Chapter 1

On the day of my mother's sixtieth birthday banquet, Ethan Grant's mistress slipped in.

She put intimate photos of herself and Ethan on the banquet hall's giant screen, then took the microphone and confronted me in front of everyone.

"Mrs. Grant, please divorce Ethan."

"He says I'm better in bed than you ever were. I'm the one he loves."

My mother was so furious she had a heart attack and was rushed straight to the ICU.

With that, Monica stripped away the last shred of dignity my marriage to Ethan had left.

I became a complete laughingstock.

The next day, I asked Monica Shaw to meet me and invited her to watch a livestream.

In the room next to ours, more than a dozen women were taking turns with Ethan until his eyes lost focus.

I smiled at Monica. "He seems to like them even more than he likes you. Still want him?"

...

"Vivian Hart, you're even sicker than I thought."

Monica grabbed the water beside her and threw it in my face, screaming at me to let Ethan go.

The two bodyguards behind me stepped forward at once.

One pinned Monica down.

The other handed me a towel, then poured another glass of water and set it in front of me.

I wiped my face, picked up the glass, and poured it over her head.

The water was still hot enough to make Monica scream.

"Vivian, how dare you? Do you have any idea who my father..."

Before she could finish, a voice crackled through the walkie-talkie.

"Ms. Hart, he can't hold out anymore."

I looked up. On the screen, Ethan had passed out.

I checked the time and clicked my tongue.

"Already? Have the doctor handle it."

The needle sank into Ethan's skin.

His eyes slowly opened. His mind had not fully come back, but the drugs had already dragged his body back into that ridiculous mess.

Soon, the familiar panting came from the television again.

The color drained from Monica's face.

"Vivian, you're insane. This is a crime."

"Miss Shaw, that's a bit dramatic. I'm only helping my husband take care of his needs."

I gave her a faint smile. My eyes were cold.

Monica shivered, as if she had finally realized what I was capable of.

She started to break down.

"You still can't do this to him, Vivian. No matter what Ethan has done, he's still your husband. If you keep this up, he'll die."

The woman's voice continued on the screen, but Ethan had already started begging in pain.

When Monica saw I would not budge, her tone softened.

"Vivian, this is my fault. I shouldn't have gotten involved in your marriage. I shouldn't have provoked you at your mother's birthday banquet and ruined your reputation."

"But this has nothing to do with Ethan. If you want revenge, take it out on me. Please let him go."

I looked at Monica and shook my head.

"You really do love my husband, Miss Shaw."

"But don't worry. I know who did what. What happened between him and me was his mistake. I won't take it out on you."

Two hours later, the person on the walkie-talkie told me even the drugs were no longer working.

I called it off, then took Monica to the room next door.

The second the door opened, Monica rushed in.

She threw her arms around Ethan and sobbed.

"Ethan, are you okay? What happened to you?"

Ethan no longer had the strength to answer. His eyes were empty, and he lay on the floor like a boneless heap.

I walked over.

"I'm still standing right here, Miss Shaw. Don't you think you're getting a little too comfortable with my husband?"

Ethan finally lifted his head. The hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Vivian, you really are insane."

"Let's get divorced."

Ethan had been with many women.

Plenty of them had caused trouble in front of me.

Whenever those women came to provoke me, I made sure Ethan paid for it in full.

But this was the first time he had asked me for a divorce.

"No."

I gave Monica another slow look.

"Ethan, don't forget I gave you your chance five years ago. Back then, you refused to divorce me, and you put my mother in the hospital with a heart attack."

"Now you want out so you can run off with someone else?"

"Keep dreaming."