Chapter 1: A Marriage Built on One-Sided Love

“I want a divorce!”

The sharp words echoed through the luxurious Thompson Villa, leaving the entire living room in complete silence.

Shantelle Scott froze where she stood.

The cup of tea she had prepared for her husband slipped from her trembling hands and shattered against the marble floor.

Fragments scattered in every direction, just like the dreams she had carefully protected for the past two years.

Standing before her was Evan Thompson.

Tall, handsome, and intimidating in his tailored black suit, he looked every bit the successful CEO of Thompson Group.

His expression, however, carried none of the warmth she had fallen in love with as a child.

Instead, his cold gray eyes were filled with disappointment and anger.

In his hand was a thick envelope.

He tossed it onto the coffee table without hesitation.

The words 'Divorce Agreement' stared back at her like a cruel sentence.

“I am now the CEO of Thompson Group,” Evan said coldly.

“My father no longer controls me, and neither do you.”

Shantelle felt her breathing grow uneven.

She looked at the papers before raising her watery eyes toward him.

“Evan…”

Her voice barely came out as a whisper.

“Please… can we talk first?”

He laughed bitterly.

“Talk?”

“We've been talking for two years, Shantelle.”

“Nothing ever changes.”

“I'm tired.”

She shook her head desperately.

“I only confronted Nicole because I thought she was your mistress.”

“Any wife would react the same way.”

Evan's jaw tightened.

“Nicole isn't my mistress.”

“She is my responsibility.”

“She left everything behind because of me.”

“She has no family here.”

“No friends.”

“No one except me.”

His every word pierced Shantelle's heart.

“Then why not help her find another place to stay?” she asked softly.

“Why hide her in a luxury apartment?”

“Why visit her every day?”

Evan stepped closer.

His voice became colder than ice.

“Because I can.”

“I don't need your permission.”

“I'm sick of you trying to control my life.”

Shantelle lowered her head.

Was she controlling him?

Or was she simply trying to protect her marriage?

For two years, she had ignored countless rumors.

She endured endless lonely nights.

She waited for him while dinner turned cold.

She smiled every time he returned home late.

She never questioned his business trips.

She believed patience would eventually melt his frozen heart.

But today…

She realized her patience had only pushed him farther away.

Evan looked at her without sympathy.

“Do you know why I married you?”

Shantelle's heart skipped a beat.

She already knew the answer.

Still…

She wanted to hear something different.

Something hopeful.

Instead, he crushed the last bit of hope she had left.

“Because my father forced me.”

“He threatened to cut me out of the family.”

“He threatened to take away everything I worked for.”

“You knew I loved Nicole.”

“Yet you still agreed to marry me.”

“Tell me…”

“Isn't that selfish?”

Tears slowly rolled down Shantelle's cheeks.

She remembered being thirteen years old.

Back then, Evan would patiently help her with homework.

He would buy her ice cream whenever she cried.

He even promised to protect her from bullies.

She had loved him ever since.

When their parents joked that they would grow up and marry someday, she believed fate had already written their story.

She never imagined another woman would someday stand between them.

Nicole Lively.

The woman Evan met while studying overseas.

Beautiful.

Elegant.

Confident.

Everything Shantelle feared she wasn't.

When Evan introduced Nicole to the Thompson family, Erick Thompson strongly opposed their relationship.

Eventually, he forced Evan into marrying Shantelle.

And Shantelle...

She selfishly accepted.

She believed love could be earned.

She believed kindness would eventually replace resentment.

She was wrong.

Very wrong.

Shantelle slowly walked toward Evan.

Her knees suddenly weakened.

Without caring about her dignity, she knelt before him.

She wrapped both hands around his legs.

“Please don't leave me.”

“I know I made mistakes.”

“I'll change.”

“I'll never question Nicole again.”

“I'll support you.”

“I'll do anything.”

“Please…”

“Don't end our marriage.”

For one brief second…

Silence filled the room.

Then Evan forcefully pulled himself away.

His face remained completely expressionless.

“But I don't love you.”

“I never have.”

The words struck harder than any slap.

Shantelle's hands slowly fell to the floor.

Her entire body trembled.

She had spent seven years loving this man.

Two years as his wife.

Countless sacrifices.

She abandoned medical school opportunities.

She gave up scholarships abroad.

She learned cooking because he preferred homemade meals.

She memorized every business anniversary.

She waited every night until he came home.

She had devoted her entire world to him.

Yet...

None of it mattered.

Evan placed a pen beside the divorce agreement.

“You have one week.”

“Sign it.”

Shantelle looked at him helplessly.

“If I refuse?”

He answered without hesitation.

“I'll take this to court.”

“Either way…”

“Our marriage ends.”

She bit her lower lip until it bled.

Her tears refused to stop.

Still…

She asked the one question she feared most.

“Where are you going tonight?”

Evan picked up his suit jacket.

Without looking back, he answered,

“Anywhere but here.”

He paused beside the front door.

Then deliberately added,

“Maybe Nicole's apartment.”

Bang!

The heavy wooden doors slammed shut.

The sound echoed through the empty villa.

Shantelle remained kneeling on the cold marble floor.

The divorce papers rested silently before her.

Outside, the rain began to pour.

Inside, the woman who had loved one man for nearly a decade finally broke into uncontrollable sobs.

She didn't know it yet.

But tonight wasn't the end of her story.

It was the beginning of the life she had once abandoned.

And one day…

The man who walked away without looking back would become the one desperately begging for another chance.