Chapter 2

Ruby's POV

"Yes." Then Jace's voice rang out, cold as frost. "I am taking revenge."

That one sentence was like a sharp knife stabbing straight into my heart.

All the blood in my body seemed to freeze instantly. My limbs went cold and numb, unable to move. I could only stand there rigidly.

"What's wrong with Serena? She's kind and understanding, gentle and considerate. How is she inferior to those women you forced on me? But you looked down on her because her mother was our housekeeper and forcibly drove her away. You even said I could marry anyone among New York's socialites except her."

He laughed lowly, the laugh devoid of any warmth. "Fine then. I'll marry the most scandalous one, the one you hate most. I'll use Ruby to slap you in the face. Every time I treat her well, you get angrier. It's quite satisfying to watch."

"You're insane!"

His mother was so angry she smashed a cup on the spot.

"Want me to end this charade?" Jace laughed lightly and cruelly. "Simple. Let Serena marry me. I'll divorce Ruby immediately."

Catherine's face turned livid, her tone resolute. "Let me tell you, as long as I'm alive, that bitch Serena will never enter our family! Using Ruby to pressure us won't work!"

Outside the door, I couldn't hear anything anymore.

A massive ringing drowned out everything. My vision went dark in waves. I leaned against the cold wall, barely managing not to collapse.

I slowly backed away, returning silently to my own hospital room, frozen to the bone.

After a few seconds, I took out my phone and sent a message to a private investigator.

"Help me investigate someone named Serena. Focus on her relationship with Jace Monroe. The more detailed, the better."

The private investigator was efficient. In less than two hours, he replied.

The first thing he sent was a photo.

In the photo, a girl in a simple, clean cotton dress leaned on Jace's shoulder, her smile gentle, her eyes as clear as spring water.

This was followed by a paragraph.

"Serena, 23 years old. Her mother was a housekeeper for the Monroe family. She grew up with Jace Monroe and they were very close. Three years ago, Jace wanted to marry her but was strongly opposed by the Monroe family and they were forcibly separated. Later her mother was fired by the Monroe family and Serena was forced to leave New York."

I see.

I suddenly started laughing quietly, the sound echoing in the empty hospital room, more painful than crying.

So that mutual rescue during the kidnapping, the affectionate proposal under countless drones, all those tender moments after marriage, and him shielding me from the explosion with his back... it was all an act.

How ridiculous.

How pathetic.

Before today, I was thinking about spending the rest of my life loving this man with everything I had, but from beginning to end, he never loved me.

He married me and treated me well for one purpose only. To use me, the most notorious socialite, to humiliate the Monroe family.

He just used me as a pawn to take revenge on his family, wanting to force them to compromise with my scandalous reputation so he could achieve his goal of marrying Serena.

My heart felt like it was being gripped by an icy hand, twisted and wrung, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe.

Forcing back the moisture in my eyes, I picked up my phone again and dialed Catherine's number.

"I want to divorce Jace."

As soon as the call connected, I got straight to the point, my voice terrifyingly calm.

"What did you say? Divorce?" Catherine hadn't expected me to bring up divorce first. Her voice on the other end was furious. "Ruby, are you crazy? With your reputation that the whole circle mocks, hardly anyone would want you even if you were free! And you dare bring up divorce?!"

"I will get this divorce." I said, "Mutual consent divorce, or I'll file for divorce. Your choice."

"Are you threatening me?"

"It's a notification." I sneered. "I assume the Monroe family isn't afraid of going to court with me?"

I knew the Monroe family opposed Serena marrying in, and they didn't like me either.

They would love nothing more than for Jace and me to divorce.

"Fine, divorce! I don't want to see a woman like you contaminating our Monroe family for another day!" Finally, Catherine's voice rang out. "But don't expect to take a penny from the Monroe family! After the divorce, get as far away as possible and never appear in front of Jace again. Stop affecting him!"

"Don't worry. I won't take anything from your Monroe family."