Chapter 2

"What?" Tiffany's mind blanked for a second. She hadn't expected someone as reserved as Sydney to blurt out something like that.

But what stunned her more was that scumbag Caleb actually had the nerve to humiliate Sydney like this.

Tiffany muttered a curse under her breath, then said, "Screw delivery. I'll bring the agreement myself. Then I'll head back to the office and work overtime."

There was no way she was letting some two-wheeled courier outrun her four wheels today.

After hanging up, even Sydney was surprised by how easily the words had come out. Maybe it was because the resentment had been building for so long, clogging her chest, her thoughts, every part of her.

Just like that night at the club, when Caleb had said it himself—he had never touched her. No one would believe it, but after three years of marriage, she was still a virgin.

At first, she had wondered if something might be wrong with him. But later, she caught him more than once in his study, clutching a photo album and pleasuring himself. The low, guttural moans he had made—each one had felt like a slap to her face.

Once, when he realized she'd seen him, he pulled her into his arms and murmured into her neck, "Syd, I'm sorry. I just… I was afraid of hurting you. I couldn't bring myself to do it. So I used your photo instead."

What a joke. And the saddest part? She had believed him and had actually blushed.

But the night she flew back to Jouleston, groggy from fever meds, she used what little strength she had to pry open the locked cabinet in his study. Inside, she found the album. Every page was filled with Penelope—radiant, vibrant, full of life. Every smile and glance was captured like a treasure.

Sydney had never felt more like the punchline of a bad joke.

In a daze, memories came drifting back. She remembered tagging along behind Caleb like a little shadow. But in truth, she hadn't been following him. She'd been following her older brother, who was always by his side. She had seen Caleb so often that eventually, she started to think that marrying him wouldn't be so bad.

Caleb had been patient, gentle, always bringing her little gifts when he visited her brother. Among all his friends, he had seemed the most refined and courteous. And yet this supposed gentleman would rather touch himself to his sister-in-law than lay a hand on his own wife.

…

Sydney hadn't expected Tiffany to show up so fast. She had just finished getting ready and hadn't even made it downstairs when the doorbell rang.

Tiffany arrived with the kind of energy that said, "If the courthouse was open, I would've dragged you both there on the spot."

Sydney felt a little steadier with the agreement in hand. But then a sharp crack echoed through the house.

Before she could react, Nancy rushed down the stairs, face tight with worry. "Ms. Wilson—"

"What is it?"

"Timmy broke the family photo in your bedroom."

Sydney assumed it was just the frame. But then Nancy handed her the pieces, and her face went pale. Her parents had died in an accident when she was five. That photo had been all she had left of them. Her only keepsake.

She clutched the shattered remains and stormed upstairs. At the top of the stairs, Penelope stepped out of her room with her son in her arms.

Sydney's voice turned icy. "Penelope, that was my room."

"Uncle Caleb said this is my home now," Timothy piped up, puffed with bravado. "Uncle Caleb also said he's going to take care of me and Mommy like a real dad!"

Sydney glanced at Penelope, who showed no sign of correcting or scolding her son. She gave a cold laugh, crouched a little, and looked Timothy in the eye. "Do you know what Santa Claus does to children like you on Christmas?"

The boy lifted his chin proudly. "He gives me lots of candy!"

"Wrong." She shook her head, smiling sweetly. "He cuts off the hands of children who break things, bakes them in the oven, and feeds them to monsters."

"WAAAHHH!" Timothy, still just a child, burst into tears and clung to Penelope like his life depended on it.

Penelope glared at her. "He's just a kid. Did you really have to scare him like that?"

"You can't even teach your own child how to behave. What else are you good for besides extreme sports?" Sydney didn't wait for a reply. She turned and walked away.

…

That night, a black Maybach rolled into the driveway.

Sydney stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching as Caleb got out. Timothy ran to him immediately, dragging Penelope behind him. The three of them looked like a perfect little family.

Eventually, someone knocked at the door.

Caleb stepped inside. His crisp white shirt and purposeful stride clashed with the tension in his voice. "You scared Timmy?"

"I did," Sydney said, gesturing toward her nightstand. "He destroyed my family photo."

Caleb froze. For the first time, he realized he didn't know the whole story.

He reached out to ruffle her hair, but she stepped back. Thinking she was still angry, he softened his tone. "That's my fault. Let me apologize on his behalf. Do you want anything? I'll make it up to you."

Sydney smiled faintly. "Anything at all?"

Caleb nodded. "Of course."

"I only want two things." She handed him the documents she had prepared.

Caleb glanced at the property transfer contract and signed without hesitation. The second document he flipped straight to the last page and signed just as quickly. When it came to money, he was always generous.

Afterward, he let out a slow breath and gently pulled her into his arms. "Syd, how did your brother raise you to be so obedient and sensible?"

Sydney felt a wave of nausea. Just as she was about to shove him away, there was a knock on the half-open door.

Caleb instinctively stepped back the moment he saw who it was.

Sydney froze. And in that instant, everything clicked. He had gone three years without touching her just to stay loyal to the woman he truly loved. Now that they were under the same roof, he had to perform the part.

Penelope looked mildly annoyed. "Cal, Timmy won't sleep unless you're with him."

"I'm coming." Caleb turned to Sydney. "You're not mad, are you?"

"Not at all," she said flatly.

After he left, Sydney pulled out the second document. It was the divorce agreement.

Yes, she was obedient. So obedient, she'd prepared the divorce papers herself and handed them right to his face.