Chapter 1

I was brutally violated by a gang of thugs years ago just to save Gavin. He promised to marry me and cherish me forever.

Yet in our three years of marriage, he never once touched me in bed.

On our third wedding anniversary, I caught him holding his childhood sweetheart in his arms behind closed doors.

“Gavin, thank God you tricked Yvette into going there back then,” Leanne murmured against his chest. “Otherwise, those thugs would have ruined my entire life.”

Gavin looked at her with pure tenderness. “I told you, I will always protect you.”

“As for Yvette, what does her purity have to do with me? Looking at her makes me feel sick.”

I turned around and walked away. That very night, I demanded a divorce.

Standing outside his office, I felt completely numb.

All those years ago, Gavin was never being hunted down by those loan sharks.

He had intentionally lured me there to take Leanne’s place as bait.

He only married me because he was terrified of public condemnation.

The chill seeped into my bones as I stood outside the door, realizing my entire marriage was a pathetic joke.

I had made reservations at a high-end steakhouse for our anniversary. Now, any trace of joy was gone.

The secretary walked over and asked softly, “Mrs. Cole, why are you standing outside instead of going in?”

Inside, the two scrambled in panic, hastily fixing their clothes.

Gavin opened the door. “Yvette? Why are you here? You always said you hated coming to the office.”

I stared at Leanne, searching her face for even a flicker of guilt, but found none.

She walked over and grabbed my hand with fake warmth.

“Yvette, you came to see Gavin! We were just talking about taking you out to dinner tonight. Speak of the devil!”

The sweet way she called him made my chest ache with sharp agony.

I still could not believe that the devoted husband who shared my bed for three years had been acting the entire time.

I fought back my tears and looked at Gavin, but Leanne cut in before I could speak.

“Yvette, why don't you join us? I just got back from overseas, and Gavin promised to throw me a welcome dinner.”

My voice trembled. “Gavin, today is our third anniversary. I already booked a table at the restaurant...”

Gavin’s face instantly hardened into ice.

“I already promised Leanne we would eat together tonight. It’s just an anniversary, not our wedding day. What’s the big deal?”

Leanne playfully tapped his shoulder.

“Gavin, why are you being so harsh? You’re going to make Yvette misunderstand our relationship.”

Gavin kept his cold glare locked ahead, refusing to even look at me.

“She can eat or starve. It saves me the headache of looking at her sour face at the table.”

Hearing those words, his earlier confession echoed in my mind.

He thought I was dirty.

A wave of bitterness washed over me. I gripped my purse and turned to leave, but Gavin chased after me.

“Leanne already invited you. Why are you running off? Learn some damn manners.”

They had been inseparable childhood sweethearts for over twenty years. I knew I could never compete with her.

Ever since I started dating Gavin, they acted like a couple while I felt like an awkward third wheel.

Now that she was back, everything returned to how it used to be.

Leanne looped her arm through Gavin’s and walked ahead of me, turning back with a saccharine smile. “Yvette, we’re heading out first. Hurry up, okay?”

Their car sped off into the distance, leaving me to call an Uber by myself.