Chapter 1

At my wedding, the officiant asked me:

"Willow Vance, what's your biggest wish after getting married?"

Amidst the cheerful chatter about a long and happy life, and maybe some grandkids, I calmly replied:

"Divorce."

The officiant looked stunned. Being a seasoned professional, he quickly chuckled, "Our bride has quite the sense of humor!"

"I'm not joking."

Seeing my serious expression, the officiant froze.

All the guests present stared in disbelief.

Then, everyone's gaze shifted to my husband, Liam Caldwell, standing beside me.

A flicker of panic crossed Liam’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Willow, don't be so dramatic."

My husband gently brushed a strand of hair from my face.

"Since I chose you, you’re mine. Forever."

My father-in-law, Arthur Caldwell, who stood behind Liam, smiled. He addressed the crowd, "Outsiders might think Willow isn't a match for my son, but I, Arthur Caldwell, am not an unreasonable man. As long as my son is happy, that's all that matters."

Everyone immediately seemed to relax, exchanging sympathetic smiles.

[Willow must be totally dizzy from this sudden stroke of luck. She hasn't even fully woken up yet.]

[Right? Ever since Vance Industries crumbled, they've been nothing. It's truly unbelievable that Mr. Caldwell would marry Willow.]

[So many women were chasing Liam, all prettier than Willow, and many with similar backgrounds. Who would've thought the Caldwells would choose Willow in the end?]

[I heard Liam actually pursued her first.]

"Let's continue."

Prompted by my father-in-law, the officiant snapped out of his daze and resumed the ceremony.

After the wedding, my answer to the officiant went viral.

It wasn't surprising; the Caldwell Group was the most influential powerhouse in the entire city.

The Caldwell family taking in a daughter-in-law was already a hot topic; such a dramatic moment was bound to break the internet.

Despite my father-in-law and husband's explanations, and the guests' outward understanding, online, the skepticism exploded:

"This marriage is messed up," "there's definitely something fishy going on," "the Caldwells are actually shady," and so on.

Rumors spread like wildfire, engulfing the whole city.

The Caldwell Group's stock price began to fluctuate.