After The Divorce I Became Untouchable: The Rise Of Ghost Do

Chapter 1: The Birthday Divorce

The night Ivan Murphy was divorced was louder than a gunshot, and colder than winter.

Laughter filled the Zhao family villa, sharp and bright beneath crystal chandeliers.

Red banners hung from marble pillars, announcing Madam Zhao’s sixtieth birthday in bold gold letters.

Important people filled the hall; famous doctors, wealthy investors, minor politicians, heirs with famous last names.

But Ivan, Ivan stood near the edge of the crowd.

He wore a plain black suit that had been cleaned too many times. In his hands was a neatly wrapped gift he had spent weeks choosing.

No one looked at him.

No one greeted him. To the Zhao family, he was just a piece of furniture. Something useful once, now ignored.

“Isn’t that the useless son-in-law?” someone whispered from the other end.

“He’s still here? Shameless.”

Laughter.

“He really thinks he belongs.”

Ivan heard every word, but he said nothing.

For three years, he had learned the value of silence.

Then the doors opened.

The laughter slowed, then stopped, as Lina Zhao walked in wearing a silver dress that hugged her perfectly.

Her makeup was flawless. Her chin was lifted with pride.

On her arm was a man every person in the room recognized.

Victor Han.

Tall. Handsome. Confidence bloomed on his face, as a white doctor’s coat was draped over his arm like a medal.

His smile was calm, arrogant, and victorious.

Whispers exploded instantly.

“That’s Victor Han.”

“The genius doctor!”

“Isn’t he Lina’s first love?”

“They’re together again?”

Victor’s arm tightened around Lina’s waist.

She didn’t pull away.

Ivan looked at them quietly.

This was the first time Lina had looked truly alive in years.

She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t look guilty. Her eyes swept over Ivan like he was dust on the floor.

“It’s my mother’s sixtieth birthday today,” Lina said. Her voice was cold, sharp, loud enough for everyone to hear. “And yet you still manage to embarrass me.”

A hush fell over the hall.

“You’ve eaten off my family for three years,” she continued. “You’ve done nothing. Achieved nothing. You’re a burden.”

Gasps followed. Smiles followed faster.

Lina tightened her grip on Victor’s arm.

“Tonight, I’m bringing home the man I should have married.” She rolled her eyes over Ivan. Her gaze pierced through his thick skin, and he swallowed hard.

“I want a divorce.”

The words slammed into the room.

Someone laughed.

Another guest raised a phone to record.

“Divorce him!”

“He should be kneeling!”

“What a joke of a man.”

Ivan didn’t move, didn't speak, didn't show any sign of fear.

He looked at Lina for a moment. Not with anger. Not with pain. Just quiet clarity.

So this is how it ends, he thought.

Uncle Zhao stepped forward, his face burning red with excitement. “You useless trash! How dare you stand here on my sister’s birthday?”

His hand flew.

Smack!!!

The slap landed hard against Ivan’s face causing his head to snap to the side. A sharp sting burned across his cheek.

Before Ivan could straighten, someone splashed wine down his chest.

Red liquid soaked into his shirt like blood.

“A parasite!”

“A dog!”

“You don’t deserve the Zhao name!”

Laughter thundered.

Applause followed the insults.

It was a performance, and everyone enjoyed it.

“Get on your knees!” someone shouted. “Beg her!”

Victor watched with a satisfied smile.

“Ivan?” he called softly, fake concern dripping from every word. “If you apologize properly, maybe Lina will show mercy.”

Lina crossed her arms as she waited. Her pride was full, her ego fueling as she got praised. She wanted to see him break.

But Ivan slowly lifted his head and wiped the wine from his jaw with the back of his hand. His eyes were calm. Too calm.

“No,” he said.

The word was quiet, but it cut through the noise.

The hall fell silent again. This time, worse.

Ivan straightened his suit, then looked directly at Lina. All eyes fell on him.

“Fine,” he said evenly. “I agree to the divorce.” Shock rippled through the crowd.

No begging. No tears. No rage.

Just acceptance.

Lina stood perplexed. The mystery behind his calmness was unknown.

She reached for her hand bag and brought out the divorce papers. Ivan didn't hesitate. The room was silent as he put his signature and handed the papers back to Lina.

“From this day onward,” Ivan continued, his voice steady, “we no longer have anything to do with each other.”

Something about his tone unsettled the room and Lina frowned. “You—”

Ivan turned and walked away.

Behind him, laughter returned, louder than before. Someone threw a glass. It shattered near his feet. Water splashed his back as he reached the door.

Ivan didn’t stop.

He smiled faintly.

Outside, the night air was cold.

Ivan had barely made it past the villa's marble fountain when he heard the sharp click of heels behind him.

“Wait.”

Lina's voice cut through the night air like a knife.

He turned.

"The papers are signed," Ivan said quietly. "What else is there?"

Lina descended the steps with practiced grace.

She was walking toward him, heels clicking sharply against the marble. Victor followed, hands in his pockets, watching like this was entertainment.

Lina pulled out a check from her purse and held it out between two perfectly manicured fingers like it was contaminated. "Five million dollars."

“Five million dollars,” she said again. “Take it and leave quietly. Consider it payment for the three years you wasted.”

Victor laughed. "That's more than generous, considering what he's worth."

"It's charity," Lina continued. "So you don't starve on the streets. So you can't say the Zhao family left you with nothing." She thrust the check closer. "Take it and disappear. Don't embarrass us further."

Victor chuckled. “Come on, Ivans, that’s more money than you’ll ever earn.”

Ivan looked at the check, then took it.

For a second, Lina relaxed. Relief flickered in her eyes… Until Ivan tore the check in half.

She gasped.

He tore it again. And again. Small pieces fell to the ground as he handed the scraps back to Lina.

"What—" Lina's eyes went wide.

The pieces fluttered between his fingers like confetti.

"Are you insane?" Victor stepped forward. "Do you know what you just did? Five million dollars!"

"I know exactly what it was," Ivan said calmly. He held out his palm, offering the torn pieces back to Lina. "Charity. Pity. Hush money."

“I don’t take charity,” he said.

Her face flushed with anger and embarrassment. “You think you’re noble? You’re nothing!”

Ivan stepped past her.

"I think I'd rather starve than take another cent from the Zhao family," Ivan replied.

His voice was quiet, but something in it made Victor take a half-step back.

"You'll regret this," Lina hissed. Her beautiful face flushed red. "You'll come crawling back within a week. You have nothing. No job, no money, no family. You're nobody!"

"Then you should be happy to be rid of me."

"You're pathetic," Victor sneered, recovering his courage. "Pretending to have pride when you don't even have a place to sleep tonight. This is just an act."

Ivan met his eyes. "Believe what you want."

He dropped the torn pieces of the check at Lina's feet, and they scattered across the stone like broken promises.

“Goodbye, Lina.”

He walked into the darkness with nothing but the clothes on his body.

Behind him, Victor laughed loudly. “He’ll be begging within a month.” Lina watched Ivan disappear into the night.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, her chest felt strangely tight, as uncertainty snug inside her.