For three arduous years, Emily strived to be Braiden's perfect wife, but his affection remained distant. When he demanded a divorce for another woman, Emily disappeared, reemerging as his ultimate fantasy later. Dismissing her ex with a smirk, she challenged, "Interested in a collaboration? Who are you, anyway?" Men served no purpose; Emily preferred independence. As Braiden pursued her relentlessly, he uncovered Emily's secret identities: top hacker, chef, physician, jade carver, underground racer... Each revelation heightened Braiden's bewilderment. Why did Emily's expertise seem limitless? Emily's message was clear: she excelled in all things. Let the chase continue!
"Let's get a divorce," Braiden Collins declared.
They had been married for three years. Yet, the man remained as reticent as he had always been. His voice carried no warmth, only a chilling detachment.
Emily Morris found herself behind Braiden, gazing at his tall figure. The reflection of his indifferent expression in the floor-to-ceiling windows sent a shiver to her very core.
Her hands, previously relaxed at her sides, now formed trembling fists.
The moment she had dreaded was upon her.
When Braiden turned to face her, his features became even more pronounced. Despite the years spent together, the sight of his perfectly sculpted face still held her in awe.
"Do we have to?" The words barely escaped Emily's lips. She struggled to voice out the words, her voice a blend of despair and a faint glimmer of hope.
Braiden narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at her. The absence of makeup did nothing to conceal Emily's natural beauty, though her eyes were red from emotion.
She was not striking in the conventional sense, but her clear complexion and the innocence in her eyes made her a comforting presence.
She looked at Braiden with her clear and reddening eyes. Under her right eye, a small mole added to her beauty, her black hair framing her face softly.
To Braiden, however, she represented nothing more than a quiet and unremarkable woman. She had fulfilled her role as a wife without fault, but he felt no love for her.
Three years ago, a car crash had left him with a serious spinal injury, casting doubt on his ability to walk again. The prognosis had been grim. He had faced the possibility of being paraplegic for life. During that challenging period, circumstances had forced him to part ways with the woman he loved. Under his mother's insistence, he had entered into an arranged marriage, marrying a doctor who could care for him indefinitely. Emily had become his choice, her lack of a prestigious background and her quiet nature being key factors.
"You have been by my side for three years, looking after me. As compensation, I am prepared to offer you ten million dollars." Braiden's tone was devoid of emotion, indicating no particular affection for her. "Unless, of course, you desire something else-"
"Why?" For the first time, Emily cut him off. Her teary eyes sparkled with a mix of determination and reluctance. "Why are you asking for a divorce now?"
Her question hung in the air. Tomorrow would be the day of their third wedding anniversary. She had envisioned celebrating it and many more to come, dreaming of a lifetime together with him.
"You know the one I love isn't you." Braiden's voice cut through her thoughts, cold and detached, offering no glimmer of hope. "Natalia has returned. I plan to marry her."
The revelation hit Emily like a bolt from the blue, making her tremble.
The marriage she had poured her heart into for three years seemed to easily disintegrate with the mention of Natalia Powell's name.
"Sir-" The butler's sudden arrival broke the silence. "Miss Powell vomited her meal and even coughed up blood!"
Braiden's demeanor shifted as he quickly moved past Emily, heading towards the guest room. His voice, deep and urgent, commanded, "Prepare the car. We're heading to the hospital."
Shortly after, he reappeared, tenderly carrying a fragile woman in his arms. Natalia was enfolded in a blanket that Emily had embroidered herself.
She looked exceedingly frail, her pallor making her seem like she was on the brink of death. Cradled by Braiden, she murmured weakly, "Braiden, Ms. Green is..."
Braiden halted, turned towards Emily, and announced, "The lawyer will discuss the divorce details with you. You need to leave the mansion within three days."
Then, he carefully adjusted the woman in his arms and proceeded downstairs, not once glancing back.
Emily remained rooted at the top of the staircase, eyes fixed on their departing figures. Natalia, nestled in Braiden's embrace, cast a victorious look towards her.
Just an hour ago, Natalia had said to her with a sly grin, "I'm back. Give him to me."
Emily's resolve crumbled only after they had vanished from sight. Silent tears cascaded down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around herself, a shiver of coldness enveloping her.
It had been ten years. From the moment he had saved her from despair to this day, she had observed him from afar for ten years, loving him. How many ten years did she have in a lifetime?
Yet, his love couldn't be forced. No matter how much she debased herself, it was clear she could never stir his heart to feel the same way.
"Braiden, I won't shed tears for you again."
With those words, Emily brushed away her tears. Gone was the gentle and fragile woman, replaced by someone cold and unwavering. A spark of determination lit up her eyes.
It was time for her to move on.
On the bedside table in the master bedroom, the divorce papers were impossible to overlook.
Emily turned to the document's final page, her gaze landing on the familiar signature. A brief flicker of emotion crossed her face as she tenderly traced the name "Braiden".
She stifled a sniffle, holding back the tears, picked up the pen, and signed her name.
It had all started with this name, and it was fitting that it should end with it as well.
Beside the papers, Emily left a seal she had spent nearly a year selecting and carving from jade, intended as her third-anniversary gift for Braiden.
Over their three years together, she had presented him with numerous gifts, each chosen with care, only for them to be disregarded, ending up forgotten in a closet or discarded like her feelings.
Stepping out of the mansion, Emily saw a black luxury car waiting by the curb. She entered the vehicle and announced calmly, "I'm divorced."
The man in the driver's seat, donning a pair of sunglasses, smirked and said, "Congratulations on reclaiming your freedom."
He passed a laptop to her, his voice encouraging. "It's time to rediscover yourself. We've all been eagerly awaiting your return."
Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he never gave a damn about rules and laws, as he only liked to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and lan begged her not to leave him?
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.