It all clicks.
The late night calls, the flirtings, the unusual caring with Lillian - their chuckles in bed, my parents' coldness, Elmyra's sneers. My mind replays these scenes over and over again, like a broken record.
I sit on the edge of the bed of the apartment I rented since last night, the weight of the world keeps pressing down on my shoulders.
Just as Iâm sinking deeper into the darkness of my thoughts, my phone shatters the silence. I jolt as I wipe away my tears. My hand trembles slightly as I glance at the screen. Then, my jaw clenches in anger when I see the caller IDâLillian.
âReally? You still have the guts to call me?â I hiss.
-["Listen, Hazel, it's evident where his heart lies, and frankly, your dramatics won't change that. Just gracefully accept the truth and move on, like any sensible person would."]-
Lilian says in her sweet voice, without a hint of remorse or shame.
-[âWe need to talk, Express Cafe, now.â]-
My grip on the phone tightens, my nails digging into my palm as I fight to keep my composure. I force my anger down, steeling myself for whatever lies Lillian is about to spin.
"Fool me once" I say courageously, âIf you thinkâŠâ
-[âDon't you want to know why and when your husband cheated on you?â]-
She's been my best friend long enough to know what will pinch me. She hangs up, the silence that follows echoing in the small apartment like a deafening roar.
Express Cafe is just a few minutes' drive away. I slip into a corner booth and wait, quickly smooth concealer around my swollen eyes, as I watch the door with bated breath.
Lilian comes in blushing like a woman in love, and ironically, her love has turned out to be mine.
An awkward silence ensues and we stare at our respective coffee cups for a while.
âWhy, Lillian?â I finally ask.
"Hazel, you need to face the truth. Carter loves me, not you. He's only with you because he wants an heir, a baby. Once he gets what he wants from you, he'll leave you for me."
"Is that so?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly despite my best efforts to maintain my composure.
A very faint smile plays at the corners of Lilianâs lips that she tries so hard to hide by tilting her head down as she reaches into her bag and produces her phone. With a few taps of her finger, she turns the screen towards me, revealing a string of text messages between her and Carter.
"He's been seeing me behind your back, Hazel," Lilian says, her voice holding a tinged of a smug satisfaction. "He's been telling me everything. How he can't stand being with you, how he's only staying with you for appearanceâs sake. He's using you, and you're too blind to see it."
My breath dries in my throat as I read the messages.
The Carter in the text messages is nothing like the husband I knew. I can tell by his texts that he is happy, which makes my heart ache even more.
âBut what does that have to do with why you betrayed me? You were my best friend,â I say, trying not to show how much these messages hurt me.
âAt first we were friends, but then I realized I could never really respect you. The way you let people walk all over you...Iâm sorry but itâs just pathetic. And then I stayed close to you so I could be near Carter,â she replies.
âHe never loved you, Iâm always his true love. He met me first. â she continues.
I swallow a lump in my throat and quietly take a deep breath.
âHow long has this been going on?â I ask.
âPretty much since the beginning. A few months into your marriage, maybe,â she says without remorse.
My head is reeling with the idea that Carter has been cheating on me for so long. Iâm shocked that Lillian has such a mean streak. Sheâs never my friend to begin with.
How could I have let these kinds of people into my life, into my heart?
Just then I hear the door jingle, prompting me to look up. To my shock, Carter appears.
âYou called Carter?â I ask Lillian in a horrified tone.
âYou two really need to talk. You need to think about your life choices, accept the reality and it's good for all of us.â she replies snidely.
She gets up to leave and Carter takes her place in the opposite chair.
"Come home with me. We had a good time, didn't we? We can still live the life we had before. Itâs not like you donât enjoy the things we do together,â he says.
He tries to run his hand up my arm but I slap him away.
âDonât touch me. I only enjoyed them when I thought I was the only one you were doing it with!â I whisper between my gritted teeth.
"I'm the only one who can stand you in bed, you know how boring you used to be in bed? I made you moan over and over. You know you still want me..."
He stares at me with those cold eyes. The eyes I once loved. Heâs finally stopped pretending.
Itâs all been an act. I see that now. Carter changes his personality to suit his needs. He manipulates people to get what he wants. He manipulated me before and heâs trying to do it again!
I say nothing, trying to keep my anger in check.
âI donât know why you are fighting this so hard. Most women would die to be in your place. Theyâd be very happy to get even the tiniest scrap from me,â
He pauses, waiting for my reply. But I keep my silence.
âYou agreed to my terms. I have your signature on the prenuptial agreement to prove it. So get over yourself and fulfill your duty to me. Then you can go on about your sad little life, while I rise to the top and make my family proud,â he boasts.
âDid you ever love me?â I ask.
"Love is too strong of a word.â He laughs out loud as if he has heard something ridiculous. âYou have good breeding, your parents assured me like you would be an obedient wife, and all along you've done well. Why don't you keep it up? Come home now, before I run out of patience."
Heâs never loved me. His tone reminds me of the new racehorse he bought last month. A new, premium racehorse, presentable, brings him victories and can be bred to produce foals again. He never sees me as a wife, or even as a person.
âNot a chance in hell,â I say proudly.
âRemember your prenup? If you don't bear me children, you will be ruined. Your family will be in debt for the rest of their lives. Don't you dare try to leave me.â His pupils dilate like that of a wild animal's, and he chokes me with his hand.
I can barely breathe, I can feel heâs serious about hurting me, this man I had loved is literally taking my breath away.
âIâm leaving you, one way or anotherâŠ." With what strength I have left I try to remove his hand and finish the sentence with the last of my breath.
My peripheral vision sees that people are already whispering and looking over at us, and some even take out their phones and start taking pictures of us.
âHow are youâŠâ He growls, low and dangerous.
He notices the look in the crowd's eyes, and I'm betting he wonât dare make a scandal like domestic abuse in public if he wants to remain reputable. He stares at me with anger in his eyes.
He then lets go and I can finally breathe heavily. I cough, calling his bluff. He finally breaks the stare and leaves in a huff.
The look on his face is absolutely worth it. I may have to pay the consequences later. But for now, I feel free for the first time in my life.
I will leave Carter, no matter the cost.
CHAPTER 4: Read your contract - This should be on my tombstone.I dug out my prenup from when papa told me not to worry about anything, that they would protect me and all I had to do was sign it, and so I did. But now, I realize that every conditioning of this prenup is working against me.My parents sold me into marriage, and theyâll be furious with me for getting a divorce. Theyâll be bankrupt and vulnerable to attacks without Carterâs protection. âIf you want a divorce, you wonât get a penny from me. You will no longer be under my protection. Think twice, Hazel.âThose are Carter's words, which are burned in my memory.I just wanna brush off the agreement and his threat by not thinking too much about them. But then, they start to haunt me, making me understand the realness of it all. Escaping isnât a possibility, and Carter proves thatâŠThe rain pours as I stand on the doorstep of my rented house, the water mingles with the tears I try so hard to hold back.âYour husband's men t
CHAPTER 5:Divorce is never as easy as I thought it would be.-[âIâm calling to inform you that Mr. Thorne has decided to NOT take your case. We can recommend good divorce lawyers if neededâŠ.â]- The womanâs tone is cool and reserved over the phone.Confusion clouds my thoughts, and questions race through my mindâwhy would he turn me away? Is he busy? Or does he find my case not worthy of his time?I quickly rush to the law firm, hoping to personally meet and talk to Marius Throne, but Iâm told by his secretary that appointments with Marius Throne are currently lined up for a month from now.So, heâs busy. Even so,... Iâm still hoping that heâll have a change of heart and accept my divorce case if only he can understand my situation. Itâs a good case, hard case to be exact - my prenup agreement is harsh and my husband was caught cheating red-handed. This may pique his interest.The bustling lobby seems to shrink in an instant as I, lost in my thoughts, collide with someone in a shar
What happened that day was like a soap melodrama."Don't you dare interfere," Carter warns as he raises an eyebrow, his voice laced with hostility, his arrogance refuses to falter. But Marius remains unfazed, his voice calm and resolute. "I have to," he counters. "Mrs. Whitlock is here to see me. Any legal advice regarding her, kindly proceeds through me."You'd think after this I'll have a solid divorce lawyer.If only that were the case.Marius Thorne did not say ânoâ to my case, but he did not say âyesâ either.Two days have lapsed and still, thereâs no call from him. I consider the possibility that he may just be busy, but if I donât receive a phone call until tomorrow, Iâll go back to the Counsel Commanders Law Firm myself.I try to be optimistic, but beneath that optimism lies a gnawing fearâwhat if Marius Thorne can't, or worse, won't help me in the end?I can't bear to contemplate the idea of being turned away, left with no recourse and nowhere to turn to again. I glance at
MARIUSâ POV:I never expected to see such fire in Hazelâs eyes, hidden beneath that soft, desperate plea for help. Sheâs stronger than I give her credit for, braver than I could have imagined. Hazelâs feign composed facade is completely exposed after unleashing a fierce slap across Carter's face. Soon after, she storms out, leaving behind a stunned, silenced crowd.Carter is frozen in humiliation. He had it coming, treating her with such disrespect and deceit. Maybe this slap will finally knock some sense into him.But, after sensing that Carter wonât make any effort to seek Hazel's explanation or apology, I follow Hazel outside, finding her huddled in the corner of the porch, her body wracking while sheâs retching. I approach her cautiously, my handkerchief already in hand."Hazel, you okay?" I call softly.Hazel takes a moment to compose herself before turning to face me, tears streaking down her cheeks, her hand trembling as it covers her mouth. âThank you,â she murmurs as she ac
HAZELâS POV:"May I know first why you want a divorce?"The lawyerâs voice breaks through my reverie, pulling me back to the present. These days I've been wondering what on earth Marius Thorne means. If he is completely unwilling to help me, why did he refer me to this law firm?I hand Mr. Salazar an envelope filled with my prenuptial agreement, marriage certificates, and other contracts I signed as Carterâs wife.âI caught my husband and his mistress - my friend, red-handed," I reply without the tiniest hint of embarrassment.Mr. Salazarâs eyes flick over the papers, his expression thoughtful. "Since Mr. Thorne personally recommended you to me, then I'll be happy to help you. "âAre you positive this is what you really want?â he asks. âYes,â I say. Iâm so tired of people questioning my decisions and underestimating me. âGood. Now I need to ask you a question, and donât take offense. Itâs important you tell us the entire truth so we can plan out our case. We donât want any surpri
âWeâre not looking for a housewife.â Their words are like daggers piercing my already fragile confidence.For days, Iâve been on a fruitless quest, knocking on the doors of countless companies, only to be met with polite refusals, sympathetic smiles and sometimes rude and inappropriate criticisms. Each rejection letter weighs heavily on my heart.Iâve never finished college nor even experienced working for any kind of job, my dreams were put on hold when I fell in love with Carter. He has promised me the world, but instead, he has left me with nothing but shattered illusions and a mountain of regrets. Speaking of Carter, some of the companies Iâve applied to know him. The interviewers whispered among themselves, their eyes darting nervously, and sometimes mockingly, in my direction, as if Iâm some kind of pariah tainted by association.Now, as I face the harsh reality of my situation, I can't help but curse myself for ever believing in him.***********Express Cafe is my last shot.
Despite the inappropriate advancement of the manager, I accepted the job. Iâm desperate to end the cycle of rejection and despair, to get my chance of independence and to prove that Iâm more than just a housewife.Little do I know, however, that my journey will soon take a dark turn.The Express Cafe bustles with the morning rush. Iâve landed a job as a barista. As I steam milk and pull espresso shots, I find myself the target of unwanted advances from both the manager, and the owner. When no one is looking, theyâd brush their c.rotch area against my b.utt, their fingers touching my exposed legs, sending a shiver of disgust through my bones.I feel trapped in another nightmare thatâs not easy to escape. And it doesn't end there. The manager, sensing my subtle defiance on his advances, would take revenge by humiliating me in front of my colleagues. He would nitpick every move Iâm making, correcting me with a sneer even when thereâs nothing to correct.My anger simmers beneath the sur
CARTERâS POV:My wife seems like a different person now.How can I make her see reason when sheâs so damn stubborn? My threats arenât working, even bankruptcy doesnât faze her anymore. I need to find a way to reach her heart again.A bottle of beer dangled loosely from my fingertips, my other hand absentmindedly massaging my cheek where the sting of Hazel's slap still lingers, days after the fact. The memory of her angry and pained face flashes before my eyes again.âItâs just a kiss,â I hiss.Weâre married, for crying out loud! Her need to humiliate me in front of the other families was evident in every fiery word she spat. To add insult to injury, she found herself a divorce lawyer â Marius Thorne, of all people!Marius is known for his ruthlessness in the courtroom, his unyielding determination to win at any cost. I drain the last dregs of beer from the bottle and set it down on the bedside table with a hollow thud. Rising from the couch, I make my way to the bathroom.I sink int
Being the worldâs richest and powerful couple is an honor, but comes with it the burden of attracting possible new jealous and evil individuals. To prepare for this, Marius and I put the countryâs Chief of police and the General of the army on our payroll in exchange for their protection of our familyâs well-being. Additionally, we befriend some politicians here and abroad by funding their projects and election campaigns. We also keep our contact with the hacker and the cosmetic artist. Though weâre not yet needing their help again, weâre sending them and their familiesâ gifts every once in a while - a way to show our appreciation for the skills and to keep them loyal to us. Everything is going well. Except,... My relationships with my former and my current mothers-in-law. They remain adamant in forgetting our pasts. Even so, we maintain our respect for each other unlike before. Plus, they always visit their grandchildren to spend some time with them. âElmyra,â I begin, trying to
Charles Guo Committed S.uicide Behind Bars! - Thatâs the headline of every news outlet. Iâm shocked that heâd do this to himself. But to make sure that this isnât just a lie so that he can escape jail, I head to the morgue myself. And there he is - white and cold, with a chain mark on his neck. Thereâs a little guilt in me, but thereâs also a huge relief. Suzy and the others who vouched for him in the courtroom are now in jail for lying, awaiting their trials. The second DNA results of Rain and his grandparents turn out to be positive, and the one Suzy presented to the court is proven to be fabricated. This, hiding Rainâs fatherâs death from the law, and hiring my former bodyguards to become their spies and kill my family, add to the charges sheâll be facing, making it difficult for her to pose bail. âP-please, Hazel⊠Iâm sorry I chose my husband over you. He threatened me, thatâs why I have no choice,â she cries, clutching the bars of her cell.I raise an eyebrow. âYou didnât
My tears continue to cascade from my eyes, as I chase after Marius, whoâs on a stretcher and being rushed to the emergency room. âMaâam, you canât enter,â the doctor says as she shuts the door in my face. I sink to my knees and clutches my tightening chest. Oh God! Please, save Marius! Donât take him from me! Hours pass, but the emergency doors remain closed. Thereâs no update about Mariusâ situation so far. Betty has arrived too, panicking and sobbing, which only makes me even more apprehensive. The nurses help her to calm down by giving her some medications. Then I sit beside her, hoping to give and get comfort. But,... âIf I lose my son too, I will kill myself, and will blame my death on you,â she says, coldly. I stop myself from responding. This isnât the right time and place to argue. Finally, the doctor steps out of the emergency room, his expression grave. âThe patient is in a coma and will be under monitoring. The bullet has pierced through his left lung, but itâs
A week has lapsed,...And finally, the judgment day has arrived! Will fate back us up? Or will it vouch for Charles instead? Inside the courtroom, Charles looks calm, a complete turnaround from how he was when heâs in our basement. Sitting on the bench behind him is Amber, Rain and Suzy. I saw those three earlier, arriving separately. The media were all over them, throwing questions about the scandal surrounding their familyâs odd relationships. They ignored them. And just like Charles, they all look calmer than how I was expecting them to be. When the trial begins, the first case thatâs discussed is the m.urder of Rainâs biological father. Rainâs grandparents get on the witness stand. Their emotions rise as they state how they remember their son when he was still alive. âHe just suddenly came home one day with groceries and shopping bags that we knew he canât afford, given the salary heâs getting in Mr. Guoâs factory,â the father says. âSoon, he brought us a brand new house
HAZELâS POV: Itâs proven that Amber Stark canât be trusted. But, what about Suzy and Rain Guo, will they side with me and Marius? Marius and I, disguised as Crystal and Chris, meet Suzy and Rain in a high-end cafe. âGive us the list of Charlesâ illegal businesses, and we promise that all of his wealth will be yours,â I say. Suzy responds, âBelieve it or not, my husband doesnât have any illegal businesses, so thereâs no way you can lawfully freeze his access to his wealth.â It seems like we canât trust these two as well. If only our hacker can find these pieces of information, then we wonât need to bargain with them. But our hacker has limitations too. Suddenly, Suzyâs aura shifts! âHowever, I can give you the identity of Rainâs biological father. You can use his death against Charles,â she says. Thatâs a help, but that's not enough to freeze Charlesâ assets. Charles may still be able to utilize his wealth to manipulate the authorities. After giving us the details of Rainâs
AMBERâS POV: Crystal Wuâs offer is tempting, but she and her husband canât be trusted. Plus, Charles wonât be defeated that easily. I call Charles through my phone since he hasnât come back home yet. When he picks up, he sounds a little more enthusiastic than usual. Even when heâs celebrating something huge, he isnât like this. âWeird,â I murmur, then continue with a clearer voice. âBe careful. Crystal Wu is planning to destroy your finances, and sheâs trying to use me against you.â His enthusiasm doesnât falter. -[âIâll be careful. Thanks for letting me know.â]- He then drops the call, and I canât reconnect with him when I try to call him again. Frustrated, I send her a text message: -[Where are you anyway? I need s.ex!]- But, thereâs no reply. I meet Rain and Suzy, who are having their lunch in the dining area. Then I tell them about Crystal Wuâs scheme. âShe wants me to know all Charlesâ illegal businesses, so the government can freeze all of his wealth just like what hap
HAZELâS POV: Itâs not easy to harden our hearts, but Marius and I must do it if we donât want our enemies to get the better of us again. We already got access to our bodyguardsâ and house staffâs past and current call and text message logs, and we identified five Guoâs spies in total. To stop them from continuously betraying us, we target their weaknesses - their loved ones. We gathered the traitors inside the study, and took their phones and their weapons. At first theyâre confused until we explained why.âYouâre spies of Charles Guo and youâll pay for that big time,â Marius said coldly.Stunned, their faces paled and their bodies clenched. But none dared to deny it.âWe have your family members, hidden in a place where you canât contact or see them. If you want them to stay safe, you must follow every single thing weâll demand from you,â I added with equal coldness.Alarmed, they tremble. One of them even kneeled down and begged,âPlease, my family has nothing to do with my bet
âTake off all the CCTVs now!â I roar. Frantically, the maids and the bodyguards uninstall all the CCTVs in every corner of my estate. It may lessen the safety of my home, but I canât risk giving my enemies more of our privacy! Once theyâre done, I turn to Suzy and clutches her shoulders furiously.âI didnât realize that thereâs CCTV in that hospital room!â Suzy explains, trembling in fear. âRegardless! You shouldnât have told the Thornes about our familyâs affair!â I hiss, before pushing her onto the sofa. Then I turn to Amber, whoâs fearfully hiding behind Rain. I wanna lash out at her too, but I stop myself. Even I didn't think that the CCTVs in my home used for our safety would be hacked to shove us into danger.Over the next few days, the mainstream and social media explode with news about our unconventional family relationships. We have become the laughing stock of the entire country. I canât get out of my estate out of humiliation, canât even accept an interview or a new
CHARLESâ POV: Thereâs nothing! Crystal and Chris Wuâs cellphones canât provide anything thatâll connect them to Marius and Hazel Thorne! I turn to Rain and ask, âAre you sure you donât know them?â Rain replies, âThey invested one billion dollars to my new business venture, but I donât know them personally. And I also donât remember ever inviting them to my prenuptial party.â Irritation courses through me. âYouâre so s.tupid to not meet your investors in person! Iâm not gonna be surprised why until now you canât build connections on your own!â âAnd now we canât be sure if we can trust those two or not!â Rain shrugs, unbothered in showing his disinterest. I canât believe that Iâm squandering so much wealth for this d.umbass! If only Iâm able to produce my own son, I would never let him exist! Amber approaches me and seductively rubs her palms across my chest area. âHoney, Iâm scared. Everybody is talking about us now. Shall we just confess our affair?â she asks without any hin