Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Every paparazzo in New York knew that Colton Mercer would rather be caught with an A-list runway model than touch his own lawful wife.

The daily gossip headline was always the same: "When will the Mercer matriarch finally claim her throne?"

Facing the cameras, Colton barely gave me a sideways glance.

"We can just have an open marriage. If you cannot stand it, go find someone yourself."

With that, he adjusted his cufflinks and walked away, acting like he had just won a championship.

That night, cozy photos of him and that model dominated the trending page again.

Everyone assumed I would sit alone in the dark, crying until dawn.

Instead, I called a celebrity journalist I knew and paid to reserve the top trending spot.

Then, I took off my conservative loungewear and slipped into the tight red cocktail dress he once complimented.

I snapped a photo in front of the full-length mirror.

I texted it anonymously to Colton:

【Hey man, your wife looks stunning tonight. Let me know in advance when you two get divorced.】

In less than thirty minutes, the top trending topic exploded: #MrsMercerAllegedlyMovesOn.

Major tabloids picked it up immediately with sensational headlines.

"Colton Mercer Caught with Model, While His Wife Finds a New Flame."

"A Sham High-Society Marriage: Open Relationships Are the New Normal."

"Is the Mercer Dynasty Heading for Divorce?"

The comments were full of wild guesses, saying our marriage was just a business deal waiting for asset division.

When my phone rang, Colton's voice roared through the speaker like pure venom.

"Harper! What the hell did you post? The entire internet is laughing at you!"

My tone remained completely flat.

"Wasn't that your idea? You said we should play the field, so I am just making your rules public."

He let out a cold, arrogant scoff.

"Delete it right now! Put out a statement saying it is fake, and then apologize to me!"

Before I could reply, a soft, seductive woman's voice drifted through the line.

"Colton babe... Are you still on the phone with her? You are ignoring me..."

Colton was clearly distracted, his tone softening instantly.

"Stop teasing, baby. I am dealing with something."

The woman kept whining into the mic.

"What could be more important than me? Talk to me first... You still haven't answered me about that position I mentioned earlier..."

His breath hitched, his voice turning husky and dirty.

"Give me a second. I will be right over as soon as I hang up."

He lowered his voice, whispering explicit, filthy promises to her without even bothering to mute the line.

I listened in absolute silence, feeling only a chill in my chest.

Once upon a time, hearing this would have shattered me.

Now, I just found it pathetic.

After whispering to her, he snapped back to me, his tone vicious.

"Did you hear me? I am busy. Stop acting like a crazy bitch."

I asked coldly, "Is your busy schedule just fucking other women?"

He paused, then laughed with arrogant disdain.

"Harper, are you still playing these pathetic mind games? You post a picture and cause drama just to make me jealous, hoping I will look at you."

He scoffed, fueling his own ego.

"Besides pulling these childish stunts, what else can you even do? Do you honestly think this will make me want you? Keep dreaming."

He paused, his voice dripping with condescension.

"You want me to kick these other women out and crawl back to you. Too bad for you, I am not falling for your bullshit this time."

I looked calmly ahead and replied softly, "Do you really think I did this just to get your attention?"

He sneered.

"Why else? You posted that picture so I would notice you. But the more you pull this crap, the cheaper you look!"

I countered calmly, "If you can screw around outside, why can't I?"

He choked on his words for a second, then flared up in rage.

"Don't lecture me on morals! I am just having fun, but you are turning this into a public circus!"

The woman's voice purred again in the background.

"Colton... Hurry up and come here..."

"Coming right now," he answered eagerly.

Then he barked into the receiver, "I will bury this press. You better behave yourself, or I will divorce you."

I smiled faintly. "Fine by me. Let's get divorced."

He clearly had zero patience left and threw out a careless line.

"Divorce then. You think I am scared of you?"

The call went dead with a busy tone, mixed with the woman's giggles.

I stared at the dark screen without a ripple in my heart.

Colton, you thought I posted that photo just to win you back.

You didn't even care to hear my explanation, so what makes you so sure I could never leave you?