Chapter 1

Michael Foster and I were married for five years, and for a long time, I thought we were truly in love.

But then he sent my father to prison, caused my mother's death, and destroyed everything my family had built.

That was when I realized that, after five years of marriage, I was nothing more than a pawn in his hands.

He'd been plotting for years.

And he'd been scheming against me for just as long.

That night, at the cemetery, Michael pulled me into his arms from behind, his voice dripping with menace like a demon whispering in the dark. "Eve, don't cry. If you lose the baby, your dad's days in prison will get a whole lot worse."

I didn't cry.

With my unborn child still inside me, I lay sprawled in a sea of blood, my breath fading for the last time.

But Michael, the ever-calculating mastermind, suddenly snapped and went completely insane.

*****

On the day of my mother's funeral, Michael was throwing a huge art exhibition in Harborlean.

The man who once called my father his mentor, always so humble and deferential.

But now, he was showing off like never before, bringing along his true love and inviting almost half of the city to the show.

Among the guests were all of my father's fellow disciples and students, as well as every single one of my mother's friends and relatives.

During the live stream, the media pressed Michael for his thoughts on my father's imprisonment and my mother's death.

He laughed bitterly. "I guess this is what they call 'serves you right'?"

I was alone in my mother's memorial hall, from the first light of dawn until deep into the night.

Not a single soul came to pay their respects.

The candle flickering in front of her memorial tablet was nearly spent.

I braced myself against the floor, struggling to stand and light another one.

But the moment I got up, my vision blurred and darkness closed in—I almost collapsed right then and there.

Jennie King, our family's nanny for over a decade, was quick to react. She rushed over and caught me just in time.

She was the only one who stayed after everything happened to the my family.

Her face was already streaked with tears, and as she held me up, she finally choked up, unable to hold back her sobs.

She said, "Ma'am, maybe you should try to make peace with Mr. Foster.

"I know you hate him, but there's still a long road ahead. Your health matters most."

I'd been standing there all day, not a drop of water or a bite of food passing my lips.

I'd been numb for so long, but the moment I stood up, the pain crashed over me out of nowhere.

First came a sudden dizzy spell, then that rusty bitterness in my throat, and finally, my stomach churned like it was about to turn inside out.

Eventually, all the pain seemed to settle right in my lower belly.

I couldn't control it anymore—I hunched over, clutching my stomach in agony.

Still, I forced every word out, making sure Jennie could hear me loud and clear. "Jennie, even if it kills me, I will never bow to him again."

Just then, the front door swung open.

Michael's footsteps came closer, his sneer dripping with sarcasm. "Look at you, still acting tough."

*****

Michael and I had been married for five years, and for a long time, I thought we were truly in love.

But this was the first time he'd ever spoken to me like that.

Even though I'd already faced the truth, for a split second, I still felt a wave of disbelief.

He walked in from the doorway, towering over me, his gaze icy and detached.

His shoe stopped right in front of my face, and then he crouched down.

His eyes were full of amusement as he sized up my wrecked, pathetic state.

He carelessly tossed two papers in front of me.

Then he spoke in a slow, mocking tone, "Someone as stubborn as you, Eve, wouldn't want to mooch off your ex-husband's place, would you?"

His voice still carried that mocking smile, but there wasn't a trace of warmth left in it.

One was a copy of the divorce agreement I'd signed, along with the divorce certificate.

The other was the deed to my family's old house.

But the name on the deed had already been changed to Michael's.

I snapped my head up, eyes blazing with fury. "I never signed those divorce papers, and there's no way in hell you're taking my family's house!"

It's not like I'm against getting a divorce.

It's because the divorce papers say I have to leave empty-handed.

Michael let out a mocking chuckle, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Eve, you signed them yourself. What, already forgot?"

I froze for a long moment before it all came rushing back to me—months ago, when Michael was still my dad's favorite student.

He'd brought over a stack of papers, asking my dad to sign off on them.

But since my dad was out of town, he told me to sign them instead.

My dad trusted Michael so much, his golden boy. He knew I couldn't understand all the paperwork, so he just told me not to worry about it—just sign my name, it'd be all good.

That was how the divorce papers got snuck in with the rest.

Michael watched my reaction, a satisfied smirk spreading across his face. "So, you finally remembered.

"As for this house... With all the debt the James family owes, the court already put it up for auction. Honestly, you should be grateful I even bothered to buy it."

This place was once worth nearly 70 million dollars, but thanks to my family's mountain of debt, it got auctioned off for barely 15 million. What a joke.

Michael drawled, "Oh, and I almost forgot to mention—every other property and asset the James family ever owned is now under my name."

My hand shot up, trembling with rage, my teeth clenched so hard I thought they'd crack. "You snake! You monster!"

Michael caught my raised hand with ease.

But as if the mere touch repulsed him, he quickly released my hand, his face twisted in disgust.

His patience was clearly wearing thin. He stood up and called out softly to the woman waiting by the door, "Maddie, come in."

Then he glanced down at me, his eyes cold and impatient. "Eve, it's time for you to leave."

My eyes were rimmed red with tears as I turned my head—only then did I notice Madeline Lee standing in the entryway.

For years, she'd always been the type to shrink away from me, timid and scared.

But now, she stood tall, her spine straight, and her eyes practically screamed contempt for me.

She had a beige suitcase by her side, and the driver who came in right after her grabbed it and took it upstairs without even hesitating.

I recognized that suitcase the instant I saw it.

It was the one Michael said he was giving to his female cousin as a birthday present over a year ago.

Back then, I figured he was such a clueless guy when it came to picking gifts, so I went with him to the mall and chose it myself.

That cousin was never real.

Just like everything between Michael and me over the years.

Every time he pretended Madeline meant nothing to him in front of me, that was all fake too.

I struggled to my feet, determined not to look like a mess in front of them anymore.

Madeline strolled in, stopping right beside Michael, her voice sickly sweet and grating.

"Michael, this is your new house now. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to be setting up a shrine and keeping ashes here?" she said, her tone dripping with fake concern.

I suddenly had a bad feeling.

My heart thudded in my chest as I rushed straight to the altar.

I said urgently, "I'm taking the urn with me."

This was my home.

But the truth is, with all the James family's debts, the house had to be sold.

And now that Michael owned it, I had no choice but to leave.

I reached out, trying to grab the urn.

But Madeline moved at the same time—she got to it first, pressing her hand down on the urn before I could.

She looked at me, her expression oozed with insincere pity.

"Eve, the James family's houses are all gone. Even if you take your mother's urn, you don't even have anywhere to put her," Madeline said, her voice syrupy and fake.

I wasn't stupid—I knew she definitely wasn't acting out of kindness.

I lunged for the urn, desperate to grab it before she could.

But then, right as I reached for it, Madeline suddenly loosened her grip and gasped, "Oops!"

The urn crashed to the floor, sending most of the ashes scattering everywhere.

I went absolutely crazy, lunging at Madeline with only one thought in my mind—to strangle her right then and there.

But Michael grabbed her and pulled her behind him, putting himself between us.