Chapter 1

The day had finally arrived—Hayden Parker was coming home. His friends practically dragged me, his so-called wife, to the welcome party. I sensed their anticipation for my inevitable humiliation.

Whispers of Hayden's newfound romance overseas filled the air, a stark reminder that he likely returned to finalize our dissolving marriage.

"Do you think Hayden will go through with the divorce? Yvonne Jackson's grandfather practically forced him into this marriage," a voice sneered.

"Ugh, just thinking about spoiled, clueless Yvonne clinging to Hayden for all those years gives me chills," another chimed in.

"I heard she stripped down and jumped into Hayden's bed on their wedding night, only to be kicked out. How humiliating," a third scoffed.

Their cruel laughter echoed in the private room, each chuckle a shard of glass piercing my heart. I clenched my fists, tears welling.

They were right. A decade of my life devoted to Hayden—my youth, even my family—had yielded little more than city-wide ridicule.

A crushing weight pressed on my chest, constricting my heart and making each breath laborious.

"Yvonne, why are you just standing there?" A voice jolted me back to reality.

I turned to see Nevin, Hayden's younger brother. He'd always considered my marriage to Hayden a catastrophic mistake and had made my life miserable for the past year.

"Hurry up and come in. Hayden's almost here, and the show's about to start," Nevin urged. Without waiting for my reply, he swept into the private room, followed by a throng of people.

Left with no choice, I steeled myself and followed, uncertainty swirling within me like a storm.

As I entered, the lively chatter ceased abruptly. A few people politely greeted me with a friendly nod. I returned their nods with a faint smile and settled into a chair. Just then, a booming voice announced from the entrance, "Hayden, you're finally here! The guys have been waiting."

My heart plummeted.

"I got held up," came Hayden's deep, smooth, steady voice, just as I remembered it. But then, a sweet, cheerful voice followed, completely surprising me.

"It's totally my fault. I dozed off the whole way on the plane. But as soon as we landed, I got hungry, and he stayed with me to grab a bite," the woman explained, her tone playful and joyful, laced with pride.

A lump formed in my throat—this was Hayden's new girlfriend! He'd actually brought her here. Nevin's earlier comment about "the show" suddenly made sense.

"Wow, looks like your new girlfriend is quite the priority, Hayden. We've all been waiting here, starving," Nevin chuckled, his voice playful.

His words stung, a sharp ache in my heart. Despite my years with the Parker family, Nevin had never truly acknowledged me as Hayden's wife.

The air was thick with suppressed giggles and an odd tension. Before Hayden could respond, the woman interjected, "Come on, Nevin, enough with the jokes. I hardly deserve to be called Hayden's girlfriend." Though her words seemed awkward, her tone conveyed something else entirely.

"Nonsense," Nevin retorted with a playful smirk. "Hayden mentioned you took care of him when he was out cold. How could you not be?"

His words barely registered. Hayden had entered the room.

The crystal chandelier cast a warm glow on his tall figure, illuminating him like an ethereal vision. He seemed leaner, his already striking jawline more pronounced. His brows held a newfound intensity that made him the undeniable focal point of every gaze. A black rosary bracelet adorned his left wrist, dark and mysterious, catching the light.

In that instant, I felt adrift. This was the man I'd once pursued with relentless passion, the one I would have sacrificed anything for.

Yet, he seemed distant and cold. The indifference of the past year had long dulled my love for him.

Hayden's gaze met mine across the room. The distance between us felt like a chasm. His eyes held an inscrutable depth, a flicker of something I couldn't decipher.

I looked away, my attention drawn to the woman beside him. Instinctively, I compared us.

She was striking—vibrant eyes, a radiant smile, and ethereal skin. No wonder even someone as composed as Hayden seemed captivated.

Sighing, I glanced at my reflection in a nearby window. My pale cheeks, the result of missed meals and sleepless nights, showed a mere shadow of my former self. Honestly, if I were Hayden, I'd probably choose her too.

"What are you doing here?" Hayden asked, his icy tone a blow that extinguished my last hope.

After all this time, flanked by another woman, his first words weren't a greeting or explanation. Instead, an indifferent, annoyed question, as if my presence were an inconvenience.

I forced a brittle smile. "I came to welcome you. Nevin set it up."

Hayden's eyebrows furrowed, and he cast a frosty glare at Nevin.

Caught off guard, Nevin stammered, "I… I didn't think it would be like this." He had orchestrated the scene, eager to watch me unravel. In the past, my possessiveness would have sent me spiraling.

Yet, I managed a calm smile and said to Hayden, "So, this lovely lady is your new flame?"

A gasp rippled through the crowd. Was an epic showdown about to erupt?

Hayden's expression intensified. Joanna Charlotte, the woman beside him, seemed nervous. "Yvonne, please don't get the wrong idea. It's not what it appears to be between me and Mr. Parker. We…"

Her faltering words only hinted at a deeper connection, making the scene more awkward.

In another time, I might have attacked Joanna. But now, I simply smiled and said, "I'm not misunderstanding anything. I'm just relieved to know you're taking care of Hayden."

Joanna's jaw tightened, and she retreated behind Hayden.

Hayden's face darkened. "Have you said enough?" he warned.

I knew he held no affection for me, and probably resented my forcing the marriage. But as he defended someone else and unleashed his harsh words, the last remnants of my heart shattered.

A decade of unrequited admiration had culminated in his disdain. Sadness washed over me, blurring my vision.

I fought back tears, maintaining my smile. "Looks like I'm not welcome here. You guys catch up. I'll take my leave."

I left without looking back. As I reached the stairs, my phone buzzed. It was Lucy Coffey, my best friend.

"What? Hayden brought another woman back? What a jerk! You've loved him for so long, and two months ago, when he was in a coma from that accident, you even went abroad to care for him. Does he have any conscience at all!" Lucy's voice crackled with disbelief and anger.

"Lucy," I began, but the words faltered. I couldn't suppress the sadness.

Lucy immediately understood. "Okay, Yvonne, don't cry. Just divorce him. You deserve so much more! There are plenty of younger guys out there, and I hear a freshman has his eye on you."

"I can't even think about that right now," I sighed, pressing my fingers to my temples.

I had pleaded with my grandfather for three days to allow this marriage. I'd prioritized Hayden's happiness. Now, I only wished for him to ask for a divorce.

"I feel so sorry for you, Yvonne," Lucy sighed. "Well, since you're free this evening, how about we grab a drink?"

A drink sounded perfect—liquid courage to drown my sorrows. But halfway there, Xander, Hayden's grandfather, called me back.

Entering Xander's study, I found Hayden there. Confusion welled up—wasn't he supposed to be with his new flame?