Chapter 1

The golden sun in the sky dazzled and blurred Nicole's sight as she stepped out of the prison gate. Placing a hand on her forehead and protected it from the scorching rays as her vision tried to adjust to the sunlight. 

She had been locked up for two years and she was glad to be out. This was her first time seeing such bright light since the day she was locked up. 

Despite all the pain, she went through in prison, she never regretted her decision. Surprisingly, her five-year jail term was suddenly disrupted and she was released when she least expected.

Thanks to the new president who made it possible. The president announced the release of all the female inmates who were not guilty of murder. Nicole was not guilty of murder.  Luckily she was among those that was set free.

 Gradually she lowered her orbs to survey her surroundings, taking in the beautiful sight, her mind drifted to her husband, Abel Copper, and she smiled.  Her release would surprise him. 

 

 “Just a few minutes baby and I will be home" she mumbled weakly. 

Life in prison has changed her a lot, she looked weak and malnourished. The endless torture she endured at the hands of the inmate doesn't bother her because she suffered it for Abel. All that matters is that she is free and will soon be with her beloved husband Abel.

 The urge to curl up in his arms intensified as she allowed her mind to wander in anticipation of the warm welcome she would receive from him. Abel is her world and life seems right simply because he was by her side. For Abel, she would do anything including serving a jail term without any regrets as long as it makes him happy.

A taxi pulled up by her side and stopped.

"Need a ride?" The driver asked.

" Yeah, Mallory Avenue,"  

"Hop in" the lanky man in the front seat replied and waited for her to enter before he drove off.

Within a few minutes, the car stopped at Skylar Villa, Abel's home. She paid her fare and got down. Her happiness increased as she opened the front gate. She never thought she would be home again and so soon too. Stepping inside the living room, she saw Abel fully dressed in his luxurious suit and was about to go out. 

Abel Copper the renowned CEO of Abcop conglomerate is impeccable perfection in every aspect. Hot and handsome as she had left him two years ago. He tilted his head and saw Nicole at the door.

"Nicole, you are home," he said, his gray eyes settled on her disheveled torso. They were cold like ever, showing no manner of surprise or excitement. 

Like always Nicole couldn't read his emotions. His frosty allure filled the room sending chills and butterflies into her stomach. Nicole's eyes lingered on his handsome face, then his lips. 

How sweet it will taste in her mouth. She imagined.

"Abel, are you already going out?" She managed to ask forcing a smile. 

However, Abel was able to see the disappointment that marred her face but that does not concern him. His mind was on something else, the papers he kept on the table 

"Yes, I was about to see you at the prison," he said and knotted his tie. 

"You wanted to visit me at the prison today?" 

Nicole couldn't believe her ears. Abel was all dressed up to visit her at the prison. This was his first time thinking of coming to visit her in the prison. 

Since she went to prison two years ago he never stopped in.  Her heart melted at his words. Could it be that he finally felt something for her? Maybe her two years of sacrifices were not in vain.

"Look, Nicole, there is something important I want to discuss with you. I wished to see you first in the prison before going to the office,  but since you are here, let's get it over with." Abel said and took the papers he neatly placed on the table and gave them to Nicole. 

"It's a divorce statement. I have already signed my name on it. You could as well sign yours so that everything would be finalized before next month,"  

His words were mean and cruel hitting Nicole hard like an atomic bomb.

Nicole was dumbstruck, she took the paper from him, her hand trembling as she stared at the content. It was indeed a divorce statement.  

Her legs suddenly become numb and threaten to collapse. She staggered backward and leaned her back on the wall using it to support herself from falling.  A sudden sharp pain strike her soul. 

Clenching her chest, her eyes fell on the place where Abel's name was neatly written down on the paper, and tears clouded her eyes.

Her heart began to beat faster as the reality sank in. Her two years of sacrifice mean nothing to Abel.

 How could he thought of ending their marriage just like that?  How could he be this cruel and unreasonable? This was not the gratitude she was expecting from him. Her mind went back to all she suffered in prison for his sake.

In the prison, Nicole was beaten and bullied by a group of female inmates. There was a day when she was forced to sleep on the cold Mable floor. 

On that day, it rained heavily, but those women showed no pity. Instead, one of them took her blanket away and poured their urine on her 

Nicole ended up getting pneumonia which she was still suffering from.

Her waistline was damaged in prison by one of the inmates. That was the day they took her food away and made her go without food for some days. 

When she was really hungry and tried to fight back. They jointly beat her up, hitting her back with a chair. Since then, Nicole suffered severe pain in her waist. She could no longer bend over without having serious pain.

 She was tortured without mercy. The scares at her back were a constant reminder of her sacrifice to Abel. But what did she get in return? 

A divorce statement.!