Chapter 1

After signing the divorce papers, Stephen Archer tossed a bank card at me with a look of utter disgust.

He said, "There's 200 thousand in there. That's more than enough for a woman like you to live out the rest of your days."

I didn't say a word. I just turned around and headed straight to the bank.

First, I changed the PINs on every single account under my name. Then, I canceled the supplementary card my ex-mother-in-law had been using to blow through millions.

Sure enough, he lost his mind the next day. He roared over the phone, "Skylar, what the hell are you playing at? My mother is being treated like a criminal at the mall. Do you have a death wish?"

I gave a light chuckle and hung up. Without missing a beat, I logged into his company's accounts and transferred out the ten billion dollars that rightfully belonged to me.

*****

The afternoon sun glaring off the courthouse steps was almost blinding.

I clutched the final divorce decree so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

Standing across from me was Stephen. He wore a custom suit, his handsome face showing a mix of sheer relief and undisguised contempt.

"Skylar, we were married for three years. I've done more than enough," he said.

He pulled a bank card from his wallet, holding it between two fingers.

He looked down his nose at me like he was tossing spare change to a beggar. "There's 200 thousand on this. It's plenty for a clueless woman like you to find some quiet little town and settle down.

"Don't ever come looking for me again. And don't go around telling people you're my ex-wife. I can't afford the embarrassment."

I looked up and met his gaze.

For three long years, I had played the perfect housewife. I cooked for him, hid my own ambitions, and pretended to be a helpless trophy wife who completely depended on his wealth to survive.

He was so used to my submissive act that he genuinely believed I would be nothing without him.

I didn't take the card. I just smiled faintly. "Stephen, did you forget we signed a prenup?"

My voice was perfectly steady.

Stephen froze for a second before letting out a harsh laugh, as if I had just told the funniest joke in the world.

"Our prenup? Oh, you mean the separate property clause." He scoffed. "What property do you even have, Skylar?

"Your inheritance was blown by your deadbeat brother years ago. Do you even have three grand to your name right now?

"You don't have the right to talk to me about separate property."

I nodded, realizing there was no point in arguing. "I wish you and your precious childhood sweetheart a long and happy life together."

With that, I turned on my heel and walked away without looking back.

Behind me, I could hear his arrogant scoff.

I hailed a cab. Instead of going home, I headed straight for the largest bank headquarters downtown.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. How can I help you today?" the VIP client manager asked respectfully.

"I need to change the PINs on all seventeen of my accounts," I instructed. "And I want to immediately cancel all supplementary cards and authorized user privileges."

The manager looked stunned for a brief second but quickly regained his professional composure and began typing.

One of those supplementary cards belonged to Charlotte Archer, Stephen's mother.

For three years, she had used my money to buy designer bags, bid at exclusive art auctions, and fly to another city for haute couture, blowing through millions.

Yet, behind my back, she gossiped to her high-society friends that I was a cheap, uncultured daughter-in-law who only knew how to pinch pennies.

Once everything was processed, I stared at the dizzying string of numbers on my mobile banking app. Then, I dialed a number I hadn't called in three years.

"Well, well. S. You finally remembered your old friend?" a bright male voice answered.

"Jack," I said. "I need a favor. I want to short Archer Technologies."

There was a solid three seconds of silence before Jack burst into ecstatic laughter. "My queen. You're finally back!

"Archer Technologies? That garbage company Stephen runs? How did he piss you off?"

"I just divorced him."

"Holy hell! Brilliant! Don't worry about a thing. Give me three days, and I'll make sure he loses the shirt off his back."

I ended the call and let out a long, heavy sigh. Three years of suppression and pretending vanished in an instant.

Skylar was dead. From today on, I was just S.

*****

The next morning, I was relaxing in a luxury downtown penthouse. I sipped my pour-over coffee and admired the city skyline, soaking in my newly reclaimed single life.

My phone shattered the peace. The screen flashed Stephen's name.

I took my time answering, put him on speaker, and set the phone down.

"Skylar, what the hell are you playing at?!" His furious roar echoed through the room the second the call connected. "My mother is being held at the mall!

"They think she's a fraud using a stolen card. You need to transfer the money right now! Do you hear me?"

I casually blew on my hot coffee. "Stephen, we divorced yesterday. She's your mother, not mine. If you want to be a good son, pay for it yourself."

I paused, letting a cold edge creep into my voice. "Besides, that card belongs to me. I can cancel it whenever I want. It is none of your business."

I could hear his heavy, ragged breathing through the speaker.

He sounded like he was on the verge of a heart attack. "Your card? Have you lost your mind? Where would you get the money for an unlimited black card? I gave that to you!"

"Did you?" I laughed softly. "Then you can use your own money to bail your mother out right now."

I ended the call and permanently blocked his number.

Finally, the world was quiet.