Chapter 1

"Sign it. You can do nothing anyway." Howard Carter shoved the divorce papers toward me. His tone was dripping with pity.

The woman next to him covered her mouth, and her eyes crinkled with laughter.

I glanced at the agreement. It was said that the house, the car, and the company shares would all be his, while I got nothing.

"Fine," I said, picking up the pen.

Howard paused, surprised. "Aren't you going to fight for anything?"

I smiled and signed my name. "No."

He stared at me with a flicker of confusion in his eyes. That confusion didn't last. Soon, it changed into complacency.

He had no idea that what I wanted was never about what was on the papers.

*****

The air conditioning at City Hall was cranked up, with cold air pouring down from above.

After I finished signing, I set the pen down.

Howard took the agreement and checked it over, making sure I hadn't missed anything. His smile grew wider. "Sarah, honestly, I thought you'd throw a fit."

"Why would I?" I asked.

"You know, demanding the house, the car, and the shares." Howard lounged back in his chair, all smug. "I mean, you've stuck with me for eight years."

"Stuck with you?"

He actually said it, like I was some stray dog he found on the street.

The woman next to him cut in, "Sarah, take it easy. You and Howard were never a good match anyway."

She was Tina Lane, Howard's so-called true love. She was twenty-four, nine years younger than me, working as the receptionist at the company.

"Look, Sarah." Tina held onto Howard's arm. "When you were with him, he was always stuck at work. He was never happy. But with me, he's grinning all the time."

"Oh, really?" I looked at her. "Well, congratulations."

She was caught off guard, clearly not expecting that.

Howard frowned. "Sarah, don't show that attitude."

"I don't." I stood up and grabbed my bag. "Where's the divorce decree?"

The staff handed over the divorce decree. I took it and flipped it open. My name, Sarah Nolan, was printed on it, right next to Howard's.

I spent eight years with Howard, the best years of my life, which started when I was twenty-five. However, what I got in return was a divorce decree.

"Sarah," Howard called out.

I turned around.

He stood there, looking conflicted. "You really don't want anything?"

"No," I said.

"You really don't want the house, the car, or the shares?"

"No."

He paused for a few seconds and laughed. "Alright. Guess I'll take it all."

He thought I was a fool. I could see it in his eyes.

He figured I was lovesick and would think that leaving with nothing would somehow make him feel guilty. He thought I still hoped he'd come around.

But he had no idea that I would never walk away from a deal empty-handed.

"Bye," I said, turning to leave.

"Sarah," Tina called out from behind.

I ignored her.

"Sarah, don't blame me." Tina caught up and lowered her voice. "Howard was the one who chased after me. I never tried to seduce him."

I stopped and looked at her. She was dressed in a white dress, makeup on point, and when she smiled, eight perfect teeth flashed, showing the angelic bitch smile.

"You know," Tina said, leaning in and lowering her voice, "Howard said you're too dull. All you cared about was work. You never brought any excitement or romance into his life."

"Is that so?" I replied.

"He said you don't know how to dress up, can't be playful, and never make him happy." Tina fluttered her lashes. "Sarah, some things aren't meant for you. Maybe you should step aside and let someone more suited take your place."

I stared at her and cracked a smile out of nowhere. "Yeah, you've got a point."

She froze.

"Some things really aren't for me," I said, patting her shoulder, "like Howard."

I turned and walked out of City Hall.

Outside, sunlight poured down, warm and bright. I stood on the steps outside and took a deep breath. Yeah, that was what freedom felt like.

My phone rang. It was Howard's call. "Sarah, I'll have the finance team send you 20 thousand dollars. Think of it as a little compensation for everything you've been through."

"Don't bother," I replied.

"Don't try to act tough," Howard said, with a hint of impatience in his voice. "You're all alone now, with no house, no car, and no job. Seriously, how are you supposed to survive?"

I didn't answer.

"Sarah, I know you're pissed, but you need to face reality," Howard sighed. "You're thirty-three, with no degree, no skills, and now you're divorced. Who's going to be with you?"

"No skills, huh?"

"Yeah. What else can you do besides write a few lines of code?"

I paused for a few seconds. "Howard."

"What?"

"You know, your best talent is being so damn confident."

I hung up.

He had no idea, and he never would know, that the woman he dismissed as someone who could only write a few lines of code was actually the real asset of his company.