Chapter 1

Every wedding anniversary, Liam Hayes would bring a different woman home, under the pretense of having me 'train' them.

On our tenth anniversary dinner, Liam brought back a bar server in a bunny costume.

"She doesn't have an evening gown. Give her your wedding gown, and that jewelry set I got you. As for shoes, the ones on your feet look good enough."

"Oh, and she's young, so you need to patiently teach her, especially how to please me in bed."

I gritted my teeth and told Liam I wanted a divorce.

Liam burst out laughing, mocking, "Ashley Vance, how many times have you asked for a divorce? I'm sick of hearing it, it's more tiresome than your screams in bed! If you really want a divorce, I'll give you ten million!"

The whole room erupted in laughter again.

But what they didn't know was that this was the 100th time I had mentioned divorce, and the only time I truly meant it.

Everyone's eyes in the room fell on me, even the newly arrived bar server covered her mouth and snickered.

"Come on, place your bets! I bet she'll regret it before she even leaves this house."

"I bet they won't divorce, one million!"

"I'll put down thirty million!"

The bets on whether I would divorce or not were an old, tiresome tradition, brought up every wedding anniversary.

Many who lost money resented me, and those who won still didn't treat me any better.

I chuckled softly, shaking my head, inwardly cursing myself for being so spineless; it had taken me ten years to finally decide to leave Liam today.

"I bet she divorces!"

A deep voice came from the crowd. Others were trying to dissuade him, asking, "Are you out of your mind?" but I looked in that direction and couldn't make out who it was.

"Liam, I'll send the divorce papers to your company. Remember to sign them then."

I had mentioned divorce hundreds of times, but this was the first time I'd brought up divorce papers.

Liam straightened up, ash from the cigarette in his hand fluttered to the floor.

I pretended not to see it, squatted down, took off my heels, and placed the shoes beside the young woman's feet.

Her name was Chloe Jenkins, just over twenty, and very pretty.

"These shoes might pinch a bit, but you'll get used to them if you wear them more often."

"The gown and jewelry Liam mentioned, I'll have Doris bring them to you."

"Before you, Liam brought back 9 other women. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them. They live on the third floor; your room is the last one on the right on the third floor."

In ten years of marriage, Liam had brought back enough women to start his own private harem.

There was every type imaginable.

I patted away invisible dust from the back of my shoes, stood up, and walked barefoot toward the main door.

But before I could even exit the front door, a strong hand yanked me back from behind:

"Ashley, if you're leaving, leave with nothing! What on your body wasn't bought with my money, Liam's money?"

My bare feet at that moment felt like they were treading on sharp ice, and even my breath trembled slightly.

"You want me to take off my clothes?"

Liam raised an eyebrow, his gaze light and dismissive, as if he could see right through me.

"When your family went bankrupt all those years ago, didn't your mother strip you naked and put you in my bed? You came to me naked, so leave naked! Or are you regretting it? Fine. Kneel down and put her shoes on, and I'll forgive you."

The group behind Liam roared with laughter, doubling over.