Chapter 1

After three days of no word from my husband and son, I dragged myself to the hospital alone for a cyst removal surgery.

We'd been married for seven years, and honestly, it was only a sense of obligation that had kept us together. Faithfulness was a matter of choice—pure self-restraint, nothing more.

My husband, Charles Sinclair, was always busy at work, but this time, not even a single message during my surgery—it was just too much.

The day I got out of the hospital, Charles finally called. "Emily, how's your incision doing?"

I answered flatly, "Three days missing. So, did you get caught in bed while cheating, or did you just disappear to get married?"

There was a quiet pause before Charles gave a guilty sigh. "Sorry, Emily. It's just the signal here, really bad."

Fuming, I hung up the phone. When I got home, there was a photo waiting for me in the mail.

In that photo, my husband and son were cuddled up with Charles's first love, and the three of them looked like a happy family.

It turned out that while I was laid up in the hospital, they'd snuck off on a cozy little trip together.

I sat in silence the whole morning, numb and staring at the wall. Finally, I grabbed my phone and called the office. Without hesitation, I accepted the overseas assignment.

*****

I called the office and agreed to the overseas assignment without a second thought.

That afternoon, I packed my bags and booked a flight to Pariona.

Just as I finished simmering a pot of soup for Charles, my son Jack came flying through the door like a whirlwind. Charles shook the snow from his coat, his expression unusually gentle—a softness I hardly ever saw in him.

With practiced ease, I handed the steaming bowls of soup to them.

Once they'd finished the soup, I spoke in a low voice, "Charles, let's get a divorce."

Charles looked up in disbelief. "You want a divorce?"

I gave a gentle nod. "You're all better now. It's time for me to leave."

Back then, Charles had been badly hurt in a serious car accident. As the heir to Sinclair Group, he slipped into a coma, his life hanging by a thread.

Meanwhile, Sinclair Group was facing its worst crisis ever, with rival companies circling like vultures.

My father had been one of Sinclair Group's founding members. On his deathbed, he handed me the weight of the Sinclair family, hoping I could help them weather the storm.

To honor my father's last wish, I decided to marry Charles, stepping into the role of the Sinclair family's young mistress to steady the ship.

I stuck by him through everything, looking after him day and night while handling all the corporate drama and pressure coming from every side.

After all my tireless care and effort, Charles finally came to.

He looked at me, gratitude shining in his eyes, and he said softly, "You've done so much for me and the Sinclair family. I'll do everything I can to make you happy. Even if there's no love between us, I'll still do my best as your husband."

I held onto those words for six entire years.

Even though I knew that as Charles got back on his feet and reclaimed control of Sinclair Group, he wasn't really attached to me, I still gave it my all for him.

I cooked for him, prepared medicine, handled all the housework, took care of the elders and our child—gave it my all, every single day.

Honestly, I'd noticed something was off in our marriage for a long time.

Back when we were together, Charles and Jack would always hang around me.

But ever since Sophia Reed came back three years ago, the two of them started constantly heading out together, and every time they came home, they reeked of some woman's perfume.

It wasn't until today—when that vacation photo appeared in front of me, and the words on the back stung, clear and sharp—that I finally understood. This marriage, held together only by obligation and gratitude, had truly reached its end.

Honestly, maybe it was for the best. Charles finally found his true love, and it was time for me to set myself free, too.

From now on, we were both free to begin new lives—all on our own.

Charles frowned, confusion and concern flashing in his eyes. "What happened? Why are you talking about divorce all of a sudden?"

As he spoke, he caught sight of the opened photo on the table—and in that moment, realization dawned on him.

But instead of freaking out, he seemed to suddenly relax, almost like he'd been holding his breath until now.

Charles said, "You've got the wrong idea. It was just a school event for Jack. You weren't well, so Sophia came along to help out. There's really nothing between me and her.

"Even if there is something, it's because Sophia's the one who pretty much saved my life. She busted her ass trying to find me the right doctors, running everywhere just to get me the medicine I needed.

"I wouldn't have bounced back so fast if it wasn't for her—I seriously owe her. Don't get jealous over something like this, and please, don't go talking about divorce because of it. Seriously, that kind of stuff upsets me."