Chapter 1
I was head over heels for Benjamin Pierce. When I found out he was the one I was supposed to marry, I said yes without a second thought.
After the wedding, Benjamin disappeared for three whole years.
He finally came back a month after my family went bankrupt.
But I was no longer the naive little girl I used to be.
*****
It was a month before my marriage contract with Benjamin was set to expire when he came back.
With my head down, I was making coffee for my mother-in-law, Margaret Johns, when Benjamin suddenly strode in, dressed in a black coat.
"Oh, my goodness. My dear, you're finally back!" Margaret cried out.
She jumped up and hurried toward him, her sleeve catching the edge of a coffee cup and sending it tumbling.
I froze, pressing my scalded hand. The sting made me realize that I was not dreaming.
When Benjamin's icy gaze locked with mine, I panicked and hurriedly started cleaning up the coffee things, avoiding his eyes.
He frowned ever so slightly, barely noticeable.
"I've missed you so much, sweetheart," Margaret exclaimed.
She dragged him to sit down right in front of me, and with just a glance, he could see me crumpled on the floor, all in a mess.
Benjamin seemed steadier and more mature than before.
He used to be quiet and reserved, but now there was an intimidating edge to him.
Margaret kept chattering on, but I could feel a pair of eyes burning into the top of my head the whole time.
"I need to talk to you," Benjamin said.
His voice was low, smooth, and just as pleasant as ever.
I looked up, stunned, and couldn't help but wonder if he was going to talk about divorce, cheating, or revenge.
All those thoughts melted away, and I just whispered, "Okay."
Then we went to the study.
Benjamin drummed his fingers on the desk, and I clutched at my shirt, nerves getting the best of me.
As long as he wasn't here to hold a grudge over our arranged marriage, I could accept that he wanted to break off the engagement early.
"Thanks for everything you've done these years," Benjamin said.
"Okay," I blurted out, and then was surprised at his words.
I was so addicted to my thoughts that I couldn't even understand what he'd just said.
Two seconds later, my face was burning red. I'd been steeling myself for a showdown or a scolding, but it never came.
A hint of a smile flickered in Benjamin's eyes.
"Did you think I was going to say something else?" Benjamin asked.
He handed me a black card. "There's no spending limit. Just a little something for all you've done for my family."
I bowed my head, hiding the disappointment in my eyes. And just like that, what I feared had come true.
Maybe, to him, I was just someone he hired to take care of things.
"Thanks," I said, accepting it without making a fuss.
I deserved it, and honestly, I really needed the money.
Benjamin then continued, "For the past three years, I've been managing the overseas branch. Even meals and sleep had to be squeezed in whenever I could.
"It took everything I had just to get a foothold in the company. You know how it is. Growing up in a family like ours, we only get to say no if we have real power."
I nodded silently, trying to figure out what he was really getting at.
Before I could even process what he meant, Benjamin just came right out with it.
He said, "Our parents set up the whole marriage thing. We were way too young back then to even think about saying no. But it's different now. I won't be the one holding you back anymore."
As soon as he said that, those rumors about him before he came back popped into my mind.
Word around the circle was, Benjamin came back just to get a divorce.
He'd been forced into this marriage and had to break up with his first love of eight years. Now that he'd finally inherited everything, the first thing he did was come back to end it.
I forced down the ache and nodded. "Okay, let's get divorced."
Three years of waiting and all the snide remarks from people around me had burned out any love I ever had for him.
All that remained was just the wreckage of a broken heart that used to care.
I kept my head down, absently rubbing the black card in my hand. I couldn't see the flicker in Benjamin's eyes when he heard my answer.
His voice was indifferent. "Is this what you've been waiting for?"
Had I? Maybe.
Maybe I had, back when his family scolded me for not being able to keep a man, or when his friends mocked me, calling me a clown.
Maybe I really had hoped for a divorce.
My eyes shifted from confusion to determination, and finally, with resolve, I answered, "Yes."
*****
Benjamin was quick. The next day, his assistant, George, showed up with the divorce papers.
I barely glanced at the other clauses, stopping only at the part about splitting assets.
[1. Bank Deposits. The husband will transfer $16 million from his account to the wife, as soon as the divorce goes through.]
[2. Shares. The husband will transfer 10% of the Pierce Group's shares to the wife, as soon as the divorce goes through.]
Seeing me hesitate, George reminded me, "Mr. Pierce said if you have any other requests, just speak up."
I pointed at the shares section. "I don't want the shares. I want the house in Ncouauck instead."
George froze, waiting for instructions from his earpiece.
"Agree to it," came the reply.