The second he caught wind that I was filing for divorce, he dropped his own wife like a hot potato and rushed over to handle my case personally. If that’s not love, then what is? Hazel Garrison was scrolling through that very post, standing right outside Julian Hayes’s office building. And just like that, the scales fell from her eyes—Julian's so-called tenderness had always been a beautifully crafted mirage. His precious first love had come back to town to end her marriage, and Julian threw every rule he'd ever set straight out the window to take her case. He cleared Hazel out of her own room, got rid of her things, and even gave away her slot for overseas training like it was nothing. Julian couldn't have been more dismissive. “Hazel? She wouldn't last a day without me.” But Hazel had finally had enough of lying to herself. She played along just long enough to get him to sign the divorce papers, counted down the mandatory waiting period, and then walked out the door—without so much as a backward glance. And after she'd vanished into thin air, that cold, untouchable man ended up on his knees in the pouring rain, sobbing with red-rimmed eyes. “I was an idiot,” he begged. “You're the one—you've always been the one, my one and only true love.” Hazel didn't even bother to look down. Then, out of nowhere, a pair of arms slipped around her waist from behind—slow, deliberate, claiming her like she'd always been his. He pulled her close, wrapping her up in a way that left no room for doubt. “True love?” His eyes cut to Julian, crumpled and pathetic on the wet ground. Every word came out sharp and clear: “She's my wife—legally, properly, mine. And you? You don't even deserve to breathe the same air.”

Chapter 1"As soon as he heard I was getting a divorce, he dropped his wife and came to handle my case personally—if that isn't love, what is? Don't call me the other woman; the one who isn't loved is the real third wheel, and besides, he's spent the last three months by my side."Just as Hazel Garrison arrived downstairs at Julian Hayes's law firm, she scrolled past this explosive forum post.The comments section was already a warzone of insults, and Hazel originally just wanted to swipe past it, but those words—three months—pricked at her like a needle.For the past three months, Julian had inexplicably grown cold toward her.Her finger paused on the screen, scrolling down slightly.Attached to the post was a photo taken at a riverside restaurant, showing a woman intimately clinging to a man's arm. Only a third of the man's face was visible, but there was a distinct red mole on his wrist.Hazel froze completely.She zoomed in on the photo, staring at that red mole for a long time. The world seemed to suddenly go quiet, leaving only the heavy, suffocating thud of her own heartbeat in her chest.Julian Hayes had the exact same red mole on his wrist.Was it just a coincidence?The moment the thought surfaced, Hazel rejected it. She stepped into the elevator and locked her phone screen.Married for five years, she knew Julian's phone password, his schedule was always transparent, and his holiday gifts never missed a beat. He used to pull her into his arms, smiling as he said, "I'm yours for the rest of my life, honey."How could a man like that cheat?Hazel shook her head with a self-deprecating smile, convincing herself she was overthinking.The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out.The door to his office was slightly ajar. Just as Hazel was about to push it open, an unfamiliar voice drifted out, dripping with sarcasm."Julian, why are you playing the devoted saint? Evelyn Vance getting a divorce has you this worked up? What, did you spend all these years pining after her when she got mad and moved abroad to marry me?"Evelyn Vance.That name hit Hazel like a bucket of ice water.She had heard that name before. Julian had murmured it in his sleep once when he was drunk.At the time, she told herself it was just drunken nonsense and brushed it off.But now...The man's cold sneer continued. "Every year on your wedding anniversary, you use work trips as an excuse to go abroad. Weren't you just visiting her? Does your wife have any idea how you've been spending all these years?"Hazel's hand slipped from the doorknob.She instinctively took a step back, her spine pressing against the cold wall. The chill seemed to seep straight into her heart, draining all the color from her face.Through the crack in the door, she saw Julian sitting in his office chair. He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, the silver of his watch gleaming under the lights. He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and slid a document across the desk, his voice low and steady. "Are you done? Then sign it."How could he be so calm after hearing all of that?The man was furious. He slammed his hand on the desk and tossed the divorce papers into the trash can. "Let me tell you, it won't be that easy to get me to sign! You like playing with other people's wives so much? Let me have some fun with yours, and maybe I'll think about it."Hazel instinctively looked at Julian, and a second later, her heart plummeted into an abyss.There was no explosive rage, not even a frown. The man simply raised his eyes, his gaze entirely devoid of emotion, as if he couldn't care less about the insult."If you don't sign within three days, the next time we meet will be in court."The man stormed out, cursing under his breath. As he brushed past Hazel, he paused for a second, let out a cold scoff, and left without looking back.Hazel stood rooted to the spot, her hands and feet turning to ice.They had been married for five years, and their relationship had always been good. Julian had always been gentle and considerate.He used to say work was too busy to celebrate their anniversaries, but he would always make it up to her afterward. She used to care deeply about those milestones, but for his sake, she told herself it didn't matter. As long as they had each other, every day was an anniversary, right?When Julian told her he wanted her to focus on their family, she gave up the most promising project at the Institute and stepped behind the scenes.She thought that was love.But it turned out that during all those days she compromised for him, he was keeping another woman company.Even his strict rule of never representing people he knew was broken for Evelyn Vance.It felt like a giant hand was squeezing her heart, hurting so much she could barely breathe.Just then, a phone on speaker rang out from inside the office. It was Jasper Caldwell's voice. "Julian, Evelyn dropped into the Capital Research Institute three months ago, and you immediately started prepping her divorce. What about Hazel? Are you planning to divorce her?""No." Julian answered without a second of hesitation.Hazel froze, and even Jasper on the other end of the line seemed stunned."You aren't planning to rekindle things with Evelyn? If she hadn't gotten mad and moved abroad to get married, you never would have rebounded with Hazel. Honestly, if it wasn't for Hazel, you and Evelyn would have been the perfect power couple!"Julian took a sip of water, his voice remaining level. "Evelyn is just getting divorced. If I divorce Hazel right now, it might cause unnecessary drama and negatively impact Evelyn's career. We'll talk about it later."Hazel lowered her eyes, a bitterly painful smile tugging at the corners of her lips.So that was it.Evelyn wanted a divorce, so he couldn't wait to pave the way for her. Once everything settled down, he would probably be the one to hand her the papers.Leaning against the wall, Hazel tilted her head back, desperately fighting the burn in her eyes, and let out a long, shaky breath.Her phone suddenly vibrated.She looked down to see that the forum post had been updated."He said he wants me to move into his place and have his wife take care of me. Should I go, ladies?"Below it was a screenshot of a text conversation. The contact was saved as "Julian.""Things are messy right now. Come stay at my place for a while. She's easygoing and won't make things difficult for you."Hazel stared at that line of text for a long time until her vision blurred. She squeezed her eyes shut, letting the tears fall. Her breath hitched in her throat for a painful second before she violently wiped the moisture away. When she opened her eyes again, there was a fierce resolve in them.A second later, she opened her messaging app and sent a text to her best friend, Nellie York."Nellie, draft a divorce agreement for me."The elevator doors opened, and a woman in a white dress stepped out.The crisp click of heels approached, and as they brushed past each other, a fresh citrus perfume filled the air. Hazel's footsteps faltered, and she instinctively turned to watch the woman head straight for Julian's office.The scent was incredibly familiar. It was the same fragrance that had been lingering in Julian's car lately.The woman stopped at the office door and knocked gently.That had to be Evelyn Vance...Hazel stepped into the elevator. As the doors slid shut, she saw Julian come out to greet her. Those eyes, usually as calm and deep as a dark pool, suddenly lit up with a brilliant spark.Leaning against the elevator wall, Hazel suddenly found it all so laughable.In five years of marriage, she had never seen him look at her like that.The moment Hazel drove away from the law firm, her phone started ringing relentlessly. Seeing the caller ID, her heart instinctively sank.Her finger hovered over the accept button, hesitating until the call dropped. She was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when it rang again, more urgent this time.Hazel closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, swallowed by an overwhelming exhaustion. Exhaling heavily, she pulled the car over to the side of the road.The second the call connected, Mrs. Garrison's shrill voice pierced through the speaker. "Hazel, did you do what I asked? You're useless! You can't even get your own husband to help! If he doesn't defend him, your brother is never getting out!"Hazel frowned and pulled the phone away from her ear. Once the screeching stopped, she brought it back, her voice completely flat and devoid of emotion."He declined. Gideon assaulted someone and deserves to face the legal consequences. Harassing me isn't going to change anything."Hazel's original plan for visiting Julian today had been to beg him to represent Gideon, her parents' precious golden boy.Julian was born into the powerful Hayes Family, yet he gave up his inheritance to pursue law. He was sharp, brilliant, and excelled at everything he touched.Just three years after graduating, he had already made a name for himself as a top-tier attorney.But he had a strict rule: he never represented family or close friends, not even his own parents or brother.Hazel had begged him for days, but he never budged. Yet here he was, personally handling Evelyn Vance's case.So-called principles meant absolutely nothing in the face of true love."You ungrateful brat!" Mrs. Garrison's voice spiked an octave."I never should have had you! If you hadn't stolen all of Gideon's nutrients in the womb, he wouldn't be so weak and sickly! You owe it to him to support him for the rest of his life!"Hazel's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her chest feeling tight.She had been listening to that exact phrase for over twenty years.When she was a child, she didn't know any better and genuinely believed she had harmed her brother, so she never complained about her parents' blatant favoritism.Even after she grew up and realized it wasn't her fault, the words had already embedded themselves like a thorn in her heart, festering deep beneath the skin."Let me tell you, Hazel. If you don't help Gideon, I'm going to cause a scene! I'll march right up to Julian and show him exactly what kind of person you are and what kind of trash he married!"Hazel's heart gave a painful, reflexive jolt.Mrs. Garrison sneered. "Should I spill all your dirty laundry to him? How you've dragged Gideon down since childhood, how much you owe us—I'll tell him every single detail!""Enough." Hazel interrupted softly. After all these years, she thought she had accepted the fact that her parents didn't love her, but hearing those threats still sent a sharp stab of pain through her chest."I can't help Gideon." Without waiting for a response, she hung up the phone.The car fell completely silent.Hazel squeezed the steering wheel, her eyes burning red.Those words were carved into her soul, sometimes keeping her awake all night.The year she graduated high school, she got accepted into a prestigious university. Mrs. Garrison told her that girls didn't need higher education and that she should get a job immediately to support the family.She had cried and begged for half a month, promising to send money home every month and vowing never to abandon Gideon, just to earn the right to keep her acceptance letter.Later, she met Julian.He was the very first person to tell her that her ambitions mattered, too.Hazel had felt like a drowning victim who had finally found a piece of driftwood to cling to.Only now did she realize it was all an illusion.A crushing wave of exhaustion washed over her. Expressionless, Hazel put the car in drive. All she wanted right now was to go home and sleep.She slept straight through until evening. When she woke up, she printed out the divorce papers and stapled them together. Just as she finished, the roar of a car engine echoed from downstairs.Standing by her bedroom window, Hazel watched Julian's car pull up to the driveway gates. He walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and gently helped the woman out.Hazel looked down at the freshly printed divorce agreement in her hands and walked toward the stairs.The sound of the front door opening drifted up from below. She raised her eyes, and the moment her gaze met Julian's, his face broke into that familiar, gentle smile."You're awake? Perfect, there's something I need to tell you."Hazel didn't say a word, her eyes shifting to Evelyn.Evelyn stood in the entryway, clutching a delicate handbag. Wearing an ankle-length white dress with her long hair cascading down her shoulders, she looked as pretty and fragile as a painting.Noticing Hazel's gaze, Evelyn offered a polite, graceful nod.Julian walked over and wrapped an arm around Hazel's shoulder, his tone incredibly soft as he explained."Honey, this is Evelyn, a... friend of mine. She's going through a tough time right now. She's getting a divorce, and her ex-husband has been completely unhinged. He actually took a group of guys to her place today and cornered her. It almost ended terribly. I thought about it, and it's just not safe for her to stay alone, so I brought her here to crash with us for a while."He looked down at Hazel, a flicker of apprehension in his deep eyes, clearly bracing himself for her to throw a fit.Hazel met his gaze, saw the calculated manipulation in his eyes, and swallowed the bitter taste in her throat."Sure."Julian froze, completely taken aback by how easily she agreed.Evelyn chose that moment to step forward, her voice soft and sweet."You're so incredibly generous, Hazel. I truly admire you."Hazel looked at her, a slow smile curving her lips."You're too kind, Evelyn. But if you're trying to hide, you should probably hide a little better. If your ex-husband figures out you're staying here, that would be unfortunate."Evelyn's smile stiffened for a fraction of a second. Before she could speak, Julian's voice dropped into a dark register."Hazel."Hazel turned her head to meet his gaze. The man's brow was slightly furrowed, a flash of irritation in his eyes."How can you say something like that? Evelyn is going through hell right now. Her ex-husband will stoop to anything. As a woman, you should be a little more empathetic to her situation."Hazel felt a suffocating tightness in her chest. She hadn't even said anything horrible, yet he was already rushing to her defense."I was just reminding her to be safe. After all, she's staying in my house. If something happens, I can't take responsibility for it."Julian's frown deepened. He was just about to snap back when Hazel reached into her pocket and pulled out the folded document."Actually, I have something for you to look at, too."She unfolded the papers and held them out to him.Julian glanced down at them, his expression relaxing slightly."A property transfer agreement? Why the sudden interest in this?"Hazel lowered her eyes, her voice completely steady."I did you a huge favor. Don't I deserve a little reward?"Julian paused as he flipped the page, then the amusement returned to his eyes. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Alright, I knew I had the best wife in the world."Hazel had swapped the first page out with a standard property transfer summary, but attached right behind it was the divorce agreement.The moment he signed it, they would be legally severed forever.Julian didn't even bother to read the fine print. He just flipped to the last page and signed his name.Hazel stared at him, an agonizing ache blooming in her chest.It was such a clumsy trick. If he had just skimmed the paragraphs, he would have realized this wasn't a property transfer at all, but a divorce settlement.Julian handed the signed document back to her and affectionately ruffled her hair."I'm going to show Evelyn around. Could you take her bags upstairs for me?"Hazel took the papers and gave a stiff nod.She watched Julian turn back to Evelyn, shoot her a reassuring smile, and lead her up the stairs.As Evelyn brushed past her, she paused, tilted her head, and offered Hazel a triumphant little smile before following Julian up the steps.Hazel stood rooted to the spot, looking down at the signed paper in her hands.The ink of Julian's signature was still wet, catching the ambient light.Hazel stared at it for a long time before carefully folding it up and sliding it into a manila envelope.Then, she turned and went upstairs to pack her bags, her memories rushing back with every item.He had helped her pick out almost every piece of clothing she owned. She remembered smiling so brightly at the time, genuinely believing that this was what happiness felt like. She never expected that it was all just one-sided wishful thinking.A sudden knock on the door made Hazel's hands pause.Chapter 2"As soon as he heard I was getting a divorce, he dropped his wife and came to handle my case personally—if that isn't love, what is? Don't call me the other woman; the one who isn't loved is the real third wheel, and besides, he's spent the last three months by my side."Just as Hazel Garrison arrived downstairs at Julian Hayes's law firm, she scrolled past this explosive forum post.The comments section was already a warzone of insults, and Hazel originally just wanted to swipe past it, but those words—three months—pricked at her like a needle.For the past three months, Julian had inexplicably grown cold toward her.Her finger paused on the screen, scrolling down slightly.Attached to the post was a photo taken at a riverside restaurant, showing a woman intimately clinging to a man's arm. Only a third of the man's face was visible, but there was a distinct red mole on his wrist.Hazel froze completely.She zoomed in on the photo, staring at that red mole for a long time. The world seemed to suddenly go quiet, leaving only the heavy, suffocating thud of her own heartbeat in her chest.Julian Hayes had the exact same red mole on his wrist.Was it just a coincidence?The moment the thought surfaced, Hazel rejected it. She stepped into the elevator and locked her phone screen.Married for five years, she knew Julian's phone password, his schedule was always transparent, and his holiday gifts never missed a beat. He used to pull her into his arms, smiling as he said, "I'm yours for the rest of my life, honey."How could a man like that cheat?Hazel shook her head with a self-deprecating smile, convincing herself she was overthinking.The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out.The door to his office was slightly ajar. Just as Hazel was about to push it open, an unfamiliar voice drifted out, dripping with sarcasm."Julian, why are you playing the devoted saint? Evelyn Vance getting a divorce has you this worked up? What, did you spend all these years pining after her when she got mad and moved abroad to marry me?"Evelyn Vance.That name hit Hazel like a bucket of ice water.She had heard that name before. Julian had murmured it in his sleep once when he was drunk.At the time, she told herself it was just drunken nonsense and brushed it off.But now...The man's cold sneer continued. "Every year on your wedding anniversary, you use work trips as an excuse to go abroad. Weren't you just visiting her? Does your wife have any idea how you've been spending all these years?"Hazel's hand slipped from the doorknob.She instinctively took a step back, her spine pressing against the cold wall. The chill seemed to seep straight into her heart, draining all the color from her face.Through the crack in the door, she saw Julian sitting in his office chair. He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, the silver of his watch gleaming under the lights. He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and slid a document across the desk, his voice low and steady. "Are you done? Then sign it."How could he be so calm after hearing all of that?The man was furious. He slammed his hand on the desk and tossed the divorce papers into the trash can. "Let me tell you, it won't be that easy to get me to sign! You like playing with other people's wives so much? Let me have some fun with yours, and maybe I'll think about it."Hazel instinctively looked at Julian, and a second later, her heart plummeted into an abyss.There was no explosive rage, not even a frown. The man simply raised his eyes, his gaze entirely devoid of emotion, as if he couldn't care less about the insult."If you don't sign within three days, the next time we meet will be in court."The man stormed out, cursing under his breath. As he brushed past Hazel, he paused for a second, let out a cold scoff, and left without looking back.Hazel stood rooted to the spot, her hands and feet turning to ice.They had been married for five years, and their relationship had always been good. Julian had always been gentle and considerate.He used to say work was too busy to celebrate their anniversaries, but he would always make it up to her afterward. She used to care deeply about those milestones, but for his sake, she told herself it didn't matter. As long as they had each other, every day was an anniversary, right?When Julian told her he wanted her to focus on their family, she gave up the most promising project at the Institute and stepped behind the scenes.She thought that was love.But it turned out that during all those days she compromised for him, he was keeping another woman company.Even his strict rule of never representing people he knew was broken for Evelyn Vance.It felt like a giant hand was squeezing her heart, hurting so much she could barely breathe.Just then, a phone on speaker rang out from inside the office. It was Jasper Caldwell's voice. "Julian, Evelyn dropped into the Capital Research Institute three months ago, and you immediately started prepping her divorce. What about Hazel? Are you planning to divorce her?""No." Julian answered without a second of hesitation.Hazel froze, and even Jasper on the other end of the line seemed stunned."You aren't planning to rekindle things with Evelyn? If she hadn't gotten mad and moved abroad to get married, you never would have rebounded with Hazel. Honestly, if it wasn't for Hazel, you and Evelyn would have been the perfect power couple!"Julian took a sip of water, his voice remaining level. "Evelyn is just getting divorced. If I divorce Hazel right now, it might cause unnecessary drama and negatively impact Evelyn's career. We'll talk about it later."Hazel lowered her eyes, a bitterly painful smile tugging at the corners of her lips.So that was it.Evelyn wanted a divorce, so he couldn't wait to pave the way for her. Once everything settled down, he would probably be the one to hand her the papers.Leaning against the wall, Hazel tilted her head back, desperately fighting the burn in her eyes, and let out a long, shaky breath.Her phone suddenly vibrated.She looked down to see that the forum post had been updated."He said he wants me to move into his place and have his wife take care of me. Should I go, ladies?"Below it was a screenshot of a text conversation. The contact was saved as "Julian.""Things are messy right now. Come stay at my place for a while. She's easygoing and won't make things difficult for you."Hazel stared at that line of text for a long time until her vision blurred. She squeezed her eyes shut, letting the tears fall. Her breath hitched in her throat for a painful second before she violently wiped the moisture away. When she opened her eyes again, there was a fierce resolve in them.A second later, she opened her messaging app and sent a text to her best friend, Nellie York."Nellie, draft a divorce agreement for me."The elevator doors opened, and a woman in a white dress stepped out.The crisp click of heels approached, and as they brushed past each other, a fresh citrus perfume filled the air. Hazel's footsteps faltered, and she instinctively turned to watch the woman head straight for Julian's office.The scent was incredibly familiar. It was the same fragrance that had been lingering in Julian's car lately.The woman stopped at the office door and knocked gently.That had to be Evelyn Vance...Hazel stepped into the elevator. As the doors slid shut, she saw Julian come out to greet her. Those eyes, usually as calm and deep as a dark pool, suddenly lit up with a brilliant spark.Leaning against the elevator wall, Hazel suddenly found it all so laughable.In five years of marriage, she had never seen him look at her like that.The moment Hazel drove away from the law firm, her phone started ringing relentlessly. Seeing the caller ID, her heart instinctively sank.Her finger hovered over the accept button, hesitating until the call dropped. She was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when it rang again, more urgent this time.Hazel closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, swallowed by an overwhelming exhaustion. Exhaling heavily, she pulled the car over to the side of the road.The second the call connected, Mrs. Garrison's shrill voice pierced through the speaker. "Hazel, did you do what I asked? You're useless! You can't even get your own husband to help! If he doesn't defend him, your brother is never getting out!"Hazel frowned and pulled the phone away from her ear. Once the screeching stopped, she brought it back, her voice completely flat and devoid of emotion."He declined. Gideon assaulted someone and deserves to face the legal consequences. Harassing me isn't going to change anything."Hazel's original plan for visiting Julian today had been to beg him to represent Gideon, her parents' precious golden boy.Julian was born into the powerful Hayes Family, yet he gave up his inheritance to pursue law. He was sharp, brilliant, and excelled at everything he touched.Just three years after graduating, he had already made a name for himself as a top-tier attorney.But he had a strict rule: he never represented family or close friends, not even his own parents or brother.Hazel had begged him for days, but he never budged. Yet here he was, personally handling Evelyn Vance's case.So-called principles meant absolutely nothing in the face of true love."You ungrateful brat!" Mrs. Garrison's voice spiked an octave."I never should have had you! If you hadn't stolen all of Gideon's nutrients in the womb, he wouldn't be so weak and sickly! You owe it to him to support him for the rest of his life!"Hazel's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her chest feeling tight.She had been listening to that exact phrase for over twenty years.When she was a child, she didn't know any better and genuinely believed she had harmed her brother, so she never complained about her parents' blatant favoritism.Even after she grew up and realized it wasn't her fault, the words had already embedded themselves like a thorn in her heart, festering deep beneath the skin."Let me tell you, Hazel. If you don't help Gideon, I'm going to cause a scene! I'll march right up to Julian and show him exactly what kind of person you are and what kind of trash he married!"Hazel's heart gave a painful, reflexive jolt.Mrs. Garrison sneered. "Should I spill all your dirty laundry to him? How you've dragged Gideon down since childhood, how much you owe us—I'll tell him every single detail!""Enough." Hazel interrupted softly. After all these years, she thought she had accepted the fact that her parents didn't love her, but hearing those threats still sent a sharp stab of pain through her chest."I can't help Gideon." Without waiting for a response, she hung up the phone.The car fell completely silent.Hazel squeezed the steering wheel, her eyes burning red.Those words were carved into her soul, sometimes keeping her awake all night.The year she graduated high school, she got accepted into a prestigious university. Mrs. Garrison told her that girls didn't need higher education and that she should get a job immediately to support the family.She had cried and begged for half a month, promising to send money home every month and vowing never to abandon Gideon, just to earn the right to keep her acceptance letter.Later, she met Julian.He was the very first person to tell her that her ambitions mattered, too.Hazel had felt like a drowning victim who had finally found a piece of driftwood to cling to.Only now did she realize it was all an illusion.A crushing wave of exhaustion washed over her. Expressionless, Hazel put the car in drive. All she wanted right now was to go home and sleep.She slept straight through until evening. When she woke up, she printed out the divorce papers and stapled them together. Just as she finished, the roar of a car engine echoed from downstairs.Standing by her bedroom window, Hazel watched Julian's car pull up to the driveway gates. He walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and gently helped the woman out.Hazel looked down at the freshly printed divorce agreement in her hands and walked toward the stairs.The sound of the front door opening drifted up from below. She raised her eyes, and the moment her gaze met Julian's, his face broke into that familiar, gentle smile."You're awake? Perfect, there's something I need to tell you."Hazel didn't say a word, her eyes shifting to Evelyn.Evelyn stood in the entryway, clutching a delicate handbag. Wearing an ankle-length white dress with her long hair cascading down her shoulders, she looked as pretty and fragile as a painting.Noticing Hazel's gaze, Evelyn offered a polite, graceful nod.Julian walked over and wrapped an arm around Hazel's shoulder, his tone incredibly soft as he explained."Honey, this is Evelyn, a... friend of mine. She's going through a tough time right now. She's getting a divorce, and her ex-husband has been completely unhinged. He actually took a group of guys to her place today and cornered her. It almost ended terribly. I thought about it, and it's just not safe for her to stay alone, so I brought her here to crash with us for a while."He looked down at Hazel, a flicker of apprehension in his deep eyes, clearly bracing himself for her to throw a fit.Hazel met his gaze, saw the calculated manipulation in his eyes, and swallowed the bitter taste in her throat."Sure."Julian froze, completely taken aback by how easily she agreed.Evelyn chose that moment to step forward, her voice soft and sweet."You're so incredibly generous, Hazel. I truly admire you."Hazel looked at her, a slow smile curving her lips."You're too kind, Evelyn. But if you're trying to hide, you should probably hide a little better. If your ex-husband figures out you're staying here, that would be unfortunate."Evelyn's smile stiffened for a fraction of a second. Before she could speak, Julian's voice dropped into a dark register."Hazel."Hazel turned her head to meet his gaze. The man's brow was slightly furrowed, a flash of irritation in his eyes."How can you say something like that? Evelyn is going through hell right now. Her ex-husband will stoop to anything. As a woman, you should be a little more empathetic to her situation."Hazel felt a suffocating tightness in her chest. She hadn't even said anything horrible, yet he was already rushing to her defense."I was just reminding her to be safe. After all, she's staying in my house. If something happens, I can't take responsibility for it."Julian's frown deepened. He was just about to snap back when Hazel reached into her pocket and pulled out the folded document."Actually, I have something for you to look at, too."She unfolded the papers and held them out to him.Julian glanced down at them, his expression relaxing slightly."A property transfer agreement? Why the sudden interest in this?"Hazel lowered her eyes, her voice completely steady."I did you a huge favor. Don't I deserve a little reward?"Julian paused as he flipped the page, then the amusement returned to his eyes. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Alright, I knew I had the best wife in the world."Hazel had swapped the first page out with a standard property transfer summary, but attached right behind it was the divorce agreement.The moment he signed it, they would be legally severed forever.Julian didn't even bother to read the fine print. He just flipped to the last page and signed his name.Hazel stared at him, an agonizing ache blooming in her chest.It was such a clumsy trick. If he had just skimmed the paragraphs, he would have realized this wasn't a property transfer at all, but a divorce settlement.Julian handed the signed document back to her and affectionately ruffled her hair."I'm going to show Evelyn around. Could you take her bags upstairs for me?"Hazel took the papers and gave a stiff nod.She watched Julian turn back to Evelyn, shoot her a reassuring smile, and lead her up the stairs.As Evelyn brushed past her, she paused, tilted her head, and offered Hazel a triumphant little smile before following Julian up the steps.Hazel stood rooted to the spot, looking down at the signed paper in her hands.The ink of Julian's signature was still wet, catching the ambient light.Hazel stared at it for a long time before carefully folding it up and sliding it into a manila envelope.Then, she turned and went upstairs to pack her bags, her memories rushing back with every item.He had helped her pick out almost every piece of clothing she owned. She remembered smiling so brightly at the time, genuinely believing that this was what happiness felt like. She never expected that it was all just one-sided wishful thinking.A sudden knock on the door made Hazel's hands pause.Chapter 3"As soon as he heard I was getting a divorce, he dropped his wife and came to handle my case personally—if that isn't love, what is? Don't call me the other woman; the one who isn't loved is the real third wheel, and besides, he's spent the last three months by my side."Just as Hazel Garrison arrived downstairs at Julian Hayes's law firm, she scrolled past this explosive forum post.The comments section was already a warzone of insults, and Hazel originally just wanted to swipe past it, but those words—three months—pricked at her like a needle.For the past three months, Julian had inexplicably grown cold toward her.Her finger paused on the screen, scrolling down slightly.Attached to the post was a photo taken at a riverside restaurant, showing a woman intimately clinging to a man's arm. Only a third of the man's face was visible, but there was a distinct red mole on his wrist.Hazel froze completely.She zoomed in on the photo, staring at that red mole for a long time. The world seemed to suddenly go quiet, leaving only the heavy, suffocating thud of her own heartbeat in her chest.Julian Hayes had the exact same red mole on his wrist.Was it just a coincidence?The moment the thought surfaced, Hazel rejected it. She stepped into the elevator and locked her phone screen.Married for five years, she knew Julian's phone password, his schedule was always transparent, and his holiday gifts never missed a beat. He used to pull her into his arms, smiling as he said, "I'm yours for the rest of my life, honey."How could a man like that cheat?Hazel shook her head with a self-deprecating smile, convincing herself she was overthinking.The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out.The door to his office was slightly ajar. Just as Hazel was about to push it open, an unfamiliar voice drifted out, dripping with sarcasm."Julian, why are you playing the devoted saint? Evelyn Vance getting a divorce has you this worked up? What, did you spend all these years pining after her when she got mad and moved abroad to marry me?"Evelyn Vance.That name hit Hazel like a bucket of ice water.She had heard that name before. Julian had murmured it in his sleep once when he was drunk.At the time, she told herself it was just drunken nonsense and brushed it off.But now...The man's cold sneer continued. "Every year on your wedding anniversary, you use work trips as an excuse to go abroad. Weren't you just visiting her? Does your wife have any idea how you've been spending all these years?"Hazel's hand slipped from the doorknob.She instinctively took a step back, her spine pressing against the cold wall. The chill seemed to seep straight into her heart, draining all the color from her face.Through the crack in the door, she saw Julian sitting in his office chair. He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, the silver of his watch gleaming under the lights. He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and slid a document across the desk, his voice low and steady. "Are you done? Then sign it."How could he be so calm after hearing all of that?The man was furious. He slammed his hand on the desk and tossed the divorce papers into the trash can. "Let me tell you, it won't be that easy to get me to sign! You like playing with other people's wives so much? Let me have some fun with yours, and maybe I'll think about it."Hazel instinctively looked at Julian, and a second later, her heart plummeted into an abyss.There was no explosive rage, not even a frown. The man simply raised his eyes, his gaze entirely devoid of emotion, as if he couldn't care less about the insult."If you don't sign within three days, the next time we meet will be in court."The man stormed out, cursing under his breath. As he brushed past Hazel, he paused for a second, let out a cold scoff, and left without looking back.Hazel stood rooted to the spot, her hands and feet turning to ice.They had been married for five years, and their relationship had always been good. Julian had always been gentle and considerate.He used to say work was too busy to celebrate their anniversaries, but he would always make it up to her afterward. She used to care deeply about those milestones, but for his sake, she told herself it didn't matter. As long as they had each other, every day was an anniversary, right?When Julian told her he wanted her to focus on their family, she gave up the most promising project at the Institute and stepped behind the scenes.She thought that was love.But it turned out that during all those days she compromised for him, he was keeping another woman company.Even his strict rule of never representing people he knew was broken for Evelyn Vance.It felt like a giant hand was squeezing her heart, hurting so much she could barely breathe.Just then, a phone on speaker rang out from inside the office. It was Jasper Caldwell's voice. "Julian, Evelyn dropped into the Capital Research Institute three months ago, and you immediately started prepping her divorce. What about Hazel? Are you planning to divorce her?""No." Julian answered without a second of hesitation.Hazel froze, and even Jasper on the other end of the line seemed stunned."You aren't planning to rekindle things with Evelyn? If she hadn't gotten mad and moved abroad to get married, you never would have rebounded with Hazel. Honestly, if it wasn't for Hazel, you and Evelyn would have been the perfect power couple!"Julian took a sip of water, his voice remaining level. "Evelyn is just getting divorced. If I divorce Hazel right now, it might cause unnecessary drama and negatively impact Evelyn's career. We'll talk about it later."Hazel lowered her eyes, a bitterly painful smile tugging at the corners of her lips.So that was it.Evelyn wanted a divorce, so he couldn't wait to pave the way for her. Once everything settled down, he would probably be the one to hand her the papers.Leaning against the wall, Hazel tilted her head back, desperately fighting the burn in her eyes, and let out a long, shaky breath.Her phone suddenly vibrated.She looked down to see that the forum post had been updated."He said he wants me to move into his place and have his wife take care of me. Should I go, ladies?"Below it was a screenshot of a text conversation. The contact was saved as "Julian.""Things are messy right now. Come stay at my place for a while. She's easygoing and won't make things difficult for you."Hazel stared at that line of text for a long time until her vision blurred. She squeezed her eyes shut, letting the tears fall. Her breath hitched in her throat for a painful second before she violently wiped the moisture away. When she opened her eyes again, there was a fierce resolve in them.A second later, she opened her messaging app and sent a text to her best friend, Nellie York."Nellie, draft a divorce agreement for me."The elevator doors opened, and a woman in a white dress stepped out.The crisp click of heels approached, and as they brushed past each other, a fresh citrus perfume filled the air. Hazel's footsteps faltered, and she instinctively turned to watch the woman head straight for Julian's office.The scent was incredibly familiar. It was the same fragrance that had been lingering in Julian's car lately.The woman stopped at the office door and knocked gently.That had to be Evelyn Vance...Hazel stepped into the elevator. As the doors slid shut, she saw Julian come out to greet her. Those eyes, usually as calm and deep as a dark pool, suddenly lit up with a brilliant spark.Leaning against the elevator wall, Hazel suddenly found it all so laughable.In five years of marriage, she had never seen him look at her like that.The moment Hazel drove away from the law firm, her phone started ringing relentlessly. Seeing the caller ID, her heart instinctively sank.Her finger hovered over the accept button, hesitating until the call dropped. She was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when it rang again, more urgent this time.Hazel closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, swallowed by an overwhelming exhaustion. Exhaling heavily, she pulled the car over to the side of the road.The second the call connected, Mrs. Garrison's shrill voice pierced through the speaker. "Hazel, did you do what I asked? You're useless! You can't even get your own husband to help! If he doesn't defend him, your brother is never getting out!"Hazel frowned and pulled the phone away from her ear. Once the screeching stopped, she brought it back, her voice completely flat and devoid of emotion."He declined. Gideon assaulted someone and deserves to face the legal consequences. Harassing me isn't going to change anything."Hazel's original plan for visiting Julian today had been to beg him to represent Gideon, her parents' precious golden boy.Julian was born into the powerful Hayes Family, yet he gave up his inheritance to pursue law. He was sharp, brilliant, and excelled at everything he touched.Just three years after graduating, he had already made a name for himself as a top-tier attorney.But he had a strict rule: he never represented family or close friends, not even his own parents or brother.Hazel had begged him for days, but he never budged. Yet here he was, personally handling Evelyn Vance's case.So-called principles meant absolutely nothing in the face of true love."You ungrateful brat!" Mrs. Garrison's voice spiked an octave."I never should have had you! If you hadn't stolen all of Gideon's nutrients in the womb, he wouldn't be so weak and sickly! You owe it to him to support him for the rest of his life!"Hazel's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her chest feeling tight.She had been listening to that exact phrase for over twenty years.When she was a child, she didn't know any better and genuinely believed she had harmed her brother, so she never complained about her parents' blatant favoritism.Even after she grew up and realized it wasn't her fault, the words had already embedded themselves like a thorn in her heart, festering deep beneath the skin."Let me tell you, Hazel. If you don't help Gideon, I'm going to cause a scene! I'll march right up to Julian and show him exactly what kind of person you are and what kind of trash he married!"Hazel's heart gave a painful, reflexive jolt.Mrs. Garrison sneered. "Should I spill all your dirty laundry to him? How you've dragged Gideon down since childhood, how much you owe us—I'll tell him every single detail!""Enough." Hazel interrupted softly. After all these years, she thought she had accepted the fact that her parents didn't love her, but hearing those threats still sent a sharp stab of pain through her chest."I can't help Gideon." Without waiting for a response, she hung up the phone.The car fell completely silent.Hazel squeezed the steering wheel, her eyes burning red.Those words were carved into her soul, sometimes keeping her awake all night.The year she graduated high school, she got accepted into a prestigious university. Mrs. Garrison told her that girls didn't need higher education and that she should get a job immediately to support the family.She had cried and begged for half a month, promising to send money home every month and vowing never to abandon Gideon, just to earn the right to keep her acceptance letter.Later, she met Julian.He was the very first person to tell her that her ambitions mattered, too.Hazel had felt like a drowning victim who had finally found a piece of driftwood to cling to.Only now did she realize it was all an illusion.A crushing wave of exhaustion washed over her. Expressionless, Hazel put the car in drive. All she wanted right now was to go home and sleep.She slept straight through until evening. When she woke up, she printed out the divorce papers and stapled them together. Just as she finished, the roar of a car engine echoed from downstairs.Standing by her bedroom window, Hazel watched Julian's car pull up to the driveway gates. He walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and gently helped the woman out.Hazel looked down at the freshly printed divorce agreement in her hands and walked toward the stairs.The sound of the front door opening drifted up from below. She raised her eyes, and the moment her gaze met Julian's, his face broke into that familiar, gentle smile."You're awake? Perfect, there's something I need to tell you."Hazel didn't say a word, her eyes shifting to Evelyn.Evelyn stood in the entryway, clutching a delicate handbag. Wearing an ankle-length white dress with her long hair cascading down her shoulders, she looked as pretty and fragile as a painting.Noticing Hazel's gaze, Evelyn offered a polite, graceful nod.Julian walked over and wrapped an arm around Hazel's shoulder, his tone incredibly soft as he explained."Honey, this is Evelyn, a... friend of mine. She's going through a tough time right now. She's getting a divorce, and her ex-husband has been completely unhinged. He actually took a group of guys to her place today and cornered her. It almost ended terribly. I thought about it, and it's just not safe for her to stay alone, so I brought her here to crash with us for a while."He looked down at Hazel, a flicker of apprehension in his deep eyes, clearly bracing himself for her to throw a fit.Hazel met his gaze, saw the calculated manipulation in his eyes, and swallowed the bitter taste in her throat."Sure."Julian froze, completely taken aback by how easily she agreed.Evelyn chose that moment to step forward, her voice soft and sweet."You're so incredibly generous, Hazel. I truly admire you."Hazel looked at her, a slow smile curving her lips."You're too kind, Evelyn. But if you're trying to hide, you should probably hide a little better. If your ex-husband figures out you're staying here, that would be unfortunate."Evelyn's smile stiffened for a fraction of a second. Before she could speak, Julian's voice dropped into a dark register."Hazel."Hazel turned her head to meet his gaze. The man's brow was slightly furrowed, a flash of irritation in his eyes."How can you say something like that? Evelyn is going through hell right now. Her ex-husband will stoop to anything. As a woman, you should be a little more empathetic to her situation."Hazel felt a suffocating tightness in her chest. She hadn't even said anything horrible, yet he was already rushing to her defense."I was just reminding her to be safe. After all, she's staying in my house. If something happens, I can't take responsibility for it."Julian's frown deepened. He was just about to snap back when Hazel reached into her pocket and pulled out the folded document."Actually, I have something for you to look at, too."She unfolded the papers and held them out to him.Julian glanced down at them, his expression relaxing slightly."A property transfer agreement? Why the sudden interest in this?"Hazel lowered her eyes, her voice completely steady."I did you a huge favor. Don't I deserve a little reward?"Julian paused as he flipped the page, then the amusement returned to his eyes. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Alright, I knew I had the best wife in the world."Hazel had swapped the first page out with a standard property transfer summary, but attached right behind it was the divorce agreement.The moment he signed it, they would be legally severed forever.Julian didn't even bother to read the fine print. He just flipped to the last page and signed his name.Hazel stared at him, an agonizing ache blooming in her chest.It was such a clumsy trick. If he had just skimmed the paragraphs, he would have realized this wasn't a property transfer at all, but a divorce settlement.Julian handed the signed document back to her and affectionately ruffled her hair."I'm going to show Evelyn around. Could you take her bags upstairs for me?"Hazel took the papers and gave a stiff nod.She watched Julian turn back to Evelyn, shoot her a reassuring smile, and lead her up the stairs.As Evelyn brushed past her, she paused, tilted her head, and offered Hazel a triumphant little smile before following Julian up the steps.Hazel stood rooted to the spot, looking down at the signed paper in her hands.The ink of Julian's signature was still wet, catching the ambient light.Hazel stared at it for a long time before carefully folding it up and sliding it into a manila envelope.Then, she turned and went upstairs to pack her bags, her memories rushing back with every item.He had helped her pick out almost every piece of clothing she owned. She remembered smiling so brightly at the time, genuinely believing that this was what happiness felt like. She never expected that it was all just one-sided wishful thinking.A sudden knock on the door made Hazel's hands pause.