Chapter 1
I hid my identity as the Prime Minister's daughter for Paul, playing the role of his gentle, obedient wife for three years.
But for his first love, who had returned to Woodshire, he threw the divorce papers right in my face on a blizzard night.
"Sign it and get out of my mansion," Paul barked, convinced I couldn't survive without him, just waiting for me to kneel and beg for mercy.
I didn't shed a tear or make a scene. I signed swiftly. "All right, don't come to regret this."
Three days later, at the King's party, Paul watched in disbelief as I, the woman he had tossed aside like yesterday's news, stepped out of the carriage in regal bridal attire, carefully escorted by the Regent, Will Swanson, whose power dominated the kingdom.
When he saw our fingers intertwined, Paul's eyes went red with rage. He completely lost it, charging at us in a frenzy.
But before he could get close, a cold blade was already pressed to his throat.
Will pulled me behind him, his voice low and commanding. "Do you really think you can even stare at my woman?"
*****
"Sign it and get out of my mansion," Paul barked.
He slapped the divorce papers right across my face.
Paul towered over me, his eyes brimming with impatience and disgust.
Outside, the wind howled and a blizzard raged.
Tonight was the coldest night Woodshire had seen in three years, and it was also the night Vanessa Howard came back to town.
Paul couldn't even wait a single night to clear the way for her.
I picked up the divorce papers from the floor. This marriage, which I once cherished as something precious, now seemed nothing more than a joke.
I didn't cry, didn't beg, my hand didn't even shake.
I picked up the pen and signed my name.
My movements were so fluid and quick that Paul didn't even have time to react.
All the sarcasm and insults he had prepared got stuck in his throat.
"Belinda, don't come to regret this," Paul threatened.
He stared at my calm face, and an inexplicable surge of annoyance bubbled up inside him.
"Once you leave the General's Mansion, once you leave me, you won't last a day in Woodshire. Don't think your little tricks will work. Vanessa can't stand being wronged. The title of my wife belongs to her, and only her," Paul added.
I set the pen down and looked up at him.
This was the man I had loved for three years.
For him, I hid my identity as the Prime Minister's daughter, became the perfect housewife, and stood by his side as he climbed all the way to the top, becoming the General everyone feared and respected.
Now, all I could see was a man I couldn't stand to look at anymore.
"Don't worry, General. From now on, we'll never cross paths again—not in this life, or the next," I said, my voice icy and unwavering.
With no regrets, I opened the door and stepped out into the raging blizzard.
The wind cut across my face like knives, but it wasn't even a fraction as cold as the emptiness inside me.
Behind me, I heard the sound of a cup shattering in Paul's rage.
"Let her go! Let's see how long she can keep up her pride. She'll be crawling back, begging at the mansion gate within three days," Paul shouted.
Beg?
Paul, you really don't know who you're dealing with, and you've got me all wrong.
I pulled my thin cloak tighter and stumbled through the snow, step by step, toward the mouth of the alley.
There, a jet-black carriage with gold-trimmed wood had been waiting for me for ages.
The lamps glowed dimly, casting a hush that lingered after the storm.
The guard by the carriage saw me coming and silently lowered the step.
I stepped up and lifted the curtain, slipping inside.
The carriage was warm as spring, and a subtle scent of ambergris lingered in the air.
The Regent, Will Swanson, was lounging on a luxurious couch, idly turning an emerald ring between his fingers.
When I entered, his charming eyes—always carrying a hint of amusement and a touch of menace—arched slightly as he noticed me.
"Ms. Parham, you really played the victim well," he said, a hint of mockery in his tone.
I stayed silent, taking a seat across from him.
Snowflakes melted at the ends of my hair, sliding down my cheeks and dripping onto my collar.
Will leaned forward, his long fingers gently brushing away the unmelted snow between my brows.
His touch was warm, but the way he moved left no room for refusal—there was an unmistakable dominance in his gesture.
"Have you thought it through?" Will asked.
His voice was low, with a hint of something dangerously persuasive.
I lifted my head—gone was the meek general's wife. In her place was the icy pride and sharp confidence of the Prime Minister's daughter.
"As long as you help me bring Paul Harrison to ruin, my whole family will stand behind you," I said, my tone firm.
That was what my father wanted too.
Right now, the political landscape was full of twists and turns. Will was at the height of his power, while Paul had become nothing more than a weapon in the Queen Mother's hands.
If Paul can be so cold and unfeeling, then he shouldn't blame me for being merciless in return.
Will let out a low chuckle, his fingers sliding down my cheek before gently gripping my chin.
"Deal," he said.
"And more than that, I'll make sure you're protected in every way. Whatever Paul owes you, I'll make him pay it back a thousandfold."
The carriage crushed the snow beneath its wheels and pulled away into the night.
I leaned against the wall of the carriage and closed my eyes.
Paul, your nightmare starts now.