Chapter One

Inside a house in Coastline City…

"Charles, sign the divorce papers now! I am already pregnant for someone else!"

Yesterday was their 2nd marriage anniversary. Charles did not ever think that Elizabeth Wilson would choose the day after to bring divorce papers and also disclose her pregnancy.

However, he should have paid more attention when she seemed to be constantly picking fights with him over trivial issues. Also, she had become very picky with food and had awkward cravings. But, he had thought that she was only experiencing mood swings.

Charles was completely caught and thrown off guard. He never imagined that he would receive news of a pregnancy that isn't from his loins.

He stood before the dining table, speechless and dazed.

He even thought that Elizabeth was just in a bad mood and was pulling his legs with such strange announcements early in the morning.

"Elizabeth, how can you joke with something like these? Yesterday was only our second anniversary, how can you joke with a divorce and pregnan—"

"I'm not joking!" Charles had barely finished speaking before Elizabeth interrupted him with a blank expression on her face.

"I am not joking, Charles. Yesterday was our second anniversary so what? I cannot continue with this charade of a marriage anymore. Please sign the divorce papers and let me leave."

Charles thought that he did not hear Elizabeth's words correctly. He thought that she was joking but after seeing the expression on her face, he was suddenly confused.

Staring at her, he spoke weakly, "Elizabeth, what do you mean by you're tired of this marriage? After these two years of love, do you think of us as a charade?"

Elizabeth hissed. She could not control the impact of the pregnancy hormones on her emotions any longer and flared up.

"Love? What love? What did you expect from me, Charles? Do I look like I am joking? I'm tired of putting up with a poor person like you everyday! I've had enough of this fruitless marriage! I'm unwilling to be the object of ridicule amongst my friends anymore! Do you know how they mock me because my husband is poor and a measly cleaner? They don't talk behind my back but to my face!

"I've had enough of wearing rags because you have no money to buy me the kind of dresses I want! Everyday, I wish to come back to a lavish mansion after work, eat good food, wear expensive designer clothes, and go for weekends abroad! I want to cruise in luxurious cars and have people serve me! Can you afford that?"

Charles did not know how to respond. Two years ago, he had found love in the eyes of Elizabeth after returning to the city after spending six years away. Or, maybe he had thought wrong…

He never expected that in the end, his wife was like other women with eyes for greed. He did not think that she would be embarrassed of him and his hard work.

To think that he had even planned to reveal his real identity to her on their date later in the day so that he could finally make her the happiest woman in the world and pay for all her patience.

How could he have known that in her heart, he was only a charade?

Although it hurt, Charles was not willing to give up on the love they had shared over the past two years without a fight.

He said sincerely, "Elizabeth, you don't have to worry about all of those anymore. Just give me until today's evening to make you the happiest woman in the world. Please, believe me, I can even give you the world if you want!"

Scoffing, Elizabeth spoke with resignation, "Charles, I'm pregnant. As you can see, I don't need to be stressed at all. How can you, a poor person without any money, power, or connections, promise me the world?"

Elizabeth laughed. "What can you even give to me? Let's put an end to this nonsense, please. Sign the papers and get this over with!"

After she finished speaking, she went into the bedroom and started to gather her things. Charles only heard the faint sound of the bedroom door being locked from the inside.

He stared blankly at the wedding band around his finger and he sighed.

Turning to the direction of their bedroom, he couldn't help but feel down.

Who would have guessed that in the end, the love that he believed in was only a figment of his imagination? And who would have known that his lover was only in love with money, power, and connections?

He did not imagine that Elizabeth, the wife that he had chosen, would rub his plans of lavishing her with a good life into the mud.

Alas, she dampened the future with her own spit!

Charles sat on the couch in the living room, completely lost in thought.

About an hour later, he knocked on the bedroom door. It took a while before the door opened and Elizabeth's face appeared behind it.

Seeing her, Charles thought that there was still a glimmer of hope. He hoped that his wife would change her mind after seeing what he had prepared.

"Elizabeth, before you conclude on the divorce, please come with me. There's something I prepared for you and I know you would be happy with it."

However, Elizabeth's face only darkened with irritation. She thought that only looking at Charles reminded her of trash—they were to be discarded.

"There's no need. I don't need to come with you to know that I'll only be ruining my day."

Charles heard her and lowered his head with a bitter smile before asking one last time, "Elizabeth, do you really wish for the divorce?"

Elizabeth laughed in condescension. "Sign the papers now, Charles. Stop making me repeat myself when you're not hard on hearing," she said and slammed the door in his face.

Shaking his head and sighing heavily, Charles sat down at the dining table where the divorce papers and a pen were waiting.

He opened the agreement and saw that Elizabeth had already appended her signature on the needed lines.

Charles hesitated even though he did not want to. He did not want to believe that Elizabeth had declared the end of their marriage because of greed.

After pondering for a while, he gathered enough courage to append his own signature on the agreement.