Chapter one

"Where's Ethan?" Camellia asked, her brows knitting together as she glanced around the glittering ballroom. The crowd was alive with laughter and conversation, glasses clinking under the dazzling chandeliers of the Crawford mansion.

Sophie forced a smile, ignoring the pang of disappointment that tugged at her chest. "I'm sure he's just a step away to receive a call."

Her best friend gave her a disapproving hum. Everyone else, but Sophie could see that Ethan wasn't worth all her love, time and efforts. Even when Cameilla tried opening her eyes to it, Sophie would always defends him.

"Love is sacrifice." Sophie would always say. A word she had used more than necessary in comforting herself.

Sophie barely noticed Camellia expression as she excused herself. The hem of her emerald gown swishing around her ankles. Today was supposed to be perfect for her and Ethan. She had spent weeks planning this anniversary celebration —a party to honor three years of marriage, her love and devotion on full display for the world to see.

But Ethan was no where to be found.

She moved through the throngs of guests, offering polite smile and excuses as she searched for her husband. Panic bubbled beneath the surface, but she shoved It away. 

"He's probably handling work," she reassured herself, even though the nagging doubts whispered otherwise.

Finally, Sophie reached the grand staircase leading to their private rooms. A faint unease curled up in her stomach as she ascended the stairs.

Then she heard it. 

Soft, muffled moans carried through the air, growing louder as she approached their bedroom. Sophie froze, her hands hovering over the door knob.

No..... It can't be. This can't be happening. Sophie shook her head vigorously as if that would deny the reality happening before her.

The moans grew louder, punctuated by a loud throaty cry that made her blood run cold.

With trembling and sweaty hands, she pushed the door open.

There, on their matrimonial bed, Ethan was tangled with Belinda. Her arms were draped over his shoulders, her head throw back in mock ectasy, while Ethan thrust into  her, with an intensity that made Sophie stomach churn.

"Ethan," Sophie whispered, her voice barely audible over the roaring in her ears. 

The sound of her voice snapped them out of their pleasureable moments. Belinda smirked, lazily adjusting the sheet to cover herself while, Ethan turn to face his wife with an air of irritation, not guilt.

"Sophie," he said, his tone as casual as if she had caught him reading a book instead. "I didn't expect you to come up here."

Her heart heaved with betrayal, shattering into pieces as tears streamed down her face. "What are you doing?" She asked, her voice trembling with anger and pain. "On our bed. On our anniversary."

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his disheavealed hair. "Do we really have to do this now?"

Sophia blinked, her fury mounting. “You’re asking me that? After what I just walked in on?”

Belinda chuckled, leaning against the pillow as if she owned the place. "Oh, come on, Sophie. Don't act so surprised. Do you really think you can keep a man like Ethan happy?"

Sophia’s gaze snapped to Ethan, tears streaming down her face. “I gave up everything for you. My career, my whole life—I dedicated my everything to you. And this is how you repay me?”

Ethan shrugged, walking to the dresser as if the conversation bored him. "I was going to wait until tomorrow but since you are here....."

He pulled out a envelope and handed it over to her. 

Sophie stared at it, her hands trembling as she unfolded the content. Her heart plummeted.

"Divorce papers," she whispered.

Ethan nodded, his expression as cold and unfeeling as ever. "Let's not drag this out, Sophie. You've served your purpose. It's time to move on."

Her entire body shook with rage and disbelief. “Served my purpose?” she repeated, her voice rising. “I stood by you through everything."

Ethan's lips curled into a smirk. "And I appreciated it. But this marriage has run it's course. Sign it and be a good wife one last time."

Sophie stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. The man she had loved for three years was a stranger. A cruel, heartless stranger. She had loved him, build her life around him.

The insults from his family? She swallowed them down.

The sleepless night that she waited for him? She endured them.

The loneliness? She buried it under the facade of perfection.

She even befriended Belinda, Ethan’s ex-fiancée, swallowing her insecurities every time Belinda’s name slipped into a conversation or a photo of them together surfaced. 

She hid her identity as a Bennett— a dynasty whose name alone can shake the business world and also sacrificed her career as one of the youngest and brightest business analyst in the country because she didn't want him to be overshadowed.

Although their marriage wasn't rosy, but she had believed that one day, he would come to see everything and eventually love her. But it was crystal clear now: even if she set herself up on fire for him, he wouldn't even notice the flame.

"Ethan Crawford," her voice steady, despite the tears streaming down her face. "You'll regret this."

With a shaky hand, she retrieved a pen on the desk, and scrambled her signature on the pen. She dropped the papers onto the floor, turning on her heel and walking out of the room, her head held high. Ethan and Belinda mocking laughter trailed behind her as she walked away, tears blurring her vision.

Descending the stairscase, she signaled to the DJ to stop the music. "Everyone," she began, her voice cutting through the murmurs."Thanks for coming. The party is over."

Confusion rippled through the crowd as guests started to leave.

Camellia walked towards Sophie. "What happened?" She asked concern etched in her voice.

Sophie couldn't find her voice, instead she leaned into her friend's embrace, sobbing silently while Sophie, confused but supportive, patted her back gently.

Sophie's phone buzzed in her hand. Pulling away, Sophie glanced at the message from her mother.

"Sophie, how long will you keep humiliating yourself for that man. Come back home now. It isn't too late."

"Cameilla," she called softly. "It's time to go home."

"Home?" Cameilla repeated."But I can't leave you in this state, and not without you telling me what happened," she added, thinking Sophie was referring to her.

"Not you, Cam. It's time for me to go back to my family."

"Oh.... Did something happen with Ethan? But....why would you go to the countryside. What would you be doing there?"

"I'm not going to the countryside," Cameilla took a deep breath. "I'm going to the Burnett's mansion."

Camellia blinked the name not registering at first. Then her eyes widened.  "You mean, the same famous Burnett?"

Sophie nodded, her resolve hardening. "They are my family."

Camellia’s jaw dropped, her gasps echoing in the now empty ballroom. "But you always said that last name was just a coincidence." Why did you hide that?"

"Because...." Sophie's voice trembled, raw with pain. "I wanted people to love me for me—not for my family's name or wealth."