Chapter 1

Ava Lane frowned down at her trembling legs in their yoga pants. She said carelessly, "This is a normal reaction from doing too much yoga. Aren't you supposed to be a professional trainer? Don't you even know that?"

She put on an angry look and turned to my parents to complain again. "Mom, Dad, I'm telling you. He's definitely got someone on the side. Why else would he keep picking fights with me?"

I let out a cold laugh and pulled my daughter, Daisy Statham, into my arms. She was still sobbing. I wanted to calm her down first before talking to Ava about getting a divorce, but Ava suddenly rushed over and slapped me across the face before I could even say anything.

The burning sting on my cheek made it crystal clear what had just happened. I shot Ava an icy look, but she still wore that cocky, superior expression.

"That slap was to teach you a lesson. See if you dare mess around behind my back again!" she snapped.

My silence, in her eyes, was compromise. She lifted her chin and went on, "I'm not an unreasonable person. Turn your gym into a yoga studio and give it to me. I'll forgive you then."

I felt my heart freeze over when I saw how entitled she was.

Mom and Dad both frowned at me. Mom tried to persuade me gently, saying, "Jordan, don't be so stubborn. Just do what Ava wants. Or do you really want your family to fall apart?"

Ava's eyes filled with smug arrogance when she saw Mom take her side.

Still, I shook my head, remaining steadfast. "I want a divorce."

Dad kicked me hard and jabbed a finger in my face, yelling, "Why are you so damn stubborn, you brat? You've been married for five years! Has Ava ever done wrong by you all this while?"

He wasn't wrong. For five years, Ava and I had been the model loving couple. Once she decided on something, I would never object. That was why I'd agreed without hesitation when she said she wanted to do yoga.

But I never imagined that yoga would become the catalyst that completely destroyed our marriage.

I cut off Mom's attempts to smooth things over and spoke with unwavering resolve, "Don't bother trying to talk me out of it. I'm getting this divorce!"

Ava burst into loud, dramatic sobs before the words had even fully left my mouth. I was afraid she would scare Daisy, so I held Daisy close and walked out.

I didn't expect Ava to chase after us. Her yoga outfit hugged every curve, and her hourglass figure drew every pair of eyes in the neighborhood.

"Jordan Statham, you're a heartless jerk! I stuck with you when you had nothing, and I'm still here now! Now, you want to divorce me for some other woman!" she wailed. "If you don't like me doing yoga, I can quit. Let's not get divorced, okay?"

The neighbors started giving me hostile looks when they saw her humbling herself like so. Someone spoke up on her behalf.

"This guy's really something else. He still wants a divorce when he has such a wonderful wife."

Someone else went even further. He whistled at Ava and gave her a flirty look. "Hey, gorgeous, that body's amazing. Once you dump him, be with me instead."

The words were barely out of his mouth when a man rushed over and shoved him hard to the ground. "Run your mouth again, and I'll cut your tongue out!"

I looked at Neal Anderson's angry face and sneered inwardly. I'd yet to even say anything, and he was already furious. He truly was my ride-or-die buddy… or so it seemed.

He walked over to me, still scowling, and started trying to talk me down. "Jordan, you love Ava so much. Can you really bear to leave her?"

Love? Ava didn't deserve my love.

Neal glanced at Daisy in my arms and went on, "Sure, you own a gym, but it barely makes any money. Plus, you've got a daughter. Will any other woman marry you after the divorce? Besides, Ava already said she'll stop doing yoga. Don't be so stubborn."

I didn't respond. I just took a deep breath and forced my anger back down.

Ava lifted her chin and shot me a sideways glare, like she was waiting for me to apologize. I ignored her completely and hurried off, holding Daisy close.