Chapter 01

I met Lucas when I chose to live apart from my parents for a while, determined to learn how to be independent. I worked as a kindergarten teacher—I’d always loved children more than anything. Then I met Lucas, and I fell head over heels for him. He was so kind to me, always helping me through whatever struggles I faced.

When I met his parents, they welcomed me with open arms. Even though they didn’t know the truth about my background, they never judged me. And when they told us they wanted me to marry Lucas, my heart soared. It never crossed my mind that Lucas might not want the same thing—he was smiling when they announced it to us, after all. He agreed without hesitation, and I foolishly took that as proof he felt something for me too.

But I was wrong…

He’d agreed to marry me only to secure his share of his father’s company. And there was another woman in his life—the one he truly wanted, and she wasn’t me. I was nothing more than a tool to him, and the realization crushed my heart into pieces.

"W-What am I supposed to do? H-He’s cheating on me, but I can’t bear to lose him…" I whispered, my voice breaking as I stood frozen in the kitchen—right where I’d witnessed Lucas and his secretary desecrating our home on that very countertop just last night.

"What the hell are you doing standing there like that, Lucia?"

I spun around to find Lucas descending the stairs, straightening his suit as he went. He hadn’t come to our bedroom at all last night. I didn’t want to think about what he and Amanda had done after I’d fled back to our room in tears.

"You look ridiculous just standing there. Tsk! I have to go—don’t wait up for me tonight. I might be staying at the office overnight." His tone was flat as he met my gaze, cold as ice.

Overnight at the office, or at your mistress’s place? The thought burned in my mind, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud.

"I-It’s still early… I could make you breakfast before you head to work—"

"—Don’t bother. You can’t even cook properly. I’m leaving." He cut me off mid-sentence, grabbed his car keys, and walked out the door without a second glance.

No kiss. No hug. Not even a goodbye.

"We’ve only been married two weeks, and this is how you treat me—just because you already have your father’s shares. And now you’ll keep using me to get your hands on Uncle Noah’s stake too. What a greedy man I married…" I said through my tears, my shoulders shaking with sobs.

I wanted to scream at him, to slap him across the face—but love for him still held me captive.

"W-Why did I have to fall so deeply in love with you? You’re cheating on me right to my face, yet I still don’t want to let you go. I’m so stupid… such a fool…" I muttered to myself, wiping at the endless stream of tears rolling down my cheeks.

There was nothing I could do anyway—I didn’t even know how to confront him about what I’d seen. I took a shaky breath, then froze when the doorbell rang.

I knew it couldn’t be Lucas—he’d just drive straight in if he was coming back. I composed myself as best I could and made my way to the door. When I pulled it open, surprise washed over me at the sight standing on my doorstep.

Uncle Noah Grayson.

What woman wouldn’t be captivated by the youngest Grayson? He was devastatingly handsome, sharp and commanding, with a presence that filled every room he entered. Maybe if I’d met him before Lucas, I would have been just another woman pining after him.

"U-Uncle Noah… w-why are you here? Lucas just left a minute a—"

"—Come with me." His voice was firm as he cut me off, taking my arm in his strong grip and gently but firmly leading me out of the house.

"W-Wait, Uncle Noah…"

I had no choice but to let him guide me to his car and help me inside. Confusion swirled through me—this was our first real interaction ever.

When I’d met him before, he’d been quiet, almost introverted. Even at our wedding two weeks ago, he’d stayed only a short while before leaving early.

The moment he slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, I felt a jolt of panic.

"W-Wait a second—where are we going?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"Put on your seatbelt. We’re following your husband."

Following Lucas? Why?

"Uncle Noah, why are we following him? He’s just heading to his office…" I said, but he didn’t respond, keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

It wasn’t long before we spotted Lucas’s car up ahead. Uncle Noah’s vehicle had heavily tinted windows, but I was sure Lucas would recognize his uncle’s car immediately.

"He won’t notice us. I just bought this car a few minutes ago." He said it as if he’d read my mind, his gaze never leaving the road.

"I-I’m just confused… why are we doing this?"

"Are you sure he’s going to the office?" He shot back, and I found myself unable to answer.

We followed Lucas’s car in silence, and my confusion grew when he turned onto a road that didn’t lead to the Grayson Corporation building.

My unspoken question was answered when Lucas pulled up in front of a large house and drove through the gates as they swung open.

"W-Whose house is that?" I breathed, turning to look at Uncle Noah as he opened his own door.

"Let’s go."

I didn’t know what was happening, but I got out of the car anyway. He led me around to the side of the property, where trees and shrubs provided perfect cover. From there, we could see into the backyard—and my breath caught in my throat at the sight of a little boy, maybe three years old, playing on the grass.

"Uncle Noah—"

"—Just look closely, Lucia. Don’t look away." He cut me off, and I forced my eyes to stay fixed on the child. Then I saw him—Lucas, with a smile so wide and genuine it made my chest ache. I’d not seen him look like that in weeks.

"Lu-Lucas…"

Who is that little boy he’s holding? Whose house is this? Questions raced through my mind as I watched, my heart beginning to pound wildly in my chest.

Then ice water flooded my veins as Amanda walked out to meet them—smiling as she kissed Lucas on the lips, then pressed a gentle kiss to the boy’s forehead.

"W-What the…"

"Before you and Lucas got married, he was already with her. That’s their son—he’s three years old. You married a lying, cheating bastard, Lucia." Uncle Noah’s voice was low beside me, and tears began to stream down my face once more.

I clutched at my chest as pain seared through me—so sharp I thought my heart might actually shatter into pieces.

"H-How? How could Lucas do this to me…" I whispered, and Uncle Noah turned me to face him, his hands steady on my shoulders.

I saw pity in his eyes—but something else too, a flicker of emotion I couldn’t quite place.

"H-How did you know about all this, U-Uncle Noah…"

"I’ve known from the very beginning."

"You knew he was going to do this to me… and you let it happen?!" I cried out, my sobs wracking my body. He sighed heavily, his grip tightening slightly on my shoulders.

"Because I saw how you looked at him—how much you adored that piece of shit. Who was I to take away what you thought was happiness?" His voice was raw with emotion as he spoke, and I had no words left to say.

Lucas had broken me little by little with his cruelty—but this… this destroyed me completely.

"Divorce him, Lucia. And if you want revenge for how he used you… then use me to make him pay for what he did to you." He said the words plainly, his eyes locking with mine as tears continued to roll down my cheeks.

"R-Revenge… h-how?" I asked, my voice barely audible. He took both my hands in his, holding them firmly as he looked straight into my soul.

"Marry me. Become Mrs. Grayson—my Mrs. Grayson. Once you have my name, you can bring Lucas’s pride crashing down however you want. Use me, Lucia. Marry me."

I tore my gaze from his to look back at Lucas—watching him laugh with Amanda and their son, looking every bit the happy family man. And as I stared, Uncle Noah’s offer echoed over and over in my mind.