Chapter 1

It was autumn. It had been drizzling continuously. Raindrops fell on the uneven ground, forming puddles.

There was silence at the South City, Third Prison entrance. It seemed like it had been quiet for some time. Soon, the sound of the prison gate opening shattered the silence.

A man with a tall figure, an elegant demeanor and sharp eyebrows stepped out of the prison gate. He crushed the puddles beneath his feet as he walked forward slowly.

"It's been four years..." he murmured.

The man stood at the prison gate, feeling uneasy as he looked up at the sky. A fleeting sense of nostalgia crossed his sharply defined face.

It had been four years since he took the blame for his wife's, Serena Lloyd's, family. He had been imprisoned, cut off from the outside world.

While recalling his time in prison, he smirked with mixed emotions. He had never imagined having such unbelievable experiences while being imprisoned.

His hand subconsciously reached for his waist. On it was a needle case woven with golden threads, depicting a unicorn.

He was lost in thought for a moment.

Then, the man looked ahead again.

No matter what he had experienced in prison, what he had missed the most all along was his wife!

"Serena, it's been four years. Are you doing okay?" Liam muttered

As he thought of his smiling wife, a hint of happiness flashed in the man's eyes, and he smiled, tightening the needle case at his waist. "From today on, I will make you the happiest woman in the world!"

There was only one road leading to the prison, and today was his release date. Surely, they would have greeted him with the warmest of welcomes, knowing he had taken the blame for the Lloyd family.

The man's anticipation grew as he thought about seeing his wife. He waited patiently in the chilly rain.

However, he stood there waiting till he was completely soaked through. A car finally emerged from the far end of the road. The car came to a stop, and the person who stepped out was not the familiar face the man was expecting. Instead, it was a brisk woman with short hair, holding an umbrella. She swiftly approached him.

"Grace, why are you here? Isn't Serena getting out of the car… " the man greeted with a smile.

The newcomer, Grace Kendall, was Serena's cousin and Serena's assistant at the company. Before the man could finish speaking, Grace interrupted him.

"Miss Lloyd is not here." Grace stood before the man expressionless. She presented a document, handing it over. "Liam Burrey, this is from Miss Lloyd."

The words 'Divorce Agreement' on the document stood out starkly. The smile on Liam's face froze in an instant.

Without giving Liam time to react, Grace said coldly, "I know you and Miss Lloyd used to love each other, and you've always loved her. However, four years have passed, and too much has changed. You and Miss Lloyd are no longer suitable for each other.

"Sign it."

There was no emotion in Grace's voice.

Although it was already a cold and rainy late autumn day, Liam felt a chill seeping into his bones, colder than the weather. It felt as if ice was penetrating his skin, reaching deep into his core.

Liam had not expected that instead of his wife's warm care, he would be greeted by a cold divorce agreement on the first day of his release.

"What... What's going on?" Liam looked up, forcing a stiff smile. "Why would Serena pull such a prank on me?"

Grace said coldly, "It's not a prank. Miss Lloyd, relying on her own abilities, has led the Lloyd Group to continuous breakthroughs in market value. She's the well-known, beautiful female CEO of South City.

"And you? A newly released convict long ceased to match Miss Lloyd. Perhaps she worried that informing you earlier might affect your behavior in prison, so she chose to tell you now."

Liam felt a surge of anger rising within him.

He looked at Grace and growled, "Convict? On what grounds can you call me a convict? Have you forgotten how I ended up in prison? If it weren't for Serena's useless and troublemaking brother, Etchen Lloyd, would I have become a convict? It was he who caused such a huge disaster that even implicated the Lloyd family. I wouldn't be where I am if I hadn't taken the blame and gone to prison for him.

"During my four-year sentence, not a single person from the Lloyd family came to visit me. And now, you're labeling me a convict?"

Liam clenched his fists. During these four years, he believed that the Lloyd family's absence was to avoid suspicion. However, he realized the situation was not as he had thought after hearing what Grace had to say.

"I know you've sacrificed a lot for the Lloyd family and Miss Lloyd." Grace sighed softly, her expression softening slightly. "But the reality is as it is. Even if you went to prison for the Lloyd family, you're now still just a convict.

"The people around Miss Lloyd now are either multimillionaire scions or young talents wielding power. The gap between you and Miss Lloyd is insurmountable."

After a pause, she continued, "But don't you worry. The compensation Miss Lloyd would give you after the divorce would be enough to start a new life. The divorce is for your own good! Don't hold Miss Lloyd back!"

Liam raised his head, looking indifferent. "I'm holding Serena back? Is this your idea or Serena's?"

"Ingrate!" Grace's face turned green with anger. How could Liam be so oblivious?

She had patiently advised him, but he still had this stubborn look and remained unmoved! How could an unambitious convict be worthy of Serena?

"Letting you sign the divorce agreement is to protect your dignity. It's also because Miss Lloyd cherishes the past!"

Grace could no longer bear it. She raised her eyebrows and scolded sharply, "Don't think that if you don't sign, this marriage won't end. The line for Miss Lloyd's pursuer could be from the South City to the capital city of Asterion. Let's just talk about the recent frequent meetings of Miss Lloyd and the young heir of the Remmy Group. His identity is far beyond your imagination!

"You're just a petty ex-convict! If he knew you were still pushing your luck, unwilling to leave Miss Lloyd, you are in for a world of trouble!"

"A petty ex-convict? Face the consequences?"

Liam looked at Grace, suddenly chuckling self-deprecatingly.

Threats? Serena and him once vowed to be together until they grow old, to be a loving couple who would never argue. Now, on the first day of his release from prison, they had fallen to the point of divorce, even resorting to threatening each other.

How pitiful!

How lamentable!

"You..." Grace raised her eyebrows, about to say something.

Just at that moment, another car appeared at the end of the road, pulling up to a stop at the prison gates.

The door opened and a tall and graceful figure stepped out of the car.

She wore the simplest solid-colored professional attire. Yet even though the attire has a minimalist style, it still perfectly outlined her exquisite figure.

She wore high heels and her slender, well-shaped legs seemed like the most delicate pieces of art in the world. Her flawlessly beautiful face, exuded an icy and peerless beauty.

With a slightly raised chin, she added a touch of regality to her presence, standing proudly like a queen among mortals.

"Miss Lloyd, why are you here?" Grace looked surprised. She hurriedly raised the umbrella and approached Serena. "Weren't you supposed to meet with Mister Corona today?"

"I'll handle things here first," Serena said coldly, shaking her head.

Seeing Serena's arrival, Liam's indifferent gaze softened briefly.

Four years had passed, and she had not changed.

However, soon after, Liam lowered his head.

As Serena stopped in her tracks, watching Liam standing before her, drenched by the rain, a complex expression flashed across her face. However, after a light sigh, Serena returned to her aloof demeanor.

"Liam, it has been a while," she said coldly.

She gestured for her driver to provide Liam with an umbrella, then lifted her chin slightly and spoke faintly, "Let's talk. I will never forget the sacrifices you made for the Lloyd family. Everything we've experienced together is a cherished memory. However, we're truly no longer suited to be together."

With that, Serena paused, then slowly uttered, "Let's get a divorce."

She called it a discussion, but in truth, she had already made up her mind! She had not even given Liam the right to choose!

Serena's tone had been flat, devoid of any fluctuation, yet her words seemed to drive deep into Liam's heart like nails.

"Not suitable?" Liam raised his head slowly, his voice dry and hoarse. "When we got married, you didn't say we weren't suitable. When I took the blame for your brother and went to jail, you didn't say we weren't suitable. Now that I'm out of prison, you're telling me we're not suitable?"

"We're not suitable anymore. It's a fact. The scale of the Lloyd Group has changed significantly, especially since you've been to prison," Serena replied.

Serena looked down, her expression unclear. "Having you around would have a profoundly negative impact on me, the entire Lloyd family, and even the development of the Lloyd Group!"

"I would bring a negative impact?" Liam widened his eyes. "But have you forgotten why I ended up in prison in the first place?"

He could not believe such words would come from his once-wife!

"We won't forget the sacrifices you've made for the Lloyd family and for me. I've already arranged the corresponding property changes: a villa, twenty million in cash, and even the cafe where we first met. All you need to do is sign your name, and it's all yours," Serena said, raising her head, her demeanor now cold.

Serena continued calmly, "Of course, you can let me know if you want anything else. I'll try to fulfill your wishes as much as possible."

Liam watched as Serena discussed everything as if negotiating a business deal. A mocking smile slowly appeared on his pale face. Whether he was mocking himself or the woman opposite him was unclear. When did their love for each other become nothing more than houses, cars, and money?

Grace looked at Liam, who remained silent, and exclaimed in frustration, "Liam, if it weren't for Miss Lloyd and enduring four years in prison for the Lloyd family, you wouldn't have earned any of these things in your lifetime..."

Ignoring Grace, Liam stared straight at Serena and said, "All you care about is wealth and status. So, after four years, money, the prosperity of the Lloyd family, status, and reputation all became that important to you?"

"What do you think? Recently, the son of the Corona family, who is pursuing Miss Lloyd, invested nearly a billion dollars just to make her smile. Although she hasn't promised Mister Corona anything, it shows his sincerity. He can grow alongside her, but what about you? If Miss Lloyd stays with you, you'll only lead her to more failures..."

Grace was furious. However, before she could finish, Serena interrupted her. After a moment of silence, she lifted her chin and replied, "Yes."

"Lead her to more failures? So, is this Mister Corona your backing and security?" Liam laughed bitterly, lifting his head to gaze at Serena. "No regrets about the future?"

Serena fell silent, a complex expression flickering in her eyes. Ultimately, she lifted her head proudly and proclaimed, "My future will only get better and better!"

"I understand." Liam smiled in relief and picked up the contract. "I don't want anything, not the houses, cars, cash, not even the cafe you mentioned."

He signed his name on the divorce agreement without hesitation. "But from now on, we are nothing but strangers."