Chapter 1

Celine Fairmont was the top negotiation specialist in the police force. In ten years on the job, she had never failed a single case.

On one call, she found a young woman sitting on a windowsill, sobbing as she claimed her boss had taken advantage of her.

At a glance, Celine recognized her. It was Lydia Vale, her husband's personal assistant.

Celine's face went ashen, but she forced herself to stay composed. "Hey, don't do anything rash. Talk to me. Whatever it is, we'll help you."

The young woman glanced at Celine, then burst into louder sobs. "I told him I wouldn't be a mistress, but he forced me anyway! He took me home while I was drunk... I couldn't even get out of bed for three days and nights. I don't want to live anymore!"

She sniffled, yet not a single tear fell. If anything, there was a faint trace of... satisfaction on her face.

Celine was about to speak again when murmurs from the crowd caught her attention.

"Her again? I'm sick of this, even if she isn't."

"Exactly. She pulls this stunt every few days, always for ridiculous reasons. Last time, she said her boss insisted on giving her jewelry and it stressed her out so much she wanted to die. Before that, she claimed getting promoted to assistant made her a target at work. And yet she never actually goes through with it. Her boss shows up, and suddenly they're back to being all lovey-dovey. Honestly, who knows if she wants to die or just sleep her way to the top?"

As the words fell, a commotion broke out nearby.

Everyone turned, their expressions shifting into knowing looks.

Celine stood frozen, her nails digging deep into her palm.

Because the man stepping out of the car... was Adrian Lennox, her husband.

Bodyguards in black cleared the crowd. Adrian, dressed in a tailored suit, walked forward with a bouquet in hand.

His eyes were fixed only on Lydia on the windowsill. He didn't even notice Celine standing among the crowd.

"Baby, this is all my fault. I lost control. These are your favorite pink roses, and I've transferred a mansion into your name. Please forgive me."

The scene... looked almost like a proposal.

Standing there, Celine felt her heart sink to the very bottom.

After ten years of marriage, Celine had never known her husband could be this romantic.

But Lydia pouted, still looking dissatisfied. "I don't want your flowers or your gifts. You have a wife. I told you, I'm not going to be the other woman."

Adrian only smiled, completely unconcerned, and pulled out a stack of documents as if he had been expecting this.

"She's already signed the divorce papers. I'll have my assistant file them right away."

In that instant, Celine felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

Divorce papers? When had she signed them?

Then it hit her. Three days ago, Adrian had said the company was facing cash flow issues and needed both their signatures for a loan.

She had been working nonstop for a week back then, so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open. She hadn't even read what she signed.

And it turned out... she had signed divorce papers.

Even Lydia clearly hadn't expected Adrian to actually divorce for her.

She stood there in shock for a moment before rushing into his arms, her eyes reddening. "Adrian... would you really divorce for me?"

Adrian chuckled and ruffled her hair, his tone indulgent. "Silly girl. You're mine. How could I let you carry that kind of reputation?"

Only then did Lydia smile through her tears, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him again and again.

"I love you so much. I won't cause trouble again..."

Adrian didn't stop her. He simply let her cling to him as he carried her away.

The onlookers, unsurprised, began to disperse.

Only Celine remained, trailing after them in a daze.

She needed to ask Adrian what all of this meant.

If he truly wanted a divorce, she would let him go. Why go behind her back like this?

Soon, Adrian placed Lydia into the car and shut the door.

Just as Celine was about to step forward, she saw Adrian hand the divorce papers to his assistant and speak in a low voice. "Take these and file them to the courthouse."

The assistant took them, hesitation flickering across his face. "Mr. Lennox, are you really going to divorce your wife? She's been with you for so many years... are you sure about this?"

Before he could finish, he sensed the shift in Adrian's mood and fell silent at once.

Adrian frowned, but instead of snapping, he did something rare and explained, "I'm not divorcing Celine. These papers are just for show. She may be rigid and dull, always buried in her work, but we grew up together. Our families go way back. There's no way we'd just split like that."

He glanced at Lydia in the car, making sure she hadn't noticed anything, then lowered his voice again. "I'm just calming Lydia down. Once she stops making a scene, I'll withdraw the papers. But until then, Celine must not find out."

There was a clear warning in his tone. The assistant immediately nodded.

Celine stood not far away, a hand clamped over her mouth, her blood turning ice-cold.

Tears slipped down her face, soaking into her clothes.

So this was what it felt like when pain ran so deep it made no sound.

She had grown up with Adrian. She had believed they would stay happy forever.

But it turned out... she had never truly known him.

She remembered their school days. She had always ranked first. Adrian had always come second.

Yet he had never been upset. Instead, he would proudly tell everyone that his girlfriend was the best.

After graduation, she chose to become a police officer. He had supported her completely, shielding her from pressure and letting her pursue what she wanted.

For ten years of marriage, he had been her anchor, supporting her as she chased her dreams.

When irregular meals during missions gave her stomach problems, he sought out specialists to treat her.

When she cried over a girl she couldn't save, he stayed up all night with her, talking her through it.

She never bothered with high-society circles, too busy with work. He handled the gossip for her.

He used to say, "Celine, with me, you only need to be yourself."

And now, all she was to him was rigid and dull.

So everything she had worked for, everything she dreamed of, meant nothing to him.

Her fingers tightened at the thought of those divorce papers.

Wasn't he so unwilling to let Lydia be the other woman?

Fine.

Then she would give him exactly what he wanted.

This marriage... she was ending it.