Chapter 1

Austin Cole didn't seem surprised that the subject of divorce was brought up.

After all, it wasn't the first time I'd threatened to divorce him. Maybe it had worked the first few times, but after hearing it enough, he'd grown tired of it.

As expected, he didn't believe me this time.

"Tell me, how are you going to make a scene this time? Photos? Videos? Calling the cops?" Then, his tone shifted as he asked, "Or are you trying to end up in prison?"

I froze. He was threatening me, and he had the power to actually send me to prison.

Austin was a lawyer. Every time I caught him cheating, he'd turn around and represent Ellie Foster in court. Standing on the plaintiff's side, he'd describe in detail how I'd harmed an innocent young woman.

He demanded that I compensate his mistress financially and issue public apologies. He even monitored my social media every day, forcing me to post apology statements.

Every word of my statement had to pass his inspection. He and Ellie would review each draft together before giving me permission to post it.

The two of them would discuss whether my remorse sounded sincere enough. If they detected even the slightest hint of reluctance, I'd have to rewrite it. The worst was when I handwrote more than a hundred apology letters in a single day.

I sighed helplessly. "Austin, it isn't illegal to get a divorce."

The air between us froze. He studied me carefully, as though he were searching for signs that I was bluffing. I met his gaze firmly.

Something in his expression shifted. For the first time, he seemed to realize that this might be different. Just as he was about to say something, a sweet voice suddenly filled the living room.

"Dear husband, answer your phone! Leave your grumpy old wife and come see your princess Ellie! Dear husband, answer your phone! Leave your grumpy old wife and come see your princess Ellie!"

The ringtone shattered the tension instantly, and the topic of divorce was naturally dropped. For a moment, we both looked equally awkward.

Austin said helplessly, "She's young and likes special gestures. She insisted I use her voice as my ringtone. Don't take it personally."

Why would I take it personally? Still, I never expected the legendary lawyer Austin Cole to do something this cringey.

I waved my hand dismissively. "It's fine. Young people in love do stuff like that."

My answer made him pause again. For the first time, he declined Ellie Foster's call.

"You're angry. Why?"

His response confused me. When I had screamed and cried in the past, he'd never thought I was angry. Yet, now that I was perfectly calm, he thought I was furious. How strange.

Austin took a few steps toward me and asked, "How did the business trip go?"

I instinctively moved back.

"It went well. If nothing goes wrong, I should be getting a promotion and a raise next month."

I couldn't help smiling as I said it.

The moment he saw that smile, his expression darkened.

"That means there's something else!"

I genuinely couldn't follow Austin's logic anymore. In fact, I even started to find him irritating. I was about to shake my head when Ellie's ringtone echoed through the living room again.

Not wanting to deal with another argument, I urged him, "You should answer that. Otherwise, she'll start worrying."

Austin looked at my calm face, unable to find any hint that I was acting unusually. Finally, he picked up the phone and said, almost like a promise, "I'll change the ringtone later."