Chapter 1

My mother's hands and feet were broken, and she was thrown into the sea to die, all because she accidentally touched the couture gown of the daughter of a powerful mogul. The day I dragged that arrogant heiress to court, she was acquitted. Why? Because the lawyer defending her was Liam Vance, the founder of the city's most untouchable law firm, a legal powerhouse no one dared to cross – and my husband. When the trial ended, the handsome, elegant man left the defendant's side and placed an "apology letter" in front of me, Audrey Hayes. "Audrey, sign it. You don't want to be sued for defamation and end up in prison, do you? "

His voice was coaxing, but the gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses was as sharp as ice. My tear-filled eyes, stubborn with pain, met his. My voice trembled, "Why, Liam Vance? "

I just couldn't understand... I was his wife. He loved me so fiercely that he'd even given up his inheritance and been cut off by his family just to marry me, their family’s caregiver. But after my mother's death, I had cried and begged him countless times. Even this morning, for the ninety-ninth time, I knelt at his feet, threatening divorce if he didn't drop this case. What did he say then? — *Audrey, don't make me do this! *

Liam impatiently loosened his tie. "Serena is different. She's chased me for ten years, and she even saved my life. "

"I have to protect her, even if the enemy is the wife I love most. "

As he spoke, he tapped his tablet, showing a live stream to me. "You have two minutes to think, Audrey. Even if you're not thinking for yourself, think about your mother. Sign it, and I'll give you back your mother's ashes... "

The screen showed a scene at sea, several bodyguards holding a sandalwood urn. One slip, and... Tears streamed down my face. "What are you doing? "

But he didn't even flinch. "Be a good girl, don't waste time. Can you bear to let your mother soak in the sea forever? "

"Liam Vance! " I stared fixedly at the man before me, my mouth almost bleeding from biting my lip. "I want a divorce from you... "

Yet, in this cruel confrontation, he remained utterly calm, unwilling to yield an inch. "Audrey, you only have thirty seconds left. "

In that moment, my heart felt as if it were being pierced by needles. How ironic. This man had once loved me more than life itself. Eight years ago, he fell in love with me at first sight in the Vance family estate. I was Old Mr. Vance’s caregiver. Our social standings were miles apart, yet he had confessed his love a hundred times. If I glanced at a patch of bellflowers, he'd have all the roses in the garden replaced overnight. When I accidentally sprained my ankle, he booked an entire floor of the hospital. It was then I learned he had a long-time admirer, the daughter of a powerful mogul he'd grown up with, who'd pursued him for years, loving him to the point of obsession. But he had no eyes for anyone else. "Audrey, I only love you. What does it matter if Serena Thorne is from a family as good as mine? I only feel disgust for her! "

To force him to let go, the Vance family not only seized his shares but even used their influence to send him to an island abroad. For twenty whole days, Liam went on a hunger strike, forcing his family to compromise and completely winning my heart. And so, we married. He truly loved me as he'd promised, more than life itself. The change happened half a year ago. After years away, Serena Thorne suddenly returned to the country. This time, his attitude towards his childhood friend abruptly shifted. He canceled international meetings to personally pick her up from the airport. He even stayed away from home for three days to arrange a lavish welcome-back party for her. Under my wounded gaze, he finally confessed. "A year ago, I went to London and was in a car accident. Serena saved me and was in a coma for an entire year because of it. "

"Audrey, I only love you, but she just woke up. I have to repay this debt. One year, just give me one year, okay? "

At first, I believed him. Until the night of the party, I unexpectedly suffered a relapse of an old illness and was rushed to the hospital. Liam's phone, however, was unreachable. In desperation, my mother went to the luxury yacht where the party was being held. But once she went, she never came back. Everyone insisted it was an accident, saying my mother had committed suicide. Even Liam, who wasn't at the scene of the incident, believed that story. But that night, after I was pushed out of the emergency room, I distinctly received a call. I heard chaos on the other end, mixed with Serena Thorne's angry shouts, and my mother's agonizing screams. My mother was *forced* to fall into the sea! For the past six months, I had been in torment, drowning in tears of self-reproach. In my despair, I finally unearthed a shred of evidence from a certain waiter. I had begged Liam countless times to help me. Yet, in this criminal private prosecution, he unhesitatingly stood against me. He protected my mother's killer, and to force me to apologize to her, he even threatened me with my mother's ashes... At this very moment, looking at Liam Vance, I felt as if he was a stranger, sprung from hell itself. I despaired, and I surrendered. With trembling fingers, I scrawled my messy signature on that apology letter. "Satisfied?