Charles's frown deepened further, an edge of freezing irritation seeping into his tone.

"Sera, why must you insist on being so incredibly stubborn and combative? Do you even comprehend the reality of your medical situation? At any moment, you could—"

He broke off abruptly, realizing the cruelty of his words, and forced the rest of the sentence back down.

After a sharp intake of breath, he muttered, "Regardless of your arguments, I am not signing any dissolution papers."

Sera calmly stepped in to complete the thought he had cut short.

"At any moment, I could collapse and die alone in some corner of the world. Even if that happens, I accept the outcome, and I certainly don't require you to handle my remains."

"For five entire years of marriage, you kept your heart anchored to Chloe while holding me captive in this apartment. It was deeply unfair to both of us."

"I have spent far too long enduring a miserable, suffocating existence. I want my freedom now, and I refuse to have my legacy intertwined with yours for eternity."

"Even if you refuse to cooperate, I will file a contested petition through the courts. I have absolutely no intention of wasting my remaining days playing house with you."

Hearing this final declaration, Charles's hands curled into tight fists at his sides before slowly releasing.

"Drop the matter, Sera. I am not agreeing to a divorce."

With that final word, he turned on his heel and walked back into the kitchen.

"I have never liked lamb chops. In the past, it was always because you liked them that I forced myself to pretend I did just to cater to you."

"Look at you. You don't even know what I actually like. Do you honestly think there is any point in dragging out this marriage?"

Charles fell into a brief silence, setting down his cutlery as his tone grew somewhat heavy.

"I only want you to properly accept treatment."

Hearing this, Sera couldn't help but fire back.

"Is treatment even going to work? I told you before, it's late-stage uterine cancer. At most, I had six months, and now I only have three months left."

"Even if a miracle happens and the treatment is effective, what comes after that? Am I supposed to keep enduring your emotional neglect, your hypocritical parents, and a bunch of judgmental relatives who love to talk down to me?"

"Let me tell you, I can't do it anymore! I will never compromise my dignity again, and I don't love you anymore!"

With that, she took a deep breath to compose herself, slowing her pace to speak in a calm, flat tone.

"If you sign the divorce papers early, you can gain your freedom sooner. You can go chase after your unforgettable first love out in the open, and you won't have to settle for me under the guise of marriage anymore."

"I let go of Chloe a long time ago."

Charles's voice rose automatically. "What happened last time was an accident. I had no idea she would tag along. Ever since we came back from the desert three months ago, I haven't contacted her a single time."

"Right now, the only thing I care about is your body."

The moment the words left his mouth, the surrounding couples dining in the restaurant turned to look at them.

Charles let out a soft cough, yet he still maintained his stance. "I do not agree to a divorce, and I will not sign this agreement. Let the matter drop, don't speak of it again."

Sera completely lost her patience upon hearing this.

"I'll leave the agreement here, you can think it over at your own pace. I've already found a new apartment and will not be returning to our place. Contact me whenever you've finally come to your senses."

With that, she gathered her bag, preparing to leave.

The exact moment Sera stood up, she spotted Chloe walking into the restaurant.

Chloe moved gracefully toward the two of them, a soft, perfectly elegant smile on her face.

"What a coincidence. You two are dining here as well."

Charles instinctively glanced at Sera. Seeing her expression remain completely undisturbed, he turned to Chloe.

"What are you doing here?"

Chloe offered a sweet, somewhat distant smile. "My husband and I are celebrating our anniversary, and we happened to reserve a table at this restaurant too. Since I ran into you, I just wanted to come over and say hello."

Sera had no interest in engaging with her. She picked up her coat, intending to walk away, but Chloe stepped in to block her.

"Sera, why are you leaving the moment I arrive? Please don't misunderstand, I only came over to say hello. I have no intention of interrupting your date with Charles."

As she spoke, her gaze carelessly drifted over the separation agreement resting on the table.

Upon recognizing the bold text on the document, a flicker of light flashed through Chloe's eyes, though she chose not to point it out.

She turned her gaze back to Charles, her tone carrying a hint of gentle teasing.

"Charles, your way of coaxing women hasn't changed at all after all these years. Back when we used to argue, you always loved booking a table at this exact restaurant to apologize to me. I didn't expect you'd still be pulling the same old tricks."

"You really should upgrade your tactics. Women these days aren't as easily appeased as they used to be."

As she delivered the line, her eyes cast a pointed, meaningful look at Sera.

Sera's brows knit together, her voice dropping into an icy tone.

"Greedy and unfaithful, aren't you afraid of choking on your own schemes? If you're so desperate to climb back into Charles's bed, go right ahead. He's nothing more than a piece of discarded trash to me, and I'm entirely done with him."

Hearing this, Chloe choked, utterly speechless.

She had never expected Sera to be so ruthless and direct.

Sera cast a freezing glare over her, refused to linger for another second, and walked straight out of the restaurant.

The moment her figure vanished, Chloe turned to look at Charles, whose face had turned incredibly dark, and asked tentatively.

"Charles, are you two truly getting a divorce?"

Charles's brows snapped together, his response curt and freezing.

"This is my private business."

Having her pride wounded repeatedly, Chloe's expression soured slightly, but she still pressed on with her advice.

"I know you're terrified about Sera's illness, but everyone has to face that day eventually. Since her mind is entirely made up, letting her go early would be best for both of you."

Charles raised his head, his piercing gaze locking onto Chloe with such intense scrutiny that she felt a sudden chill run down her spine.

After a long pause, Charles tore his gaze away, snatched the separation agreement from the table, stood up, and stormed out.

Chloe was left standing entirely alone, her expression heavily conflicted.

The moment Sera arrived at her newly rented apartment, her phone buzzed with a message from Charles.

"You didn't eat anything tonight, your body won't be able to handle the strain. Let me bring you some food, where are you staying right now?"

"Is the separation agreement signed?"

Sera replied with a single question. After sending the message, she waited, but the other side fell into a prolonged silence.

Seeing this, Sera refused to waste any more time and immediately contacted her attorney to file for a contested court divorce.

During the days she spent waiting for the legal proceedings to clear, she visited the famous scenic lakes, ancient temples, and wetlands.

She continued to document her journey, updating her photography page just like she always did.

Her life was entirely peaceful and liberating.

Throughout this period, Charles would send sporadic messages checking in on her physical condition.

Sera ignored every single one, focused entirely on waiting for the court date.

A week later, it was the traditional day of remembrance.

Sera woke up early, stopped by a florist to purchase two bundles of white daisies, and made her way to the memorial park.

Dressed in a simple black coat, she stood before her parents' resting place, arranging the flowers neatly against the stone monument.

A fine, continuous drizzle began to fall, leaving her clothes damp and chilly.

Sera stared at the black-and-white photographs of her parents etched into the stone, an ocean of complex emotions swirling in her eyes.

After a long silence, she finally spoke softly.

"Mom, Dad, I came to see you."

"The past three months have felt like a wild dream, pulling me straight out of purgatory and into paradise."

"But these past few months have been the happiest moments I have ever experienced in my entire life. In the past, I always followed your instructions blindly—being mature, being compliant, and always yielding. I lived exactly the way you wanted me to live, but I never spent a single second living for myself."