Clive showed up out of the blue, totally catching Paisley off guard. She'd stirred up trouble on purpose, having confirmed with Patrick that Clive was stuck in a super important meeting.

The whole call had just been her trying to push his buttons - get on his nerves, make him hate her.

But what happened?

Now Paisley was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, locking eyes with Clive. Her mind blanked hard - she couldn't even find the words. In the end, he spoke up first.

"You seemed desperate to talk. What's the urgency?" Clive stood there with that same frosty expression, like the world owed him something.

"I want a divorce." Paisley took a second to gather herself, then went all in with her drama mode.

"Care to explain why?" Clive raised an eyebrow, completely unshaken, like none of this was surprising.

What Paisley didn't know was Patrick had already spilled everything to Clive. Her wild act? Totally pointless.

"You went to that couple's restaurant with your precious ex, right? The one you have to book a week in advance? That's cheating while married. I think I've got every right to walk." Her accusations came out sharp and clear - but the guy barely reacted.

"Who are you talking about?" Clive frowned slightly. "Which ex?"

"You've gotta be kidding me. The one who cried like she was auditioning for a soap at our wedding! Don't act clueless now. What, you think I'm that naive?" Paisley shot back, clearly hoping he'd finally drop it and just admit he's still into someone else. That maybe he'd say, "You're too much, we're done." But nope. Nothing.

"It was just dinner, not a death sentence." Clive said it like this was no biggie - like dinner with another woman while married was as casual as ordering takeout.

Paisley couldn't believe how calm he was - talk about infuriating. She jumped off the sofa, slid into her slippers and declared, "I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm telling you - we're getting divorced."

Then she stormed off to the master bedroom to pack like she was leaving for good.

She'd almost finished when Clive, still maddeningly calm, leaned against the doorframe and said, "Grandpa wants us home for dinner tonight. Get changed. It's almost time to head out."

What?!

Paisley blinked. She spoke English, right? Did Clive suddenly forget how to process words?

Based on everything Patrick ever said about Clive - and what she'd known about him before - she was sure this kind of crazy would at least spark some anger.

But nope. Not even annoyance. The guy was just... shameless now?

Without even glancing his way, Paisley grabbed her suitcase and headed for the door. Except, it was heavy as hell, got stuck by the bed, and before she could move it again, Clive had already stepped in and wrapped an arm around her waist.

Then, just like that, she was hoisted up and dumped back on the massive bed.

"What the hell are you doing?" Paisley's eyes flared as she glared at him - this man had seriously lost it.

"Think about your dad's company - Hughes Group. Your mom begging us to stay together. Our marriage isn't just about us. The whole Harrington dowry went into patching up the holes in your family's business. You really think you get to decide alone?"

After hearing all that, Paisley finally got it. Divorce? Not her call. Clive was the one holding the cards here. Furious, she mumbled under her breath, "You manipulative jerk. Always playing me like a damn chess piece."

"You've got five minutes to get ready," Clive said, his voice lazy but laced with heat. "Or I'll come in and help you dress - though I can't promise we'll make it out on time."

Paisley chucked a pillow at him.

"Get out! I need to change!" she snapped.

Clive left with a grin he tried to hide. Not long after, the butler approached him. "Sir, the bags Mrs. Hughes bought today... there's no space left in storage. Should we use one of the guest rooms for now?"

Bags?

Clive finally figured out what all that credit card swiping went toward. Ah, the good ol' healing power of handbags.

He nodded, then watched as the staff carried in luxury bag after luxury bag - each one worth tens of thousands - into a guest room.

Paisley stepped out just in time to catch sight of her precious collection being carted away.

"Hold on, keep three here. I'm taking them with me," she ordered. After all, they were heading to the Harrington family home, and Clive's three sisters-in-law were nothing if not cunning.

In her past life, she had suffered thanks to her bluntness - this time, she wasn't about to let them get the upper hand.

"You feeling the pinch yet? Emotional pain or just your wallet crying? Either way, it's your black card I used," she said, eyeing Clive and shifting into full taunt mode.

But he didn't take the bait.

"Husband makes money, wife spends it. That's how it's supposed to go," he shot back smoothly.

If Paisley was aiming to trigger him, she missed. Instead, she ended up being the one flustered by his teasing.

"What are you sitting there for? Be useful and carry those bags to the car!" she huffed, not bothering to hide her irritation.

She might play the villain today, but Clive clearly had no intention of backing out. And with the Harrington clan looming on the horizon, she had zero time to coddle his feelings.

Honestly, she should've bought more - next time she needed him to really feel it.

*****

"Sir, madam, this way please," the Harrington family butler said politely. He'd been waiting outside the ancestral home to greet them - they were newlyweds, and Clive was the current head of the family. Respect was mandatory.

It was Paisley's second time here, apart from the wedding. Clive had three older brothers, and not a single one of their wives was easy to deal with.

Paisley linked arms with Clive like the perfect newlywed couple. They looked like they were still very much in that honeymoon phase.

During dinner, Clive held up the gentleman act well - he even pulled out her chair. Honestly, Paisley had to admit, his acting was Oscar-worthy.

Still, she wasn't one to be outplayed easily. It didn't matter if the rest of the family didn't like her - if she could get on Grandpa Alfred Harrington's good side, she'd be golden.

But watching Clive so smug, she couldn't help whispering in his ear, "Wanna get scolded by Grandpa?"

She was referring to that lunch Clive had with his ex. If she decided to rat him out to Grandpa, he'd be toast.

Clive casually picked up a piece of beef for Paisley and, in a low voice only she could hear, said, "Easy now. I'll make it up to you with a limited edition bag later."

Thinking he'd finally panicked, Paisley smirked with satisfaction.

What she didn't realize was that every person at that table had their eyes on them - and from the way the two of them were leaning close and whispering, everyone just assumed this newlywed couple was totally smitten.

Clive's mom had health issues, so right after the wedding, they headed overseas for her to recuperate.

So after dinner, the men all put on a decent show - chatting and laughing their way out of the room. That left the tea-talk to be handled by the three sisters-in-law.

"Paisley, eat more meat, will you? You're way too skinny. It's not great for having babies, y'know. Grandpa's dying to hold his great-grandkid." That was Clive's eldest sister-in-law talking. She might be from a prestigious family herself, but her words? Syrupy on the surface, barbed underneath.

"Oh, come on. You can't say stuff like that. I can't afford to end up like you - totally wrecked my figure. Not everyone looks good aging like that, right? No offense." Paisley had been polite to them in her past life, figuring there was no point making waves since she hadn't planned to stay with Clive long-term.

But now? Different story. When it comes to women like these, if you don't show some teeth, they'll just see you as a pushover.

Everyone knew Clive's oldest brother had a bad habit of cycling through starlets like he was harvesting crops - nonstop.

"Oh, how things have changed. You used to be the picture of obedience and manners - your father never shut up about how well you knew your place. And now? After draining Clive's wallet to patch up your family's financial mess, you've finally wormed your way into the Harringtons. Though let's be honest, Clive's heart was never yours to begin with. But hey, with you playing house, I suppose he has to keep his little flings in check - for now."

This came from the second sister-in-law, who leaned hard on her family's backing and rarely thought before speaking. Basically, she was the kind of person you could easily throw under the bus.

She was flat-out implying Clive had feelings for someone else - and that Paisley only managed to "lock things down" because she could keep his wandering heart in check.

"Oh, you're so right," Paisley replied with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "As long as Clive spoils me, I'm good. Just before we got here, he even asked if I had enough spending money - and then handed over his secondary credit card."

Right now, her biggest leverage was Clive's affection, and she had zero intention of letting that go to waste.

Noticing the skeptical look on Second Sis-in-law's face, she called out casually, "Jane, bring up the gifts I prepared for them. If any of you aren't digging the ones I picked, feel free to swap them in my room. Honestly, the storage's overflowing. Some are still stacked in the guest room. Don't be shy!"

I mean, who doesn't love a good handbag?

Sure, buying one with your own money is one thing, but buying loads using your husband's card? Now that hits different.

Third sister-in-law was the sharp type, though. She kept a cool distance and didn't join the mean-girl energy.

Later, needing some air, Paisley stepped outside to the garden. All that small talk had really frayed her mood. She stared up at the pale moon for a long while, trying to settle herself.

"Out here moon-gazing, Mrs. Harrington?" Clive's voice teased gently as he strolled over. Talking to his brothers had been just as exhausting for him, by the look on his face.

"Please don't bug me. I'd like some peace." The second she saw him, the irritation flared again - especially after Second Sis-in-law had said her dad patched his debts with Clive's money. The nerve.

Not that she could say it outright.

"Grandpa says to come in for some food he had the kitchen make," Clive said, casual but sincere. Grandpa Alfred really did like Paisley a lot - enough to send Clive out to fetch her personally.

"I'll pass. I might accidentally tell Grandpa you've got a mistress on the side." Paisley's tone was deliberately sharp.

Yep, she wanted to call out Clive's sweet little first-love romance as what it really was: cheating. Let's see if he liked that.

And if things blew up over it? Even better. Perfect excuse for a clean break.