Chapter 1

Gabriella Archer missed our wedding ceremony for the 32nd time because of the celebration party for her 999th successful case. Nathaniel Taylor carefully organized the party for her.

At the party, everyone assumed that Nathaniel was her boyfriend.

"Ms. Archer, you and Mr. Taylor grew up together and make such a perfect pair. With the atmosphere tonight, why don't you make a toast to each other?"

"Yes! We want to see Ms. Archer and Mr. Taylor toast to each other!"

The crowd's cheers reached my ears.

I had been married to her for three years, yet she had never acknowledged our relationship publicly. I could only shrink into a corner, watching her look at Nathaniel affectionately as they raised a toast to one another.

After the party ended, fearing our relationship might get exposed, I went to the intersection near the hotel early and waited for Gabriella.

A black car slowly approached. When the window rolled down, I saw Nathaniel sleeping soundly in her car.

Gabriella looked at me, her tone as matter-of-fact as ever. "Go home by yourself. I need to drop Nate off."

I lowered my gaze and said nothing.

Gabriella was a total clean freak. She never let any strange smells linger in her car.

Once, she offended a client because of her stubbornness. To apologize on her behalf, I drank so much that I nearly made myself sick.

But when it was over, she frowned and looked at me with pure disgust. "You smell terrible. Find your own way back."

That day, she left me alone in the snowy outskirts, and it took me four hours to walk home. But now, a drunken Nathaniel slept peacefully in her car.

It turned out that her rules were only meant for me.

I gave a bitter smile and tried my best to keep my voice steady. "Are you still coming to the wedding tomorrow?"

Gabriella hesitated for a moment. "I have to look after Nate tonight, so I won't make it tomorrow. Let's just forget about it for now."

My heart sank, but I nodded gently. "Okay."

After a brief pause, I took a document from my bag and handed it to Gabriella. "Sign this."

Perhaps feeling guilty, Gabriella picked up the pen and signed the document without even glancing at it.

Then she looked at me and promised gently, "When I come home tomorrow, I'll bring you your favorite pancakes from the west side of the city."

After she finished speaking, she drove off.

…

Gabriella didn't return home until noon the next day. She stood before the mirror, her slender neck marked with hickeys left by Nathaniel.

Suddenly, she paused and tilted her head slightly. She looked at me through the mirror as I sat on the edge of the bed.