Chapter 1

Not only could I put up with it, but I could even smile through it.

"There's no need to give it back. If the token of our love is something that can be lent out, then I suppose the title of husband is up for grabs as well. In that case, allow me to be the first to congratulate you both."

I locked eyes with a stunned Jessica Tuttle. "Ms. Tuttle, since you're generous enough to give away something I worked so hard for, kindly return the 50 million dollars I put up to save your company."

The room instantly broke into whispers of disbelief. "A divorce? Has Felix lost his mind? Aren't they known for having a rock-solid marriage? Felix even took the fall for Ms. Tuttle back in the day. This is probably just a lovers' spat."

Jessica suppressed the panic rising within her. "Felix, you've had too much to drink. Stop making a scene."

Pulling out her phone, she tapped it, and mine buzzed. The message read, "You have received 50 million dollars in your account."

Jessica spoke with a hint of exasperation. "There's your money. You've been wanting that new SUV, right? Go buy it, or take a trip to take your mind off things. Let's just forget what happened today. Don't hold a grudge against a young man like Ronald, okay?"

Ronald Piper poked his head out from behind her timidly. "Thanks, Felix. Now that you've got the money, don't stay mad at Jess. Managing the company is tiring enough. Don't give her a hard time over the little things…"

My friend, Chris Hammond, was fuming. He grabbed a bottle off the table. "Ronald Piper, since when do you get a say in this?"

I held Chris back.

Staring at the cold, hard 50 million dollars in my account, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. In her view, my public demand for a divorce was nothing more than a ploy to squeeze money out of her and get her attention. But nothing mattered anymore.

"Thank you, Ms. Tuttle."

I slipped the wedding ring off my finger and tossed it into the champagne tower beside me. "I'll drop off the divorce papers and the share transfer agreement tomorrow morning."

Jessica finally lost her cool. She instinctively tried to grab me. "Felix Burch, what is the meaning of this? Put that ring back on! I never said I wanted a divorce!"

Ignoring her, I turned away. "Let's go, Chris. I'll buy you supper."

As I stepped outside, the cool night air washed over me, and I felt completely refreshed.

Chris was freaking out. "You're just going to leave like that? That 50 million dollars was your own money to begin with! What about the two years you spent in prison for her? And what about the company you built together?"

I lit a cigarette. "Feelings have little value. Cash is what matters."

Chris froze. "You… You're not upset at all?"

I blew out a ring of smoke, saying nothing in response. The truth was, I'd long since stopped caring.

Three years ago, when the company was in deep trouble over a data leak, I took the fall without hesitation because I couldn't bear to see Jessica take the heat.

While I was in prison, two of my ribs were broken. And during that time, friends who visited me told me that Jessica had gotten herself a young male secretary to be by her side.

Just because Ronald offhandedly mentioned liking the ocean, she dropped millions of dollars to rent an entire island for his birthday bash.

The stew she used to make solely for me back then started being delivered to Ronald's apartment instead. The special treatment reserved just for me was now openly given to someone else.

At first, she visited me every week. But eventually, she came less often, staying for shorter periods each time and growing increasingly silent.

I kept telling myself she just needed someone to keep her company, that it was just a fling. I thought once I got out, she'd come back to her senses.

That was until the day I was released. I stood at the gate full of hope, but she never came.

Instead of Jessica, Ronald showed up, driving Jessica's Maybach and wearing the limited-edition couples' watch that was supposed to be mine.

He fixed me with a provocative gaze. "So you're Felix Burch? Jess was insatiable last night, so she's too exhausted to get up. At the moment, she's still catching up on sleep. Call yourself a ride home. We wouldn't want you bringing your bad luck into her car."

After saying that, he floored it, splashing muddy water all over me. As I watched the Maybach disappear into the rain, I finally came to my senses.

Over the last three years, I swallowed my grievances. I continued being the husband everyone expected me to be—all so I could gather the evidence needed to recover my 50 million dollars.

Now that I got the money ahead of schedule, I didn't need to keep up the act anymore. I flicked the ash off my cigarette. "Let's go. I'm heading to the company first thing tomorrow."

Chris was confused. "What for? If you're planning to fight with her, take me with you!"

My gaze turned cold. "Fight? No. I'm going to wipe my codes."

The company's core technology system was something I wrote myself after countless all-nighters.

She wanted to set Ronald up for success, right? Fine by me.

I'd like to see how they were going to turn things around when all that was left was a hollowed-out system.