Renee Whitley caught her husband cheating.

What should someone in her position do?

Well, she didn’t hesitate. She took photos, gathered evidence, and tipped off the press.

On the day she got her divorce papers, Adam Graham, her now ex-husband, got down on one knee and pleaded during a livestream packed with reporters.

“Renee, I swear you’re the only woman I’ll ever love. Please just give me one more chance. This time, I’ll love you with my life.”

Renee barely glanced at him. “Is your life worth more than money? Wire me five billion, and I’ll marry you again right now.”

Adam shut up, and Renee walked away confidently.

-

But what was up with that one bigshot, Jasper Zeller?

After the divorce, Renee planned to focus on her career. However, someone just had to keep getting in the way.

Frustrated, she snapped, “Mr. Zeller, our partnership is over. Kindly stop telling people I’m your wife.”

Jasper’s face fell. “Okay."

But from that day on, anyone who met him heard the same thing.

“My wife ran away.”

“My wife doesn’t want me anymore.”

“If you see her, please tell her I’m waiting for her to come home.”

It wasn’t until much later that Renee realized…

Had she been tricked?!

Adam Graham cheated.

Standing outside a club's dimly lit private room, Renee Whitley watched her husband, who was supposed to be out of town on a business trip, lose himself in the arms of a stunning woman.

Her mind went numb; everything went blank.

It was summer, but she felt as though she were standing in a freezer. She was chilled to the bone and her fingers trembled uncontrollably.

Suddenly, a voice next to her whispered, "I didn't know women liked watching these things live."

Renee turned her head slightly. In the dim light, she could only see the man's sharp jawline and short, slightly wavy hair. He wore sunglasses and had a cigarette dangling from his lips, giving off a carefree and rebellious vibe.

She let her eyes linger on the man for just a second before looking away, not in the mood to pay him any attention.

The man spoke again: "Is it good?"

"He's not exactly impressive, size-wise," Renee replied coolly.

He chuckled softly and teased, "You can see that? You've got sharp eyes."

Renee smiled faintly. "He's my husband."

With that, she turned and walked away gracefully.

Today was Renee and Adam's third wedding anniversary. They had planned a romantic candlelight dinner, but he suddenly said he had to leave for a business trip. It turned out that it wasn't business that had taken him away—he just couldn't resist chasing other women!

Having caught her husband red-handed, Renee couldn't find a reason to lie to herself, even if she wanted to.

Back home, sadness hit her like a wave. After crying for a while, she pulled herself together and quickly sorted out their assets, even drafting divorce papers. She thought she was strong enough. But as hours passed and Adam didn't come home, she couldn't stop crying for a long time.

To hide how tired she looked the next day, Renee put on extra foundation to cover her dark circles before changing into her work clothes and going to work.

Years ago, Adam had married her despite his parents' objections. As a result, the Graham family cut off his funds and kicked him out. Even so, he never regretted it.

Back then, Renee thought she had found her true love. So, she invested two million dollars to start a business with Adam. That company, Ascend Group, went on to succeed and was still thriving today.

Officially, Renee was the Director of Strategic Investments. However, everyone in the company knew she was really the second-in-command.

When Renee learned that Adam had returned to the company that morning, she immediately went upstairs and straight to his office. Just as she pushed the office door open a crack, she heard a girlish, teasing voice from inside.

"Come on, Adam, just one bite? I never feed people like this, you know! If you don't eat it, I'll get mad!"

"Okay, fine. I'll eat it, okay? Don't be mad, Princess Kayla."

There was a fond smile on Adam's lips, and his voice was soft and gentle. He lifted a hand to lightly ruffle the girl's hair, every move between them dripping with quiet affection. It was intimate, unspoken, and unmistakably more than just friendship.

It was a scene Renee had seen before. Only, the leading lady was different.

Her heart twisted painfully, and every nerve in her body screamed in pain.

She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and stepped inside. Then, she smirked and said, "Oh, did I come at a bad time?"

As her voice cut through the sweet moment between them, their heads snapped to her immediately.

"Renee, what are you talking about?" Adam's eyes flickered with guilt as he wiped a smear of ice cream from his lips. "T-this is Kayla. You remember Julian Spencer, right? She's his sister, who just got back from overseas. You met her before, remember?"

Kayla Spencer had big, bright eyes and rosy lips. Her hair was up in a princess-style bun, while the pale yellow dress she wore gave her a fresh, innocent look. Also, she had that sweet, first-love kind of charm that made her instantly likable.

At the sight of two clear hickeys on Kayla's neck, Renee's gaze darkened.

Last night must have been intense.

Kayla looked Renee up and down, her eyes full of disdain. "Hello, Ms. Whitley."

Back then, Adam and Renee were madly in love. Adam had given up everything just to be with her, and for a while, their love story was admired by all and was the talk of Harborview City.

The Spencer family and the Graham family had close ties, so how could Kayla not know who Renee was? But still, Kayla called her 'Ms. Whitley'.

Renee wanted to ignore her, but nodded politely out of professionalism.

Kayla's glossy lips curved into a shy smile as she naturally looped her arm through Adam's. "Adam, my brother's out of town on business today, so you promised to spend the day in the city with me. You can't break that promise just because of work."

Adam's face flushed red all of a sudden. He instinctively pulled his arm away from Kayla's touch, feeling guilty and nervous.

He barely looked at Renee as he said, "Kayla, don't be like that. I have to finish some work first."

He had brushed her off and said that to keep his wife from reading too much into things. And if Renee hadn't caught Adam and Kayla being intimate at the club last night, maybe she would have believed him.

After all, no one could deny how handsome Adam was. He usually wore well-tailored suits that showed off his tall, lean frame. With those gold-rimmed glasses and calm, composed demeanor, he had the polished charm of a gentleman. He looked refined and mature—exactly the kind of man women found hard to resist. He always had plenty of admirers, back then and now.

Renee hid the pain deep in her eyes and walked up with a stack of contracts. She flipped to the signature page and said, "These contracts are urgent. Please sign them."

Adam's heart was racing because of his wife's sudden appearance. Without reading carefully, he grabbed a pen and signed quickly.

When he was done, Renee took the contracts and said, "Go ahead and continue what you were doing. I'm leaving."

In the hallway, she opened the folder. Her eyes fell on the divorce papers at the bottom, with Adam's signature right there in black ink. As a wave of sadness washed over her, she couldn't hide the sorrow on her face.

What did it matter that they once loved each other so passionately? In the end, their love couldn't survive the test of time. What was once cherished became tiring. He got bored and found someone new.

The end of the work day soon rolled around, and Renee was exhausted. She couldn't wait to head home.

Just then, the office door opened. A big bouquet of bright red roses mixed with delicate white baby's breath came into view. Then, Adam's handsome face appeared.

"Renee, I came to pick you up."

He stepped forward and handed her the flowers, bending down to kiss her lips.

Instantly, Renee's mind flashed back to last night at the club. Feeling disgusted, she frowned and instinctively turned her head, so the kiss landed instead on her cheek.

Noticing her displeasure, Adam quickly said, "Kayla is Julian's sister. You know he and I are childhood friends, so I see her as my own sister. After all, I've watched her grow up. Don't think too much about it, okay?"

After years in the business world, Renee had become skilled at keeping her emotions hidden. She always carried herself with a calm, distant air, like nothing could touch her.

She calmly nodded. "Got it."

"Come on, let's go home," Adam said with a warm smile. He looked handsome and gentle, like someone out of a dream. "I was called away for work on our anniversary yesterday. To make it up to you, I'll cook dinner myself tonight."

Adam thoughtfully took her bag in one hand and held her hand gently with the other. Without giving her a chance to pull away, he led her out of the office. Unable to stand the thought of being close to him anymore, Renee tried to free her hand, but his grip was too tight.

As they walked away, a wave of gasps and whispers followed.

"Gosh, I'm so jealous! Mr. Graham treats his wife so well!"

"They're really a match made in heaven!"

"Mr. Graham is seriously handsome."

"Ms. Whitley is so lucky!"

"I'd die happy if I had a boyfriend like that."

"Ugh, now I believe in love again. No, wait! I need to watch a true crime documentary to calm down."

-

Renee and Adam had built the company together, and many people had watched their love story unfold. The same people had also been there when the couple got married.

Some even said, "If Mr. Graham and Ms. Whitley ever divorce, I'll never believe in love again."

As she listened to everyone's compliments and envy, Renee couldn't help but feel a sense of bitterness.

Adam smiled and made some small talk with the staff, then took Renee to the garage. When they reached his car, he opened the door for her like a gentleman and made a playful bow.

"Princess Renee, your chariot awaits."

Princess Renee?

Back when they were deeply in love, he used to call her that in his teasing, affectionate way. Now, hearing it again only reminded her of him calling Kayla in the same manner earlier.

Hah! Guess he had a whole kingdom of princesses, huh?

The thought made Renee feel sick, but she kept her face calm. She ducked into the car and closed her eyes, pretending to rest. Once they were both in, Adam's assistant, Cole Hill, started the engine and drove them out of the garage.

"You're still mad?" Adam asked. His patience was clearly wearing thin, the smile fading from his face. "Renee, you're not being very nice today."

Renee opened her eyes and met her husband's gaze, which held a trace of irritation now. She couldn't help but let out a quiet laugh.

So, this was what it felt like. When love faded, patience vanished too.

"Adam, I've been pouring everything into work these past few years. I feel like I've missed out on a lot. I'm tired. I want to quit," she said.

Adam didn't think much of it and smiled without hesitation. "Sure. From now on, I'll take care of you."

As he spoke, he leaned in like he was about to kiss her.

Seeing that, Renee quickly said, "I was up late working yesterday, so I'm a little sleepy. I'm just going to rest my eyes for a bit."

"You've been working too hard," he murmured, brushing his hand gently against the side of her head. "Here, sleep on my shoulder."

This time, Renee didn't pull away.

About 40 minutes later, the car pulled up to Camphor Manor. They got out, hand in hand, and a maid greeted them at the door.

"Welcome back, Mr. Graham, Mrs. Graham. Madam Irene is here."

Adam simply grunted in response.

In the living room, Irene Murray sat poised and composed on the couch, dressed in a black silk dress. It seemed as though she had been waiting a while.

"Why are you here?" Adam asked coldly.

Irene gave a sharp snort. "What, a mother can't come see her own son?"

"Of course you can," Adam replied with no real interest, brushing her off.

He turned to his wife, his voice instantly soft as he said, "Renee, sit and relax for a bit. I'll go make us dinner."

He gently pressed her down onto the couch, then picked up the large bouquet of roses. "Martha, find a vase and take care of these for me."

The housekeeper, Martha Evans, came forward and took the flowers with a smile. "What a beautiful bouquet."

Adam grinned proudly. "They're for my wife. Of course they're beautiful."

"Ah, you and the missus are such a loving couple," Martha praised.

Hearing that, Adam beamed with delight.

Renee watched the whole scene unfold. It was easy to see that Adam really was happy, just from that one compliment. But what about last night? What did all that passion with Kayla even mean, then?

"You look pathetic," Irene snapped, unable to stand the way her son fawned over Renee like a lovesick puppy. She rolled her eyes. "Spineless."

Adam didn't seem bothered. "Mom, you just don't get it. Pampering one's wife brings good luck."

"We already have money. What nonsense are you even talking about?" Irene huffed, clearly fuming.

Adam waved her off. "I'm not getting into this. I'm going to go cook."

Once he and Martha were out of sight, Irene turned to Renee. Her gaze turned sharper than before as she sneered.

"Have you no manners? Can't you greet me when you see me?"

It was clear now that Adam was gone, Irene couldn't even be bothered keeping up appearances.

She was in her fifties, but thanks to careful upkeep, she looked no older than forty. She still carried herself with elegance, but behind that polished appearance was a sharp, overbearing edge. Just sitting there, she exuded superiority, her expression full of disdain.

Renee knew her well. Compared to Irene's usual barbs, this was practically gentle.

"So, what wisdom will you impart on me today?" she asked, changing the subject.

In the past, even if the two didn't get along, Renee had always been respectful. But today, her indifference was obvious and out of character.

To Irene, that felt like a direct challenge.

Her eyes dropped to Renee's stomach. "Are you pregnant?"

Renee was absentmindedly scrolling through her phone when the question landed, and her fingers paused mid-swipe. After a moment, she looked up and met Irene's gaze, her eyes calm and cool.

"When we got married, Adam said he never wanted kids."

Years ago, one of Adam's close friends died from childbirth complications. It had shaken him badly. After that, he had vowed to live child-free for the rest of his life.

Back then, Adam had probably loved Renee genuinely. But love didn't always last.

"Never wanted kids?" Irene scoffed. "Only someone like you could make infertility sound like a lifestyle choice. In the end, you're just a useless woman who can't give him children. What, planning to cling to Adam forever?"

Renee's lips trembled slightly. She looked down at the cup of water on the table, then calmly picked it up and threw its contents straight at Irene's face.

"I can't have children because of you. And now you have the nerve to mock me? Have you forgotten how you begged me to keep it from Adam?" Renee said coldly.

Irene had never been humiliated in her life. Not like this!

Furious, she jumped up and stormed over. With her hand raised, she screamed, "You wretch! How dare you?!"

Smack!

The slap echoed through the living room.

However, it didn't land where Irene intended. Renee had caught the older woman's wrist and slapped her instead. The blow sent Irene stumbling backward. She collapsed onto the couch, holding her cheek in disbelief.

"You actually hit me! Have you completely lost your mind?!"

In contrast to Irene's angry outburst, Renee remained perfectly calm.

She flatly replied, "You can take the slap. What, did you really think I'd still cover for you like I used to?"

Back then, Adam had cut ties with the Graham family just to be with Renee.

She couldn't bear to see him lose his mother, so no matter how badly the cruel Irene treated her, she put up with it all just so Adam could be happy. Looking back now, every bit of suffering had been the price of loving too blindly.

"You—"

Irene was so angry she could barely speak.

But before she could finish her sentence, Renee calmly interrupted: "I'm planning to divorce Adam. But I want three billion in compensation."

For a second, Irene's eyes lit up with excitement. But when she heard the amount, she shot up from the couch in outrage. "Three billion? Even if you were made of solid gold, you wouldn't be worth that much! Who do you think you are?!"

Renee stayed seated, her voice cool and even as she said, "Fine. Then, we don't have to get divorced. Sooner or later, Adam's going to find out I can't have children anyway."

That shut Irene up. She knew exactly how much her son adored Renee. If he ever found out the truth, their bond as mother and son might never heal.

After a few tense seconds, Irene bit back her anger and said, "Three billion is out of the question. I'll give you one billion. That's my limit."

"Deal," Renee agreed without hesitation.

Having expected Irene to haggle, she had asked for more on purpose.

"Are you really going through with the divorce?" Irene asked, still looking suspicious.

"Once I get the money, I'll sign the papers within a month," Renee promised.

Irene was fuming but held it in. "Fine. I'll have the lawyers draft the papers."

She grabbed her purse and headed for the door, but not without a final warning: "If you're lying to me, Renee… You know exactly what I'm capable of."

And with that, she stormed out.

This was the first time Renee had ever stood up to her mother-in-law. In the past, even a small mistake would have led to Irene running straight to Adam, crying and trying to stir up trouble between the couple. But this time, even after being slapped across the face, Irene didn't breathe a word to her son.

And the reason? It was because she was thrilled! She was delighted that Renee had finally agreed to walk away from her son.

Forty minutes later, Adam came out of the kitchen carrying a few plates of food.

"Dinner's ready," he called.

When he didn't see his mother in the living room, he figured she had already left. He didn't even ask why.

In the dining room, the table was beautifully set with various dishes. Still wearing an apron, Adam looked every bit the ideal husband. If one could ignore his cheating, he really did come across as the perfect man. But all of that was just a cover-up for the guilt he carried inside.

The last time Adam cooked for his wife was almost a year ago.

"Renee, this is your favorite mushroom soup. Let me get you a bowl."

Adam was about to serve her when his phone suddenly rang in his pocket. He set the bowl down in front of her and pulled out his phone. When he saw the caller ID, something flickered in his eyes.

"I'm gonna take this real quick."

He used to answer calls right in front of her, never hiding anything.

Renee could guess who it was—probably Kayla.

"Go ahead," she said, picking up her cutlery like nothing was wrong.

Adam stepped out of the dining room and answered the call. Renee couldn't hear what he said, but when he came back, he was already taking off his apron, looking anxious.

"Renee, a friend of mine got into a car accident. I need to go check on him."

"Who?" she asked, her eyes wide and innocent. "I know all your friends. I'll go with you."

Adam froze for half a second. "Didn't you say you were tired? Stay here and rest. I'll be back soon."

"Alright," she said softly.

She already knew the truth but didn't feel like pushing it.

Sensing her disappointment, Adam walked over and kissed her on the cheek. "Sorry, we'll have dinner together next time."

And then, he rushed out the door.

Renee sat still, listening to the sound of his footsteps getting farther and farther away. It felt like her happiness was leaving with him, slipping through the cracks until all that remained was silence and the hollow ache of betrayal.

The villa felt too big, too empty. The air felt thinner, like she couldn't breathe. She needed to get away from it all.

Having lost her appetite, she quietly went upstairs to their bedroom, where she pulled out a stack of photo albums. There were about seven, maybe eight of them. Inside were hundreds of pictures capturing five years of love and memories.

She flipped through them slowly, and somewhere between the pages, sleep pulled her under. When she woke up, she didn't know how much time had passed. She curled up on the bed, clutching her stomach in pain.

The years of late-night drinking and corporate dinners with Adam had left her with chronic stomach issues. She hadn't eaten properly today, thanks to him, and now the pain was back, sharp and relentless.

Sweat poured down her face as she forced herself upright, then stumbled to the medicine cabinet. But when she opened it, there was no medication left.

Barely able to think, Renee grabbed her phone and called Adam. The line rang, and then someone picked up.

"Adam, I…" she called out weakly, ready to ask for help.

But a sweet voice came through the other end: "Ms. Whitley? Adam's in the shower right now. He can't come to the phone. But if there's something urgent, you can tell me and I'll let him kno—"

Renee hung up without another word. She didn't want to hear Kayla's voice.

So, Adam's so-called "emergency" was just him spending the night with Kayla.

Of course it was.

Wondering when her husband's heart started to change, Renee's heart ached, but her stomach hurt even worse. The pain was one she had never felt before.

She glanced at her phone and saw that it was one in the morning. At this hour, Martha would already be asleep. Even if she were awake, she couldn't drive.

Left with no choice, Renee forced herself to her feet despite the pain, headed downstairs, and got into the car, intending to drive herself to the hospital. As the villa was far away from the city, waiting for an ambulance would take too long.

Renee's car moved steadily forward along the quiet road, but her vision was blurring fast, her face pale with pain.

At an intersection, a car suddenly sped toward her, leaving her with no time to react.

Bam!

The impact jolted the airbags open, tossing Renee around so badly she felt dizzy and disoriented. Relying on what little strength she had left, she managed to open the car door and stumble out.

Everything was hazy, and her vision was going dark around the edges. Through the blur, she saw a man in a deep red shirt standing near the other car. She staggered toward him and grabbed the front of his shirt.

"Help… me…"

Then, she collapsed straight into his arms.

"Holy shit! What the hell happened? Is that Sadako?" another man exclaimed.

Luke Sanders, the man who spoke, had just stepped out of the front passenger's side. He froze, staring at the woman slumped against his boss, Jasper Zeller. With her long, white silk dress, her dark hair falling loosely over her shoulders, and streaks of blood staining her face, she looked like something straight out of a horror movie.

Jasper looked down at the woman in his arms. Even with blood across her cheek, he recognized her instantly.

"It's her?"

Luke blinked in confusion. "Who?"

Jasper glanced at him. "Sadako."

Without another word, he scooped Renee up and carried her to the car. He climbed into the driver's seat and reversed the damaged vehicle away from the crash scene.

Before leaving, he called out, "Stay here and deal with this."