Chapter 1

My husband's assistant, Melanie Steele, was pregnant with his baby.

On the night of our wedding anniversary party, Pedro Farrell, my husband, brought Melanie home.

He said, "Melanie hates dirt. You need to clean three times a day. Not a speck of dust is supposed to be seen. She also likes to stay somewhere peaceful and quiet. Move out to sleep at night, and come back during the day."

After a long silence, I handed over the divorce papers I had prepared.

The butler advised me to endure it, but Pedro signed the papers in front of everyone. "Whatever. When she runs out of money, she'll come crawling back to me."

A burst of laughter erupted around us.

A group of his no-good friends, emboldened by alcohol, started betting on how long I would last before begging for mercy.

They even plotted how they would humiliate me when that time came.

But they didn't know that the car coming to pick me up was already waiting outside.

This time, it was truly goodbye for good.

*****

As I was about to leave the villa, Pedro stopped me and said, "Eliza, give her that lucky charm of yours to Melanie. She hasn't been sleeping well lately."

That charm was the last keepsake my parents had left me.

I fought to control the trembling in my body and clutched tightly to the lucky charm my mother had obtained for me.

Beside him, Melanie smiled sweetly as she looked down at me from above. "Pedro, it's fine. My baby is not as important as Eliza's lucky charm. Forget it."

A flicker of irritation appeared in Pedro's eyes after he heard her words.

Over the years, whenever Melanie had set her sights on something of mine, I had been forced to give it up.

If I refused to give it to her, Pedro's bodyguards would beat me mercilessly.

The steel pins in my leg were still throbbing with pain. I let out a sigh.

Forget it. There was no winning against them.

After setting down the lucky charm, I was about to leave when Pedro spoke in a low, deliberate tone, "Eliza, remember to keep your temper in check.

"Come back soon to take care of Melanie and the baby, and the position of Mrs. Farrell will still be yours."

His words were both a threat and a way to save my dignity. In the past, I would have compromised and turned back to grovel at his feet.

But now, the things that had bound me were gone.

I didn't want to get tangled up with him anymore.

Before I could speak, Melanie stepped forward to take my hand.

Not wanting any contact with her, I moved aside to dodge.

But unexpectedly, she lost her balance and fell to the floor, cutting her hand in the process.

Pedro panicked. He rushed forward and shoved me aside.

His strength was immense. I tumbled to the floor in humiliation, and my head banged against a cabinet.

The taste of blood and a wave of dizziness washed over me. I forced myself to stand.

But one of Pedro's bodyguards kicked me square in the chest.

Melanie said, "Pedro, don't get mad at Eliza. It was my fault. I lost my balance. She's so kind. She definitely didn't mean to harm our baby."

Melanie's words intensified Pedro's anger instantly.

He scooped her into his arms and then stomped down hard on my hand. The sound of bones breaking seemed not enough to him, so he ground his heel in even harder. "Apologize," he said.

I bit down on my lip so hard, refusing to let out even a whimper, clinging to what little dignity I had left.

When Pedro saw me like this, for some reason, a wave of irritation washed over him. "Your whole family is dead, so who are you putting on this act for?"

I didn't answer. I gathered my strength and stood up.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. It must be the person who came to get me.

But before I could leave, Pedro's bodyguards shoved me to the floor once again.

Pedro ordered coldly, "Lock her in the basement. You hurt Melanie. Don't think you're getting off that easily."