1. One Condition

-ANNA-

"I agree to divorce you."

"Good. I'm glad you've finally changed your mind," said Dylan Danforth, my husband, who was currently sitting beside his lover, who also happened to be my stepsister, Lea G. McCallaway.

The blonde woman with striking blue eyes ran a hand across Dylan's chest. Then she turned to me, wearing an expression of feigned sympathy.

"Anna, I know this might be difficult for you."

Lea tilted her head and raised her intertwined hand with Dylan's into the air.

"But I truly love Dylan, and he loves me too. I hope you'll accept your decision," she said, sounding almost wise.

Pain tightened around my chest. My hands clenched into fists on my lap. I looked at my husband once more with the resolve I had spent days building before making this decision.

Before I could say anything, Dylan spoke first.

"What made you change your mind, Anna?" Dylan asked in his deep voice.

He brushed Lea's touch away. Leaning forward, he studied me as if searching for something in my eyes, which were already beginning to burn.

"For more than two years, you've refused every time I asked for a divorce," Dylan continued. "Why are you agreeing now? Did you finally find a man who'll love you wholeheartedly?" he mocked.

"No. That's not the reason," I replied bitterly.

Our eyes met.

I studied my husband's curious face. His lips were pressed together tightly, and his sharp jaw had visibly tensed.

"Why do you even care about the reason, Dylan? If she wants to divorce you, then just divorce her," Lea cut in.

"I just want to know. Anna has always refused before. It's strange that she'd suddenly agree," Dylan said.

I lowered my gaze and squeezed my trembling fingers together. My breath came out unevenly.

"The reason... is because I'm tired."

This marriage, which had happened solely because of business, had brought me nothing but suffering day after day. Just to save my father's company from bankruptcy, I had sacrificed my own future.

Even so, I spent the last three years trying to endure it all, hoping Dylan might someday open his heart to me, hoping he would see me as his wife.

At least, that had been my hope.

The reality was that ever since my father remarried Jenna Green—Lea’s mother, and Dylan had begun a relationship with my stepsister.

Days that had already been painful became even more unbearable when Lea started spending so much time in this house. The most heartbreaking part was that my mother-in-law, Jessy Brown, fully supported their relationship.

That was why Dylan had been pushing me to divorce him.

His reason was simple. He wanted to marry the woman he loved, not stay trapped in a marriage built on business.

"You should've realized that from the beginning, Anna," Lea said. "Now you're the one suffering for it."

I lifted my gaze from the polished marble floor to Dylan and Lea.

My husband gave Lea a faint smile as he brushed a hand through her blonde hair.

Slowly, I realized something.

No matter how hard I tried to remain in this house, there wasn't even the slightest chance of winning Dylan's heart. To him, I was never a woman.

I was nothing more than a burden.

Silence settled over the living room until the sound of clicking heels shattered it.

Jessy descended from the second floor.

She was dressed in a designer gown, with an expensive handbag hanging from her shoulder. She looked at the three of us with confusion before her gaze landed on me.

Her face immediately darkened.

"What's going on here? Why is Anna with you two?" Jessy asked as she sat on the sofa.

She crossed her long legs and folded her arms across her chest.

"Anna finally agreed to divorce Dylan," Lea informed her while touching the back of Jessy's hand. "I'll be your daughter-in-law soon, Jessy."

"Really?"

Jessy's face lit up instantly.

A broad smile spread across her lips.

She adored Lea, but she couldn't stand me. To Jessy, I was nothing more than a parasite living in her house. She treated me like a servant.

I was the one who cleaned the house and prepared the meals, while she encouraged the staff not to help me.

Fortunately, I was already used to doing housework.

Jessy looked at me again.

Her smile disappeared immediately, replaced by a blatantly arrogant expression.

"So this woman finally knows her place. What took her so long?"

I swallowed hard and drew in a sharp breath.

"Well then, you should sign the divorce papers right now. Dylan, where are they?" Lea asked as she rose from the sofa.

"Not now," I interrupted.

With the courage I had carefully gathered, I looked directly into Dylan's eyes.

One of his eyebrows arched.

"Then when?" he asked in a low voice.

"Definitely not now," I answered firmly.

"What do you mean? You..." Lea started loudly, but Dylan quickly stopped her.

Lea huffed in annoyance.

Jessy immediately jumped to her own conclusions.

"Ah, you must be planning to ask for alimony from my son, aren't you? Of course. A low-class woman like you would need plenty of money. Especially now that your own father doesn't care about you anymore."

Jessy's words sent an icy chill through my entire body.

Pain tightened around my chest.

I gripped my shirt until the fabric wrinkled beneath my fingers.

Ignoring her completely, I spoke again. "I'll agree to the divorce, but I have one condition."

"A condition?" Dylan murmured. "What is it?"

"Dylan, don't agree to anything. She's obviously trying to drain your money!" Lea snapped.

"Lea's right. You..."

"Can both of you be quiet?" Dylan asked coldly.

His expression hardened, making it clear he didn't want anyone interrupting our conversation.

He looked back at me. "Tell me your condition."

"You have to stay with me for the next one hundred days and grant one hundred of my wishes," I said clearly, without the slightest hesitation.

The moment the words left my mouth, Dylan fell silent.

Lea stared at me in disbelief, while Jessy cursed under her breath and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Dylan let out an amused snort.

"What exactly are you thinking, Anna?"

"If you refuse, I won't sign the papers. And you won't be able to marry Lea," I threatened.

Truthfully, I hadn't planned to say that. But Dylan's resistance had forced the words out of me.

Hadn't I just taken a huge risk?

"Are you serious? One hundred days?" Dylan laughed shortly.

"Completely serious."

"One month instead. I'll give you a fair settlement."

I shook my head. "I don't want your money."

Dylan rubbed a hand over his face in frustration before releasing a long sigh.

I closed my eyes tightly. When I heard footsteps, I glanced up to see Dylan pacing in front of the sofa.

A moment later, he stopped in front of me.

"One hundred days, one hundred wishes. You've been reading too many fantasy stories, Anna," Lea mocked. "There's no way Dylan would..."

"I'll do it."

Lea's voice died instantly.

"But after it's over, never show up in my life again. Stay as far away from me as possible," Dylan said sharply.

"Dylan, why would you agree to that?" Lea cried in protest.

Once again, Dylan ignored her.

He extended his hand toward me.

I stared at it.

A bitter smile touched my lips.

In the end, I really was being cast aside.

So wouldn't it be better to use these one hundred days to create beautiful memories with him?

After that, I would leave.

Leave Dylan's life.

Leave this house.

Leave with all the feelings he had never once appreciated.

Yes. Just one hundred days. That would be enough for me.

"I agree," I replied as I reached out and took Dylan's hand.