Chapter 1

My husband of five years, Raymond Brown, brought a woman and a child to our family dinner.

In front of everyone, he announced, "Ethan Scott is my son."

I stared at him, my emotions spiraling out of control. "Raymond, then what am I to you?"

Emily Scott, who shared the same last name with me and looked somewhat like me, pretended to appear innocent.

"Caroline, don't worry. I won't ruin your family. Once Ethan adjusts, I'll leave."

I was shaking with anger, glaring at Raymond. It felt like my world was falling apart right in front of me. "Why does it have to be Emily?"

You married me because she went abroad.

Now that Emily was back, you bring her son Ethan and reveal his identity.

I, the legitimate wife, had become a complete joke.

Raymond didn't answer me directly. He turned to the butler and said, "Take Mrs. Brown home."

Raymond's mother, Harper Hill, looked colder. "Raymond, what are you doing? Today is your grandfather Kyle's birthday. Do you want to upset him?"

Raymond silently signaled his assistant to hand a document to Harper.

After reading it, Harper's expression changed instantly, and she looked at me with a different meaning in her eyes.

"Caroline, it's Kyle's birthday. Don't make things awkward for everyone. You and Raymond can discuss your issues at home. Besides, Raymond is the heir to the company, and Ethan is his son. Kyle will be happy to know. He loves you so much, don't make him down."

"BTW, you two have been married for five years, and you haven't gotten pregnant. Ethan will be your son in the future. Be sensible."

"Go home, don't make it difficult for everyone."

From start to finish, Raymond only showed me a resolute and indifferent profile. I laughed silently.

Five years, and I should have woken up by now.

Leaving the Brown Villa, I got into a car heading to Prestige Estate, tears streaming down my face.

When I opened the door to our home, it felt strangely unfamiliar.

Even though I had decorated everything myself, it was all according to Raymond's preferences, which was why I felt disoriented.

At that moment, I heard a noise behind me and instinctively turned around.

Standing at the door was Raymond's secretary, Byron Morris, holding a check.

"Mrs. Brown, this is compensation from Mr. Brown."

I looked at the two-million-dollar check and laughed through my tears.

This was the man I've loved for so many years.

But I couldn't refuse it.

Because it was for my mother Diana Ellis's medical expenses this month. How ironic.

I, who had nothing, couldn't afford Diana's medical bills with my current salary.

I didn't have the nerve to tear up the check.

And there was no need to refuse the money.

"Got it."

That night, close to midnight, Raymond came home.

In our five years of marriage, this was the earliest he had come home, except when he needed to satisfy his physical needs on me.

He wasn't surprised to see me waiting for him. He casually tossed his suit jacket aside, a cigarette dangling from his lips, exuding a lazy yet noble sexiness.

"Ethan will move in tomorrow."

He was accustomed to holding a high position, and his tone was full of certainty.

"I don't agree."

Raymond looked up, his tone indifferent. "I'm not asking for your opinion."

"Raymond, Emily's mother, Clara Fuller, destroyed my family and caused my mother to be bedridden for five years."

"You want me to make room for Emily and your illegitimate son Ethan? What do you take me for?"

My chest heaved, unable to control my emotions any longer.

Raymond extinguished his cigarette, standing in the living room, his face cold and stern.

"Caroline, don't forget, if Emily hadn't gone abroad, I wouldn't have touched you."

"It was your fake pregnancy that caused a scandal, and that's why we got married. What, after just five years, you've forgotten?"

He laid out the past so casually, trampling on my dignity.

I looked up at him, all the love in my heart turning to hatred in that moment.

"Raymond, I want a divorce."

Raymond sneered. "Caroline, can you really let go?"

"Back then, you schemed for so long. Can you give up everything now?"

"Don't make me even lose interest in your body."

He picked up his suit jacket and walked a few steps before turning his head. "You love money so much. For the sake of your comfortable life, you should be more than willing to raise Ethan."

I grabbed a pillow and looked at Raymond's cold back, tears streaming down my face.

"Raymond, you bastard. How can you humiliate me like this?"

I trembled as I picked up my phone to call my best friend, Flora Lynn.

"Hi, Flora, I want a divorce. Can you help me find a lawyer?"

"Caroline, what's wrong? Did Raymond mistreat you again?"

I looked at the crystal chandelier, tears blurring my vision.

"I'm tired. I don't want to love him anymore. Flora, it hurts so much." I touched my chest. "Do you know? Emily is back, and Raymond wants me to raise her son Ethan."

"He's gone too far!" Flora cursed in anger. "If it weren't for that shameless mother and daughter, who ruined Diana's reputation, you wouldn't have been kicked out and burdened with debt."

"Caroline, I'll send you the lawyer's contact information right away. You must get a divorce."

"Thank you."

After hanging up, I wiped away my tears and sat there all night, memories flooding back.

When I met Raymond, I was still the daughter of the Scott family, and Diana hadn't fallen ill from the shock. Raymond was just an ordinary employee.

I fell in love with him at first sight in a bar and pursued him for a long time.

When we met again, I had been kicked out of the Scott family and went to a bar to drown my sorrows.

He was drinking alone, and I sat next to him.

"Want to join me?"

He looked at me and suddenly kissed me.

In that intimate atmosphere, with the man I loved, I couldn't resist when he kissed me.

Love was a hallucinogen, making people forget everything, not having to face the cold, heartless father Ronald Scott and the debts chasing me.

But a month later, I found out I was pregnant.

It was then that I learned Raymond was the sole heir to the Brown family.

He looked at me and said, "let's get married."

After the wedding, we were like any other newlyweds, going on a honeymoon. That sweet time made me almost forget we married because of the pregnancy.

But a month later, the dream shattered. When we returned from our honeymoon, Raymond received my medical report. I wasn't pregnant.

He cornered me and asked why I lied. That day, my scandalous photos from the bar were also exposed, and I became the scheming woman who faked a pregnancy to marry, the nominal Mrs. Brown.

No matter how I explained, Raymond didn't believe me.

Later, we formed a strange agreement. He slept with me, and I took the money, but I couldn't have his child.

Back then, I always believed I loved him, thinking love could heal everything and that we had a lifetime to resolve our issues.

Now, this dream was finally ending.

Raymond's first love, Emily, was back. I'd stayed in a place that didn't belong to me for too long. It was time to leave.

Someone knocked on the door. After a sleepless night, I felt dizzy.

When I opened the door, I instantly sobered up.

"Caroline, long time no see. Raymond asked me to bring Ethan here. Is he not home?"