Chapter 1

"Babe, Faye's got that soft, charming personality clients love. Everyone says work feels easier when she's around. If we fire her, can you really handle keeping the clients happy with that tough-girl attitude of yours?"

Perry Anderson's words sent a chill straight through me. Something dull seemed to be sawing back and forth across my chest.

Back when Perry was just a broke nobody, I had ignored my billionaire father's objections and married him anyway.

My mother passed away when I was young. My father raised me like I was his whole world, training me to be a real high-society daughter. Music, art, etiquette, cooking, I mastered all of it.

But for Perry, I traded my heels for flats and ran myself ragged, chasing investors and pulling in clients. All he had to do was stay in the lab and focus on his robotics research.

He used to hold my hand and promise, "You've stood by me while I built my future. I'll give you the world in return."

But the moment his company went public, everything changed.

Faye Dawson had nothing but a pretty face and a sweet mouth, yet he placed her in the most important position in the company, as if she were some kind of treasure.

Meanwhile, I spent every day cleaning up her messes, smiling through clenched teeth as I patched things up with clients she offended with her fake charm.

Those clients only held back because of my father's influence and the connections I built over the years.

But in Perry's eyes, all of that credit went to Faye.

To him, the company could survive without me but not without her.

I let out a sharp laugh, the anger I had been holding in finally breaking loose.

"Perry, do you really think going public means you're untouchable now? Do you have any idea how competitive the market is? Clients want professionalism and sincerity, not some assistant twisting in weird angles and batting her eyes like that's going to seal a deal."

Perry frowned, irritation clear in his eyes.

"What era are you living in? Your mindset is outdated, Wanda. These days, it's all about emotional value."

The moment he said that, Faye jumped in, draping herself over his arm like she didn't have a spine.

"He's right. I'm young and pretty, and I know how to read people. Clients love me. Unlike you, always so serious, scaring everyone away."

She even winked her carefully made-up eyes at me, smug as could be.

Perry reached up and gently patted her head, his voice soft as if he were soothing a child.

"You're the best."

Then he turned to me, his expression hardening, his tone turning cold and condescending.

"You should learn from Faye. Stop acting like you're always ready to pick a fight."

Learn from her?

What, learn to call my husband "Cocoa"? Learn to pose and flirt in front of clients?

The thought made my stomach turn.

Whatever warmth I still felt for him shattered completely in that moment.

Fine.

Looking at the two of them, I suddenly felt nothing at all.

"Alright," I said, slow and clear. "If Faye's so amazing, then let's get divorced. I'm done being the CEO's wife."

Perry froze for a second, then let out a mocking laugh, as if I had just told the funniest joke in the world. He looked me up and down with pure contempt, completely certain of himself.

"Fine. Let's divorce. I'd like to see how long a useless country girl like you lasts without me."