Chapter 1

Celine Tate discovered her husband, Adam Alvarez, was cheating on her. His mistress was a college student. It was Adam's birthday, and Celine had spent the day preparing a special dinner. Then, his forgotten phone buzzed with a text.

She picked it up. A message from the student read: "I fell while grabbing the cake. It hurts so much Sobs" A photo was attached—no face, just legs. The woman wore white socks pulled up high, black round-toed shoes, and a blue-and-white skirt hiked just enough to reveal long, flawless legs. Her fair knees were reddened from the fall. The youthful vibrancy of her figure, combined with her coy message, held a forbidden allure. Rumor had it that wealthy businessmen often favored this type of woman.

Celine's grip tightened until her knuckles turned white. Another message arrived: "Mr. Alvarez, meet me at the Elysian Hotel tonight. I want to celebrate your birthday."

Adam's mistress had planned a birthday celebration for him. Grabbing her handbag, Celine headed straight for the Elysian Hotel. She had to see this woman.

Upon arriving, Celine was ready to confront them, but she spotted her parents, Hayden Tate and Lucy Garcia. Shocked, she approached them. "Dad, Mom, what are you doing here?"

They froze, exchanged glances, and then said, "Oh, Celine, your sister's back from abroad. We came to pick her up."

Carly Tate?

Through the hotel's floor-to-ceiling window, Celine saw Carly inside, wearing the same blue-and-white skirt from the photo. The college girl was her sister.

Carly, known as Mercity's "Scarlet Rose," had always been stunning. Her legs, in particular, were legendary—the most beautiful in Mercity. Men practically worshipped them. Now, those famous legs had ensnared Adam.

Celine almost laughed at the absurdity. She turned to her parents. "So, I'm the last to know?"

Hayden's face twisted. "Celine, Mr. Alvarez never liked you."

Lucy added, "Exactly. Do you know how many women in Mercity would kill to be with him? Your sister is better than some stranger."

Celine clenched her fists. "I'm your daughter, too!"

She spun to leave, but Lucy called out, "Celine, tell me something. Has Mr. Alvarez ever touched you?"

Celine froze.

Hayden said sharply, "Don't act like we owe you anything. Mr. Alvarez and Carly were the 'It' couple. We only asked you to marry him on Carly's behalf after his car accident left him in a coma."

Lucy gave Celine a disdainful look. "Look at yourself, Celine. Three years as a housewife, running around after your husband. Meanwhile, Carly's a lead ballerina—a true swan. You? You're just a frumpy little duckling. Be reasonable and give Mr. Alvarez back to Carly."

Those words felt like a knife. Blinking back tears, Celine walked away.

By the time Celine returned to the villa, it was dark. She'd given the housekeeper, Sofia Dotson, the day off. The house was empty, dark, and cold.

Celine sat alone at the dining table. A feast sat untouched, the food cold, her homemade cake, inscribed "Happy Birthday, honey," remaining uneaten. She stared at it, her eyes stinging. It all felt like a cruel joke.

Adam and Carly had always been the "It" couple. Everyone knew Carly, the Scarlet Rose, was Adam's heart and soul. But three years ago, a car accident left Adam in a coma, and Carly vanished. The Tate family brought Celine from the countryside and forced her to marry the comatose Adam. Knowing it was the man she loved, she married him without hesitation.

For three years, she cared for him tirelessly, never leaving his side. She gave up her social life, dedicating herself entirely to his recovery. Her devotion brought him back to life.

Celine lit the candles on the cake. The dim glow reflected her image in a mirror: the housewife in her dull black-and-white dress—lifeless, boring, unremarkable. Carly, meanwhile, had flourished into a lead ballerina—young, vibrant, and beautiful. Celine was the ugly duckling; Carly, the swan. After waking, Adam abandoned the duckling and returned to the swan. Her sacrifice had been for nothing. She loved him; he didn't love her. The one who falls in love first always loses, and today, Adam had made her lose everything.

Tears filled her eyes. She blew out the candles, plunging the house back into darkness. Then, headlights pierced the night as Adam's Rolls-Royce Phantom sped up the driveway. Her heart skipped a beat. He was back.

The villa's front door opened. A tall, handsome figure entered, bringing with him the night's chill. Adam was home.

The Alvarez family were Mercity royalty. Adam, the heir, had been a business prodigy since childhood. By sixteen, he held dual master's degrees from Haffard University. By adulthood, his first company had made waves on Finance Street. Now, he headed the Alvarez Group, crowned Mercity's wealthiest man.

Adam strode in. His voice was low and pleasant, but distant. "Why didn't you turn on the lights?"

With a flick of his wrist, he switched on a wall light. The harsh light made Celine squint. When she opened her eyes, she looked at Adam in his hand-tailored black suit—the picture of perfection. His perfect proportions and regal air made him desirable to many women.

Celine glanced at him. "It's your birthday."

Adam's face was impassive. His eyes lazily swept over the table. "Don't waste your time. I don't celebrate birthdays."

Celine sneered. "You don't celebrate birthdays, or you just don't want to celebrate it with me?"

Adam barely looked at her. "Think whatever you want."

He turned toward the stairs. This was their dynamic. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get close to him.

Celine stood. Looking at his back, she said, "Today is your birthday. I'd like to give you a birthday gift."

Adam didn't stop. "I don't need it."

Celine smiled. "Let's get a divorce, Adam."

Adam paused on the stairs, spinning around, his deep eyes locking onto hers.