Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Tricked Him into Signing the Divorce Papers

Lucas Bennett cheated.

Claire Richards stood outside the CEO's office like she'd been dropped into an ice bath-numb, frozen, struggling to even breathe. Her black heels felt like they were melting into the dark marble floor.

It took her a while, but she finally reached up and knocked.

"Come in."

Lucas's voice was low and calm.

Claire tightened her grip on the documents in her hand, then used the other to push open the door.

When she walked in, she had on a soft smile, like nothing was wrong. She walked straight to Lucas's desk and said casually, "Busy? I've got some docs here that need your signature."

As she spoke, she laid the papers in front of him and even helpfully flipped to the pages he needed to sign.

Lucas had just flown back from a business trip in Switzerland that morning and came straight to work. The pile of files on his desk said it all-he was deep in catch-up mode, his sharp, handsome face showing visible exhaustion. He didn't even glance at what Claire gave him, just scribbled his name across every page.

"Thanks."

Claire gathered up the signed papers and asked, almost out of routine, "You coming home for dinner tonight?"

"Got plans. Don't wait up." He didn't even look up.

"Alright. I'll be going then."

She turned on her heel, documents in hand, the smile on her face curling into something cold and ironic.

As she passed by the attached break room, a faint sound caught her ear-like a small animal hopping off the bed and hitting the floor. Her eyes drifted over to the couch area. Snack bags were scattered on the coffee table, a half-finished milk tea stood forgotten beside them, and-on the floor-a pale pink stiletto tipped awkwardly on its side.

In that moment, it all clicked.

Cold dread spread through her chest like ink in water.

Back in her own office, Claire slumped into her chair like someone had pulled the plug and drained her energy dry. She let out a long, tired exhale.

She pulled one document out from the stack.

The divorce agreement.

Flipping to the final page, she traced the arc of his signature with a sour little smirk, remembering-the way he once said he wanted to marry her with such surety, the look on his mother's face when she warned her not to get cocky, told her no man would ever truly stick with one woman, and how Claire had argued they were different...

Yeah. So much for being "different."Cheating with some young girl and thinking he covered it up so well-Lucas was really enjoying his double life like it was nothing. He even took that girl along on this latest business trip. And now? He'd had the nerve to bring her into the office.

Claire pulled her hand back and snapped a picture of the signed divorce papers, sending it straight to her mother-in-law. "He signed it."

A week ago, they made a deal.

Her mother-in-law wanted her to file for divorce and keep the whole secret marriage under wraps. Claire, in return, had asked for ten billion.

In just a month, she planned to erase Lucas from her world completely.

"Knock knock-"

The door rapped twice.

Claire calmly put the papers away. "Come in."

It was Ethan Brooks, Lucas's assistant, who stepped in.

"Ms. Richards, the CEO asked me to deliver this to you." He carefully set a deep green velvet box in front of her.

Without much interest, she flipped it open. A luxury diamond jewelry set glittered inside. But what flashed through her mind wasn't any wow-it was a hazy image of that short-haired girl in a bathrobe, mischievously twirling a diamond necklace, bedroom lights dim and flirty, the sheets a mess, and those kiss marks on her chest-gross.

Claire felt nausea bubble in her stomach.

"Thanks for the trouble, Ethan."

She lifted her eyes, her gaze cutting like a blade.

Ethan stiffened under her stare.

He tried to explain with a nervous smile, "This is a specially picked gift from the CEO. There's only one of it in the world."

Too bad his heart belonged elsewhere.

She didn't want it at all.

With a cool smile, Claire said, "Oh, wow. That's... really touching, honestly. So thoughtful of him to buy me gifts even when he's this busy."

Something in her tone didn't sit right. Ethan's back broke into a cold sweat. Could she... already know about Lucas and Fiona?

He made a quick excuse and left the office.

Claire stared at the jewelry like it was trash. Then, she pulled out her phone, snapped a photo, and messaged a luxury second-hand store owner: "Sell this for me. Donate the money to the special needs kids fund."

＊＊＊

5 PM-Parking garage.

Claire walked over to her car, just about to get in, when her eyes caught something across the way.

Through the window of a running car opposite hers, she saw Lucas in the backseat-with that same short-haired girl cozied up next to him. The girl's face was cute with that youthful spark that screamed "young and naïve."

"Mr. Bennett-!"

Ethan's voice cracked with panic as he slammed on the brakes.

Across the windshield and the space between them, Claire's eyes locked with Lucas's.

The silence said everything.