Chapter 1

1

On our third wedding anniversary, Landon Sterling made a public declaration of love to his childhood sweetheart on social media.

"My heart belongs to only one person, and it's you," the caption read.

I used my main account to like and repost it. Seconds later, the post was scrubbed from the internet.

Then came Landon's inevitable call, dripping with irritation. "She's having a hard time and I was just comforting her. Do you have to be so petty? Can't you do anything besides being a jealous brat?"

A moment later, I received a photo from his sweetheart showing the two of them in a deep, passionate embrace.

If this had been the old me, I would have tracked them down immediately. I would have screamed, cried, and made a massive scene.

But this time, I chose to step back. I decided to let him go.

It was the day of our third anniversary, which also happened to be Landon's twenty-sixth birthday.

He woke up early to groom himself, putting on a brand-new tailored suit. He refused to let me even drive him to the door.

Looking at his polished shoes and perfectly pressed clothes, I noticed he was trying much harder than usual. "Is Quinn Vaughn going to be there?" I asked tentatively.

Landon's hand paused as he buffed his shoes. His tone turned sharp. "Can you stop obsessing over Quinn? We're just friends!"

I didn't say a word. Realizing his tone was too harsh, Landon softened his voice. "Don't overthink it. It's just business and a circle you wouldn't fit into. I'll be back by dark, and then we can have our private celebration."

He leaned in, giving me a light peck on the ear before turning to leave.

By evening, I had prepared a steak dinner and a handmade cake. I waited for hours, but he never showed. I called him repeatedly, but there was no answer.

Finally, his assistant let it slip where they were. I drove through a torrential downpour to reach the private lounge at a high-end club.

When I pushed the door open, the first thing I saw was Landon. He was leaning heavily against Quinn, their bodies pressed together and arms intertwined.

As his employees teased them about their relationship, Landon had a flush on his face that he couldn't hide.

I looked away and intentionally shook the rainwater off my coat, making enough noise to draw everyone's attention.

The room went silent. Landon's assistant looked at me in a panic. "Mrs. Sterling… I didn't know you were…"

Before he could finish, Landon spared me a lazy, annoyed glance. "What a buzzkill. Ignore her. Let's keep going."

He clinked his glass against Quinn's, completely disregarding my presence.

I walked up to him. The crowd braced themselves for a dramatic confrontation, but I only spoke softly. "It's our anniversary. Are you coming home with me?"

The tension in the room snapped. Everyone looked at me with a mix of relief and pure contempt. They had never seen a wife so pathetic and spineless.

I asked him one more time. Landon looked up with a mocking smirk. "Is it? I don't remember that."

"It is. Let's go home," I said, looking him in the eye. After a few seconds, Landon's expression darkened, a hint of rage simmering in his gaze.

Before he could explode, Quinn placed a hand on his shoulder. "Jade, it's just one anniversary. Do you really have to ruin Landon's night? Look at how unhappy you're making him."

She looked me up and down with a condescending smile. Quinn was Landon's favorite person, the one that got away.

Everyone knew Landon had been forced by his family to break up with her and enter a strategic marriage with me.

Someone in the back shouted, "Man, Landon, your wife is such a control freak! Quinn is so much more chill."