Chapter 1

Amery felt like the world suddenly stopped spinning as she stared at the divorce papers signed by her husband.

Even though her eyes were brimming with tears, she managed to lift her gaze toward the window where Brandon stood. His tall and commanding figure almost looked godlike under the afternoon sun. Despite her blurred vision, she couldn’t deny the immense presence he carried. Even though his back was turned to her, Amery could feel that he didn’t care about how she felt.

“I’ve already signed. Don’t drag this out any longer. I want all the legal procedures finalized before Samantha returns to the Philippines,” Brandon said firmly and seriously. He remained with his back to her, his hands clasped behind him.

“Since we signed a prenuptial agreement, we won’t have any issues dividing the properties. But to avoid making you look pitiful and destitute, I’ll give you compensation. I’ll give you twenty million pesos, and you can have the villa in Palawan. I’ll explain our separation to Grandpa Simeon myself.”

Amery felt as if a dagger had been plunged into her chest upon hearing Brandon’s words.

“D-Does Grandpa Simeon know that you’re divorcing me?” Amery asked in a weak voice.

“Whether he knows or not, it doesn’t matter. It won’t change anything. I’m still divorcing you.”

Amery’s body trembled. She could barely stand, so she clung to the edge of the table for support.

“Brandon... can we... not separate?” she pleaded in a trembling voice.

Hearing this, Brandon finally turned around. He fully faced her, his expression filled with confusion.

Despite everything, Amery managed to look at her husband’s face. His thin lips, deep eyes, and sharp brows only emphasized his strikingly handsome features. She couldn’t deny that, despite everything, Brandon still made her heart race.

“Why?” Brandon asked coldly.

“B-Because... I love you.” Tears streamed down Amery’s cheeks again. “I love you so much, Brandon. I still want to be your wife even if you don’t feel anything for me~”

“I’ve had enough, Amery!” Brandon cut her off. “Don’t you realize that being with you is a punishment for me? I don’t love you.”

Amery tried to speak, but Brandon raised his hand to stop her.

“First of all, it was a huge mistake for us to get married. You knew I wasn’t on good terms with Grandpa Simeon, and you knew I loved someone else. We just couldn’t be together at the time for certain reasons. And now that the three-year period is over and Samantha is back from abroad, you need to vacate the position of Mrs. Ricafort.”

Amery lowered her head. Her tears flowed uncontrollably, dripping onto the table in front of her. She quickly wiped them away, but it was too late—Brandon had already noticed, his eyes darkening as he watched.

At that moment, Brandon’s phone rang. Seeing the name of the caller, he quickly answered the noisy device.

---

From a distance, Brandon watched Amery’s sorrowful figure. A smirk curved on his lips, mocking.

Even now, she’s still playing the obedient role for our family, he thought.

Did she really think she could change my mind about divorcing her?

"That’s ridiculous," Brandon muttered, shaking his head before turning and walking away.

Barely seated in his swivel chair, Brandon heard frantic knocking at his study room door.

"Senyorito! Senyorito!" the butler called in a panicked voice as he entered.

Brandon didn’t speak but shot him a questioning look.

"Senyorito, Senyorita Amery has left!"

Brandon stood abruptly. "Left? When?"

"Just now, Senyorito. She didn’t take anything with her except the clothes she was wearing. She left through the back door, where a black car picked her up."

Without wasting time, Brandon rushed to Amery’s room. Everything was neat and tidy, just as it had been, except for the divorce papers on the bedside table, marked with traces of her tears.

He quickly went to the window and looked outside. His brows furrowed deeply as he spotted a Rolls-Royce speeding away. It disappeared so quickly that even the car’s taillights vanished from sight.

Just moments ago, she couldn’t bear to leave me, and now she’s gone like a rabbit in flight!

Brandon felt as if Amery had played a game on him. Frustrated, he pulled out his phone and called his secretary.

"License plate AAM 916. Find out who owns that car!" he ordered.

"Yes, Mr. Ricafort," the secretary replied.

Minutes later, the secretary called back with the information.

"Sir, the car is owned by Anton Madrigal, the president of Madrigal Corporation."

Brandon was taken aback. Could it be that Amery is connected to the president of their rival company?

Impossible!

How could someone like Amery—a girl from a remote village, poor, with no notable connections or friends—be close to the eldest son of one of the wealthiest families in the country?