Chapter 1

After I ended the call, the living room was dead silent.

Several seconds later, Lucas Gardner's gang of friends burst into howling laughter.

"Heir? Luke, it's a waste of talent for your wife not to join the entertainment industry!"

"Isn't her dad some farmer in the countryside? What is there to inherit? Those pitiful few acres of land?"

"Or maybe it's the village tractor?"

Their heads were tossed back as they laughed till they were close to tears.

Lucas laughed too, but there was a hint of anger and frustration in his smile at my rebelliousness. He approached me before looking down his nose at me.

"Natania, stop with the act. Who are you putting on a show for? Don't you think it's humiliating?"

Instead of answering, I leaned over to grab my bag from beside the couch before taking out something I had prepared beforehand.

With a smack, I tossed a stack of papers onto the coffee table.

Their laughter abruptly ceased when they realized what the papers were.

Two documents were at the very top—a divorce agreement and an agreement to revoke a property gift.

Fixing Lucas with a cold look, I said, "Sign the papers. I paid for this house in full before our marriage, and it's also under my name. As for that BMW X5 you're driving? It was paid for by my father. The contract of purchase is right here to prove it.

"You have 24 hours to get the hell out of my house, and don't forget to take your 'bros' and your trash out with you."

My gaze swept across Winona Langdon as I spoke, and it was clear who I was referring to by "trash".

The smile on Lucas' face instantly froze, disbelief overtaking his expression. He picked up the copy of the house deed, where my name was printed in bold letters in the property owner's name column.

Following that, he took the contract of purchase for the car, where an unfamiliar name was listed as the payor. Attached to it was a bank transaction record signed by my father.

For the first time ever, he felt that things were spiraling out of his control. Nonetheless, that pitiful pride of his refused to let him submit.

"Natania Simmon, are you serious? You're kicking up such a fuss over such a trivial matter? Have you forgotten who was crying and begging to marry me back then? Now that you've grown, you're burning bridges?"

Seeing the escalating situation, Winona rushed over, exuding a sort of "righteous" resentment.

"Tania, what are you doing? Can't you talk nicely and settle things peacefully? Do you have to throw such an epic tantrum? Luke and I are innocent and have an innocent relationship. We're truly just best friends, as I'm like one of the guys! If it bothers you that much, I'll just stop coming over to your house!"

As she spoke, she clung to Lucas' arm so hard that it looked like she was trying to hang herself from him.

"Luke, stop arguing with her! Blame it all on me, alright?" She even punched him as one of the guys would. "This is all your fault! You insisted I come over to stay! Now look at what's happened! I'll leave right away, okay? Don't fight because of me!"

Despite saying that she would leave right away, Winona's feet seemed to have grown roots. She didn't move from her spot at all, even tightening her grip on Lucas.

She had been putting on this "tough girl" act for seven years, and I had long since grown tired of it.

Not even bothering to spare her a glance, I turned to the grim-faced Lucas.