Ex-Lover as My Divorce Lawyer? This Train Wreck Just Got Scorching! - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

The bar was packed, but somehow Sophia clearly saw that thin layer of fury in Ethan's eyes.
Strangely, she felt a twinge of guilt she hadn't experienced in years.
Before she could react, Ethan strode forward and pulled her out of the crowd.
In the hallway, Sophia looked at the angry Ethan walking ahead of her and finally found her voice.
"Ethan, you're hurting me."
The tall man abruptly stopped, then turned back coldly. "Pain? Pain might teach you a lesson!"
In an instant, Sophia was transported back three years.
Back then, she had developed tendonitis from consecutive overtime shifts.
Because she hadn't treated it promptly, it had progressed to the point of requiring surgery.
In pain and afraid, she had whimpered, "Ethan, it hurts so much."
He had responded with the same tone: "Pain might teach you a lesson!"
She had felt incredibly wronged then, but the next moment she had watched Ethan press the call button for a nurse, requesting the most expensive painkillers available.
A lump rose in her throat at the memory.
Sophia looked away. Time had passed, and she no longer dared to hope for Ethan's former affection.
After a moment of silence, Ethan spoke slowly.
"Control your behavior. I don't want any unexpected incidents affecting the outcome of your case."
Sophia pressed her lips together, about to speak when a female voice interrupted.
"Sophia? What are you doing here?"
Sophia turned to see Victoria Lang, a former classmate who had once vowed to win Ethan for herself.
After Sophia and Ethan got together, Victoria had disappeared from their circle.
But now... Sophia watched as Victoria walked up and linked arms with Ethan, her pupils contracting.
Victoria smiled warmly. "It's been a long time, Sophia."
"By the way, Ethan and I are getting married next month. I wonder if you'll have time to attend?"
Sophia had to clench her fist tightly to control the overwhelming distress inside her.
She forced a smile. "If I have time, I'll come."
With that, she turned and hurriedly left.
What she couldn't see was how Ethan's dark eyes instantly became unfathomable as she walked away.
Just as she reached the exit, Sophia bumped into Ryan, who was scanning the crowd.
Their eyes met, and a shadow flashed across Ryan's face.
"That guy, who is he? Are you and him…"
His words were cut short by Sophia's cold stare, instantly silencing him.
Noticing Ryan awkwardly averting his gaze, Sophia finally spoke.
"My business has nothing to do with you. And, I don't like younger guys. Find someone else to sponsor the team—I won't be renewing our contract when it expires."
With that, Sophia brushed past him and walked out.
When she arrived home, it was already midnight.
Sophia had just opened the door when she saw lights on inside.
She froze—since Nathan had found someone else, he rarely came home.
At that moment, Nathan peeked out from the dining room.
"You're back. Been drinking again? I made some porridge."
The smile on his face made Sophia momentarily disoriented.
She'd agreed to marry Nathan precisely because of his warmth and attentiveness.
No matter how late she worked at her studio, Nathan would always be waiting for her at the dinner table when she got home.
Looking at the pot of porridge Nathan had prepared, Sophia felt her shattered heart momentarily soothed.
She unconsciously walked over and sat down, accepting the bowl he handed her, only to hear him say:
"Sophia, I've been thinking. This divorce business is making us both look bad. Why can't we just part amicably?"
Clink.
Sophia set the bowl down on the table and stared at Nathan for a long time, a faint, bitter smile tugging at her lips.
Absurdity, self-mockery, ridiculousness, and misery trapped her in her chair.
She fixed her eyes on Nathan, her nose tingling with unshed tears, her voice hoarse.
"I spent thirty thousand dollars to keep your hotel tryst with that college girl out of the news."
"When you were parading around with her in public, when you were buying property with her, did you ever think about parting amicably with me?"
The more Sophia spoke, the tighter her chest felt. She abruptly stood up, the chair scraping harshly against the floor.
"Nathan, I gave you the chance for an amicable separation, but what about you?"
Nathan looked at her, the warmth gradually fading from his face until only darkness remained.
"Why are you acting like you're the victim here?"
"Every time you get drunk, whose name do you mumble? That James guy, your ex!"