The look in Ethan Yu's eyes changed instantly—deep, sharp, and unreadable.
Hailey Tang met his gaze, her expression calm, but curious. "Is there a problem?"
"You said it doesn't matter how I repay her?" he asked with a mild, almost mocking tone.
"That's right. However you want to compensate her, it's up to you."
If he wanted to marry Lin Xiner on the spot, she wouldn't object.
Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he'd heard the unspoken message behind her words. His gaze turned cold and piercing.
"Hailey Tang… You've really changed," he said slowly, his voice laced with something unreadable—disbelief, maybe even suspicion.
Hailey smiled faintly. "So now do you believe me when I say I want a divorce? I'm not playing games. I truly want out."
"Oh?" Ethan let out a low laugh, the corner of his lips lifting with a hint of mockery. "If that's the case, then I suppose I'll have to see you in a new light."
"No need," she replied simply. "Just agree to the divorce as soon as possible. That's all I want."
She didn't need his admiration, nor his change of perspective. She just wanted her freedom—now.
Though Ethan had been thinking about divorce too, being pushed like this left a sour taste in his mouth. It made him uncomfortable.
After all, it was Hailey who had clung to him back then—relentlessly insisting on marrying him. And now, it was her again, aggressively trying to cut ties.
Who did she think he was, some kind of switch she could flick on and off at will?
What Ethan hated the most was being controlled. In any way. His thoughts, his actions—his life.
Hailey Tang had forced her way into his marriage. And now she wanted to walk out on her own terms?
She really thought he'd just let her do whatever she pleased?
His smirk turned dangerous, his voice low with an edge of playfulness. "You know, Hailey, now that I think about it… we've been married all this time, but I've never even kissed you."
"…" Hailey blinked, stunned, completely thrown by the sudden shift in conversation.
Before she could process what he meant, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
With one hard tug, she was pulled straight into his arms—
And the next second, his lips were on hers.
Hailey's mind exploded in static.
She froze, eyes wide, completely blindsided.
Ethan Yu didn't rush. His lips pressed against hers slowly, deliberately, as if savoring her every reaction. His gaze never left her face, watching each flicker in her eyes like he was reading a book.
Hailey was dumbfounded.
In two lifetimes, she had never imagined he'd kiss her.
It was something she thought would never—could never—happen.
A complete impossibility.
Her mind went blank for a second, then rebooted in a rush. Regaining her senses, she shoved him away with all her strength.
"What the hell are you doing?!" she snapped, her voice shaking with equal parts fury and disbelief.
For the past few days, Hailey had maintained a calm, distant demeanor—like nothing could touch her anymore. But now, faced with this sudden, intimate ambush, she couldn't suppress her shock.
Seeing her finally react, Ethan chuckled darkly. "What do you think I'm doing? I'm kissing you. Don't tell me you don't know what that means."
Hailey quickly composed herself, glaring coldly at him. "And you don't find that disgusting?"
He always looked at her like she was some annoying bug—now suddenly he's kissing her? The hypocrisy was nauseating.
But Ethan's lips curved upward into a cool smirk. "Why would I find kissing my own wife disgusting?"
Wife? He had never treated her like one.
Hailey's eyes turned icy. "You're disgusting, Ethan Yu."
Then, without waiting for his response, she flung off the covers and prepared to get out of bed.
But the moment her feet hit the ground, a sharp jolt of pain shot through her ankle.
She'd forgotten—last night, when she was shoved aside during the chaos, she'd twisted her foot. It hadn't seemed serious at the time, but now…
She barely managed to stand before her knee buckled, and she fell—
Right into Ethan's arms.
He caught her effortlessly, his strong arms steady around her.
Hailey instinctively gripped his shirt, stunned by the sudden contact.
He looked down at her, smiling lazily, his voice teasing and full of wicked amusement. "Didn't you just call me disgusting? Then what do you call this—throwing yourself at me?"
Hailey wanted nothing more than to disappear into a hole. But her expression stayed cool, her tone unfazed. "It was an accident. Don't flatter yourself."
"Oh really?" he drawled, clearly enjoying himself. "Because everyone who knows you would say you've spent years trying to throw yourself at me. So tell me again—who's flattering who?"
Hailey felt a surge of humiliation rush to her cheeks, but she forced herself to stay composed.
Inside, though, she was seething.
She hated herself. Hated the way she used to cling to him like a fool. Hated that she had once loved him so blindly, so shamelessly.
Every word he threw back at her now—it wasn't a lie.
She had been that girl.
The one who chased him. Who begged. Who lowered her pride again and again.
But not anymore.
That version of her had died along with her past life.
Now she was different.
Stronger.
And nothing—not even a kiss—would change that.