Chapter 1

I was the perfect wife, handpicked and trained by the powerful Carter family for their heir.

After five years of marriage, Jonathan Carter and I had unexpectedly become inseparable, and we even had an adorable baby.

But on the day of our daughter's one-month celebration, Jonathan walked out in front of everyone because his old flame had returned from abroad.

A low murmur spread through the guests, and the looks they gave me were tinged with pity.

"Back then, everyone knew how crazy Jonathan was about Claire Bennett. Ms. Bennett loved white roses, so he had them planted all over half the city."

"Exactly. On Claire's birthday that year, Jonathan even turned down a contract worth tens of millions just to throw her a party himself. Who wasn't jealous?"

"Looks like even after getting married and having a child, he still can't forget the one he really wanted."

My heart clenched, and my carefully composed smile went rigid.

That night, with trembling hands, I handed him the divorce papers.

He glanced at them once and calmly tossed them into the trash.

"Isabelle Grant, you're a grown woman. Why are you still throwing childish tantrums?"

"The Carter family needs you. Our child needs you. Besides, without the Carters, you're nothing."

That was when I finally understood. He only needed me to play the part of the perfect wife. He never needed me.

So those five years of love had all been one big performance.

No matter. My contract with the Carter family was set to expire in three days anyway.

Jonathan rubbed his brow. His tone suddenly softened, and when he leaned closer, I caught a rose scent on him that definitely wasn't mine.

"She just got back and isn't familiar with anything yet. I only went to help her get settled."

"Don't worry. No one's taking your place as Mrs. Carter. It's just that I probably won't have as much time for you and our daughter from now on."

"Claire's life is unstable right now. I have to look after her."

My nose stung, and just as I was about to speak, his phone rang.

"Jonathan, I'm scared being here all alone. Can you come stay with me?"

"It's that time of the month, and my cramps are awful. I need you to rub my stomach for me like you used to."

He listened to the voice message with an awkward look on his face, and when he glanced at me, he looked oddly stiff.

"Go. She needs you more."

I heard myself say it calmly, though my gaze was empty.

"Get some rest. Don't wait up for me."

With that, he threw on his coat and rushed out.

I soothed our daughter to sleep while feeling irritated and hollow inside. The moment I checked my phone, I saw Jonathan Carter and Claire Bennett trending online.

hashtag: [Jonathan Carter Secretly Meets Old Flame Late at Night; Curtains Still Open at 3 A.M. as the Pair Share a Lingering Kiss]

The repost caption read: [Fairy-tale marriage over? On his wife's one-month celebration night, the CEO rushed off to comfort his ex.]

My social media inbox blew up so badly that my phone started lagging.

Some cursed me out for stealing someone else's true love, some called me a scheming social climber, and some pitied me...

I kept steadying my breathing until I finally calmed down.

At breakfast the next morning, dark circles sat heavy under my eyes.

Jonathan happened to come back then and spoke as if nothing had happened.

"Isabelle, Claire has a weak stomach. I remember you're pretty good at making soup. Go make some for her."

A perfect heir's wife was expected to oversee the household and family affairs, and to obey her husband.

But over the years, Jonathan had never made me do that.

And on top of that, I was still weak from giving birth.

But now Claire was back, and his old flame came before everything else.

And I was about to become that perfect wife all over again.

I put my fork down and stared at him blankly.

"Okay."

Until the contract ended, I would endure.

While I was making the soup, I heard Jonathan instruct the nanny to clear out the top-floor sunroom and redecorate it.

"Claire's place is too dark and damp to live in. She'll move in here in a few days. Set it up the way she likes it."

My fingers tightened around the spoon until my knuckles turned white.

That was supposed to be our daughter's future playroom. We had designed it together so carefully.

A tear slipped down, and my mind drifted back to the past.

The night our baby kicked for the first time, Jonathan had pressed his ear to my belly for a full hour.

He suddenly looked up, eyes shining, his phone raised and recording. "The baby kicked me, Isabelle. Look!"

When the camera shakily turned toward me, his voice softened all at once.

"Thank you for coming into my life, both you and the baby. I'll give you the best of everything."

That night, he wrapped his arms around us carefully and stroked my hair again and again in the dark.

When I came back to myself, I accidentally nicked my hand on the knife beside me.

Then Jonathan came over for the finished soup, but not once did his gaze drop to the blood on my hand.

Or maybe he just didn't care to notice.

"I still have things to handle at the office. I'm leaving first."

He carried the insulated container with painstaking care, as if I weren't even there.

Numb, I cleaned up the kitchen and called Mr. Carter Sr.

"Dad, when the contract ends, I don't want to extend it."

"You said that if I wasn't happy in the Carter family, I had the right to choose."

"But I have one more request. I want to take my daughter with me."