Chapter 1

Callum Ford and Nadia Grayson had been in a secret marriage for three years. They had been fulfilling their duties as husband and wife in the most mechanical way. Today was the fifth day of the month. As usual, Callum had his butler, Geoffrey Hanes, bring Nadia to Rosewood Residences. Nadia had always loved the garden there. It was called Memento Garden and was filled with white lilies, whose fragrance lingered in the air. It looked like something out of a dream. But the three years were up. Today was the last day. Nadia hadn't come just to fulfill her duty one last time. She was here to hand Callum the divorce agreement. When she stepped into the room, Callum was just walking out of the bathroom. He was shirtless, showing off his broad shoulders and slim waist. He had a classic V-shaped build. Every inch of him radiating raw strength. A towel hung low on his hips. Water slid down his toned muscles, tracing over his abs and along his Adonis belt before disappearing under the towel. His face was absurdly handsome, as if sculpted with obsessive care. His lips were pressed into a thin line and tinted with the flush of heat from the shower, but he didn't seem soft at all. Instead, he looked like a man who didn't want to be approached. Without a word, Callum swept Nadia into his arms and walked straight to the bed. She gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Callum didn't say a thing. He just kissed her hard, then reached to tug at her dress. Nadia clung to him. The familiar scent of tobacco mixed with a faint trace of alcohol made her head spin. He was the same as always—rough and impatient. It was maybe because it had been too long since they had seen each other. He kissed her like he was trying to consume her whole. The temperature in the room kept climbing, and the air grew thick with tension and desire. … The fifth and 25th of each month were the days Callum had set for them to sleep together. On those days, Geoffrey would pick Nadia up and bring her to Rosewood Residences. They never lived under the same roof. When the intimacy was over, she thought of the divorce agreement in her bag. Maybe it was her fate to lend him three years of her life to be his wife. Around midnight, Nadia woke up hungry. The man beside her was long gone, and even the warmth he left in the bed had faded. Her whole body ached. She forced herself to sit up, threw on a robe, and made her way downstairs. Geoffrey was already waiting. "Mrs. Ford, are you hungry? Mr. Ford asked the staff to make you some oatmeal before he left." "Okay, thanks." Nadia sat down and slowly ate her oatmeal. She idly opened her phone, and several trending topics immediately popped up. #CallumFordThrowsMillionDollarBashForBrittanyJaeger. #CallumAndBrittanyEngagedInFalveria. Her eyes widened. Startled by the news, a wave of dizziness washed over her. Brittany Jaeger. So, that was the name of Callum's first love. The picture-perfect Memento Garden had always been a slow, silent weapon against Nadia's heart. Her eyes burned as she stared at the screen. That breathtaking face belonged to her husband, Callum. He had his arms wrapped around another woman, grinning like he was on top of the world. Nadia used to think he was just naturally distant and someone who didn't know how to smile. It turned out he just didn't want to smile at her. Around Brittany's neck hung a necklace with a lily-shaped ruby pendant. The sight of it stung Nadia's eyes. She put the spoon down and quietly went upstairs to change. As she looked at the empty bed, the chill in her eyes deepened. Callum really was something else. He slept with her that afternoon, and by night, he was already in Falveria, celebrating his beloved's birthday. Ten minutes later, Nadia came back down and told Geoffrey to take her home. She wasn't coming back anymore. Once she got home, she pulled out the divorce agreement from her bag and flipped through it. She had prepared it a month ago and kept it with her ever since. She had planned to give it to Callum today, but he actually ran away. … The next day, Nadia was jolted awake by the sound of her phone ringing nonstop. Her best friend, Wendy Cooper, had blown up her phone with over 20 calls. Something had clearly happened. Nadia quickly called back. "Oh, my God! You finally answered! I thought you killed yourself or something. I nearly had a heart attack!" Wendy's dramatic tone made Nadia rub her forehead in exasperation. "Relax. I love life way too much to check out early." Funny enough, after sleeping on it, she didn't feel quite so suffocated anymore. "Wait for me. I'm booking a flight now. I'm coming to see you," Wendy said eagerly. "Okay. I'll be waiting." After the call ended, a wave of emptiness settled in her chest. Nadia lay there, staring at the ceiling. Memories of the past few years with Callum rushed back like a tide. He had skipped a grade in middle school, so she did, too. He studied abroad, and she followed. He chose medicine, and she didn't hesitate to do the same. Once, he fell into the ocean, and she jumped in right after him. But still, he didn't remember her. Three years ago, Callum was in a car accident that left him blind. When Nadia heard that his first love ran off overseas, she stepped in. Back then, on her deathbed, Lola Lynch had used her connections to get Nadia married into the Ford family. At first, Callum resented her. Later, because of some scheme from his grandfather, Barclay Ford, the two of them became a real couple. After that came the constant pressure to have a child, so Callum agreed to sleep with her twice a month. Nadia remembered that he got his vision back in the second year of their marriage. The first time he looked at her, his eyes were ice, and his face was full of disgust. She thought maybe, if she loved hard enough, she could melt that frost. But the truth was, she was never the spark he wanted. Her phone rang again, yanking her out of her thoughts. Nadia picked up. The call was brief, just two sentences before the line went dead. It was Callum's mother, Ramona Walker. She wanted Nadia to come to Ford Manor immediately. A bad feeling crept up her spine, but she didn't have time to overthink it. She jumped out of bed and got ready. … By 4:00 pm, Nadia had arrived at Ford Manor. The Fords were the most powerful family in Seora. Their influence ran deep. Barclay had two sons and two daughters. Callum, the eldest grandson from his first son, was naturally the heir he valued most. When Nadia stepped into the living room, Ramona rose to her feet instantly. Her eyes were sharp with accusation as she snapped, "It was you who tattled to Barclay, wasn't it? I didn't expect you to be quiet on the surface but sneaky underneath." Nadia stared calmly at the venomous Ramona and said, "Mrs. Ford, I have no idea what you're talking about." "Callum's being punished in the study." With a single look, Ramona motioned to the butler, who then escorted Nadia upstairs. Before they even reached the study, raised voices echoed from inside, "You ungrateful brat! How dare you talk back? Are you trying to give me a stroke?" Barclay was behind closed doors, scolding Callum with enough fury to nearly make his lungs burst. "Grandpa, a forced marriage wouldn't bring happiness. Didn't you promise me if Nadia didn't get pregnant within three years, I'd be allowed to divorce her and remarry?" "You punk! You want to divorce her?" Barclay snapped. "You're still husband and wife. I won't let you get caught up in some new scandal with that Jaeger woman. Put out a statement and clear the air now." "I can't control the Internet, Grandpa. Why do you care so much about what people online say?" "I'm going to beat some sense into you!" The crash of furniture echoed from inside. Nadia took a moment to compose herself, then raised her hand and knocked on the door. When it opened and Barclay saw her, his expression shifted to surprise. "Nad, you're here!" "Grandpa, please don't get too worked up." With a warm smile, Nadia stepped in and offered her arm to steady him. "What are you waiting for? Apologize to Nad now," Barclay ordered Callum. Callum pressed his lips into a thin line. His expression was full of contempt. He had deliberately waited for the three-year mark to leak the news, expecting Nadia to take the hint and walk away on her own. "Grandpa," Nadia called out calmly. "I'd like to talk to Callum alone." Barclay nodded and quietly left the room. Nadia turned to Callum. "Let's get divorced, Callum. I'll set you free." Callum blinked in surprise, staring at her like she had grown another head. He had expected her to come back furious, maybe even drag Barclay in to back her up. But to his surprise, she mentioned divorce as if it were nothing at all. Nadia was actually willing to give up her place as Mrs. Ford? Then, she added, "We can handle the paperwork first. You can tell Grandpa yourself when the time's right." Callum was silent for a few seconds before asking, "What kind of compensation do you want?" "None. Let's part on good terms. This is the divorce agreement I've prepared," she said calmly, without the slightest hesitation. She took the document from her bag and placed it on the table. Callum scoffed and looked at her coldly. "Since you're smart enough to leave, I'll give you what you deserve. Come to my office tomorrow morning to sign the agreement. I'll have my legal team draw up the terms." The unspoken message was clear. She had no say in what went into the divorce agreement. "Fine. I'll be there tomorrow," Nadia said flatly, giving him one last look before walking out of the study. To her, ending things on peaceful terms was the last bit of dignity she could give this marriage. Nadia stayed at Ford Manor for dinner. Before leaving, she gave Barclay a heartfelt hug, then headed out to her car. Rain had started to fall, like the sky was quietly weeping. She had only taken a few steps when a sharp pain twisted in her abdomen, followed by a warm trickle of blood running down.