Chapter 1

It took only three years for Caleb Sterling and me to go from childhood soulmates to mutual loathing.

Three years ago, after Caleb saved his family's empire, my father blackmailed him into marriage.

I foolishly thought I had finally convinced my parents to let me marry for love.

But on our wedding night, I found a pair of pearl-encrusted lace panties in his suit pocket that didn't belong to me.

After that, he didn't even bother to hide his endless string of affairs.

I cried and I bled, but I never made a scene.

For the sake of my family, I played the role of his cleanup crew, chasing away the mistresses he grew bored of.

I was even distracted by his trashy flings on the very day of my parents' funeral.

When the service ended and I walked into our bedroom to find him with yet another girl, I finally hit my limit.

I handed him the divorce papers I had kept ready for a long time.

He just smirked, mocking me. "Finally reached your breaking point? Won't you try a little harder to keep me? Maybe I'll..."

I cut him off, my voice cold. "No need. Just sign it."

1.

Caleb still had his arms wrapped around the girl he had just finished sleeping with.

He didn't take the papers. Instead, he looked at me with a playful, cruel glint in his eyes.

"You want a divorce? Fine," he said. "She's your final task. Get rid of her, and I'll sign."

He pushed the girl toward me, a careless smirk playing on his lips.

I rubbed my throbbing temples, exhausted, and stepped in front of the girl as she tried to chase after him.

"Miss... how should I address you?" I asked.

The girl's eyes widened with rage as she slapped my hand away. "Get out of my way, you plain-faced hag!"

She tried to run after Caleb, screaming his name.

"Caleb, you said you loved me! You can't be this cruel!"

Her screeching made the migraine behind my eyes intensify. I had barely slept in days.

I grabbed her by the thin strap of her dress, my voice a low threat.

"If you don't want to be naked in front of everyone, I suggest you stop struggling."

The girl froze, clutching her chest.

She turned to look at me in disbelief, her tears momentarily forgotten.

Looking at her pathetic state, I felt a flicker of pity, but it vanished quickly.

"Stop the drama. Can we talk in the living room?"

She didn't move at first, pouting before finally bursting into tears.

She threw pleading glances at Caleb, who was watching the show from the second-floor balcony.

She was hoping for a drop of mercy, but it never came.

I signaled the maid to bring me Caleb's coat from the sofa and draped it over her shoulders.

The girl looked at me through blurry eyes.

I glanced up at the balcony and said calmly, "Can we talk now?"