Chapter 1

When my husband, Jaxon Wilde, brought his hundredth mistress home on our wedding anniversary, I calmly declared, "Let's get a divorce, Jaxon."

…

For a moment, there was silence before laughter erupted all around us, as if I'd just told the joke of the year.

"Ha! Mr. Wilde, how many times has she said that now?"

"Must be the hundredth by now, right? Shall we throw a party to celebrate?"

Jaxon's cold stare turned to scorn. He stepped closer and gripped my chin so hard that I thought my bones would crush.

A scoff escaped his lips as he said, "Divorce? Still playing this same act after ten years, Scarlett? What right do you have to talk about divorce when you had your mom drug me and forced your way into my bed?

"Without me footing your bill, your mom would be dead tomorrow!"

Sure enough, he was talking about the same old accusation. Even after ten years, he clung to the belief that I'd orchestrated Mom to drug him and tear him from his first love, Aveline Rose.

He took my silence for guilt and released my chin with a sneer. The woman beside him, Elowen Faye—who was also Aveline's lookalike—dutifully handed him a napkin.

He ruthlessly wiped his fingers as if he'd touched filth and said, "Ellie's tired. She needs the best room and something nice to wear."

"Sure. How about the guest room next to ours, the same as the last 99 stayed in?" I said.

His brows furrowed with an expression I knew all too well. Whenever I strayed from the script where I was expected to break down, that familiar, disgusted look of "This woman's putting on an act again" would appear on his face.

He gave a cold laugh and pulled Elowen into his arms. "Suit yourself. Just make sure Ellie likes it. She didn't pack anything decent, so bring her those new limited-edition dresses in your closet, and the blue diamond set in your jewelry box."

He paused as his eyes flicked to the dress I was wearing, gleaming with malice. "Also, take this off now. Ellie likes it."

All the jeering laughter in the room died abruptly at his words. As if taking my clothes and jewelry wasn't humiliating enough, now he wanted to strip this meaningful dress off my back, right in front of everyone.

This was a trampling of my dignity into the mud beneath his feet!

Elowen, playing her part, shyly bit her lip and faked an eager look. She brushed her fingers across the hem of my dress.

"Alright," I said coolly before slipping my hand under the strap. With a sharp rip, the silk tore clean through.

Gasps filled the room as I reached for the clasp on my back.

"Enough!" he suddenly roared and grabbed my wrist. "Have you no shame? Go change now!"

With that, he flung me aside and sent me crashing into the champagne tower. Cold champagne and broken glass cut into my skin, burning painfully.

I shut my eyes, and when I opened them again, all that was left inside me was a hollow calm.

"Fine," I said.

Sure enough, I could hear the stifled chuckles ripple through the well-dressed guests.

"Alas… She'd do anything for money, yet she has the guts to talk about divorce? That's some impressive courage!"

"Mrs. Wilde? I think she can't even compare to a housekeeper!"

"I heard her mom practically lives at the hospital and relies entirely on Mr. Wilde. No wonder she puts up with this…" Their whispers sliced at my ears like knives.

They'd never know that, although this was the hundredth time I'd asked for a divorce, tonight was the first time I had enough savings to leave with Mom for good.

…

That night, muffled groans drifted from the master bedroom as I stood outside and listened.

Jaxon had a rule that if his new mistresses needed guidance, I was the one who had to teach. That meant I'd taught the last 99 mistresses myself.

Jaxon sounded pleased as he called out, "You're so soft, Ellie… Scarlett! Bring me that box from the closet!"

I stood outside the door, feeling a chill run down my spine at hearing the words. Then, I pushed the door open and walked to the closet, all the while looking straight ahead.

Elowen was dressed in my silk nightgown and casting me a taunting smile. Meanwhile, Jaxon lounged at the head of the bed with a cigarette between his fingers and a mocking look in his eyes.

I opened the drawer, and there it was, exactly what he'd demanded. Feeling resigned, I reached for it.

My fingers barely brushed against the edge when my phone, tucked in my pocket, started buzzing violently.

The screen flashed with the jarring words "Pinecrest Hospital Emergency Call".

A chill spread through my veins as I answered the call with trembling hands.

An urgent voice blasted through the phone. "You need to come now, Ms. Emberlyn! Mrs. Emberlyn has gone into multiple organ failure, and three adrenaline injections didn't work!"

"Mom!" My eyes widened sharply at the words. Forgetting all about dignity, I dropped to my knees and clutched Jaxon's sleeve.

"Jaxon, p-please have the driver take me to Pinecrest Hospital! Please, i-it's my mom! T-The doctor said she's dying!" I begged incoherently as tears streamed down my face. Fear gripped me so hard that I was shaking uncontrollably.

"Oh? Another final goodbye act?" He sneered and yanked his arm away.

"You've got plenty of performances today, Scarlett. There was a divorce act this morning, and now it's a tragedy show. You'd even curse your dying mother to get my attention, huh?"

"It's real! Just listen to the phone!" I grabbed the buzzing phone on the ground and scrambled to get up on my feet. "Please, Jaxon. Just give me the keys, and I'll go myself!"

Startled by my desperation, Elowen shrank back into his arms.

Jaxon wrapped an arm around her and patted her shoulder reassuringly. When he looked back at me, there was nothing but disgust in his eyes.

"Enough. Done playing yet? Ruining my mood is what you're after tonight, isn't it? That's honestly pathetic."

"Winston!" he shouted.

When the butler, Winston Graves, rushed in, he instructed, "Lock her in the basement so she can calm down! Don't let her out unless I say so!"