Chapter 1

At ten that morning, the top-floor press room at Hartwell Group was packed with directors, reporters, and brand partners. Camera flashes were already flickering through the crowd.

Evelyn stood at the far right of the front row. Two freshly signed documents lay before her: the final confirmation of the group's transfer of control and her divorce settlement with Julian.

Julian stood on the platform, his voice as steady and level as ever. "As of today, Hartwell Group's equity restructuring is complete. My divorce from Evelyn Reed was also finalized today."

Camera flashes erupted, stabbing at everyone's eyes.

Evelyn had known those words were coming. Four years earlier, when she signed the marriage agreement, she had reviewed every divorce clause line by line. Even so, hearing Julian speak the words so calmly sent her heart lurching.

For four years, she had cleaned up more Hartwell Group disasters than she could count and absorbed every accusation and hostile question at one reception after another. In Julian's carefully staged announcement, all of that sacrifice ended with their divorce.

Before she could suppress the sharp little stab of pain, Julian's voice rose again and shattered the brief silence in the room. "I would also like to take this opportunity to formally announce my engagement to Claire Reed."

The hall erupted and almost every camera swung to Evelyn.

A reporter fired the first pointed question. "Ms. Reed, did you know in advance that Mr. Hartwell planned to marry your sister?"

Evelyn looked up and saw Claire enter through the side door in a crisp white suit. She crossed to Julian and slipped her arm through his as though she had always belonged there.

Four years earlier, Claire should have been the one standing there.

But back then, Hartwell Group was mired in a succession battle. Several hotels were under investigation, and its share price fell day after day. Claire refused to tie herself publicly to Julian while the company was in turmoil, and Julian could not bear to drag her into it.

So Evelyn had been thrust into the spotlight.

Her father, Robert Reed, placed the Bennett family's mortgage documents in front of her.

"Sign this marriage agreement, and I'll wipe out the Bennett family's debt."

Evelyn asked him, "And once Hartwell is fully stable?"

Robert's answer was blunt and direct. "Four years. Once Julian controls the group, you divorce, and the Bennett family's debt is wiped clean."

So for four years, she had never expected to become Julian's wife in anything but name.

Rumor had it that she loved Julian so abjectly she would endure anything for him.

Now, facing every camera in the room, Evelyn merely curved her lips in a faint smile. Her voice remained calm and clear. "I know. I wish them every happiness."

The hall went still for a moment.

Julian looked over at her, his brow drawing together almost imperceptibly. He must have expected at least some visible embarrassment. He believed Evelyn loved him and assumed no woman could sit through such a scene without betraying her feelings. Only an hour earlier, he had instructed his lawyer to transfer the historic townhouse on the Upper East Side to her as compensation for the divorce.

When the conference ended, the lawyer came into the lounge with new documents.

"Ms. Reed, we need you to sign a revised transfer for the townhouse."

Evelyn looked down at the page. Her name had been struck from the ownership line and replaced with Hartwell Foundation.

Claire sat at the other end of the sofa with a carefully arranged look of embarrassment.

"The foundation has never had a permanent office. Julian said you won't be staying in New York anyway, and it would be a waste to leave it empty."

Julian stood at the window and his tone was as flat as ever. "I'll double the cash compensation."

Evelyn's fingers tightened slightly on the pen.

She did not ask why. She moved the pen down and signed her name.

Instead, Julian's expression darkened.

"You have nothing you want to say to me?"

"I do." Evelyn closed the file and ran a fingertip along the edge of the page. "I have five days to complete the handover. After the fifth day, I will have nothing more to do with Hartwell Group."

"The handover period was set at seven days."

"My employment contract has five days left on it."

Julian studied her for several seconds, his gaze probing. "Where are you in such a hurry to go?"

Evelyn did not answer.

A month earlier, she had already sent most of her belongings to Maine. In five days, Noah would be waiting at the airport. The four-year bargain was finally over, and she owed no one another word of explanation.

Back at the apartment she looked at the calendar for a long time and let out a slow breath.

The day's events still left a dull ache, but her grief no longer had anything to do with longing for him.