CHAPTER 1- THE DIVORCE PAPERS

The crystal chandeliers of the Grand Orion Hotel glowed above the crowd, casting gold across silk gowns and tailored suits. Laughter echoed through the ballroom, champagne glasses clinked softly, and cameras flashed toward the stage where the powerful elites of the city gathered.

At the center of it all stood Amelia Hart.

Or rather—

Mrs. Amelia Vale.

A gentle smile rested on her lips as she adjusted the diamond bracelet on her wrist, trying to ignore the strange tightness in her chest. Tonight marked the fifth anniversary of Vale Corporation’s success after its expansion overseas.

And also—

Five years of marriage to Damian Vale.

Her fingers unconsciously drifted toward the small paper bag hidden beneath the table beside her seat.

Inside was a pregnancy test.

Positive.

Amelia still couldn’t fully believe it.

After years of hoping, praying, crying quietly in hospital bathrooms after every failed attempt… she was finally carrying Damian’s child.

A soft smile touched her lips again.

Maybe this child would change things.

Maybe Damian would finally let her in completely.

Maybe their cold marriage could finally become a real one.

“Mrs. Vale.”

Amelia looked up quickly as one of the staff approached nervously.

“Mr. Vale asked me to tell you the board members are ready for the toast.”

“Ah… thank you.”

She stood carefully, smoothing her silver dress before making her way through the glamorous crowd. People greeted her politely, but Amelia noticed the usual distance in their eyes.

To them, she was only the CEO’s wife.

Beautiful.

Elegant.

Replaceable.

Not one of them knew how much she had sacrificed for Damian.

The sleepless nights.

The abandoned scholarship abroad.

The endless loneliness inside their mansion.

Amelia swallowed quietly and stepped closer to the VIP section.

Then she froze.

Her breath caught painfully in her throat.

Standing beside Damian was a woman dressed in red satin, her hand lightly resting on his arm as she laughed softly at something he said.

Vanessa Cole.

The daughter of one of Vale Corporation’s investors.

But Amelia barely noticed Vanessa’s face.

Because around her neck—

Was the diamond necklace Damian had personally placed around Amelia’s neck on their third wedding anniversary.

The one he had said belonged only to his wife.

The room suddenly felt unbearably hot.

Amelia’s fingers tightened around her clutch bag.

“No…” she whispered faintly.

Damian finally noticed her standing there.

His expression instantly turned cold.

Not guilty.

Not surprised.

Cold.

Vanessa slowly smiled before touching the necklace deliberately.

“Oh,” she said sweetly, “Mrs. Vale, you’re here.”

Amelia stared at Damian.

“Why is she wearing that necklace?”

Silence.

The nearby guests began paying attention.

Whispers slowly spread through the ballroom.

Damian’s jaw hardened slightly.

“It suits her better.”

The words struck like a slap.

Amelia felt her heartbeat stumble painfully.

“Damian…”

Before she could continue, another voice suddenly cut through the crowd.

“Mr. Vale!”

One of the hotel staff hurried forward holding a tablet nervously.

“We found this in the VIP lounge…”

He turned the screen toward Damian.

Amelia’s blood turned ice cold.

Displayed clearly on the screen were photographs of Amelia entering a private room earlier that evening with another man.

The angle looked intimate.

Suspicious.

Manipulated.

But horrifyingly believable.

The crowd erupted instantly.

“She cheated?”

“So the rumors were true…”

“No wonder Mr. Vale brought Vanessa tonight…”

Amelia’s face lost all color.

“No— that’s not what happened!”

Damian’s eyes darkened with something dangerous.

“Enough.”

His voice was low.

Controlled.

Terrifying.

Amelia stepped toward him desperately.

“Someone set me up. Damian, please just listen to me—”

“Listen?” he repeated coldly.

For the first time that night, real emotion flashed across his face.

Anger.

Humiliation.

Disappointment.

“You disappear during my company gala,” he said quietly, “then get caught sneaking around with another man?”

“I didn’t—”

“You embarrassed me.”

The entire ballroom had fallen silent now.

Hundreds of eyes watched Amelia like hungry spectators waiting for a public execution.

And Damian gave it to them.

He reached into his suit jacket.

Then threw several papers onto the table in front of her.

“Sign the divorce papers, Amelia.”

Gasps filled the room.

Amelia stared down at the documents with trembling hands.

Her vision blurred.

“Damian…” her voice cracked softly. “You can’t be serious.”

“I already signed.”

Her chest tightened so painfully she could barely breathe.

Five years.

Five years of loving him.

Waiting for him.

Defending him.

And he discarded her in front of everyone like she meant nothing.

Vanessa’s lips curled slightly beside him.

Amelia suddenly understood.

This wasn’t anger.

This was humiliation.

Carefully planned humiliation.

Her hand slowly moved toward her stomach beneath the table.

A child.

Their child.

And Damian had no idea.

Tears burned her eyes, but Amelia forced herself not to cry.

Not here.

Not in front of these people.

Not in front of him.

The ballroom felt suffocatingly silent as she picked up the pen with shaking fingers.

Damian watched her expressionlessly.

But for some reason

The moment Amelia signed her name, an unfamiliar unease settled deep inside his chest.