Chapter 1
Today was my fifth wedding anniversary with Charles.
Ten years ago, he was the adopted son of the Summers family. He was shot three times in a gang feud and almost died in the hospital. I took care of him day and night, pulling him back from the brink of death.
After my father passed away, Charles naturally took over the entire Summers Group, becoming the undisputed ruler of the city's underworld.
"Natalie, the only reason I've gone from a worthless man to who I am today is because I've had you by my side," he said.
As soon as he finished speaking, his phone rang. It was the orphan girl he saved three years ago.
Her youthful voice was panicked.
"Charles, there's trouble at the docks! Someone's raiding our turf. Our men are hurt. I can't control the situation..."
Charles's face darkened instantly, his voice turning cold.
"You can't even handle this? Send people over now! Don't embarrass me," he barked.
After hanging up, he grabbed his coat and headed out.
I watched his retreating figure without saying a word.
Late at night, Charles returned, reeking of blood. "It's handled. Lily is still too inexperienced. She's only eighteen, after all."
I blew out the anniversary candle and made my wish. "Let's get a divorce."
*****
Charles was slicing the cake for me when his hand suddenly froze in midair.
He looked at me deeply, like he didn't want to let go, hoping I'd change my mind.
"Natalie, don't think too much. Lily's still just a kid; she needs someone to look out for her," he said.
"I messed up today, I admit it. Next time, I'll send Tony to deal with stuff like this," he added.
Take care of her.
Always that word.
He keeps telling me I should understand why he has to take care of Lily.
Because she's still just a kid, clueless about the rules of our world.
Because she's got nobody else, so we have to make her feel safe.
So he took the necklace he'd had custom-made for me and put it around Lily's neck instead.
No matter what I said, he'd act like I was just being petty and jealous.
Charles was the king of Harbor City's underworld; his word was law.
Of course, he'd just write off my pain as childish, and pretend it didn't matter.
Finally, his eyes landed on the document I'd left on the table.
His gaze turned sharp in an instant.
"Natalie, a divorce agreement? Are you serious?" he snapped.
"You're doing this just because I treat Lily a little better?" he demanded.
I stared at Charles, saying nothing.
He never understands what's actually going on.
The so-called trouble at the docks? Just a handful of school dropouts acting out, barely more than a childish scuffle.
On the security cameras, all Lily got was a light shove; she didn't even have a mark on her.
But when Charles arrived, Lily was crying pitifully, tears streaming down her cheeks as she flung herself into his arms.
"Charles, I thought I'd never see you again," Lily whimpered.
Charles, always cold and ruthless, actually had his eyes turning red, fighting back tears.
"You're safe now. I'm here," he murmured gently.
With everyone watching, Charles softly fixed her hair, careful and tender.
Lily was just eighteen, Charles already thirty-two.
Looking at them, anyone would think they were the real couple here.
Meanwhile, I, the wife, felt like the odd one out.
I slid my phone across the table, showing him the surveillance footage.
Charles's face grew livid.
"Natalie! You had someone spying on me?" he snapped.
His eyes burned with fury.
"She's just barely an adult! How could you scheme against her like this? Does your heart even know mercy?" he spat.
I kept silent and just sent the video straight to a few old shareholders at Summers Group.
Charles's hand was trembling.
"Fine," he spat out.
Each word he spoke was slow and sharp, like a knife.
"You want a divorce? All right," he said.
"Natalie, you'll pay for this," he said.
He snatched up the pen and signed his name across the divorce papers with a flourish, bold and unapologetic.
Before the ink had even dried, Lily's call came through again.
"Charles, I had a nightmare. I dreamed someone was trying to kill me; I'm so scared. Can you come be with me?" Lily whimpered.
Charles didn't even spare me a glance. He grabbed his coat and walked out, not looking back once.
I glanced at the signed divorce agreement, a faint smirk curving my lips.
Lily's little games were always so transparent.
And yet, Charles fell for them every single damn time.
I called the movers and left Kingston Manor that same night.
After all, this place was never my home.
The Summers family, the one that truly belonged to me, was still waiting for me to come home.