Chapter 1

When the $2,000 payment labelled ‘medical expenses’ finally came through, the doctor had just removed the ventilator from my daughter’s face. It was what had kept Ellie alive through the night.

I stood frozen outside the hospital room, completely numb.

I watched as the nurse slowly unfolded a white sheet and recorded the time of death.

Then, suddenly, the phone in my hand began to buzz.

I tapped the screen and answered mechanically.

A sharp, middle-aged woman’s voice immediately came through the receiver.

“Mr. Spencer, how many times do I have to explain the reimbursement process before you finally understand?

“Once the payment arrives, you’re supposed to notify our finance department immediately!

“I wired the money more than three minutes ago! Why haven’t you replied that you received it yet?

“Also, the font on this expense request form is wrong, the formatting isn’t aligned, and the paper itself has water stains…

“And another thing, how many times have you applied for medical expenses this month? Even if your child were made of paper, she wouldn’t need to go to the hospital this often!

“Miss Lane specifically instructed us to inform you that from now on, all medical expense requests will only be approved for one-tenth of the amount you apply for!

“If you can’t fix this habit of casually lying, don’t even think about getting another cent from her in the future!”

I watched silently as the cart carrying Ellie’s body was pushed farther and farther away.

Only after a long time did I finally come back to my senses.

In a calm voice, I said to the finance manager on the other end of the phone, “I’m sorry for causing you trouble.

“Also, please pass this message to Miss Lane: please ask her to come back and finalize our divorce whenever she has time.”

…

This year marked the ninth year of my secret marriage to Claire.

Before that, I was the award-winning talent manager who personally brought her into the entertainment industry.

With my careful planning and connections, I helped her stand out among countless new actresses in less than two years.

When Claire won her first newcomer award, I could no longer hide my feelings and proposed to her.

From that moment on, I became the invisible husband standing behind the famous actress Claire Lane.

I always believed Claire was a star I had personally lifted into the sky.

Thus, I thought I should step aside and give her the stage she deserved.

Still…

When did Claire start to despise me?

I could not remember the exact moment.

I only remember the day I spent long hours making an herbal soup, hoping to surprise her on set.

Instead, I accidentally saw her walking with rising star Xavier Grant, their behavior far too intimate.

Before I could even ask what was going on, Claire’s expression turned cold.

She grabbed me and dragged me into her dressing room.

She immediately started yelling at me without giving me a chance to explain.

She called me a stalker.

She said my twisted obsession and controlling behavior were suffocating her.

Faced with Claire’s overwhelming anger, all I could do was apologize again and again.

I even knelt and begged Xavier for forgiveness, just to earn her approval.

Later, Claire became pregnant.

At first, she wanted to terminate the pregnancy.

It was only after I begged her over and over again that she reluctantly agreed to keep the baby.

However, she had one condition. I had to hand over all assets under my name.

From that day onward, any expense over $10 had to be approved by her personally.

I understood.

Claire wanted to trap me inside the villa where we secretly lived as husband and wife.

However, the enormous emotional investment I had already put into this marriage, the years I had sacrificed, the love I had poured into her, and the price I had paid made me willingly lock myself inside a cage of my own making.