Brinley Shaw set her resignation letter on the HR manager's desk, her fingertips smoothing the edge of the paper as though ensuring not a single fold or wrinkle remained.
The manager parted his lips, a resigned sigh escaping before he spoke. "It's such a pity to see you leaving, Brinley. Are you absolutely certain about this?"
"Yeah," Brinley said with a soft smile, her eyes curving like crescents. "I'd like to spend more time with my family."
Stepping out of the company building, she was met by a flood of sunlight.
She squinted against the glare and pulled a pair of sunglasses from her bag, slipping them on.
Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Ryland Francis, a real estate agent. "Mrs. Palmer, the owner of the villa you like has agreed to lower the price. Could you come view it this afternoon?"
Brinley smiled at the good news.
That small villa on the outskirts of the city-a place she had admired for a long time-stood far away from the noise and bustle of downtown.
Its peaceful surroundings might just be the opportunity she needed to strengthen her fragile marriage with Colin Palmer.
Married for two years, she and Colin had never once been intimate.
In the beginning, she had convinced herself his hectic work schedule was to blame, but gradually, doubts about her own attractiveness began to creep in.
Finally admitting that something had to change, she quit her job to spend more time with her husband and salvage their relationship.
That afternoon, she visited the villa. It turned out to be even more charming in reality than in the photographs.
The elderly couple who owned it had kept a garden brimming with roses, their sweet perfume lingering heavily in the air.
Standing in the middle of the sunlit living room, Brinley watched her shadow stretch long across the polished floor.
"This is the one! How do we proceed?" she said in a firm voice.
Ryland's face lit up. "Excellent! I'll prepare the contract immediately. By the way, will Mr. Palmer be joining you to sign?"
Brinley shook her head. "No, he's tied up with work. I'll take care of it."
"Alright then. Please bring all necessary documents with you tomorrow for the paperwork."
On her way home, Brinley sent Colin a quick message. "I resigned and found a villa I love. I'm planning to buy it."
His reply came almost instantly. "So sudden? But if it makes you happy, that's what matters. I'll come home early tonight; we'll celebrate."
Warmth spread through Brinley's chest as she gazed at the screen.
Colin had always treated her with care and tenderness. He remembered her favorite meals, always had sweet treats ready when she had her period, and never missed an anniversary without a thoughtful gift.
Apart from his refusal to be intimate with her-which upset her deeply-he was nearly the perfect husband.
The following morning, Brinley dressed with special care before leaving for the real estate agency.
She chose a pink-and-white dress, the very one Colin often praised as suiting her best.
"Mrs. Palmer, please, have a seat," Ryland greeted her warmly. "I'll bring out the contract."
Smiling, Brinley passed him a folder. "Here's a copy of my marriage certificate with Colin. I would like to register the house as a joint marital property."
Ryland accepted it and tapped away at the computer for a while, but soon he frowned. "That's odd... The system isn't pulling up your marriage registration record."
Brinley's smile faltered. "What do you mean by that?"
"Probably just a system error," Ryland said quickly, trying to reassure her. "You can confirm it directly at city hall. It happens every now and then."
Brinley's chest pounded wildly. A creeping sense of unease overwhelmed her.
Forcing herself to stay calm, she replied, "Alright. I'll head there right away."
The Love Trap
In order to get her mother's medical fees, she sold herself and was pregnant with a stranger's child. Moreover, she was forced to marry to marry a man whom her father set up for her. On the day of her marriage she found that her new husband was with another woman. She originally thought that she would not be affected by anything but as the time passed by she developed feelings for her husband. But just she was about to give birth, her husband threw divorce papers on her face: "I don't want to be with a woman like you! Get the hell out of her life." She took both her broken heart and marriage and despaired without any trace. Years later, she again came with a completely changed version. However, when she thought that she would never interact with that man again, the man went to the head over the heels to get her back. When she asked him why he was doing this, the man said with a smirk, "As my children's mother, shouldn't you stay with your husband?"
Surprise Oaths: My Husband Is Addicted To Me
Everyone wrote Ryann off after she was abandoned by her adoptive parents. But she shocked all her haters by marrying into the Edwards family and living a life they could only dream of. "I heard Ryann baby-trapped Mr. Edwards. How did he fall for that?" "It's no secret that Mr. Edwards already has a woman in his heart. He's going to make life a living hell for Ryann!" The people who thought bad about their union soon got the greatest shocker of their lives. They saw the ruthless and cold businessman who was feared by many showering Ryann with undiluted affection in public. He looked deeply in love with her. All those who once bullied Ryann went into hiding, fearing the wrath that was about to come their way. Would Ryann forgive them for the years of pain they caused her?
A Second Chance With My Tycoon Wife
Erik, three years into his marriage, scarcely spared Stephanie a glance. She harbored hopes of rekindling their love, but Erik's intentions darkened towards her very life. Stephanie, entangled in the complexities of love, found her desire for it fading. When Erik unexpectedly encountered Stephanie once more, he was unprepared to find her transformed into the world's wealthiest woman. "Miss Gilbert, how did you achieve such success at a young age?" someone asked. Her reply was sharp. "Avoid men; they're nothing but trouble." The next day, the paparazzi shadowing Stephanie were stunned to see Erik Palmer, notorious for his cold nature, eagerly joining their throng. "Miss Gilbert, I have a proposition for you," Erik declared. "What's on your mind?" Stephanie asked, her curiosity piqued. "Let's think about getting remarried," he suggested.
Toxic Love: Falling For My Cruel Lover
"What, worried people would find out you're practically a whore?" "You asshole!" Brynn was a slave to Lawrence's whims as he switched between humiliating her and doting on her. Then one day, he dropped the bomb on her. "I'm getting married." But Brynn was relieved. She took it as closure and moved on. However, while on a blind date with her ideal man, she received nothing but insults from his family. She was losing her self-esteem when Lawrence stormed into the room and pulled her into his embrace. "Apologize to my woman!" Everyone was stunned, including Brynn. Wasn't he supposed to get married that day?
Fatal Attraction: Falling In Love With The Target
Men were always falling into my trap. Before the age of twenty-six, I was known as the greatest con artist in the game. I didn't have a heart. Anytime I was done with a man, I walked away without any sentiments. My eyes were always on the goal-to get as much money from these assholes. I was a huntress who had no pity for my prey. All was well until I came across a man named Dylan Hewitt. He destroyed my track record. He was the most thrilling prey I had ever come across. My tricks didn't work on him. Dylan didn't fall for me as quickly as the other men did. It wasn't until I decided to give up that he finally showed his true colors. He was actually good at hiding his feelings. One thing led to another and I soon lost control. Dylan changed me!
Beneath His Ugly Wife's Mask: Her Revenge Was Her Brilliance
Elliana, the unfavored "ugly duckling" of her family, was humiliated by her stepsister, Paige, who everyone admired. Paige, engaged to the CEO Cole, was the perfect woman-until Cole married Elliana on the day of the wedding. Shocked, everyone wondered why he chose the "ugly" woman. As they waited for her to be cast aside, Elliana stunned everyone by revealing her true identity: a miracle healer, financial mogul, appraisal prodigy, and AI genius. When her mistreatment became known, Cole revealed Elliana's stunning, makeup-free photo, sending shockwaves through the media. "My wife doesn't need anyone's approval."