Chapter 1

Vanessa Thorne, the heiress of Los Angeles, was famous for her rule. She only did one-month flings and never caught feelings.

Men wanting to climb the social ladder lined up from Santa Monica to Beverly Hills.

If she was in a good mood, she'd gift a villa.

If she wasn't, the breakup fee was still a cool million.

Everyone in the city laughed at me. They called me the most pathetic trophy husband in history.

They thought I'd endure it forever for the sake of the lifestyle.

That was until Vanessa brought home a college kid named Aiden Brooks.

He was plain-looking, yet he made her break her one-month curse.

Vanessa gave me two choices.

First, I could accept an open marriage and treat Aiden as my equal.

Second, I could divorce her, take half the assets, and we'd be done for good.

Her friends were watching from the sidelines like it was a reality show.

They were betting that I'd stay a spineless coward just for the money.

But I didn't hesitate for a single second. I chose the latter.

In my past life, I chose to endure. All it got me was Aiden pushing his luck further every day.

He forbade Vanessa from touching me or having my children.

In my old age, I watched with envy as Aiden was surrounded by children and grandchildren.

Even when Vanessa died, she didn't mention me once in her will.

All her billions went to Aiden.

I kept the title of her husband, but I lived and died a lonely ghost.

Having a second chance at life, I finally woke up.

I'll take the money and leave. This time, I'm done with her forever.

1.

I took the divorce agreement and scanned it carefully before getting ready to sign.

Vanessa spoke up, her voice carrying a tension she probably didn't even realize was there.

"Silas Sterling, think about this carefully. Once you sign, there's no coming back."

My hand didn't stop. The pen glided across the paper in a sharp, decisive arc. I was done.

"I'll have my things packed and be out of here in an hour."

Why would I ever regret this?

In my last life, I thought bringing Aiden home was just another one of her games to punish me.

I was naive enough to think that after all our years together, she must have felt something for me.

How pathetic.

She and Aiden ended up having two kids within three years, living happily ever after.

I was just an extra piece of furniture in that house, an embarrassment people mocked behind my back.

It wasn't until my final days that I heard her talking to Aiden in the hospital.

She told him that the whole cheating scandal years ago―the maid she found in my bed―was her own setup.

"I was just bored of him, but I didn't want a messy public breakup," she said.

Her old, cloudy eyes didn't hold a hint of guilt.

"I framed him so that whatever I did afterward would look justified."

So that was it.

No wonder she never believed my explanations. She knew the truth the whole time.

She didn't love me, yet she kept me trapped under a false accusation for fifty years.

She could have cut me loose, but she chose to bleed me out slowly until I died.

I looked up at her young, cold face. My love was gone, replaced by a simmering rage.

She stared at the signed papers, looking completely stunned.

Outside the door, the sound of eavesdropping suddenly stopped.

A moment later, my "noble" in-laws burst into the room looking like they'd won the lottery.

My mother-in-law grabbed Aiden's hand, looking him up and down with a grin.

"Oh, a younger man is just better. Look at all that vitality!"

My father-in-law, who always treated me like dirt, was actually smiling.

He shot me a look full of disdain.

"Finally, the trash is out. It's been years and this guy couldn't even give us an heir."

Aiden lowered his head shyly, playing the modest role.

"Sir, please don't say that. I'm not that much younger than Silas…"

He paused, a blush creeping up his cheeks.

"Actually, Vanessa is already a month along. We were just waiting for the right time to say something."

I raised an eyebrow.

The same insults, the same sickening routine.

But this time, I didn't care.

For years, I worked like a dog at Thorne Enterprises to be a good son-in-law.

I came home to serve these entitled monsters every single night.

I was barely thirty, but I already had gray hairs at my temples.

Yeah, I looked old.

I turned around and went to my room to pack my few belongings.

I was already planning my first vacation with my settlement money.

I didn't notice Vanessa following me in.

"It's late. You don't have to leave tonight. You can go tomorrow."

"The villa in Malibu is empty. You can stay there for now. I'll visit when I have time."

"Silas, I know you love me. Stop being so petty."

She gently touched her flat stomach.

"But I can't give you the title of husband anymore. I won't let my child be born with a certain reputation."

I didn't bother answering.

I grabbed my suitcase, walked right past her, and headed for the door.

"We have nothing to talk about. I'm happy to be divorced."

"If you have any heart left, just make sure that wire transfer hits my account fast."

The cold night air hit my face, but it couldn't put out the fire burning in my chest.