Chapter 1

I had been married to Seraphina Sinclair, the CEO of the world's most prestigious e-sports club, for three years under a private contract.

To prove I was worthy of her, I endured constant bullying from my teammates and single-handedly carried the entire squad to the Global Finals.

But the night before the championship, the very men who had tormented me were in my wife's bed.

Seraphina forced me to hold the camera and record her having her way with them.

"I'm just rewarding your teammates for their hard work. Think of it as a bonus for a pathetic husband like you," she sneered.

Ryker Blackwood, the team captain who used to shove my head into the locker room toilets, stroked Seraphina's hair while mocking me.

"You really are a generous guy, Percy. Not only are you sharing the trophy with us, but you're sharing your wife, too."

He laughed cruelly and wiped the filth from his hands onto my jersey.

"By the way, she really is as incredible as they say."

With tears streaming down my face, I tore up the marriage agreement that had only one day left and packed my bags.

This time, I would vanish from her world forever and finally embrace a life of my own.

01

I sat in the corner of the locker room, clutching the bright red folder containing our marriage certificate.

"Percy Miller! I'm giving you one last chance. Don't you dare act like you're too good for this," Seraphina's voice boomed from the doorway.

When I remained silent, she lunged at me and ripped the certificate into tiny, unrecognizable shreds.

The heavy scent of Ryker's expensive cologne still clung to her skin.

I flinched and pulled back instinctively, which only provoked her to slap me hard across the face.

"I don't care if you like it or not. Today, you will set up every play for Ryker. He needs to win the championship and the MVP title," she barked.

She looked down at me as if I were a cockroach under her designer heels.

"If you cross me, I'll make sure you never play professionally again, and that pathetic orphanage you love will be turned into a trash dump."

She tossed the scraps of our marriage license over me, letting them flutter like mocking snow.

I rubbed my stinging cheek and let out a bitter, hollow laugh.

That "pathetic" orphanage?

She and I had grown up there together back when she was a nobody.

Before the wealthy Sinclair family found her, we were both weak and constantly targeted by bullies.

I was the one who always fought to protect her, no matter how many bruises I took.

When she went back to her family, she convinced her father to bring me into their e-sports club so I could chase my dreams.

I never imagined we would end up in a place this ugly.

"Seraphina, the match hasn't started yet. Are you sure this loser won't try to sabotage us?"

Ryker walked in and wrapped his arm around her waist, squeezing her as if I weren't even there.

I had played on the same team as Ryker for eight years.

He hated me for stealing his spotlight, and he hated even more that a "peasant" like me outperformed him.

He had bribed the entire team to make my life a living hell.

Seraphina used to be furious about the bullying, but now, his cruelty was exactly why she was attracted to him.

In the three years we were married, she brought countless men home to humiliate me.

But Ryker was the only one who could truly make my blood run cold.

Seraphina leaned into him and let out a dismissive snort.

"What is there to fear? If he had any pride, he wouldn't have betrayed the team and my father for money all those years ago."

"I'm giving him the chance to be a loyal dog. He should be thanking me."

"As for you, how are you going to reward me after we win today?" she asked Ryker playfully.

Ryker's fingers traced her spine suggestively, his lips brushing against her ear.

"Oh, I'm planning on working very, very hard for you tonight."

I was used to their intimacy and her insults by now.

I stood up quietly, wanting to find a peaceful corner before the game.

As I walked past them, Ryker grabbed the hair at the back of my head, just like he used to do at the sinks.

"Hey, play nice out there. Don't make me work too hard. If I'm too tired for tonight, you're dead."

I grabbed his wrist and shoved him away with all my strength.

"Don't worry. I'm going to give a performance you'll never forget."

Today was the final day of our three-year contract. I had paid my debt to her, and my love for her was dead.

It was time for everything to end.

Before heading to the stage, I sent a final confirmation to a top-tier team in London.

I had accepted their offer to be their head coach and booked a flight for the next morning.