Chapter 1

On our fifth wedding anniversary, I drank the hot milk Brendan handed me and slipped into a deep sleep.

When I woke up, a chilling sensation ran across my scalp.

In the mirror, I saw my head was shaved bald, with a childish drawing of a turtle scrawled across my forehead.

Sofia, the scholarship student I’d sponsored, held the clippers, laughing hysterically.

“Her head is so round, like an egg!”

Brendan stood beside her, his gaze doting on Sofia.

“Sofia’s practicing her hairstyling. She just used you for practice, that’s all. Your hair will grow back, don’t be so dramatic.”

I touched my slick, bald head, staring at this vile couple who found amusement in humiliating me.

Practice, huh?

Well, when they’re living on the streets, they can practice on homeless people.

Brendan’s smile froze on his face.

Sofia, the student I’d sponsored for three years, was still cackling beside him.

“Don’t be mad, Brendan said you’re the most generous person ever.”

She shook the electric clippers in her hand, still clinging to strands of my hair.

I ignored her.

My gaze landed on Brendan.

“Brendan, five years of marriage, and this is how you surprise me?”

He scowled, his tone dripping with impatience.

“Audrey, that’s enough. Seriously.”

“It’s just some hair, it’ll grow back.”

“She didn’t do it on purpose. She just wanted to give you a trendy new look.”

“Look at you, can’t even take a joke.”

Sofia chimed in, fanning the flames:

“Exactly! And your skin is so fair, a shaved head really makes your features pop, honest!”

She even pulled out her phone, trying to snap a picture of me.

“I’ll help you post it on social media, all your friends will say you look so cool!”

I stared at her, enunciating every word.

“Put the phone down.”

My voice was calm, but it made Sofia freeze.

Brendan felt embarrassed. He grabbed my arm, pulling me roughly towards him.

“What’s your problem with Sofia? She’s just a student! Why are you scaring her?!”

His grip was strong, and my scalp hit the buttons on his chest, sending a jolt of pain through me.

I didn’t struggle. I let him hold me.

I just lifted my head and looked at him.

“Brendan, the sleeping pills in that milk, the dosage wasn’t small, was it?”

“How long was I out?”

He flinched, his eyes darting away.

“Sleeping pills? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“You’ve just been really tired lately, you slept soundly.”

How sweet.

He could talk about drugging me so casually.

I nodded, acknowledging his words.

Then, right in front of them, I picked up my phone, aimed it at my bald, turtle-decorated head, and took a high-definition photo.

Brendan exploded.

“Audrey, what the hell are you doing?!”

He lunged forward, trying to snatch my phone.

I took a step back, slipping the phone into my pocket.

“Don’t touch me.”

“I think this look is quite memorable.”

“After all, it’s your fifth-anniversary gift to me.”

I turned and walked into the walk-in closet, locking the door behind me.

I heard Brendan’s enraged pounding on the door and Sofia’s sweet, pleading voice from outside.

“Brendan, don’t be mad. She’s probably just overthinking things.”

“It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have used her for practice.”

I didn’t listen.

From the safe, I retrieved my ID, birth certificate, property deeds, and my prenuptial agreement.

My dad, fearing I’d be taken advantage of, had hired the best legal team to make everything crystal clear.

My company shares, the properties under my name, and my savings before marriage had absolutely nothing to do with Brendan.

Yet, the startup capital for his company? That came from me.

The spacious apartment we lived in? It was under both our names, but I paid for the down payment and the renovations.

I gathered my things, stuffing them into an inconspicuous backpack.

Then, I changed into a new outfit and put on a hat.

I opened the door.

Brendan and Sofia were lounging intimately on the sofa.

Seeing me emerge, Brendan immediately stood up, looking a little uneasy.

“Did you come to your senses?”

“Just delete the photo, apologize to Sofia, and we can forget this ever happened.”

I looked at him, as if he were a complete stranger.

“Apologize?”

“Alright.”

I walked up to Sofia.

She cowered in Brendan’s arms, looking at me timidly.

“I...”

*Smack!*

A crisp, resounding slap.

I put every ounce of strength into it.

Sofia’s face instantly swelled, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

She clutched her cheek, staring at me in disbelief.

Brendan was stunned too.

When he finally reacted, he shoved me away.

“Audrey, what the hell is wrong with you?!”

I was pushed against the wall, my back aching.

But I stood firm.

“That slap was for me. Thank you for showing me that the person I was sleeping next to was a piece of trash.”

I didn’t look at them again, walking directly towards the door.

Brendan roared behind me:

“If you walk out that door, don’t ever come back!”

I didn’t stop.

I pulled open the door, turned around, and smiled at him.

“This head with a turtle drawn on it doesn’t quite match your glittering doghouse.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not just leaving; I’m going to make sure you roll out of here too.”