The Warlord's Lovely Prize

"Hmm... Landen..."

The sultry voice from behind the firmly closed door froze Kaelyn Barnett's hand mid-knock.

A shiver raced down her spine, the chill creeping from her fingertips to her core, as though she'd been doused in icy water.

For years of marriage, she and her husband, Landen Barnett, had never shared intimacy.

But now, hearing the voice from inside the room, she knew all too well what was going on.

Her breath hitched, disbelief clawing at her chest. Landen - he wouldn't... no, he couldn't.

When they married, Landen had confessed that he had a condition - something that made intimacy impossible. So she refused to believe the one inside to be him.

Kaelyn pressed a trembling hand to her temple, desperate to convince herself otherwise. But when deep male groans followed, the shaky comfort she clung to shattered into a thousand jagged pieces.

That voice was his. She knew it too well.

Her legs wobbled, her back pressing into the cold wall for support. Tears blurred her vision, spilling freely as she cupped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sob threatening to escape.

Three years ago, after Landen's car accident left him in a coma, Kaelyn had thrown herself into his care, tending to him with unwavering devotion for two long years, completely brushing off the sneers and dismissive stares from others, solely because he had once saved her when she had an accident.

On the surface, she had just simply looked after him, but secretly, she had treated him with her excellent medical skill, which brought him back from the brink. She still remembered the day he woke up, the warmth in his hand as it wrapped around hers, the weight of his promise to marry her and cherish her forever.

That day was etched into her heart, as was the love she thought they shared.

She had sacrificed everything for him, pouring her heart and soul into becoming his caring wife. And yet, what had she gained in return?

Kaelyn clutched her chest, her breath shallow and jagged, as though a knife was carving into her heart. Everything she had sacrificed, everything she had done for him, felt like a cruel joke.

She turned, ready to run from this nightmare, but her feet froze at the words drifting from the other side of the door.

"Landen, today's your wedding anniversary with Kaelyn," the woman purred, her voice dripping with mock concern. "She's probably sitting at home right now, waiting for you like the devoted wife she is. Isn't it... bad for you to be here with me instead of with her? What if she finds out..."

"Don't worry, Claire. I've told you before, my heart only has room for you. As for Kaelyn, she's just a placeholder. I've never touched her!"

Landen's voice was soft, almost tender, but his words struck like a dagger, cold and merciless.

Kaelyn couldn't take it any longer. Her chest burned with betrayal, and with trembling hands, she pushed the door open with a loud bang.

"Landen, what did I do wrong? Why did you deceive me?"

The sudden outburst froze Landen mid-motion.

He hastily grabbed a coat, throwing it over himself and the woman beside him. His frown deepened as he looked at Kaelyn, irritation flickering across his face. "Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to wait at the Barnett Mansion?"

Kaelyn's knees felt weak. His indifference was like a slap in the face.

So this was it? He wasn't even going to pretend anymore?

Her lips curled bitterly, tears blurring her vision as they poured freely. "If I hadn't come, how long were you planning to keep lying to me?"

Landen said nothing. The silence between them was suffocating, his annoyance so blatant that it stole what little composure she had left.

The woman beside him broke the silence, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Don't blame Landen. It's my fault. If anyone's to blame, blame me."

Kaelyn's gaze shifted to this woman. Something about her face struck a chord.

Ah, of course. She was Claire Hewitt, Landen's childhood friend.

Kaelyn had seen her photo once on Landen's desk when they first got married. Afterward, the photo disappeared, and Kaelyn foolishly assumed that he'd moved on.

But now, staring at the woman who had replaced her, she realized just how naïve she had been.

Kaelyn ignored Claire, her focus locked on Landen. Her voice came out hoarse, barely audible. "If you didn't want to stay with me, you could have just said so. Why do this... why on our anniversary?"

Landen's sneer cut through her like ice. "Humph, fine!" His tone was dripping with scorn. "Let's be clear now. I want a divorce. The position of Mrs. Barnett should have been Claire's all along."

Meeting his cold gaze, Kaelyn felt her heart twist painfully, but her voice remained eerily composed. "Fine, divorce then. But I want half of the marital assets. Not a cent less."

Landen's expression faltered, and Claire's jaw nearly dropped. They exchanged a startled glance, disbelief clouding their faces.

Kaelyn, the orphan with nothing, had the audacity to demand half of the Barnett family's wealth?

How absurd!

Claire quickly composed herself, lowering her gaze and adopting a tone of false sympathy. "Kaelyn, isn't that a little unfair? Landen has been the one running the family business while you've stayed home enjoying your life. The Barnett family has given you everything - how can you be so greedy and ungrateful? Please, don't turn the whole Barnett family into your enemy."

Kaelyn's lips curled into a sneer, her eyes sharp and unyielding. "A homewrecker has no right to lecture me about fairness. Let me be clear - I'm not asking for permission. I'm making a statement. And trust me, if this goes public, it won't be my reputation that gets ruined."

Her words were like a whip, silencing the pair instantly. Without sparing them another glance, she turned and strode out of the villa.

The cool night air hit her face as she stepped outside. Kaelyn pulled out her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen. After a brief hesitation, she tapped a number she hadn't dialed in years.

The call connected almost immediately, and the voice on the other end was filled with excitement barely restrained. "Kaelyn? Is it really you? You finally remembered me!"

"Yes," she replied, her voice steady. "I'm outside Landen's private villa. Can you come pick me up? I'll send you the address."

"Of course! I'll be there in no time."

Within ten minutes, the quiet street was disrupted by the roar of engines as several luxury cars pulled up in front of her.

The lead car came to a smooth stop, and the driver stepped out. Seeing the familiar face, Kaelyn felt an overwhelming sense of irony.

For years, she had buried her true self, shrinking into the shadows to support a man who didn't deserve her.

How ridiculous!

But now, the veil had lifted, and it wasn't too late to reclaim her life.

"Kaelyn," Sebastian Gill, Kaelyn's subordinate, said, his voice laced with concern as he approached her. "What happened? Why are you crying?"

He hurried over, his eyes widening in shock as they landed on the tear stains streaking her face.

Someone as unyielding as Kaelyn... was crying?

Kaelyn's face remained composed, her hand brushing away the remnants of her tears as she said, her voice steady, "It's nothing. I've just decided to divorce that scumbag."

"Divorce him?" Sebastian froze, the weight of the word hitting him like a bolt of lightning. It took him a moment to process before a wide grin spread across his face, followed by a hearty laugh. "That's fantastic, Kaelyn! You've finally seen the light! Welcome back to being your true self!"

Half an hour later, in the suburban villa.

Sebastian set down a steaming plate of spaghetti on the table, his voice laced with frustration. "That bastard Landen! If it weren't for you treating him all these years, he would have died long ago! But instead of showing gratitude, he actually cheated on you. He's just-"

"Enough," Kaelyn interrupted, her tone flat but firm. She massaged her temples, her exhaustion evident. "I don't want to talk about him anymore."

Sebastian softened at the sight of her weariness, his anger ebbing into concern. "Alright, alright. Let's change the subject." He paused before adding with a spark of interest, "By the way, during the three years you were out of the medical care, people were practically losing their minds trying to track you down for treatment. Now that you've divorced Landen, are you planning to make a comeback?"

Kaelyn leaned back, her gaze thoughtful. After a moment, she replied, "Spread the word. It's time for the renowned healer, Egret, to return."

Sebastian's face lit up with excitement, his voice almost cracking. "Finally! That's the best news I've heard in years!"

He couldn't help but smirk at the irony. The Barnett Group had been scrambling for any information on Egret lately, desperate for her skills.

And yet, Landen, married to her for three years, had been too blind to realize who she truly was.

...

The next morning.

Kaelyn was sound asleep when the shrill ring of her phone abruptly pulled her from her dreams. Groggy and disoriented, she fumbled for the device, pressing the answer button with a sigh.

On the other end, the sharp, scolding voice of Landen's mother Kathy Barnett blasted through the line. "You ungrateful wretch, where have you disappeared to this time? Get back here and do the housework!"

In the past, Kaelyn would have instinctively apologized, meek and submissive under Kathy's wrath. But today was different. Things were different now.

She replied coldly, her voice void of emotion, "Landen and I have decided to divorce. I have no obligation to do anything for your family anymore."

"What? Divorce?" Kathy's sharp tone bristled through the line, followed by a mocking laugh as if she had just heard an absurd joke. "I bet it's just your decision. Kaelyn, don't forget your place! You have no right to throw tantrums at me! Be back here within half an hour, or I'll throw all your things out!"

The line went dead with Kathy's decisive hang-up.

Kaelyn stood motionless for a moment, her lips pressing into a thin line.

Then, with deliberate calm, she got out of bed and dressed. There were still some important belongings left in her room in that house, and today seemed like the perfect day to retrieve them - once and for all severing ties with the Barnett family.

A taxi dropped her off at the Barnett Mansion. As soon as Kaelyn stepped inside, a shrill voice greeted her from the living room. "Well, look who dares to show her face! Didn't come home all night? Must've been up to something shady!"

Kaelyn's gaze flicked to the sofa, where Kathy and her daughter Verena Barnett sat side by side, elegantly dressed yet exuding the petty arrogance of common shrews.

Kaelyn's expression hardened as she met their disdainful stares. "Oh, quite shady indeed," she replied, her tone cutting. "After all, Landen was caught cheating with Claire - on our wedding anniversary, no less, right before my eyes. If this gets out, the Barnett family's reputation will be in ruins!"

"What? Claire is back?" Kathy's eyes widened in shock, only for her surprise to quickly morph into a contemptuous sneer. "Well, what else can you expect? You've always been useless. Three years as part of this family and not even a hint of a child. Did you think Landen would just sit idly by and let the family line die out?"

Verena chimed in with venom, "Exactly! If it hadn't been for Landen's accident and Grandma's dying wish, do you really think an orphan like you would have had the chance to marry into the Barnett family? Compared to Claire, your background and talents are laughable! A barren woman like you deserves to be ignored by Landen."

Kaelyn almost laughed out loud at the sheer shamelessness of the mother and daughter. The audacity of their words both infuriated and amused her.

Without saying a word, she reached into her bag and pulled out an old medical report Landen had handed her years ago. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it onto Verena's lap. "Landen never got intimate with me, not even once. I can't have a child on my own!"

Verena, who had been ready to hurl more insults, froze when her gaze landed on the report. Her eyes widened, and her face paled as the bold word "impotent" stared back at her. "How... how is this possible?"

Her hands trembled as she clutched the paper, her disbelief evident.

Kathy, catching sight of the report, raised an eyebrow. But she was more composed than Verena, and her expression briefly flickered before she quickly regained control.

"Well, if Landen can be intimate with Claire, it clearly proves there's nothing wrong with him," Kathy declared, her voice sharp. "It's your failure that pushed him to lie about being impotent rather than touch you."

"Is that so?" Kaelyn's lips curled into a cold smile, her eyes glinting with mockery. "Have you forgotten who stayed by Landen's side, stabilizing the chaos in the Barnett Group when he had his accident - and when Claire fled abroad?"

Kathy's jaw tightened, her glare boring into Kaelyn. For a moment, she was speechless, but soon her expression hardened. "Don't think I don't know you planned all this! You had your sights set on marrying into the Barnett family from the beginning! You're no different from Claire - both greedy for our wealth!"

Verena, who had always felt a strong camaraderie with Claire, stiffened at her mother's comparison.

She bristled, quickly defending. "Mom, don't lump Claire in with this woman! She went abroad back then to find doctors for Landen, not because she was running away. She is nothing like Kaelyn!"

Turning to Kaelyn with a self-righteous glare, Verena spat, "If you hadn't interfered and married Landen, Claire wouldn't have been heartbroken or stayed abroad all these years! She's back because she still cares about him. Kaelyn, you owe Claire. You're the other woman here!"

Kaelyn let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head as though she'd finally reached the end of her patience. Without another word, she reached into her bag, pulled out the divorce petition, and showed it in front of the two women. "See this?" she said coolly, her tone dripping with finality. "I'm determined to divorce him. Have Landen prepared for this too and go to the courthouse with me. Then, he will be free, and this shameless couple can do whatever they want."

Not bothering to entertain further arguments, Kaelyn turned on her heel and made her way upstairs, leaving the stunned duo in her wake.

Until Kaelyn finished packing and walked out the door, Kathy and Verena remained rooted in place, their expressions frozen with disbelief. Their eyes fixated on the divorce petition lying on the table.

"Is she really going to divorce Landen?" Verena muttered under her breath, suspicion flickering in her tone. Picking up the divorce petition to examine it closely, her face twisted with rage. "Ha! Just as I thought! She's only after the money! Look at this - she wants half of the Barnett family's assets. Shameless!"

The sound of the front door opening broke their stunned silence. Landen stepped inside, his expression tired but composed.

Kathy and Verena immediately sprang into action, rushing to him like an ambush.

"Landen, you need to put a stop to this nonsense!" Kathy cried, her voice sharp with indignation. "That woman has drained the Barnett family dry, and now she's demanding even more! She's using this divorce to extort money from us!"

"Yes, and that's not all!" Verena chimed in, her voice trembling with outrage. "She disrespected Mom and me, throwing the divorce petition at us and acting completely out of line! I say we expose her to the public and let everyone know she's nothing but a disgrace! Once she's rejected by everyone, she'll have no choice but to come crawling back to us!"

Landen's frown deepened, his eyes narrowing as he processed their words. "No," he said firmly, his tone brooking no argument.

The Barnett Group was at a pivotal point, now recognized as one of the world's top 100 companies. With the support of Rodger Barnett, the current family head and a man of immense global influence in military and financial circles, their future could soar to unprecedented heights. At a time like this, any scandal could be disastrous.

Before he could respond further, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Landen pulled it out, irritation flashing in his eyes as he answered.

But within moments, his expression shifted. His irritation melted into urgency, his voice rising slightly.

"What did you just say? You've got a lead on Egret?" he asked, his eyes bright with interest. "Keep digging. Whatever it takes, I need to secure their help!"

...

Ten o'clock that night at Radiant Bar.

"Here's to Kaelyn's triumphant return!"

Sebastian raised his glass high, his grin wide and unrestrained as he basked in the lively atmosphere. His joy was plain for all to see, unhidden and infectious.

Sebastian's men, seated around him, enthusiastically followed his lead, raising their glasses and cheering loudly.

"Welcome back, Kaelyn!"

"Kaelyn, you're incredible! The moment word got out, people were scrambling to find out about the legendary healer, Egret!"

"Exactly! I heard the Barnett Group even offered a million! Can you imagine the look on Landen's face if he knew who you really were?"

At the mention of Landen's name, Kaelyn's expression turned frosty instantly.

Sebastian noticed the shift immediately and hurried to steer the conversation elsewhere. "A Million? That's pocket change. Someone else upped the ante - fifteen million just to track Kaelyn down! And get this, they offered seventy million if she'd take on their case!"

Kaelyn swirled her drink lazily before taking a sip, her demeanor calm and detached.

She didn't respond. Anyone willing to pay that much undoubtedly had a complicated condition, tangled in a web of power and influence. She had only just resurfaced and wasn't keen on diving into anything so demanding just yet.

Noticing her silence, Sebastian wisely dropped the subject and redirected the chatter toward lighter topics with the group.

Kaelyn stayed quiet, sipping her drink as her thoughts wandered.

But their lively group soon drew attention, and before long, strangers began approaching, eager to join in their conversation.

The interruptions grated on her nerves. With a frustrated sigh, she leaned toward Sebastian and tugged on his sleeve. "Let's go dance."

Kaelyn stepped onto the dance floor, her movements fluid and confident. After years of suffocating restraint within the Barnett family, tonight, she wanted nothing more than to revel in her freedom.

As the pounding rhythm of rock music filled the air, she let herself go, moving with effortless grace and power. The world around her blurred until nothing existed but the music and the motion.

Gradually, the dancers around her faltered, captivated by the magnetic presence she exuded.

Under the flashing lights, her black dress clung to her figure, accentuating her beauty. Every step, every turn was mesmerizing - a blend of strength and elegance that left the crowd spellbound.

"Is that... Kaelyn?"

At the bar's entrance, Landen stood frozen, his voice barely audible over the music. His gaze was locked on the radiant figure in the center of the dance floor, his tone tinged with disbelief.

He had brought Verena and a few friends to celebrate Claire's return from abroad, never imagining that he'd encounter Kaelyn in a place like this.

The usually dull and unremarkable Kaelyn had such an unexpectedly captivating side?

Claire, clinging to Landen's arm, felt his muscles tense the moment his eyes landed on Kaelyn. Her brows furrowed slightly in displeasure.