Chapter 1 · He Bought My Divorce for Pennies, So I Ruined Him

After ten years of marriage, my husband shoved a divorce agreement in my face.

"You've been a housewife for ten years and contributed nothing to the company. According to our prenup, you're walking away with nothing.

"For old times' sake, take this 30,000 dollars—that's 3,000 dollars for each year of your youth."

"Don't even dream of getting a single penny from the company," he sneered.

As someone who had been granted a second chance at life, I simply smiled and signed my name.

The very next day after the divorce.

Taking that 30,000 dollars, I went straight to his biggest business rival.

The man looked at me with a teasing glint in his eyes.

"Why should I help you?" he asked.

I leaned in closer to him. "Because I know every decision his company will make for the next ten years, and I know about the secret son he's hiding overseas."

*****

"Julia, sign it." Edward tapped his fingers on the desk, sliding the divorce agreement in front of me.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, the city lights shimmered brilliantly, yet my eyes were fixed entirely on the glaring, bare ring mark on his finger.

He'd already taken off our wedding ring.

"Ten years, and you think you can brush me off with just 30,000 dollars?"

I looked up at him, my voice flat and calm.

Edward gave a mocking laugh, loosened the top button of his suit jacket, his posture full of lazy arrogance.

"What else?"

"How much do you honestly think you're worth?"

You're a useless nobody who can't even tell salt from sugar."

The contempt in his voice was just like what I heard in my last life.

In my last life, I cried and begged him, but all I got was security dragging me out of the company. In the end, I died alone in a rented apartment, poisoned by gas—no one even noticed.

This time, all I wanted was to watch him die.

I picked up the pen and signed my name without hesitation.

"Julia Wynn."

Edward glanced at my signature, his brows knitting together—clearly surprised at how calmly I went along with it.

I ignored him, picked up the check for 30,000 dollars, and turned to leave.

"Remember, you're the one who didn't want me," I said, my voice steady.

As the door closed behind me, I heard the sound of a glass shattering.

Edward, do you really think I'm still that idiot from my last life?

Your surveillance, your little tests—I'll take them all on.

The next day, I stood on the top floor of Grant Capital.

This was Samuel Grant's domain—Edward's biggest business rival.

The receptionist eyed me like I was a crazy person who'd wandered in by mistake.

I directly gave them Samuel's name.

"Let him know Edward Lane's ex-wife has a special gift for him," I said.

Five minutes later, I was face-to-face with Samuel Grant.

Leaning back on the sofa with his legs crossed, the man appraised me with a piercing gaze, as if evaluating the worth of a piece of merchandise.

"Edward Lane's ex-wife?" he asked, his voice low and deep.

I placed the 30,000-dollar check on the coffee table in front of him.

"Consider this my pledge of allegiance," I said.

He looked at me with a sly grin, like a cat playing with a mouse.

"Why should I help you?" he asked.

I leaned closer to him, speaking each word slowly and clearly.

"Because I know every move Lane Corporation will make for the next decade—and I know about the secret son he's got stashed overseas."

Samuel's eyes narrowed, sharp and alert.

He sat up straight, all that lazy arrogance vanished, replaced by the sharp focus of a hunter sizing up his prey.

"I'm listening."

I didn't answer right away.

Scenes from my last life flashed through my mind.

After I died, my soul floated in the air, watching Edward throw a lavish birthday party for his secret son.

I saw him with another woman, calling me the biggest stain on his life.

I watched him use up the last of my family's connections, devour the company my parents left behind, and push my brother over the edge—he jumped to his death.

That overwhelming hatred nearly consumed me.

Samuel narrowed his eyes, sizing me up with suspicion.

"Words are cheap," he said.

"Edward's going to secretly meet with Mr. Lewis from NovaTech Solutions next week about a takeover, but it'll blow up at the last minute over a data patent," I said.

I tossed out my first bait.

"Is that enough to show you I'm worth it?" I asked.

Samuel drummed his fingers on the sofa arm, thinking it over.

Three days later, I got a call from his team.

"Ms. Wynn, you were right," they said.

When we met again, his attitude was completely different.

"Now, we can talk about that land in the South District."

I laid everything out for him.

Chapter 1

After ten years of marriage, my husband shoved a divorce agreement in my face.

"You've been a housewife for ten years and contributed nothing to the company. According to our prenup, you're walking away with nothing.

"For old times' sake, take this 30,000 dollars—that's 3,000 dollars for each year of your youth."

"Don't even dream of getting a single penny from the company," he sneered.

As someone who had been granted a second chance at life, I simply smiled and signed my name.

The very next day after the divorce.

Taking that 30,000 dollars, I went straight to his biggest business rival.

The man looked at me with a teasing glint in his eyes.

"Why should I help you?" he asked.

I leaned in closer to him. "Because I know every decision his company will make for the next ten years, and I know about the secret son he's hiding overseas."

*****

"Julia, sign it." Edward tapped his fingers on the desk, sliding the divorce agreement in front of me.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, the city lights shimmered brilliantly, yet my eyes were fixed entirely on the glaring, bare ring mark on his finger.

He'd already taken off our wedding ring.

"Ten years, and you think you can brush me off with just 30,000 dollars?"

I looked up at him, my voice flat and calm.

Edward gave a mocking laugh, loosened the top button of his suit jacket, his posture full of lazy arrogance.

"What else?"

"How much do you honestly think you're worth?"

You're a useless nobody who can't even tell salt from sugar."

The contempt in his voice was just like what I heard in my last life.

In my last life, I cried and begged him, but all I got was security dragging me out of the company. In the end, I died alone in a rented apartment, poisoned by gas—no one even noticed.

This time, all I wanted was to watch him die.

I picked up the pen and signed my name without hesitation.

"Julia Wynn."

Edward glanced at my signature, his brows knitting together—clearly surprised at how calmly I went along with it.

I ignored him, picked up the check for 30,000 dollars, and turned to leave.

"Remember, you're the one who didn't want me," I said, my voice steady.

As the door closed behind me, I heard the sound of a glass shattering.

Edward, do you really think I'm still that idiot from my last life?

Your surveillance, your little tests—I'll take them all on.

The next day, I stood on the top floor of Grant Capital.

This was Samuel Grant's domain—Edward's biggest business rival.

The receptionist eyed me like I was a crazy person who'd wandered in by mistake.

I directly gave them Samuel's name.

"Let him know Edward Lane's ex-wife has a special gift for him," I said.

Five minutes later, I was face-to-face with Samuel Grant.

Leaning back on the sofa with his legs crossed, the man appraised me with a piercing gaze, as if evaluating the worth of a piece of merchandise.

"Edward Lane's ex-wife?" he asked, his voice low and deep.

I placed the 30,000-dollar check on the coffee table in front of him.

"Consider this my pledge of allegiance," I said.

He looked at me with a sly grin, like a cat playing with a mouse.

"Why should I help you?" he asked.

I leaned closer to him, speaking each word slowly and clearly.

"Because I know every move Lane Corporation will make for the next decade—and I know about the secret son he's got stashed overseas."

Samuel's eyes narrowed, sharp and alert.

He sat up straight, all that lazy arrogance vanished, replaced by the sharp focus of a hunter sizing up his prey.

"I'm listening."

I didn't answer right away.

Scenes from my last life flashed through my mind.

After I died, my soul floated in the air, watching Edward throw a lavish birthday party for his secret son.

I saw him with another woman, calling me the biggest stain on his life.

I watched him use up the last of my family's connections, devour the company my parents left behind, and push my brother over the edge—he jumped to his death.

That overwhelming hatred nearly consumed me.

Samuel narrowed his eyes, sizing me up with suspicion.

"Words are cheap," he said.

"Edward's going to secretly meet with Mr. Lewis from NovaTech Solutions next week about a takeover, but it'll blow up at the last minute over a data patent," I said.

I tossed out my first bait.

"Is that enough to show you I'm worth it?" I asked.

Samuel drummed his fingers on the sofa arm, thinking it over.

Three days later, I got a call from his team.

"Ms. Wynn, you were right," they said.

When we met again, his attitude was completely different.

"Now, we can talk about that land in the South District."

I laid everything out for him.