Chapter 1

I dropped the resignation letter and divorce papers onto Rian’s desk.

He finally looked up from his files, his gaze landing on me.

"We've been together for ten years, spent every anniversary together. It was just one missed dinner. Is this really necessary?"

"Chloe’s kid had a fever that night. She’s my subordinate; I couldn't just ignore her."

"Besides, her baby is so young. Sending someone to help her out now and then is just the right thing to do. You're a mother too; you should understand."

"I don't think you've thought this through. If you insist, I’ll sign."

"But you’ll lose the family's protection. You’ll be on your own."

He delivered the warning with his usual boardroom detachment.

Expecting me to back down.

I pushed the two documents closer to him.

"Then sign them."

Rian scrawled his signature in one fluid motion.

As he tossed the pen aside, he said casually, "Davina, we’ve been together for ten years. You know I have no intention of leaving you."

"I admit I’ve looked out for Chloe a bit more, but there’s nothing going on between us."

His eyes returned to the files.

"You know how demanding the syndicate is. I don't have time to play out some soap opera with you."

"You can throw a tantrum, but I won't always have the patience to humor you."

He genuinely didn't believe I would actually leave him.

I didn't bother arguing with him.

The documents were in duplicate. I simply took my copies.

Just then, the door to his private lounge was pushed open without warning.

A soft, feminine voice drifted out.

"Rian, your shirt is too big, I..."

Our eyes met, and the woman's smile stiffened.

"Davina, you're here too."

My gaze dropped to the shirt she was wearing.

It was a loose, pure black silk button-down. Rian’s usual brand, the exact one I had personally bought for him.

Now it was draped over her.

Seeing my silence, she rushed to explain.

"I spilled some water on my clothes just now. Rian was afraid I'd catch a cold, so he let me change into his."

"I was just changing, Davina. You aren't upset, are you?"

She played innocent, but the flash of triumph in her eyes gave her away.

Her little trick wasn't sophisticated; what she was actually smug about was Rian's indulgence.

Whether it was calling him by his first name, freely walking into his private lounge, or wearing his clothes.

A year ago, Chloe interviewed for a junior accountant position.

Among the candidates, she had zero background and wasn't the most capable, but the raw ambition in her eyes was the fiercest.

I appreciated that drive, so I personally brought her into the core accounting team, taught her how to handle the slush funds, and let her present at the council meetings.

She was the only outsider in the business who knew about my secret marriage to Rian.

And she was the first person Rian ever specifically asked me to transfer to him.

In a massive family empire, he claimed she just caught his eye.

Overnight, Chloe transformed, becoming the Godfather’s personal secretary.

A few months later, she suddenly showed up with a baby still in swaddling clothes.

Rumor had it the baby belonged to an ex-boyfriend.

But whispers were already circulating through the syndicate that it was the Godfather’s illegitimate child.