Chapter 1

Ivy's POV

“Divorce,” I whispered, like the word itself might shatter me. My eyes burned. “Why? What did I do wrong? Just tell me…”

Rowan exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair.

“Sienna… Sienna is pregnant with my child, and I can't abandon her. We need to end things for me to focus on her. Having two wives isn't something I want. So please… just understand and stop causing a scene… Okay.”

The tears I've been fighting back finally fell freely from my eyes as realization hit me.

“Sienna?” My voice rose, trembling. “My stepsister? Rowan… you slept with my stepsister and got her pregnant after telling me you weren’t ready to be a father?” My breath shook violently. “Three years. Three years of taking pills so I wouldn’t get pregnant. And all along, you were betraying me with her?”

My tears finally broke free.

“You’re a beast,” I spat through shaking lips.

Rowan's expression darkened.

“And now I’m the villain?” he shot back. “Did I force you not to get pregnant? Did you get pregnant and I refused to accept the child? How do I even know you’re not barren?” He paused briefly, then added coldly, “And Sienna isn’t even your real sister, so why are you acting like this is some tragedy?”

My knees weakened, and I sank to the floor, my chest tightening like it was caving in.

“So this is it,” I said slowly, voice hollow. “After seven years… you’re discarding me.”

Memories flashed through my mind like fire.

“I worked myself to the bone for you,” I continued, barely holding myself together. “Before we married, I paid your tuition. During our marriage, I carried everything. I gave you my life. So tell me… why? Why would you do this to me?”

“Three days. That's all I'm giving you to sign the divorce papers,” He said, pushing the papers towards me. “If you don't, I'll bring Sienna inside this house right before your eyes or even throw you out, so choose wisely.”

I let out a dry laugh. “So this is who you are after all. You finally got tired of me and decided to show your true colors. Rowan… I don't even know what to say to you. Why? You know you're the only one I have. You know I can't go back home because I'll be thrown out immediately. You know I don't have any single penny with me to start a new life. I have invested all my money into our family. Everything I've ever worked for goes to you. I understood when you said you don't need a child because things were hard for the both of us and I thought it was wise to avoid child bearing for now. I did everything you wanted, so give me one reason you did this.”

Rowan burst into hysterical laughter. “There is it,” He stepped closer. “The list. I knew it would come. All the sacrifices you’ll start counting like receipts. Yes… Continue. Why did you stop? Go on, continue counting everything you've done.” His lips curled. “But did I force you? Did I point a gun to your head? I don't want you to continue stressing yourself so just go. Go!!! Leave me alone to cater for myself and you're saying no. I just want peace now. Stop clinging to me.”

“You’re the one pushing me!” I snapped, tears spilling again. “How did I not see this version of you? You hid behind me for years, and now you’re throwing me away like I meant nothing. Even if you wanted me to leave, are you supposed to embarrass me like this?”

“Sienna is the reason,” I added bitterly. “Of all people… you chose my enemy.”

“Yes,” he said flatly. “I did.”

The room went silent.

Then he leaned forward slightly, eyes cold. “So what are you going to do about it?”

A cruel smile tugged at his lips.

“You bore me, Ivy. You don’t dress like I want. You don’t go out. You don’t excite me. You’re stuck in that… housewife shell.” He shrugged. “I want freedom. I want someone alive, not someone surviving. I’ve always been considerate only because of the help you gave when I needed it… I should’ve thrown you out long ago, now I’m done

I can’t take this anymore.”

My throat tightened.

“Boring?” I whispered. “You call me boring?” My voice cracked, rising. “I worked day and night. I carried you when you had nothing. I buried myself in loans just to keep us afloat. And what did you do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You sit here all day waiting for me to perform the role of a husband. And you dare stand there and insult me?”

Rowan’s eyes narrowed.

“Then why didn’t you stop?” he shot back. “Why didn’t you choose yourself?”

His voice dropped lower, colder.

“Be honest, Ivy… are you even good enough for a man? What good are you in the other room? You bore the hell out of me while at it, and then to even make things worse. You bring up silly excuses either being tired or going through off moods.

Silence exploded in my chest.

“So my worth to you,” I said quietly, dangerously calm now, “is just what I can give you.”

I stepped forward. “I fed you. I clothed you. I built you. And you call me useless? Ever since I met you, you have always been jobless. Going to school was a waste of money, you could have just learned trade. You are so dull, and I'm not supposed to be surprised with what you're doing because you're living up to your expectations.”

His jaw clenched. “You think you can speak to me like that?” he growled.

The slap came fast on my face, from him.

He slapped me.

Pain blossomed across my face.

But something inside me didn’t break this time.

I straightened slowly, wiping my tears.

“So that’s who you are,” I said softly. A coward who hits a woman when he can’t win an argument. You are a man whore. You are lazy. You are jobless. You are weak. You are not good at anything useful. And lastly, you are a woman beater.”

His breathing turned heavy.

“You are a walking red flag,” I continued, voice shaking but rising. “A liar. A parasite. A man who fed on me until there was nothing left.”

His hand lifted again…

But my vision swayed and the room tilted. The last thing I saw was his silhouette standing over me.

Then everything went dark.