Chapter 1

Bethany Reyes had no idea what was going on with Trystan Lawson. Even though they had been married for a year, he had never consummated their marriage. She was in a daze, feeling like she was back to her old self a year ago, lost and confused. Tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably. Trystan noticed Bethany's tears and became even more disgusted. He grabbed her by the neck and hissed, "Why are you crying? Isn't this what you wanted?" With tears in her eyes, Bethany shook her head. She had never wanted any of this. The pressure on her neck intensified, making it hard for her to breathe. Perhaps it would be better to die like this. Trystan's cold voice sounded again. "How dare you? What makes you think you can keep scheming against me?" Bethany couldn't understand him. She closed her eyes, secretly hoping Trystan would choke her to death. After an hour, Trystan finally rose to his feet as if trying to flee from Bethany's presence. What was the point of a marriage like this? Bethany was genuinely exhausted. She had done her best throughout the last year. She had poured all of her love into Trystan, but what happened? She was absolutely defeated. "Let's get divorced!" Bethany felt relieved after suggesting the idea. Finally, everything was over. She no longer had to worry about when their marriage would end. Trystan stopped in his tracks. "What did you just say?" "Trystan, let's end this marriage. I'll set you free so you can find someone who truly makes you happy—" Before Bethany could finish, Trystan tightened his grip on her delicate neck. He was seething with anger. "Bethany, have you forgotten what happened? "If you hadn't drugged me, seduced me, and then teamed up with your mother to force me into marrying you, do you think you would've been accepted into my family? "A divorce? Even if we do divorce, it'll be on my terms. You're not in a position to decide!" With that, Trystan stormed off. Bethany sat on the bed, feeling numb, as if she'd lost all sense of reality. After Trystan finished taking a shower, he headed straight for the guest room. …. The next morning, he found a divorce agreement on the dining table. Bethany sat silently across from him. Trystan scoffed and slammed the document down. He knew she hadn't drafted it overnight; she had been planning this. "So eager to move on, huh? Have you found someone new already?" Trystan sneered. Bethany remained silent. She had been prepared for this moment. When she had received that text message, she had known that her marriage was over. The divorce agreement had been sitting in her drawer for days, but she hadn't been able to bring herself to give it to Trystan or even mention divorce. She felt as worthless as dust, yet she desired more from her role as Mrs. Lawson. But now, she felt like she had no choice. "Trystan, just sign the paper. I don't want anything from you," Bethany pleaded. Trystan chuckled in disbelief. A scheming woman who had shamelessly married into the Lawson family was saying she wanted nothing? Trystan casually tossed the document into the trash bin and exclaimed, "Bethany, don't play games with me. If you wanted a divorce, why did you drug me last night?" Drug him? Bethany's eyes widened in surprise. She didn't understand what Trystan was saying. "Do you understand how disgusting you are? If you hadn't drugged me, I wouldn't have had any interest in you." Trystan scoffed. He turned to leave, but Bethany ran forward and grabbed his arm. "Trystan, I didn't do it. I didn't drug you." "Do you honestly think anyone would buy into your lies?" Trystan shook Bethany off with contempt. She fell to the ground and continued to shake her head desperately. "I didn't; I didn't do it," she pleaded, but Trystan didn't want to hear it anymore. Had Bethany not done it? Was she claiming he had drugged himself? Bethany's lies made Trystan feel disgusted. He stormed off without another word, leaving Bethany on the ground. It was all so absurd. Everything was absurd. No wonder Trsytan had behaved that way last night. He truly despised her. Bethany cried on the floor for what felt like an eternity before finally mustering the strength to get up. Eventually, she packed her bags and prepared to leave. She realized how much of a failure her marriage was. There had been no ceremony, wedding rings, or gifts throughout the year. Her belongings had remained the same as when she had moved in a year ago. Bethany had mistakenly imagined that if she behaved nicely, she would one day be able to call this place her home. But reality had struck her squarely in the face. Where could she possibly go if she left Lawson Residence? Bethany knew she couldn't go back to Reyes Residence. Her mother, Serene Davidson, had always seen Trystan as a cash cow and would never agree to their divorce. After some thought, Bethany called her friend, Jenny Stone. Jenny was a famously flamboyant influencer who endorsed a variety of masks, all while ranting angrily on live streams. She never held back her enthusiasm or insults. When Jenny heard about Bethany's plan for a divorce, she was speechless. "Why? Beth, weren't you head over heels for Trystan?" Bethany bitterly chuckled and forwarded Jenny a screenshot of a message. "Megan's coming back." Surprised by the news, Jenny asked, "All of a sudden?" "Was it really unexpected, though?" Bethany had always had a hunch that Megan Reyes would come back eventually. Jenny couldn't believe it and ranted, "But she made such a scene back then. She even turned Trystan down. And now she wants you to return him to her? Such a shameless hypocrite!" Bethany buried her face in a pillow. "Let's not talk about it. It was my fault back then." "But Beth, you're a victim too." Jenny sounded concerned. Bethany didn't respond. A victim? Would anyone believe it? "Wait, did Trystan say that he was drugged again last night? Perhaps he needs an excuse because he can't control himself." Jenny couldn't resist gossiping. Bethany sighed. "He hasn't consummated our marriage in a year." Trystan wouldn't have lasted this long if he couldn't control himself. Jenny was shocked upon hearing the news. "No intimacy for a year, and now he needs drugs to do it? Is he incapable?" Bethany sighed again. "Just because he's not intimate with me doesn't mean he's not intimate with other women. What are you thinking?" Jenny lowered her voice and continued, "That's true. How could a handsome and wealthy guy like Trystan be short of female company?" After sensing Bethany's silence, Jenny probed further, "Since you weren't the one who drugged him, then who could it be? Maybe he was drugged when he was out?" Trystan treated Bethany like a full-time maid, and Jenny knew that the Lawson family didn't employ housemaids. Bethany must be working as a full-time maid for free. Jenny silently decided to expose that cold, disgusting man, Trystan, during her live stream that night. "Unlikely." Bethany shook her head, recalling everything from the night before. It had all begun with Trystan drinking that glass of water from the bedside table… Bethany sprang up in surprise when a particular possibility occurred to her.