Chapter 1

Seven years into my marriage, my husband brought home a kept woman.

He didn't even try to hide it. “I’m only playing around for ten years, Scarlett. After that, I promise I’ll come back to you, settle down, and be a good husband.”

He was so sure I wouldn't dare refuse.

My father had given all the family assets to my half-sister, Chloe, and we’d always been at each other’s throats. I’d been a stay-at-home wife for seven years; I couldn't imagine surviving without him.

I managed a desolate smile. “Whatever makes you happy.”

He looked pleased, then leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“Wife, I knew you’d understand me.”

The moment he left, I ripped off my wedding ring, packed my bags, and walked out.

My childhood friend, Liam, couldn't wait to swoop in.

“Hey, heiress. I’m handsome, loyal, and loaded. Care to give me a chance?”

Before I left, I looked around the house I’d lived in for seven years, a wave of bitterness washing over me.

Julian and I were college sweethearts. I stood by him through thick and thin, from nothing to having everything.

He’d once sworn eternal love, promising to put the house in my name. He said if he ever changed his heart, he’d be homeless.

Now, his heart had changed.

But he had countless homes.

As I reached the front door, my phone rang. Habitually, I answered it.

“Bianca’s having cramps, Scarlett. Make some red date and bird’s nest soup and bring it over.”

I was about to refuse, then remembered I still needed his signature on the divorce papers.

Stepping into the lavish villa, I found Bianca Stone draped in a sheer, almost see-through nightgown, nestled in Julian’s arms. She pouted, her voice soft and sweet.

“I hope Scarlett won’t be mad, will she?”

“She’s the legitimate Mrs. Hayes. I’m just a nameless, status-less golden canary. How could I possibly deserve…”

Julian lowered his head and kissed her lips, effectively shutting her up.

After a long moment, his thumb gently traced the corner of her tear-filled eye. He looked utterly content.

“Without me, she’d have starved long ago.”

“Besides the title of Mrs. Hayes, what else does she have? Just looking at her makes me sick.”

My nails dug into my palms. Three years of dating, seven years of marriage, and he called me disgusting?

I gritted my teeth and walked up to them. Julian’s face instantly darkened.

“Where’s the soup?”

Bianca deliberately tugged at her flimsy nightgown, revealing a landscape of kiss marks and damp patches beneath her.

Her fair hand quickly covered his mouth.

“How could I possibly trouble Mrs. Hayes? I should be serving her.”

My gaze flickered to the photos in the living room, and a sharp pain pierced my heart.

Julian never let me meet his friends, nor would he meet mine.

But here he was, taking Bianca on picnics with his friends.

He’d always said he hated flowers, calling them wasteful and impractical.

Yet, everywhere I looked, there were vibrant roses of every color, even rare, priceless Juliet roses.

He said he was too busy to go on a honeymoon.

But the photo wall in the living room was covered with pictures of him and Bianca traveling the world.

I suddenly wanted to laugh—to laugh at how blind I’d been.

Seeing my smile, Julian’s rage intensified. He grabbed an apple and threw it at me.

“Funny? You’re really starting to disrespect me, aren’t you? Your allowance for next month is gone.”

Bianca suddenly began to dab at her eyes, looking utterly pitiful.

“Mr. Hayes, no, please.”

“I’ve already stolen your love, I’m so sorry to Scarlett. Don’t be angry with her because of me. I don’t deserve it.”

Julian’s voice was cold as he commanded me.

“Come here and explain it clearly to Bianca. Tell her you approve of us, and that you’ll willingly take care of her.”

Meeting his urgent gaze, I let out a cold laugh.

“Julian Hayes, what century are you living in? Still dreaming of having a harem?”

“I’ll never, ever share my man with a shameless mistress.”

I turned my gaze to Bianca.

“Stop faking it. You’re a mistress hiding in the shadows, yet you want a good reputation? You’re truly delusional.”

She immediately shrank into Julian’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice.

“Mr. Hayes, I… I just admire you. If Scarlett can’t tolerate me, then I’ll leave right away! I’ll never bother you two again.”

She made a move to leave, but Julian held her tight.

“If anyone’s leaving, it’s her.”

“Scarlett Sterling, you’re getting more and more out of control. You need to be taught a lesson!”

He motioned for his bodyguards to pin me to the ground and ordered them to slap me.

Rough, powerful slaps soon swelled my cheeks, and blood streamed from the corner of my mouth.

It hurt, but my heart hurt more.

“When you realize your mistake, when you’re willing to bow down to Bianca, then they’ll stop.”

“Mr. Hayes, it’s a good thing you care about me so much~”

Julian’s restless hand roamed over her body, eliciting a soft moan from her.

“Naughty~ Mrs. Hayes is still here…”

His voice grew even more triumphant: “Good. She can learn how to seduce me from you.”

The decadent, sickening sounds brutally assaulted my ears, leaving me almost deaf.

I refused to bow down or apologize.

Julian ordered me locked in the basement to reflect. He didn’t let anyone treat my wounds, leaving my face to fester and rot.

That night, my fever soared, and I began to ramble.

He got scared I’d die and had me sent to the hospital.

In a haze, I heard him say,

“You still think you’re some high-and-mighty heiress, do you? The Sterling family has nothing to do with you anymore. You’re completely dependent on me now, why can’t you change your temper?”

“If you were even half as obedient and sensible as Bianca, I’d be satisfied.”

Opening my eyes, I found my face heavily bandaged. My lower abdomen throbbed with intense pain.

A nurse walked over, her voice soft.

“Don’t move. You just had a miscarriage, so you need to be very careful.”

I was pregnant, but the medication for my wounds posed a risk of fetal deformity, so they had arranged an abortion.

Julian’s face was resentful, filled with impatience.

“Would it kill you to just admit you were wrong?”

“We’ve been married seven years and finally had a child, and you just threw it away!”

I couldn’t hold back any longer. Hot tears welled in my eyes.

It was naturally difficult for me to conceive. For seven years, I’d seen countless doctors and taken countless medications.

Finally, I had a child, and it was gone just like that.

Most likely, I could never be a mother again.

Seeing me cry, he suddenly panicked, his tone softening considerably.

“You can have another child later, or when Bianca has one, you can raise it.”

Looking at the man I’d loved for ten years, he suddenly felt like a complete stranger.

Years ago, my father had chosen Liam, my childhood friend, as my arranged marriage partner.

But I stubbornly fell in love with Julian, who had nothing. I poured most of my fortune into supporting his startup, begging and pulling strings everywhere to land him projects.

His eyes red, he held my hand, his face full of devotion.

“Scarlett, I promise I’ll make sure you continue to live like a pampered princess.”

Now, he’d completely forgotten those vows.

I recoiled from his touch, my voice as cold as a stranger’s.

“Julian Hayes, let’s get a divorce.”

He panicked, then laughed with anger.

“Scarlett Sterling, I hate being threatened.”

I added, “I’m serious.”

He smiled, gritting his teeth, then sighed, seeing me as utterly delusional.

“You won’t get much of the Hayes’ assets. The Sterling family won’t take you back, and you haven’t worked in seven years. Just feeding yourself will be a problem.”

“If we divorce, you’ll barely survive.”

I said calmly, “You don’t need to worry about that.”

His finely-boned hand rested on my lower abdomen, but I felt a chill run down my spine.