Chapter 1 His True Love Came Back

In the master bedroom of the Owen family's villa, two figures were entwined passionately.

As Callan Owen let out a deep growl, he and his wife, Lacey Owen, both collapsed onto the pristine bed.

Afterwards, he planted a tender kiss on her forehead before heading to the bathroom.

Lacey slowly opened her eyes, her gaze full of desire following the man.

Callan had been insatiable that day, making love to her on the sofa, in the bathroom, and finally on the bed.

Lacey thought about their undeniable chemistry in bed and felt her cheeks warm up.

Suddenly, the phone beside the bed rang.

With a slight frown, Lacey reached for it, unlocked the screen, and checked the message.

The message contained a photo of a couple dining together.

But Lacey's expression turned to stone when she recognized the people in the photo.

The man was her husband, Callan!

And the woman with him...

Her phone beeped again with a new message from the same sender.

"Lacey, after three years with Callan, it's time for you to return him to me, right?"

Lacey's hands shook uncontrollably.

It had been three years, and now the woman returned.

Staring at the image of her husband cozying up to another woman made her heart sink. Despite it being summer, a cold chill enveloped her.

The sender was Sylvia Barnes, Callan's former fiancee and the woman he truly loved.

Lacey's union with Callan was nothing more than a contract.

Three years prior, her adoptive mother suffered a heart attack and desperately needed surgery. Lacey's path crossed with Nadia Owen, Callan's grandmother, near the hospital, which led to their acquaintance.

Nadia's intervention enabled her foster mother to undergo the necessary surgery. Consequently, Lacey married Callan, who was in a deep coma following an accident and was at risk of permanent paralysis.

By some miracle, Callan recovered after three years, during which Lacey cared for him devotedly.

Over those years, she grew to love him, witnessing his struggles and resilience daily.

As for Sylvia, she had abandoned Callan at his lowest, opting to pursue her career abroad.

Lacey had convinced herself that Callan and Sylvia were a closed chapter. Yet, to her dismay, Callan met with Sylvia for dinner the moment she returned from overseas.

Was he really so eager to reconnect with her?

Lacey's heart sank as she stared at the photograph.

Over the last three years, Sylvia's name had been a constant echo, revealing how deeply Callan cherished her.

Lacey had been in denial, but the truth was clear now.

Despite being his wife for three years, she couldn't outshine the memories of Sylvia, who still held a place in his heart.

The sound of running water stopped. Callan emerged in a bathrobe and approached Lacey, who sat frozen on the bed.

"What's on your mind?"

Lacey hastily hid her phone and shook her head in response.

Callan embraced her, his head leaning in, his breath warm and damp on her ear.

Just moments ago, their connection felt right. But now, the image from the photo made her feel repulsed.

Struggling to maintain composure, she pushed Callan back and questioned, "Callan, can a couple be happy if one harbors feelings for someone else?"

The desire in his expression vanished.

His gaze intensified, filled with confusion. He scrutinized her before responding. "What are you implying?"

One harbors feelings for someone else? Was Lacey suggesting she was unhappy because she had feelings for another?

Taking a deep breath, Lacey confronted him with a steady gaze. "Have you seen Sylvia recently?"

Callan's reaction was a mix of surprise and complexity.

After a pause, he admitted, "Yes. She's returned. I think we should divorce."

Lacey felt a pang of heartache.

Though she braced herself for such a moment, the reality of his words was unbearable, mixing bitterness and sorrow.

Inhaling deeply, she replied with firmness, "Alright."

Callan detected a hint of resignation in her tone.

Was she so ready to let go?

Could it be because of that man?

With a surge of frustration, Callan's hand tightened into a fist.

He asked her sternly, "Lacey, did our marriage mean anything to you?"

"What's the point of discussing this now?" Lacey, struggling with her emotions, didn't catch the shift in Callan's expression.

With the return of his old flame, Callan's decision to leave her for another was clear. Did her feelings even matter now?

Lacey silently dressed and started to pack her belongings, fighting back tears.

Observing her actions, Callan's expression turned sour. "Are you in such a hurry to go?"

Perhaps she was anxious to be with the man she loved.

Lacey stopped momentarily.

She longed to show him the message from Sylvia, to expose the truth, yet she restrained herself.

Facing him, she retorted with a mocking laugh, "Look who's talking."

With those words, she grabbed her suitcase and left the room, swallowing her sadness and disgrace.

As she neared the door, Callan's voice halted her. "Lacey, does Christopher Hewitt mean that much to you?"

The mention of Christopher after so long made her heart jolt.

Lacey felt overwhelmed, flooded with memories she wished to forget.

Christopher had saved her once but then vanished. His fate was unknown. How could she simply move on from him?

Overcome with grief, Lacey found herself unable to speak.

Callan interpreted her silence as confirmation. Mocking his own folly, he muttered, "You're free now, Lacey."

Turning to face him one last time, Lacey realized those were the words he should hear from her.

She had shared three years of her life with Callan. With the divorce, he was now free to pursue the woman he truly loved.

Struggling with her emotions, Lacey replied, "The same goes for you."

With those words, she turned and walked away.

Callan watched her leave, his fists clenching and unclenching in a mix of emotions.

His gaze hardened, and he let go of his tension, heading towards his study.

As Lacey descended the stairs, she couldn't help but glance back.

The hallway was deserted, leaving her feeling profoundly let down.

A bitter laugh escaped her. What was she hoping for?

Gripping her suitcase firmly, she was about to exit when a disdainful voice called out, "Lacey, you're leaving, I see?"

Lacey glanced over her shoulder.

It was Dolores Owen, Callan's mother.

With a scornful look, Dolores remarked, "Of course, now that Sylvia is here, what chance do you stand?"