Chapter 1

Kieran Chase stood up and glanced at the agreement without taking it.

"Where have you been for the past two months?

"Scott said he couldn't reach you by phone or text. Next time you disappear, remember to report it to me."

Not a word of concern. Just another one of Kieran's random scoldings.

Honestly, after all these years, this was the first time looking at Kieran's face made me feel disgusted.

Since he would not take it, I did not force him. I casually set the papers on the coffee table.

"Mr. Chase, if there are no objections, then just sign it."

I lowered my eyes and glanced at the girl sitting in the wheelchair beside him.

My body felt too weak to even summon the energy for angry questions. I walked around her, planning to go upstairs and rest.

Perhaps my calm reaction was too abnormal. For once in his life, Kieran actually offered me an explanation.

"This is my friend's younger sister. He asked me to look after her. For convenience, I brought her home to stay. I explained it in a text message before. You probably didn't see it…

"What happened to your hand?"

Kieran suddenly changed topics. Only then did I follow his gaze downward.

Without the divorce agreement covering it, my right hand was exposed under the lights.

My hand was thin and pale, the wrist wrapped in gauze and the back mottled with bruises from the IV catheter they had left in during resuscitation.

"Are you sick?"

He seemed to have found the root of my abnormal behavior. He called me by my full name.

It did not sound like concern. It sounded more like a supervisor reprimanding a subordinate.

"Joanna Candor, don't make emotional decisions when you're ill. Take the agreement back."

I was already used to this. I paused for a moment but did not even turn my head. I went straight upstairs.

Before I could even close the door, my body's extreme weakness made me lean against the wall and slowly collapse to the floor. The dizziness was severe.

From downstairs, Leona Hostler's soft, gentle voice drifted to my ears.

"Kieran, is she angry with me? Maybe... you should just send me back. Living alone is just a bit inconvenient, but I can manage."

Kieran leaned down and coaxed her. "How could that be? You can stay here with peace of mind. That's just how her personality is. In a couple days, she'll be fine on her own.

"Come on, take your medicine. The water temperature is just right. It won't be bitter. I prepared some candy for you."

Kieran's voice was not loud, but it carried a warmth he had never shown me. I could even imagine his expression at that moment, the gentleness and attentiveness I had begged for a thousand times.

Yet it was generously given to another strange woman.

A sharp wave of nausea surged up from my stomach. I quickly covered my mouth and dry heaved several times, but nothing came up. Only the bitter taste of bile burned my throat.

I suppose he was not born cold after all. He just did not love me.

I wanted to laugh at my own stupidity and naivety.

After walking through death's door, I still harbored some pathetic fantasy about this marriage.

Downstairs, Kieran's warm yet cruel voice continued to drift up intermittently. Each word felt like salt poured into my bloody wounds.

My phone buzzed. It had fallen to the floor at some point. I could not focus on the caller ID on the screen. My hands shook as I answered.

A lazy, magnetic male voice came through with a teasing lilt. "It's rare for you to text me after getting married. What's this about? Want to have an affair with me?"

I coughed lightly twice, my voice somewhat weak. "Sure. Though 'affair' isn't quite right. I'm getting divorced.

"Name your price. I'll keep you."