Chapter 2

Truth be told, my marriage to Joel was complicated right from the start. It was never about love.

I was an only child and the sole heir to the Neely Group.

But I had absolutely no interest in business. I just wanted to study medicine and become a doctor.

After discussing it thoroughly with my parents, we decided to choose a husband from a family that matched ours, someone truly capable, who could help shoulder the responsibility of the Neely Group for me.

And when we had kids, we could hand Neely Group over to them.

Joel was the one we chose.

Even though the Coffman Group was still a long way from matching the Neely Group, I set my sights on him.

He was sharp and capable. In his hands, the Coffman Group doubled its market value in just three years.

When we got married, everyone called it a powerhouse alliance.

Even I thought so back then.

That was why, after all the scandals between Joel and Tamsyn, I still tolerated him.

After all, men would be men. Going out, socializing, and even flirting a bit was just part of the game.

But he should never have crossed my bottom line.

Just then, my phone rang.

It was Joel's father, Trevor Coffman.

Trevor said, "Tracy, I saw what's blowing up online. Don't let it get to you. It's probably just gossip with no real proof.

"Joel's always buried in work. He'd never betray you.

"This matter is definitely on him. Don't worry, I'll make sure Joel clears things up and sets things straight for you."

Two hours later, Joel's parents dragged him through the door.

Joel's face was stormy. The moment he stepped inside, he yelled at me, "Tracy, did you buy that hot search?"

I sat on the couch, not even bothering to look up. "What do you think?"

"You're despicable!" Joel's face was twisted with fury. "Tracy, you seriously disgust me. Pulling cheap shots like this to make me cave?"

With that, he charged at me, grabbed the ashtray off the coffee table, and hurled it right at my head.

The ashtray grazed my forehead as it flew past, smashing into the wall and exploding into shards.

Trevor's face went ghostly pale with shock, and he slapped Joel hard across the face. "Are you out of your mind? Tracy is your wife. If you ever hurt her, I'll beat you to death."

Joel clutched his cheek, staring at his dad in utter disbelief.

"Dad, you hit me? She's the one who started all this." Joel's eyes reddened with anger.

I shot them a cold look, frowned, and stood up. "Let's get this over with and sign the papers."

The doorbell rang just then.

The lawyer stood at the door, holding a folder. "Ms. Neely, the divorce papers are ready."

Joel whipped his head around, staring at me like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Divorce papers? Tracy, you're divorcing me?"

I took the papers and tossed them onto the coffee table. "Sign it."

Joel stared at the divorce papers, his fingers trembling.

"I'm not signing," he snapped, his eyes red and brimming with emotion. "Tracy, it's just a bracelet. Are you really divorcing me over a bracelet?

"If you're mad, I'll make it up to you. I'll get you ten, twenty, all exactly the same. Let's not divorce, okay?"

I looked up at Joel, his face streaked with tears, but my heart was stone cold.

I said, my voice icy, "Joel, that was an emerald bracelet. My grandmother gave it to me right before she passed away.

"I told you before, that bracelet was the last thing she left me. It was her keepsake to me."

When I was a kid, my parents were always busy with work, so Grandma was the one who looked after me.

She passed away when I was sixteen.

Just before she left, she took my hand and slipped the bracelet into my palm.

She said, "Tracy, Grandma can't stay with you anymore. You have to take care of yourself, okay? Be good, and live well."

I'd told Joel about it in our very first year of marriage, and reminded him more than once that the bracelet was the keepsake my grandmother left me.

"Tracy, I'm sorry." Joel froze, his expression stiffening. "I... I was really wrong. I know I messed up. Can you forgive me this once, please?"

Joel's whole demeanor crumpled, his voice low and humble.

Trevor quickly chimed in, trying to smooth things over. "Tracy, Joel wasn't thinking straight.

"Guys can be careless, you know. I'll get someone to fetch the bracelet right now. Just give him another shot.

"This time, he'll behave for sure, I promise."

I snorted. "You really think saying sorry is enough to make up for all the crap he'd pulled?"

"Tracy, don't worry. We'll take care of that whole Tamsyn mess too," Trevor said.

Worried Joel might not go along with it, Trevor shot him a look, urging him to say something.