Chapter 1

My family had just gone bankrupt when Asher wasted no time in bringing his first love home. He slid a divorce agreement in front of me.

"I'm going to make Cora my official wife five days from now. I've let her down for too many years, so I can't disappoint her anymore. If you behave, I'll let you stay in this house and live alongside her."

My family had just gone bankrupt, and he was already this impatient. He couldn't even wait one more day.

I looked at him calmly. His gaze was cold, and the way he looked at me was as if I were a stranger.

Even after five years of marriage, I was still unable to win him over in the slightest.

Feeling flustered, I lowered my head and forced my hand to stop trembling as I grabbed a pen to sign the agreement.

"Alright…"

I wouldn't be staying here for much longer anyway. So, whoever Asher wanted to be with in the future no longer had anything to do with me.

His eyebrows arched, seemingly surprised to find how decisive I was. He picked up the agreement and glanced at it to ensure that I hadn't made a mistake before standing up.

"Good. I'll take you to the courthouse to finalize this when I'm free."

With that, he walked off without a backward glance, which was expected—he had never been one to waste words on me.

When Asher was no longer in view, I took my phone out to book a southbound flight for five days later. Once the divorce was finalized, we'd be officially over, and we'd go our separate ways.

Five years ago, I had attended Dad's company's annual gala. That was when I fell in love at first sight with Asher Ziegler—the man Dad had personally guided.

The very next day, Asher got my number from Dad. Not even half a year later, we were married, as if that were the most natural thing in the world.

I had believed that fate had brought us together.

That was, until Cora Singer posted her own wedding photo online.

That day, Asher got completely wasted from drinking.

Worried that he would feel unwell, I ended the toasts early and brought him back to our marital home. However, I had just barely dragged him to the bed when he suddenly shoved me away, and I crashed hard into the table behind me.

The vase on it toppled over and shattered beside me. My heart leaped into my throat, and I didn't dare move.

The usually gentle Asher glared at me with bloodshot eyes as he roared, "I hate you, Maddison Gruber! If you hadn't fallen for me… If your father hadn't given me a way out of hell, leaving me no choice but to listen to him… How else would I have been forced into marrying you while watching Cora marry someone else instead?"

His glare was so cold that it was as if he were staring at an enemy.

So, the sweet romance that I thought we shared had been a lie. I drew in a deep breath, but no matter what I did, I couldn't seem to exhale it out.

After staring at each other for a long time, I eventually burst into tears under his gaze.

Asher let out a cold scoff and staggered a little as he got to his feet. He then threw the towel I had just used to wipe his face at me.

"Do you think I care? I'm going to divorce you and find Cora instead."

His eyes were glassy, and his cheeks were flushed. He was clearly very drunk. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said those words.

With a trembling voice, I choked out, "You're drunk. We'll talk when you're sober."

He ignored me and stumbled out of the room.

Deflated, I plopped down onto the floor and cried my heart out. When I grew tired of crying, I climbed into bed and fell asleep.

The next morning, the moment I opened the door, our eyes met. We both looked away simultaneously.

Asher never mentioned divorce again, and I, too, pretended that he hadn't said anything.

I shoved my sense of unease down and told myself that everything would be okay. Cora was married now, and one day, I'd win him over.