Chapter 2

Six years ago, Henry and his father were framed and suffered a tragic car accident. Henry's father died instantly, and Henry was left severely injured. Nolan Group nearly went bankrupt.

Hearing the terrible news while living overseas, Claire didn't think twice before flying back. She went to Henry's mother, Lisa, and said that her family was ready to propose a marriage alliance.

Lisa looked at her and asked, "Why would you do this?"

Claire replied honestly, "I've had feelings for him since high school. I can't just turn my back on him."

And so, Claire married Henry while he was still unconscious, and helped the Nolans survive their darkest hour.

A month later, Henry woke up. The moment he found out Claire was his wife, he was taken aback—but the way he looked at her was nothing but gentle.

"Hi, I'm Henry Nolan. Let's make the most of our lives together," he said softly, his gaze full of warmth.

From then on, Henry spoiled Claire endlessly—whatever she wanted, he fulfilled without hesitation.

But ever since Henry brought Penny into the house a month ago, everything had flipped upside down.

"Claire, you called her a homewrecker? What about you—marrying me when I was out cold?" Henry lashed out, voice icy and hard.

Henry's words hit Claire like steel spikes, piercing right through her chest.

Claire's mind went blank—she just stood there, stunned.

Marrying him while he was unconscious?

Before she even had time to react, her body seemed to lose all weight—she plunged back into the freezing sea. Saltwater crashed into her chest, flooding her senses, and her world dissolved into darkness.

When Claire finally came to, she was already in the hospital.

Her lungs were burning from all the seawater she'd swallowed, and every breath was a sharp, painful struggle.

Claire stared up at the ceiling, her eyes growing misty with unshed tears.

When in her whole life had she ever been treated like this?

She grabbed her phone with trembling hands, calling her brother, Gary Ashton, who was still overseas. Her voice sounded cracked and raw, barely holding it together.

"Get me a divorce agreement and a ticket home. Once it's done, take back every single favor the Ashtons ever gave the Nolans," she said, sounding colder than ever.

She paused for a moment, then her voice dropped to a whisper. "One more thing, I need everything you can find on a woman named Penny Davis."

Gary was lightning fast—he had both the divorce papers and the plane ticket ready by the very next day.

But when it came to Penny, Gary still hadn't managed to dig up anything solid. Claire wasn't stressed about it, though; she knew patience always paid off.

With a thirty-day cooling-off period before the divorce went through, she had plenty of time to unravel every last detail.

Lisa had barely gotten the news out in the countryside before she was tearing back to the city overnight. As soon as she saw Claire lying in that hospital bed, struggling to even get a word out, her heart ached, and her anger burned hotter than ever.

"Unbelievable! Henry actually did this to you over some other woman?" she fumed, barely holding back tears.

"Claire, I'm heading straight to him. I swear I'll make that brat beg for your forgiveness." Her voice shook with both outrage and heartbreak.

"Lisa, don't. Please," Claire said firmly, grabbing Lisa's arm to stop her. Then she reached over to the nightstand and picked up the divorce papers.

"I haven't asked you for anything in all the six years I've been part of the Nolans. This one time, can you help me? Just take these papers to him."

Lisa's eyes widened in shock as she looked at the paperwork. "Claire, are you really going to get a divorce?"

Claire just nodded, her face empty of all emotion.

Lisa watched her for a long moment before finally letting out a heavy sigh. "Henry's really not good enough for you."

Watching Lisa leave with the divorce papers, Claire's chest tightened with bittersweet sorrow.

She'd really thought she could spend her whole life with Henry, even if he didn't love her too much—maybe that was all she ever wanted, and she got exactly what she wished for.

However, it took her six years to finally figure that out that he really couldn't spare a glance at her.

A bitter smile tugged briefly at Claire's lips—she'd just closed her eyes to rest when the hospital room door slammed open, and Henry's furious voice crashed in.

"Claire, you really know how to call in backup. Got my mom here to fight your battles now?" Henry spat, his tone dripping with contempt.

Before she could say a word, he slammed a wad of checks right against her chest.

It didn't hurt, but it felt like a punch to the gut—her chest tightened, and she could barely breathe.

Claire clenched her fists, and when she looked up, she saw Penny standing right behind Henry, her face cold and unyielding.

"Claire, I didn't even bother with you calling me a homewrecker last time, but now you send Lisa over with a check to humiliate me? What do you want?"

Penny stepped forward, her words sharp as knives.

"I'm not interested in marrying Henry, and I don't need your money. Your husband is the one who keeps chasing after me—how about you worry about your own man instead of coming for me?"

Claire just scoffed, barely holding back a laugh. "Are you crazy? Should I pay for you to get your head checked?"

Penny's cheeks burned with embarrassment as she tore her hand out of Henry's grip.

"Mr. Nolan, I'm packing up and moving out today. I don't want your money or your help, and from now on, we'll mind our own business, so no one calls me a homewrecker ever again."

"Penny, don't go." Henry panicked, grabbing her in a desperate hug, sweat beading on his forehead. "What am I supposed to do if you leave?"

"Mr. Nolan, please watch your manners," Penny snapped, wrenching herself free and storming out without even looking back.

As soon as Penny stomped out, Henry whipped around and clamped Claire's chin in a bruising grip, like he was about to crush her bones.

"Claire, I'm telling you—better keep your distance from Penny," he growled, voice cold and razor-sharp.

"If I ever catch you hurting her again, you'll have hell to pay!"

Watching Henry rush out after Penny without a second thought, Claire couldn't stop herself from clenching her fists.