Chapter 1

The divorce papers lay on the coffee table. My hand shook as I held the pen.

"Madge, sign it," Marty said.

He sat across from me in a tailored suit, his expression cold and distant. It felt like our three years of marriage meant nothing to him, like it had been nothing more than a business deal that had now come to an end.

And in truth, it had been a deal.

Three years ago, my father's company went bankrupt and owed the Oliver family 100 million dollars. Marty offered to marry me in exchange for clearing the debt. I agreed, hoping that if I gave it time, I might be able to win his heart.

Three years passed, and I had barely even stepped into his bedroom.

"Mr. Oliver, look at the property division here," I said, pointing to a line in the papers. "Are you sure you want to give me this house?"

"Is it not enough?" Marty asked.

"No," I said, biting my lip. "I just mean, is there really no chance for us to fix this?"

Marty looked up at me, his eyes cold and steady. "Madge, we both know this marriage was a mistake from the very start."

I did not want to give up. "But..."

"Just sign it," he said.

I took a slow breath and wrote my name on the paper.

Three years of my youth, three years of waiting, and three years of loving someone who never loved me back all came to an end in that moment.

"We will go to the city hall tomorrow," Marty said as he stood and picked up his coat. "The house is yours. I will also transfer 1.5 million dollars into your account."

"I do not want it," I said, looking up at him and trying to keep my voice steady. "The debt is paid. I do not want the house either. Mr. Oliver, we are even now."

Marty stopped. He turned and looked back at me.

I forced a small smile. "I hope you and Miss Burke will be very happy together."

Scarlett Burke was his childhood friend. She was the only woman he had kept close throughout our marriage.

I had always known he married me to satisfy his family and to clear the path for her.

Now that everything was settled, I was nothing more than a stepping stone he no longer needed.

Marty looked at me for a long moment. In the end, he said nothing and walked out. The door shut behind him with a hard sound.

I sank onto the sofa, and the tears finally fell.

In three years of marriage, I had gained almost nothing.

I lowered my gaze and rested a hand on my stomach. This child was the only thing I truly had.

*****

A month ago, Marty came home drunk. That was the only night I ever stayed in his room.

I never expected that one night would lead to this.

I wanted to tell him, but now that we were breaking up, I wanted a clean start.

I wiped my tears and started packing.

After the divorce the next day, I would leave the city. I would go somewhere no one knew me, have the baby, and raise it on my own.

*****

The next day, Marty showed up at the city hall right on time.

He wore a black suit, clean and sharp, and he looked unbelievably good.

We stood in line together. A young couple in front of us was arguing.

"You don't love me at all!" the girl cried.

"How can you say that?" the boy shot back.

"You can't even remember my birthday!" she complained.

"I..." he stammered, struggling to find a response.

I almost laughed, but something in my chest tightened instead.

At least they had the right to fight like that. Marty and I didn't. There was no love between us. It was just a deal.

"Next," the worker called. Her voice snapped me back to reality.

Marty stepped forward, and I followed.

The whole thing was quick. It took less than ten minutes. When I walked out of the city hall with the divorce papers in my hand, the sunlight felt too bright, almost painful against my eyes.

"I'll give you a ride," Marty said.

"No, thank you." I raised my hand and stopped a taxi. "Goodbye, Mr. Oliver."

"Madge," he called suddenly.

I turned around.

He stood there in the sunlight, his eyes dark and deep, his lips pressed into a thin line. "If—"

I cut him off before he could finish. "Mr. Oliver, there are no ifs."

I got into the car and didn't look back.

In the rearview mirror, his figure grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the traffic.

I placed a hand over my flat stomach and whispered softly, "Little one, it's just you and me now."

*****

Three months later, I was living in a small apartment in Anlingen City. I lived off the money I had saved before.

I was four months pregnant now, and the morning sickness had finally started to ease.

I found a work-from-home writing job with a small company. It didn't pay much, but it was enough for the baby and me.

One day, while I was working, my phone rang. It was an unknown number.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Is this Ms. Madge Sutton?" a woman asked.

"Yes. Who is this?" I asked.

"This is Human Resources from the Oliver Group. Congratulations. You've been hired as the CEO's secretary. Can you start tomorrow?"

I froze. "Wait, there must be a mistake. I didn't apply for a job there."

"There is no mistake. Mr. Oliver selected you personally," the woman said.

My hand started to shake. I almost dropped the phone. "I'm sorry. I can't—"