Chapter 1 DIVORCE

Amelie Mason.

"I want a divorce."

My hands trembled as I held the paper my husband had just handed me.

It couldn't be true. How could I believe those cruel words came from the same lips that, just this morning, had kissed me tenderly?

"Please... is this a joke? If it is, that's enough," I tried to smile, pretending nothing was happening.

"Just name your price and sign it," he growled, impatiently tossing the papers. His gaze was cold. Mine, shattered.

"Armando! Wait... what is all this?" I read the documents over and over, without understanding what was happening.

His hardened face showed no compassion.

"Collect your things, Amelie. You must leave this house right now."

I shook my head, again and again. It couldn't be true, he... he couldn't do this to me.

Armando turned away, but I ran after him.

"My love, what is going on? This morning you left as usual, we kissed, everything was fine. Why are you doing this?"

He spun around furiously, and his words struck me harder than a slap.

"I don't love you anymore, Amelie. I want you to leave. Now!"

"This is my house too. You can't just kick me out like this, just tell me why... a single reason."

"You're useless to me now," he spat with contempt. "You couldn't even give me an heir. My family is sick of you."

"Is that why? But we talked about it! We had an agreement, we were going to adopt. Armando, please!"

"Get out! Rosalía is about to arrive."

"What?" I paled upon hearing that name. Rosalía. His college ex.

"Get out!" Armando roared, grabbing my arm. He dragged me across the room as if I were an intruder, not his wife.

"Out, now, Amelie! You disgust me. I never want to see you again!"

"Armando, no! Please, Armando!" I knew begging wouldn't help, but I did it anyway. Then, with a brutal shove, he threw me onto the street and slammed the door shut with a sound like a gunshot.

I stood paralyzed in front of that door. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces.

I wanted to die right there.

Armando, the love of my life, my husband for seven years, had just thrown me out like garbage. I had emancipated myself from my family to be with him. I had invested every last cent of my savings to save his company. I gave him everything... and now I had nothing left. Only emptiness.

Two months later

I hadn't managed to recover from the divorce when I found myself standing in front of my father's coffin. Beside me, my mother clung tightly to my arm, sobbing with a tearing pain.

"You must fulfill your father's last wish, Amelie," she murmured through her tears. "We can't be left on the street, especially now that you're separated from your husband."

I remained silent, processing each word like a dagger. Carefully, I released her hand from my arm and took a couple of steps toward the casket.

His death hurt me... but even more, his betrayal.

"Why did you sell me, Father?" I whispered, as tears rolled down my cheeks, marking the beginning of my sentence.

I had ruined my family by giving everything to Armando. And now I had to pay the price for that mistake.

"Daughter, it's time," my mother said without a hint of guilt, taking my arm to lead me toward the man who had just arrived.

I lifted my head and angrily wiped away my tears.

"What if I don't want to go? What happens then?"

The man calmly opened his briefcase and handed me a document. I read it carefully, and each line took my breath away.

Clauses that were signed by my father without my consent: if I didn't agree to go with that man, my father's company would go bankrupt. And even worse, my mother and my sisters would be left on the street.

And I... would end up in jail.

"This is stupid," I slammed the folder against the man's chest, regardless of the consequences.

My mother, seeing my audacity, pinched my arm hard.

"Amelie, please!" she pleaded through gritted teeth. "You have no other option. You must go with this man. It is your duty to be the wife of Mr. Feldman."

I looked at the man with contempt. "Could you give me two minutes alone with my mother?" I asked without taking my eyes off him.

He nodded silently and moved a few steps away. Then I looked at her, hurt, desperate.

"I'm not going. I don't plan to, I'm not an object, you can't force me, Mom. I'm going through a divorce, I can barely breathe, and now you want to send me off with a stranger."

"Mr. Feldman is your best option," she replied without hesitation. "You only have to marry him for a year, after that... you do whatever you want."

"That man is a monster!" I clenched my teeth, restraining myself.

My mother took a deep breath, not looking at me.

"That 'monster,' as you call him, saved this family. He helped your father more than you will ever know. Don't be ungrateful, Amelie, do the right thing."

The man, still waiting, cleared his throat.

It seemed I had no more options. I walked toward him with heavy feet, as if I were being led to trial. Outside, a sports car waited, engine running. I swallowed, closed my eyes, and got in.

"Miss, my name is Eder. I am at your service, my lord is waiting for you."

"Thank you, Eder," I replied with an irony that couldn't hide my bitterness, as the car sped away toward the city's most luxurious neighborhoods.

My phone vibrated insistently in my pocket. It was a text message.

"I'm so sorry about what happened to your father, can we meet? I know it wasn't your fault that we couldn't have children... I miss you!"

My heart stopped immediately... it was him, it was Armando.