Chapter 1
“I need two documents drafted,” Violet said calmly. “One for my resignation, and the other… a divorce from Gabriel.”
The lawyer hesitated, his brow furrowed, his voice low with concern.
“Violet, your relationship with Gabriel hasn’t been easy to build. Maybe give it some more thought before moving forward with something so final.”
For the past three years, Violet had served as Gabriel Bennett’s secretary. Behind closed doors, she had also been his wife- something no one else knew.
A month ago, she was abducted. Her captors repeatedly called Gabriel, demanding a
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Chapter 1
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ransom.
He didn’t answer a single time.
Eventually, they tossed her into the icy sea. She would’ve died if a fisherman hadn’t found her by chance and pulled her out.
That very night, Gabriel was at a hotel–with Ruby, Violet’s younger sister.
In one swift blow, everything Violet had once treasured–years of affection and three hidden years of marriage–crumbled into nothing.
She finally saw things clearly. This time, she was truly ready to walk away.
“My decision’s made” she said, steady and sure. “Gabriel won’t fight it.”
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The truth was, she had always known- Gabriel had never loved her. Not for a single day.
But she had loved him since they were young. When he agreed to marry her three years ago, she’d said yes through tears of joy.
Now, with their third anniversary
approaching, she had prepared her final gift.
A signed divorce. Freedom–for both of them.
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That evening, when Violet returned to the villa, Gabriel was in the kitchen cooking.
It was odd. He hated the mess cooking made -always had.
She remembered once, early in their marriage, when he walked into the kitchen mid–dinner, wrinkled his nose, and muttered, “What is this? A garbage dump?”
But when Ruby said she liked home–cooked meals, he immediately signed up for cooking classes.
Tonight, he brought out a tray of food. “Didn’t you say work was slow today? What took you so long to get home?”
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Even in a kitchen apron, Gabriel looked effortlessly attractive–tall, broad–shouldered, and composed.
Violet put on a calm face and answered evenly, “The new hires just came in. I’ve been putting together training manuals.”
Gabriel didn’t press further. To him, she was always tied up with work.
“Alright then,” he said. “Dinner’s ready. Let’s eat.”
She took her seat. He placed a slice of bitter melon onto her plate. “I remembered you liked this. I made it just for you.”
A dull pain bloomed in Violet’s chest.
Bitter melon was Ruby’s favorite. Violet was allergic.
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Three years of marriage, and he still didn’t know.
If he had paid even a little attention, he wouldn’t have gotten it so wrong.
Gabriel noticed her pause. “Vivi? Why aren’t you eating?”
Instead of answering, she pushed the plate aside and retrieved two papers from her bag.
“Dinner can wait. I need you to go over these and sign.”
He frowned–business talk at the dinner table wasn’t his thing. “What’s so urgent? It can’t wait until later?”
Just as he reached for the documents, his phone lit up.
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He turned the screen away quickly, but Violet had already seen the caller ID.
It was Ruby.
Without a word, he stood and walked out to the balcony to answer.
In the process, his arm bumped the table, sending plates crashing to the floor. Shards of glass scattered across the tile. One piece nicked Violet’s finger, drawing a line of red that trickled silently to the floor.
Gabriel didn’t notice.
He spent fifteen minutes on the call, then returned, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the door.
“I’ve got plans tonight. Don’t wait up.”
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Violet blocked his path. “You still haven’t signed.”
He let out a sharp sigh, clearly irritated. Without reading them, he flipped to the last page and scribbled his name.
“There. Happy now? Can I go?”
She looked down at his signature, her voice hollow. “Yeah. You can go.”
As though he couldn’t get out fast enough, he disappeared without another glance.
Violet laughed under her breath–dry, bitter.
If he had cared even a little, he would’ve realized he’d just signed divorce and resignation papers.
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And that she was still bleeding.
But Gabriel’s heart had always belonged to Ruby–her sister, the one everyone believed was the “true” daughter of the Martin family.
Twenty–five years ago, their nanny and Violet’s mother, Isabella, gave birth in the same hospital. A mix–up switched the babies.
Violet, the real heiress, was raised by the nanny. Ruby became the cherished daughter of the Martins.
It wasn’t until five years later–after the nanny’s death–that the truth came to light.
The Martins took Violet in, but they never gave Ruby up.
Isabella had said, “Vivi, she’s grown up with
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Then a month ago, Ruby came back–and Gabriel betrayed Violet without hesitation.
To push her out, he even leaked intimate videos of himself with Ruby.
Violet saw one of them.
In it, Gabriel said, “Violet never did anything wrong. But if I just ask for a divorce, both families will push back. We have to ruin her image so her parents won’t argue.”
Ruby had asked, “You’ve been married for three years. Did you ever love her?”
Gabriel’s answer was immediate. “She was just a placeholder. I married her to keep people quiet.”
Violet used to think she could win his heart through patience and love.
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She had been wrong.
Eyes blurry with tears, she took a worn notebook from her bag.
Three years ago, she’d written herself a promise.
If Gabriel disappointed her 99 more times, she’d finally walk away.
That video was the 99th.
That night, she placed three items in a box, sealed it shut, and locked it away in the safe.
It was her final anniversary gift to Gabriel.
He might even appreciate it.
With everything done, Violet picked up her
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phone and dialed a number she hadn’t used
in years.
“Xavier… my cooling–off period ends in a month. Come get me then.”
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