Chapter 1

Natalie's POV

In the third year of our marriage, my husband threw me to the wolves to take the fall for his first love.

And right at that moment, an ultrasound report confirming I was eight weeks pregnant sat quietly in my purse.

Late at night, the Maybach cruised down an empty elevated highway under a torrential downpour.

Through the leather of my bag, my fingers gently traced the thin sheet of paper.

After three years of walking on eggshells in this marriage, this tiny life felt like a fragile glimmer of dawn.

Gathering my courage, I turned to the man resting beside me with his eyes closed. "Julian, there's something I need to tell you."

"Sign this first."

Julian Vance cut me off without even opening his eyes, tossing a folder onto my lap.

I froze. Under the dim glow of the passing streetlights, the title at the top of the page came into focus: Corporate Ownership Transfer Agreement.

The company being transferred was Apex Investments.

The current owner listed was Chloe Sterling—who had just returned from abroad.

The blood in my veins turned to ice.

The words "I'm pregnant", right on the tip of my tongue, were brutally choked back down.

Others might not know about Apex Investments, but I knew everything.

It was an art investment firm Julian had registered under Chloe's name just last month as a lavish welcome-home gift.

And just yesterday, word got out that Apex was being investigated by federal authorities for laundering millions in illicit offshore funds.

"Julian," my voice trembled, laced with disbelief, "Apex is a sinking ship. You want me to take over as the legal owner and take the blame for Chloe's dirty money?"

Julian's tone remained deadpan. "Chloe is hosting her solo art exhibition next month and applying for an international young artist award. She can't have a criminal record hanging over her head right now."

My breath hitched.

Chloe couldn't have a stain on her record.

Right. Chloe was his untouchable goddess, perched high on her pedestal.

Three years ago, chasing her so-called artistic dreams and looking down on Julian while he was fighting a brutal family succession war, Chloe had callously dumped him and fled the country.

In a fit of fury, Julian married me—a girl who loved him with all her heart.

All because my eyes bore an uncanny resemblance to Chloe's.

For three long years, I swallowed every indignity just to take care of him.

He had a sensitive stomach, so I spent hours learning to cook bland, healthy meals tailored to his palate.

He was a severe germaphobe, so I personally washed his clothes by hand.

I foolishly thought that if I were gentle and obedient enough, he would eventually fall in love with me.

Yet last month, Chloe simply mentioned on the phone that she was unhappy overseas.

Julian left me alone with a burning fever, flying out that very night to bring her back, pouring millions into setting up a company to pave her way.

Yesterday, I saw it on the news with my own eyes. The same Julian who frowned if I even brushed against his sleeve was tenderly wiping Chloe's hands in public.

It turned out love and indifference were really that obvious.

My heart seized with agonizing pain.

"So, just to keep her reputation spotless... so she doesn't go to federal prison..." I bit my lower lip hard, tasting copper. "You're pushing your own wife out to take the fall?"

Julian frowned slightly, clearly displeased by my tone.

"Watch your words, Natalie," he said coldly. "It's just cooperating with an inquiry. The Vance family's legal team isn't for show. Even if they take you in, I can bail you out immediately."

He paused, his eyes sweeping over my pale face. "Since you hold the title of Mrs. Vance, it's only right that you take on some risk for the family. Once this blows over, I'll transfer the south-side estate into your name."

So that was it.

I closed my eyes in bitter despair.

He wasn't just cruel; he knew exactly how to manipulate me.

He knew I owed him my life, so he took it for granted that no matter how humiliated I was, I would obediently submit.

To him, this was just a business transaction that could be settled with a luxury estate.

Looking down at the agreement, I felt like the past three years of my life had been one giant joke.

"What if your legal team fails to protect me?" I looked into his eyes, the light in mine dying out bit by bit. "What if I really end up in prison for Chloe?"

Meeting my gaze, Julian hesitated for a fraction of a second. But he quickly looked away, his voice colder than before.

"I said I won't let anything happen to you. Just sign it."

His patience had run out. He would brook no defiance.

I lowered my head, my hand slipping weakly off my purse.

In that moment, I was profoundly grateful I hadn't told him about the baby.

If Julian knew I was pregnant, would his heart soften?

No. Never.

He didn't even care about my life for Chloe's sake; why would he care about a child from a woman he didn't love?

He would probably just force me to have an abortion.

I didn't argue any further. I pulled out a pen and signed my name.

Watching my submissive surrender, a flicker of surprise crossed Julian's eyes.

He had expected tears and a scene, but I was terrifyingly calm.

Taking the document, he offered a rare word of explanation. "I'll be very busy these days. Just stay at home and rest."

I stared at the rain outside the window without turning around.

"Okay." My voice was as faint as smoke, ready to scatter with the wind.

Julian noticed something off in my voice and frowned again.

In the end, he said nothing more, closing his eyes to rest.