can have a good life there,” she paused for a second, her eyes softening. “Together.”
She reached out again, trying to hold his hand.
“Why are you still upset?”
But Earl moved backward again.
His expression did not change.
“I don’t care about your villa,” he said. “I don’t care about your billions. I’m not going with you.”
Kennah frowned slightly, clearly not expecting that answer.
“It’s not like I faked being wealthy and got caught,” she said, her tone becoming more serious. “I could give you the life you can’t access — the life of a billionaire.”
She crossed her arms lightly.
“What’s there to be angry about?”
To her, it seemed simple.
She had money.
She could give him comfort.
So why was he still mad?
Then she opened her purse and took out a card.
Without hesitation, she handed it to him.
“Alright. Working too hard for my fake injuries is wrong,” she admitted casually. “Take this card. It has a million dollars there. Go take it and buy something nice for yourself.”
Her words sounded almost generous.
Like she was giving a reward.
Earl did not react.
He just stood there, staring at her.
Kennah sighed again, this time with a little impatience.
“Refusing a billion dollars?” she said. “You have to deliver pizza for fifty years to earn that much!”
Earl let out a quiet breath.
“Yes,” he said calmly. “All my savings combined aren’t even enough to buy that expensive watch you gave to Damon.”
His voice was not loud.
But it carried pain.
Deep pain.
The image of that moment flashed again in his mind — Kennah smiling while putting that luxury watch on another man’s wrist. The way she leaned close. The way she looked happy.
That memory hurt more than any insults.
“Kennah… I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she said softly.
Her tone changed.
At first, this was just a game,” she continued. “But later I started to feel like…”
She suddenly stopped talking.
Her phone vibrated.
The sound cut through the moment.
Kennah took it out and glanced at the screen.
It was a message.
From Damon.
Her eyes moved quickly as she read it.
“Just do it, Kennah. A man like him will never deserve to be near you!”
“Earl, you can be stubborn with me.”
Her tone suddenly changed.
It was no longer soft or patient like earlier. The warmth disappeared almost instantly, replaced by something sharp and cold. It was like a switch flipped inside her. The woman standing in front of him now felt unfamiliar — distant, impatient, and aggressive.
“But does your father need to suffer because of your stubbornness!?” she continued.
Earl froze.
His brows slowly pulled together.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
Kennah crossed her arms, her posture confident, almost arrogant.
“Right now you’re just a man from the bottom with nothing,” she said bluntly. “This rental apartment expires today. Without me, you won’t be able to survive in the city.”
Her words landed like heavy stones.
Each sentence hit directly into Earl’s chest.
She smiled.
But it was not the gentle smile he used to love.
It was cold.
Unfeeling.
“Contact me when you think it through,” she added casually as she walked past him.
Her shoulder brushed against his arm, but she did not even look back.
The door closed behind her.
Earl stood there, stunned.
For a moment, he could not move.
His eyes slowly turned red, and his vision blurred slightly. He clenched his fists, trying to control the emotions rising inside him. The humiliation, the anger, the heartbreak — everything mixed together until he could barely breathe.
“I would rather live under a bridge than ever come back to you…” he muttered to himself.
His voice was low, almost breaking.
Without wasting more time, Earl started gathering his belongings. There was not much to take. A few clothes. Some personal items. Things that represented his simple life.
Every corner of the apartment carried memories.
Five years.
Five years of marriage.
Five years of believing they were building a life together.
And now… it was ending like this.
After packing everything he could carry, Earl walked outside.
The air felt colder than before.
Then he noticed someone sitting near the entrance.
An old man.
His father.
“Father… what are you doing here?” Earl asked, surprised.
The old man looked up, confused.
“Isn’t it you who called me here?” his father replied.
Earl’s expression changed slightly.
“Oh… it was Kennah,” he said slowly, his voice lowering.
A complicated feeling spread inside him again. He did not know if he should feel grateful or angry. Kennah had called his father here, maybe to pressure him, maybe to make him give up.
“What happened to you, Earl?” his father asked with concern. “What happened between you and Kennah?”
Earl forced a small smile.
“It’s nothing, Dad,” he said. “Come on. You must have been hungry. Let’s grab some food.”
He did not want to explain.
Not yet.
Maybe he was still trying to process everything himself.
They walked together to a nearby small restaurant. The place was simple and a little crowded, with warm lights and the smell of cooked food filling the air. It was nothing fancy, but it felt comfortable.
After they sat down, they ordered a few dishes.
Earl watched his father quietly while waiting for the food. The old man looked tired. His clothes were worn, and his hands showed years of hard work. Seeing him like this made Earl’s chest ache again.
He should have been the one taking care of his father.
But now… he could barely take care of himself.
When the food was finally served, steam rose from the plates. The smell was good, making Earl realize how hungry he actually was.
Before they could start eating, the restaurant owner walked toward their table.
“How much is this?” Earl asked politely.
“Ten dollars,” the owner replied.
Earl reached into his pocket and pulled out his money.
But he was...
He was short.
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