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Alicia never dreamed of marrying into the powerful Valentine family. But when her sister's life hung in the balance, she signed the contract marriage Edward Valentine offered. He gained a dutiful wife to quiet his board and father; she gained the money for her sister's treatment. It was supposed to be temporary. Then Edward asked her to stay. For two years, Alicia kept her vows and her silence, holding on to hope that Edward might one day see her as more than a transaction. That fragile hope shatters when Lucy Harrington--the elegant woman from his past--returns, and Edward suggests an "open marriage." As Alicia struggles to balance her sister's recovery and her own breaking heart, Edwards indifference cuts deeper. He lets Lucy humiliate her in public, ignores her pain, and dismisses her every concern. Slowly, Alicia begins to detach. The woman who once endured quietly starts to find her own strength, until humiliation and betrayal leave her with no choice but to walk away. But separation doesn't end the story. Away from Edward, Alicia begins to rebuild her life and rediscover her worth. For the first time, she lives for herself. Meanwhile, Edward's perfect world begins to crack. His polished image, his control, and even his bond with Lucy lose their shine without Alicia's steady presence. Only then does he begin to realize what he has lost. Yet winning her back will not be simple. Secrets about families, long-buried betrayals, and the revelation of Alicia's true place in the Valentine legacy turn their fragile marriage into battlefield. To prove he deserves a second chance, Edward must confront not only Lucy's schemes and his mother's ambitions, but also his own cold heart.

Alexander Morrison doesn't love me, nor does he love our daughter. The only person he loves is his first love, Charlotte Clarke. To maintain his perfect image in Charlotte's eyes, he only allows our daughter to call him "Uncle Alex". This continues until Charlotte becomes pregnant and goes abroad to marry someone else. Alexander drinks himself into oblivion and finally decides to marry me. When he comes home, our daughter gives him 100 forgiveness coupons. I tell him that once those 100 coupons are used up, I'll take our daughter and leave him forever. He holds us both tightly in his arms, swearing he will never make us sad again. During the initial few years of our secret marriage, he indeed does exceptionally well, as not a single coupon is used. That is, until Charlotte returns to the country with her daughter. Every time he abandons me and our daughter for Charlotte and her child, I tear off one forgiveness coupon. Now, only three coupons remain.