Chapter 1: Divorce

The clock on the wall ticked softly, each second slicing into the silence like a blade.

Dinner had long gone cold.

The lights in the villa glowed warmly, but there was no warmth left inside it only emptiness and expectation. Ava Hilton sat upright at the dining table, her back straight, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She hadn’t touched her food. She already knew she wouldn’t be able to swallow a single bite tonight.

At last, the front door opened.

Ethan Woods finally came home.

The sound of his leather shoes against the marble floor echoed sharply, announcing his presence before he even stepped into the dining room. Ava didn’t look up right away. She didn’t need to. She knew that cold, impatient aura too well.

He didn’t greet her.

Instead, he strode forward and slammed a document onto the table.

Smack!

The sound was loud, decisive, final.

Ava’s gaze slowly lifted.

The words Divorce Agreement were printed boldly across the top of the papers.

Ethan’s voice followed, indifferent and cruel. “Your cousin is awake.”

Her fingers twitched slightly.

“And I’ve already promised her,” he continued, his tone sharp, “that she’ll be the only Mrs. Woods in her lifetime. Ava, it’s time to sign. We’re getting a divorce.”

There it was.

Even though Ava had prepared herself for this moment ever since her cousin regained consciousness a month ago, hearing the words spoken aloud still felt like a knife twisting into her chest.

She looked at him carefully, at the man she had loved for three years, the man she had devoted herself to completely.

Her lips curved into a bitter smile.

“You still don’t believe me?” she asked quietly.

Ethan let out a sneer, his eyes filled with disdain. “Believe you?” He laughed coldly. “You’ve always been greedy and vain. Why should I believe anything you say?”

He tapped the document impatiently. “Don’t make me repeat myself. Sign it. I’ll leave this villa to you. Consider it my parting gift.”

Ava’s eyes flickered with mockery.

A gift?

Did he really think he was being generous?

She picked up the divorce agreement slowly. Ethan’s signature was already written neatly at the bottom, bold and decisive just like his decision to erase her from his life.

For a brief moment, Ava’s breath caught. Her vision blurred, warmth gathering in her eyes.

But only for a moment.

She blinked, forcing the tears back, and lifted her head again.

“Did Grandma agree?” she asked.

Ethan’s gaze darkened. “What makes you think Grandma can protect you forever?”

His words were merciless. “You know exactly why we got married in the first place. Ava, don’t be greedy. If you push your luck, I’ll only hate you more.”

Ava chuckled softly.

“Hate?” she repeated. “And more hatred? Is there really a difference?”

Ethan’s expression turned fierce. “Ava!”

She reached for the pen.

“Fine,” she said calmly. “I’ll sign.”

There was no hesitation in her movements only finality.

Since her cousin woke up, Ava had received countless messages. Photos. Videos. Intimate moments between Ethan and her cousin, shared without shame, without restraint.

They wanted each other.

So what’s the point of clinging to this marriage?

Ava’s eyes skimmed the agreement one last time. When she reached the clause stating that Ethan would gift her the villa, she paused.

Then she crossed it out.

Ethan’s brows furrowed. “What are you doing?”

Ava ignored him and signed her name with clean, elegant strokes.

With that single signature, her three year marriage officially ended.

She slid the papers back across the table. “Give me an hour,” she said evenly. “I’ll pack my things and leave.”

Ethan stared at her. “The villa is yours. You don’t need to move out.”

Ava looked at him then, really looked at him and smiled faintly.

“I don’t need it,” she replied. “You lived here.”

She paused, her voice soft but deadly.

“So it’s dirty.”

“Ava!”

She didn’t bother responding.

She turned away, calm and composed, and gently but firmly pushed Ethan out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

An hour later, Ava came downstairs with a single suitcase.

The villa was silent.

Ethan was already gone.

Her gaze landed on a small velvet box resting on the console table. She opened it slowly, revealing a Rolex watch, sleek, expensive, flawless.

It was the birthday gift she had prepared for him.

Now, it felt laughable.

Without hesitation, Ava walked to the trash can.

Splat.

The watch worth over a million disappeared among discarded paper and plastic.

She exhaled slowly.

Three years of love. Three years of sacrifice.

All wasted.

From now on, she told herself, I’ll live only for myself.

Ava walked out of the villa, hailed a taxi, and gave the driver an address.

Her own villa.

She had bought it years ago, long before she became Mrs. Woods. Yet she had never lived there not once.

When she arrived, the servants were stunned.

They quickly lined up, bowing respectfully.

“Welcome home, Mrs. Woods.”

Ava set her suitcase down and sank onto the couch, exhaustion finally washing over her. She rubbed her temples gently.

“From now on,” she said calmly, “I’m no longer Mrs. Woods. Just call me Ms. Hilton.”

The title she once cherished now sounded like mockery.

The servants didn’t dare question her. They bowed again and quietly retreated.

Ava went upstairs, closed the bedroom door behind her, and picked up her phone.

She dialed a familiar number.

“How are you?” she asked.

There was a brief pause on the other end before Rebecca Moore nearly screamed.

“What the hell?! You actually called me? Do you know how rare that is?”

“I got divorced,” Ava said calmly. “From now on, I’ll prioritize my career. I’ll listen to you.”

Silence.

Then...“WHAT?!”

Rebecca nearly lost her mind. “Are you serious? Ava, you gave up everything for that man! Three years! You walked away from your career to be a full-time housewife and now you’re divorced?! Is this some kind of joke?”

Rebecca Ava’s assistant and one of the few people who knew her secret.

Because Ava Hilton wasn’t just a former housewife.

She was also Aurora

A legendary lawyer.

There was a saying circulating online:

If Iris is second, then first place doesn’t exist.

Countless lawyers trembled at the mere mention of her name.

As Rebecca struggled to process the news, Ava’s voice remained calm.

“Has anyone been looking for me recently?” she asked. “Any interesting cases?”

Rebecca hesitated, then spoke carefully. “There is one. The f*e is astronomical. But no one dares to take it.”

She paused. “And you… you really shouldn’t take it either.”

Ava’s lips curved slightly.

“Oh?” she said, her interest piqued.