Chapter 1

At my welcome-back dinner, I pushed open the door to the VIP lounge, only to see Ethan Carter with a young girl sitting on his lap.

Her sparkling eyes met my cold glare. She immediately looked down, but one of her hands remained wrapped tightly around Ethan’s neck.

"Ethan, is this the legendary goddess you always talk about?"

"Wow, even her wrinkles look so... distinguished! She looks great for her age."

The moment the words left her mouth, the room went dead silent.

I was the first to break the silence. "So, Ethan. You're getting up there in age, and now you’re starting to keep a sugar baby?"

I walked straight over and sat down.

The girl immediately snapped back, "That’s not the same! Ethan is mature!"

"And—and I’m not some sugar baby. Ethan and I are in a real relationship!"

I let out a cold laugh and sat directly across from Ethan. Our friends at the table quickly tried to diffuse the tension.

"Hey, Vivian is finally back! Let’s get the drinks rolling!"

"I heard Vivian absolutely crushed it overseas this time. You bagged the contract with the Preston Group! That’s insane, Vivian!"

The atmosphere was finally warming up, but of course, the girl had to open her mouth again.

"Wow, Vivian, you're so amazing. Unlike me... I’m so clueless. I’ve never even been out of the country."

"I’ve heard that powerful career women who dominate boardroom negotiations always have their... special methods."

"Your methods must be so advanced."

As she spoke, she leaned closer into Ethan’s chest, her eyes turning red. "Unlike me. I'm so stupid. I even lost that major client for you last time, Ethan."

Hearing this, everyone at the table exchanged awkward glances, their eyes darting between Ethan and me.

I frowned. "What client?"

While I was abroad, my assistant mentioned that one of Ethan’s long-term clients had abruptly ended their contract. At the time, I was too busy with my own negotiations to ask.

Now, the red flags were waving.

Ethan held her hand and looked at me. "Just an old client. It’s fine."

"Vivian, Chloe is just a newbie. Don't take it personally."

With that, he stroked Chloe’s hair, stood up, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "You want to see the world? That’s easy. I’ll take you abroad. We’ll leave right now!"

Ignoring my reaction completely, Ethan pulled Chloe toward the door.

Chloe’s face flushed with excitement. But when she looked back at me, her face held a smug, mocking smirk.

"But... forget it. Vivian will be angry."

"I won't be angry," I interrupted, staring directly at Ethan. "We’re getting a divorce. You can play with her for as long as you want, wherever you want!"

Ethan scoffed. "Vivian, this dramatic act doesn't suit you."

"Divorce me? You signed a prenup. You’ll walk away with absolutely nothing. Are you really willing to lose all this?"

He let out a cold grunt, pulled Chloe, and walked out.

Seeing them leave, the rest of the guests made quick excuses to slip away one by one.

The celebration dinner meant for me was suddenly completely empty.

I looked at the food on the table and forced myself to take bite after bite.

Until finally, my stomach turned. I rushed to the restroom and threw up everything.

Wiping my mouth, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I pulled out my phone and texted my lawyer, telling him to draft the divorce papers immediately.

When Ethan and I got married, his mother looked down on my middle-class background and forced me to sign a strict prenuptial agreement.

If we divorced, I would get nothing.

How hilarious. Did Ethan really think I married him for his money?

He was the one who proposed to me. I never cared about his family wealth.

Ethan’s threat of cutting me off financially was useless from the very beginning.

I walked out of the restaurant. The cold night air made my head spin, but I forced myself to drive back to the villa.

I hadn't been back for three months, and the house was suddenly filled with things that didn’t belong to me.

Tacky cartoon dishware in the kitchen, baby-pink curtains in the living room... every single item screamed cheap taste.

The maid saw me and gasped in terror. "Mrs. Carter! You're back!"

"Yes."

I walked straight upstairs. The maid hesitated, looking like she wanted to say something.

"Mrs. Carter..."

I turned to look at her. After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke. "Mr. Carter... he brought that girl here. They stayed in the master bedroom."

My head spun instantly. Once I regained my balance, I stormed into the master bedroom. The sight made my blood run cold.

My minimalist decor was completely gone. Chloe's cheap cartoon pillows lay right on the center of the bed.

Her clothes were hanging inside my closet.

And everything that belonged to me had vanished.

No wonder she was so bold tonight. She had already moved herself in.

I slid my wedding ring off my finger and packed my remaining things.

There wasn't much to take anyway. I sent the draft of the divorce agreement to Ethan's Snapchat, dragged my suitcase, and left without looking back.