Chapter 1

The first time I divorced Julian Sterling, I smashed his Lamborghini. Made headlines across the city.

In the second divorce, I emptied his wine cellar. Destroyed his reputation.

Julian, the infamous playboy of the capital's elite circle, always thought this was our little game of love. He cheated, and I exploded. He apologized, and I forgave.

Nothing changed until the third time. He walked in with that same careless smile, sliding the remarriage papers across the table.

I slid something back.

"No more remarriages, Mr. Sterling." I watched the shock freeze on his face, speaking each word like a verdict. "The game is over."

*****

The conference room was freezing. The expensive leather chairs exuded a coldness that made anyone feel unwelcome.

Julian and I sat at opposite ends of the long table, like two opposing camps, separated by an unbridgeable chasm.

He was still his usual nonchalant self, dressed in a top-tier Brioni bespoke suit, the Patek Philippe Celestial watch peeking out from his cuff perfectly matching the careless smile in his eyes.

It was as if this billion-dollar deal between our companies was nothing more than a casual card game to him.

Between his fingers, he held a document with a gold-embossed cover. I didn't even need to look to know it was the third remarriage contract he'd carefully prepared for us.

"Scarlett Evans," Julian drawled, his voice slow and lazy, dripping with that familiar, dangerously seductive vibe. "Are you done with the drama yet? Just sign the papers, and tonight I'll treat you to your favorite meal."

His tone was so casual, like we'd never been apart, like just yesterday I hadn't been raising hell over the perfume on his shirt.

I stared at him quietly, at the face that once made me lose my mind with love and hate. Still handsome, but now, he couldn't stir a single emotion in me.

It was a weird feeling, like looking at an expensive, outdated display in a shop window. Been obsessed, been crazy about it, but in the end, I just don't want it anymore.

All around us were the old-timers and top execs from both companies, everyone keeping their eyes down, pretending they had no clue about the storm raging between us.

They were used to my drama and Julian's sweet-talking. To them, this was just another spin of the same old drama.

I didn't bother looking at the remarriage contract. Instead, I slid a simple, unadorned folder across the long table toward him. It made a sharp contrast to his luxurious gold-embossed document.

"Mr. Sterling," I said, my voice so steady it almost felt unfamiliar. "Read this first, then we'll talk."

It was a formal, distant way to address him. For the first time, Julian's smile faltered. His brows drew together, a hint of annoyance at my unexpected move, but with his usual arrogance, he pulled out the papers inside.

The title was glaring: [Resolution for the Complete Termination of Strategic Cooperation with Sterling Enterprises], printed in stark black and white.

The air seemed to freeze in an instant. I could see Julian's pupils contract, and the easy smile that always played on his lips faded, his face draining of color.

"Scarlett, what do you mean by this?" Julian's voice dropped, laced with disbelief and barely contained anger.

I didn't answer him.

My grandfather, the rock of Evans Group, who had been sitting beside me with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. He tapped the table twice with his knuckles, the sound heavy and authoritative.

"From today on," my grandfather's voice, old but commanding, rang out through the conference room, "all projects between Evans Group and Sterling Enterprises will be under the full authority of my granddaughter, Scarlett."

The room went dead silent.

Julian locked his gaze on me, all the teasing gone from his eyes. Now, they were filled with shock, fury, and even a flicker of panic he hadn't noticed himself.

For the first time ever in this game he'd been running for years, he felt the whole thing slipping out of his hands.

I shot him a bland, businesslike smile.

But right then, a wave of memories crashed over me, slamming me back to that rainy night three years ago. It was the first time I ever decided to walk away from Julian.