Chapter 1

"Dad, in just one more week, the three years will be up," Julia Evans said softly. "I'll get Oliver to sign the divorce papers. I'll be gone for good in a week." Julia had been expecting this day to come since she got married to Oliver Miller three years prior. However, she never imagined it would come so soon. Oliver had never loved her. Emily Evans, Julia's younger sister, was the one whom Oliver had always loved. Martin Evans, Julia's father, looked at the divorce agreement. He wore a satisfied smile. "Oliver was always supposed to be with Emily. She only went abroad for a few years. We got you to take her place to keep Oliver around. Now that she's returned, it's time you step aside." Julia laughed bitterly to herself when she heard Martin's unfeeling reminder. Of course, favoritism existed in their family. As Emily was their real daughter, they used Julia, the adopted one, as much as they could. They milked her for all the value she had. A month before, Oliver's rival had kidnapped both Julia and Emily. There was only one parachute on the plane, and Oliver gave it to Emily without a second thought. Julia was pushed out of the plane, straight into the open sea. It was Noah Vaughan, the richest man in the country, who saved her just in time. That was when she finally saw things for what they were. If Oliver didn't even care about her life, then he wasn't worth holding on to. It was time to let go completely. Seeing Julia stay silent, Martin frowned and said, "Julia, no matter what, I'm still your father. When you leave, I'll give you a small house in the suburbs and ten thousand in cash as compensation." He sounded like he was handing out a reward, as if these things were some kind of huge favor. Julia replied in a flat voice, "That's not necessary. I won't take anything from the Evans family." Martin narrowed his eyes and said, "I know you have your pride, but you're only the adopted one. The fact that I'm even offering you this is generous enough. You shouldn't be so greedy." There was no love in his gaze, only endless calculation. "Don't worry, Dad. The day I leave Oliver will be the day I cut ties with the Evans family forever," Julia said. She was nothing more than an adopted daughter. Years ago, after Emily went missing, her mother, Juliette Keller, fell into a deep depression. Hoping it would lift Juliette from her grief, Martin adopted Julia. At first, they treated her kindly, pouring all their guilt and love into her. The second year after her adoption, they found Emily. But for the sake of their reputation, they didn't send Julia away. The first few years were fine, but by the third year, Emily had started to bully her. She even set her up to look like a thief. Julia lived in a lavish villa, but she was made to do all the menial chores. Rather than an adopted daughter, she was more like an unpaid maid. Seeing how tough Julia was, Martin scoffed, "Let's see how you survive after leaving the Evans family!" Julia gave a cold laugh. Her biological parents had found her six months earlier. They were the wealthiest family in Jelburge, and she was their only heir. At that time, she had turned them down because of Oliver. It wasn't until two weeks ago that she finally reached out and agreed to return home and inherit the family estate. The Evans family's small fortune was nothing compared to that. Julia stood up and walked to the door. She paused to say, "Don't worry, Dad. I promise I'll do better than you ever could." With that, she turned and headed for the stairs. The bedroom door next door was slightly open. She could hear a woman's breathless moans and a man's deep groans coming from inside. Even though Julia had long known the truth, seeing her husband and her sister in bed together still made her chest ache. "Oliver, who makes you happier? Me or Julia?" Emily's teasing voice drifted out. "You, of course," Oliver said quickly but firmly. "You're the only one who's ever made me feel this way. You know I've always loved you. Julia was just filling in while you were gone." Each word cut into Julia's heart, wounding her again and again, but never enough to break her completely. She stood frozen. Her blood ran cold, and she was barely able to keep her balance. Then, Emily's voice came again as she feigned innocence. "Oh no, Julia's right outside! How am I supposed to face her after this?" Oliver pulled the covers around Emily and yelled at the door, "Get out!" Eyes brimming with tears, Julia ran to the backyard. She had loved Oliver for ten years. Even though she knew he didn't love her, she still agreed to marry him. She had even accepted a secret marriage when Oliver proposed it. For three years, she was his secretary by day and his secret wife by night. She was never allowed to step into the light. Julia had believed that if she worked hard enough, Oliver would eventually be moved. But after three years, all she ever was to him was just a stand-in. Julia wept and laughed, collapsing helplessly on the ground. She laughed at herself for being such a fool, and at Oliver for being even more foolish. Emily only came back because she'd finished playing around and needed someone to take care of her, yet Oliver treated her like a treasure. Julia didn't know how long she had been sitting there before she finally pulled out her phone and called Noah. "Mr. Vaughan, didn't you say you liked me?" Julia asked. "I'll be divorced in seven days. Would you be willing to marry me?"