Chapter 1

When everyone heard that I was filing for divorce, the usually silent company group chat erupted into chaos.

"Even if pigs could fly, Barry Thorpe would never file for divorce."

"He always does this every time to get Ms. Sullivan's attention. How childish."

"He's living off his wife, yet he still has the nerve to act up every day. Without Ms. Sullivan, he'd be starving on the streets. Hahaha!"

Everyone in the group voted that the divorce was fake.

Pleased with the outcome, Nadine Sullivan immediately transferred money to everyone in the group.

After thanking her for the money, my colleagues continued mocking me.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh before voting for "Yes, He's Filing For Divorce".

Then I sent a message to the group. "I've already hired a lawyer to draft the divorce papers."

With that, I exited the group chat.

Nadine immediately sent me a message. "What's the meaning of this? Are you trying to embarrass me on purpose? Believe it or not, I could stop paying for your mom's medical bills."

"Go right ahead."

Over the past eight years, Nadine had used this to keep me under her control. She refused to pay me a single cent in salary and even made me eat leftovers and spoiled food in front of everyone.

Nadine even had me select gifts for her lover and forced me to watch them get intimate.

I lived in an unfinished room, slept on cardboard, and was always trying to please Nadine. I was walking on eggshells every day, and I'd had enough of this kind of life.

It was a good thing I managed to secure a major order last week, even at the cost of stomach bleeding. Nadine even promised me a 30,000-dollar bonus in front of everyone, which would be enough to cover my mom's surgery.

Another company even reached out to me with a solid offer and a decent salary.

My head was pounding badly. I packed up my things, ready to leave, but Terrence Lowell stopped me.

"Who said you could leave?"

"Here's my resignation letter," I said flatly.

Terrence reached for the document and tore it to shreds.

"You don't have to make things hard on purpose. I can help you become Nadine's 19th lover."

While coughing, I pulled a notebook out of the drawer. "I have all of Nadine's preferences listed here."

Whenever Nadine took on a new lover, she would expect me to brief them about her. I even named the notebook "100 Ways to Make Nadine Sullivan Happy".

Terrence snatched the notebook from me, but he still refused to let me go. Instead, he started a video call in the company group chat.

In an instant, all my colleagues, including Nadine, joined the call.

Nadine lay on her stomach on the beach as her 18th lover rubbed sunscreen over her body. She even let him run his hands over her intimate areas.

"Ms. Sullivan!

"Not only did Barry not do his work earlier, but he also tore up company documents. He shouted that he was resigning and even called you and me bastards. I really don't know what to do with him. What should I do?" Terrence complained, feigning hurt.

Terrence already had the notebook, but he still wasn't satisfied. He even tried to make something up and pin it on me so he could help Nadine get back at me.

I already had a pounding headache and was so angry that I almost fainted. I could only hold onto the office desk for support.

Before I could even explain, Nadine snorted. "Since he refuses to take orders, he needs to be punished. Everyone, how do you think we should teach him a lesson?"

The group chat blew up again.

"Didn't he say he had a fever? Let's help bring his temperature down. We'll pour ice water on him."

"Yes, I agree!" Everyone was in favor of that idea, even Nadine.

Terrence quickly had security bring in ten buckets of ice water.

"Nadine… I really have a fever…" At that point, I barely even had the strength to speak.

"Still pretending? Do you think I don't know you well enough?" Nadine stared at me with disdain.

But when had she ever understood what I had gone through? How helpless I had felt? My pain?

What happened back then had made her despise me, but I hadn't even meant for that to happen.

Ice-cold water hit me, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was so cold that I started shivering.

Their laughter rang in my ears, but it wasn't even over yet. Nadine ordered them to keep pouring bucket after bucket of water over me.

Nadine's face lit up with joy. In her excitement, she pulled her 18th lover into her arms and kissed him passionately.

I finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed. My forehead slammed into the coffee table, and blood immediately started streaming down my face.

Before I lost consciousness, I seemed to hear Nadine yell anxiously, "Terrence, what are you waiting for? Take him to the hospital now! If anything happens to him, I'll make you pay for it!"

…

When I came to, the first person I saw was Nadine.

"What a drama king. You get sick so easily. You're just like your bedridden mother. You both deserve it! I can't believe I'm married to you."

Nadine folded her arms across her chest, her gaze filled with intense disgust.

Eight years ago, I was only the son of the Sullivans' housekeeper. I had just received a job offer from an international corporation when Nadine's parents made a public announcement that I would be their future son-in-law.