Chapter 1 · The Prenup Betrayal

I didn't say a word. My hands were trembling as I took the prenup from Richard.

I flipped through it quickly, scanning the pages.

The contract wasn't long, just a few pages.

Every detail was spelled out, from pre-marital assets to post-marital property rights. Nothing was left vague.

Richard's entire fortune had nothing to do with me.

The only thing worth mentioning was this.

The contract stated that after we got married, he'd transfer a spacious penthouse in the city center to my name and give me 30,000 dollars a month as pocket money.

After reading through the contract, I felt my emotions settle.

By then, I'd already calmed down.

Richard lit a cigarette, his eyes unreadable as he looked at me. "Have you made up your mind?" he asked in a low voice.

I nodded calmly. "I have."

With that, I picked up the pen from the table and signed my name on the agreement without hesitation.

Richard raised an eyebrow, stubbed out his cigarette, and smiled.

"You're smart," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Not like those women out there who want it all: money, status, and love."

I didn't say anything.

The hand I used to sign was still trembling.

I knew deep down I wasn't any different from the others.

If I had to say there was a difference, it was that I was just more practical, maybe a bit more materialistic.

When I realized Richard had deceived me and didn't even feel guilty about it, I could've broken down in tears or thrown a tantrum.

I could've cried, I could've caused a fuss.

But if I let my feelings run wild and left in a blaze of emotion, I'd walk away empty-handed.

Rather than doing that, it was better to calmly accept the terms Richard offered.

The penthouse in the city center was worth nearly 3 million dollars.

I might not get his love.

At least I'd have a big pile of cold, hard cash.

Everything happened so fast.

Once we got the certificate, Richard headed straight to the office.

I went to a café with my girlfriend for afternoon tea.

After I spilled everything that went down, my friend just stared at me, totally stunned.

She looked like she was about to say something, but stopped herself, still in shock.

"Sophie, do you really like Richard that much?" my friend finally asked.

I froze for a second, then smiled and shook my head.

"Of course not," I replied.

Hearing that, she let out a quiet sigh of relief and said, "Richard Lane is a divorced guy, not exactly squeaky clean, plus he's got a kid. Why would you even agree to marry him?

"And besides, he acted poor and lied to you. All these years, he never even gave you anything nice."

I'd been with Richard for two years.

Honestly, I didn't get a single decent gift from him.

The priciest thing he ever gave me was just a skincare set worth 70 dollars.

Not long ago, I searched Richard Lane online and saw that he'd casually hand out designer bags to his employees, each worth tens of thousands of dollars.

I swallowed the strange feeling in my chest and tried to play it cool. "I know all that already, but hey, he's giving me 30,000 dollars a month as pocket money."

My friend smirked, then added with a sly grin.

"But let's be real who wouldn't want a rich husband who's hardly ever home?"

I laughed along with her.

I was laughing, but there were tears stinging at the corners of my eyes.

After Richard came clean, I kept reminding myself over and over.

I married him for his wealth, his influence, and the title of Mrs. Lane.

But why?

Why did I still feel that ache inside?

It was almost time for Leo Lane to get out of school.

After saying goodbye to my friend, I drove straight over to the school.

Soon, I arrived at the school entrance.

I'd done this so many times that it was second nature to me.

The teacher handed Leo over to me without a second thought.

But the little guy was clearly sulking, his tiny hands clinging stubbornly to the seat, refusing to let go.

When we pulled up to the villa, I was about to pick him up and carry him out of the car.

Just as I reached for him, he finally looked up at me, his eyes filled with tears.

He looked up at me, tears shining in his eyes.

"Sophie, are you mad at me?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Chapter 1

I didn't say a word. My hands were trembling as I took the prenup from Richard.

I flipped through it quickly, scanning the pages.

The contract wasn't long, just a few pages.

Every detail was spelled out, from pre-marital assets to post-marital property rights. Nothing was left vague.

Richard's entire fortune had nothing to do with me.

The only thing worth mentioning was this.

The contract stated that after we got married, he'd transfer a spacious penthouse in the city center to my name and give me 30,000 dollars a month as pocket money.

After reading through the contract, I felt my emotions settle.

By then, I'd already calmed down.

Richard lit a cigarette, his eyes unreadable as he looked at me. "Have you made up your mind?" he asked in a low voice.

I nodded calmly. "I have."

With that, I picked up the pen from the table and signed my name on the agreement without hesitation.

Richard raised an eyebrow, stubbed out his cigarette, and smiled.

"You're smart," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Not like those women out there who want it all: money, status, and love."

I didn't say anything.

The hand I used to sign was still trembling.

I knew deep down I wasn't any different from the others.

If I had to say there was a difference, it was that I was just more practical, maybe a bit more materialistic.

When I realized Richard had deceived me and didn't even feel guilty about it, I could've broken down in tears or thrown a tantrum.

I could've cried, I could've caused a fuss.

But if I let my feelings run wild and left in a blaze of emotion, I'd walk away empty-handed.

Rather than doing that, it was better to calmly accept the terms Richard offered.

The penthouse in the city center was worth nearly 3 million dollars.

I might not get his love.

At least I'd have a big pile of cold, hard cash.

Everything happened so fast.

Once we got the certificate, Richard headed straight to the office.

I went to a café with my girlfriend for afternoon tea.

After I spilled everything that went down, my friend just stared at me, totally stunned.

She looked like she was about to say something, but stopped herself, still in shock.

"Sophie, do you really like Richard that much?" my friend finally asked.

I froze for a second, then smiled and shook my head.

"Of course not," I replied.

Hearing that, she let out a quiet sigh of relief and said, "Richard Lane is a divorced guy, not exactly squeaky clean, plus he's got a kid. Why would you even agree to marry him?

"And besides, he acted poor and lied to you. All these years, he never even gave you anything nice."

I'd been with Richard for two years.

Honestly, I didn't get a single decent gift from him.

The priciest thing he ever gave me was just a skincare set worth 70 dollars.

Not long ago, I searched Richard Lane online and saw that he'd casually hand out designer bags to his employees, each worth tens of thousands of dollars.

I swallowed the strange feeling in my chest and tried to play it cool. "I know all that already, but hey, he's giving me 30,000 dollars a month as pocket money."

My friend smirked, then added with a sly grin.

"But let's be real who wouldn't want a rich husband who's hardly ever home?"

I laughed along with her.

I was laughing, but there were tears stinging at the corners of my eyes.

After Richard came clean, I kept reminding myself over and over.

I married him for his wealth, his influence, and the title of Mrs. Lane.

But why?

Why did I still feel that ache inside?

It was almost time for Leo Lane to get out of school.

After saying goodbye to my friend, I drove straight over to the school.

Soon, I arrived at the school entrance.

I'd done this so many times that it was second nature to me.

The teacher handed Leo over to me without a second thought.

But the little guy was clearly sulking, his tiny hands clinging stubbornly to the seat, refusing to let go.

When we pulled up to the villa, I was about to pick him up and carry him out of the car.

Just as I reached for him, he finally looked up at me, his eyes filled with tears.

He looked up at me, tears shining in his eyes.

"Sophie, are you mad at me?" he asked, his voice trembling.