Chapter 1

Lisa's POV 

My sister-in-law sent me a photo of her kissing my husband on the beach.

Just a few minutes later, she deleted the photo and sent me a text saying, “Oops, sent to the wrong person. Lol.”

I knew it was deliberate. It was never a mistake. She wanted me to see how happy my husband was with her.

Clara was never my sister-in-law. Three years ago, my husband had lied about her, claiming she was his younger sister, and I believed him. But after five years of marriage, I discovered—far too late—that Clara was never his sister. She was his mistress, his childhood lover, the woman he had been sleeping with under the same roof as me while making me serve her as if she were truly my sister-in-law.

And now what? He had lied again… said he was going on a business trip. Yet Clara had just sent me a picture—a cute, sickening picture—of my husband happily kissing the very woman he had once claimed was his younger sister.

The photo carried a timestamp showing the exact time and location. It was real. There was no denying it.

They were in Hawaii, on a beach, laughing, kissing, and having the time of their lives… while he had made me believe he was away on business.

Without saying a word, I saved the picture and posted it straight to I*******m, captioning it:

"Congratulations to my sister-in-law… on finally becoming the official wife.”

Then I turned off my phone and went to bed.

The next morning, after having breakfast with my cat, Lulu, and taking the warmest bath ever, I turned my phone back on—and froze. Over 200 missed calls were waiting for me.

Notifications exploded across my phone. And it didn’t stop there—the number of unattended messages kept climbing past 250.

My husband had called me 100 times. Clara had sent about 80 missed calls, each accompanied by a flood of messages, begging me to go online and take down the post.

My cruel mother-in-law gave me only 10 missed calls, but followed them with a single terrifying message, warning she would “rip my head off my body” if I didn’t remove the photo.

Then came the countless messages and calls from a few friends and my loyal maids, all asking, questioning, demanding to know what had happened and why I had done such a thing.

I wasn’t going to reply to any of them. But if I were to say anything, it would be this: “Clara wanted this… I just helped her make it happen.”

I didn't flinch, I just sat there on the sofa—my cat curled up on my lap, warm and soft, and I let my hand drift over her fur, slow and lazy. She purred against me, eyes half-closed, while I scrolled through my phone, feeling the quiet hum of peace settle around us.

I opened the last voice message from my husband, Christopher, sent at 3 a.m. His voice sounded rough and almost unfamiliar.

“Are you out of your mind? Why would you post that?! Delete it! Mom’s blood pressure shot up—she’s in the hospital!”

Then I saw Clara’s last message from three hours ago:

“Please pick up. I’m begging you.”

I didn’t answer.

I carefully lifted my cat onto the sofa and went upstairs to grab my lawyer’s card. I called him immediately, asking him to come see me right away—I wanted him to start the divorce papers I had mentioned three years ago.

Yes, I had once considered divorce, but I changed my mind. I still believed Christopher could change, that he might value me again. 

But since Clara came into the picture, it felt like I had lost him completely. I tried to tell myself it was just a sibling bond, that I was overthinking.

Deep down, I knew the truth. Christopher had been with Clara from the start. Sometimes I’d find her underwear on our bed, and he’d insist they were mine—even though I never wore lace, only cotton.

For the first time in five years of marriage, I chose myself—over my cheating husband, over his mistress disguised as a sister, and even over Christopher’s precious public image.

Christopher obsesses over being one of the city’s top ten young billionaires. He hates anything that could tarnish his reputation—but right now, I didn’t care. It took me just ten seconds to post that picture with his mistress, something that could destroy his carefully built image forever. I realized I could have stood up for myself all along—but I had waited for the right moment.

Now, I’m leaving for real. There is no turning back. Not even my mother-in-law’s threats can stop me.

I finally see the truth: Christopher never loved me. He married me out of pity, out of desperation to look responsible, to calm the media, to prove he could commit. He chose me because I was quiet, unambitious, the perfect housewife—someone to carry out orders in the kitchen and in bed.

I married him thinking he was the one. I wanted a real family—love, togetherness, children—the kind of life I had dreamed of ever since my parents died when I was just five. I believed Christopher was the answer to all my prayers. I never imagined it could be any different. My only crime was loving him completely—so completely that I hid my true identity just to be the weak, quiet wife he wanted, loving a man who never let me see who he truly was.

A few moments later, my lawyer had already arrived at the mansion. I needed to move quickly before Christopher came back. I couldn’t let him catch me here—I had to leave before he could sweet-talk me into staying another five years in the marriage.

The meeting was brief. Mr. Edward, my longtime lawyer friend, already knew the basics, and since this wasn’t the first time I’d discussed divorce with him, today was just the practical part of everything we had talked about before things spiraled out of control.

In less than an hour, he was done and asked me one last time if I was certain. I nodded calmly. I had never been more sure of anything in my life.

I signed the papers at once and had my driver, Lucas, take Mr. Edward back. I told him to return immediately—I was leaving the house for good.

Before heading upstairs, I glanced at the signed copies of the divorce papers on the table one last time. Then, rolling my eyes, I stormed upstairs to gather my few clothes and my cat’s belongings.

Once I finished packing, I hurried to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of fruit juice. Carrying it back to the living room, I settled by the window with my suitcases stacked beside me, waiting for Lucas to return.

Then my phone rang—it was my mother-in-law. I didn’t answer.

Moments later, Lucas’s car rolled into the driveway and came to a stop in front of the house. I didn’t hesitate. I scooped Lulu up and struggled to drag my suitcases toward the car. Lucas stepped out to help, but his expression said it all: “Why are you leaving, Lisa?”

Lucas wasn’t just my driver—he was one of my closest friends in the mansion. He had once rushed to get me sanitary pads when I’d been caught off guard by my period, even though Christopher had cursed me for being careless.

Just as I was about to step into the car, Zara called softly from the living room entrance, “Lisa… please don’t leave.”

Zara, an Arab Muslim woman, was the oldest and kindest maid in the mansion. She was old enough to be my mother, yet she insisted I call her by her name. She had been my emotional anchor throughout my years as Christopher’s wife—she had seen it all, the cruelty I endured, the silent suffering behind closed doors.

I turned to her and smiled gently. “I have to go, Zara. Thank you… for everything,” I whispered.

I climbed into the car, Lucas following with the suitcases, and we drove away. Zara remained at the entrance, lips trembling, eyes glistening, watching until we disappeared from view.

Inside the car, Lucas finally broke the silence. “Where are we headed?”

I hadn’t planned beyond leaving, so I said, “Take me to one of the safest hotels nearby.”

He nodded but kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror, worry scripted across his face. Then he spoke, voice tight with concern: “I think Christopher will go crazy today.”

I smiled faintly and looked out the window. “Well… you’re welcome to come work for me if Christopher becomes too dangerous to handle.”

Lucas shook his head, tired eyes fixed on me. “But… you don’t even have a job, Lisa. Leaving Christopher like this… do you even know what that means?” He stammered, his concern raw and real.

“You’re right, Lucas. I don’t have a job,” I replied smoothly. 

Deep down I knew I didn't need a job. 

I was already the one calling the shots, even if no one knew it. And right now… I wasn’t just leaving—I was taking back everything Christopher thought he owned.