Chapter 1

1

In the local legal circle, there was a ranking for the most pathetic woman in the city. For six straight years, my name sat right at the top.

Everyone knew that my husband had asked me for a divorce twenty-one times, all for the sake of his first love.

The first time, he asked me to divorce him and wait for a year so he could nurse her through a bad breakup.

The second time, she developed depression, so he left signed divorce papers on my nightstand and flew overseas to be by her side.

For the twenty-second time, after she casually mentioned missing their old days together, he dragged me straight to the courthouse once again.

When I signed my name on the settlement for the twenty-second time, I posted one final update on my feed.

"Divorced. Resigned. From now on, I only love myself and will never look back."

Right after that, I packed my bags and vanished into a classified national research facility, dedicating my life entirely to my own dreams.

Six years of marriage meant six exhausting years of me running after Gavin Hayes.

Today was our sixth wedding anniversary. I had worked three straight days and nights without proper food or sleep just to gather discovery materials and prepare briefs for his biggest trial.

When I finally managed to order a quick takeout bowl of soup and sat down to take a bite, Gavin stormed in.

He pinched his nose in disgust and snapped, "What are you eating? How many times have I told you not to eat in the office? If you spill grease on the client files, can you afford the liability? Are you really that desperate to eat?"

Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed my food and tossed it directly into the trash bin.

"We get off work soon anyway. Eat after hours."

I swallowed the words explaining that I hadn't eaten in days. A violent cramp seized my stomach, forcing me to clutch my mug and swallow cold water in large gulps.

His phone rang, and Gavin's harsh expression instantly melted into tender warmth.

"Hey, Nadia. You're coming over? Have you eaten yet? If not, I'll book a table for you."

His voice was dripping with sweetness, a tone he had never once used with me.

"Let me call that upscale bistro downtown and reserve their private dining room..."

He hung up, noticed me watching him, and cleared his throat awkwardly. "Nadia has a sensitive stomach. Her doctor said she can't skip meals. She isn't like you."

"Go on, hurry up and make the reservation."

He waved his hand dismissively, motioning for me to leave.

A few associates in the hallway looked over, their eyes full of pity and indignation on my behalf.

I shook my head quietly, feeling the last ember of warmth in my heart turn to ice.

To Gavin Hayes, whenever his precious first love was involved, I was always the one expected to step aside.

He seemed to forget that I was human too. I could feel hunger, pain, and absolute despair.

When closing time arrived, Gavin picked up a designer handbag and a beige coat, playing the part of a perfect gentleman as he opened his office door.

When he saw me waiting, his eyes grew dark and distant.

"Come inside. We need to talk."

Curious glances darted across the floor, while Nadia Young stood nearby with reddened eyes, whispering to me, "I'm so sorry, Corina."

Gavin frowned slightly at her. "You don't need to apologize to her."

He pulled me into the office and slammed the door shut, slapping a prepared divorce agreement onto the desk.

"Nadia has been emotionally fragile lately, and she needs someone by her side. So, let's get divorced for now."

"Just like before. I only want to grant her wish and recreate the fond memories she misses so much."

"Don't worry. Once she feels better, we'll remarry."

A rare, gentle smile touched his lips as he reminisced about their past.

I felt a bone-chilling cold run down my spine, making me tremble.

The moment Nadia arrived, he had sent me away under the guise of work, only so the two of them could stroll down memory lane and plot our divorce.

Asking for a divorce on our wedding anniversary.

And talking about remarrying as if it were a game. Even the most shameless serial cheater couldn't match his audacity.

"Sign it. We'll notarize it on Monday. I hope you won't make things difficult for me."

Gavin dropped the pen, grabbed his trench coat, and hurried toward the door.

Nadia was already waiting outside.

When the door opened, their eyes locked in mutual affection. Then Nadia gave me a dramatic, deep bow. "I'm sorry, and thank you. Don't worry, Corina. I'll return Gavin to you when I'm better."

One treated marriage like a joke, and the other treated a man like an object to be borrowed and returned.

Right in front of both of them, I uncapped the fountain pen and signed my name across the paper with fluid, decisive strokes.

Gavin nodded in satisfaction and placed his arm over Nadia's shoulders, pulling her flush against his side without caring about the stares of our coworkers.

They looked just like a pair of proud newlyweds.

In the past, he hated public displays of affection.

He always claimed that his reputation as a top litigator was sacred, so he had to maintain a dignified image at all times, never hugging or holding hands in public.

Whenever I broke down and begged him for a comforting embrace, he would push me away in disgust.

Now I understood that the only person he refused to touch was me.

After everyone left the firm, I pulled out my phone and dialed a secure number. "Professor Dawson, I'm ready to join your classified tech research team in the Northwest."

My mentor sounded stunned on the line. "You're really willing to go now? Didn't you say you couldn't bear to leave your husband? Think carefully, Corina. Once you enter the facility, you won't be allowed outside contact for years."

"I divorced him."

A heavy silence lingered before Dr. Dawson replied softly, "The country needs your brilliant mind far more than that man ever did."

Half an hour later, I was reviewing project briefs on my tablet when my phone buzzed with several photos from Gavin.

They were intimate, suggestive selfies of him and Nadia wearing matching silk pajamas in bed.

Beneath the photos was an audio message.

I tapped play, and Nadia's sultry, breathless whimpers echoed softly through the quiet room.