Chapter 1

Seraphina Vance had found the perfect excuse to legitimize her blatant infidelity.

Before we got married, I signed a non-disclosure agreement, which meant I could only be her secret husband.

If I initiated the divorce, I'd walk away with a measly $9.9.

For three years, I watched her shamelessly flaunt her staged romance with her so-called colleague, Caleb Reed.

They traveled together, made public appearances, and even checked into the same hotel.

All while I, her supposed "understanding partner," was left to care for her ailing parents and act as her personal assistant, handling every single one of her affairs.

I had no idea when her "work" would end until Caleb called her late one night, his voice thick with complaint.

His fans were hounding them to get married, demanding to know when she'd finally make their relationship official.

"Darling," Seraphina cooed softly into the phone, "I'll give you a perfect wedding soon, okay?"

The cold night air blowing in from the balcony carried Seraphina's hushed whispers. Hearing her answer, my body, nestled in the sheets, went rigid. My throat constricted, and I could barely breathe.

On the other end, Caleb persisted, his voice low and melancholic. "Seraphina, everyone's expecting us to get married. I can't wait. Let's do it soon."

Seraphina stood on the balcony, her profile appearing exceptionally tender in the dim light. She soothingly reassured him, "Don't rush, I won't let you down."

It was clear that even when disturbed late at night, she was more than happy to coddle her rumored boyfriend.

Seraphina returned to the bedroom, a faint smile still lingering in the corners of her eyes. But the moment she saw me sitting on the edge of the bed, her expression hardened.

"Julian, it's the middle of the night. Why are you sitting here trying to scare me instead of sleeping?"

I swallowed the dull ache in my chest and met her gaze. "And how does it feel for you to be up in the middle of the night, sweet-talking your lover?"

"Lover? What are you talking about?" Seraphina frowned, annoyance flashing in her eyes. "Can you stop being so crude? Caleb and I are just work partners. Isn't it a bit much to label him like that?"

Watching her righteous indignation, my voice involuntarily tightened. "Me, too much? What 'work partners' in this industry plan a wedding together?"

Seraphina stumbled over her words for a second, then looked away. "You heard all that?"

She nervously rubbed her nose. "I couldn't help it. The fans were practically demanding it. Caleb and I have too much attention as a screen couple. If we don't see this act through, how can I justify his cooperation these past three years?"

"Justify his cooperation?" A searing, numbing pain shot through my heart, and my body trembled uncontrollably.

Three years of marriage. I watched the entire world believe she and Caleb were a match made in heaven, saw them interact sweetly on camera, flaunting their affection as if no one else existed. As Seraphina's legitimate husband, I was hidden away like a shadow, banished from the light.

Yet, all these years, Seraphina had never shown me a shred of guilt. She actually felt she owed Caleb. So what did my years of silent endurance and sacrifice count for?

"Julian, you know how it is. You have to commit to the role. For the sake of publicity and career benefits, can you just bear with it a little longer? This is my job."

Seraphina was an A-list actress. Every time, she'd spout some high-minded BS, making it sound like she and Caleb were just professional colleagues. If my friend hadn't personally seen them embracing as they entered a private hotel last week, I probably would have still believed everything she did was "just for work."

But now, her "work" had escalated to planning a global sensation of a wedding with Caleb.

And when she and I got married, we didn't even have the simplest ceremony.

I suppressed the bitter churning in my stomach, my voice hoarse. "Seraphina, Caleb is just a colleague, yet you're planning a lavish, public wedding for him. What about me? Your legal partner? Have you ever given me any kind of ceremony?"

When we got married, Seraphina was just a struggling actress. She thought a rich kid like me was just playing around and always treated me with cold indifference. I voluntarily signed a prenuptial agreement, agreeing to only $9.9 if we divorced. I even gave up inheriting my family business to be her assistant. For the sake of her career, we didn't even have a wedding. She once promised me that once she made it big, she'd give me a grand wedding.

Later, she shot to stardom, but never mentioned the wedding again. I'd subtly brought it up, suggesting even a simple dinner with our families would be enough. But she'd always brush me off with "work is too busy, we'll talk later."

Now, for a grand, extravagant wedding, Caleb just made a phone call, and she agreed without hesitation.

Seraphina probably thought I was being unreasonable. She grew impatient, her tone sharp with frustration.

"Julian, I've explained it countless times. Why can't you just understand me?"

"Caleb and I have such high public visibility as a couple. I can't let all that effort go to waste."

"Can't you just wait a little longer?"

I didn't say anything else.

The night stretched long, the wind outside cold and fierce. Watching Seraphina's irritated expression, a profound weariness washed over me. I couldn't wait any longer.