Chapter 1

My husband Ethan's new mistress is an independent career woman.

One night, Ethan came home drunk and grabbed my calloused hand.

"You're both women, but Lucia just got promoted to CFO. Look at you. You're like a housekeeper."

I ignored him and kept being a housewife.

Lucia turned down eight sugar daddies and posted a manifesto online about female independence.

Ethan liked it and smirked at me.

"Look how independent Lucia is! And you? Stripped naked and climbed into my bed for a few thousand bucks back then."

He thought I'd take it, the way I always did.

Instead, I took off my wedding ring and said calmly.

"If she's better than me in every way, why don't you just marry her?"

I paused. "I'm serious. Let's get divorced."

When I said those words clearly, the smile on Ethan's face froze completely.

Then he laughed. That knowing laugh.

"There's one more thing you can't compete with her on."

"Lucia has ambition. She has assets. You? You'll depend on me for the rest of your life. You don't even have the guts to say the word divorce."

My fingers trembled violently.

I still remember the night my father drugged me and sent me to Ethan's bed to cover a business debt.

Ethan and I were in a vague relationship back then. He'd even bought an engagement ring.

But the morning I woke up, my father burst into the room, forced Ethan to "take responsibility," and walked out satisfied with five thousand dollars in hand.

That was the moment my long, passionate youth romance with Ethan died.

On the day he was forced to marry me, Ethan announced to everyone that I was a gold digger. Worth exactly five thousand three hundred dollars.

Later, when my mother was seriously ill, he had people bring over three safes full of coupons.

"You should learn to be self-reliant. My wife isn't supposed to be useless trash who only knows how to ask for money."

That's when I finally understood. Everything I'd given him, sincerely, was worth nothing.

My expression was unusually different. As Ethan hesitated to come forward, the doorbell suddenly rang.

When Lucia appeared at the door, Ethan visibly panicked for a moment.

Because he had promised me he would never bring his affairs in front of me, no matter who he was with.

Clearly, Lucia was the exception.

The girl held a thick stack of receipts and spoke helplessly.

"Mrs. Shaw, your recent spending through the company has been excessive. Much of it is completely unnecessary."

"Mr. Shaw works so hard running this company. You should at least be considerate of him, don't you think?"

My face turned grim, my chest felt stuffed with cotton.

Ever since Lucia joined the company, all my expenses had to go through her approval.

The medical and nursing costs for my in-laws often went unanswered for half a month.

When I went to Ethan to complain, I was only compared to her and told I wasn't as frugal as Lucia.

He said I only knew how to ask for money.

But I spent almost nothing on myself. The dress I was wearing was from three years ago.

Ethan flipped through the pile of receipts with obvious disgust.

"Lucia's right. Go to the company tomorrow and return the expensive items. You really don't need such nice things."

My fingertips dug into my palms. "These receipts aren't mine."

As soon as I spoke, Lucia assumed I was giving her attitude and ran off crying pitifully.

Ethan stared in the direction the woman left, not noticing he'd knocked over the kettle, spilling water on my leg.

"From now on, Lucia will be our household manager. You should learn from her!"

With that, Ethan slammed the door and left.

I lifted the fabric stuck to my leg. The skin was alarmingly swollen.

But he couldn't see it at all.

I simply treated the wound, then called a lawyer.

"Prepare divorce papers for me."