Chapter 1

"Ms. Barnes, here is the divorce agreement from Mr. Blake. Please sign it as soon as possible." In a garden villa in Ashgard City, the bright lamp cast a glow on the coffee table in the living room. This was her third year of marriage and the fifth divorce agreement she had received. Nicole Barnes lowered her head. Her phone was still on the page she was just reading. "Breaking news! The president of Blake Group, Jacob Blake, was spotted staying at a five-star hotel under Blake Group all night with his childhood sweetheart, Sarah Green. His troubled marriage is facing more difficulties…" Nicole brushed her bangs away and smirked. In the three years of marriage, Jacob hadn't been home for even three days. If it weren't for the fact that her grandmother, Lily Heather, was a long-lost friend of Jacob's grandmother, Maddie Lawrence, and that Lily's dying wish was for someone to take good care of Nicole, Jacob wouldn't have been forced to marry her. When Jacob refused to attend the wedding, Nicole knew he was against this marriage. It was ridiculous that she still foolishly held onto hope for three years. Jacob's assistant, Simon Radfield, was worried that she would refuse again like before, so he added, "This time, Mr. Blake has offered an unprecedented compensation in the divorce settlement. "Ms. Barnes, you should take a closer look. There's no need to be so resolute…" "I'll sign it." Nicole's response was clear and straightforward. Simon was stunned. He thought he had misheard. He continued to persuade her, "Please think it over carefully. The next agreement might not be so generous…" Nicole got impatient and snatched the pen from Simon. She quickly signed the agreement. Then, she stood up and tossed the pen back to him. "I'll move out tonight." With that, she turned and headed upstairs without looking back. Simon was stunned for a moment before calling after her, "Ms. Barnes! Wait! We still need your relevant documents for the transfer of property and vehicles!" Nicole walked around the corner, seemingly oblivious to Simon's words. After some consideration, Simon decided to call Jacob to report the situation. Jacob was flipping through the documents irritably in the suite conference room at Celeste Hotel, one of Blake Group's hotels. The overhead light in the room made him uncomfortable. Suddenly, his phone rang, and it interrupted his thoughts. Seeing Simon's name, he raised his eyebrows and answered impatiently, "What now? Did she refuse to sign again? Did you mention the increased compensation—" Simon carefully interrupted Jacob's ranting. "Ms. Barnes has signed the agreement." Jacob paused. He leaned back on the sofa. He was wearing a black shirt with several buttons undone, revealing a large expanse of his chest. His shirt tucked in perfectly highlighted his lean waistline. Even in a casual posture, his broad shoulders and torso couldn't diminish his elegance and aloofness. He sneered. "She finally signed it. As expected, her character was nothing when it came to money." Simon remained silent. He could tell that Nicole wasn't moved by the compensation. "Have the lawyers expedite the divorce procedure. I want to be rid of my married status by next week!" The tone in his words made Simon shiver. Simon tried to explain, "However, you'll need to go to the courthouse in person for the certificate…" Before he could finish, he saw Nicole coming down with her suitcase. He couldn't hang up the call, but when he saw she was about to leave, he quickly stepped forward to block her. "Ms. Barnes, we need your documents to facilitate the transfer of assets." "Can't it be converted to cash?" Simon was taken aback by Nicole's request. He stammered, "I-it can be done…" "Then just transfer the money to my account. I don't want to waste my time on this." Her words were loud and clear enough to be heard by Jacob on the other end of the line. Jacob scoffed. "A peasant. Don't you know that real estate is the most appreciative investment for the future?" Simon smiled awkwardly. While he was about to respond, Nicole smirked. "If I weren't a peasant, how could I have married someone like you?" She had been cautious in the past. She went to great lengths to please Jacob and his family. She was the perfect wife and could always read the room because she was afraid of saying anything that might upset Jacob. She lived as if she was walking on thin ice for three years and nearly forgot her true self. Now that she was ready for divorce and had completely given up on this relationship, she didn't have to care about Jacob's feelings anymore. In fact, the more irritated he got, the better! Jacob hadn't expected Nicole to talk back to him like that. The woman he had kept in the house for three years, like a caged bird, was now fighting him. He snorted coldly. "If you are so proud of yourself, then don't take any of the money! Didn't you try so hard to marry into the Blake family just for the money?" His words were particularly harsh. Jacob had used similar words to humiliate her in the past. Every time it happened, Nicole would stare at him with her teary eyes. It always made Jacob uncomfortable, and he would often stop his insults before they went too far. On the other end of the line, there was a long silence. Jacob frowned. Since the divorce was already set in stone, there was no need to be harsh. "I didn't…" "Why shouldn't I take it? Which law is stopping me? I didn't even take half of your assets according to the marriage law. I'm the one who is generous here!" Nicole's words were full of sarcasm. Her words made Jacob's expression change. Just as he was about to speak, the bathroom door in the suite opened. A soft and feminine voice could be heard from the other end of the phone. "Jacob, where are my clothes? The hotel bathrobe isn't that hygienic. I won't wear it." Nicole instantly recognized the voice. It was Sarah! She had read countless pieces of information about Sarah over the past three years. At her most ridiculous moment, she even had the idea of imitating Sarah's voice and appearance. Jacob's thoughts were interrupted for a moment. He turned around to see Sarah wrapped only in a towel that accentuated her curves. Her legs looked even more seductive against the steamy backdrop of the bathroom. However, Jacob's gaze remained cold, showing no emotion or warmth until Nicole's voice came through the phone. Her voice was filled with sarcasm and laughter. "Jacob, you should be grateful that I didn't use your infidelity as grounds for divorce and leave you penniless. You owe me a big thank you!"