Chapter 1

Julieta Summers walked out of the detention center and went straight home. The first thing she did was hand Emerson Hensley the divorce papers.

"Emerson, I want a divorce," she said. "Since we lost the baby, there's no custody battle to worry about. The lawyers can handle dividing the assets. I'm not asking for anything more than what's mine.

"After signing the papers and waiting for the finalization, we are done."

Julieta's eyes were hollow, her voice flat and emotionless as she spoke.

The moment Julieta finished, Emerson didn't even bother responding. He shot her a quick, dismissive glance and scrawled his signature on the papers.

While signing, he was still cooing at Lilian Adams on the phone. "Your stomach still hurting? Hang on, I'll be right down to get you."

"Okay, okay, I won't hang up. I'm here with you," Emerson murmured soothingly.

After signing, he grabbed his coat and rushed out. Right before leaving, he finally glanced at Julieta, barely sparing her a look. "You're fresh out of holding. Go clean yourself up.

"From now on, leave the contracts in the study. Don't bother bringing them to me one by one. It's a hassle.

"Oh, and Lilian's back. I'm heading downstairs to get her now. She'll be staying with us, same as before.

"I don't want anything like that poisoning incident happening again. Understood?"

Even after Emerson walked out, Julieta stared at the divorce papers, lost in thought and almost amused by the sheer absurdity of it all.

Five years of marriage, and Emerson couldn't even be bothered to notice it was ending. He was more worried about warning her not to hurt the other woman.

Julieta figured there was no point in dwelling on it. The ending wouldn't change, and he never cared anyway.

She tucked the papers away and dialed a number.

"Ms. Summers. Have you made your decision?" A man's deep voice answered quickly.

"Mr. Owens, I accept your offer. The acquisition of my apothecary's formulas and my joining your company," Julieta said. "But I'll need a few days. There are some personal matters I need to wrap up first."

Just then, Emerson walked in carrying Lilian in his arms. He shot Julieta a glance. "Why are you still up? Your little apothecary keeping you that busy?"

The sickly sweet scent of perfume flooded the room, and Julieta's nose wrinkled in disgust. "Yeah. Busy."

She turned to leave, but Lilian, who'd been watching her like a hawk since she walked in, suddenly spoke up.

"Julieta, are you still mad at me?" Lilian lifted her eyes, aiming that practiced, pitiful look straight at her. "I never meant to accuse you of poisoning me last time.

"It was Emerson. He got so worried, he completely twisted my words. By the time I came to my senses, you were already locked up.

"I'm so, so sorry. Can you forgive me?"

She gestured toward a maid carrying a bag full of salt. "I asked them to set this up for you. Throwing salt on you will wash away all the bad luck.

"Can we still be like friends? Let's try to get along from now on, okay?"

Lilian reached for Julieta's hand, motioning for the maid to bring the salt closer.

Julieta stared at the salt. She pulled her hand back sharply and shook her head. "No thanks. I'll pass. I'm not feeling well. I'm going to bed."

Lilian's face crumpled. "Wow, Julieta... you really can't stand me, can you? I had all this specially prepared for you."

Julieta didn't have the energy left to play along. She started walking away.

But Emerson caught her arm. "Seriously, Julieta? Do you always have to kill the mood?

"You poisoned Lilian out of jealousy. I'm the one who had you arrested.

"If you've got a problem with anyone, take it out on me, not her. She's only trying to help you get rid of the bad luck. Why are you icing her out?

"Apologize to Lilian. Now."

The air went thick. Julieta looked at Emerson's impatient, irritated face, and something inside her quietly broke.

She still couldn't understand it. She was his wife. And yet he always took someone else's side. He never cared about right or wrong. He humiliated her, over and over, to protect another woman.

But the marriage was over. There was no point in holding onto it anymore.

She closed her eyes, forcing down the storm rising in her chest. "I'm not apologizing. And if I'm such a buzzkill, I'll move out as soon as I can."

For a second, Emerson looked caught off guard. Then his face darkened with rage.

He clenched his jaw and snapped, "You just never learn," then dragged her outside into the yard, ignoring the pouring rain, and shoved her out.

He shouted, "Cool off out here! Don't come back until you've actually thought things through.

"If you can't figure it out, then don't bother coming back at all."

Face flushed with anger, he spun around and locked the gate behind her.