Chapter 1

For three years of marriage, I lived like a maid.

My cold, distant husband pushed me into a divorce. His first love got pregnant, then walked straight into our home like she owned the place.

My mother-in-law didn't hold back either. She tore into me, saying I was worthless.

They all laughed at me. They said I was just an orphan. They said I should be grateful that he was even willing to dump me.

So I signed the papers. The second I stepped out the door, a line of top-tier luxury cars pulled up, engines roaring.

My grandfather, the most powerful tycoon around, stepped out in front of everyone and pulled me into a tight hug. "Kara, I'm here to take you home. The entire Green family belongs to you."

Just like that, my real identity came out. My ex-husband regretted everything. His first love completely lost it.

And the man who stood at the very top of the world showed his soft side to me alone. "I'll make them pay for everything you went through."

*****

It was ten at night. In the living room of Payne Manor, the crystal chandelier blazed so bright that it hurt Kara's eyes. However, it did nothing to warm the cold in her heart.

She was on her knees on the hard floor. They'd been there so long that she couldn't feel them anymore. On the coffee table in front of her lay a printed copy of a divorce agreement.

"Kara, I'll ask you one last time. Are you signing or not?" Her mother-in-law, Melanie, stood over her with her arms crossed.

Her voice cut like ice. "Simon is the vice president of the Payne Group. And you? You're an orphan. No family. No connections.

"You've lived in our house for three years, eating our food, wearing our clothes. Now Simon is going to be with Ms. Woolery, someone who actually matches him. Be smart. Take the hint and leave."

Kara kept her gaze lowered, her long lashes masking every trace of emotion.

In the three years of their marriage, she'd gone from a girl who had never done a day of housework to the Payne family's unpaid maid.

Every morning, she got up before sunrise to make breakfast. Every night, she couldn't rest until the whole family was settled in bed. All the dirty, exhausting work in the house fell on her. She had even washed Melanie's feet.

She used to believe that if she just kept giving her all, she could warm Simon's heart with her sincerity.

But all she got in return was three years of Simon's cold indifference and Melanie's relentless daily torment. And today, Simon's true love, Shana, had walked right into this house.

She now sat beside Simon, one hand resting on her small baby bump. She smiled at Kara, soft and sweet, but there was pride in her eyes that made it sting.

Simon sat in the center of the sofa, looking sharp in a suit. He looked perfect and untouchable. But there wasn't a single hint of warmth in his eyes when he looked at Kara.

He looked down at Kara kneeling on the floor, his voice flat, like she was nothing. "Kara, just sign it. I'll give you money. Enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life."

For a second, Kara almost laughed.

Three years of her youth, three years of swallowing her pride, three years of doing everything for this family—and to him, it was all just worth a bit of cash.

She slowly lifted her head. Her face was calm. There were no tears or anger, just a chilling calm.

She said softly, but every word was clear, "Simon, in these three years, I haven't spent a single penny of your money. I paid for most of the household bills out of my own savings. The little allowance you gave me barely covered groceries."

Simon frowned, clearly impatient. "That's in the past. There's no point arguing about it now. Sign the papers, and we're even."

"Even?" Kara repeated quietly, a hint of sarcasm curling her lips. "Alright."

She braced herself against the floor and slowly rose to her feet.

Her legs had gone stiff from kneeling too long. A sharp tingling shot through them, and she swayed for a second. But she steadied herself and stood straight.

She ignored Simon and didn't even bother with Melanie or Shana's self-satisfied grins. Without hesitation, she strode over to the coffee table and grabbed the pen.

The tip touched the paper. Simon let out a quiet breath of relief. Melanie's lips curled into a winning smile. Shana leaned her head gently against Simon's shoulder, her eyes full of pride.

With careful strokes, Kara signed her name, steady and firm.

Her handwriting was neat, but she pressed so hard that it nearly tore through the paper. It was as if she were carving out every bit of pain, anger, and love from the past three years.

With the final stroke, she let the pen fall and gently slid the papers across the table. "I'm done."

She looked up at them, calm and steady. Her voice was light. "Simon, from now on, we have nothing to do with each other. I won't take anything from the Payne family. Can I leave now?"

Melanie stepped forward right away, waving her hand like she was shooing something annoying. "Go. Hurry up and get out. Don't stand here and ruin the view. The Payne family doesn't keep useless people."

Shana chimed in, her tone soft, but every word landed sharp, "Kara, take care of yourself. I'll take good care of Simon from now on. You don't need to worry anymore."

Simon watched Kara's back as she turned to leave. For a brief second, something strange flickered in his chest.

Then it was gone, buried under thoughts of his new life. "I'll have the driver take you," he said coolly.

"No need," Kara said, her voice crisp and final.

She turned away, not even glancing at the house she'd spent three years in—a place that never felt like home. Without looking back, she headed straight for the door.

Her luggage was already there, just one small suitcase waiting by the front door.

The moment she opened the door, cool night air rushed in, lifting her hair.

Outside, it was dark. There were no streetlights. Only a few dim lights were visible far off at the neighborhood gate.

Kara took a deep breath, grabbed her suitcase, and walked out, one step at a time.

There was no hesitation or attachment, only relief.

Three years of marriage had been a joke.

From today on, she would live for herself.

She had just passed the gates of Payne Manor and was heading toward the main road when she heard a car engine behind her.

Simon's car pulled up next to her.

The window rolled down, revealing his handsome but cold face.

He watched her walk away. His voice was as chilly as ever. "Kara, I'll transfer the money to your account. You—"

"No need," Kara replied, not slowing down or even glancing back. "Simon, I told you. I don't want your money. From now on, don't call me. Don't come looking for me. Let's just pretend we never met."

Simon's brows tightened. He was about to speak again, but Shana, sitting in the passenger seat, gently tugged his arm. "Simon, just let it go. Let Kara leave. We shouldn't bother her."

Simon glanced at her, then said nothing more. The car slowly drove off.

Dust from the tires settled onto Kara's shoes. She didn't look back.

After a few minutes, she reached the roadside near the entrance of the neighborhood, ready to hail a cab and finally leave this suffocating place behind.

Suddenly, a deep, powerful engine sound rolled toward her.

It wasn't just one car; it was a whole line of them.

Kara couldn't help but glance up.

In the very next moment, she was rooted to the spot, completely stunned.

In the dark, a long line of identical black Rolls-Royces moved toward her, silent and heavy like a pack of black panthers ready to strike. Their headlights cut through the night, lighting up the road in front of her. It was both terrifying and breathtaking.

Everyone at the entrance of the neighborhood stopped in their tracks, staring in shock at the spectacle.

Everyone knew this was a wealthy neighborhood. Still, scenes like this were rare.

The convoy came to a perfect stop right in front of Kara.

A uniformed guard opened the door of the first car, a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

An old man stepped out, supported by a bodyguard. He stood tall, his presence strong and commanding.

His hair was white, but his body still looked full of strength. His face was stern, his eyes sharp.

But the moment his gaze landed on Kara, everything changed. The sharpness melted away, replaced by a mixture of joy, pain, and guilt.

He moved toward Kara, step by step.

Each step was solid and powerful.

The air felt frozen in place.

Kara's grip on the suitcase handle tightened unconsciously, her heart suddenly pounding.

She'd never seen this old man before, but the instant their eyes met, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity—and a rush of bittersweet, aching emotion she couldn't control.

The old man came to a halt right in front of her.

He looked at the pale, stubborn, disheveled girl before him. His eyes turned red.

Slowly, he reached out with a trembling hand and gently held her cold wrist.

When he spoke, his voice shook, thick with emotion—love and regret held back for over twenty years.

"Kara, my dear granddaughter. I finally found you. Come home with me, alright?" he asked. "The doors of the Green family are always open for you. From now on, no one will ever make you suffer again."

When he finished, the world seemed to fall silent.

Everyone at the neighborhood entrance was stunned.

When they heard the Green family name, they wondered if it was the family rumored to be worth over a hundred billion dollars that no one had ever seen.

Just then, Simon's car returned. He had forgotten something and turned back—but instead, he saw everything.

When he saw Kara standing there with that powerful old man holding her hand and heard what he said, Simon froze. His eyes widened in disbelief.

He shoved his door open and stared. He couldn't believe that Kara, an orphan, had a grandfather like that.

The old man turned his head and shot Simon a cold, deadly look.

"Are you Simon?" he asked, his voice dropping. "The one who made my granddaughter suffer for three years?"

Simon stood there, frozen. A chill ran through him, leaving him unable to speak.

Kara looked at the old man in front of her, his eyes red with emotion. As his words sank in, the tears she had held back for three long years finally broke free, streaming down her face.

She didn't fully understand what was happening. But she knew one thing for sure.

From this moment on, her life would never be the same again.