Chapter 1
It was April Fool's Day when a bunch of masked guys in black suddenly barged into my house.
They had a knife to Andrew Grant's throat, demanding thirty-three million dollars in cash.
I begged them through tears, pleading for a few days of mercy to gather the funds.
The leader of the masked men grinned wickedly. "Sure. Knock your head on the floor a hundred times, and I'll give you three more days."
I didn't even blink before dropping to the floor, slamming my forehead against the tiles with everything I had.
It didn't take long for my skin to split and blood to start smearing across the floor.
I was finishing the hundredth one, my head spinning, when the entire room suddenly erupted in laughter.
They weren't kidnappers; they were just Andrew's rich friends.
"Once a simp, always a simp. I knew Emily would actually do it," one of them sneered.
I stared up, dazed.
"Mr. Grant, you lost the bet. Get ready for your punishment," Chloe teased.
Chloe Shaw, she was the new intern assistant at the company.
"Get up. It was just a prank, Emily. Don't take it so seriously," Andrew said, sounding bored.
I stared at Andrew's indifferent expression, and suddenly felt a bone-deep exhaustion.
I pulled off my wedding ring and looked at him. "Andrew, I want a divorce."
*****
The sharp clang of the ring hitting the floor silenced the room for a few seconds.
Andrew frowned.
"Stop it. I admit the joke went a bit far, but it's April Fool's Day. We were just having fun."
"Don't be a spoilsport, Mrs. Grant," Chloe said, blinking innocently. "I apologize, okay?" She nudged Andrew with her elbow.
"Mr. Grant, didn't you prepare a gift for her? Come on, show it."
Andrew reached into his pocket, pulled out a lipstick, and held it out to me.
"Don't be mad. Give it a try," he said.
That familiar, gentle look on his face left me dazed.
The next second, I had swiped the lipstick onto my lips.
Before I could react, Chloe was already doubled over laughing.
"Look at her lips! This is priceless!"
Andrew's entire group of friends erupted into laughter along with him.
"Damn, I didn't think anyone was actually allergic to chili! That's a first!" one of them joked.
My lips began to burn intensely, followed by an unbearable, crawling itch.
I realized then that the lipstick was laced with tasteless, colorless capsaicin.
In seconds, my lips swelled up.
"Andrew, how could you?" I stared at him, stunned.
He knew about my allergy, yet he chose such a cruel way to mess with me.
"I lost a bet today, so I had to go along with Chloe," Andrew said dismissively.
Andrew sounded apologetic, but his eyes held a faint smile..
"Just take some meds. It'll go away. Don't be so dramatic," he added.
I shoved him away. "Andrew, we're done."
I turned on my heel and walked out.
As the door shut, I could still hear his friends joking around inside.
"She is really mad. Aren't you going after her, Andrew?"
Chloe chirped, "It's April Fool's. She's just playing. Everyone knows she's crazy about him—she'd never leave."
Andrew snorted. "She's just throwing a fit. She has no parents and no one to depend on but me. She has nowhere else to go."
His words hit me like a bucket of ice water, chilling me to the bone.
I dragged myself to the hospital, where the doctor scolded me harshly.
"Allergies aren't a joke! You need to know when to stop. This could have killed you!"
I sat alone, hooked up to an IV in the hospital.
The cold fluid dripped into my body, freezing me from the inside out.
My mind blurred for a moment.
Memories of Andrew and me flooded back.
I was an orphan supported by the Grants. Andrew's mother liked me and brought me into their home as Andrew's study companion.
Back then, whenever someone mocked me for being an orphan or a charity case, Andrew would always stand up for me fiercely.
He said as long as he was there, no one could look down on me.
He wanted everyone to know I wasn't just some helpless orphan—I was the one he loved.
But now, he didn't just let others mock me; he was stabbing me in my oldest wounds.
My phone buzzed. For a moment, I thought Andrew had grown a conscience.
It was just Chloe's latest post on social media.
[My boss lost an April Fool's bet to mee boss—gained a diamond ring!]
[He says the flower on this ring is ugly. He's getting me a better one soon!]
[Thanks for the gift, boss! Muah!]
The photo was a close-up of Chloe's hand. Seeing my wedding ring on her finger felt like a knife in my chest.
Ugly?
Andrew had designed it himself, engraving a tiny poppy on it.
He proposed to me with that very ring.
When I said yes, the usually steady Andrew acted like a child, spinning me around again and again.
We ended up tumbling to the floor together.
He held me close and promised I would always be his one and only.
Now, that "one and only" status was handed to someone else like it meant nothing.
I gave a self-mocking laugh and liked Chloe's post.
I picked up my meds and headed home, exhausted.
When I opened the door, I found Chloe lounging on my couch, wearing my face mask.
As soon as he saw me, Andrew said, "Why so late? Chloe drank too much and isn't feeling well, so I let her crash here tonight.
"Perfect timing—go make her some hangover soup."
I stayed rooted to the spot, unmoving.
A sour ache spread from my chest to my throat.
"I'm not a maid. If she wants soup, she can order takeout.
"Also, I don't like outsiders in my home. Tell her to leave. Now."
Andrew finally cast a pitying glance at my bandaged forehead and swollen lips.
He tried to take my hand, his breath smelling of alcohol. "Come on, still mad? It was just a prank. Stop being so dramatic."
I pushed him away and sidestepped his touch.
Andrew was stunned, about to say something.
But Chloe suddenly stood up, looking hurt.
"Mrs. Grant, do you think you're better than me? It was just a joke—why are you so angry?"
"Mr. Grant," she sobbed, "it's my fault. I know I don't belong here. I'll leave now."
Andrew grabbed her wrist, frowning deeply.
"Where are you going?
"This is my house. If I say you stay, you stay."
He looked at me with disappointment.
"Emily, when did you get so petty? Chloe is young at heart. Don't hold it against her.
"If you're still upset, sleep in the guest room tonight and cool off."