Chapter 1

Zachary Lennor, my husband, was walking toward me with some freshly washed cherries when I brought up my intention to divorce.

His expression swiftly changed, and his hand holding the bowl of cherries jerked slightly.

"Divorce? Why do you suddenly want to divorce? Sammy, what happened yesterday was just something I said in the heat of the moment. You shouldn't have been so harsh toward Vivi."

I stared at the man before me, at the person I had been married to for the past three years.

Truthfully, I couldn't deny that he was a thoughtful and considerate husband—as long as Vivian Sinclair wasn't involved.

He remembered my preferences and would take responsibility for all household chores. Even when cherries were at their most expensive, he would still buy a huge box without any hesitation, wash them clean, and bring them to me.

It was precisely because of how good he was to me that I married him despite knowing that he was a divorcee and had a so-called adopted younger sister with depression whom he needed to take care of.

Only now did I realize that his gentleness toward me would always come second to the way he treated Vivian, the younger sister who turned out to be a fake all along.

Like a fool, I had been completely oblivious that my husband and his ex-wife were staying under the same roof and had been putting on an act for me all this time.

At that thought, I felt as if a heavy weight were crushing my chest.

When I spoke again, there was newfound resolve in my voice.

"Zachary Lennor, I want a divorce. You can spend the rest of your life with your dear sister."

In contrast to the arrogance she showed yesterday, today, Vivian put on a woefully aggrieved look as she timidly hid away in Zachary's arms.

Zachary immediately pulled her behind him and took a protective stance in front of her. Gone was his earlier apologetic tone. Instead, his voice was laced with accusation as he demanded, "Samantha Linden, when did you learn to use divorce as a threat? Can't you show a little more consideration for a sick person like Vivian?"

For the past three years, it had always been the same. Even though I clearly hadn't gone overboard, Zachary would always jump to conclusions and assume that I was deliberately making things difficult for Vivian.

I let out a chilly laugh.

"A sick person? Zachary, take a good, hard look at her. Does she look anything like a sick person? Someone with real depression hides themselves away so that they can be sad in secret. They don't make a huge show about it or constantly get between a married couple like she does to us!"

Furrowing his brow, Zachary snapped back impatiently, "What do you know? Vivian's depression has always been different from the norm. She's timid by nature and can only rely on me. Can't you be a little more understanding of her?"

When I heard that, my tone noticeably cooled further.

"I've been understanding of her for the past three years! She barges into our room in the middle of the night and pretends to be sick so that she can hog you to herself.

"When have I ever held it against her? You're the one who's always blindly siding with her without getting to know the truth! You always defend her and act as if I'm the one being unreasonable!"