Chapter 1

The moment I pushed open the apartment door, I took off that custom wedding dress, grabbed a pair of scissors, cut it to pieces, and stuffed it straight into the trash.

The white satin ripped under the blades, much like our past ten years. It was already full of holes, but I just couldn't bear to face the truth.

I immediately called my family's private lawyer and told him to list and sell the premium aquatic center downtown right away.

That was the secret training facility I had custom-built for Nate years ago using my own trust fund.

The lanes and water temperature matched Olympic standards perfectly. I even paid top dollar to hire a coaching staff that had trained gold medalists just to create a custom plan for him.

From the very beginning, I paved the way for this unknown athlete.

However, Nate was just entering the pro circuit at the time and had a massive ego. He refused to mention my existence to the public. To avoid suspicion, he also rarely showed up at the training center.

He was afraid that if people knew I was the real owner, he would be called a leech who used a woman to get ahead.

To protect his ridiculous pride, I moved into a run-down apartment near the team's public pool. During the day, I acted as his agent, securing sponsorships and accompanying him to practice. At night, I stayed up late writing business pitches to pay for his expenses.

Thinking back on it now, I had never struggled so much in my entire life.

But now that I was leaving, there was no longer any need for this aquatic center.

I settled the severance packages for the venue staff, and the lawyer quickly started the property transfer.

Looking at the transfer updates popping up on my phone, my heavy heart finally felt a sliver of relief.

I could have lived a completely different life. But for a man who wasn't worth it, I gave up being a wealthy heiress and worked myself to the bone as his unpaid maid.

I had just stuffed all of Nate's belongings into several large cardboard boxes and was about to throw them out into the hallway when the front door flew open. Nate stormed in.

"Didn't we agree before I left that you would stay home like a good girl? Now all the fans online are talking about some crazy woman in a wedding dress!"

"You know my marketability is at its peak right now. Did you really have to pull a stunt to force a proposal on a night like that? Will you only be happy when you completely ruin my career?"

His tone made it sound like I had committed some unforgivable crime.

But if I hadn't seen him flirting with Lexi under the spotlight just a few hours ago, and if he hadn't completely ignored the reporters' questions, I might have actually felt guilty. I might have thought that making our relationship public would hurt his bright future.

"What? You tried so hard to stop me from going. Were you afraid I would catch you and Lexi playing up a fake romance in front of the cameras?"

"Nate, I will just consider my ten years with you a total waste. From today on, we are done."

"Take your things and get out of my apartment."

I slapped an agency termination agreement against his chest and kicked the boxes out the door. My eyes held absolutely no affection.

His face darkened. He grabbed me and pulled me back into the room, squeezing my wrist hard.

"Haley, what kind of tantrum are you throwing now? I've explained it a million times. Lexi is just a new girl on the team. You have way too much free time. Can you stop with this pointless jealousy!"

"By the way, the team gave Lexi and me some time off next month to relax and recover. I remember you have a yacht under your name. Tell the marina to get it ready."

"I will let the wedding dress thing slide tonight."

He kept talking, completely oblivious to the television screen behind him. It was scrolling the entertainment headline: 'Swimming Star Confirms Romance at Victory Party'.

In the footage, just as cameras surrounded Lexi, Nate pushed through the crowd and shielded her in his arms.

Watching him hold her like that felt like shattered glass in my chest.

That yacht was the one I bought for our honeymoon. It had been sitting quietly at a private marina since it was built. I designed the interior myself.

Now he wanted to bring another woman on board.

Following my gaze, Nate finally noticed the footage on the TV.

A look of undeniable panic flashed across his face.