Chapter 1

"Miguel, I'm happy for this moment..."

Ximena wrapped her arms around his neck as she cooed lovingly, mixed with the gasp due to the finished 'strenuous action',

Just Before she could mutter "I love you", the man murmured in a hoarse voice.

"Tan..."

Ximena froze.

Tan was Tania Roberto, the first love of Miguel Ricardo. Tania hasn't returned to the country, she had stayed abroad all these years.

But, Just yesterday, she arrived back in Mexico.

Moreover, she had sent Ximena several provocative text messages. She wasn't yet over her Ex.

"Ximena, I'm back! You have to vacate from the Ricardo family! I'm back to take back what rightfully belongs to me."

"Miguel and I are childhood sweethearts. Did you think you could replace me in just a few years? Get out! Get back to the Streets where you're likely to belong. You're doomed to remain in the streets forever."

"You have no idea the amount of love Miguel has for me, or do you? Even if you share the same bed with him, he will only think of me and murmur my name. You are born only to be my substitute and nothing other than that!"

A substitute?

'I am designated by Old Mrs. Ricardo to be her granddaughter-in-law. I am the official Mrs. Ricardo. I am Ximena Antonio! I can't and never would be anyone's substitute!" Ximena thought feeling extremely angry.

Beside her ear, Miguel was still whispering that same name "Tan, Tan I missed you..."

The intimidating text messages sent by Tania kept echoing and replaying in Ximena's mind, laying her self-deception bare!

Uncontrollably, tears welled up in Ximena's eyes. She clenched her fists and trembled visibly all over out of depression.

In the past few years, she had been cowardly and flattering. She had devoted herself to being a good wife, but she also had to quit her job.

Her mother-in-law and Sister-in-law despised people from the Low class. Having the thought that Ximena was from a Low-class family, they repeatedly made things difficult for her and humiliated her at every given Opportunity. Ximena was reluctant to cause any more trouble for herself and chose to suffer in silence without disclosing her sufferings to Miguel.

Ximena had always been Subservient and servile as she was only hoping Miguel would reciprocate her love for him.

Why did he have to tear apart her last bit of self-esteem? Why?

The night was particularly long.

She had not slept all night with her eyes open. Sleep was far away from her.

Early the next morning, Miguel was woken up by the dazzling sunlight through the windows.

He rubbed his eyebrows Continuously before opening his eyes, only to see Ximena sitting in front of the dressing table with her back to him.

The absurd fact that happened last night flashed through his mind. Realizing something wrong, he frowned deeply and exuded an aura of dominance.

Although Ximena had her back to him, she could feel the heat emitting from his body.

She continued to apply her skincare products trying to ignore his presence. But suddenly, her wrist was grabbed and she was pulled up the next second roughly.

The glass bottle in her hand fell to the ground with a thud and shattered into pieces. The white ointment then spilled all over the ground.

Ximena looked up and glared hard at him but, she unconsciously shivered when seeing the trace of anger and disgust in his eyes towards her.

"Do you think you could become the real Mrs. Ricardo by Drugging me and having me sleep with you? huh?"

He looked condescendingly down at her with his teeth gritted hard, as he tightened his grip on her wrist.

The violent look on his handsome face made him more appalling.

Drug? Ximena Thought.

"Do you think I am that kind of a disgusting and over desperate woman?"Ximena asked with a wry smile.

Miguel's lips curled into a mocking smile, and his eyes were filled with Antipathy. "Back then, you were able to fool Grandma by devious means by forcing me to marry you. How dare you pretend to be innocent now? You aren't some saint."

"A crazy woman like you can't even be compared to my Tania!"

'A crazy woman, pretending to be innocent...

It turns out that I am such a wicked woman in his eyes.

If I want to drug him, I would have done that a long time ago. What's the point of waiting until now? He doesn't know me at all!

My devotion in the past three years is nothing to speak of for him! This is cruel.

Since things turned out this way, I don't need to lock myself in this miserable marriage anymore!'

At the thought of it, Ximena endured the pain in her wrist, gritted her teeth, and forcefully shook off Miguel's hand.

Then she raised her head in confidence and said in a firm tone.

"Miguel, let's get a divorce."

"What?" Miguel exclaimed.

He frowned, not expecting her to initiate a divorce. She had drugged him last night, while she asked for a divorce right in the early morning.

"What's wrong with you?" Miguel asked in total disgust.

Ximena glanced at him coldly. She seemed tiny compared to Miguel, but her firm look made her seem as intimidating as him.

"You've badgered me into divorcing you, haven't you? Since you were forced to marry me by Old Mrs. Ricardo, and now that she has passed away, no one can stop you from marrying your perfect love Tania. Or Don't you want to make her official Mrs. Ricardo?"

Miguel pinched his lips and took a deep stare at her. He still finds it difficult to believe it.

Would she be generous to give up the title?

Seeing her serious look and aware she didn't seem to be lying, he snorted and said levelly, "Don't regret it and come running back to me. There won't be a vacancy for you to occupy in my life."

Ximena sneered at his proudful words. She had never been this determined in all her life. This decision is surely the best she had made in a lifetime.

"The only thing I regret is marrying you, Miguel."