Chapter 170

Annie's POV

"Annie."

Hearing someone call my name. I turned around, expecting to see Howard.

Instead. I found Philip Baker walking toward me. He looked haggard,with obvious dark circles under his eyes, as if he'd been through a sleepless night. His expression carried that all-too-familiar urgency and unease, the kind that usually meant he was about to launch into another round of confessions and explanations.

*Here we go again.* I sighed inwardly. Since our divorce, he had tried to contact me countless times with various excuses, to the point where I had to block all his contact methods. Each time we met, he claimed to have some "new realization," but never showed any genuine change.

The smile on my face vanished instantly, and I instinctively turned around,wanting to retreat back into the car. A relationship that was once so important had now become nothing but a nuisance I wanted to avoid.

Philip stood in front of me, blocking my path. "I have something I want to tell you."

"Sorry!" I refused coldly. "I don't want to hear it."

*Why does he always think I'm obligated to listen to him? We're already divorced, and I've made it clear that I don't want any contact with him.*

Philip didn't give me a chance to refuse, immediately saying,′′Iwent to see a psychologist a few days ago..." This statement caught my attention, and I couldn't help but look at him.Philip had always considered psychological counseling a sign of weakness.He actually went to see a psychologist voluntarily?

Philip continued. "He asked me many questions, and after thinking through each one. I realized that after we got married. I truly wronged you.

"I didn't like Sarah, yet because Sarah was my first love, I gradually moved closer to her, neglected you, and hurt you."

"That was my fault."

I listened quietly to everything he said, then asked with an unchanged expression, "So?"

*The same old routine. Every time I want to cut ties completely, he appears with some so-called "new realization."*

Philip was caught off guard, clearly not expecting such a cold response to his "major discovery."

After a long while, he lowered his head and answered uncomfortably,"The person I truly love is you..."

I responded calmly, "But you've said the same thing countless times since our divorce."

"Each time with genuine emotion."

"Even during our marriage, you would act as if you loved me deeply."

*But that was just a facade.* I added in my heart. He always appeared extremely remorseful after making mistakes, yet never truly changed his

behavior. I had lost count of how many times I had believed his apologies,only to end up with more disappointment.

He always liked to placate me with words, but when it came to actually making sacrifices, he was always stingy. The money he saved for "our family" was ultimately spent on pleasing those he deemed "important,"with no regard for my needs and feelings.

I asked softly. "And what was the result?"

"Didn't you continue to hurt me all the same?"

"I only divorced you when I realized there was no hope in persisting."

If the harm he caused me had only happened once or twice, someone like me who never had high expectations for marriage would definitely have endured it. I had learned resilience from my mother and knew that life wasn't a fairy tale, but Philip's repeated betrayals eventually exhausted all my patience.

I looked at Philip, thinking:∗I∗'ve had enough of this meaningless entanglement.*

Philip pressed his lips together, looking troubled."I will change..."

I chuckled lightly, "But I don't need that anymore."

"Whether you love me or hate me, it doesn't matter to me."

"After leaving you, I have a new life,a new partner."

"He treats me well."

"He makes me feel what it's like to be loved." *Every day with Howard makes me understand what true respect and care are, not your apologies after selfishness and your false concern.*

I continued unhurriedly, "So I don't need you anymore,understand?"

"You don't need to come find me every time you reach a new conclusion,or discover traces of love for me in some insignificant thing, just to tell me you still love me."

"It's unnecessary."

"For me..."

"Hearing you say these things is nothing but a waste of time."

*Your every appearance only reminds me of those painful memories. I've already wasted too much time and tears on them.*

Philip seemed not to have expected that I truly had no feelings left for him.He stepped forward somewhat urgently, trying to grab my hand."Annie..."

I instinctively stepped back, naturally resisting any contact with him. The person who once gave me a sense of security now only made me feel annoyed and repulsed.

His arm, just about to grab me, was intercepted.

Howard stood in front of me and said, "Mr. Baker, this is my girlfriend.Please show some restraint!”

Seeing Howard appear, I felt a sense of relief. After a busy day at the printing factory, being able to pick up Lucy with him gave me a warm sense of belonging.

Philip locked eyes with Howard. "But Mr. Thompson don't vou think you re being despicable?"

"Pursuing her right after our divorce, when she was vulnerable..."

"Taking advantage of her weakness is hardly gentlemanly behavior!"

Hearing Philip criticize Howard, I almost laughed.*In his world,I'm forever just an appendage without independent will-first his wife,now Howard's "stolen" trophy. He never saw me as a person capable of making my own choices.*

Howard scoffed, "But. I don't recall ever claiming to be a gentleman, do I?"

Philip was speechless, his expression slightly contorted.

Howard continued, "My thinking differs from Mr. Baker's. Mr. Baker believes being a gentleman is more important, while I think winning the woman I love matters more. If I had been concerned about appearances and hesitated... someone as wonderful as Annie would surely have been taken by someone else. Rather than be a gentleman praised by everyone yet lose the one I love, I'd rather be considered underhanded. At least..."

He turned to me, his deep gray eyes looking directly into mine, filled wvith unwavering determination and tenderness, "when I'm lonely, the woman I love is by my side, keeping me company."

*That's why I love Howard,* I smiled inwardly, *he never hides his thoughts and feelings, always honest and direct.*

Howard's tone grew more composed. "Besides, didn't Mr. Baker just express regret about divorcing Annie?"

"You're upset because I acted too quickly,leaving you no chance?" Philip didn't deny it. "That's right!"

*Even now. all he cares about is his own gain and loss, not my happiness."I sighed inwardly. This further confirmed how right my decision to leave him had been.

Howard answered calmly. "But even if I hadn't pursued Annie, she wouldn't havre wanted to be with you."

"After all..."

"Every day she spent with you was torture."

"You never truly treated her well."

Philip wanted to argue but opened and closed his mouth without finding any rebuttal. His eyes flickered, seemingly searching for an appropriate defense, but ultimately he could only remain silent.

*Because every word Howard saysis true!* I agreed in my heart. With a few simple sentences, Howard had articulated what I had felt throughout years of marriage.

Lucy walked out of the school and ran directly to me. She looked at me curiously and asked, "Mom, why is Brian's dad at our kindergarten?"

"Does he have something to tell you?"

Lucy's appearance broke the tension among the adults. Her innocent question reminded me that in a child's world, relationships are so simple and clear.

I saw Brian also walking out of the kindergarten. Hearing Lucy's words.he quietly corrected her: "He's not my dad anymore."