Chapter 1

1

My wife, Sarah, threw my stepson, Jake, the biggest eighteenth birthday bash you ever saw.

And her gift to him? My job as head of design.

Yeah, real classy.

Then Jake's first line of bags got called out for straight-up plagiarism.

The company was lookin' at a serious lawsuit.

And Jake, the little weasel, tried to blame it on me.

"I just put Mark's designs into AI to, like, polish them. I had no idea it would turn into a total rip-off."

"Honestly, it all comes down to Mark's original designs being shady. That's what caused this whole mess."

Sarah, naturally, jumped to his defense.

She ordered me to take the blame and apologize to the client.

I told her where she could stick that apology.

Next thing I knew, she was kicking my prosthetic leg out from under me in front of everyone.

Jake just stood there smirking, saying I was playing the victim card.

There I was, sprawled on the floor, people gawking.

Meanwhile, Sarah and Jake were center stage, hugging like it was prom night.

Something inside me just broke.

Fine.

I'm done.

I'm giving him back to you.

...

My mom shoved through the crowd, taking off her jacket to cover my exposed leg.

"What are you all looking at? Get lost!"

She looked at me, her face full of hurt. "Honey, let's get you out of here. Divorce her. Come home with me."

Before I could even answer, fireworks exploded outside, lighting up the sky in a crazy, romantic display.

Sarah was putting on a show for her golden boy.

Everyone was oohing and aahing at the fireworks.

"Jake's got it made. He's an orphan, but Sarah adopted him and gives him everything."

"Heard she bought him the biggest amusement park in the state for his birthday! Apparently, that's where she found him."

My mom heard all of this and covered my ears, worried I'd be upset.

"Mark, if you're hurting, just cry."

I was numb.

My eyes were dry.

I wiped away her tears and forced a smile.

Back in high school, a car accident took my parents and my leg.

Sarah, the head cheerleader, paid my medical bills and helped me get through school.

I always wanted to repay her, but she was a顾家princess who didn't need anything.

Then I was "found" as the long-lost苏家 heir. The顾家 business went belly-up and needed cash.

I called off my engagement to some socialite, insisted on marrying Sarah, and used the dowry to save her company.

Three years into the marriage, I watched Sarah dote on Jake. Each day was torture.

But the debt was paid.

I looked up at my mom, promising her, "Don't worry, I'm done with Sarah. I'm going to divorce her."

That night, I came home to Sarah and Jake snuggled on the couch, watching some cheesy reality show.

I tried not to puke.

The first year we were married, Titanic was re-released.

I asked Sarah to go with me, but she turned me down flat.

"It's a boring romance. A waste of time."

Seeing them now, I finally understood.

It wasn't that she didn't like romance movies.

She just didn't want to watch them with me.

I tried to go straight to my room, but Sarah stopped me.

Her face was like stone. "Where do you think you're going? Have you apologized to the client? Don't think you can get out of this by showing off your bum leg. You're apologizing tomorrow."