Chapter 1

At the Hayes family dinner, my husband, Harrison Hayes, brought his latest mistress home.

The relatives at the table immediately cast mocking glances in my direction.

His cousin smirked and chimed in, "Hey Harrison, aren't you worried your wife will get jealous bringing another woman home?"

Harrison gave a careless chuckle. "Your sister-in-law has a gentle temper. She would never make a fuss."

It was not that I did not care. He just took for granted that I had nowhere else to go.

After all, how could an orphan taken in by the Hayes family ever challenge their newly appointed CEO?

Looking at the girl's face, I instantly understood why he insisted on bringing her.

She looked terrifyingly like his dead first love.

A sudden wave of exhaustion washed over me.

I shoved the antique vase beside me, sending it crashing into pieces on the marble floor.

Everyone froze, staring at me in shock.

1.

"Harrison, at this table, it is either her or me."

Harrison only gave me a fleeting glance before replying dismissively.

"She is just here for a meal."

"Do not worry. The title of Mrs. Hayes is still yours."

My eyes stung, but my gaze remained steady. "I am dead serious."

This was probably the first time in years I had ever defied him, and he paused for a brief second.

Just then, the girl he brought put on a pitiful face.

"Mrs. Hayes, please do not be upset. I begged Mr. Hayes to bring me along. If I ruined your mood, I will leave right now."

I completely ignored her and kept my eyes fixed on Harrison.

"Enough!" Harrison snapped, his patience running out. "Your temper is getting out of hand. Eat if you want, or get the hell out."

He pulled out my usual chair and let the other woman sit down.

I let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh.

His message could not have been clearer.

I slipped off the heirloom jade bracelet his grandmother had given me on our wedding day and set it before him.

"Take this back."

Harrison raised an eyebrow. "Clara, what is this supposed to mean?"

I looked straight into his eyes, enunciating every word. "I am done being Mrs. Hayes."

He scoffed coldly. "You are an orphan. Without me, without the Hayes family, where the hell can you even go?"

"Stop throwing a tantrum. It is embarrassing. Sit down."

The relatives chimed in with fake concern, telling me to know my place and back down.

I tuned them out, grabbed my phone, and walked toward the front door.

The moment I pushed the door open, Harrison's icy voice drifted from behind.

"Clara, if you walk out that door tonight, someone else will take your place as Mrs. Hayes. And do not even think about crawling back."

I paused for a second.

Then, without looking back, I stepped out into the dark, leaving behind a place that was never truly my home.