Chapter 1 · The Script Of My Marriage

After another fight over Chloe Galvan, Francisco Sterling's childhood sweetheart, I threw the divorce papers at him.

He glanced through them and gave me a cold stare.

"You're just taking the kid and leaving with nothing. Are you really sure about this?" he asked.

I was about to nod when I saw the comments popping up.

[This chick has been a stay-at-home mom for eight years. She's got no way to make money after a divorce. She'll work herself to death, and her husband will be the one dealing with her body.]

[The worst part is that he gets rich within a year of the divorce and hooks up with his childhood sweetheart. The kid she raised all by herself ends up calling someone else "mom".]

I grabbed the divorce papers as fast as I could and forced a smile.

"Have you ever heard of a marriage test? That was just a little game.

"Congratulations, you passed the test!" I said.

Divorce?

No way! He was my dearest husband.

*****

In the study, Francisco didn't even glance up from his keyboard, his fingers tapping lazily.

He replied, "Divorce? Christina, have you been watching too many TV series lately?

"If you're really so free, why don't you go check on Lucas's homework?"

If it were the old me, his smug face would have made me furious and ready to stomp around in frustration.

But now, I was totally unbothered.

I could even beam a sugary-sweet smile straight at that face I used to hate.

I smiled, "I'm just kidding. You didn't actually take me seriously, did you?"

Francisco finally shot me a glance.

He flashed that same old perfunctory smile I knew all too well.

"Christina, I'm busy. I don't have time for your games," he said.

In other words, he wanted me out.

I got the message loud and clear. I swallowed down that sudden ache in my chest and made myself vanish from Francisco's line of sight.

That night, I cooked up a whole table full of Francisco's favorite dishes.

With an extra sweet smile, I carefully served him a piece of steak, eager to please.

I beamed, "Honey, you've worked so hard. Have more!"

Lucas snuck up beside me, his big eyes wide and sparkling with curiosity.

He whispered to me, "Mom, you're not mad at Dad anymore?"

I paused for a moment.

Those bullet comments from earlier flashed through my mind again.

[She's such an idiot. Getting divorced over nonsense like this? For real, I can't believe her.]

[Exactly! Divorce now and she will lose out on a jackpot. Stay strong. Don't let go.]

By the way, Chloe had just posted the lunch he gave her all over her feed.

That was what really set me off, so I fired those divorce papers straight at him.

Now that I thought about it, I acted totally on impulse.

After all, those comments had basically spoiled what was coming next for me.

Not long after the divorce, Francisco would nail that big project he was working on.

He'd be raking in tens of millions a year, jumping straight into the top wealth bracket.

Meanwhile, I'd walk away with nothing, struggling to find a job, and end up doing one of those mind-numbing, low-barrier factory jobs anybody could get.

In the end, I'd get dust lung disease and literally work myself to death in that place.

I took a deep breath, letting my face soften right away.

I reached out and gently mussed his hair.

"Lucas, I'm really not mad at your dad," I said.

I looked up and caught Francisco watching me, so I flashed him a bright smile.

"I'm just teasing your dad.

"Too bad his acting's so lousy that he can't keep up with my game.

"Right, honey?" I shot him a flirty wink.

Francisco just shot me a blank look and ignored me.

My smile stiffened a bit.

Anyway, I was not backing down just yet. If I couldn't win over his heart, then I would try my best to arouse his desire.

That night, I set the mood with scented candles and oils, snuck up beside Francisco, slipped my arm around his shoulder, and started gently kneading his muscles.

I said, "Feeling tired? How about a back rub with some oils?

"I guarantee you'll love it. My skills are top notch!"

But Francisco just brushed me off.

"Don't bother," he said dismissively.

Then he grabbed his pajamas and made a beeline straight for the bathroom.

I shot him a playful, unimpressed smirk.

"Go ahead and hide now. Let's see how long you can keep it up, Francisco," I said.

Chapter 1

After another fight over Chloe Galvan, Francisco Sterling's childhood sweetheart, I threw the divorce papers at him.

He glanced through them and gave me a cold stare.

"You're just taking the kid and leaving with nothing. Are you really sure about this?" he asked.

I was about to nod when I saw the comments popping up.

[This chick has been a stay-at-home mom for eight years. She's got no way to make money after a divorce. She'll work herself to death, and her husband will be the one dealing with her body.]

[The worst part is that he gets rich within a year of the divorce and hooks up with his childhood sweetheart. The kid she raised all by herself ends up calling someone else "mom".]

I grabbed the divorce papers as fast as I could and forced a smile.

"Have you ever heard of a marriage test? That was just a little game.

"Congratulations, you passed the test!" I said.

Divorce?

No way! He was my dearest husband.

*****

In the study, Francisco didn't even glance up from his keyboard, his fingers tapping lazily.

He replied, "Divorce? Christina, have you been watching too many TV series lately?

"If you're really so free, why don't you go check on Lucas's homework?"

If it were the old me, his smug face would have made me furious and ready to stomp around in frustration.

But now, I was totally unbothered.

I could even beam a sugary-sweet smile straight at that face I used to hate.

I smiled, "I'm just kidding. You didn't actually take me seriously, did you?"

Francisco finally shot me a glance.

He flashed that same old perfunctory smile I knew all too well.

"Christina, I'm busy. I don't have time for your games," he said.

In other words, he wanted me out.

I got the message loud and clear. I swallowed down that sudden ache in my chest and made myself vanish from Francisco's line of sight.

That night, I cooked up a whole table full of Francisco's favorite dishes.

With an extra sweet smile, I carefully served him a piece of steak, eager to please.

I beamed, "Honey, you've worked so hard. Have more!"

Lucas snuck up beside me, his big eyes wide and sparkling with curiosity.

He whispered to me, "Mom, you're not mad at Dad anymore?"

I paused for a moment.

Those bullet comments from earlier flashed through my mind again.

[She's such an idiot. Getting divorced over nonsense like this? For real, I can't believe her.]

[Exactly! Divorce now and she will lose out on a jackpot. Stay strong. Don't let go.]

By the way, Chloe had just posted the lunch he gave her all over her feed.

That was what really set me off, so I fired those divorce papers straight at him.

Now that I thought about it, I acted totally on impulse.

After all, those comments had basically spoiled what was coming next for me.

Not long after the divorce, Francisco would nail that big project he was working on.

He'd be raking in tens of millions a year, jumping straight into the top wealth bracket.

Meanwhile, I'd walk away with nothing, struggling to find a job, and end up doing one of those mind-numbing, low-barrier factory jobs anybody could get.

In the end, I'd get dust lung disease and literally work myself to death in that place.

I took a deep breath, letting my face soften right away.

I reached out and gently mussed his hair.

"Lucas, I'm really not mad at your dad," I said.

I looked up and caught Francisco watching me, so I flashed him a bright smile.

"I'm just teasing your dad.

"Too bad his acting's so lousy that he can't keep up with my game.

"Right, honey?" I shot him a flirty wink.

Francisco just shot me a blank look and ignored me.

My smile stiffened a bit.

Anyway, I was not backing down just yet. If I couldn't win over his heart, then I would try my best to arouse his desire.

That night, I set the mood with scented candles and oils, snuck up beside Francisco, slipped my arm around his shoulder, and started gently kneading his muscles.

I said, "Feeling tired? How about a back rub with some oils?

"I guarantee you'll love it. My skills are top notch!"

But Francisco just brushed me off.

"Don't bother," he said dismissively.

Then he grabbed his pajamas and made a beeline straight for the bathroom.

I shot him a playful, unimpressed smirk.

"Go ahead and hide now. Let's see how long you can keep it up, Francisco," I said.