Chapter 1

The November night of the late fall was dark and chilly, with few people on the streets.

But inside the hotel suite, it was a whole different story—hot and steamy.

Naked bodies tangled together, sweating and moving until the break of dawn.

Diana Mellon felt like she was back to that one-night stand three years ago. A faceless man had gripped her waist so hard it hurt. She was surrounded by a strange smell, and no matter how much she begged, he wouldn't stop.

Before that night, she was the bright and charming Miss Mellon of the Mellon family. After that, she fell from grace into a dark abyss.

In her brief moments of clarity, Diana felt herself being gently placed into a bathtub. The warm water eased some of her soreness.

A deep voice came from above, "You sleep, I won't bother you anymore."

Diana didn't have the strength to open her eyes. Hearing this, she fell into a deep sleep, feeling a bit relieved.

Before she completely drifted off, she had one thought: this time, the guy seemed to have learned to clean her up.

When she woke up, the room was empty.

Ignoring the soreness, Diana got dressed and prepared to leave.

There was warm oatmeal on the dining table with a note underneath: [Eat first, wait for me to come back.]

Diana glanced at the note, didn't touch the oatmeal, and had no intention of waiting. She grabbed her bag and headed out.

She knew the drink she had last night was spiked and that the stranger who slept with her was the same jerk who took her virginity on her wedding night three years ago.

She couldn't quite figure out her emotions, but resistance and disgust were the strongest.

Even though she knew the crazy incident wasn't the guy's fault or hers, Diana just didn't want to get tangled up with that stranger; she just wanted to leave.

She left the hotel and hailed a taxi back to the Smith Manor.

But when she got there, the servants wouldn't let her in. "Mrs. Smith, last night's incident made the front page news. Mr. Smith is furious and said you brought shame to the Smith family."

Diana's lips twitched. That explained why he kept her outside.

The servant hesitated, "Mrs. Smith, maybe you should apologize and say something nice to Mr. Smith."

Diana shook her head; she knew it wasn't about an apology.

The incident from three years ago had always been a thorn in Alex Smith's side.

He was convinced Diana had been unfaithful, and since then, he constantly found ways to torment her out of sheer hatred.

Diana called Alex, and his phone was answered quickly, but it wasn't Alex.

It was his secretary, Zayne Johnson, who managed Alex's work phone.

In three years of marriage, Diana only had Alex's work phone number, and most of the time, it was Zayne who communicated with her.

"Mrs. Smith," Zayne said, "Mr. Smith is very busy right now. You can call back later."

From the other end of the line came the sound of a man's laughter and a woman's flirty voice.

The so-called busy was just an excuse for Alex to avoid dealing with her.

Alex heard the sound and looked up to Zayne, "Put it on speaker."

Alex's voice came through the receiver to Diana's ear, filled with anger. "Diana, you slut. Can't live without a man? I haven't had sex with you in years, so you couldn't stand the loneliness and found another man? And you were even caught by the paparazzi. Don't show up in front of me for a while. I find you disgusting with a single glance."

Diana gripped the phone tightly, feeling like she was back to three years ago when Alex had also judged her harshly. "Diana, you make me sick."

What had she done wrong? She was clearly the victim, forced into this mess. Why did everyone accuse her of being promiscuous?

For the past three years, Diana had almost gotten used to the daily accusations and humiliation she faced every single day.

Diana's voice was calm, "I still can't compare to you, Mr. Smith, surrounded by lovers. Your affairs have made the headlines more than a dozen times in a month."

Facing Alex, she had long since moved from initial anger and confusion to calmness, sometimes even able to retort.

Alex sneered, "Get out of the Smith Manor, don't get in my way." He instructed Zayne, "Throw all her things out of the Smith Manor. They are extremely dirty because of her."

Alex's tone was light, but it pierced her heart like fine needles, quickly sinking into her flesh. And apart from the habitual pain, there were no other traces.

Diana suddenly felt fed up. Sometimes she didn't even understand what Alex wanted.

A perfect couple turned into resentful partners, and their entanglement only brought pain to themselves.

Alex had once been loving to her, but that accident had changed everything.

Diana wanted a divorce.

Her job was now stable, and she could support her mother's medical expenses on her own. Though it was a bit tough, it was enough.

But Alex seemed to know what she was going to say and threatened, "Diana, think carefully before you speak. It's you who cheated first, and if you want a divorce, you have to ask for my consent. If you dare to propose a divorce, I'll make sure you never see your mother again."

Diana's knuckles turned white, and the color drained from her lips, "Alex, is this fun for you?"

Was it fun for them to torment each other?

Alex let out a short laugh, his voice full of malice. "The beginning and end of this marriage should be decided by me. Diana, you have no right to make demands of me."

With that, he had Zayne hang up the phone.

Diana stood there, letting the sun beat down on her for half a day, but feeling no warmth at all.

Her stomach churned with nausea. She felt genuinely disgusted by this marriage and even by herself.

Her phone received a text message from an unknown number: [Do you like the gift I sent you, Mrs. Smith?] The words were full of mockery.

She thought of the drugged drink from last night and her headline news.

Diana suddenly realized that everything had been orchestrated.

For what? Alex's wife's position?

She had long wanted to give it up, but it was Alex who always refused to let go.

With a light tap on the screen, Diana replied: [I hope you get what you want.]

Then she decisively blocked the number, not caring how angry the mysterious person behind it would be.

Diana put away her phone and hailed a cab.

She got something to do. The car stopped in front of a private nursing home, and she went to the front desk to register.

Then she was told she was on the no-visit list.

Diana's face instantly turned grim, "I am the patient's daughter. I have the right to visit."

The nurse at the front desk was also in a difficult position, "It was Mr. Smith's order. We are just following instructions."

It was Alex again.

Every time Diana thought she could escape Alex, he would cut off her last hope and bind her again.

One small thing after another, Alex's shackles on her were everywhere.

Her mother had Alzheimer's disease, often unable to recognize people, but always stubbornly believed that she and Alex were as loving as they were before marriage.

And Alex, for some unknown reason, was always willing to play the role of a gentle husband and filial son-in-law in front of her mother.

How hypocritical and absurd.

Diana and Alex both knew that once out of her mother's sight, their relationship was defined by mutual hatred.

Alex forbidding her to visit her mother was a demonstration, and more so, a way to force her to apologize.

But this time, Diana didn't want to comply with his demands.