Chapter 1

The day Vanessa returned to the country, my husband, Derek, handed me a divorce agreement, demanding I leave with absolutely nothing. He threatened to bankrupt my entire family if I dared to utter a single word about it. I signed the papers, then turned around and launched a live stream called "My Ex-Husband's Secret Auction. "

【First item: His and his first love's 'pure friendship' — the uncensored video. 】

It was snapped up at a high price by a rival company. 【Second item: Evidence of his bribery of officials and market manipulation. 】

Now under continuous investigation by FBI agents. 【Third item: The true identity of his illegitimate brother…】

The live stream audience soared past 100 million, and Derek Corp. 's stock plummeted. Derek and his family rushed to my apartment, falling to their knees, begging me to stop the broadcast. I smiled brightly into the camera:

"Ladies and gentlemen, the grand finale is here:"

"Derek isn't Arthur Derek's biological son – the DNA test results, starting bid, the entire Derek Group! "

1. Today marked our third wedding anniversary. I had personally prepared a slow-cooked gourmet meal, his favorite, simmering for a full six hours. On the dining table, red wine, candlelight, roses – everything was perfect. Except for his prolonged absence. At ten o'clock that night, a pop-up on my phone announced entertainment news. #Award-winning Actress Vanessa Returns Home, picked up by mysterious luxury car at the airport#

In the photo, that limited-edition Aston Martin's license plate was Derek's birthday. My heart, at that moment, died. At half past eleven, the lock clicked. Derek was back. He carried an unfamiliar perfume scent, nothing I ever wore. It was Vanessa's favorite 'Desert Rose' perfume. He didn't even glance at the meticulously set dining table, instead, he strode over and slapped a document onto my face. The cold paper sliced across my cheek, a sharp, searing pain. "Stella, we're getting a divorce. "

I stared at him, at this man I had loved for three years, my throat tight. "Why? "

He tugged at his tie, his eyes filled with annoyance and impatience. "Vanessa's back. "

His tone was flat, as if stating the most normal thing in the world. I took a deep breath, gesturing to the elaborate spread on the table. "Derek, we've been married for three years. What did these three years even mean to you? "

He finally chuckled, a laugh dripping with mockery and disdain. "Stella, don't sicken me. "

"You were nothing more than an accessory my grandfather forced on me back then. "

"Now, I don't need this accessory anymore. "

An accessory. So, all my efforts these past three years, all my gentle consideration, in his eyes, had just been a decoration. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. "What if I don't agree? "

He stepped closer, leaning in, his voice dropping, laced with bone-chilling coldness. "Stella, I advise you to be smart about this. "

"You won't take anything with you, you'll walk away with absolutely nothing. "

"Dare to utter a single word outside, and your parents' company will vanish from New York tomorrow. "

I looked at his face so close to mine, those thin lips I had kissed countless times. Now, they were spitting out the most venomous threats. The last flicker of warmth in my heart extinguished. I picked up the pen from the table, flipped to the last page of the agreement, and calmly signed "Stella. "

Not a single tremor. He seemed pleased with my compliance, grabbed the agreement, and turned to leave. He didn't even spare me another glance. The moment the door closed, I stood up. I dumped the cold, untouched meal, along with that ridiculous pretense of deep affection, into the trash. Then, I dialed a number. "Leo, the plan can begin. "

Half an hour later, my study was brightly lit. I applied my most exquisite makeup, my red lips like blood. I opened the camera and started a live stream. The title of the live stream read just one line:

"My Ex-Husband's Secret Auction. "

2

The moment the live stream began, there were only a few hundred viewers online. The chat scrolled sparsely, filled with mockery and doubt. "Who is this? Desperate for fame? "

"Ex-husband? New tactic to piggyback on Mr. Derek's popularity? "

"She looks decent, but her brain doesn't seem to be working right. "

I ignored the malicious conjectures. Facing the camera, I offered a perfectly poised, gentle smile – the kind fitting for the former Mrs. Derek. "Hello everyone, and welcome to my ex-husband's secret auction. "

"I am Stella, Mr. Derek's legal ex-wife. The divorce papers were just signed, the ink barely dry. "

With that one sentence, the live stream instantly fell silent. Then, the chat exploded, scrolling like mad. "WTF? Ex-wife? Mr. Derek got divorced? "

"Seriously? Wasn't today their wedding anniversary? "

I adjusted my posture, maintaining my smile. "To celebrate my new beginning, and to thank my ex-husband for his three years of 'care,' I've decided to host this auction. "

"Now, let's introduce our first item. "

I projected my phone screen onto the camera. "Proof of Mr. Derek's pure friendship with Ms. Vanessa. "

"Starting bid, one million. "

Saying this, I played a ten-second video. The scene was a presidential suite in a five-star hotel. Derek and Vanessa, disheveled, entwined on the sofa, their gasps and moans unmistakably intimate. Though heavily pixelated, their faces were crystal clear. The live stream erupted. Online viewers surged from hundreds to hundreds of thousands, then millions, still climbing frantically. #DerekCheatsOnStellaWithVanessa# trended at lightning speed, rocketing to the top of the trending topics. A user with the ID "Mason" began flooding the live stream with gifts. Rockets, carnivals – one after another, the screen was consumed by special effects. Mason, Derek's arch-rival, heir to Mason Corp.