Chapter 1

Damien Lancaster kept me for twelve years.

Everyone in his circle called me his pet. Beautiful, obedient, never making a fuss.

The women by his side changed constantly, but I was always there.

He didn't love me, but he was used to having me around. He even let me carry his triplet sons.

The moment they were born, they were sent overseas.

Then came that rainy night. I held a simple silver ring in my palm.

"Damien, I'm getting married. He knows I've had children. I just want a normal life."

He glanced at the ring and let out a quiet laugh. "That delivery guy?"

The next second, he tossed the ring into a pot of boiling coffee and pulled me into a fierce kiss.

"Who said you could leave me? You'll always be mine."

Vivian's POV

Damien kept me for twelve years.

Everyone in his circle called me his pet. Beautiful, obedient, never making a fuss.

The women by his side changed constantly, but I was always there.

Damien didn't like me. But he was used to having me around. He even let me bear his children.

I was pregnant with triplets and gave birth to three boys.

The moment they were born, they were sent abroad, raised by a top-tier childcare team.

I was the kind of mother who had to beg for permission to see her own children.

Everyone said that as long as I held on, I would become Mrs. Lancaster one day.

That evening, the Lancaster family hosted their first party of early winter.

Damien held his new flame in his arms, the famous actress Serena Sterling.

Serena was delicate. She'd barely made it through one round of socializing in her four-inch heels before she was already frowning, whining about her feet.

"Damien, my feet are killing me..."

Her voice was soft, sugary, and perfectly pitched to turn every head in the room.

Damien chuckled softly, but his gaze passed through the crowd and landed on me in the corner.

I stood there holding his backup suit.

"Vivian."

He called my name, his tone indifferent, as if summoning a servant.

I walked over with my eyes lowered. "Mr. Lancaster."

Damien pointed at Serena's feet, then glanced at mine.

"Take off your shoes. Give them to her."

The surrounding noise seemed to quiet in that instant.

Countless spectators turned their gazes on me.

Serena and I were about the same height, with the same shoe size.

Serena looked surprised, then covered her mouth and laughed. She looked very pleased with herself.

If I refused, I would publicly embarrass Damien.

If I complied, I would tear off my own dignity and lay it on the ground for people to trample.

But I didn't hesitate.

I bent down and quickly unfastened my shoes.

"Serena, these heels are only two inches, with sheepskin soles. They shouldn't hurt your feet."

I stood barefoot on the cold floor, crouched down, and considerately helped her put them on.

Serena stood up and turned in a circle, then linked her arm through Damien's with satisfaction.

"Damien spoils me the most."

From start to finish, Damien never looked at me once. He just pinched Serena's waist and praised me for being so sensible.

Then he led Serena to the dance floor.

I stood there alone, barefoot.

The cold crept up from the soles of my feet, drilling straight into my bones, making me shiver all over.

Others laughed without bothering to hide it.

"I heard Damien and Serena Sterling are getting married. This adopted girl's good days are probably over."

"What a good dog. The master says take off your shoes, and she takes them off without any complaint."

I lowered my head, looking at my reddened toes, and silently shrank back into the corner.

Actually, they got it wrong.

It wasn't that my good days were over.

It wasn't that I was about to be kicked out.

It was that I didn't want Damien anymore.

My hand slipped into my pocket, tightly gripping an ordinary ring.

It was from another man.

Even if the ending was bleak, I had to leave this lunatic Damien.