Chapter 1

"Who's Mr. Jebb's next of kin? We need someone to come with us to the hospital and sign the paperwork."

It wasn't until the doctor spoke that Olivia Gerber came to her senses. She pressed her lips together as she stared at her husband, Caleb Jebb, lying on the stretcher, his shirt soaked in blood.

Caleb didn't even flinch when the blade plunged into his abdomen. But right before he collapsed, the last thing he did wasn't to save himself or even look at Olivia.

He gritted his teeth against the pain and gently wiped the tears from the corners of Shannon Gerber's eyes, reassuring her.

Only after he watched Olivia's parents, Gerald Gerber and Vivian Ingham, safely take her younger sister, Shannon, away did his strength finally give out. He collapsed, blood spreading across his body.

Throughout it all, Olivia felt like nothing more than an outsider, silently watching the ridiculous scene unfold. She had never seen Caleb lose his head like this over someone he cared about.

Olivia and Caleb had been at each other's throats for years. Things had gotten really ugly between them.

Once, Olivia ran her sports car into Caleb and his mistress, breaking six ribs between them. He got back at her by throwing her into shark-infested waters, leaving her to fend for herself for three days.

That was how they punished each other for their marriage.

Betrayal. Hatred. Madness.

Neither of them was willing to budge, as if they had to destroy each other so they could be free.

But now, Caleb looked at Olivia, his eyes filled with mockery and pity. "Shannon may be your biological sister, but she's nothing like you. You're crazy."

With that, he let out a sigh, as if finally giving in. "Don't hurt her. You can get back at me however you want. I'll accept it."

Olivia's fingers curled slightly. "What do you mean?"

Caleb chuckled, but there was no warmth in his eyes. "You win. Are you happy now? Isn't this what you wanted all along? But you didn't exactly win, did you?"

Olivia dug her fingers into her palms, a dull, throbbing pain spreading through them. She and Caleb fell in love at first sight back in college, and they had an unusual way of interacting with each other—they loved making bets.

At 20, Olivia was sent to Kolville to lead a research team, and she made a bet that he would come looking for her.

And Caleb did.

He traveled over 1,400 miles just to confess his feelings to her outside her office. "Olivia, you win! Will you be my girlfriend? I can't live without you!"

When Olivia turned 23, she bet that he would propose to her.

Caleb had 900 thousand roses flown in before getting down on one knee in front of her.

"Olivia, you win! Will you marry me? I don't mind losing to you for the rest of my life!"

On their wedding day, Olivia and Caleb put rings on each other's fingers and kissed passionately. They were over the moon, as if they had won at life.

But Olivia never imagined that Caleb had deliberately made her fall for him. He just wanted to use her as a cover.

Caleb had pursued her and married her just to fulfill the marriage alliance between their families and protect the woman he truly loved.

By the time Olivia discovered the truth, she was already five months pregnant.

The first time she caught him in bed with another woman, she got into a heated argument with them. Amid the chaos, she and the woman fell down the stairs at the same time.

Olivia lost her baby, and the woman died.

From that day on, Caleb seemed like a completely different person. He made no attempts to hide his affairs, constantly making headlines online and turning Olivia into a laughingstock among the elite.

Driven by resentment, she held on to him, fighting with him year after year.

By now, Olivia was getting tired. She let out a sigh. "How long have you two been together?"

"A year."

A whole year? Her heart clenched with pain as she set a divorce agreement in front of him.

"Sign this. Let's get a divorce."

Caleb froze for a moment before letting out a chuckle. "Olivia, are you really playing hard to get? That's pathetic, coming from you.

"You've hung on to me all these years because you don't want to give up the status and privileges that come with being my wife.

"Once we get a divorce, Jebb Corporation will stop funding your team. How far do you think you can even get without me?"

Olivia paid no attention to his taunts and repeated, "Sign it."

Caleb's brows furrowed slightly, but he didn't hesitate. He signed the papers right away.

"I hope I'll actually see you at the courthouse," he said in a challenging tone.

But Olivia didn't respond. She silently turned away and walked out of the hospital room.

She happened to glance into the hospital room opposite Caleb's. She saw her parents fussing over Shannon, who only had a few scrapes.

Gerald patiently adjusted the height of Shannon's bed. "Let me know if you're in pain."

Vivian carefully brought a glass of water to Shannon's lips. "Sweetheart, just take it easy. Have some water."

Noticing Olivia outside, Shannon deliberately put on a timid expression and said, "Mom, Dad, Caleb fell out with Olivia just to protect me. Will she hate me for that?"

"What are you afraid of? It's Olivia's fault. She can't blame anyone else if her husband decides to look for another woman."

"Relax. If she dares to hurt you, we'll make sure she pays for it."

Every word cut deep. It was as if Olivia wasn't their daughter, but their enemy.

Olivia met Shannon's smug gaze, her expression unreadable, and turned and walked away.

At the end of the hallway, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number she hadn't called in a long time.

Someone answered the call almost immediately, and a warm, pleasant voice came through the line.

"Ms. Gerber, have you thought it over?"

"Yes. I'll give you the rights to the patent and formula for the newest drug my team developed, but I have one condition."

Olivia's voice was calm yet firm. "I want Caleb and my family to lose badly at the bidding event next month."