Chapter 1

For three years, Celia Goodwin and Basil Fulton had kept their secret marriage exactly like this—meeting only to fulfill their duties as husband and wife.

It was the 5th of the month. As usual, Basil had his butler, Greg Brown, bring Celia to Stellar Court. She'd always loved the garden there, which was full of pure white lilies. Their fragrance filled the place, and it looked dreamlike and soft.

However, Celia and Basil's three-year term was up. She wasn't just there for another routine visit. She was also there to end the marriage!

As she stepped into the room, Basil emerged from the bathroom. He was bare-chested, leaving his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and toned torso in full view. Every inch of his body was hard with power.

A towel hung low on his hips, and water tracked down his lean muscles. His abs were stacked, and his obliques cut deep beneath the towel's edge, leaving much to imagination.

His handsome face looked hand-carved by a meticulous god. His lips were pressed tight, carrying a hint of post-shower flush. There was nothing gentle there, though. He exuded nothing but cool detachment.

Basil scooped Celia up and headed straight for the bed. She let out a soft gasp and instinctively hooked her arms around his neck. He didn't speak. He just kissed her hard and tugged at the dress she wore.

Celia held onto his neck for support. That familiar cedar scent on his skin mingled with a trace of alcohol, making her a little lightheaded.

He was impatient that night—even a little rough. Maybe it was because it had been too long. He kissed her so passionately that it was as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

The room heated, and the air thickened with want. And then, they became one.

The 5th and 25th of each month were the nights Basil and Celia had agreed to share a bed. On those days, Greg would pick her up and bring her to Stellar Court. She and Basil didn't live together.

It was time. The divorce agreement in her bag told her what this marriage had always been destined for. She'd only borrowed him for three years, and she only had three years to give him.

Past midnight, hunger woke Celia. Basil was long gone—even the warmth in the sheets had disappeared. Her body ached as she got out of bed. She slipped on a robe and went downstairs.

Greg met her. "Mrs. Fulton, you're up. Are you hungry? Before Mr. Fulton left, he told the staff to prepare truffle oatmeal for you."

"Thank you." Celia sat and ate, unhurried.

As she scrolled through her phone, she saw a few trending headlines.

"Basil Fulton Throws Million-Dollar Birthday Party for Colson Heiress!"

"Good News Soon? Basil Fulton and Stella Colson Engaged in Firendia!"

Celia's eyes widened, evidently stunned by the news. Then, a wave of dizziness hit her.

Stella Colson. So, Basil's true love finally had a name.

The impeccable Stellar Court and its beauty had cut at her feelings day and night. Stellar… Stella… It had been built for her.

Celia's eyes burned. She stared at the handsome man in the photo—it was her husband, Basil. He had another woman in his arms and a bright smile on his lips.

She'd always thought he was born aloof and didn't know how to smile. It turned out he just didn't like smiling at her.

Around Stella's neck hung a fiery red ruby necklace shaped like a lily. It stabbed at Celia's eyes. She'd wanted that necklace for a long time.

She set her spoon down, went upstairs, and changed. The empty bed cooled her gaze even more.

Basil truly had endless energy, didn't he? He'd bedded her that afternoon before flying to Firendia at night to celebrate another woman's birthday.

Ten minutes later, Celia came downstairs and asked Greg to send her home. She would never set foot in Stellar Court again.

Back home, she took out the divorce papers and flipped through them. She'd drafted them a month ago and kept them ready, planning to hand them to Basil that day. She didn't expect him to run off before she could.

…

The next day at noon, Celia was rudely awakened by a phone ringing. She saw over 20 missed calls from her best friend, Violet Slater. Had something happened?

She quickly called back.

"God, finally! I thought you'd done something stupid. You scared me half to death!" Violet started complaining the moment the call connected.

Celia rubbed her forehead a little helplessly. "Relax. I love life, and I plan to keep it."

A night's sleep had cleared some of whatever was lodged in her chest.

"Wait for me. I'll fly back right away to see you," Violet said urgently.

"Okay. I'll be here."

After hanging up, Celia felt a hollowness settle in her chest. She stared at the ceiling and thought of all the years she had spent with Basil.

He'd skipped a grade in middle school, and she'd followed. When he'd gone abroad, she'd followed. When he'd studied medicine, she'd also chosen it without hesitation. Even when he'd fallen into the sea, she'd jumped in after him…

Yet he still didn't remember her.

Three years ago, he'd been in a car crash and had gone blind. Celia heard that his first love had fled overseas, so she went to his side.

On her deathbed, Heather Moore had used her connections to arrange Celia's marriage into the Fulton family.

At first, Basil was openly repulsed by her. Later, thanks to the schemes of Stephen Fulton, his grandfather, they consummated the marriage. After that came the push to have a child. So, Basil had set their twice-a-month nights.

Celia remembered that Basil's sight had returned in their second year of marriage. When he looked at her, he'd exuded frostiness, and his eyes had been filled with disgust.

She thought she could warm him, but it turned out she never had the spark to set him alight.

Her phone rang again, pulling her out of her reverie. She answered and listened as the person on the other end of the line said a few sentences before hanging up.

The call was from Basil's mother, Melinda Beech. She'd ordered Celia to head to Fulton Estate immediately.

Celia had a bad feeling about this, but there was no time to dwell on the subject. She got up and got ready.

She arrived at Fulton Estate at 4:00 pm. The Fulton family was Hutton's most prestigious and had boundless wealth and power. Stephen had two sons and daughters. Basil was his first son's eldest son, which naturally made him the family's crown jewel.

The moment Celia stepped into the hall, Melinda stood, her eyes sharp and hostile. "You complained to Stephen, didn't you? Funny how you pull such dirty tricks when you're always so silent."

Celia met the malice head-on. "I don't know what you're referring to, Mrs. Fulton."

"Basil's in the study. He's being punished."

Melinda shot the butler a look, who led Celia upstairs.

As they approached the study, they heard an argument.

"Keep talking back and I'll drop dead right here, you punk!"

Stephen was raging hard enough to cough up blood.

"Grandpa, you can't force matters of the heart. Didn't you promise me that if Celia didn't get pregnant within three years, you would let me divorce and remarry?"

"Seriously? Divorce? You and Celia are still husband and wife now, so you're forbidden from continuing to get tangled up with that Colson starlet! Get a statement out and clarify the situation."

"I can't control the Internet. Why bother with what those people say?"

"I'll give you the beating of a lifetime!"

Thuds and clatters followed.

Celia composed herself and knocked on the door. It swung open, and Stephen looked surprised. "Lia, you're here!"

"Stephen, please don't get all worked up over this." She helped him inside with a gentle smile.

"Why are you standing there? Apologize to Lia!" Stephen barked at Basil.

Basil pressed his lips together tightly, looking disdainful. He'd timed the leak with Stella to hit exactly at the three-year mark, confident that Celia would take the hint.

"Stephen, I'd like to speak to Basil alone," Celia said.

Stephen nodded and stepped out.

Celia turned to Basil. "Let's get divorced, Basil. I'll give you what you want."

He was surprised and stared at her like she'd sprouted a second head. He'd expected a fight or for her to at least leverage Stephen's support for her. Instead, she'd brought up divorce like it was nothing.

Was she actually willing to give up her position as his wife?

She added, "We can file for it first. You can break the news to Stephen when it's convenient."

Basil went quiet for a beat. Finally, he asked, "What do you want for compensation?"

"I don't need anything. Let's make this a clean break. Here's the divorce agreement I had drafted up."

Celia handled the matter crisply and didn't drag things out. She pulled the agreement from her bag and set it on the desk.

Basil snorted and shot her a cold look. "I won't shortchange you since you're being sensible. Come to the company tomorrow morning to sign the papers. I'll have the legal department draw up another one."

In other words, it wasn't up to her to decide the terms of the divorce.

"Alright. I'll be there."

Celia was unfazed. She gave him one last look before walking out of the study.

To her, parting on a good note and giving him a clean break was the final shred of dignity she could give this marriage.

Celia stayed for dinner at Fulton Estate. She hugged Stephen before walking out and heading to her car. Just then, it began to rain. The droplets came down in thin, mournful lines.

She'd only taken a few steps when her abdomen suddenly constricted painfully. Warm blood spilled down her thighs.