Chapter 1
In the fifth year after I replaced his wife, Ethan Daley fell for a university student.
He handed me a divorce agreement. "After the divorce, I'll compensate you fifty million."
I broke down crying. "Is there really no room to negotiate? If you like girls like her, I can get plastic surgery and look the same."
He frowned, clearly annoyed.
I got scared that I would lose even the compensation, so I could only sign the agreement.
Besides, if I delayed any longer, I wouldn't be able to hide my pregnancy.
The day I left Ethan's house, his new mistress transferred 300 grand to me. She typed: [I'll pay you the remaining 2.7 million dollars in installments.]
Ethan had no idea that I'd sold him to her for 3 million dollars.
After all, raising a kid cost a lot of money.
*****
Ethan was really wealthy, with countless assets. He was also a man of strict principles.
Back in those days when he was head over heels for me, he divorced his first wife, who was his perfect match in both status and fortune, just for me.
But to make it up to his ex, he handed over several huge business projects, of which the total profits reached hundreds of millions.
Even after the divorce, Ethan and his ex stayed on good terms and kept doing business together like nothing had changed.
Five years after I became Ethan's wife, he started falling for a university girl.
Even though I was a nobody with no background, Ethan still offered me millions in compensation.
My eyes reddened. I didn't take the divorce papers from him.
Ethan let out a sigh.
"Just take them. You've got your whole life ahead of you, and you're still young. Maybe it's time you went out and saw the world," he said.
Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn't stop crying.
Honestly, if youth was what he wanted, then he was right to find the university girl.
She'd just turned twenty, a whole twenty-four years younger than him.
I was already twenty-eight.
"Is there really no way to change your mind? If you like girls like her, I can get plastic surgery to look like that," I said.
I stared at him, hoping he'd change his mind.
I knew once he made up his mind, nothing could shake him, but I still put on a hopeful look.
Ethan frowned, looking impatient.
He said, "I'll give you two more villas. One in Wricbury, one in Keamon Bay. Don't make this any uglier than it has to be."
I shut up instantly, choking on a sob.
I was terrified that if I kept crying, I'd lose the compensation too.
And so I signed the papers reluctantly.
Ethan and I had signed a prenup before we got married, so I was never getting a piece of his wealth, no matter what.
Getting this much was more than I could ever dream of.
This was more money than I could make in ten lifetimes.
Not to mention all the spending money he'd given me over the years, and all the jewelry and designer bags he'd bought for me.
Once I signed, Ethan headed out on a business trip.
Before leaving, he asked me to move out as soon as possible.
I nodded, feeling reluctant, and watched him leave, my heart heavy.
Only after his car disappeared from view did I wipe my tears away, my hand instinctively resting on my belly.
It was time to go.
If I didn't leave soon, I wouldn't be able to hide my baby anymore.
My baby wasn't Ethan's.
Ethan didn't have any kids.
He was blessed with killer business instincts and great looks.
But he couldn't have kids.
He didn't just have a low sperm count. He was totally sterile.
Moreover, he knew human nature too well to ever raise another man's kid.
It was why he was always generous with women.
Whether it was his ex, me, or the next kept woman, he never skimped.
"Ma'am, Mr. Daley is gone," the butler said softly, pulling me out of my daze.
His words brought me back to reality.
I nodded, heading back into the villa, sadness weighing down every step.
I spent three whole days doing all the packing myself.
Good thing I had a habit of keeping track of everything. I printed out my list and hunted down each item one by one.
By the end, I'd rounded up 308 designer bags, 588 pieces of jewelry, and 20 pounds of gold. There were also dozens of custom-made dresses I wore to events with him.
After boxing up everything on my list, the rest was just stuff worth less than ten grand.
There were all clothes, shoes, hats, hair accessories, and the like.
If I saw it, it went in the box.
I even ended up packing a couple of Ethan's watches by accident.
The day I left the villa, it took three trucks to haul everything away.
However, Ethan showed up ahead of schedule.
And of course, he had the sweet, innocent university girl, Giana Sparks, right by his side.
She had an oval face, cherry lips, and beautiful brows, the kind of beauty that last through the ages.
I couldn't blame Ethan. Even I felt my heart skip a beat.
"S-Sorry, I didn't know you'd be back early. I'll head out right now," I stammered.
My eyes went red in an instant, and honestly, I really didn't want to leave.
Ethan looked totally indifferent, just glancing off to the side.
Giana got the message and made herself scarce.
Ethan came over and gently wiped away my tears.
"If you ever need anything, contact my assistant, Martin Boone," Ethan said.
I nodded in a hurry, but deep down, I knew I'd never dare to actually call Martin.
I wasn't like his ex-wife, Leah Summers.
My belly was already starting to show, and I was scared out of my mind that if Ethan found out, he'd tear me apart.
After a month of lying low and taking care of the baby, I met Ethan at the city hall to make the divorce official.
When we got our divorce certificate, his eyes flickered to my stomach.
Instantly, I shot a nervous glance at my belly.
Good thing I wore a baggy outfit today. There was no way he noticed, right?
"Where are you living now? Need a lift?" Ethan asked, sounding totally chill. "Have you gained a little weight lately? Looks good on you."