Chapter 1

Just a month after Julian and I got married, his older brother ran off with his mistress.

As I pushed open the door to comfort Julian, he handed me a document.

"Scarlett, Stratton Holdings can't be without an heir. I've decided to step in for my brother and have a child with Seraphina."

Shock frozen me. Then, fury. I tore the paper, screaming, "Julian Sterling! This isn't the Middle Ages! You can't just 'loan' out your husband to another woman to have a child! What do you take me for?"

Julian stared at me, stubbornly, "Scarlett, it's just three years, isn't it? I'll come back, and I'll still be your husband."

"If I had been Mom's only son back then, I would have been the one to marry Seraphina and merge our families. You wouldn't even be in the picture."

I looked at Julian, heartbroken, as his familiar face turned cold, so self-righteous.

"I'll let you be a sperm donor for IVF. That's my biggest concession."

Julian stood up, silently pulling out another agreement.

"The heir to Stratton Holdings can't be some cold, mechanical creation. It has to be a product of passion."

He looked at me, completely unashamed. "For the merger between our two families, a child must be born. I'm informing you, not asking for your opinion."

I clenched my fists, finally giving up completely.

"Julian Sterling, let's get a divorce."