Chapter 1

To make things right with his secretary, Jerome Pickett asked for a divorce.

I told him he could leave with nothing, but he refused.

In the end, we made a bet—a year-long one.

A year later, he broke down and screamed, "You didn't stick to the agreement!"

I smiled at him and replied calmly, "But wasn't it you who broke the agreement?"

Someone went through forty years without learning love and responsibility.

However, they would eventually pay the price for their greed and hypocrisy.

*****

After forty years together and twenty years of marriage, my husband Jerome cheated on me.

He finally came home after giving me the silent treatment for one month.

He sat across the coffee table, staring at me indifferently.

"Raquel, I assume you've had enough time to calm down," he said.

He went on, "Raquel, we're both in our forties, old enough to think about this rationally.

"Now that you've found out, I have nothing left to hide.

"Winnie and I have been together for a year now. During this time, I've kept it hidden to spare your feelings.

"I know what we did was wrong. That's why this past year has been torture for me. I've been carrying this burden of guilt.

"I don't want to go on like this. I've already betrayed you and our son. I can't do the same to Winnie.

"So let's get a divorce.

"I'll transfer all cash and real estate to you and our son and only keep my company shares.

"After all these years together, let's end this without any drama."

I thought he had come back to explain himself to me.

I thought he had come back to save our marriage.

I thought he had come back to beg for my forgiveness.

But never in my wildest dreams did I think he'd come back just to divorce me.

Twisting the silver wedding band I'd worn for over twenty years, I noticed its once-bright luster had long since faded.

Instead, it bore numerous scratches that told the story of time's passage.

I took off my wedding ring and flung it at Jerome. "Take back what's yours."

Jerome caught the object Raquel threw at him without realizing what it was. Only when it landed in his palm and he glanced down did he recognize it.

To his surprise, it was that worn-out silver ring.

He remembered this ring. It was the very one he'd given Raquel when he proposed to her.

Jerome didn't expect that she still kept it.

Somehow, a pang of guilt welled up in Jerome.

But at the thought of Winnie, that pang of guilt quickly faded.

"After all the beautiful diamond rings I've bought you, why would you still keep this worthless piece of junk?" he asked.

Jerome casually tossed the ring into the trash bin near the coffee table.

He thought this worthless junk should never have existed in his home.

That wretched ring was a constant reminder of how destitute he used to be.

It also reminded him of how wretched he was back then.

I watched as Jerome tossed the wedding ring I had worn for over two decades straight into the trash.

I laughed at my devotion and stupidity. It was so foolish for me to still have hope in him after all this time.

I wonder why I was still clinging so desperately to these memories.

That worthless silver ring had shackled me for twenty long years.

Now that it was gone, I suppose it was finally time for me to let go.

The teenager who said he would love me and accompany me for the rest of my life gradually faded from my memory.

People really did change, didn't they?

So what if we were childhood sweethearts? What did twenty years of marriage even matter?

Nothing could ever compare to his precious darling.

This sudden epiphany almost felt like a blessing. I was only forty-two, still in the prime of my life.

At least I saw his true colors in time, and I still have the capital to cut my losses and start over.

But for no apparent reason, an inexplicable fury surged through me.

The divorce was happening, but I would be the one setting the terms.

Throughout all these years as a wealthy wife, I have maintained elegant manners.

However, turning the other cheek had never been my style.

I said, "Jerome, I stood by you from scratch and endured every hardship imaginable with you, and together, we built this family fortune.

"And now you want to take the fortune we sweated blood to build and use it to marry some other woman?

"Let me make this crystal clear. I won't let any other woman reap the fruits of my life's work.

"Anyone who dares to take what's mine, I'll make sure she pays dearly for it.

"If you want to run off with your darling, then leave with nothing!"

Jerome sighed wearily, as if he'd expected this from me.

He said, "Raquel, I'm sorry I cheated on you, and I understand you're angry.

"But I really don't love you anymore.

"Winnie is still young. There's no way I can just leave her with nothing.

"We've known each other for forty years and been married for twenty. We shared so many wonderful moments together.

"After all these years together, just grant me this wish.

"Let's part ways amicably.

"Please don't say such hurtful things anymore. It's damaging our bond. Even if we get divorced, I'll always consider you family."

He claimed he didn't love me anymore, insisted on leaving assets for Winnie, kept reminiscing about how happy we used to be, and expected us to part amicably without any hard feelings.

He actually said that even after the divorce, I'd still be his family.

How touching, as if that made any difference.

Those once-familiar eyes now filled me with nothing but disgust.

I scoffed, "Jerome, you've got some nerve. One is a young, pampered new lover, and the other is your wife, who's been through thick and thin with you for decades. Do you really think we can all just play happy family?

"You must be joking. That's the funniest thing I've ever heard."

I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

I must be the only one who could still laugh after being betrayed.

I laughed so hard under his awkward gaze before finally stopping.

Then I wiped the tears of bitter laughter from my eyes.

I snapped, "You want a divorce? Fine. But you're walking out with nothing. Or forget it."

I remained adamant, completely unmoved by his pathetic attempts at playing the victim.

Jerome agitatedly twirled the coffee cup in his hand before speaking up coldly.

He said, "Raquel, I've always believed that we can still be family and friends even if we can't be husband and wife.

"We grew up together with forty years of shared history. Do you have to be this ruthless?"

Ruthless? I didn't think so. I spent twenty years standing by him through every hardship to help him build his business from scratch.

After all those years of hard work, I'd finally made it, and I was supposed to be enjoying a good life.

Now he was ready to run off and start a new life with that woman.

Why should I let some other woman just waltz in and enjoy the good life we built together without lifting a finger?

I was miserable, so why should he get to live happily ever after?