Chapter 1

My husband, Lucas Reed, slapped the divorce papers on the table, but I remained unusually calm.

He looked at me with impatience. "Just sign it. I'm walking away with nothing."

I, Serena Evans, had just picked up the pen when a little voice, sweet and innocent, echoed in my mind. "Mom, don't sign it. Dad will become the richest man in the world in a year. Then all his money will be ours."

My hand trembled, and I suddenly tore the papers into shreds. I lunged forward, grabbing onto his leg. "Honey, I'm sorry. I can't live without you."

Lucas was stunned.

*****

Lucas, my husband of three years, was looking at me the way he looked at trash.

Annoyance was written all over his face, as if spending one more second with me was pure torture.

Inside me, my five-month-old baby was now as still as death.

Just yesterday, I saw him hugging Evelyn Grace, my former college roommate, while shopping for jewelry in the most expensive mall in downtown.

The tenderness on his face was a treasure I had never seen before. My heart died completely at that moment. So, I signed this agreement willingly.

"Walking away with nothing" was a pretty generous way to put it.

My parents had bought this house outright. I had used my savings from before we got married to buy the car he drove. Even the designer shirt on his back was one I had just ironed last week.

What right did a man who relied on his in-laws just to keep up appearances have to say he was leaving with nothing?

But I didn't want to argue anymore. Arguing with a man who no longer loved me was like looking for gold in a trash heap, foolish and pointless.

I picked up the pen, but the moment the tip touched the paper, a child's voice exploded in my mind.

"Mom, don't sign. My dad will be the richest man in the world in a year. Then all his money will be ours."

I trembled all over, and the tip of my pen cut the paper. This man, who could barely even scrape together enough to hand out project bonuses, would somehow end up becoming the richest man in the world?

I wondered if the shock of everything was making me hallucinate. But the voice was incredibly clear, ringing with undeniable certainty.

"Really, Dad is about to hit it big. Mom, you can't let that other woman take advantage of this."

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the pen. My heart was pounding like crazy inside my chest.

Was it real? Should I take the gamble? If I lost, I'd just end up back where I started. If I won, my child and I would have the whole world. In one second, I made my decision.

The phone on the table buzzed. The screen lit up with the name Evelyn.

Lucas snatched it up immediately, his voice dripping with a tenderness I'd never heard from him before. "Don't worry. I'll have this wrapped up soon."

He hung up and looked at me, his gaze even colder. "Serena, don't play games. Just sign it."

"Mom. That woman is downstairs. She brought someone to film you getting kicked out so she can post it on Instagram." The voice in my head was frantic, on the verge of tears.

So that was it. They had everything planned out, even my way out. They wanted me thrown out, humiliated, and put on display for everyone to laugh at. What kind of cruel people did that?

The last trace of warmth in my eyes vanished. All my calm and rationality crumbled in an instant, replaced by a carefully orchestrated performance.

I shot up from my seat, hands trembling, and ripped the agreement apart, sending the pieces flying like confetti.

Before Lucas could even process what he was seeing, I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his legs. Tears streamed down my face, burning hot against his trousers.

"I'm sorry, honey. I don't want a divorce anymore.

"I was wrong. Please don't throw me out.

"I can't live without you. Neither the baby nor I can." I sobbed like my heart was breaking, my whole body shaking.

Lucas froze. He probably thought I'd lost my mind. One second, I was cold like a stranger; the next, I was clinging to him like I couldn't survive without him.

He tried to pry my hands off, but I held on with every ounce of strength I had.

"Serena, what game are you playing now?" His voice was laced with suspicion and wariness.

I cried so hard I could barely breathe. "I love you, Lucas. I really do.

"It's my fault. I was too stubborn. I shouldn't have fought with you.

"Just forgive me this once. One last time. Please?"

I looked up, face streaked with tears, my eyes filled with nothing but desperate pleading.

Lucas stared at me, something complicated flickering in his gaze.

There was disgust and confusion, but also a flicker of hesitation brought on by my tears. After all, a woman breaking down like this was bound to stir a man's protective instincts.

I pressed a hand to my belly, letting out a pained whimper. "My stomach, it hurts."

His expression shifted. Instinctively, he moved to help me up. "Are you okay? Let me take you to the hospital."

Seizing the moment, I leaned into him, pretending to be weak. "No, I just got too worked up. Honey, could you just help me to the bedroom so I can rest?"

His lips pressed into a thin line, but eventually, he gave in. "Just this once," he said.

He lifted me into his arms and carried me toward the bedroom.

As we passed the living room window, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure downstairs out of the corner of my eye.

Evelyn stood under a tree, nervously craning her neck to look up. Beside her was a man holding up his phone.

The corner of my mouth lifted into a cold smile, hidden from Lucas's view.

He lay me down on the bed and pulled up the blanket. "Get some rest. No more drama."

He turned to leave, but I caught the hem of his shirt. "Honey, don't go. Stay with me, please?" I begged, my voice raw with tears.

He frowned but said nothing more, just pulled out his phone and typed out a message, probably letting Evelyn know the plan had changed.

Soon, I heard his footsteps heading back downstairs, then the sound of the door closing. Finally, silence.

"Mom, Dad's starting to find that bad woman annoying. Keep going."

My baby's voice in my head hit me like a shot of adrenaline into my exhausted body.

Lying on the plush bed, I slowly let all the emotion drain from my face.

My tears dried, and my gaze went perfectly cold and still.

The performance had begun. Lucas, Evelyn, this game was just getting started.