Chapter 1

"Sign these papers," Edward Lancaster said, dropping the divorce agreement onto the wooden desk. "You'll get ten buildings and five percent of the shares. Take the money and get out of my sight."

His gaze was cold and steady, and it fixed on me without any warmth.

My hands trembled as I lifted the documents. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I looked at him, my voice breaking. "Edward, how can you be so cruel? I don't care about the money. I only want you."

I cried until my face was wet, biting my lip as if my heart were shattered.

But inside, I was thinking, 'Great! Ten buildings and five percent of the shares. This marriage is finally over. Tonight I'm going to the Starlight Club and hiring ten tall, muscular guys.

'No, ten isn't enough. Let's make it twenty. I'll order champagne, light fireworks, and celebrate being single again.'

Then, with a sharp crack, Edward snapped his custom-made pen, which was worth a six-figure sum, in half.

Ink sprayed over his hand, but he didn't glance at it. He only kept staring at me.

His stare made my skin crawl, so I quickly squeezed out a couple of tears and reached for a tissue, pretending to wipe his hand. "Edward, what happened to your hand? Does it hurt?"

"Don't touch me," Edward said with disgust, pulling away from my hand. He grabbed a wet wipe and cleaned his hand slowly. "Julia, cut the disgusting act. Sign the papers and get out."

I sniffled, looked all pitiful, grabbed the pen, and scribbled my name without hesitation.

'I must hurry. Once I sign, I'll be rich. Edward, you frigid, useless block of ice. I've put up with you long enough. You always have that stone-cold expression. It serves you right to be single for life,' I thought.

Edward's face darkened instantly, veins popping on his forehead. He sprang to his feet and snatched the divorce papers out of my hand.

"Since you've signed, we're doing this by the book. The procedures will take thirty days to complete. For the next thirty days, you're still Mrs. Lancaster. You have to abide by the Lancaster family's rules," he said, his voice icy.

I was stunned and forgot to fake my tears. "What do you mean?"

Edward sneered and pulled my passport out of the drawer.

"I'm saying, for the next thirty days, you're not going anywhere. I'm keeping your passport. If you step outside Rosewood Estate, you can kiss those ten buildings goodbye. There won't be a single dollar for you," he said.

'Damn you, Edward! My gigolos, champagne, and freedom... What the hell is wrong with you? We're divorced, but you're still holding my passport. Are you nuts?' I thought.

"Edward, you can't do this," I cried out, reaching for my passport.

He shifted to the side, making me miss and flop onto the couch, looking totally ridiculous.

"Watch me," Edward said, looking down at me with that icy stare.

Then, the study door swung open.

"Oh my, what's going on here? Julia, did you make Edward mad again?" a woman said.

It was Adeline Lancaster, Edward's mother. My scheming sister, the fake heiress, Chloe Foster, was trailing behind her.

Chloe was dressed in a pure white dress, leaning against Adeline, looking all delicate and fragile. "Julia, did you make Edward mad again? He works so hard every day. Can't you be a little more considerate?"

Her voice was so sweet that it made me want to puke.

'Considerate, my ass! He's nothing but a stingy cheapskate. Chloe, you scheming bitch, drop the fake nice act already. If you weren't always whispering poison in Adeline's ear, would I be getting kicked out?' I thought.

Adeline snorted, glaring at me with pure disgust. "Considerate? If she knew how to be considerate, she wouldn't have filled this house with so much drama.

"Edward, now that she's signed the papers, kick her out already. Watching her in that sorry state makes me want to puke."

I kept my head down, acting meek and helpless. My fingers were twisting the hem of my dress.

'Don't get too cocky, old hag. If it weren't for those ten buildings, I'd have yanked your wig off ages ago. You think your son's some hotshot? Please, he's impotent,' I thought.

Edward's mouth twitched hard. He took a deep breath, forcing down the fury in his eyes. "Mom, the procedures will take thirty days to complete. She has to stay here for the next thirty days."

Adeline's face twisted in annoyance. "What? She has to stay here for another thirty days? Chloe's about to move in. Having her here is such an eyesore."

Chloe, looking all gentle and understanding, took Adeline's hand. "Adeline, it's fine. Julia is still Mrs. Lancaster, after all. I don't mind being ignored for a while."

I thought, 'Seriously? Are you acting all aggrieved? You're the fake heiress who stole my spot as the real Foster heiress for twenty years, and now you want to steal my husband too.

'I don't really want him, sure. But could you be any more shameless? As soon as I get my money, the first thing I'm doing is hiring an army of trolls to ruin you online.'

I looked up at Edward, my eyes rimmed with tears. "Edward, do I really have to leave?"

"Shut up and get back to your room," Edward said, rubbing his temples like looking at me was enough to give him a headache.

I bit my lip, tears brimming in my eyes, and turned away, sniffling like the most pitiful woman ever.

'Fine, I'll leave. After these thirty days, let's see who the real loser is. Chloe, you'd better brace yourself. In thirty days, I'm gonna drown you in dollars,' I thought.