Chapter 1 Let's Put An End To This Marriage

"Let's put an end to this marriage," Cade Willis said without warning, his tone as calm as if he were settling a business deal. Three years of marriage ended in a single sentence.

He opened the drawer of his desk, pulled out a document, and slid it across the table.

"Dina's situation has become complicated," he explained while lighting a cigarette. Smoke drifted upward and softened the sharp edges of his expression. "Her husband died recently, and she's carrying his child. She has no family to lean on. With people staring and gossiping everywhere, she won't be able to endure it."

Thin strands of gray ash slowly fell from the tip of the cigarette.

"The least I can do is give her and the baby a proper name and place," he went on, meeting Claire Lloyd's eyes with distant indifference. "If you have any demands, say them now. Otherwise, sign the paper."

Dina Murphy had once been the love of Cade's life.

Now she was pregnant, carrying a fatherless child-which was exactly why Cade was leaving Claire to marry her.

The weight of Dina's situation pressed down on Claire, her mind clouded as everything around her faded into a dull haze.

She remained where she stood, unable to move. A thin layer of tears shimmered in her eyes before she could hold them back. With unsteady fingers, she reached for the document.

The bold heading at the top-DIVORCE AGREEMENT-struck her like a blow.

"Is there truly..." Her voice sounded strained and uneven. Thick bangs hung low over the frames of her glasses, making her appear fragile and defeated. "Is there truly no other option?"

A faint crease appeared between Cade's brows. "She's in a fragile state. If I abandon her now, she won't survive it. But you're not like that, Claire. You've always been strong."

Was strength the reason she had to be the one cast aside?

The thought cut through Claire like a knife and twisted deep in her chest.

Before she could steady herself, memories pulled her back to years ago. She saw the orphanage again and the boy standing there with sunlight resting on his shoulders. He had stepped in front of her with his arms spread wide, glaring at the children who liked to bully her.

"Don't you dare touch her," he had warned them.

Not long after, he had made another promise. "No matter what happens, I'll keep you safe."

That was when her heart had given in to him. From that moment on, she loved him completely, without hope of turning back.

Claire's fingers slowly curled into fists.

"Claire, don't turn this into a scene," Cade said while watching her lowered head, irritation slipping into his voice. "You and I both know our marriage was never about love. I chose you because you were the appropriate choice..."

His words trailed off for a moment as he released a slow breath of smoke.

"Claire, I assumed you at least knew how to handle things with some... dignity."

Dignity.

Claire nearly burst out laughing.

"Dina is a gentle person," Cade continued, his tone turning colder. "She never wanted to harm you. Between the two of us, nothing inappropriate has ever happened."

A tight pressure spread across Claire's chest until even breathing became painful.

So now, lingering around a married man and walking that blurred line was considered perfectly acceptable?

"I'll make sure you're well compensated." Cade pressed the cigarette into the crystal ashtray until the ember died out, and his voice grew sharper. "Just sign the papers and stop holding onto a position that was never meant for you."

To be honest, Claire had handled the household perfectly. Even though her appearance was plain and easily overlooked, she maintained the home without fault. She organized everything, managed his daily arrangements, and quietly kept his life running smoothly without ever asking for recognition.

Still, she was far too restrained and proper. Being around her felt like drinking clear water that offered nothing beyond basic relief. It satisfied his thirst, yet left no lingering taste.

And Cade had grown tired of it.

"I'll give you three days to decide," he finally said. "But don't test my patience by dragging this out."

"That won't be necessary." Claire raised her head and picked up the pen.

The sound of the nib scraping across the page broke the silence.

Her signature appeared in swift, steady strokes. The writing was neat and firm, and she didn't pause for even a second.

Cade couldn't hide his surprise for a moment.

Soon after, his expression returned to its usual cool detachment. "At least you know how to make the sensible choice."

He hesitated before continuing, "Since you had a stained past, it may not be easy for you to find work. Aside from what the agreement already states, I'll transfer another fifty million as compensation. You can also keep the Porsche you've been driving."

In a quiet voice, Claire asked, "If your heart always belonged to her, why did you choose to marry me?"

Cade's gaze brushed across her face. This time, he didn't avoid the question. Instead, he answered it.

"Back then, Dina had already made up her mind to leave," he said. "I drove to the airport to stop her, but I never got there. I crashed the car on the way and almost lost the ability to walk."

His voice stayed emotionless, as if he were recounting someone else's life. "My grandfather threatened to strip everything from me. He called me useless and said I was ruining my future over a woman. If my mother hadn't stepped in, they would've cast me out of the family entirely. To return to the center of the family's influence, I needed a strategic marriage. I needed a wife who wouldn't create complications."

His eyes settled on Claire, the calm in them carrying a quiet cruelty. "You knew me from the orphanage. You were simple, quiet, and loyal to me. I know about the jail time. The sentence you served. That meant I could manage you easily and leave whenever I needed to."

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, almost as though he were complimenting her. "During these past three years, you performed your role perfectly. You did it so well that I nearly forgot the truth. From the very beginning, this marriage was nothing more than a deal between my family and me."

Claire didn't shed a single tear.

Instead, an overwhelming sense of absurdity spread through her chest.

For years, she had loved him without holding anything back. Her patience, her devotion, the way she quietly stayed by his side had meant everything to her. Yet to him, it had only been a deal.

What he never realized was the cost she had paid to become the wife everyone expected him to have.

With her own hands, she severed every connection to the life she once lived. The computer, the scalpel, her design work, the racetrack-those things had once filled her with excitement. Now so much time had passed that she could barely remember the feeling at all.

Day after day, her life had revolved entirely around him. She massaged his legs, guided him through rehabilitation, and stayed awake beside him on the long nights when pain refused to let him sleep. When the suffering became unbearable, she simply held his hand in silence.

Two years earlier, he finally regained the ability to walk.

Yet what difference had it made?

The moment Dina returned, every sacrifice Claire had poured into those three years seemed to fade into something trivial and weightless. The irony of it all felt almost ridiculous.

Fine. Letting things drag on would only deepen the damage. Ending everything now was the cleanest choice.

Just then, Cade's phone began to ring.

He picked up the call, and his face changed at once. "What did you say? Dina is feeling uncomfortable? I'm heading there right now."

Without another word, he ended the call, snatched his coat, and rushed out the door. Claire didn't even receive a single glance.

Whenever it involved Dina, this was always the pattern. The moment she needed him, he became someone else entirely, a man who had no space left for anyone but her.

The sound of the front door slamming echoed through the quiet living room.

Claire remained where she stood, still struggling with the sudden emptiness spreading inside her, when voices and footsteps drifted in from outside.

Lorraine Willis, Cade's mother, had returned home, and her daughter Jessie Willis came in with her.

The door burst open with a loud crash. Jessie stormed in, several luxury shopping bags swinging from her hands while her chin stayed lifted in pride. Lorraine followed behind her, perfectly dressed and wearing the same cold, superior air as always.

"Mom, look at this bag I bought today. It's a limited edition!" Jessie was still admiring her purchase when she suddenly noticed Claire standing quietly in the middle of the living room. Disdain immediately spread across her face. "Why are you standing there like that? You're unpleasant to look at."

Claire ignored the remark completely. Without answering, she turned toward the staircase and prepared to go upstairs to pack her things.

"Hold it!" Jessie suddenly rushed forward and stepped directly in front of her.

Her eyes scanned Claire from head to toe with the same expression someone might use while looking through garbage. "The diamond necklace I left on my vanity is gone. Did you take it?"