Chapter 1

"Hello, I want a divorce."

In the third year of her marriage, Roxanne Levine decided to file for divorce. But she did so without telling her husband.

Across the desk, the lawyer, Nathaniel Shepherd, responded in a formulaic tone after hearing her intent.

"If you wish to proceed with a divorce, both parties need to sign the divorce agreement. After that, there will be a one-month cooling-off period before the divorce is finalized. Did your husband not come with you today?"

Roxanne paused for a few seconds. "I'll make sure he signs it."

"Very well. I'll draft a divorce agreement for you."

After a short wait, Roxanne received the document. She lowered her head and walked down the stairs, her thoughts drifting to everything that had happened recently.

Just as she reached the front desk, a familiar voice called out to her.

"Roxy? What are you doing at the law firm?"

She looked up. The moment her eyes met Andre Spencer's deep gaze—eyes that seemed to pierce right through her—her heart skipped a beat.

Who would have thought that she would end up consulting someone from her husband's law firm for a divorce proceeding?

Even so, it was fine. He would not find out. After all, he had never really paid attention to her.

With that thought, she took a deep breath, trying to hide the tension in her voice.

"I'm here to ask about a few things. By the way, the property transfer Mom and Dad mentioned last time is ready. I need your signature."

As she spoke, she pulled out the divorce agreement. She flipped directly to the last page, laid it flat on the counter, and handed him a pen. The last page of the agreement contained only a signature line. As a lawyer, Andre instinctively frowned as his professional reflexes kicked in.

He was just about to take a closer look when, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a familiar figure stepping out of the elevator. He hesitated for only a second, then took the pen and signed his name where Roxanne indicated.

"Alright. If there's nothing else, you should go. I still have work to do."

The weight in Roxanne's heart eased, but almost immediately, a touch of self-mockery crossed her face.

If he had only taken a second glance, he would have known that what he had signed was not a property transfer agreement but a divorce agreement.

Unfortunately, his attention had been completely captured by Caitlin Bradford, who had just appeared.

Looking at that beautiful face, Roxanne felt a whirlwind of emotions inside her. Her hand tightened around her purse as she turned and walked out of the law firm.

As the automatic glass doors closed behind her, two voices drifted faintly into her ears.

"Andre, who was that just now?"

"A new client. She came to consult about a divorce," Andre replied, his usually indifferent tone carrying a rare touch of softness. "Why'd you come so early today? Give me a few minutes and I'll take you out for lunch, okay?"

Hearing the gentle, coaxing tone from inside and looking down at the signed divorce agreement in her hand, Roxanne gave a bitter smile.

Yes, she truly was here to consult about a divorce. Very soon, in just one more month, Andre would finally get what he had always wanted.

Roxanne and Andre were secretly married. Other than their parents, no one knew they were husband and wife—not even the woman Andre had loved for many years.

The secret marriage had been Andre's decision.

They were college classmates. On the very first day of school, Roxanne fell in love with Andre, the campus heartthrob, at first sight. She pursued him relentlessly for four years, but he remained completely unmoved.

Still, Roxanne had not been too disheartened. That was because although he had not said yes to her, he had not said yes to anyone else either. It seemed as if he was naturally distant from women.

After graduation, she focused on her career while he continued his studies. The two of them never crossed paths again, but she never forgot about him.

Two lines that once seemed destined to remain parallel forever suddenly intersected three years ago—because of a blind date.

At their first meeting, Andre was direct. He asked if she had any thoughts of getting married.

Roxanne did not know why he was in such a hurry to marry, but after years of holding onto her feelings, she was overjoyed at the chance. She assumed his family was pressuring him, so she agreed without a second thought.

It was only after they got married that she slowly uncovered his secret. It was not that he was indifferent to women; it was that he loved someone deeply, someone he could never be with.

That woman was Caitlin—his best friend's younger sister.

He was five years older than she was, and she had always treated him like a big brother. This one-sided love was doomed from the start. He longed for her while she remained unaware.

Caitlin had no idea about Andre's hidden feelings and married her boyfriend of three years right after graduating.

Andre had been devastated. To escape the heartbreak, and under the heavy pressure from his parents, he rushed into marriage with Roxanne.

After learning the truth, Roxanne spiraled into despair. However, she eventually pulled herself back together.

She believed that time was on her side. If she tried hard enough, surely, he would take notice of her one day.

However, even after three years into their marriage, his attitude toward her had never once felt warm. They were never even close to being intimate.

Just as her faith was beginning to collapse, Roxanne discovered a photo album. Inside were photos of a woman, spanning from when she was just 6 years old to 25 years old. Under normal circumstances, it should not have bothered her so much.

However, what if the woman was the one her husband had been secretly loving for years? And what if that album was being updated with new photos even after their marriage?

Roxanne could not pretend to be unaffected.

What made it worse was that the following night, Andre—who never drank—got completely drunk. His usually cool and distant eyes were filled to the brim with joy, almost spilling over.

After probing around, she soon learned why—Caitlin had gotten divorced.

At that moment, she smiled bitterly and resolved to end this hopeless marriage once and for all.

Perhaps it was the divorce agreement in her bag, but when Roxanne returned to the home they had shared for three years, something inside her felt different. She looked at the cozy space she had built with her own hands, and a flood of memories came rushing back.

Her gaze moved around the room and finally landed on the wedding photo in the living room—the one she always kept spotless.

When she saw Andre's forced smile in that photo, it stung so much that she could not help herself. She took it down and threw it straight into the trash bin downstairs.

That night, Roxanne spent hours sorting through their marital assets.

Andre returned and immediately noticed the missing wedding photo. He looked at Roxanne, who was busy writing something, and for once, furrowed his brows and asked, "Where's the wedding photo?"

"The nail came loose. I was afraid it might fall and hit someone, so I took it down."

Andre did not press further. He placed the takeout meal beside her hand and turned to go into the study.

The sharp aroma hit her nose, and Roxanne paused. She opened the bag. The sight of the fiery red food inside made her heart break.

They had been married for three years, and because of her chronic stomach issues, she had always kept to a light diet. However, her husband did not even know that.

If it were the old her, she would have forced herself to eat it just to make him happy no matter how spicy it was.

Yet now?

She picked up the entire bag and went downstairs to throw it away.

Starting today, she would throw away every grievance and heartbreak she had endured in this marriage—him included.