Chapter 1

The local news played on the television.

"A multi-vehicle pileup has occurred on the ring expressway. Among the vehicles involved was a car carrying Roxanne Duranov, the Duranov Group's CEO.

"According to witnesses, Ms. Duranov shielded her male companion, Jaxon Serra, with her own body at the moment of impact. She sustained severe injuries, while Mr. Serra escaped with only minor injuries.

"Her actions speak volumes about how much she treasures Mr. Serra. It seems the position of husband to the Duranov Group's CEO may soon be changing hands..."

The camera panned across the wreckage before settling on a blurred but familiar figure on a stretcher in the distance.

Fredrick watched without a flicker of emotion. His eyes remained as still as a pond without a single ripple. Then he spoke quietly into the phone. "You've got the wrong number."

He ended the call and switched off the television.

…

A week later, Roxanne returned home. Gauze still covered a cut on her temple, and her complexion was pale, but neither detracted from her striking beauty nor the reckless confidence she usually exuded.

When she stepped through the door, she found Fredrick curled up on the sofa with a novel in his hands and a cup of warm milk within reach.

The sight of him so peaceful made her blood boil. She had spent a week in the hospital, wracked with pain and unable to sleep at night, yet he hadn't even bothered to call her once.

"Fredrick Tatham!" She crossed the room in a few strides, her voice hoarse with barely restrained fury. "Didn't you know I was in a car accident?"

Fredrick turned a page without looking up. "I knew."

His indifferent response left her momentarily speechless. "You knew?"

She stared at him in disbelief. "You knew, and you still didn't come to sign the forms? You didn't come to take care of me? You couldn't even be bothered to visit me once? Fredrick, I'm your wife!"

Fredrick finally raised his eyes to meet hers. His expression was calm, with a faint hint of confusion. "Wasn't that what you told me to do? You said I shouldn't call myself your husband in public unless absolutely necessary, and that I shouldn't show up in front of you because it would upset your Jax. I did exactly as you asked. What have I done wrong this time?"

He paused, his tone as earnest as if they were discussing a routine work procedure. "Why don't you make me a list? I'll follow it to the letter so I won't upset you again."

Roxanne's throat tightened as though something had lodged in it. She stared at the slight furrow between his brows. He genuinely seemed to be considering how he could do better.

All at once, her fury vanished, replaced by a bone-deep chill and a confusion she couldn't put into words.

"Fredrick, you..." Her voice sounded dry and strained. "What's happened to you?"

Fredrick frowned, even more perplexed. "What's changed about me? I don't check up on you. I don't make scenes.

"When you bring Jaxon home, I move into the guest room without a word. When you buy him a car, I even help you choose the model. I've done everything you've asked, Roxanne. What more do you want from me?"

Once again, Roxanne had no answer.

He was right. Wasn't this exactly what she had wanted? A husband who minded his own business, never caused trouble, and gave her all the freedom she needed to love another man.

So why did her chest feel so hollow now that he had finally become that husband?

Just then, her phone rang. The screen lit up with the name "Jax" and his profile picture, a selfie in which he was pouting at the camera.

She instinctively glanced at Fredrick, but he had already returned to his novel as though he hadn't heard a thing.

After a moment's hesitation, she answered.

"Roxy!" Jaxon's excited voice came through the phone. "I finished my thesis! Now I can finally spend some quality time with you. I bought that outfit you said you wanted last time. I'm home waiting for you..."

The suggestive undertone was unmistakable.

Roxanne's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't resist another glance at Fredrick.

But his expression remained completely unchanged. There was no anger, no humiliation, not even the slightest hint of displeasure.

Instead, he rose from the sofa, opened a drawer, and retrieved several unopened boxes of condoms. Then he placed them in her hands.

"You should get going. Oh, and these are the ones we never got around to using. There's no point letting them go to waste. Take them and use them with Mr. Serra."

He considered something for a moment before he added in an almost thoughtful tone, "Of course, you don't have to use them. In fact, it would be even better if you and Mr. Serra had a child together."

A deafening roar filled Roxanne's head.

Shock, disbelief, and a sharp, stinging pain overwhelmed her. The sheer absurdity of his words left her reeling.

He actually wanted her to take something meant for their marriage and use it with another man? Worse, he was encouraging her to have another man's child?

Jaxon's voice came through the phone again. "Roxy? Why aren't you saying anything?"

Roxanne snapped out of her daze and hastily ended the call. She clutched the cold box so tightly that her knuckles turned white, her chest rising and falling with each ragged breath.

"I get it now." She seized on the thought like a lifeline, and her voice grew firm, almost mocking. "Fredrick, you're doing all this to win me back, aren't you? I've already told you that I love Jax more now. Whatever little scheme you're trying to pull, it won't work!"

Fredrick looked at her with weary resignation, almost as though she were an unreasonable child who refused to listen no matter how patiently someone explained things.

"Roxanne," he said with a soft sigh. "If that's what you want to believe, then go ahead."

He continued, "Now, you'd better get going. Don't keep Jaxon waiting. Everything's fine here, so you have nothing to worry about. There's no need to rush back."

Before Roxanne could recover from her shock, he gently ushered her toward the door.

"Fredrick! What the hell are you—"

The door slammed shut in her face with a decisive bang.

Roxanne stood outside, clutching the box as though it were a burning coal. Fury and an unfamiliar sense of dread churned in her chest.

Had he seriously thrown her out of the house? And all so she could go be with Jaxon?

She glared at the closed door and growled, "Fredrick, I've already told you! Whatever game you're playing, it won't work on me!"

She gave the wall a vicious kick before storming off with a dark expression.

Inside, Fredrick leaned against the cold door and remained motionless for a moment. Only after he heard her car start and drive away did he slowly return to the living room.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Mr. Connors, it's Fredrick. I wanted to ask how the divorce proceedings are coming along. When can I expect to receive the papers?"