Divorced And Desired: The Betrayed Heiress No One Saw Coming

It was late at night.

Janice Payne got an urgent call from the hospital. There had been a fire at a luxury five-star hotel in the heart of the city. As she rushed to the scene, a thought hit her all at once. Her husband, Karl Brooks, was attending a meeting in that very hotel.

Janice grew panicked. She tried to force her way toward the hotel despite the firefighters stopping her. "My husband is still inside. Please, let me go in and find him!"

"Ma'am, the fire is out of control. You're not allowed to enter!"

Unable to get through, Janice could only stand there, tears pouring down her face as she stared at the blazing building. She clasped her hands together, silently praying that Karl would come out alive.

Time dragged on painfully. Then, at last, someone was escorted out of the hotel by the firefighters.

The moment Janice recognized the figure, her eyes lit up. It was Karl. Thank God he was alive!

She was just about to run toward him but suddenly stiffened.

A woman was cradled in Karl's arms, her body wrapped loosely in a bathrobe.

Today was Janice's birthday. She and Karl had planned to have dinner together, rare as their time together was, but he had suddenly said he needed to attend a meeting. She never imagined that the meeting was just an excuse, and that he was actually having an affair with another woman in the hotel. If it weren't for this fire, she might never have discovered the truth.

Janice's hands began to shake uncontrollably, her face turning pale behind her mask. She wanted to walk away, but Karl headed straight in her direction.

Karl's usually sharp, composed face was pale, and blood slid down from a wound on his forehead. Despite being injured more seriously himself, his entire focus remained on the woman he was holding.

He locked eyes with Janice briefly before he spoke in a tense voice. "Doctor, please check on her right now. Is she hurt anywhere?"

Janice's chest tightened painfully. Dressed in a mask and protective goggles, she was completely unrecognizable to him.

"I am actually..." she started. But before she could say anything more, the woman in his arms winced.

"Karl, it hurts so much..." Joyce Gordon whimpered, her eyes glassy with tears.

Karl glared impatiently at Janice. "Why are you just standing there? Treat her immediately! Can't you see she's in pain?"

Being a doctor, Janice swiftly steadied herself and replied calmly, "We'll clean and assess the injuries in the ambulance."

Inside the ambulance, Janice picked up the disinfectant and approached Joyce. As she did, she couldn't help but study the woman's face. She appeared a couple of years younger, her frame small and delicate. A diamond necklace, one of the latest designs, rested against her collarbone, its price obvious at a glance.

When Janice finally got a clear look at Joyce's face, she froze for a brief moment. Joyce resembled her far too closely, especially around the eyes and brows. The difference was that Joyce's face was softer, her beauty gentle and tender in a way that naturally invited care and protection.

Only then did Janice begin to understand why, three years ago, Karl had agreed to marry her after just one glance. She had merely been a stand-in for Joyce.

The instant the sterilized cotton touched Joyce's skin, she broke into tears. "Karl, it hurts so much. Am I going to die?"

Karl frowned slightly. He pulled Joyce into his arms with his uninjured hand and said curtly to Janice, "Please be gentler."

Another sharp pain tore through Janice's heart.

Before Janice could respond, Joyce reached up and gently tugged at Karl's collar, her voice soft. "Karl, don't be so harsh. I'm sure the doctor didn't mean to hurt me."

Karl's voice softened with affection. "You're so kind and considerate, always thinking about others."

Janice watched the tenderness on Karl's face. This side of him was alien to her. During the three years of their marriage, Karl had always been distant and aloof. But with this woman, he seemed to abandon all restraint, handling her with utmost care.

Janice tended to Joyce's injuries mechanically. She bit her lower lip, but it did nothing to stop the cold seeping into her chest.

Joyce looked up at her and offered a gentle smile. "Thank you, doctor. He just worries too much about me. Please don't take it to heart."

Janice's expression remained icy. She dropped the used swab into the trash without a second glance. "It's fine. I'm used to it."

She then picked up the suturing instruments and turned to treat Karl's injuries.

Karl was already on the phone with his assistant, Armando Clark. "Armando, it's my wife's birthday today. Order a cake and send it to my place. Check past orders and get the most expensive one."

Janice's pupils constricted. So every birthday cake she'd received after marriage had never been chosen by him at all. She couldn't help but wonder how much genuine effort he had ever put into their relationship.

Lost in thought, she accidentally pressed the cotton swab hard against Karl's wound.

Karl scowled. "Are you even qualified as a doctor? You've been distracted since the beginning."

As he spoke, his eyes shifted to the name badge pinned to Janice's chest.

Janice froze, as though every muscle had been pulled taut at once. If she confronted Karl about the affair right then and there, should she erupt into a hysterical outburst or collapse into tears instead?

Karl's eyes flicked to the name tag on Janice's chest. His pupils contracted sharply. "Janice?" His voice rose in disbelief. "Why are you here? Weren't you scheduled to be off today?"

That was when Janice stopped playing along. She reached up and peeled off her mask, smirking. "If I hadn't been called in for an emergency rescue tonight, I never would have found out that you were enjoying yourself at a hotel with another woman."

Karl's face hardened instantly. "Don't talk nonsense. Joyce and I..."

"That's enough. Every word you say right now makes me nauseous!" Janice cut him off coldly.

She bent down, picked up her medical kit, and turned away without another glance. Her chest ached violently, her heart pounding as tears gathered in her eyes. She knew that if she lingered even a moment longer, she would break down completely.

As she walked past a cluster of nurses, their hushed voices drifted into her ears.

"I heard Mr. Brooks got hurt earlier while protecting that woman. She's Joyce Gordon, the famous painter."

"Right. They've known each other since high school. Joyce went overseas for further studies, didn't she? Now that she's back, it's obvious the old spark is rekindled."

"But I thought Mr. Brooks is married to Dr. Payne from our hospital."

"Just wait. It won't be long before he divorces her."

Janice stopped walking. She had never met Joyce in person until tonight, yet the name struck her like a blow.

Years ago, Karl had been chosen to lead the Brooks Group, the golden boy everyone admired. Women had flocked to him endlessly, and Janice had been one of them. But the only one he had ever loved was Joyce.

Everyone had believed Joyce and Karl were destined to be together after graduation. Then, without warning, Joyce had left the country during her senior year, and for many years after that, there was no word of her at all.

After graduation, as if fate would have it, Janice had saved Karl's grandmother, Delilah Brooks, during an accident.

Out of gratitude, Delilah had arranged a marriage between Janice and Karl.

Janice had loved Karl quietly for years. Faced with the chance to be his wife, she had accepted without a second thought.

During their three years of marriage, Janice had poured everything she had into Karl. His stomach was delicate. No matter how late he returned from work, she would always prepare a soothing soup and wait for him to come home. For his sake, she had even turned down opportunities for advanced training, choosing to spend more time by his side instead.

She fell deeper and deeper, loving him to the point of losing herself. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she was painfully aware that Karl did not love her. Except for the once-a-month fulfillment of marital duty, he never shared a bed with her. No amount of compromise could melt the ice in his heart.

And now that Joyce had returned, Janice knew she didn't stand even the slightest chance anymore.

Like an empty shell, Janice moved mechanically through the rescue team, tears silently soaking into her white coat without her realizing it.

......

By the time Janice dragged herself home, her body drained of all strength, it was nearly midnight.

Opening the door to the master bedroom, she found Karl already there. He stood in a loosely tied bathrobe, revealing firm, defined muscles beneath.

When Karl saw Janice come back, he glanced up, his eyes darkening. His hoarse voice betrayed no emotion. "There are only a few minutes left before your birthday is over. The cake's in the kitchen. Go get it; I'll stay and light the candles with you."

It was as though the scene at the hotel had never happened at all.

Janice didn't respond. She tried to walk past him, but his hand suddenly clamped around her wrist.

"Janice," he said, "what happened tonight was an accident."

She shook his hand off and answered blankly, "You don't have to explain. And I won't be having the cake; Mrs. Singh already celebrated my birthday with me."

Janice had grown up as an orphan in a mountainside orphanage. Martha Singh, the director, had always treated her with warmth and affection. Whenever Janice had free time, she would go back to visit Martha.

Some time ago, Martha had helped Janice track down her biological family.

That search revealed a truth Janice had never imagined. Her father was the richest man in Riksall, the chairman of Genesis Group, and she had three older brothers.

Her eldest brother, Cristian Reed, was mature and responsible, currently serving as the group's president.

The second, Oliver Reed, was quiet and reserved, a top authority in the medical field.

The youngest, Darren Reed, was bold and flashy, a major star in the entertainment world. On top of that, he was a professional race car driver who ran his own racing team.

Janice had intended to share this life-changing news with Karl today. But now, it felt utterly meaningless.

Still lost in a fog, she suddenly noticed her view blocked by Karl's tall frame. He extended a box toward her. "Since you're not having cake, take a look at your birthday present."

Janice didn't reach for it.

Frowning slightly, Karl opened the box for her. A gemstone necklace lay inside. It was identical in design to the one Joyce had been wearing earlier.

Janice's eyes flashed with a bitter smile. He was gifting her jewelry another woman had already worn.

"Happy birthday. Let me help you wear it," Karl said as he lifted the necklace.

Janice felt a wave of disgust swirling inside her. She snatched the necklace and hurled it to the floor. "Karl, how long do you plan to keep this act going? Are you really going to pretend nothing happened earlier?"

Karl paused briefly. After a moment, he said, looking impatient, "Joyce has been a good friend of mine since my childhood. She was in a car accident overseas not long ago, hurt her wrist, can't paint anymore, and she's been diagnosed with depression. She just got back, and I'm only showing concern as a friend. Can you stop making a fuss?"

Janice's heart quivered, her breathing turning ragged. She had seen her husband walk out of a hotel with another woman, and simply questioning him about it was labeled as "making a fuss."

Her chest tightened again, her eyes burning as she stood there, unable to speak. To persuade Karl to come home more often, she had even been planning to take time off work soon to prepare for pregnancy. She had believed that having a child might make their relationship better. She never imagined that Joyce's return alone would be enough to destroy their marriage so completely.

Bending down, Karl picked up the necklace. After a long silence, he said, "Janice, there's something else we need to discuss."

Janice smiled bitterly. "What is it?"

"I want a divorce," Karl replied casually, as though he were bringing up something trivial.

In an instant, all the warmth seemed to drain from Janice's body, leaving her stiff and numb. She asked, voice shaking, "A divorce?"

Karl answered quietly, "Don't worry. It's only temporary. Joyce is kind and considerate; she doesn't want me stuck in an awkward position. We'll divorce for now, and once she recovers, we'll remarry."

Janice snapped, "Karl Brooks! Have you ever considered that Joyce might have her own agenda? If she's ill, she should see a doctor, not cling to someone else's husband!"

Karl was visibly irritated. "Janice, how can you speak about Joyce so maliciously? She's not like you. She doesn't think in such calculating ways."

Pain ripped through Janice's chest, knocking the air from her lungs. As she watched Karl so fiercely defend another woman, she felt as though her years of devotion had been nothing more than a cruel joke. Ever since Joyce came back, Karl had become someone else entirely. Their marriage had been disrupted with terrifying ease. There was only one plausible explanation. He had never loved her.

Janice shut her eyes, forcing back the tears threatening to spill. "Alright. I agree to the divorce."

But this would not be a temporary divorce; she was done with Karl.

Karl sighed quietly, relieved. He'd been certain that Janice would eventually give in. She had no family to lean on. In his mind, he was the only person she had left.

With that certainty, he added, "Jani, don't be anxious. Nothing between us is going to change. I'll treat you even better than before."

Janice's body shook almost imperceptibly, a sharp ache squeezing her heart. How could he speak with such confidence, as though a wounded heart would remain unchanged forever?

Karl continued calmly, "My grandma's health hasn't been good lately. We can't let her find out about the temporary divorce. I don't want her to worry herself sick."

"You're keeping the divorce from her only because of the shares, right?" Janice sneered, eyes hardening.

Karl's grandmother had made her position clear. If they divorced, his shares in Brooks Group would be revoked without hesitation.

Karl's face darkened, and his voice turned firm. "I've never once considered divorcing you. Joyce and I are nothing more than friends. Stop throwing accusations my way."

A sharp sting rose in Janice's nose as she stared at the man in front of her. His looks were still striking-well-defined features, piercing eyes, and an air of elegance. Yet now, he suddenly felt strange and hypocritical.

The silence between them dragged on.

Finally, Janice shoved him away and said flatly, "We'll go to the courthouse tomorrow at nine and file for the divorce. Joyce won't be convinced by empty promises, will she?"

Karl froze for a brief moment. Then, after a pause, he realized she wasn't wrong. Trying to soothe her, he said, "Don't worry. It's only temporary. Once Joyce recovers, we'll get married again."

As Janice watched the hypocrisy on his face, her stomach churned wildly with nausea, her expression twisting. A wave of overwhelming pain followed swiftly.

She had been worn down from work and hadn't eaten a single proper meal all day. The stomach condition she had kept under control for so long flared up.

Janice clutched her abdomen, cold sweat beading across her forehead. Without warning, she doubled over and retched violently, coughing up a mouthful of blood. The vivid red splattered against the floor, shockingly bright.

Karl rushed forward and grabbed her arm. "Did you skip eating again? Is your stomach acting up?"

Janice pushed him away with every ounce of strength she had left, her voice rough and broken. "Don't touch me."

She couldn't bear to look at Karl's hypocritical expression for another second.

Yet, he didn't walk away. Instead, he bent down and scooped her into his arms. "I'm taking you to the hospital."

His embrace was firm-strong arms, a solid chest. There was a time when Janice loved resting against him, reading as she listened to his heartbeat, wrapped in a sense of safety.

But now, there was only distance and unease. Still, the sharp, relentless pain tearing through her abdomen left her with no strength to fight back. She had no choice but to let him carry her out in the car.

Karl sped down the road toward the hospital.

While driving, he kept his voice low. "Jani, just hold on a little longer. We're almost there."

Right then, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and immediately pulled over to the side of the road. "Joyce? What happened? Don't panic. Slow down and tell me."

The moment Janice heard Joyce's name, her stomach twisted violently again. She doubled forward in the passenger seat, retching in pain.

After exchanging a few more words, Karl ended the call and turned toward Janice. "Joyce burned herself by accident while boiling water. You take a cab to the hospital yourself. I need to go check on her first."

Janice stared at him, shaken, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Karl, it's the middle of the night. You're really going to leave me here by myself?"

"Jani, don't make this difficult. The hospital's not far. Be good and take a cab." Karl leaned over, unbuckled her seat belt, and motioned for her to get out.

The moment she was pushed out of the car, Karl drove off without even a pause.

As the taillights vanished into the darkness, something inside Janice collapsed completely. Holding her stomach, she reached into her pockets to call for a cab, only to realize she hadn't brought her phone along when Karl had carried her out.

Bitterness flooded her chest, her eyes burning red. She loathed herself for throwing away three years of her life on a man who turned out to be nothing but trash. Tears welled up, blurring her vision.

Suddenly, a harsh glare of headlights lit her frail figure.

She turned instinctively, just in time to see a car charging straight toward her.