Chapter 3: The Silence After Goodbye....

The morning sun poured through the wide windows of the Ming family villa, but its warmth didn’t touch Ming Yu Yuan.

He stood alone in the dining hall, a place that had once held silent meals and unspoken distance. Across the table, the chair Rui Yi Cheng used to occupy was empty—clean, cold, and quiet.

He stared at it for a long moment.

Then slowly, he sat down.

The housekeeper approached cautiously. “Sir, should I prepare Mr. Rui’s breakfast?”

Yu Yuan’s fingers clenched around his cup before he set it down. “No. He won’t be returning.”

The woman hesitated, then nodded and disappeared.

It felt strange—how the emptiness weighed heavier than presence ever had. Rui Yi Cheng had always moved softly, never demanded attention, never raised his voice. But now that he was gone, the silence roared.

Yu Yuan looked at the message his assistant had just forwarded.

“Attached: Divorce Documents - Drafted as requested by Mr. Rui Yi Cheng’s legal representative.”

His thumb hovered over the file but didn’t open it.

There had been no shouting, no begging. No accusations or tears.

Yi Cheng had simply left.

And somehow, that made it worse.

Yi Cheng sat across from the lawyer, his hands placed gently on his lap.

The office smelled of leather and ink, and a faint scent of peppermint from the secretary's diffuser in the corner. It was unfamiliar, yet strangely calming.

Mu Chen sat beside him, tense and protective, like a silent bodyguard.

The lawyer was young, efficient, and professional. “All the terms are clean. You’ve refused spousal support and inheritance. The only thing you’ve kept is the right to raise the child without interference.”

Yi Cheng nodded. “Yes. That’s all I want.”

The lawyer hesitated. “Mr. Rui… if I may ask—are you sure you want to give up all marital claims? The Ming family—”

“I don’t want anything with the Ming name on it,” Yi Cheng interrupted softly.

The lawyer blinked, then nodded and made a note.

“Once Mr. Ming signs, the divorce will be finalized in two weeks.”

Yi Cheng’s stomach turned at that. Not because he regretted it—but because it was real. Permanent.

Still, he lifted his chin.

He wouldn’t falter. Not now.

That evening, Yu Yuan sat in his study with the divorce papers open on the desk.

He had read them five times. Every word. Every clause.

Yi Cheng had asked for nothing. Not even money.

And in the section marked “reason for divorce,” he had written only one word:

“Irreparable.”

Yu Yuan closed the file and leaned back in his chair. His fingers rubbed his temple.

He hadn’t expected this.

Not from Yi Cheng. The omega who had clung silently to their marriage like it was a lifeline. The one who smiled when Yu Yuan ignored him. The one who made ginger tea when he had a cold, cooked meals without being asked, and never once complained when Yu Yuan failed to return home on time.

The one he had always thought would… stay.

It never occurred to him how easy it had been to overlook someone so quiet—until they were gone.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

It was Han Jun.

He walked in, dressed casually, his eyes narrowing the moment he noticed the files.

“Divorce?” he asked bluntly.

Yu Yuan nodded once.

“You let him go?”

Silence.

Han Jun sat across from him, scoffing. “You’re an idiot.”

Yu Yuan didn’t argue.

“You had someone who was ready to give you everything,” Han Jun muttered. “And you let rumors and that Yi Ran brat come between you two.”

“He said he’s pregnant,” Yu Yuan finally said, voice hoarse.

Han Jun looked up, stunned. “What?”

Yu Yuan’s hands trembled faintly. “He said he’s pregnant… and he’s keeping it. Alone.”

Han Jun sat back slowly, processing. “And you still let him walk away?”

“I thought I was doing the right thing,” Yu Yuan said, almost to himself. “He never said anything. Never complained. I thought… maybe he didn’t mind.”

Han Jun stared at him for a long time before speaking. “You don’t understand love, Yu Yuan. You think it’s supposed to be loud. Obvious. Yi Cheng was never loud—but he loved you more deeply than anyone ever could.”

Yu Yuan stayed quiet.

Han Jun stood and walked to the door.

“He’s finally choosing himself. If you ever want another chance—this time, you’ll have to earn it.”

And then he left, leaving Yu Yuan alone with nothing but the scent of lavender lingering faintly in his mind.

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To be continued...

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