Chapter One: The Last Rose of Summer

Ten days ago, my world ended.

It started when I was delivered a sheaf of papers on my birthday.

In the middle of the party, my husband, Eden Cole, had walked up to me with his usual loveless expression that I had tried so hard to change over the years.

He reached out and gave me the papers, his mouth curling upwards.

“I know that you aren't happy in this marriage, are you, Laura?” He asked, his voice mocking. He was loud enough to draw the attention of the guests, embarrassing me with their apathetic gazes.

“What do you mean?” I'd asked, lost for words and not understanding what was going on.

“I mean that it's time that this farce of a marriage came to an end.”

“What?”

“Here,” he flung the papers at me, watching as they settled around my feet. “The court hearing is in ten days. Happy birthday, useless woman.”

And so began the beginning of the end. It was all so sudden and unexpected that I had to scramble to respond.

I had found Eden cheating months ago on our marital bed. I'd been heartbroken then, but he had promised me that it was a one time thing, and I, in my love for him, had chosen to believe him.

Except now he wanted to divorce me for his mistress!

The courthouse was crowded when I stepped inside it ten days later. Not with family or friends, but with reporters.

I refused to glance at them, instead ignoring the flashes of their cameras as I took a seat at the defendant’s table. I met the eyes of my attorney, who simply nodded at me and said nothing. There was pity on his expression. I hated pity.

“All rise!”

Everyone in the courtroom ascended to their feet as the judge walked into the room, puttering up on to his chair. He gestured at all of us to take our seats, then opened his glasses and peered at those gathered.

“And where, exactly, is the Petitioner?”

At that moment, the door to the courtroom was pushed open, and the last person I wanted to see at the moment walked through it. Eden, my soon to be ex-husband, strode into the courtroom. He wasn't alone. In his arms was the woman I'd found in our marriage bed six months ago.

So, this is the woman that Eden had left me for?

The bitterness in my heart threatened to drown me. To see his charismatic, handsome face next to her was like poison coursing through my veins.

Chloe Sanders was beautiful, of course. Her hair was long and golden, and her beautiful red dress was even more expensive than what I was wearing.

As the both of them walked past me, Eden sneered at me and Chloe flashed a diamond ring glinting at her finger with a mocking smile.

Eden had already proposed to her before our divorce was even finalized?

I kept my face expressionless as the chatter of the reporters increased in intensity, and they started taking pictures of the wedding ring.

“Has Eden Cole proposed to Chloe Sanders? How bold!”

“Indeed! He won't let his former wife stop him from discovering his true love!”

Ugly, wicked words like that spewed from their mouths, all of them heedless of the fact that I, Eden Cole’s soon to be former wife, was sitting right there.

Eden walked up to the judge and flashed a charming smile.

“Apologies for our lateness. Please, let us begin.”

“Of course Mr. Cole,” the Judge waved him away with a smile. “You may take your seat.”

My stomach fell when I saw how friendly Eden was to the judge. This man already had the case in his pocket!

I glared at Eden from across our individual seats. He glanced at me, smiled mockingly, then leaned closer to his lawyer and new mistress to whisper something that made them laugh.

Eden's lawyer stood up and walked towards the judge.

“Your Honor, this is a simple if unfortunate matter. My client entered into a binding Premarital Agreement with the person of Laura Hayes, formerly Laura Cole. Under the terms of the agreement, upon dissolution of the marriage, the Hayes Trust assets were to be delivered in full to the petitioner, my Client.”

“I don't remember signing that!” I cried, standing up. “This pre-nup is a fucking joke. I don't remember signing anything close to that!”

“Miss Hayes!” The Judge barked. “If you would please take your seat.”

Flushing with shame, I complied and sat, ignoring the looks of everyone around me, even from my own lawyer.

I was telling the truth! I never signed anything that would give my inheritance away! What did I do to Eden to deserve this!

Eden's attorney continued his lies.

“As you can see, the respondent has raised a vague, unsupported allegation of 'not remembering' the agreement, yet provides no evidence at all. Without a prima facie showing of fraud, the contract must stand. We move for summary judgment to enforce its terms and dissolve the marriage.”

“And what does the respondent say to this?” The judge asked, looking towards us.

My attorney scrambled to stand. He was the only lawyer I could find in the days leading up to this court hearing. All the other high profile lawyers refused to take my case for reasons they wouldn't tell me.

“Your Honor, we request a continuance. We have only just been retained.”

“Your request is not granted.”

“Then we have nothing else to say.”

What!?

I glanced at my lawyer with wide eyes. Nothing else to say!?

“What do you mean!?” I asked him, but he refused to answer me, or even look at me.

“Very well. The dissolution of the marriage is granted. Financial orders are entered per the schedule in Exhibit A. The Hayes Trust assets are hereby considered part of the marital estate for the purpose of division, with control and primary allocation to the Petitioner, Mr. Cole, as stipulated. The Respondent's claims to separate property are hereby dismissed with prejudice.”

No.

My world shattered around me.

This could not be happening.

Through the blur of the tears that filled my eyes, I could see my lawyer packing up his things and leaving, and I could see Eden and Chloe hugging and kissing each other for the cameras.

My inheritance. My father's estates.

All of it had been stolen by this son of a bitch.

Eden walked up to me, his hands wrapped around Chloe's waist.

“Oh, are you crying, woman?” He laughed. “That's the only thing you're good for, isn't it? Don't worry, this isn't personal; it's just business.”

With that, he turned to leave, taking his mistress with him.