Chapter 1

The rescue team called me, saying my parents had ventured into the uncharted wilderness and were now calling for help. They told me to be ready for the huge rescue fees.

My husband suddenly snatched my phone. "These are just scam calls, don't believe them."

He then threw my phone, threatening to divorce me if I dared use our money for the rescue.

But he had no idea that the tour package he’d booked for my parents had been stolen by *his* parents.

Now, trapped in the wilderness and waiting for rescue, were *his* parents.

“Ms. Miller, this is the rescue team. Your parents have entered an uncharted wilderness. We are not a volunteer service, so the cost to get them out will be approximately $150,000.”

The number they quoted was huge.

It sounded like a lot, but with years of savings between my husband and me, we could still manage it if we really pushed ourselves.

I immediately said, "Of course, rescue them! How do I transfer the money to you…?"

Before I could finish, my husband snatched my phone.

He stated flatly, "Those two old people went into the wilderness on their own. We don't need to waste our tax dollars. Thanks for your time, but no thanks."

What kind of talk was that?!

I immediately tried to grab my phone back from his hand, but he just threw it on the floor and smashed it.

He glared at me, his face red with fury. "Ashley, do you know what you were just saying? That's years of our savings, just gone like that? Don't you think that's a waste?"

I stared at him, shocked. "What are you talking about? That's our parents! You're always saying how hard they worked to raise you, how we needed to honor them!"

I picked up my phone from the floor. Luckily, my phone case was shockproof, and with the tempered glass protector, it only shattered the screen protector when it hit the ground.

Seeing the phone was okay, I sighed in relief. The rescue team's call was still connected on the screen.

I knelt on the floor and replied, "I'm willing to pay for the rescue!"

My husband rushed over, snatched my phone again, and yelled into the receiver, "Rescue who, exactly?! I said no damn way! Those worthless old people had nothing better to do than wander into that wilderness. They deserved whatever they got!"

With that, my husband hung up.

I looked at him in disbelief. "Blake Hayes, are you even human?! Those are your parents!"

He scoffed. "My parents? No, those are *your* parents. Ashley Miller, let me tell you, if you dare spend a dime to rescue them, I'm divorcing you. Don't forget, you have no right to touch our joint assets without my consent."

After saying that, he went back into the bedroom, even locking the door to keep me out.

My heart turned to ice. I sat on the floor, trying to compose myself, already thinking of ways to get around him and pay for my parents' rescue.

Suddenly, I realized something was off.

What he'd just said clearly showed he thought it was *my* parents who were trapped in the wilderness.

But it was *his* parents who had taken the tour tickets.