Chapter 2

"Lucas Hale, don't you find it disgusting to say that?"

Lucas's smooth, insincere words lit Hannah's fury like dry kindling. Her face burned crimson, as if the blood might burst through her skin.

Five years of marriage, and not one child.

Once, she had been pregnant. But back then she had quarreled bitterly with her sister-in-law, Sabrina Hale, and in the middle of it, Sabrina had shoved her to the ground.

She lost the baby.

Her recovery was no sanctuary. Her mother-in-law, Margaret Hale, screamed at her and struck her. Hannah had to drag herself through every day alone, and the scars from that time never healed. They were the reason she now struggled to conceive.

Victoria's voice turned soft and understanding. "Hannah, I may have slept with Luke, but I'll never marry him. Your family won't be destroyed, I promise. When I get pregnant, I'll hand the child to you to raise. You're my best friend. I've already given up so much for you. How can you still say we betrayed you?"

Hannah couldn't fathom how people so shameless could exist. She was sick to her soul of this rotten pair. She stood, gripped her bag, and swung it down on both their heads without a moment's hesitation.

"Lucas, I want a divorce!"

Lucas yelped, then shoved her back hard to put space between them. "Hannah, are you sick? Do you even know what you're saying?"

Hannah glared at him, her eyes red.

"Of course I know. I said..." She parted her lips and spoke each word clearly. "I want a divorce."

"Has it been so easy for you all these years that you've forgotten your place?"

Lucas gave a mocking sneer. He didn't believe for one second that she had the courage. He assumed it was a fit of temper, words she'd regret by morning.

Smack!

Hannah's hand flew across his face.

Lucas froze. The sting on his cheek proved it was real. She had struck him again.

"Oh!" Victoria gasped and rushed to his side, stroking his cheek. "Luke, are you all right?"

Then she turned to Hannah, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Hannah, how could you? Don't you know how much Luke cares about his reputation?"

Hannah laughed coldly. "His reputation? If he cared about it, he wouldn't have done something this filthy behind my back!"

A vein throbbed in Lucas's forehead. He swallowed his rage and growled, "Hannah, can you please stop making a scene?"

"Yes, Hannah, don't get so worked up," Victoria added. "We can sit down and talk this through."

"Talk? About what?"

Hannah's voice dripped with sarcasm. "About how I'll help you two raise your baby?"

"Hannah, it's not just mine and Vicky's child," Lucas said. "It would be yours too. Why can't you see that?"

"Lucas, the doctor said it isn't that I can't. have children. It's that it's difficult! You keep swearing you love me, yet you slept with my best friend and now want me to raise your child? I'm not that low!"

Victoria smoothed her hair as she spoke. "Hannah, isn't 'difficult' just another word for 'can't'? If you could, you'd have had one by now. Why should Luke wait forever? We're doing this for your sake."

Hannah's eyes narrowed on her. "Really? And you have no other motive?"

"W-what other motive could I possibly have?"

Victoria looked away, guilt flickering in her voice. "You and Luke are my dearest friends. Of course I want you both to be happy!"

"Victoria, you have a very special way of being kind. I hope someone treats you exactly the way you've treated me."

"Hannah..." Tears welled in Victoria's eyes, and she put on her most wounded face. "How can you say that? I thought you were my best friend."

"Enough!"

Hannah lifted her chin and turned to Lucas, her voice steady. "My mind is made up. We're getting divorced. From today, we go our separate ways. Whatever happens between you and Victoria is none of my business."

Lucas studied her face for a long moment. In her eyes he saw no anger, no hysteria, only certainty. And slowly, he realized she was not joking.

"Hannah, where do you get the nerve to demand a divorce from me? Your brother bought his house and his carriage, and paid that lavish bride-price at his wedding, all because of me. Have you forgotten?"

"If you leave, I'll take back every last coin I gave him!"

"Do what you want," Hannah said. "I've decided. This divorce is happening."

It was the first time Lucas had seen her stand so firm. It startled him, but he kept his chin high, as if he were granting her a great favor.

"Hannah, I'll give you one last chance. Pretend you saw nothing today, and I promise I'll see less of Vicky. After she gives birth, you'll raise the child, and you can remain Mrs. Hale. How's that?"

"Do you think I'm so worthless that you can insult me like this?"

Hannah ground her teeth. "A favor? I don't want to be Mrs. Hale for one more day, not with that revolting woman in your bed!"

"Fine, Hannah. You chose this."

Lucas snorted, snatched his phone from the bed, and spoke in a voice like ice. "I'm calling Attorney Crawford right now. Don't forget, my mother made you sign a prenuptial agreement. If you divorce me, you won't get a single coin from the Hale family. Worse, you'll repay everything I've spent on your brother over the years. And if you don't, I'll make sure your precious brother rots in prison for the rest of his life!"

Attorney Crawford was the legal counsel to the Hale Group, handling every matter for the family.

Lucas's words struck her like a blade.

Behind him, a flash of triumph lit Victoria's eyes. The corner of her mouth curled ever so slightly. Her scheme was working.

Hannah was still trembling with rage, but she forced herself to stay calm. Her voice didn't waver.

"Lucas, if that's how it is, then have your lawyer bring the divorce papers as soon as possible. I don't want to share a single breath with you a moment longer."

She bit her lip hard to keep the tears from falling.

By now, Victoria had finished dressing. She slipped her hand into Lucas's arm and spoke to Hannah with feigned concern.

"Hannah, please don't be so rash! Think about it. Once you're divorced, you'll have nowhere to go. Your parents treated you so cruelly before. If they hear you've left Luke, they'll send you straight back to Silas Crowe. How will you live then?"

Her words sounded like kindness. But every one was a needle, sinking into Hannah's heart.

Silas Crowe was the most feared crime lord in Ravenmoor District, in the city of Eldermere. Nearly sixty, he had built an empire on debt collection and protection money. He was ruthless, and everyone feared him.

Years ago, Hannah's parents had tried to sell their sixteen-year-old daughter to Silas as his mistress for two million crowns.

Rumor said the girls sent to him rarely lasted six months before being passed to his men, then ending up in the nightclubs, earning coin for Silas.

Her parents' cruelty was beyond belief.

At sixteen, Hannah couldn't bear the humiliation. Hopeless, she threw herself into Mirrorwater Lake.

But someone pulled her out. Lucas, who happened to be passing by.

The moment he saw her, he was captivated. To keep her from Silas's grasp, he called in every connection the Hale family had to set her free.

Now, Victoria's words were a double blow. To Hannah, they said: You have nowhere to go. To Lucas, they whispered: Remember, she was almost someone else's plaything.