Chapter 1

Today was the fifth anniversary of my marriage to Kane Johnson, and it was also my birthday.

I’d prepared an anniversary present for Kane, and I couldn’t help letting myself hope for something.

Even though he’s always “busy,” always “forgetting” special days like this.

I just didn’t expect the “anniversary gift” my husband gave me would be: on my birthday, he was holding a wedding with my half-sister, Ashley.

I’d bought a vintage pocket watch. It was expensive, so I decided to go pick it up myself.

On the way back, I just glanced casually as I passed the private club—the place where we signed our marriage contract five years ago.

Then I saw him.

Kane was in a white suit, standing exactly where I once stood, gently sliding a ring onto the finger of a woman in a wedding dress.

When I saw her face, my breathing stopped.

Ashley—his first love, the one he’d kept in the softest part of his heart, the one he never forgot. And the one who was my half-sister.

My legs went weak. I held onto the wall before I would collapse.

Memories stabbed into my heart like a knife.

He saved my life—dragged me out of the undertow at the East Coast docks.

But his eyes only ever held Ashley.

So, as the elder sister, I kept creating opportunities for Kane to get closer to her.

I watched them hold hands, kiss, and watched him finally go down on one knee to propose.

I stood in the crowd, clapping and smiling and offering my blessings, while my heart shattered into pieces.

Then, a week before the wedding, Ashley vanished.

All she left was a letter saying she’d been diagnosed with a terminal disease. She didn’t have much time so she was going to spend the rest of her life in Switzerland. Tell Kane not to look for her and forget her.

That letter broke him.

To keep the alliance between our two families, my stepfather asked me to marry Kane.

While Kane strongly opposed, he wouldn’t even sign the agreement.

After that, Kane fell apart. He drank every day, until he didn’t look human anymore.

I took care of him silently and cleaned up the mess he made.

Until that night.

He was so drunk and pushed me to the bed.

“Ashley…” he whispered, saying her name.

I should’ve shoved him off.

But when he looked at me with that kind of loving eyes, my body froze.

I loved him too much and I’d loved him for too long.

I loved him even with no self-respect.

So, when I became a substitute, I couldn’t bear to push him away.

Later, I found out I was pregnant.

When I told him about the baby, he stayed silent for a long time, then finally said, “Let’s get married.”

No ring. No ceremony. Just a marriage agreement.

I knew he wasn’t marrying me for love.

But I thought… with a child, with time, I could slowly step into his heart.

At least I got what I’d always wanted: I married him; I became “Mrs. Johnson.”

While now Ashley had come back from the dead—wearing the diamond ring Kane had once chosen for her.

The five years of happiness I stole from her evaporated in a single breath.

“Mom!”

My son James’s voice yanked me back to reality.

He was holding Ashley’s hand, using a cute and soft tone I’d never heard from him.

“Can you be my mommy forever?”

Something in my head snapped—clean and loud.

Why… why did she have to take even my son?

I didn’t know how I charged inside.

I only remembered that my heart was slamming against my ribs, my eyes burning, everything turning red.

The guests stared at me like the spotlight casting on me.

“Isn’t that Mrs. Johnson?”

“What’s going on? Why is Mr. Johnson getting married to someone else?”

“Looks like the wife caught him cheating…”

Rage swallowed the little sanity I had left.

I stormed forward and grabbed Ashley’s wedding dress. She shrank behind Kane out of fear.

I lifted my hand and slapped her as hard as I could—

The crack of it echoed through the silent club.

It happened too fast for Kane to stop me.

But with guests still there, he only kept expressionless, then said stiffly, “The gathering is over. Everyone, please leave.”

Once the room emptied, he stopped pretending.

He shoved me hard, his eyes full of disgust.

“Nicole! Are you done? Do you have to ruin everything so you’re satisfied?!”

My throat tightened, my whole body still shaking.

“Who’s ruining everything?” I pointed at Ashley. “On our anniversary. On my birthday. You’re holding a wedding with my sister—Kane, what am I to you?”

“You?” He laughed coldly. “When you married me, you knew who I’ve always loved.”

His gaze was ice—cruel, ruthless.

“If you want money, just say that. Don’t use some anniversary as an excuse.”

My heart sank inch by inch.

“Then what about James? He is my son. Why is he calling Ashley ‘Mom’?”

“I don’t want you to be my mom! Mom is mean!” James suddenly ran over and punched me with his tiny fists. “You hit Ashley! I hate you!”

He was only five, yet he stood in front of Ashley like a shield, staring at me with resentment.

Looking at them, I laughed suddenly while my tears crashed down.

In front of me stood the two people I’d protected at the cost of my life.

Now one condemned me coldly, and the other defended a stranger.

I felt…tired, so tired somehow.

The rage went out like someone poured ice water over it.

I looked up at Kane and managed a weak, mocking smile.

“Fine.”

“Kane, let’s get a divorce.”