Chapter 2

I knocked on the gate, refusing to believe this was how everything would end. Fine, we were divorced, but I still had a right to this house. I had a right to the cars, the company, and everything we had built together because every single one of them was the result of my blood, sweat, and sleepless nights.

The gate slowly opened, but instead of Damon, Ann walked out first. My eyes immediately landed on the expensive silk robe she was wearing. I had bought it months ago but had never worn it myself because I had been saving it for a special occasion. Seeing her wearing my clothes inside what used to be my home made my blood boil.

“What do you want?” I demanded through clenched teeth. “And what are you doing in my house… wearing my clothes?” Before she could answer, Damon appeared behind her and wrapped an arm protectively around her shoulders. “Don’t shout at a pregnant woman,” he said coldly. “You really don’t know how to treat a pregnant woman, do you?”

I let out a bitter laugh, unable to believe the hypocrisy. “Damon, you can’t just throw my things outside. I may have signed the divorce papers, but that doesn’t mean you can take everything from me.” “Still what?” he interrupted before I could finish. A smug smile spread across his face as he walked back inside and returned with a thick folder. “I knew a day like this would come, so I prepared for it a long time ago.”

He tossed the documents into my hands. Confused, I quickly flipped through the pages. With every page I turned, my face grew paler. The house, the cars, the company, the bank accounts… everything was under Damon’s name. There was even a clause stating that if our marriage ever ended, I would walk away with absolutely nothing. My hands began trembling.

“Damon…” My voice came out as nothing more than a whisper. “When did this happen?” He chuckled, clearly enjoying the look on my face. “You really don’t remember?” I searched my memory until it suddenly hit me. Throughout the years, Damon had always brought me documents to sign. Every time I tried reading through them, he would casually tell me they were company papers and remind me that married couples should trust each other. Because I loved him so much, I had signed every single page without questioning him. I had trusted my husband. He had been preparing to betray me all along.

I slowly lowered the papers, my chest tightening painfully as I looked at him. “So the house… the cars… the company… even my bank cards…” “They’re all mine now,” he replied without the slightest trace of guilt. The tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall in front of him. I swallowed the lump in my throat before looking straight at him. “Just make sure,” I said quietly, “that one day you don’t regret this.”

He laughed as though I had just told the funniest joke in the world. “You should be more worried about surviving the weather than me regretting anything.” The gate slammed shut in my face. I stood there motionless, staring at the cold metal gate that had once welcomed me home every evening. Before I could even process what had happened, dark clouds gathered overhead, and heavy rain began pouring down without warning.

Panic immediately replaced my heartbreak. My suitcases were still scattered across the ground. I hurried to gather my clothes before they were completely soaked, stuffing whatever I could back into the luggage while the rain drenched my hair and clothes within seconds. The expensive dresses I had worked so hard to buy were already lying in muddy puddles, but there was nothing I could do. I looked desperately up and down the empty road, hoping a taxi would pass by. Nothing. There wasn’t even a place where I could take shelter. The rain continued falling mercilessly, mixing with the tears streaming down my face until I couldn’t tell them apart anymore.

Just when I thought I would spend the night standing there, a taxi finally appeared in the distance. I quickly loaded the few suitcases I had managed to save into the trunk, leaving behind everything else that had already been ruined by the rain. The moment I sat inside, I leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes. The pain felt unbearable, as though someone was slowly tearing my heart apart, but I couldn’t afford to fall apart now. I didn’t even have a place to sleep.

I scrolled through my contacts, searching for someone—anyone—I could call. To my surprise, there was only one person left. My cousin, Maya. She was the only person who had known where I was all these years. I took a deep breath before pressing the call button. “Hello?” she answered almost immediately. “Hi, Maya.” My voice shook so badly I barely recognized it. “Junia? Are you okay?” I bit my lip to stop myself from crying again. “Can… can I come over?” “Of course you can. Come over right now. I’ll be waiting.”

For the first time that day, I felt a tiny bit of relief. At least I had somewhere to sleep tonight. When I arrived, Maya welcomed me inside without asking questions. It wasn’t until we were sitting in her living room that I finally told her everything. From the affair… to the divorce… to finding my luggage outside the gate. She listened quietly before wrapping her arms around me. “I wish you hadn’t wasted so many years on him,” she whispered sadly. “But it’s over now. You’re safe here.”

She prepared the guest room for me and even handed me a sleeping pill, insisting that I needed proper rest after everything I had been through. I was too exhausted to argue. Within minutes of lying down, sleep finally claimed me. Four days later, I realized I couldn’t stay hidden forever. The man I had loved for seven years had destroyed my life, and I refused to let him walk away without consequences. I looked at Maya. “Do you remember the man my parents wanted me to marry?” “You mean Lucas Sinclair?” she asked. “I work as his personal assistant.”

I looked at her in surprise. “Even better.” I sat up straighter. “Tell me… is he married?” She laughed softly. “Why are you suddenly interested in him?” “Just answer me.” “No,” she replied. “He’s still single.” A small smile spread across my face. “Then I’m going to ask him to marry me.” Her smile disappeared instantly. “What?” “It’s the only way I can return to my parents and reclaim the life I threw away. I know they’ll never completely accept me unless I fix the mistake I made years ago.”

She stared at me as though I had lost my mind. “And you’re going to help me get an appointment with him.” “Junia, do you even know who you’re talking about?” she asked nervously. “Lucas Sinclair is cold, arrogant, intimidating… people can barely stand being in the same room as him.” “I don’t care,” I replied firmly. “Just let me try.” Although she looked unconvinced, she eventually agreed.

The following morning, Maya took me to Sinclair Group. During the drive, she spent the entire journey warning me about Lucas’s personality, but none of it changed my mind. I had dressed in the most elegant outfit I owned, hoping I would at least make a respectable first impression. When my turn finally came, I stood outside his office and took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing,” I whispered to myself before pushing the door open.

Lucas was standing with his back facing me, speaking on the phone. Even from where I stood, his commanding presence filled the room. His voice was deep and calm, carrying the authority of someone used to being obeyed. A few seconds later, he ended the call and slowly turned around. Everything people had said about him was true. He looked cold. Serious. Mature. A few years older than me. But the one thing no one had bothered to mention was just how unbelievably handsome he was. His sharp eyes settled on me as he slipped one hand into his pocket. “How can I help you?” he asked in a firm, unreadable voice. I swallowed nervously.