"You're never going to see him again, Carter! I'll get my son back, you hear me?! You'll regret this!" Lilian’s scream fades as the bodyguards drag her away.I don’t know if Lilian can really get her son from someone like Carter, but I envy her ability to stand up to him with such fury and conviction. I wish I can muster even a fraction of that bravery. Sleep is elusive, and in a place like this, I expect that. I don’t feel safe. Carter, if not attempt to force himself on me again, may physically assault me next time. My thoughts are filled with plans to escape with my son, to see Marius and talk to him again. But the Whitlocks’ bodyguards are everywhere, they’ll catch me the moment my foot steps out of the gates. Morning comes, and I force myself out of bed when a knock comes at my door. “Miss Hazel, Mr. Carter is waiting for you downstairs for breakfast,” a maid I've not seen before says.I nod, but deep inside, I’m frustrated that Carter still dares to expect me to prepare his
My disgust surges to the surface, contorting my features into a mask of revulsion. "No, never again." The hope drains from Carter's eyes, leaving a hollow, desperate man. Without another word, I turn on my heel and leave him behind. Thankfully, he doesn’t follow.Carter will grow more desperate, I can sense it, and I need to find a way to escape before his desperation turns even more dangerous than it already is.Later that afternoon, Elmyra invites some of the Whitlock women for afternoon tea, a tradition steeped in formality and thinly veiled contempt. She makes sure to extend the invitation to me as well. When I refuse, her voice becomes cold and threatening."You don’t know what I’ll do if you don't show yourself to the rest of the Whitlocks," She warns. Oh, I know! She’ll tell Carter about it, and Carter will get mad at me for disrespecting his beloved mother."Wear your best clothes. I’ve sent over your old ones,” she adds, before leaving.Fine! I’ll go, but I have no intenti
PROLOGUE:Our three-year marriage is facing many challenges, and growing up as an orphan, who am I to expect anything better? My husband, Carter Whitlock, is everything I’ve ever dreamed of. Strong, kind, and fiercely devoted, he’s swept me off my feet from the moment we first met. In his arms, I’ve found solace and belonging. My mother-in-law, Elmyra, always has a disapproving gaze that’s never far from my side. The other members of the Whitlock family, too, seem to regard me with suspicion and disdain, as if I’m an interloper in their midst. I long to earn their acceptance, to prove myself worthy of their family name. Each day, I strive to be the perfect wife for Carter, tending to his needs with care and devotion. Yet no matter how hard I try, it seems as though I can never quite measure up to their expectations.Even so, a sense of determination always stirs within me. I won’t be cowed by their judgment, nor won’t I allow their harsh words to dim the light of my love for Carter.
CHAPTER 2:The man who says he loves me in the morning is now making love with my best friend.Carter's hands roam over Lillian's naked body, his lips trailing feverish kisses along her neck, while Lillian's laughter echoes in the room like a cruel taunt.My throat constricts. I want to curse, to scream, to lash out at them with every ounce of fury burning inside me. But my voice fails me, lost in a desert of despair.Finally, Carter and Lillian notice my presence, their passion abruptly extinguished like a candle snuffed out by a gust of wind. My tears fall unchecked now, hot and bitter against my cheeks. Carter scrambles to his feet, hastily pulling on his clothes.“Why are you here?” he asks.Lillian remains on the bed, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips, her gaze cold and calculating. She revels in my agony, relishing the destruction she has wrought.“It’s not what you think it is,” Carter says.My heart shatters into a million jagged pieces. I need to get out of here! I c
CHAPTER 3: It all clicks. The late night calls, the flirtings, the unusual caring with Lillian - their chuckles in bed, my parents' coldness, Elmyra's sneers. My mind replays these scenes over and over again, like a broken record.I sit on the edge of the bed of the apartment I rented since last night, the weight of the world keeps pressing down on my shoulders.Just as I’m sinking deeper into the darkness of my thoughts, my phone shatters the silence. I jolt as I wipe away my tears. My hand trembles slightly as I glance at the screen. Then, my jaw clenches in anger when I see the caller ID—Lillian.“Really? You still have the guts to call me?” I hiss.-["Listen, Hazel, it's evident where his heart lies, and frankly, your dramatics won't change that. Just gracefully accept the truth and move on, like any sensible person would."]-Lilian says in her sweet voice, without a hint of remorse or shame.-[“We need to talk, Express Cafe, now.”]-My grip on the phone tightens, my nails diggi
CHAPTER 4: Read your contract - This should be on my tombstone.I dug out my prenup from when papa told me not to worry about anything, that they would protect me and all I had to do was sign it, and so I did. But now, I realize that every conditioning of this prenup is working against me.My parents sold me into marriage, and they’ll be furious with me for getting a divorce. They’ll be bankrupt and vulnerable to attacks without Carter’s protection. “If you want a divorce, you won’t get a penny from me. You will no longer be under my protection. Think twice, Hazel.”Those are Carter's words, which are burned in my memory.I just wanna brush off the agreement and his threat by not thinking too much about them. But then, they start to haunt me, making me understand the realness of it all. Escaping isn’t a possibility, and Carter proves that…The rain pours as I stand on the doorstep of my rented house, the water mingles with the tears I try so hard to hold back.“Your husband's men t
CHAPTER 5:Divorce is never as easy as I thought it would be.-[“I’m calling to inform you that Mr. Thorne has decided to NOT take your case. We can recommend good divorce lawyers if needed….”]- The woman’s tone is cool and reserved over the phone.Confusion clouds my thoughts, and questions race through my mind—why would he turn me away? Is he busy? Or does he find my case not worthy of his time?I quickly rush to the law firm, hoping to personally meet and talk to Marius Throne, but I’m told by his secretary that appointments with Marius Throne are currently lined up for a month from now.So, he’s busy. Even so,... I’m still hoping that he’ll have a change of heart and accept my divorce case if only he can understand my situation. It’s a good case, hard case to be exact - my prenup agreement is harsh and my husband was caught cheating red-handed. This may pique his interest.The bustling lobby seems to shrink in an instant as I, lost in my thoughts, collide with someone in a shar
Marius Thorne did not say ‘no’ to my case, but he did not say ‘yes’ either.Two days have lapsed and still, there’s no call from him. I consider the possibility that he may just be busy, but if I don’t receive a phone call until tomorrow, I’ll go back to the Counsel Commanders Law Firm myself.I try to be optimistic, but beneath that optimism lies a gnawing fear—what if Marius Thorne can't, or worse, won't help me in the end?I can't bear to contemplate the idea of being turned away, left with no recourse and nowhere to turn to again. I glance at my phone since there’s a message that blinks insistently on the screen. I get excited, assuming it’s from Marius Thorne, but my excitement dwindles greatly when the ID caller flashes Carter’s name.Should I read it? This may only lead to another argument. Yet, deep down, there's still a flicker of hope that maybe this time will be different. I sigh as I click it.-[If you want a divorce, come to Myriad Hall at seven tonight. Wear your best