Chapter 1 : 26th Birthday

Quickly blow-drying her curls, Bianca couldn’t stop giggling. Today was her twenty-sixth birthday and the day her husband was finally coming home.

They hadn’t seen each other for six long months. Six months that felt like forever. After three years of marriage, they had been glued together, inseparable, until earlier this year when Charles landed major deals for their company and had to relocate to Spain for half a year.

There had been one brief exception, a rushed two-hour meeting a month ago. Bianca had been on a joint flight to Italy and crossed paths with Charles in Spain. They had a quick ten minutes alone. Ten minutes that delivered what hours of different positions couldn't.

Daily calls and video chats helped, but they were never enough. She missed him. Missed them.

She tossed the third outfit aside after trying it on, frustration creeping in. Then she reached for a blue dress with soft, shimmering tiny white sparkles woven into the fabric. Slipping it on, Bianca turned slowly in front of the mirror. 

She knew instantly.

This was the one.

Charles had always loved blue on her. She smiled, already picturing the way his eyes would light up, the same way they had the first time they met, on a rainy afternoon in downtown Chicago.

“Perfect,” Bianca murmured proudly, adjusting herself in the mirror. Beneath the dress, the red lingerie made her feel shy… and excited.

Tonight wasn’t just a celebration about her…It was about them and their little one cooking inside her…

They would definitely find time to sneak away, like two high school lovers.

Boom, Lashes done and makeup looks flawless.

Bianca stepped back, clapped her hands once, and whispered, “C’est fini.” Then she exhaled slowly, her hand drifting to her belly.

After years of trying countless doctors, endless remedies, every solution known to man..nothing had worked. Every hope had ended in disappointment. Until a few days ago.

Two weeks after that rushed meeting in Spain, the test had turned positive.

She had stared at it for a long time, unable to breathe…

Bianca decided to wait. She would surprise Charles on her birthday…the day he came home.

The doctor’s report and the pregnancy test were carefully packed and tucked into the drawer.

From downstairs, her mother-in-law’s sharp voice echoed through the house, directing decorators, arguing about flowers and lights….Normally, it would have made Bianca uneasy.

But today, it made her feel… oddly cherished…

They had never gotten along. Her mother-in-law despised her..openly.She hated that Charles adored Bianca. Hated it with her whole chest.

“Your father, Mr Leonard Williams Warren, must be turning in his grave because you married a nobody,” she had once sneered….A barren, for that matter.

The words still haunted her.

Yet today and for the past few days, she had been unusually kind. Almost gentle.

Bianca looked at her reflection again, her palm resting protectively on her stomach.

Maybe she knows, Bianca thought…They say mothers always know.

And probably, she thought, her mother-in-law was just waiting to hear it from her own mouth.

The sound of a car rolling into the driveway pulled Bianca from her thoughts. Her heart leaped and she jumped with excitement…

He was here…

Touching up her red lipstick, she gave herself one last admiring glance in the mirror before stepping out of the dressing room into their bedroom. She kicked off her heels halfway through the turn, nearly stumbling as she hurried out, not bothering with the elevator.

She would run into the arms of the love of her life.

Carefully descending the stairs, one hand gripping the railing for support, Bianca was only a few steps from the bottom when the front door opened.

A tall, sharply dressed man walked in.

“Charles,” Bianca breathed his name softly, freezing for a second as she stared at him, her heart swelling.

Then she rushed forward and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly, holding on as if afraid he might disappear again. She was so excited, she didn't even notice he hadn't hugged her back..

His hands stayed at his sides.

Bianca slowly pulled away and looked up into his familiar brown eyes. They weren’t on her. They seemed to be staring past her over her shoulder.

She followed his gaze and noticed the decorations and equipment laid out across the floor.

“Oh,” Bianca chuckled nervously, misunderstanding the silence. “They’re getting things ready for my birthday.”

She hugged him again, tighter this time, then pulled back and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

He barely reacted…But Bianca brushed it off. He was probably exhausted. Nine hours of flying would drain anyone.

Bianca’s manners finally clicked and she was about to rush off to get him something to drink, knowing all the maids and helpers were busy on the other side of the house preparing for her birthday.

But then he touched her.It was the first time since he had entered six minutes ago.

“I have something for you,” Charles said simply.

Bianca’s heart fluttered. A smile tugged at her lips as excitement bubbled inside her. Another thoughtful gift? she wondered. Maybe jewelry Or something personal this time.

Charles had always spoiled her with designer bags, shoes, and every trendy thing money could buy, even when she begged him to stop spending so much on material things.

She turned fully to face him,eager to see what he had.

He pulled out a document.

At first glance, the word MARRIAGE printed boldly on the cover caught her attention.

 Bianca's breath caught as tears sprang to her eyes.

“Oh, Charles…” she whispered, joy flooding her chest. “That’s so sweet. You want us to renew our vows?”

Her voice trembled with happiness as she stepped forward, not even bothering to read it properly. She wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him, almost crying.

But this time, he pushed her away.

“Enough of this act,” Charles muttered coldly, his eyes locking onto hers.

Bianca didn't understand why. Looking back at him, she couldn't see the man she loved anymore. It was like staring at a stranger... he looked sternly at her.

Charles opened the document and held it up between them.

It wasn’t a renewal.

It was a marriage invitation.

Bianca stared at it, her mind refusing to process what she was seeing.

“I… I don’t understand,” she said softly. “Is one of our friends getting married?”

Her voice barely carried.

“Don’t act slow, Bianca,” Charles snapped, his tone sharp and merciless. “I thought you could read.”

The paper shook slightly in her hands.

She still didn’t understand. Her mind felt frozen, unable to catch up. All Bianca could focus on was the coldness in his voice moments earlier. Charles had never spoken to her like that. Never raised his voice at her.

“Was there a misunderstanding at the airport?” she asked softly, searching his face only to realize his eyes weren’t looking for hers. “Or… are you upset I didn’t come to get you?”

She forced a small smile. “I would be mad too,” Bianca added lightly when he said nothing, absentmindedly folding the paper without looking at it.

Turning away, she decided to get him something to drink. Maybe he just needed to relax. Today was supposed to be a happy day.

But as she took a step…

“I want a divorce, Bianca.”…The words hit her like a wall.

She stopped instantly and turned back sharply. Her heart raced as nervous laughter escaped her lips.

“Are you trying to prank me?” she laughed weakly. “Come on, babe. Read the room. Today is my birthday not prank day.”

She forced herself to smile, even as something inside her began to crack.

“I don’t have time for jokes either and I’m no YouTuber to prank” Charles said flatly.

He reached into his jacket again and pulled out another envelope, extending it toward her.

This time, Bianca’s eyes landed clearly on the paper.

Divorce was written on it and his signature stared back at her…

Her throat tightened. Bianca swallowed as her mouth suddenly went dry.

“I want to be free from this marriage,” Charles continued coldly. “I’ve already moved on. The paper in your hand is my wedding invitation. The ceremony is in two days.”

Her breath hitched.

“You’re invited,” he added indifferently. “If you want.”

A broken sound escaped her throat. He had to be joking. Charles knew he was all she had.

She opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off.

“You can keep the penthouse in the South,” he said casually. “You always loved the beach. It has everything you need.”

Bianca stared at him, still trying to make sense of his words.

That penthouse… he had bought it because of her. Because she loved the ocean. They had lived there for only two months before moving into this house.

And now, he was handing it to her like a parting gift.

“Who is she?”

The words slipped from Bianca’s lips before she could stop herself from asking again if this was some cruel prank.