Chapter 1

Renee Whitley caught her husband cheating.

What should someone in her position do?

Well, she didn’t hesitate. She took photos, gathered evidence, and tipped off the press.

On the day she got her divorce papers, Adam Graham, her now ex-husband, got down on one knee and pleaded during a livestream packed with reporters.

“Renee, I swear you’re the only woman I’ll ever love. Please just give me one more chance. This time, I’ll love you with my life.”

Renee barely glanced at him. “Is your life worth more than money? Wire me five billion, and I’ll marry you again right now.”

Adam shut up, and Renee walked away confidently.

-

But what was up with that one bigshot, Jasper Zeller?

After the divorce, Renee planned to focus on her career. However, someone just had to keep getting in the way.

Frustrated, she snapped, “Mr. Zeller, our partnership is over. Kindly stop telling people I’m your wife.”

Jasper’s face fell. “Okay."

But from that day on, anyone who met him heard the same thing.

“My wife ran away.”

“My wife doesn’t want me anymore.”

“If you see her, please tell her I’m waiting for her to come home.”

It wasn’t until much later that Renee realized…

Had she been tricked?!

Chapter 1

Adam Graham cheated.

Standing outside a club's dimly lit private room, Renee Whitley watched her husband, who was supposed to be out of town on a business trip, lose himself in the arms of a stunning woman.

Her mind went numb; everything went blank.

It was summer, but she felt as though she were standing in a freezer. She was chilled to the bone and her fingers trembled uncontrollably.

Suddenly, a voice next to her whispered, "I didn't know women liked watching these things live."

Renee turned her head slightly. In the dim light, she could only see the man's sharp jawline and short, slightly wavy hair. He wore sunglasses and had a cigarette dangling from his lips, giving off a carefree and rebellious vibe.

She let her eyes linger on the man for just a second before looking away, not in the mood to pay him any attention.

The man spoke again: "Is it good?"

"He's not exactly impressive, size-wise," Renee replied coolly.

He chuckled softly and teased, "You can see that? You've got sharp eyes."

Renee smiled faintly. "He's my husband."

With that, she turned and walked away gracefully.

Today was Renee and Adam's third wedding anniversary. They had planned a romantic candlelight dinner, but he suddenly said he had to leave for a business trip. It turned out that it wasn't business that had taken him away—he just couldn't resist chasing other women!

Having caught her husband red-handed, Renee couldn't find a reason to lie to herself, even if she wanted to.

Back home, sadness hit her like a wave. After crying for a while, she pulled herself together and quickly sorted out their assets, even drafting divorce papers. She thought she was strong enough. But as hours passed and Adam didn't come home, she couldn't stop crying for a long time.

To hide how tired she looked the next day, Renee put on extra foundation to cover her dark circles before changing into her work clothes and going to work.

Years ago, Adam had married her despite his parents' objections. As a result, the Graham family cut off his funds and kicked him out. Even so, he never regretted it.

Back then, Renee thought she had found her true love. So, she invested two million dollars to start a business with Adam. That company, Ascend Group, went on to succeed and was still thriving today.

Officially, Renee was the Director of Strategic Investments. However, everyone in the company knew she was really the second-in-command.

When Renee learned that Adam had returned to the company that morning, she immediately went upstairs and straight to his office. Just as she pushed the office door open a crack, she heard a girlish, teasing voice from inside.

"Come on, Adam, just one bite? I never feed people like this, you know! If you don't eat it, I'll get mad!"

"Okay, fine. I'll eat it, okay? Don't be mad, Princess Kayla."

There was a fond smile on Adam's lips, and his voice was soft and gentle. He lifted a hand to lightly ruffle the girl's hair, every move between them dripping with quiet affection. It was intimate, unspoken, and unmistakably more than just friendship.

It was a scene Renee had seen before. Only, the leading lady was different.

Her heart twisted painfully, and every nerve in her body screamed in pain.

She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and stepped inside. Then, she smirked and said, "Oh, did I come at a bad time?"

As her voice cut through the sweet moment between them, their heads snapped to her immediately.

"Renee, what are you talking about?" Adam's eyes flickered with guilt as he wiped a smear of ice cream from his lips. "T-this is Kayla. You remember Julian Spencer, right? She's his sister, who just got back from overseas. You met her before, remember?"

Kayla Spencer had big, bright eyes and rosy lips. Her hair was up in a princess-style bun, while the pale yellow dress she wore gave her a fresh, innocent look. Also, she had that sweet, first-love kind of charm that made her instantly likable.

At the sight of two clear hickeys on Kayla's neck, Renee's gaze darkened.

Last night must have been intense.

Kayla looked Renee up and down, her eyes full of disdain. "Hello, Ms. Whitley."

Back then, Adam and Renee were madly in love. Adam had given up everything just to be with her, and for a while, their love story was admired by all and was the talk of Harborview City.

The Spencer family and the Graham family had close ties, so how could Kayla not know who Renee was? But still, Kayla called her 'Ms. Whitley'.

Renee wanted to ignore her, but nodded politely out of professionalism.

Kayla's glossy lips curved into a shy smile as she naturally looped her arm through Adam's. "Adam, my brother's out of town on business today, so you promised to spend the day in the city with me. You can't break that promise just because of work."

Adam's face flushed red all of a sudden. He instinctively pulled his arm away from Kayla's touch, feeling guilty and nervous.

He barely looked at Renee as he said, "Kayla, don't be like that. I have to finish some work first."

He had brushed her off and said that to keep his wife from reading too much into things. And if Renee hadn't caught Adam and Kayla being intimate at the club last night, maybe she would have believed him.

After all, no one could deny how handsome Adam was. He usually wore well-tailored suits that showed off his tall, lean frame. With those gold-rimmed glasses and calm, composed demeanor, he had the polished charm of a gentleman. He looked refined and mature—exactly the kind of man women found hard to resist. He always had plenty of admirers, back then and now.

Renee hid the pain deep in her eyes and walked up with a stack of contracts. She flipped to the signature page and said, "These contracts are urgent. Please sign them."

Adam's heart was racing because of his wife's sudden appearance. Without reading carefully, he grabbed a pen and signed quickly.

When he was done, Renee took the contracts and said, "Go ahead and continue what you were doing. I'm leaving."

In the hallway, she opened the folder. Her eyes fell on the divorce papers at the bottom, with Adam's signature right there in black ink. As a wave of sadness washed over her, she couldn't hide the sorrow on her face.

What did it matter that they once loved each other so passionately? In the end, their love couldn't survive the test of time. What was once cherished became tiring. He got bored and found someone new.

The end of the work day soon rolled around, and Renee was exhausted. She couldn't wait to head home.

Just then, the office door opened. A big bouquet of bright red roses mixed with delicate white baby's breath came into view. Then, Adam's handsome face appeared.

"Renee, I came to pick you up."

He stepped forward and handed her the flowers, bending down to kiss her lips.

Instantly, Renee's mind flashed back to last night at the club. Feeling disgusted, she frowned and instinctively turned her head, so the kiss landed instead on her cheek.

Noticing her displeasure, Adam quickly said, "Kayla is Julian's sister. You know he and I are childhood friends, so I see her as my own sister. After all, I've watched her grow up. Don't think too much about it, okay?"

Chapter 2

After years in the business world, Renee had become skilled at keeping her emotions hidden. She always carried herself with a calm, distant air, like nothing could touch her.

She calmly nodded. "Got it."

"Come on, let's go home," Adam said with a warm smile. He looked handsome and gentle, like someone out of a dream. "I was called away for work on our anniversary yesterday. To make it up to you, I'll cook dinner myself tonight."

Adam thoughtfully took her bag in one hand and held her hand gently with the other. Without giving her a chance to pull away, he led her out of the office. Unable to stand the thought of being close to him anymore, Renee tried to free her hand, but his grip was too tight.

As they walked away, a wave of gasps and whispers followed.

"Gosh, I'm so jealous! Mr. Graham treats his wife so well!"

"They're really a match made in heaven!"

"Mr. Graham is seriously handsome."

"Ms. Whitley is so lucky!"

"I'd die happy if I had a boyfriend like that."

"Ugh, now I believe in love again. No, wait! I need to watch a true crime documentary to calm down."

-

Renee and Adam had built the company together, and many people had watched their love story unfold. The same people had also been there when the couple got married.

Some even said, "If Mr. Graham and Ms. Whitley ever divorce, I'll never believe in love again."

As she listened to everyone's compliments and envy, Renee couldn't help but feel a sense of bitterness.

Adam smiled and made some small talk with the staff, then took Renee to the garage. When they reached his car, he opened the door for her like a gentleman and made a playful bow.

"Princess Renee, your chariot awaits."

Princess Renee?

Back when they were deeply in love, he used to call her that in his teasing, affectionate way. Now, hearing it again only reminded her of him calling Kayla in the same manner earlier.

Hah! Guess he had a whole kingdom of princesses, huh?

The thought made Renee feel sick, but she kept her face calm. She ducked into the car and closed her eyes, pretending to rest. Once they were both in, Adam's assistant, Cole Hill, started the engine and drove them out of the garage.

"You're still mad?" Adam asked. His patience was clearly wearing thin, the smile fading from his face. "Renee, you're not being very nice today."

Renee opened her eyes and met her husband's gaze, which held a trace of irritation now. She couldn't help but let out a quiet laugh.

So, this was what it felt like. When love faded, patience vanished too.

"Adam, I've been pouring everything into work these past few years. I feel like I've missed out on a lot. I'm tired. I want to quit," she said.

Adam didn't think much of it and smiled without hesitation. "Sure. From now on, I'll take care of you."

As he spoke, he leaned in like he was about to kiss her.

Seeing that, Renee quickly said, "I was up late working yesterday, so I'm a little sleepy. I'm just going to rest my eyes for a bit."

"You've been working too hard," he murmured, brushing his hand gently against the side of her head. "Here, sleep on my shoulder."

This time, Renee didn't pull away.

About 40 minutes later, the car pulled up to Camphor Manor. They got out, hand in hand, and a maid greeted them at the door.

"Welcome back, Mr. Graham, Mrs. Graham. Madam Irene is here."

Adam simply grunted in response.

In the living room, Irene Murray sat poised and composed on the couch, dressed in a black silk dress. It seemed as though she had been waiting a while.

"Why are you here?" Adam asked coldly.

Irene gave a sharp snort. "What, a mother can't come see her own son?"

"Of course you can," Adam replied with no real interest, brushing her off.

He turned to his wife, his voice instantly soft as he said, "Renee, sit and relax for a bit. I'll go make us dinner."

He gently pressed her down onto the couch, then picked up the large bouquet of roses. "Martha, find a vase and take care of these for me."

The housekeeper, Martha Evans, came forward and took the flowers with a smile. "What a beautiful bouquet."

Adam grinned proudly. "They're for my wife. Of course they're beautiful."

"Ah, you and the missus are such a loving couple," Martha praised.

Hearing that, Adam beamed with delight.

Renee watched the whole scene unfold. It was easy to see that Adam really was happy, just from that one compliment. But what about last night? What did all that passion with Kayla even mean, then?

"You look pathetic," Irene snapped, unable to stand the way her son fawned over Renee like a lovesick puppy. She rolled her eyes. "Spineless."

Adam didn't seem bothered. "Mom, you just don't get it. Pampering one's wife brings good luck."

"We already have money. What nonsense are you even talking about?" Irene huffed, clearly fuming.

Adam waved her off. "I'm not getting into this. I'm going to go cook."

Once he and Martha were out of sight, Irene turned to Renee. Her gaze turned sharper than before as she sneered.

"Have you no manners? Can't you greet me when you see me?"

It was clear now that Adam was gone, Irene couldn't even be bothered keeping up appearances.

She was in her fifties, but thanks to careful upkeep, she looked no older than forty. She still carried herself with elegance, but behind that polished appearance was a sharp, overbearing edge. Just sitting there, she exuded superiority, her expression full of disdain.

Renee knew her well. Compared to Irene's usual barbs, this was practically gentle.

"So, what wisdom will you impart on me today?" she asked, changing the subject.

In the past, even if the two didn't get along, Renee had always been respectful. But today, her indifference was obvious and out of character.

To Irene, that felt like a direct challenge.

Her eyes dropped to Renee's stomach. "Are you pregnant?"

Renee was absentmindedly scrolling through her phone when the question landed, and her fingers paused mid-swipe. After a moment, she looked up and met Irene's gaze, her eyes calm and cool.

"When we got married, Adam said he never wanted kids."

Years ago, one of Adam's close friends died from childbirth complications. It had shaken him badly. After that, he had vowed to live child-free for the rest of his life.

Back then, Adam had probably loved Renee genuinely. But love didn't always last.

"Never wanted kids?" Irene scoffed. "Only someone like you could make infertility sound like a lifestyle choice. In the end, you're just a useless woman who can't give him children. What, planning to cling to Adam forever?"

Renee's lips trembled slightly. She looked down at the cup of water on the table, then calmly picked it up and threw its contents straight at Irene's face.

"I can't have children because of you. And now you have the nerve to mock me? Have you forgotten how you begged me to keep it from Adam?" Renee said coldly.

Irene had never been humiliated in her life. Not like this!

Furious, she jumped up and stormed over. With her hand raised, she screamed, "You wretch! How dare you?!"

Smack!

The slap echoed through the living room.

However, it didn't land where Irene intended. Renee had caught the older woman's wrist and slapped her instead. The blow sent Irene stumbling backward. She collapsed onto the couch, holding her cheek in disbelief.

"You actually hit me! Have you completely lost your mind?!"

In contrast to Irene's angry outburst, Renee remained perfectly calm.

She flatly replied, "You can take the slap. What, did you really think I'd still cover for you like I used to?"

Chapter 3

Back then, Adam had cut ties with the Graham family just to be with Renee.

She couldn't bear to see him lose his mother, so no matter how badly the cruel Irene treated her, she put up with it all just so Adam could be happy. Looking back now, every bit of suffering had been the price of loving too blindly.

"You—"

Irene was so angry she could barely speak.

But before she could finish her sentence, Renee calmly interrupted: "I'm planning to divorce Adam. But I want three billion in compensation."

For a second, Irene's eyes lit up with excitement. But when she heard the amount, she shot up from the couch in outrage. "Three billion? Even if you were made of solid gold, you wouldn't be worth that much! Who do you think you are?!"

Renee stayed seated, her voice cool and even as she said, "Fine. Then, we don't have to get divorced. Sooner or later, Adam's going to find out I can't have children anyway."

That shut Irene up. She knew exactly how much her son adored Renee. If he ever found out the truth, their bond as mother and son might never heal.

After a few tense seconds, Irene bit back her anger and said, "Three billion is out of the question. I'll give you one billion. That's my limit."

"Deal," Renee agreed without hesitation.

Having expected Irene to haggle, she had asked for more on purpose.

"Are you really going through with the divorce?" Irene asked, still looking suspicious.

"Once I get the money, I'll sign the papers within a month," Renee promised.

Irene was fuming but held it in. "Fine. I'll have the lawyers draft the papers."

She grabbed her purse and headed for the door, but not without a final warning: "If you're lying to me, Renee… You know exactly what I'm capable of."

And with that, she stormed out.

This was the first time Renee had ever stood up to her mother-in-law. In the past, even a small mistake would have led to Irene running straight to Adam, crying and trying to stir up trouble between the couple. But this time, even after being slapped across the face, Irene didn't breathe a word to her son.

And the reason? It was because she was thrilled! She was delighted that Renee had finally agreed to walk away from her son.

Forty minutes later, Adam came out of the kitchen carrying a few plates of food.

"Dinner's ready," he called.

When he didn't see his mother in the living room, he figured she had already left. He didn't even ask why.

In the dining room, the table was beautifully set with various dishes. Still wearing an apron, Adam looked every bit the ideal husband. If one could ignore his cheating, he really did come across as the perfect man. But all of that was just a cover-up for the guilt he carried inside.

The last time Adam cooked for his wife was almost a year ago.

"Renee, this is your favorite mushroom soup. Let me get you a bowl."

Adam was about to serve her when his phone suddenly rang in his pocket. He set the bowl down in front of her and pulled out his phone. When he saw the caller ID, something flickered in his eyes.

"I'm gonna take this real quick."

He used to answer calls right in front of her, never hiding anything.

Renee could guess who it was—probably Kayla.

"Go ahead," she said, picking up her cutlery like nothing was wrong.

Adam stepped out of the dining room and answered the call. Renee couldn't hear what he said, but when he came back, he was already taking off his apron, looking anxious.

"Renee, a friend of mine got into a car accident. I need to go check on him."

"Who?" she asked, her eyes wide and innocent. "I know all your friends. I'll go with you."

Adam froze for half a second. "Didn't you say you were tired? Stay here and rest. I'll be back soon."

"Alright," she said softly.

She already knew the truth but didn't feel like pushing it.

Sensing her disappointment, Adam walked over and kissed her on the cheek. "Sorry, we'll have dinner together next time."

And then, he rushed out the door.

Renee sat still, listening to the sound of his footsteps getting farther and farther away. It felt like her happiness was leaving with him, slipping through the cracks until all that remained was silence and the hollow ache of betrayal.

The villa felt too big, too empty. The air felt thinner, like she couldn't breathe. She needed to get away from it all.

Having lost her appetite, she quietly went upstairs to their bedroom, where she pulled out a stack of photo albums. There were about seven, maybe eight of them. Inside were hundreds of pictures capturing five years of love and memories.

She flipped through them slowly, and somewhere between the pages, sleep pulled her under. When she woke up, she didn't know how much time had passed. She curled up on the bed, clutching her stomach in pain.

The years of late-night drinking and corporate dinners with Adam had left her with chronic stomach issues. She hadn't eaten properly today, thanks to him, and now the pain was back, sharp and relentless.

Sweat poured down her face as she forced herself upright, then stumbled to the medicine cabinet. But when she opened it, there was no medication left.

Barely able to think, Renee grabbed her phone and called Adam. The line rang, and then someone picked up.

"Adam, I…" she called out weakly, ready to ask for help.

But a sweet voice came through the other end: "Ms. Whitley? Adam's in the shower right now. He can't come to the phone. But if there's something urgent, you can tell me and I'll let him kno—"

Renee hung up without another word. She didn't want to hear Kayla's voice.

So, Adam's so-called "emergency" was just him spending the night with Kayla.

Of course it was.

Wondering when her husband's heart started to change, Renee's heart ached, but her stomach hurt even worse. The pain was one she had never felt before.

She glanced at her phone and saw that it was one in the morning. At this hour, Martha would already be asleep. Even if she were awake, she couldn't drive.

Left with no choice, Renee forced herself to her feet despite the pain, headed downstairs, and got into the car, intending to drive herself to the hospital. As the villa was far away from the city, waiting for an ambulance would take too long.

Renee's car moved steadily forward along the quiet road, but her vision was blurring fast, her face pale with pain.

At an intersection, a car suddenly sped toward her, leaving her with no time to react.

Bam!

The impact jolted the airbags open, tossing Renee around so badly she felt dizzy and disoriented. Relying on what little strength she had left, she managed to open the car door and stumble out.

Everything was hazy, and her vision was going dark around the edges. Through the blur, she saw a man in a deep red shirt standing near the other car. She staggered toward him and grabbed the front of his shirt.

"Help… me…"

Then, she collapsed straight into his arms.

"Holy shit! What the hell happened? Is that Sadako?" another man exclaimed.

Luke Sanders, the man who spoke, had just stepped out of the front passenger's side. He froze, staring at the woman slumped against his boss, Jasper Zeller. With her long, white silk dress, her dark hair falling loosely over her shoulders, and streaks of blood staining her face, she looked like something straight out of a horror movie.

Jasper looked down at the woman in his arms. Even with blood across her cheek, he recognized her instantly.

"It's her?"

Luke blinked in confusion. "Who?"

Jasper glanced at him. "Sadako."

Without another word, he scooped Renee up and carried her to the car. He climbed into the driver's seat and reversed the damaged vehicle away from the crash scene.

Before leaving, he called out, "Stay here and deal with this."

Chapter 4

When Renee woke up the next morning, she was at Metro General Hospital. Feeling groggy and disoriented, she opened her eyes to a sea of white, the sterile scent of disinfectant filling the air. Immediately, she knew she was at a hospital.

"Are you awake?" a nurse asked as she walked over with an IV bag. "Perfect timing. I was just about to hook this up."

Renee blinked slowly. The pain in her stomach was gone, probably thanks to last night's IV. But now, her head felt heavy.

Shifting slightly on the bed, she asked, "Do you know who brought me here yesterday?"

The nurse adjusted the drip and smiled. "I think it was your husband. He's very handsome, by the way. And very considerate too. He stayed with you through the whole IV. Only left after taking a phone call."

"My… husband?" Renee smiled, more bitter than amused.

That was impossible. Adam was the last person who would show up.

The nurse finished setting up the IV and left the room. With Renee's phone having been in her car, she couldn't contact anyone now. So, she couldn't do anything else but lie in bed and wait for the IV drip to finish.

Just then, someone knocked on her room door, and a man in a sleek suit stepped inside.

"Ms. Whitley?"

Renee looked up, surprised to see a completely unfamiliar man. "Yes, and you are?"

The man walked closer and replied, "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Luke Sanders. We were in a car accident yesterday; your car has been towed and sent for repairs. My boss asked me to drop off your belongings."

Renee carefully sat up and weakly said, "Thank you for bringing me to the hospital. I—"

Luke quickly waved his hand, not daring to take credit for the deed. "Hold up, that wasn't me. It was my boss who brought you. I just work for him."

"Your boss?" Renee repeated. It wasn't like she knew who Luke's boss was, so she asked, "What's his name? And do you mind giving me his number? I'd like to call and thank him."

Luke scratched the back of his head, suddenly wary. Over the years, many women had tried all sorts of tricks to approach Jasper. Luke was worried Renee was the same.

"He said there's no need to thank him. Just call him a Good Samaritan," Luke replied with a polite smile, then set her handbag on the table. "Get well soon, Ms. Whitley. I'll be going now."

Just like that, he was gone.

By the time Renee thought to ask more, he was already out the door.

She sighed softly. Good Samaritan, huh? She couldn't help but laugh. In this day and age, people like that were rare.

She opened her bag and pulled out her phone. It was already eight in the morning, yet there were no missed calls or text messages. Renee stared blankly at her phone. If she hadn't called Adam yesterday for help, would she still be alive now? Or would she be dead? The thought made her shiver, and it made her more grateful for the stranger who had saved her life.

After a long while, her phone started buzzing on the bedside table.

It was Adam.

Renee stared at the screen, the contact name "Honey" mocking her. She didn't answer the call, but didn't reject it either. She simply flipped the phone over, face down on the table, and let it ring.

Adam called over and over, but Renee didn't pick up at all. After calling three times, he stopped.

An hour passed.

Bang!

Suddenly, the hospital room door flew open, the sudden noise making Renee jump. Adam rushed in, looking completely flustered.

He pulled her into his arms. "Renee! Are you okay? What happened? I heard you got into a car accident! Why didn't you call me?!"

He held her too tightly, leaving her barely able to breathe. The scent on his clothes and neck wasn't his usual cologne. It was perfume. More specifically, the same one Kayla had worn the night before.

"Adam, I can't breathe," Renee said, patting his arm.

Releasing her, he cupped her cheeks and looked her over, scanning her from head to toe for injuries. When his gaze finally landed on the bandage on her forehead, his expression twisted in concern.

"The auto shop called me about the crash. I tried calling you, but you didn't answer. I was so scared. I thought something terrible had happened."

It was obvious that the worry in his eyes was real. But to Renee, his concern meant nothing now.

"I called you last night. You didn't pick up either," she calmly replied.

Her tone was flat, and she had always acted indifferent, even when angry. That made it hard for Adam to tell if she was actually upset.

"I… I was at a friend's place last night. I guess I must've been too tired and fell asleep," Adam said, stumbling through a half-hearted excuse. "My phone died, and I only managed to charge it when I got to the office this morning. That's when I got the call from the auto shop and found out what happened."

He let out a long sigh, pulling his wife into his arms. "Renee, I'm so glad you're okay. If anything had happened to you, I don't think I'd ever forgive myself."

Renee slowly pushed him away. "Forgive yourself for what? You were with your friend, not cheating. Nothing to feel guilty about, right?"

There was a weak smile on her face as she spoke, and she made it sound teasing. However, every word made Adam's heart race, leaving him shaken and sending a chill down his spine. He frowned, a deep, unreadable glint shining in his eyes behind the gleaming lenses of his glasses.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. They both turned to look as Kayla stepped inside. Smiling brightly, she held a bouquet of fresh flowers.

"Ms. Whitley, I heard you were in an accident. I was so worried that I came right away to see if you were okay."

She set the flowers down on the table, then walked over to the bed. "Oh no, your pretty face is hurt. Ugh, whoever hit you must've been blind. Seriously, they deserve jail time."

The fake sympathy in Kayla's voice was thick and overly sweet. It was so fake it made Renee feel sick.

She leaned back against the headboard and cooly said, "That's very thoughtful of you, Ms. Spencer. You sure got the news fast."

It sounded like a harmless comment, but the words clearly hinted at something else.

Adam shot Kayla a quick warning look, his eyes cold. Then, he turned to Renee and spoke gently, as if smoothing things over.

"Julian's out of town, so I've been keeping Kayla company these past couple of days. She called me this morning, and I just happened to mention what happened to you."

"I see."

Renee looked straight into the eyes of a man who could lie so easily, like it was nothing. She didn't even bother arguing.

Instead, her voice turned cold as she said, "Help me with the discharge paperwork."

Adam tried to convince her to stay for more observation, but Renee wouldn't hear of it. She was done. Left with no choice, he nodded and stepped out to handle the discharge.

Now, it was just the two of them—Renee and Kayla. Alone. They locked eyes.

Kayla didn't even pretend to be polite this time. She smirked, rolled her eyes, and flopped onto the couch.

"Honestly, I wouldn't have come if Adam hadn't insisted on seeing you," she said, flipping her hair. "Hospitals are such a drag."

Renee smiled coldly. "Really? This is what you call a drag? I'd think sleeping with a man someone else has been with for five years would be worse. But I guess that kind of secondhand trash suits you."

"What did you say?!" Kayla jumped to her feet, furious, her face flushed bright red. "If you already know Adam slept with me, then why don't you do the smart thing and file for divorce? Step aside and let me be his wife already! Irene told me herself that she adores me. Her biggest wish is for me to become her daughter-in-law!"

Chapter 5

"If Adam's mom loves you that much, why don't you just marry her? Forget about being her daughter-in-law. Wouldn't it be better to be her wife instead?" Renee said coolly.

Her tone was calm, her words smooth and unhurried. But somehow, every syllable hit like a slap.

Kayla's face flashed through a mix of emotions—from shock to anger. She hadn't expected Renee to be so sharp-tongued.

"Y-you're just jealous!" Kayla snapped. "You know Adam loves me, that's why you won't divorce him. You're just trying to get under my skin!"

Renee didn't even flinch. Instead, she pulled out her phone and sent a message to her assistant, asking for a change of clothes.

Then, she looked up, gave Kayla a mock thumbs-up, and spoke in a sugary tone like she was talking to a clueless toddler: "Wow, Princess Kayla is so smart. Good job."

"You… you witch!"

Kayla was fuming. But no matter how angry she got, she couldn't win. Not against Renee. Frustrated and furious, Kayla stormed out of the room.

A few minutes later, Adam returned. Just as Renee opened her mouth to ask about the discharge papers, he cut her off with a scolding.

"Renee, did you bully Kayla?"

She blinked, stunned. So, Kayla had run off crying and played the victim.

"I didn't," Renee said flatly, shaking her head.

Adam's voice rose as he retorted, "Don't lie to me. I saw her leaving the hospital in tears! I told you, she's Julian's little sister. I've known her since she was a kid! She's like family to me! Can you stop acting like this? How do you expect me to explain to her brother if you keep treating her this way?"

Every word hit like a punch to the chest.

Renee leaned back against the pillows. Her long lashes lifted slightly as she looked at Adam, the man she had known so well. Too well. But right now, this version of him didn't feel like the man she remembered.

This wasn't the gentle, thoughtful man who used to love her so deeply he couldn't even raise his voice at her. Now, he was yelling at her. And for someone else at that.

Though her heart sank deeper and her throat tightened, Renee managed to ask, "Have you finished the discharge paperwork?"

Knowing that Adam wouldn't believe her even if she explained, she changed the subject on purpose.

"You seem totally fine to me, so why don't you go do it yourself?" he snapped.

With that, he turned and stormed out. The door slammed behind him.

Renee sat there, staring at the empty space where he once stood. Her beautiful eyes, once bright and full of light, now looked dull. She felt like a wounded deer deep in the forest, left to lick her own wounds in silence.

She looked down and laughed bitterly. From the worried look on Adam's face when he first arrived, to the angry way he stormed out just an hour later, it was clear who really mattered to him.

His "Princess Kayla" came first, always.

In the end, Renee had no choice but to go downstairs alone to handle the discharge paperwork.

The hospital was crowded, so she had to wait in line.

When it was finally her turn to handle the paperwork, she was surprised to find out she had a refund of over four thousand dollars waiting. She explained her situation briefly to the staff and asked for the phone number of the kind person who had helped her.

Back in her hospital room, Renee's assistant had already brought her clothes. She changed quickly and went straight home. As expected, Adam wasn't there.

Upstairs in the bedroom, memories of all the sweet moments she had shared with him flooded her mind—the laughter, the gentle touches, the happiness. For a moment, she let herself get lost in the fading warmth of those memories.

Outside, a bird sang on a tree branch, its clear call pulling Renee back to reality. She shook her head, then started packing her things. The designer bags in her closet and the sparkling jewelry in her jewelry box were gifts Adam had painstakingly chosen for every little occasion.

He used to care about her so deeply. Now, his cold indifference was such a sharp contrast that Renee still couldn't quite get used to it.

She spent the entire morning packing up the bags and jewelry, then drove to a luxury resale shop to sell everything all at once. She made 25 million, which she planned to use for charity.

After she was done, she sat in the car and called her best friend, Alison Zeller. The phone rang for a while before she answered.

"Hey, you silly goose! Did you finally remember me?"

Renee sighed. "Alison, I want to rent a place."

"Did you have a fight with your jerk husband?" Alison asked, quickly realizing that something was wrong.

"Sort of," Renee said quietly. She didn't want to spoil her friend's vacation abroad, so she kept it simple. "Just a little fight. I just want to get away for a while and calm down."

"That scoundrel! If he's hurting you, I swear I'll tear him apart when I get back!" Alison said fiercely. Then, she added, "But hey, forget renting. I've got a place at Platinum Heights. You can just move in there. It's been empty anyway. Doesn't matter if you stay for a little while or even a couple of years."

After they finished chatting, Alison sent Renee the building number and the security code. Since Renee had nothing else to do today, she decided to drive to the place.

Platinum Heights was an upscale riverside residence nestled in one of Harbor City’s most prestigious neighborhoods. Land here was precious, and every home was decorated with luxury and style. It was a place where rich people gathered.

Renee had always known Alison was wealthy, but even though they had been best friends for years, Alison never talked about her family's wealth, and Renee never asked.

As Alison had already spoken to the security guards, Renee got into the neighborhood easily and headed towards Building A, Unit 2. While waiting for the elevator, she replied to some important work messages on her phone.

Ding.

When the elevator doors opened, Renee stepped inside without looking up.

"Ugh!"

Suddenly, she bumped right into a solid chest. The impact made her nose sting, and her eyes watered from the surprise.

"Ow…" Renee covered her nose and gasped.

Through her blurry, watery vision, she saw a man wearing a deep red shirt and a silver necklace. His strong chest was clearly visible beneath the fabric. Looking up, she saw a face with sharp, defined features. The elevator lights cast a soft golden glow around him, making his features look almost magical. Even through her tear-filled eyes, she could see how incredibly handsome he was.

Wait… his clothes looked a lot like the man who had saved her yesterday.

Even with that thought running through her mind, Renee hurriedly apologized, "I'm so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going."

As Jasper looked at the woman standing so close to him, surprise flashed in his eyes.

Her again?

His gaze settled on Renee. Her long hair was pinned up casually with a claw clip, soft bangs framing a beautiful face—rosy lips, pearly white teeth, perfectly shaped brows, and captivating eyes.

She wore a loose off-shoulder denim dress that made her fair skin look even whiter. Her long, graceful neck and delicate collarbones were both sexy and elegant. Without a trace of makeup, she still carried herself with effortless elegance, a beauty that could turn heads.

Even the small bandage on her forehead didn't take away from her beauty. But those tear-filled eyes made her look fragile and helpless, someone one couldn't help but want to protect.

Why was it that every time Jasper ran into this woman, she always looked so lost and vulnerable?

Chapter 6

"Your nose okay?" Jasper asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

Renee rubbed her nose and gave a playful smile. "It's the real deal, so it's nothing too serious."

He let out a quiet chuckle, his smile easy and warm. "Good. Glad to hear it."

Interesting woman, he thought as he walked past her and stepped out of the elevator.

Once he was gone, Renee pressed the button for her floor. She leaned against the wall, head bowed slightly, still rubbing her sore nose.

She let out a deep breath and muttered, "Ugh… that hurt like hell. What is that guy's chest made of, steel?"

Maybe because she was looking down, the tears that had been welling up finally slipped free, falling straight down. She had no idea Jasper was still standing just outside the elevator, watching the whole thing.

As the doors slowly closed, blocking his view, a small smile tugged at his lips. "Stubborn little thing."

Just then, his phone buzzed. Jasper glanced at the screen. The caller ID lit up with a familiar name—Alison.

He sighed and picked up. "Let me guess. Out of money again?"

Alison laughed on the other end. "You always get me, my dear brother."

"How much this time?" he asked as he walked toward the exit.

Alison thought for a second. "Hmm… let's say 50 million."

Jasper let out a disbelieving laugh. "50 million? What are you doing, taking a world tour or buying yourself a country?"

"Oh, come on, Jasper! I'm broke, just help me out," she whined, piling on the charm.

Of course, there was no way she could tell him the truth. Her company was on the verge of collapsing, and she needed serious cash to save it.

Jasper wasn't fooled. "Let me guess. Your company's about to go under again?"

Alison screamed in frustration. "Hey! Don't jinx me! My company's doing just fine, thank you very much."

"Yeah? If business is so great, why are you asking me for money?"

"T-that's because… I just… I haven't even made my money back yet!" Alison sputtered on the other end.

She let out a dramatic sigh and switched to full-on guilt mode: "Anyway, are you sending it or not? If not, your poor little sister will starve overseas."

Jasper's smile faded as his tone turned serious: "I'll have Luke wire you a million later today. But this is your last shot. I'm giving you six more months. If your business still isn't turning a profit by then, you're coming back to work for the family. No arguments. You'll follow every decision they make."

-

Up on the 29th floor, Renee wandered through the spacious apartment, soaking in every detail of the place. The entire unit was wide open and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river. From here, she could see nearly half the city.

The stunning view left her in awe. It almost felt like it had some kind of magic, calming every ounce of frustration in her chest.

She found herself thinking that once her divorce from Adam was finalized, she was going to buy a place of her own. Something just like this, right here in this neighborhood. She loved everything about this place, from the layout to the river view.

After sitting by the window for a long while, she suddenly remembered the man who had saved her life. She picked up her phone, found the number she had been given, and dialed.

It rang a few times before a deep voice answered: "Who is this?"

"Hi, this is Renee Whitley," she said simply. "I'm the woman you rescued and took to the hospital yesterday. I just wanted to call and thank you."

Jasper was in his office, flipping through documents when he heard her introduce herself. He raised an eyebrow. Until now, he hadn't even known her name, as Luke had handled the whole thing.

He stood, holding his phone in one hand and his coffee in the other, walking over to his own massive windows as he spoke in an easy, unhurried voice: "It was nothing. Just glad I could help."

His voice was deep and smooth, with the kind of rich tone that could stop someone in their tracks. On the other end of the line, Renee couldn't help but think he must be a kind man who probably looked as good as he sounded.

"I don't know if you have time, but I'd love to buy you dinner sometime," she said, hoping to repay him for the medical bills.

Jasper's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of mockery flashing across his face. His voice cooled just a little as he replied, "No need. I don't date married women."

He was long used to women throwing themselves at him, pulling every trick in the book to get his attention. It was nothing new.

His sharp, deep-set eyes drifted toward the view outside. Across the river, he could clearly see the apartments at Platinum Heights. Funny. Wasn't that where Renee lived too?

Meanwhile, Renee sat in stunned silence. A moment ago, she had been feeling nothing but gratitude for her so-called Good Samaritan. Now, her impression of him had plummeted to the ground.

Seriously? What an arrogant lunatic!

"I think you misunderstood. I only wanted to buy you dinner as a way to say thank you, and to repay the money you covered for my medical bills," she clarified, her voice turning cold.

"No need," he replied flatly.

Her polite tone vanished as she added, "I don't like owing people. This number is linked to your Venmo, right? I'll add you and transfer the money."

Before he could say another word, she hung up. Less than a minute later, his phone buzzed with a notification. He opened it, finding a friend request from Renee. Her profile picture showed a bright blue sky, with a delicate hand holding a heart-shaped piece of foxtail grass.

Jasper stared at the request for a moment, then tapped accept before he even realized it. A message came through right away, along with a transfer of five thousand dollars.

[Thanks for the help. This covers the medical bill you paid.]

Her words had a faint edge of sarcasm to them.

Jasper hesitated for a second before accepting the transfer. Out of politeness, he sent back a simple thumbs-up emoji, not bothering to type a single word. But right after he hit send, a red exclamation mark popped up.

[System message: You're not friends with this user.]

Jasper stared at the screen for a moment.

Seriously?

His usually cool expression twitched, then he let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh before taking a sip of his coffee.

-

It had been a week since that night at the hospital, when Adam stormed off in anger. He hadn't come home since. Over the phone, he said he was away on a business trip to the coast. He used to take Renee along on every trip. This time, he didn't.

Renee didn't bother asking questions. Honestly, she didn't care enough to dig. Every day, she showed up for work right on time, sticking to her usual nine-to-five routine.

Monday morning, Adam came straight to the office from his trip. But this time, he wasn't alone—there was a new personal assistant by his side.

Renee walked into the elevator, holding her resignation letter, and headed straight to Adam's office.

As she passed the break room, someone called out to her: "Long time no see, Ms. Whitley."

Renee paused and glanced over. Kayla stepped out of the break room in a sleek black suit, heels clicking against the floor. Her makeup was flawless, and she carried a steaming cup of tea, looking smug and radiant.

"Something you need?" Renee asked coolly.

Kayla casually brushed her shoulder-length hair behind her ear and offered her hand with a sweet smile. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Adam's—oh, sorry—Mr. Graham's new personal assistant. Looks like we'll be working together from now on, Ms. Whitley. Hope we get along."