Chapter One

Larysa’s POV

“You have been served,” A middle-aged man I didn’t recognize entered my office and handed me an envelope.

I gasped. “Served? With what?”

He turned to leave, and said, “Divorce papers.”

After the process server left, I stared numbly at the envelope.

I hadn’t expected my husband to make this move so soon after his grandfather passed. 

I became Mrs Larysa Trainer two years ago, but I have never met my husband, Brandon.

When I first learned about the arrangement of our marriage, I felt a disturbing sense of bewilderment. What upset me even further was that Brandon never even bothered to meet me.

Our marriage was essentially an orchestrated exchange of benefits.

We were married by proxy in the offices of the family’s legal firm. Brandon was not present.

All it really amounted to was me uttering a few words, his lawyer responding on his behalf, and signing of the marriage contract to legalize the arrangement.

It was cold, it was clinical, and over in just ten minutes. Just another business deal. Well, anyway, that’s how it felt.

It was as if I wasn’t worth any more than a name scribbled on a document; like an item on a shopping list. It made me feel… devalued.

That was over two years ago and in all that time, Brandon has never shown up, not once. 

Sadly, at the same time as the marriage, we received the awful news that Grandpa had cancer, and his health began to deteriorate.

I decided to leave my high-powered job with a legal firm, and nurse him as his illness took its toll and his health failed. 

Exchanging my stimulating job for domestic duties hadn’t been as onerous as I expected. Grandpa was entertaining company.

As the disease progressed, I learned a great deal from his wise words of advice. As the head of a successful business empire, he had a great deal of knowledge to share, and I was a willing pupil.

If I had to say why I agreed to such a humiliating marriage, it was mostly because of Grandpa.

Grandpa had supported me when I was starting out, and I’m deeply grateful for his generosity. His backing enabled me to go to college and follow my dreams to become a lawyer.

But you can imagine how I reacted when, a couple of years ago, he asked, “Will you marry my grandson, Brandon?”

“But… why?”

“He needs a strong woman like you by his side, Larysa. He could do with a steadying hand. He works too hard, and the joys of life pass him by. He’s too young to waste his future that way.”

“Oh. Er… what does Brandon think about this proposition?”

“I’ll be frank with you, my dear. I told him straight that the only way he could inherit the family business was if he married you.”

“So, ah, an ultimatum, really. Tell me something about him,” I pressed.

“Well, let’s see. He’s a little intense, the laser-focused type. He’s building up a property business, and doing rather well. You’ll be a sensible influence and bring balance to his life. I am leaving you all of my fortune, except of course the family business – that goes to Brandon.”

Grandpa searched my face hopefully, and I could see how much this meant to him. It didn’t take long for me to agree; I owed him that much.

And so, the marriage went ahead. I sometimes wondered if avoiding meeting me was Brandon’s way of protesting about being coerced into the marriage.

I realised how little I really knew of him. Even though we were married, I felt more alone than I had ever been in my life.

Over the next two years I devoted myself to Grandpa’s care and saw to his comfort. Yet, his illness inevitably progressed until his passing last week.

It had been a touching ceremony, a funeral fit for the giant of a man we laid to rest. Warren E. Trainer.

Although he was actually my grandfather-in-law, I always affectionately called him Grandpa, and he liked that.

I expected an introduction at the funeral, but Brandon had shunned the public ceremony. The funeral director told me Bandon arranged a private viewing for himself, the day before.

Brandon’s refusal to appear publicly at the funeral only confirmed that he had no intention of meeting me — and didn’t acknowledge our marriage at all.

I felt both humiliated and furious. I couldn’t help but feel abandoned — by someone I had never even met!

After the funeral, I wasted no time in returning to my old law firm. I had a career to resuscitate and now, nothing stood in my way. 

What’s even more unbelievable is that I have now received this divorce agreement, right after the funeral!

This is truly both absurd and laughable!

Divorcing a man like this is definitely the best course of action for my future.

I carefully examined the terms of the divorce settlement.

I soon realized that Brandon had claimed all his grandfather’s assets. What I had been allocated wasn’t even enough to hire a housekeeper!

It’s not about the money – it’s about fairness. I cared for Grandpa when no one else did, and Brandon never showed him any concern.

I just want what I rightfully deserve – and I clearly remember Grandpa promising he’d leave everything to me. Except the family business.

If it was a fight he wanted, it was a fight he would be getting – I felt determined to claim every cent I was entitled to!

Immediately, I revised the clause on assets distribution and sent it back to Brandon Trainer.

Returning to my office, I was met by Dylan Asquith, another of the firm’s senior partners.

We had always enjoyed a good working relationship, though at one stage Dylan had expressed a more romantic interest in me.

“Welcome back, Larysa! It’s lovely to see you here again.”

“Thanks, Dylan.”

He sat at my desk, across from me. “Listen, we’ve had a major case come in, and they specifically requested that you handle it.” He passed over the case file.

I scanned it and quickly discovered the client was my husband, Brandon Trainer.

My eyebrows rose in surprise. First he sends me divorce papers to sign, while at the same time, asking for my professional services!

Dylan pointed to the divorce papers on my desk. “Are you getting divorced?”

I nodded.

“Is that why you came back? I mean, you really were destined for this profession, not domestic duties, Larysa. Honestly, you’re the best lawyer I’ve ever met.”

“This client wants me to represent a woman involved in a financial crime,” I said.

“Yes. Apparently, she’s in a close relationship with Mr. Trainer.”

I looked up. Was that why Brandon had rushed to file for divorce so soon?

“Close?” I pressed.

Dylan frowned. “Hey, the client is Brandon Trainer – wait, that’s your husband?”

“My soon-to-be, ex-husband.” I closed the case file.

“But I refuse to take this case!”