Chapter 27

I had to admit, Jonathan possessed a face that could make any man envious. His good looks were almost surreal. After all, he was the man I’d secretly admired for so long. Countless women harbored crushes on him during college, but most kept them private. I’d heard only the wealthy and beautiful dared to pursue him. Yet, he seemed solely focused on his studies and career, never showing interest in dating. Therefore, I still couldn't comprehend how I'd ended up married to him. Honestly, when I first woke and discovered we were married, it was a pleasant surprise. But his aloofness quickly extinguished that feeling. Regardless of his attractiveness, wealth, or good looks, he remained emotionally unavailable, as cold as an iceberg. And not only was he clueless, but disrespectful as well. I couldn't tolerate this anymore. But I remained curious—how had we ended up together? I hadn't had the chance to ask before the black Cullinan pulled into a vast estate. The location was remote, yet surprisingly close to the city center. Stepping from the car, a strange familiarity washed over me.

Ford Manor, steeped in over a century of history, had belonged to the family for generations. Time had only enhanced its timeless sophistication. Each generation of Ford heirs had meticulously maintained this ancestral home. Even after all these years, it looked not dilapidated, but classic and resplendent with history and culture. I shook my head, stunned. Jonathan noticed. "What's wrong? Are you unwell?" he asked. "No," I replied, "This is the last time. Tell your grandfather we're getting a divorce. I won't be coming back."

Jonathan's expression remained stormy throughout our walk to the manor; he didn't speak. His face darkened immediately after I mentioned divorce, as it had for days. Each time I brought it up, he grew cold and silent. I didn't understand his reaction. What could I do to convince him of my sincerity? Had I been so dramatic in the past that they believed I wasn't serious, merely seeking attention? Would I really have to find another man and feign an affair for them to believe me? My thoughts raced as Jonathan led me into the living room.

This was genuinely a luxurious, multi-generational manor. It exuded wealth and extravagance, and I, someone relatively unsophisticated, gasped in amazement. The truly expensive homes weren't those ostentatiously displaying wealth, but classic, elegant manors like this, where any item could be a priceless antique.

Soon, an elderly gentleman in a suit entered. His hair and beard were completely white; he carried a seemingly ordinary cane. But the deep, resonant thud it made on the floor suggested otherwise. At first glance, he seemed unassuming, but his demeanor spoke of an extraordinary man. "Jonathan," he said, seating himself with the butler's assistance. He looked at Jonathan with a blend of sternness and warmth. "You're here." Jonathan nodded and brought me forward. The elderly man scoffed coldly upon seeing me, then ignored me. I froze. I'd never met him, yet a strange familiarity, coupled with an inexplicable sense of resistance, filled my mind.