Chapter 2

"Fifty million dollars…" Jasper hissed, his gaze sharp and penetrating. "Arabella, do you really think you're worth that much?" They'd been married for two years, and every time this woman softened her stance, it was always for money. It felt as if their marriage had become a transaction—a trade of money and sex. It disgusted him. He suddenly remembered the first month after they married. He had been so full of joy, treating Arabella with nothing but care, as though he would have plucked the moon from the sky just to give it to her. But what had she given him in return? Betrayal. At first, he hadn’t believed it, until he saw it with his own eyes. There was no denying it now—this woman had no feelings for him. I stiffened, forcing a smile as I replied, "This money is just an investment. In a few years, the returns will be more than fifty million." How businesslike. What was the difference between her and a woman selling her body to secure an investment? Jasper only felt a deep sense of mockery. His eyes grew colder, and his fingers tightened around my chin, his voice as sharp as his grip. "Arabella, you're really starting to disgust me more and more." With that, he released my chin and stood up from the sofa, towering over me, his gaze cold and disdainful. "Just looking at you makes me sick. And now you want me to pay to sleep with you? Where do you get the nerve?" Every word cut into me like a knife. I felt like I had fallen into a frozen sea, my body cold, my eyes wide as I stared at the man before me—so indifferent, so cruel. Jasper, however, just turned away, his expression as cold as ever, his arrogance radiating from him. He spun on his heel and walked out without a second glance. A few seconds later, the sound of a door slamming echoed from downstairs. Jasper Hawthorne. He was gone. I stared blankly at the ceiling for what felt like an eternity. Finally, my dry eyes blinked, and I raised a hand to cover my pale face, hiding the pain that surged inside. So, he really did hate me this much... Just the sight of me made him sick... Thinking of those words, my chest tightened in unbearable pain, and I curled up, pressing a hand over my aching heart. Biting my lip, I was left alone in the vast villa, swallowing the bitterness and humiliation of this relationship. I spent the night on the couch, and when I finally woke up the next day, my body ached, and my face looked pale and drawn. I had no choice but to apply heavy makeup to cover it. I'd forgotten breakfast entirely. I went straight to the office, where I buried myself in a mountain of paperwork. I was so absorbed that I didn’t even realize when my blood sugar dropped. Before I knew it, I fainted on my way to a meeting. Isabella, my assistant, was terrified. She rushed to help and quickly took me to the hospital for an IV. After the ordeal, my face looked even worse, and not even the makeup could hide the exhaustion etched into my features. Isabella, who had been working with me for three years and had become quite close, gently advised, "Arabella, you should go home and rest for a few days. You've been working nonstop, and last weekend, you were at the office the whole time…" It wasn’t just last weekend—ever since I got married, I hadn't had a single weekend off. It was as if I filled every moment of my life with work, avoiding the reality of my marriage. I shook my head, replying, "I'm fine here. You go ahead and inform CEO Caldwell that I’ll take the day off. I’ll catch up on the work tomorrow." Isabella sighed but respected my wishes, leaving the room to carry out my instructions. Once she was gone, I finally allowed myself to relax, resting my forehead in exhaustion. But no sooner had I closed my eyes than my phone rang, its shrill sound like a death knell. I forced myself to focus, picking up the phone to see it was a call from my father, Alexander Sinclair. "Dad," I answered, "I'm at…" Before I could even say "the hospital," my father cut me off, asking in his usual blunt tone, "Did you get the fifty million dollar investment?" I looked at the IV in my arm, a chill running through me. Every time my father called, the conversation was always about money or power, as if I wasn’t his daughter but just a tool for him to gain more. There was no love, only exploitation. I stared at the IV drip, a sudden impulse to test my father crossed my mind. After a brief hesitation, I said, "Dad, I might not be able to help you make money anymore... Jasper wants a divorce." "Divorce?" My father’s voice instantly shot up, sharp and piercing. "What do you mean, divorce? Arabella, did you do something to hurt him? You need to apologize right now. You can’t divorce him!" My fingers tightened, my heart growing colder. "It’s too late. We’ve already signed the Divorce Agreement," I lied without a second thought. There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before my father exploded. "Idiot! Useless thing! Do you have any idea how much effort I put into getting you married to Jasper? And now you're just going to divorce him? I don’t have a daughter like you!" His words were harsh, venomous, as if I wasn’t his daughter but an enemy. "Get back home right now! Let’s see how I deal with you!" With that, he slammed the phone down. I stood frozen, still holding the phone. I had always believed that my father’s affection for me faded only after he married my stepmother and had a son, but I never imagined that he had never cared for me at all. Deal with me? I forced out a bitter laugh, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from my reddened eyes. I ripped the IV drip from my arm, grabbed my purse, and walked out. The Sinclair Family Mansion. Alexander angrily hurled his phone at the TV. His wife, Charlotte, rushed over. "What's going on? Why are you yelling at Arabella? We still need her for the investments!" Alexander snapped, "That useless girl went behind my back and got a divorce from Jasper!" "What?" Charlotte gasped. "Doesn't that mean we lost our support?" Alexander scoffed. "I'll deal with her today. After all these years, she's been nothing but a waste. Worthless." Charlotte grabbed his arm, a gleam in her eyes. "Not entirely worthless. Do you remember Maximus from Sterling Crest Bank?" Alexander paused, recalling the overweight, balding man who had once offered to pay to marry Arabella before her wedding. They'd turned him down, opting for the wealth tied to Titan Global Holdings instead. "Now that she's divorced," Charlotte continued, "doesn't that work in our favor? We can..." She leaned in, whispering something to Alexander. His anger melted away instantly, replaced by a satisfied smile. "You're brilliant. I'll have people handle it right away!"