Chapter 1
My ex-husband's first love Emily Lane sent me a wedding invitation, along with a compensation agreement.
It read: [Victoria, you've been clinging to the title of "Mrs. Grant" for three years, and that makes Andrew miserable. Now we are getting married next week.
[As compensation, please return all the jewelry the Grant family gave you. Besides, you should pay us 1.5 million dollars for the emotional distress damages.
[Also, we'd like you to give a speech on stage on the wedding day and admit to everyone that it was you who shamelessly clung to Andrew.
[He's too kind to say it himself, but I don't tolerate this.]
Andrew chimed in right beside me, "Just sign it. Don't make this awkward for old times' sake."
I looked at this pair of absurd and self-righteous lovers. Then I pulled out the pregnancy test report I had prepared before.
Of course, it wasn't mine.
I projected the video of Emily with other men onto the huge LED screen behind them.
They deserved no dignity but humiliation.
*****
Emily slid the printed agreement across the table to me.
Her voice was incredibly soft and tender. "Victoria. Take a look. Is there anything you don't understand?"
I stared at the harsh and stinging clauses laid out on the page: returning the jewelry, paying 1.5 million dollars, and even going on stage to publicly shame myself.
Every single clause could make my three years of marriage nothing but a joke.
Andrew sat next to Emily, his arm resting protectively on the back of her chair.
He looked at me, his brows furrowed.
Andrew said, "Victoria. Emily's doing this for your own good. We need to settle this once and for all.
"You've been occupying the title of 'Mrs. Grant' for three years. I already feel so sorry for her.
"Just sign it, and we can end things peacefully."
I lifted my head, shifting my eyes from Emily to Andrew's face. He seemed practically impatient.
"So what if I refuse to sign this?" I replied calmly.
Emily's smile froze for a moment, and then melted into a look of grievance.
She tugged at Andrew's sleeve. Her voice quivered, sounding almost on the verge of tears.
Emily said, "Andrew. You see? I told you she wouldn't agree. Is she trying to make up with you? This is all my fault. I shouldn't have come back."
Andrew immediately pulled her into his arms tenderly. His gaze seemed icy cold as he looked at me.
Andrew snapped, "Victoria, are you done with this? Do you seriously think you're still Mrs. Grant now?
"We're divorced. Don't abuse my patience."
I couldn't hold back a laugh.
My laugh was soft, but it made Andrew's face darken.
I retorted, "Andrew, did you forget? The divorce agreement laid it out clearly. All the marital assets are split fifty-fifty.
"The Grant family's wealth has grown ten times over these three years. Are you sure you want to do the math with me right now?"
Andrew's expression shifted instantly.
It was me who brought the core technology to his company three years ago.
Without me, he would still be pulling his hair out over Series A funding.
This was the Grant family's biggest secret, and also a humiliation he refused to face.
Emily clearly had no clue what was really going on. She snuggled up in Andrew's arms, fanning the flames.
She whined, "Andrew, what is she talking about? Is she trying to threaten you with the money? Victoria, how could you stoop so low?
"You know full well Andrew hates talking about money the most."
Andrew, stung by her words, slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet.
He shouted, "Victoria, I'm warning you. Don't you dare insult me with money! You will pay the 1.5 million and also return the jewelry.
"And you must come to the wedding!"
He towered over me, and each word carried a chill that cut through the air.
He continued, "Otherwise, I'll make sure you leave with nothing, with absolutely nothing to your name."