Chapter 1

Half an hour before the final divorce hearing, Claire Bennett arrived early and waited outside a convenience store near the courthouse.

Then she spotted Adrian Mercer standing beneath a tree, holding two cups of hot chocolate.

He handed one to Lillian Brooks and gently wiped a smudge of chocolate from the corner of her mouth.

“Don't worry. I've got everything arranged for today's hearing. I've already prepared for every possible outcome. Whatever compensation Claire wants, I'll agree to it. Money, shares, none of that matters. I just want to get this divorce over with so we can finally be together without any complications.”

Claire's heart clenched.

Back in college, Adrian used to bring her hot chocolate, too.

He'd always check that it wasn't too hot before handing it to her.

He'd sit beside her while she worked on her designs late into the night, keeping her company until the early hours of the morning.

They'd been together for ten years.

And how had it ended?

Adrian had cheated on her.

Yet she'd clung to those memories, fooling herself into holding on to their marriage for another year.

A cool breeze swept past.

Claire instinctively lowered her gaze to her left hand.

Her diamond wedding ring still sat snugly around her finger. After years of wearing it, a faint red mark had formed beneath the band.

Then she looked at Adrian's hand.

The wedding ring they'd engraved with both their names was long gone.

In its place was a simple, delicate band.

Exactly like the one on Lillian's finger.

And just like that, the determination that had kept Claire fighting for an entire year vanished.

Her fingertips brushed lightly over her ring.

Her eyes burned, and before she knew it, tears were falling onto the back of her hand.

She hastily wiped her face.

Then, with a firm tug, she slipped off the diamond ring she'd worn for ten years.

She dropped it into a nearby trash can.

It landed with a soft clink.

Today's hearing should be the last.

Claire picked up her purse and walked straight past the couple toward the courthouse entrance.

“Claire Bennett.”

Adrian called after her.

She paused for half a second.

He quickly stepped toward her.

“Lillian's four months pregnant. I need this divorce finalized by the end of the year at the latest. If you keep dragging this out, you're only going to embarrass everyone involved.”

Claire slowly turned her head, her gaze settling on the slight swell of Lillian's belly.

Adrian immediately stepped in front of Lillian, shielding her as though he was afraid Claire might lose control.

But Claire simply looked at them for a few seconds without saying a word.

Then she smiled faintly, turned away, and walked into the courthouse.

Once everyone was seated, Adrian's lawyer spread out a thick stack of prepared settlement proposals.

Everyone braced themselves for another exhausting round of negotiations.

Claire looked up.

“I agree to the divorce. I'll send you the signed divorce agreement tomorrow.”

Adrian froze.

His eyes widened slightly.

“Y-you're just agreeing to it? Just like that?”

For some reason, Claire almost thought she heard disappointment in his voice.

She gave a small smile.

God, I must be losing my mind.

She turned her head to hide the tears gathering in her eyes.

When she spoke, her voice was steady.

“Yes. I agree.

“From now on, we're done fighting over each other.”

She rose and walked out of the courthouse ahead of everyone else.

Behind her, Adrian was speaking softly to Lillian, his voice warm and affectionate.

“Once all the paperwork is finalized, we'll have our wedding a few months later. Whatever kind of wedding dress you want, wherever you want to take our wedding photos, a tropical island or a castle, it's all up to you.”

Lillian smiled happily.

Then she asked, “Adrian, you're so good to me. Do you think Claire will be upset?”

“Don't worry about her.”

Adrian's answer was firm.

Yet after speaking, his gaze drifted involuntarily toward the slender, stubborn figure walking ahead of them.

For a moment, he seemed distracted.

“There's nothing between us anymore.”

Claire heard every word.

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

Just then, her phone vibrated.

She answered the call.

“I've decided to accept your offer. I'll organize all the relevant designs and copyright authorization documents and send them to you within a month.”

She paused.

“Let's give this design competition our best shot.”