Chapter 3

At that time, Lucas was overseas in an important international conference, and his phone was being held by his assistant.

That assistant was someone Victoria had planted.

Victoria was Lucas's childhood friend, self-proclaimed as the person who understood him best, and universally acknowledged in high society circles as the "future Mrs. Ashford."

A year ago, when Lucas suddenly announced he was marrying me—a nobody—it shocked everyone.

Victoria saw me as a thorn in her side.

She believed I had stolen everything that should have been hers.

Over the past year, she'd made my life difficult both openly and behind the scenes.

Everyone in the Ashford family had been charmed by her and often criticized me at her instigation.

This time, while Lucas was abroad, she took his phone and sent me that divorce message on her own initiative.

She was certain Lucas was already tired of me, his "trophy wife." She was equally certain that I would cry and refuse to agree to the divorce just to keep my position as Mrs. Ashford.

Then she'd say a few nice words to Lucas, making herself look gracious while making him despise me even more.

A perfect plan.

Too bad she miscalculated one thing.

I, Emma, couldn't care less about being Mrs. Ashford.

The servants at the Ashford mansion nervously reported to Lucas's mother: "Emma, she... she's gone."

"Gone?" Mrs. Ashford was in the middle of a face mask. She sat up slowly at the news. "Gone is gone. She wasn't good enough for my son anyway. Did she take all her things?"

The servant said quietly, "She only took one suitcase—the one she brought with her. All the jewelry you and Mr. Ashford gave her, and the card he gave her... she left everything behind."

Mrs. Ashford's movements stopped abruptly. She ripped off her face mask.

"What did you say?"

Mrs. Ashford rushed into my room—what she called "the guest room."

In the walk-in closet, all those pieces of jewelry she and Mr. Ashford had given me to keep up the family's image—pieces I'd never worn once—were neatly arranged in velvet boxes.

On the vanity, Lucas's unlimited black card sat quietly, with a note beside it.

"The PIN is your birthday. I never used it."

Mrs. Ashford picked up the card, her face cycling between pale and flushed.

She had always assumed I married into the Ashford family for money.

She'd guarded against me, watched my every move, terrified I might take even a penny more than I deserved.

But now, not only had I left with nothing, I hadn't even taken the things they'd "graciously bestowed" upon me.

They never expected this.

"What's she trying to pull? Who is she putting on a show for?" Mrs. Ashford threw the card on the ground in fury.

Lucas's sister Charlotte ran in, gloating. "Mom, who cares what she's up to! It's better that she's gone, isn't it? Now Lucas can finally be with Victoria! Victoria just called—she said she's coming over to have dinner with you tonight!"

At the mention of Victoria, Mrs. Ashford's expression softened.

"Victoria is always so thoughtful." She smoothed her hair and resumed her superior attitude. "Go tell the kitchen to make some of Victoria's favorite dishes tonight."

Victoria arrived in high spirits.

She wore a tailored Chanel suit and sat elegantly beside Mrs. Ashford, listening to her badmouth me, a victorious smile playing at the corner of her lips.

"Let's not speak ill of Emma anymore," she said with false concern. "She did keep Lucas company for a year. Leaving like this, she must be heartbroken."

"What's there to be heartbroken about?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes dismissively. "My brother gave her a hundred million dollars! She's probably out shopping right now!"

Victoria's hand paused slightly as she lifted her teacup.

A hundred million dollars?

The message she'd sent didn't mention anything about money.

Did Lucas add that later?

Impossible. Lucas's phone had been with her people the whole time.

Could it have been... Mr. Harrison acting on his own?

A flicker of unease passed through Victoria's mind, but she quickly suppressed it.

Whatever happened, Emma was gone.

That was enough.

"A hundred million to be rid of her—she should count herself lucky," Mrs. Ashford sneered. "I thought she'd demand more."

Listening to them, Victoria's unease grew stronger.

This was too easy.

Emma's reaction was completely unexpected.

A woman everyone believed was a gold digger, faced with divorce, had been so calm, even... carefree?

This didn't make sense.

Meanwhile, I was in my new penthouse, enjoying a dinner prepared by a top-tier private chef.

After eating my fill, I soaked in a luxurious milk bath.

Lying in the enormous bathtub, I rubbed my belly and sighed contentedly.