Chapter 1

A real-time discussion thread even started on the internet. The topic was, "What method will Ashton Rivers use to destroy Damien Grimshaw this time?"

The comments section was abuzz.

"We all know that Ashton's internal organs are practically destroyed at this point, and it's almost all because of Damien. But it seems like this 99th lover of Ms. Jezebel Vesper's is the real deal! She's definitely going to protect him with all her heart!"

"Ashton's just a stupid, greedy lunatic. He married up just to climb the social ladder and marry for money. He deserved everything coming his way! He should have been divorced a long time ago!"

However, what shocked everyone was that Ashton didn't just keep his cool and refrain from lashing out online—in fact, he even liked the comment saying that they should get divorced.

Then, he replied with his main account, "You're right."

His actions shocked the Internet.

Even Jezebel's influencer friends couldn't resist turning on their livestream and filming her in person for her reaction.

"You're amazing, Belle! I can't believe that you finally managed to tame such a difficult lunatic like Ashton! How did you do it? Won't you share your experience with the viewers?"

Jezebel didn't respond. Instead, she indifferently pulled out her phone and saw the message that she'd just received.

"Ms. Vesper, Mr. Rivers has entered the safe vault in Vesper Manor."

She scoffed aloud and sent a livestream link to Ashton before looking into the camera with a mocking expression on her face.

"What do you mean by taming? He's only behaving because he's got the money. He's incorrigible as always.

"Wanna bet? It would take at least ten million dollars for him to keep mum about this insult. Don't you agree, my useless piece of shit for a husband?"

At that moment, Ashton had just clicked into the link Jezebel sent him, and he witnessed everything sarcastic that she said. He couldn't help but lower his eyes at the insult.

The dull pain in his heart repeatedly reminded him that he would always be the money-grubbing, spineless, and greedy gold digger who married Jezebel only for her money. Even if this was the fifth time he'd suffered a severe blow to his physical state, which might even leave him with a permanent disability, Jezebel still believed that money could buy his silence.

He lifted his hand to wipe away the tears that had somehow appeared in the corners of his eyes before exiting the livestream and walking into the vault. He passed by mountains of gold chains, jewelry, and antiques, each worth a massive fortune by itself.

However, he didn't even look at any of them and went straight into the farthest corner of the vault, where a cabinet was, and retrieved a yellowed piece of paper from the drawer.

Actually, Ashton had signed two agreements when he married Jezebel eight years ago.

Aside from the one Jezebel had seen, there was also a second termination agreement contract. It said, "If no children are born by the end of the eight years, both spouses may choose whether to continue the marriage."

Aston stared at the words, his vision blurring as his thoughts drifted farther and farther away.

Eight years ago, the Rivers family had been bankrupted by their rivals, and Ashton's mother, Faith Rosewood, was seriously injured and hospitalized. They were forced to seek refuge with the Vesper family, with whom Ashton was betrothed.

Jezebel had had a crush on Ashton for a long time, so their first year of marriage was filled with tenderness and affection.

She would bring him to Napeland for the Wine Festival in spring, Zealland's Magnificent Mountains for some skiing in summer, Canneland to see the maple leaves in fall, and Argenland to explore the sand dunes in winter.

They were very happy together, and the world once praised their marriage as "the perfect couple" who were meant for each other. They were even hailed as a precious example of true love among the wealthy elites.

However, Jezebel found out about the prenuptial contract on the day she realized she was pregnant. Her eyes turned bloodshot as she confronted Ashton and demanded, "You never loved me, did you, Ashton Rivers? Did you only marry me for money?"

A huge argument broke out after that, and Jezebel ended up shoving Ashton down the stairs, fracturing his leg and causing a permanent dislocation.

Jezebel also fell, which resulted in a miscarriage.

They lost their first child together just like that. But now, this mutually destructive argument shattered their once-happy marriage.

Once they were discharged from the hospital, their relationship plummeted. Even though Ashton tried to explain many times that he had no choice but to sign the agreement to save his mother, Jezebel had already convinced herself that Ashton was nothing but a greedy and insincere jerk.

From then on, Jezebel began acting like a completely different person altogether.

She cheated on Ashton openly over and over again, even collecting lovers in various orders such as the twelve zodiac signs and in alphabetical order of their last names. She even forced Ashton to deliver condoms and changes of clothing for her lovers in the middle of the night, kneel on the ground next to the bed to watch the show, and then clean up after them afterward.

She trampled his dignity right into the mud.

At first, Ashton went berserk and had an emotional breakdown one after another. He even used his status as the Vesper family's lawful son-in-law to teach her lovers a lesson, which kept making headlines in Queen City almost every day.

Jezebel loved watching him break down for her. After he was down, she'd then turn his back on him and find a new lover, rinsing and repeating their mutual torment on each other.

But three years ago, Jezebel's 99th lover appeared. His name was Damien Grimshaw. And when Ashton came to teach him a lesson and had the bodyguards send him to Pineland Red Labor District to be tortured, Jezebel retaliated for the first time.

She held a gun to Ashton's forehead and demanded, "Tell me, where did you take Damien? If you don't bring him back safely, I'm personally sending you to see your maker."

After Damien was brought back, he began gloating in Ashton's face and arrogantly provoking him in public. Ashton couldn't hold back and punched him hard. But that very night, he was dragged into an underground boxing ring, stuffed into a potato sack, and punched 99 times.

When Ashton was finally let out of the sack, he had eight broken ribs.

Similar things had happened up until now. But after the fifth "accident" left Ashton permanently deaf in the left ear, he finally realized that Jezebel didn't love him anymore.

Their relationship was rotten to the core.

Now, the eight-year agreement had finally expired, and it was high time this entire farce finally ended.

Ashton left Vesper Manor with the second agreement and headed straight to a law firm.

"Mr. Samuel Lawson, kindly help me with the divorce proceedings."