Chapter 1

Nine o’clock, night time.

Silvia Alberich was just about to pour herself a glass of water after tucking her daughter into bed when the door was kicked open abruptly.

Her husband, Ryan Pierce, barged in angrily and dashed straight towards her.

He grabbed her by the collar, his eyes red with fury as he yelled, "Did you go see Mariah today? What the hell did you say to her?"

Silvia remained calm in the face of his heated questioning. "Yeah, I told her I'd expose her if she keeps ruining our family, and that I'd make sure everyone knows she's a shameless mistress of yours!"

"You evil witch!" Ryan roared, flinging Silvia violently.

Silvia’s slender body was absolutely no match for his strength; she stumbled backwards before falling. As her tailbone collided with the cold marble floor, warm tears of pain immediately started forming within her eyes.

Ryan couldn’t care less about her condition; instead, he loomed over her menacingly, warning her with a harsh tone. “Do you know she’s been admitted into the hospital from a drug overdose? If anything were to happen to her, I swear I’ll make you pay!”

He rushed out the door; Silvia sobbed silently to herself, alone with her thoughts.

‘Am I wrong for protecting my marriage?’

Mariah Sommers had always been the one living in Ryan’s heart. She was Ryan’s first love, and Silvia knew about her existence even before they got married.

Silvia didn’t seem to mind this at all. Mainly due to the fact that Mariah lived overseas during her entire marriage with Ryan. That, and she was confident her sincerity would move Ryan’s heart. She simply thought it was just a matter of time for him to love her the way she loved him.

However, she couldn’t lie to herself any longer, not after what she had witnessed a few days ago.

She was attending a party the other day, acting as Ryan’s plus-one. Turning the corner around the toilets, she noticed Ryan and Mariah hugging each other in the distance.

“Ryan, you’re the one I love the most!”

“They forced me to break up with you back then, and made me date your brother instead! I had my reasons. I didn’t have a choice!”

“I don’t care if you're married! I don’t even mind being your mistress! All I want is to be with you! Nothing else matters.”

“I really, really do love you, Ryan. I missed you the whole time we were apart…”

Mariah was practically wailing in Ryan’s arms, whereas he remained silent. Though he was a married man, he didn’t push her away despite her making advances on him.

Silvia, on the other hand, felt a sharp pain in her chest; she knew full well that her husband wasn’t rejecting his first love. In her point of view, Ryan’s silence meant he had already made the decision to abandon her and their daughter. He was ready to open up his arms and welcome Mariah back into his life.

That was the reason Silvia looked for Mariah earlier. She couldn’t possibly just sit back when another woman was professing undying love to her husband, let alone the fact that the woman said she didn’t mind being his mistress.

Ryan’s previous actions instantly crushed Silvia’s suffering fragile heart, the heart that once loved him so.

‘So is it my fault that Mariah overdosed? Did he really have to call me a witch?’

‘And what’s he going to do to me if something bad happens to Mariah? A life for a life?’

Silvia stayed on the floor, her sorrowful sobs slowly turning into soft laughter; as if she had gone mad.

Seeing how the man was out all night, it was quite obvious to her that he was by Mariah’s side at the hospital.

The next morning, Silvia sent her daughter to kindergarten as her usual gentle self. After that, she headed back home to pack her things.

Since that day was her mother-in-law’s birthday, Silvia decided to bring up divorce during the celebration, in front of all their family and friends. She figured this was the best way to leave Ryan, as she won’t be giving herself any room for regret by being upfront.

She wouldn’t ask for anything except custody of their daughter, which was why she only had one luggage containing several pieces of clothing and some important documents.

Time reached 5.30 PM. Ryan returned home with a hostile expression, getting ready for his mother’s birthday celebration.

When he entered the bedroom, he found Silvia doing her eyeliner at her dressing table. She was clad in a vivid, bright red dress.

Seeing how nonchalant she was infuriated Ryan beyond anything. Anger colored his tone as he snarled at her, “How are you still in the mood to do your makeup?”

Mariah got her stomach pumped last night, and was in an extremely weak state. In comparison, his wife was dolling herself up to the point she could seduce an entire country.

Silvia put down her eyeliner with a smile, replying calmly, “Why wouldn’t I? Today’s your mother’s birthday. Of course I have to clean myself up.”

It was their last day as a married couple as well, so she naturally wanted to bid her goodbyes while looking her best.

True to her intentions, her makeup was rather bold. As she turned her head to reply, the coldness in her eyes was clear for Ryan to see.

Unable to contain himself, he scoffed disdainfully, “No matter how much makeup you put on, it won’t hide your toxic personality.”

In the past, Silvia would immediately start sobbing if he spat harsh words at her. It was something Ryan despised more than anything.

He assumed she was merely playing an act, as if she were always the damsel in distress. If she were as pitiful as she made herself seem, she wouldn’t have slept with him while he was drunk, nor use a child to coerce him into an unwanted marriage.

On the contrary, Silvia didn’t look the slightest bit hurt. Instead, she gave him a cocky smile. “How am I toxic? Has your little lover died? Or has she fallen into a coma?”

Silvia’s choice of words were cruel and simply insulting to him. In a fit of sheer rage, Ryan grabbed her viciously by the neck. “Silvia Alberich!”

‘Did this woman hit her head? How could she wish for Mariah’s death?’ He was incensed.

Despite suffocating from his painful grip, Silvia continued mocking him. “I dare you to kill me right now. It’s about time you get your happy ending with Sommers, anyway.”

Ryan could feel his veins popping; he couldn’t understand the sudden change in her attitude. She used to be soft spoken and modest, so he didn’t know where this bitterness came from.

His eyes were fixated on her cherry lips, then moved downwards to her eye-catching dress. The strapless design complemented her fair smooth skin well.

Taking a small gulp, he let go of her neck. Right after, he pinned her to the bed behind them with both arms.

Silvia was alarmed by the way she was being treated. She screamed, “What are you doing?!”

Ryan smirked, stripping her down while replying nastily, “What else can I do? I’ll just have to teach you a lesson so you know your place.”

Color drained from Silvia’s face. She struggled with all her might, still screaming at the top of her lungs. “Let go of me, Pierce!”

“Are you insane? We still have to attend your mother’s birthday party!”

All her screams fell on deaf ears, especially with how furious Ryan was. His control freak tendencies only grew stronger as she persisted in retaliating.