Chapter 1

“Draft my divorce and resignation papers.”

Calla’s voice was dead, devoid of any hesitation.

The attorney frowned, pushing his notepad back. “Calla, your marriage didn’t come easily. Think carefully.”

Think carefully?

A month ago, kidnappers threw her into the freezing ocean because her husband ignored every single ransom call.

While she was drowning, Desmond Hackett was in a hotel bed—with her younger sister.

Three years as his secret wife. Three years as his dutiful secretary. It all shattered the moment the cold water swallowed her.

She was finally awake from her pathetic fantasy. And this time, she was ready to walk away for good.

“I’ve made up my mind,” Calla said, her tone absolute. “Desmond won't object.”

She had known all those years—not a single day did her husband love her.

But she had loved him since they were younger. When he said he was willing to marry her three years ago, she was crying happy tears as she exclaimed yes.

Soon, it’s their third wedding anniversary.

She had already prepared one final gift for him—divorce, also known as freedom from her.

That evening, Calla went back to the villa and found Desmond cooking in the kitchen.

He had always been a clean freak,especially fussy about the mess cooking made.

She remembered the first year of their marriage—he had stepped into the kitchen mid-meal,wrinkled his nose,and muttered,“Is this place doubling as a landfill?”

But when Cyanne said she liked his cooking,he enrolled in a culinary course just for her.

Tonight,he brought out the dishes.“Didn’t you say work was quiet today?Why are you home so late?”

Even in an apron,Desmond’s tall frame and broad shoulders exuded a magnetic charm.

Callasmoothed over her expression and replied lightly,“The company hired a batch of new recruits.I’ve been busy preparing their training materials.”

Desmond didn’t question it.To him,she was always busy with work.

“Alright then,dinner’s ready.Come eat.”

She sat down.He placed a slice of bitter melon onto her plate.“I remember you like this.I made it especially for you.”

A dull ache stirred in Calla’s chest.

Cyanne was the one who liked bitter melon.Calla was allergic to it.

Three years together,and he still hadn’t noticed.

If he had paid even the slightest bit of attention,he wouldn’t have gotten it so wrong.

Desmond noticed her hesitation.“Callie?Why aren’t you eating?”

She gently pushed the dish away and pulled two documents from her bag.

“Dinner can wait.There are two agreements I need you to sign.”

Desmond didn’t like talking business during meals.“What contracts are so urgent?”

Just as he reached to take the papers,his phone buzzed.

Though he moved quickly to cover the screen,his wife still caught a glimpse of the caller ID.

It was Cyanne.

He stood and walked to the balcony to take the call.

His abrupt movement knocked dishes off the table,making glass shattered across the floor.

A shard flew up and sliced Calla’s fingertip,and blood dripped quietly into the tiles.

Desmond didn’t notice.He spent 15 minutes on the phone,then grabbed his coat from the chair,ready to leave.

“I’ve got something tonight.I won’t be home for dinner.”

Callastopped him.“You haven’t signed the agreements yet.”

He frowned,annoyed.He thought she was being unreasonable,but he quickly flipped to the last page and scrawled his name.

“There.Happy?Can I go now?”

She looked at his signature on both documents and nodded blankly.“Yeah.Go.”

As if even one more second in the villa was unbearable,Desmond walked out without a word.

Watching him leave,Callalet out a bitter laugh.

If he cared even a little,he would’ve noticed the agreements were a divorce and resignation.

And that her hand was still bleeding.

But Desmond had always loved Cyanne—her younger sister and the“real”daughter of their parents.

Twenty-five years ago,their nanny and Jospehine,Calla’s mother,gave birth in the same hospital.

One mistake switched the babies.

Calla,the true heiress,was raised by the nanny.Cyanne grew up as the beloved daughter of the Winslets.

It wasn’t until five years later,when the nanny passed away that the truth came out.

The Winslets accepted Calla,but they didn’t let go of Cyanne either.

Josephine had said,“Callie,hearts are made of flesh.We’ve raised Yannie all these years.Now that her mother’s gone,she only has us.”

They told her that if they revealed Cyanne’s true identity,people would look down on her.

So to the world,Cyanne remained the heiress while only the Winslets and Hacketts knew who Callareally was.

Desmond and Cyanne had been childhood sweethearts.Just before their engagement,Cyanne met an elite French bachelor and insisted on chasing her“true love”in Paris.

The Winslets didn’t want to offend the Hacketts,so they asked Callato marry in Cyanne’s place.

Desmond,heartbroken and indifferent,agreed.

Unexpectedly,a month ago,Cyanne returned—and Desmond betrayed Calla.

To force Callaout of the Hacketts,he even leaked his intimate videos with Cyanne online.

Calla had seen the video of them talking.

Desmond had said,“Callanever did anything wrong,but if I just ask for a divorce,neither family will accept it.We need to ruin her reputation so her parents can’t argue.”

Cyanne asked him,“You’ve been married for three years.Did you ever love her?”

“She’s just a stand-in.I married her just to shut everyone up.”

Calla had once believed that Desmond’s heart could be earned through patience and sincerity.

Unfortunately,she had been mistaken.

Now,tears blurred her vision as she pulled a small notebook from her bag.

Three years ago,she had made herself a promise.

If she’d be disappointed 99 more times,she would leave for good.

The video was her 99th disappointment.

Tonight,she placed three items into a box,sealed it,and locked it in the safe.

It was her final wedding anniversary gift to Desmond.

He would probably like it.

With everything in place,Callapicked up her phone and called the man she hadn’t spoken to in three years.

“Soren…My divorce cooling-off period ends in a month.Please,come and take me away then.”