Chapter 1

I'd never forget that afternoon. I was bringing my husband, Gavin Shaw some blueprints to sign when I spotted an estate contract on his desk.

Zoe Olsen's name was written on it.

It was a waterfront mansion worth 2.5 million dollars, paid for in full. Gavin was the buyer, but the property was registered under Zoe's name.

My hands started to shake.

Gavin pushed open the door and froze when he saw the contract in my hand. His face instantly drained of color.

"What is this?" I held up the contract, my voice trembling.

"Let me explain..." Gavin pleaded.

"Explain what? That you bought a house for another woman? Or that you've been moving assets behind my back?" I fired back.

Gavin rushed toward me, reaching for the contract. "It's not what you think. Zoe's family is having a hard time. I was just..."

"Hard time?" I scoffed. "Is her situation really so desperate that you had to buy her a 2.5-million-dollar house? Gavin, do you think I'm an idiot?"

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Zoe walked in, carrying a cup of coffee. She paused when she saw the scene, then flashed a smile I'd never forget.

It was smug, provocative, and full of victorious swagger.

"Ms. Mason, you're here," she said, setting down the coffee, her voice so sweet it made me want to gag. "Mr. Shaw, the files you wanted are ready."

I looked at her—the woman who always acted so harmless around me—and finally saw her true colors.

"Zoe, are you happy with this house?" I stared her down.

She lowered her head, all innocent and hurt. "Ms. Mason, I really don't know what you're getting at."

"You don't understand?" I slammed the contract down in front of her. "Then explain to me why my husband is buying you a house."

Gavin stepped in between us, visibly flustered. "Grace, it's not what you think. Zoe really is..."

"Enough!" I cut him off. "Gavin, are you really going to defend her right in front of me?"

Zoe's eyes turned red and tears started flowing right on cue. "Ms. Mason, I swear, my family just ran into some trouble and Mr. Shaw was only trying to help. Please, don't get the wrong idea."

"The wrong idea?" I shot back, disgusted by her act. "A project manager making 100 thousand dollars a year can magically afford a 2.5-million-dollar waterfront mansion? That's called cheating."

"Grace!" Gavin snapped, his anger finally breaking through. "Watch your mouth."

And right there, hearing him yell at me for her, whatever shred of hope I'd been holding onto vanished.

"Watch my mouth?" I let out a cold laugh. "What should I be careful about, huh? Not pointing out your affair? Should I just get out of your way and let you two flaunt it?"

"There's nothing going on between me and Zoe. Stop making things up," Gavin insisted.

"You're saying you're innocent?" I jabbed a finger at the contract. "Prove it."

Just then, Zoe clutched her stomach, her face going ghostly pale. "I'm sorry. My stomach hurts."

Gavin instantly grew anxious. "What's wrong? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Watching him worry over her, it suddenly hit me.

"She's pregnant, isn't she?" My voice was ice-cold. "That's why you bought her the house. Because she's carrying your kid."

The whole office froze—it was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Zoe looked like all the blood had drained from her face. Gavin seemed like he'd been turned to stone.

"Answer me," I shouted.

Gavin squeezed his eyes shut, and after what felt like forever, he finally said, "Grace, I..."

"I don't care what you have to say. I'm done listening." I turned and walked out.

"Grace," Gavin called after me.

I didn't look back. I headed straight for the finance department.

"Lucy, check the company's recent money flow for me. I want to see every expense over 300 thousand dollars," I said.

Lucy Shaw, the finance director, hesitated. "Ms. Mason, all of those need Mr. Shaw's sign-off."

"I'm a shareholder—I have the right to check the financial statements," I said, making it clear I wouldn't take no for an answer.

Half an hour later, Lucy handed me the stack of reports.

My hands started shaking all over again.

It wasn't just the 2.5 million dollar house. There was jewelry, luxury shopping, vacations—the whole mess adding up to nearly 6 million dollars.

Gavin had blown almost 6 million dollars on Zoe.

And me? After three years of marriage, the priciest thing Gavin ever gave me was a necklace for my birthday last year—one that cost just 30 thousand dollars.

"Ms. Mason, do you need anything else?" Lucy asked carefully.

"Call a lawyer for me. I'm getting a divorce," I replied.

Lucy jumped in surprise. "Ms. Mason..."

"Also, starting tomorrow, freeze every single one of Gavin's financial rights. Nothing gets spent unless I sign off on it," I instructed.

I was the second-biggest shareholder in this company, holding a solid 35%. I had that right.

"Yes, I'll take care of it right away," Lucy replied.

Not wasting a second after stepping out of the office, I grabbed my phone and called my mom. "Mom, get me Holbridge's top divorce lawyer. I'm done with Gavin—I'm divorcing him."

"What happened? Did that bastard hurt you?" Mom was nervous at once.

"He cheated on me, bought a house for his lover, and now she's pregnant," I said.

There was a silence for a few seconds on the other end, and then I heard Mom take a deep breath.

"Alright, I'll handle everything. Just come home and don't worry about anything," she said.

After hanging up, I sat in my car, staring at the big "Shaw Properties" sign on top of the building. I couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh.

Since Gavin was so generous with his lover, I'd make sure he couldn't spend another cent.

From now on, it was war.