After Divorce, The Genius Painter Went Mad

My husband, Julian Sterling, is a genius painter, but he suffers from a severe emotional disorder.

Even when I fell down the stairs, pregnant, and pleaded for his help, he just asked indifferently, Why are you always crying?

I used to think this was just how geniuses were C unique and detached.

That was until I saw his studio, filled with nude portraits of another woman.

I confronted him in anger, but he remained cold, retorting, "She's my muse! A housewife like you wouldn't understand art!"

Finally, I agreed to his divorce request.

"Go live your life with your muse, then."

On the divorce papers, I asked for nothing else.

Only one thing: Julian had to continue paying my mother's medical bills.

After the divorce was finalized, Julian's expression remained as cold as ever.

"What will you do now?"

I knew it was just a polite formality, not genuine concern for my future.

Julian had always been heartless and emotionless towards me.

I gave a vague answer.

"Travel."

He didn't ask anything further.

Chloe Davis linked her arm through his, smiling at me.

"Thank you for setting Julian free."

I instinctively looked at Julian.

He suddenly spoke.

"Traveling costs money. I'll transfer some to you."

His tone was still flat, indifferent, as if he were speaking to a stranger.

I didn't get much money from this divorce.

Julian and I had signed a prenuptial agreement from the start, so I couldn't claim any of his assets.

Our elder son, Leo, had health issues and was a high-needs child.

I had quit my job years ago to focus entirely on caring for him.

So, this divorce meant I was practically walking away with next to nothing.

Chloe pursed her lips, cutting him off.

"Julian, Audrey must have her own savings. Aren't you looking down on her by saying that? Besides, our exhibition is about to open, and we need the money."

Julian turned to look at her, his gaze softening.

"You're right."

Chloe smiled at me.

"Audrey, where are you going to travel? Won't it be unsafe for you alone?"

Julian frowned. "What could possibly be unsafe?"

I was used to his nonchalant attitude.

Julian had an emotional disorder.

Over a decade ago, at his grandfather's funeral, Julian didn't shed a single tear.

Everyone called him a monster.

Fearing he might be upset, I covered his ears and tried to comfort him.

"Julian, they're not telling the truth. You just aren't good at expressing your feelings."

But Julian looked at me seriously and said,

"Why should I be sad? Everyone in this world has to leave one day, don't they?"

I was stunned.

A young me didn't understand why Julian would say something like that.

Later, Julian's condition worsened, to the point of self-harmhe didn't love anyone, including himself.

But only when he saw me did his condition seem to improve.

The Sterling family, desperate to save him, offered to cover my mother's medical bills if I married Julian.

Julian even pleaded with me with eyes like a wounded puppy.

"Audrey, you said you'd always stay with me, didn't you?"

I was moved by him.

We even had a period of relative affection.

During that brief time, I became pregnant with our elder son.

With our son's birth, my life gradually revolved around him.

Without realizing it, Julian and I drifted further apart.

Julian was the most renowned genius painter, with a large fan base.

Many fans, upon learning I was just a housewife, declared online that I wasn't worthy of him.

How can a genius painter's wife be just a housewife?

Heard it was a marriage of convenience. The poor genius painter.

I broke down crying, seeking his comfort.

But Julian looked at me with a strange expression.

"Why bother with them? You're really odd. And they're not wrong, you are a housewife."

Should I blame him?

Everyone told me Julian was just sick; he was simply incapable of love.

As his wife, I should be understanding.

Countless times after that, I used that excuse to console myself.

Our son's health was fragile. One moment of inattention, and he'd have a high fever that wouldn't break.

I couldn't sleep all night, watching over his bedside, even while carrying our second child.

Meanwhile, Julian, as his father, remained completely absorbed in his paintings.

I confronted him, distraught, asking why he didn't care about our child.

He looked up at me.

"I'm not a doctor."

In my overwhelming grief, I fell down the stairs.

A large pool of blood gushed out beneath me.

I miscarried.

I pleaded for his help.

Julian simply asked, "Why are you always crying?"

Then, he stepped over me with his long legs and strode away.

In that moment, for the first time, I truly felt that "Julian was a monster."

He was utterly indifferent to me.

But with his assistant, Chloe Davis, it was different.

In front of Chloe, he was like a normal person, a person with flesh and blood.

Julian once said at a press conference that Chloe made his barren soul bloom with life.

"Her presence made me feel the sun's warmth, the captivating scent of flowers."

That day I went home, I smashed everything in the house like a madwoman.

I asked him, "Do you know what you're doing? Are you cheating on me?"

Julian's expression didn't change.

"Cheating? You shouldn't use conventional standards to define my relationship with Chloe."

With that, he continued working on his painting.

His studio was filled with sketchesall portraits of Chloe.

There were even nude portraits of Chloe...

Every brushstroke seemed to pour out all his tenderness and devotion.

As I pushed the door open to leave, Julian suddenly spoke.

"Audrey Stone, you and the children have always been mere passing guests in my life. Chloe, however, is my source of inspiration, the core of my artistic creation."

I suddenly stopped all thoughts of arguing with him, feeling only extreme exhaustion and helplessness.

It turned out Julian wasn't emotionally incapable with everyone.

I thought my life was already desperate enough.

But I never expected that later,

Even my son, for whom I would have sacrificed everything, wanted Chloe to be his mother.

My son, mimicking his father, fawned over and flattered Chloe endlessly.

"Chloe, you're so beautiful. I wish you were really my mom. My mom is just a common housewife."

...

I snapped back from my memories, smiled, and turned to leave.

"Goodbye, Mr. Sterling."

If I could, I never wanted to see Julian again in my life.

But my wrist was grabbed with force.

Julian stared at me, his eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.

"Let go."

I tried to pull free but was powerless against him.

Chloe glanced at me, then softly coaxed Julian.

"Julian, could you please let go of her?"

Julian, however, seemed not to hear, his brows furrowed even deeper.

When he spoke again, his words were still clumsy.

"Is it because of the miscarriage last time? But I... didn't I already give you a child?"

I laughed bitterly, pulled my hand away, and looked at Julian coldly.

"Stay away from me."

Julian had never been treated this way by me before. He stiffened slightly, seemingly unaccustomed to it.

Chloe linked her arm through Julian's, looking a little helpless.

"Audrey, don't be angry. Julian just has an emotional disorder; he doesn't know how to express himself."

Julian nodded, clearly agreeing with Chloe.

I let out a laugh.

How utterly boring.

"Julian, goodbye."

I waved my hand and walked away, my steps firm.

Julian stood rooted to the spot, his fingers trembling unconsciously.

Chloe, oblivious, tugged at his arm.

"Come on, my great painter."

Many people came to talk to me after they heard about our divorce.

Even Mrs. Sterling, usually so proud, came to find me with Leo.

At the time, I was packing my luggage.

Mrs. Sterling grabbed my hand, a smile in her eyes.

"You don't need to move out. You've been a housewife for so many years without working; how will you support yourself if you move out?"

Mrs. Sterling pulled my hand, leading me to sit on the sofa.

Leo, standing nearby, pouted at me, muttering under his breath.

"She's just petty. She's just jealous we like Chloe more."

Mrs. Sterling feigned anger and scolded Leo for a few moments, then continued holding my hand and speaking.

"I know you're upset. You know Julian; he doesn't mean any harm. He just has an emotional disorder."

I pulled my hand away. "Didn't you want him to divorce me all along?"

Mrs. Sterling let out a few dry laughs.

"How could I possibly want you two to divorce?"

She seemed earnest, as if she truly hated to see me go.

But I hadn't forgotten that not long ago, after my miscarriage, she had visited me and casually tossed out, "How useless, can't even keep a child."

Privately, she often told people, "Audrey Stone doesn't deserve my son at all."

I gave Mrs. Sterling a cold glance.

Sure enough, the next second, I heard her say:

"Julian's career is on the rise right now. If news of your divorce gets out at this time, what will people think of him?"

With that, Mrs. Sterling's tone shifted, hardening slightly.

"So, for now, please don't publicly announce the divorce. Can you do that?"

Before I could reply, Leo pushed me.

"Hey, hurry up and agree! Chloe was right; you're just selfish, always only thinking about yourself."

Leo's words were like a sharp knife, piercing my heart precisely.

I stared at him, stunned.

The old Leo used to cling to me the most, repeating over and over, "Mommy is the best person in the world, I love Mommy the most."

But... he had Julian's blood flowing in his veins after all.

He was just like Julian, able to abandon me and side with Chloe so easily.

My face grew cold. "Leo!"

Leo jutted out his neck, not thinking he had done anything wrong.

Just then, the door opened.

Chloe and Julian walked in side-by-side.

Leo's eyes instantly reddened, and he ran to Chloe.

"Chloe, I hate that woman! She yelled at me. Can you help me kick her out?"

Chloe crouched down, gently comforting Leo.

Only then did she look up at me, her eyes filled with disapproval.

"Audrey, you're going too far. A mother who abuses her child like this should have her parental rights revoked."

Julian stood beside her, his displeased gaze falling on my face.

"Audrey, why are you becoming so unreasonable?"

I rolled my eyes at him and slammed the door as I left.

As I got into the elevator, Chloe chased after me.

She clutched her stomach, looking at me provocatively.

"Audrey, you won't be coming back, will you? I'm pregnant. It's Julian's baby."

I gave a bitter smile. Everything was as I expected.

How could she truly just be a muse?

In that studio, he certainly wasn't just painting her nude portraits.

Chloe coughed awkwardly.

"Julian just hopes my genes can be passed on..."

"It has nothing to do with me. Julian and I are divorced."

My expression remained unchanged.

Chloe leaned closer, lowering her voice to provoke me further.

"He also said that only with me did he truly experience passion between a man and a woman. With you, it was utterly boring."

With that, she slowly backed away, giving me a sinister smile.

Then, she stumbled backward.

The next second, I was knocked over by a force.

I saw Julian rush over like a madman, trying to grab Chloe.

But it was no use.

"Bang!"

Chloe fell down the steps, the blood gushing from below her waist stinging my eyes.

My whole body trembled.

Not long ago, I had just experienced something similar.

Behind me, Leo's heartbreaking scream suddenly rang out, "Chloe!"

"Chloe, you can't be hurt, you can't be hurt..." Julian roared in despair.

He knelt in the pool of blood, helplessly holding Chloe, his voice almost cracking.

"Don't be scared, I'll take you to the hospital. You'll be alright."

Julian lifted Chloe into his arms, struggling to press the elevator button.

It took him several tries to succeedhis hands were trembling violently.

Before getting into the elevator, Julian suddenly looked back, his eyes filled with hatred.

"Audrey, I won't let you get away with this."

Leo quickly chased after them, turning back to glare at me fiercely.

"Bad woman, you hurt Chloe! I don't want you anymore!"

The moment the elevator doors fully closed, I clearly saw Julian press his forehead against Chloe's.

That deep, bone-marrow level of cherish and pity was something I had never received in the nearly thirty years I'd known him.

Julian's retaliation came swiftly.

That night, I received news from the hospital.

My mother's medical payments had been cut off.

"Ms. Stone, you must understand that a VIP room costs a hundred thousand a month. If you can't pay, we'll have no choice but to..."

My hand trembled as I held the phone.

A hundred thousand a month for medical bills was an astronomical sum for me now.

I had no choice but to beg Julian.

I rushed to the hospital.

In the corridor, Julian leaned against the wall, a cigarette held between his fingers.

Amidst the swirling smoke, his expression grew even colder.

"Want to beg me to save your mother?"

"Yes. According to the divorce agreement, you should continue to pay for my mother's medical expenses."

My voice was tight.

He scoffed, offering no reply.

I explained, almost groveling,

"I didn't push her. If you don't believe me, you can check the surveillance. There's a camera at that spot..."

I was somewhat incoherent.

Julian stubbed out his cigarette, approaching me step by step, his tall figure casting a shadow over me.

His tone was utterly cold.

"Does it matter?"

"What?"

"Does it matter if you pushed her?"

Julian looked down at me, with a superior, judgmental gaze.

"No matter the truth, she lost her baby because of you."

I stared at him, stunned, the last string in my mind snapping.

I screamed in despair,

"So, you're going to watch my mother die? That's a human life!"

"Using your mother's life to pay for the life of Chloe's unborn child. Sounds fair to me."

Julian's lips curled into a nearly cruel smile.

I felt as if I had plunged into an ice abyss.

I had no other option; I knelt before him, bowing my head.

"Please, I beg you, for the sake of our past, let my mother go. I'll even die to atone for it, I'm willing to die..."

Julian's expression didn't soften in the slightest.

He looked at me as if I were a lunatic.

"Audrey, you're just like a dog wagging its tail, begging for scraps."

...

That night, no matter what I did, I couldn't change Julian's mind.

My mother's respirator was unplugged that very evening.

Before dawn, the hospital called.

"Ms. Stone, please accept our condolences. Your mother has passed away."

Boom

My world plunged into utter darkness.

I arranged my mother's funeral simply, then walked to the ocean with her ashes...

Meanwhile, Julian was at the hospital with Chloe.

Chloe looked at his worried face and suddenly asked.

"Are you worried about her?"

Julian shook his head.

Chloe linked her arm through his, coaxing gently.

"Don't worry, nothing bad will happen. That was just Audrey's way of faking it for sympathy. Her mother's illness was already cured; she just wanted attention."

Julian hummed softly, but his heart still felt unsettled.

Until Mrs. Sterling burst into the hospital room, speaking incoherently.

"Julian, quickly, go... go clear things up! Say Audrey Stone's death has nothing to do with you, that you didn't force her to die."