Chapter 1

For three years, I'd been the most obedient person in the Barlow family of Fraasaldan.

My husband, Eddie Barlow, forced me to abort our baby at three months for his first love, Phoebe Rowse.

My parents pinned my hands and handed him the abortion consent form.

They all waited for me to cry and beg, but I signed it with a smile.

They didn't know that signing that paper wasn't just the end of my baby's life. It was also the beginning of their hell.

*****

Two documents were slammed down on the cold redwood coffee table with a loud thud.

One was the abortion consent form, the other the divorce agreement.

My parents, one on each side, pinned my arms with all their strength, their nails digging into my flesh until my fingertips went numb.

My husband of three years, Eddie, stood across from me, towering above, cradling Phoebe, his first love, protectively in his arms.

Phoebe was wearing the limited-edition silk dress Eddie gave me for my birthday last year.

Her hand hovered protectively over her stomach, her gaze timidly cast downward, but the smugness at the corners of her mouth was obvious.

Eddie said, his voice cold as ice, his eyes filled with the same contempt I'd endured for three years, "Jessica, sign it.

"Phoebe is carrying my son. Your child is nothing but a mistake and won't be allowed to stay.

"I'll give you one million dollars for the divorce. That's more than enough for you to coast through the rest of your life. Don't get greedy."

My mom, Emily Terry, immediately leaned in, her spit spraying across my face.

She said, "Jessica, are you crazy? Eddie's giving you a way out. Marrying into the Barlow family is a stroke of luck for you.

"Men having kids with a mistress is normal. If you can't even swallow this, how are you supposed to be Mrs. Barlow?"

My dad, Harlan Terry, pinched me hard and snarled, "The Terry family only has what we do because of the Barlow family.

"If you don't sign today, we'll all be left out in the cold. I'll act like I never had a daughter like you, you ungrateful brat!"

They barked at me like a pack of rabid dogs closing in for the kill.

But I didn't cry or struggle.

I slowly lifted my eyes, calmly sweeping over the four faces I once gave my whole heart to, and suddenly, I smiled.

They were all stunned, clearly not expecting me to react this way.

Eddie frowned, impatience flashed in his eyes, like he thought I was pulling some stunt.

What he didn't know was that I'd been waiting for this moment for three years.

I caught on the first time he secretly sent Phoebe fifteen grand for a designer bag.

When his company was about to go under, I anonymously invested 15 million to bail him out. However, he used that money to buy Phoebe a luxury riverside condo.

That was when I started making plans.

Even today, when Eddie strutted in with Phoebe and my parents helped him force me into an abortion, it was all as I'd expected.

I even let slip to my mom that I was pregnant the day before on purpose. I wanted to see how ruthless they could get to stay in the Barlow family's good graces.

Sure enough, they didn't let me down.

Seeing me smile, my mom got even more frantic, pressing down on my hand harder. "Why are you smiling? Jessica, don't scare me. Hurry up and sign!"

"What's the rush?" I said, yanking one hand free.

They couldn't even hold me down. They never thought someone as skinny as me could have this much fight.

I picked up the pen, and with everyone staring in shock, I signed my name on the divorce agreement without a hint of hesitation.

Eddie's frown relaxed. I caught that familiar look of contempt in his eyes. It was like he was convinced I'd fall apart without him, and this was all for show.

Next, I reached for the abortion consent form, my pen hovering for a moment.

I could feel the tiny life inside me. It was my baby, already gaving heartbeat, quietly growing inside me.

I lowered my gaze. No one saw the flash of tenderness in my eyes before it quickly froze over.

I looked up at Eddie, smiling. "Eddie, are you really sure you want me to sign this?"

Eddie snapped, his patience gone, "Cut the crap. Sign it already. Don't try to play games with me. I'm not buying it."

Phoebe's eyes went red right on cue. She tugged at Eddie's sleeve, sniffling as she pretended to cry.

She said, "Eddie, let it go. Don't push her anymore. I shouldn't have come. I'll leave if that's what you want..."

"Leave? Why would you leave?" Eddie instantly wrapped his arm around her, glaring at me like he wanted to tear me apart.

He said, "Jessica, look at yourself. You're not even half as sensible as Phoebe. You're signing this, whether you want to or not!"

My parents tried to grab my hand again, but I stepped back, dodging their touch.

"Alright, I'll sign," I said.

Smiling, I pressed the pen down and signed my name on the abortion consent form.

They all breathed a sigh of relief, like they'd scored a huge victory.

Eddie picked up both documents, glanced at my signature, and snorted, clearly amused.

"That wasn't so hard, was it? Why make such a scene? You've got three days to get out of the villa. Don't let Phoebe have to look at you again."

My parents crowded around, berating me for not behaving myself, urging me to apologize to Eddie and beg for another chance at getting back together in the future.

I ignored them and walked back to my bedroom.

I didn't bother packing anything from the Barlow family. I grabbed my ID, my phone, and the broken piece of a lucky charm hanging around my neck on a red cord.

It was the only thing my late grandmother ever left me.

It used to be a whole charm. But when I turned eighteen, my parents tore it right off my neck and handed it to Eddie's pampered brat of a sister.

I spent the whole night begging them, sobbing until I was hoarse, but they locked me outside, leaving me shivering in the cold.

By morning, all I managed to salvage was this tiny, shattered piece.

From that day on, I realized I was never their daughter, just a tool for their ambitions.

I walked out the villa gates. As I closed the door behind me, the sounds of laughter and celebration still rang out behind me.

They were celebrating Phoebe's pregnancy and rejoicing that I, the eyesore, was finally out of their lives.

I pulled out my phone and called my assistant, Russell Fleming.

I said, "Spread the word. Shut down every financing deal with Starlight Tech.

"Let all our partners know Starlight Tech has a massive risk control problem. Horizon Capital isn't cleaning up its mess."

Russell paused for a moment, then answered, "Understood, Ms. Terry. I'll get right on it."

After hanging up, I glanced up at the gray sky over Fraasaldan, a cold smile curled at my lips.

The celebration for Eddie, Phoebe, and my parents would only last for today.

Starting tomorrow, their hell would officially begin.