Chapter 1
I'd been a devoted wife for ten years, and what did I get?
My husband called me an "old, unattractive woman" he was too embarrassed to be seen with.
The day I signed the divorce papers, I inherited a billion-dollar fortune from a great-uncle I'd never even met.
I moved into Sapphire Riverfront, the most upscale residential district in the city.
Not long after, my ex-husband showed up at the gate with his mistress, asking for a favor.
The security guard stopped them right there.
"Sorry," he said. "Ms. Sutton, our premium resident, has made it clear: no trash allowed."
*****
The wind outside the courthouse was strong.
Natalie Sutton stood on the front porch steps, clutching the thin divorce decree. Its bright white cover glowed almost painfully in the harsh sunlight.
The wind tugged at her hair, whipping it across her face.
She didn't move, just stood there, like a tree struck by lightning, still standing tall, but hollowed out inside.
Behind her, the sound of high heels clacked on the pavement, carrying a hint of impatient glee.
Richard Evans, now her ex-husband, called out, "Natalie, don't blame me for being cruel."
He still spoke with that smooth, gentle tone she always bought into. Even after ten years, she still fell for it.
"Look at you right now," he said. "When I take you out to meet clients, they ask if you're the new maid."
Natalie turned around.
Richard stood about ten feet away, looking sharp in his suit.
The cufflinks on his sleeves were the ones she'd scrimped and saved for two months to buy him for his birthday last year.
She remembered exactly how much they cost: 1,200 dollars.
Standing next to Richard was Olivia Lane, barely in her twenties. She was dressed head-to-toe in Chanel, her waist cinched, her makeup flawless.
She clung to his arm, grinning like a rat that had stolen the cream.
"Richard, don't talk about Natalie like that," Olivia said in a sickly sweet tone.
She looked Natalie up and down. "I mean, Natalie's had a tough time taking care of the family all these years. Yeah, she's a bit rough around the edges now, but she was your official wife, right?"
Natalie glanced down at herself.
She had on a faded sweatshirt with a stretched-out collar, something she'd picked up five years ago at a street market for 23 dollars.
Her jeans were faded and frayed at the knees.
On her feet were a pair of flat sneakers. The soles had come undone, but she'd never gotten around to throwing them away, thinking she could make them do.
Her hair was tied up in a careless ponytail, with a few gray strands peeking out at her temples. She'd only noticed them this morning, and hadn't had time to cover them up.
It had been ten years since she married Richard at twenty.
Back then, he was just a nobody hustling to start his business, living in a basement, eating instant food every day.
She stood by him through all the tough years, working the register at the supermarket by day and coming home at night to cook and do his laundry.
Later, when his business took off, she quit her job and became a housewife. She pinched pennies, never spending a cent on herself.
She thought that was what being a devoted wife meant. But to Richard, she was just an "old, unattractive woman" he was ashamed to be seen with.
"Natalie," Richard said, pulling a card from his pocket and offering it to her. "There's 150 thousand on this card. Take it. Make a fresh start."
Natalie didn't take it.
Olivia snickered, "Take it, Natalie. 150 thousand dollars is enough to last you for years. Didn't you always want to build a house back in your hometown? Looks like you finally can."
Natalie shot her a look.
Olivia was the receptionist at Richard's company. She was twenty-three, a full eight years younger than Natalie.
She was young, pretty, always dressed to impress, and knew how to play the cute card. She would step in to take drinks for Richard at business dinners and gaze at him with adoring eyes.
But Natalie was different.
She only knew Richard had a sensitive stomach; spicy food was off the table.
He couldn't sleep with any light in the room, so she always doubled up the curtains.
After every business dinner, he wanted his honey water just right: never too hot or too cold.
Olivia never had to worry about any of that.
Being pretty was all it took.
"No thanks," Natalie said, slipping the divorce decree into her bag, her tone steady. "After ten years, I've already gotten everything I deserved."
Richard paused, surprised that Natalie shut things down so quickly.
Olivia's grin got bigger. "You're a sensible woman, Natalie. Then let's part ways on good terms, shall we?
"Oh, and by the way, Richard and I are getting engaged next month. If you're free, swing by for our engagement party."
Natalie looked up, the sun so bright she had to squint.
"I'll try," she said.
Then she turned and walked away, the wind swirling around her.
Soon, Olivia's voice floated over from behind. "Richard, is she crazy or what, turning down 150 thousand dollars? What a fake."
Richard said something back, but Natalie didn't hear it.
She didn't care either.