Her Perfect Betrayal

Chapter 4

Dorothy's smile froze.

"What?"

Raphael firmly moved past her, brushing her aside as though she were nothing more than an inconvenience.

Without sparing another glance, he walked back into the living room.

He remembered exactly twenty years ago in his previous life. This exact evening, how he had waited alone inside the finest restaurant in the city.

The candles had burned down completely and the food had gone cold. Restaurant staff had repeatedly asked whether they should serve the meal, and he had insisted on waiting.

Hour after hour. Eventually, worried something terrible had happened, he had rushed home without eating a single bite, hungry and concerned.

Terrified for Dorothy's safety.

Meanwhile, she had only been thinking about Jake.

Everything was unfolding exactly as it had in his previous life.

Whatever warmth remained in Raphael's heart vanished completely.

When he looked at Dorothy again, his eyes were as cold as frozen steel.

What a mistake…

By now, Dorothy was seething with rage. She nearly reached for his collar.

“Raphael! How dare you? How dare you ignore my orders and even call Jake a bastard? You're the bastard here! I'll make sure you regret this. You still have a chance to apologize before I do something I'll regret!”

Raphael didn't even spare her a glance.

“I'm the one giving you a choice.”

Dorothy froze.

“Now, leave.”

She frowned, clearly convinced she'd misheard him.

“What?”

“I said, leave.”

His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable authority in it.

“And tomorrow morning, we'll meet at the courthouse. This marriage is over.”

Dorothy stared at him blankly.

“What?”

Her voice trembled with disbelief.

“You... you want a divorce?”

Silence filled the apartment as Raphael leaned back comfortably against the sofa.

"There is nothing left to discuss. You may go."

His tone left absolutely no room for negotiation. Tomorrow, once the divorce was finalized, his new life would truly begin.

This time, he wouldn't waste another second chasing after Dorothy. He didn't care where she went tonight or whether she spent the evening with Jake.

None of it mattered anymore. His only priorities now were crystal clear. To protect his parents and younger sister, and then, build an even stronger survivor empire than before!

For the first time in over twenty years, Raphael felt relaxed and optimistic.

Dorothy finally recovered from her shock and her face twisted with fury.

"So that's your game? You think threatening me with divorce will make me beg?"

She let out a cold laugh.

"I've wanted a divorce for a long time, Raphael! Are you even a husband? So, let's do this. We get divorced tomorrow!"

She grabbed her handbag.

Mind you, even if you crawl back tomorrow, you'd only be wasting your damn time! Don't imagine some pathetic apology will earn my forgiveness!"

With a loud slam, the apartment door shook as Dorothy stormed away.

Raphael never even turned his head.

Her footsteps gradually disappeared down the hallway and he simply closed his eyes and relaxed.

The silence that followed felt more peaceful than anything he had experienced in decades. He had finally escaped. Not tomorrow but today.

Mrs. Carter cautiously stepped out of the kitchen and her expression was filled with concern.

"Young Master, perhaps you should go after Madam?"

She hesitated before continuing. "It's already late. A beautiful young woman shouldn't be out alone at night. What if something happens to her?"

Raphael looked at the elderly housekeeper, and his expression remained completely indifferent.

"Whether Dorothy lives or dies has nothing to do with me. We're getting divorced tomorrow." His voice was colder than winter.

Mrs. Carter had lived long enough to know how stories like this usually ended.

She had seen Raphael threaten divorce before. She had seen him lose his temper, declare that he was finally done with Dorothy, and then soften the moment Dorothy gave him the slightest bit of attention.

But this time was different. Looking at him now, Mrs. Carter was completely taken aback.

Raphael was simply calm.

Mrs. Carter stared at him for several seconds before cautiously asking, "Young Master... are you really serious about divorcing Madam Dorothy?"

Raphael gave a faint smile. "Absolutely."

His voice was firm and decisive. "I'm not trying to frighten her. I'm not trying to make her apologize. And I'm certainly not waiting for her to come crawling back. This marriage is over."

Like a prisoner stepping outside after spending his entire life behind bars, Raphael felt that he could finally breathe. He had heard the concern hidden in Mrs. Carter's question. But he simply didn't care anymore.

"Mrs. Carter, a person should learn to love themselves first."

His gaze became cold.

"And they should protect their family before sacrificing everything for someone who doesn't even love them."

"Love shouldn't require a person to lose their dignity. Marriage shouldn't require someone to abandon their common sense. And no one should destroy themselves just to please a woman who doesn't even love them."

Mrs. Calloway stared at him in stunned silence. Raphael's words were unlike anything she had ever heard from him.

"From this day forward, I won't care about Dorothy anymore..."