Chapter 3

In the company’s early days, when we were desperate to land our very first major contract, I worked through the night without a single moment’s rest, pouring every drop of strength into the proposal until my body finally gave out and I was rushed to the hospital.

When Daniel arrived and saw me, his face went sheet-white with fury and he nearly ripped the proposal to shreds.

He swore then and there that he would rather see the company fail than watch me destroy my health for it.

But less than ten years later, that solemn vow meant nothing—because he had left me unconscious on the side of the road like I was disposable.

If Eiden had not happened to pass by, I might not even be alive to tell this story.

I was just about to speak when my phone lit up with a new email notification.

A dismissal notice—from Daniel himself.

A laugh slipped from my lips.

Meeting Eiden’s steady, concerned gaze, I said clearly, "Find me the best divorce lawyer you know. I’m ending this with Daniel."

The divorce agreement came together quickly.

That evening, I returned home with the agreement in hand.

But the password lock I could open in my sleep suddenly refused to yield, no matter how many times I tried.

Both the fingerprint and password systems rejected me and when I finally resorted to the physical key, a shrill alarm shrieked through the hallway.

Security guards came charging over. Before I could get a single sentence out, they shoved me to the ground, pinning me there.

I kept repeating that I was the owner, but the neighborhood had recently been hit by a robbery. The security team was new and none of them knew me.

Left with no choice, I called Daniel.

Once. Twice. No answer.

Instead, my phone lit up with a private video from Mila.

In it, she lounged in a barely-there swimsuit, strolling past a steaming private hot spring—until a large hand caught her ankle and yanked her playfully into the water.

I recognized the man instantly. My husband, Daniel.

I knew it because of the antique wedding ring I had scoured Europe to find—now snug around Mila’s toe.

"Lana, Daniel says this ring really suits my manicure today."

My cheeks felt as if they had been slapped, the sting spreading all the way to my ears, which, freshly healed, began to buzz with pain.

The security guard’s lips moved, but his voice was muffled, distant.

I reached for my phone, intending to hand it over so he could type his words—but instead, he shoved me down again, hard.

Eiden appeared out of nowhere and, with one clean, controlled punch, knocked the guard back.

Thanks to that, we both ended up at the police station.

There, I finally learned why my password lock no longer worked.

Daniel had brought another woman home, trashed the place and could not be bothered to clean up. Changing the lock was simply easier.

I did not waste a single second as I canceled every single one of his supplementary cards.

Seconds later, Daniel, who had been missing for an entire night, called me immediately.

A short, cold laugh escaped my lips before I hung up.

Then I blocked him. Without hesitation.

Eiden read my expression and asked quietly, "Want to go somewhere and talk?"

I shook my head. Too much had happened and my only wish now was for silence.

In the end, Eiden booked me a room at a hot spring hotel.

The moment I stepped into the lobby, I spotted a man and a woman arguing with the front desk manager.

"We’re not trying to skip the bill. Our card just declined all of a sudden!"

"Exactly! Our boss runs a huge company. You think we can’t cover a few bucks?"

Daniel. And Mila.

I turned to leave, but Daniel’s gaze locked onto me instantly.

He jabbed a finger toward me.

"That’s my wife over there! She can pay for this!"

He strode toward me, hand outstretched to take my money.

Finally, Eiden’s patience snapped. He stepped between us, blocking Daniel’s path.

"Daniel, are you even human? You party with other women and now you expect your wife to cover the bill?"

"And who the hell are you?"