Chapter 1

The golden sun in the sky dazzled and blurred Nicole's sight as she stepped out of the prison gate. She placed a hand on her forehead, shielding her eyes from the scorching rays, as she waited for her vision to adjust to the bright sunlight.

She had been locked up for two long years, and now she was free. This was the first time in all that time that she had seen such bright light. 

Despite the pain she had endured in prison, she had no regrets. Her five-year sentence had been unexpectedly cut short. Thanks to the new president, who had announced the release of all female inmates who were not guilty of murder, Nicole found herself among the lucky few set free.

Nicole took a moment to survey her surroundings, the fresh air and the sight of the world outside the prison filling her with a sense of relief. Her mind wandered to her husband, Abel Copper, and a soft smile spread across her face. She couldn't wait to surprise him with her unexpected release.

"Just a few minutes, baby, and I'll be home," she whispered to herself, though her voice was weak from months of neglect.

Life in prison had changed her. She looked frail and malnourished. But none of that bothered her. She had endured the suffering for Abel, and now she was free. Soon, she would be in his arms again.

A taxi pulled up beside her and stopped.

"Need a ride?" the driver asked.

"Yeah, Mallory Avenue," she replied.

"Hop in," the lanky man in the front seat said, waiting for her to get in before he drove off.

Minutes later, the car pulled up in front of Skylar Villa, Abel’s home. Nicole paid the fare and stepped out, her heart racing with excitement. She never thought she’d be back here so soon.

As she opened the front gate and stepped into the living room, her gaze fell on Abel. He stood tall and composed, dressed in his signature luxurious suit, as though nothing had changed. He was about to head out.

Abel Copper, the renowned CEO of Abcop Conglomerate, had always been the picture of perfection. Hot, handsome, and unshakably composed. Nicole had missed him desperately. When he looked up and saw her, his eyes met hers with a cool, detached gaze.

"Nicole, you're home," he said, his gray eyes scanning her disheveled appearance without a flicker of surprise or warmth.

His frosty demeanor made her stomach flutter with both excitement and unease. She had always been unable to decipher his emotions. His presence filled the room with an air of coldness that sent chills down her spine. She couldn’t stop looking at him—his chiseled features, his lips... how sweet they would taste, she imagined.

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

Abel, noticing the faint disappointment on her face, didn’t seem to care. His thoughts were elsewhere. He reached for a pile of papers neatly stacked on the table.

"Yes, I was planning to visit you at the prison," he said, adjusting his tie as though the conversation were of little consequence.

"You wanted to visit me at the prison today?" Nicole couldn’t believe her ears. Abel was dressed and ready to visit her—this was the first time since she’d been locked away that he’d even considered it. A flicker of hope stirred in her chest.

Since her incarceration two years ago, he had never once made the effort to visit. Her heart softened at the thought. Could it be that he finally cared? Maybe her sacrifices hadn’t been in vain.

"Look, Nicole, there’s something important I need to discuss with you," Abel continued, completely unfazed by her emotional reaction. "I wanted to see you before heading to the office, but since you’re here, let’s get this over with."

He handed her the papers he’d been holding. "It’s a divorce statement. I’ve already signed it. You can sign yours and we’ll have it finalized by next month."

The words hit Nicole like an avalanche, brutal and devastating. She took the papers from him, her hand shaking as she stared at the document. It was a divorce statement.

Her world seemed to tilt as she struggled to keep her balance. She staggered backward, her back pressed against the wall for support. A sharp pain struck her chest as the reality of the situation sank in.

Clutching her heart, she looked down at the paper, her eyes drawn to the spot where Abel's name was neatly written. Tears blurred her vision, and her breath became shallow.

Her heart raced as the devastating truth became clear. All the sacrifices she had made—everything she had endured in prison for him—meant nothing to Abel.

How could he do this? How could he end their marriage so easily? Her mind raced back to the horrors of the past two years, to the torment she had suffered in prison for his sake.

In prison, Nicole had been beaten and bullied by a group of female inmates. There had been one night when she was forced to sleep on the cold marble floor while rain poured down from above. The women had shown no mercy—one of them even took her blanket and poured urine on her.

Nicole had contracted pneumonia as a result and was still suffering from it.

Her waist had been injured by one of the inmates during a brutal beating. That was the day they had taken her food away and forced her to go without for days. When she tried to fight back in hunger, they had beaten her viciously, striking her with a chair. Since then, she had been plagued by severe pain in her waist, unable to bend without agony.

The scars on her back were a constant reminder of her suffering—the sacrifices she had made for Abel. But what did she receive in return?

A divorce statement.