Chapter 1

After three years working on aid projects in Auchendale, Cora Spade finally returned to Chremford, debt-free. She'd spent every dime of her earnings paying off the three-million-dollar debt her husband, Axel Jaeger, had owed.

On the night of her welcome dinner, Axel showed up with another woman in his arms. He carried her purse and coat with practiced ease, while their son, Nolan Jaeger, snuggled in her arms, intimately calling her "Lulu".

Cora's expression fell, while Axel frowned at her reaction. "Don't be petty. Louise is the nutritionist I hired for Nolan."

Fighting back tears, Louise Leighton sounded hurt as she murmured, "I'll resign tomorrow, Ms. Spade."

That night, fresh from a shower, Cora was about to head into her bedroom when she overheard Axel's voice from the children's bedroom. He was on the phone.

"How long is Cora planning to stay this time?" someone asked.

Nolan piped up, "I don't want Mommy back! If she's here, Lulu has to leave!"

Axel chuckled. "In that case, shall I rack up another ten million dollars in debt and keep her stuck in Auchendale for another ten years?"

A crack of thunder split through Cora's mind. She stood rooted to the spot, reeling.

Before she could process what he meant, the call ended, and Nolan's small voice followed. "Daddy, are you going to sleep with Mommy today? Won't Lulu be upset?"

Holding her breath, Cora could hear her heart pounding in her ears. Did Nolan mean what she was thinking?

The rest of Axel's words were a blur because she'd rushed into her room. Her breath was still unsteady when the door was gently pushed open.

Axel came in, his hands sliding under her nightgown with practiced ease. But as that familiar touch—absent for three years—returned, she only felt numbness where there should have been excitement.

His rough, calloused palms slid around her waist, and his warm breath brushed against her neck as his lips twiddled with her ears.

Cora shut her eyes and clenched her jaw, refusing to respond.

He chuckled. "You're terrible at pretending to be asleep, silly. Your fluttering lashes always give you away."

Instead of opening her eyes, Cora shifted away slightly and said, "I'm tired, so not tonight."

But he couldn't help but draw closer, his lips tracing lower down her earlobe. "Just lie back, honey. I'll take care of the rest…"

Even after three years apart, Axel still knew every inch of her body like the back of his hand. And her defenses slowly crumbled under his relentless teasing.

His desire for her was almost overwhelming. The moment their bodies joined, a shared moan of deep satisfaction escaped them both.

At the edge of release, Axel gripped her waist, gasping for air as he instructed. "Say it. Call my name."

Cora, lost in the blur of passion, softly whispered, "Honey…"

Overwhelmed, Axel let out a low groan in response. "Lulu, sweetheart."

Cora froze, as if she'd been dumped with a bucket of ice water.

"What's wrong?" Axel paused, looking at her nervously.

She swiftly withdrew like she'd just been stabbed and glared at him, frowning. "What did you just call me?"

He blinked, his expression unchanging as he said, "Cora."

She took a deep breath and said in a low, certain voice, "No. It was Lulu."

Axel's expression shifted through several emotions before settling into irritation. "We haven't been together in years, Cora. I'm glad you're back, but don't start picking fights the minute you return."

She knew that look all too well—the anger of someone humiliated and embarrassed after getting caught in a lie. Her heart sank, and without a word, she grabbed the blanket and turned her back to him.

"Must you ruin the mood?"

Cora kept her eyes shut and ignored Axel.

A moment later, the door slammed shut behind Axel as he left.

…

The next morning, Cora was awakened by raised voices outside the door.

In the dining room, Axel leaned back on the couch, sipping coffee, his eyes glued to the financial news playing on his phone. Dressed neatly, Nolan sat at the table and nibbled on a perfect omelet.

In the kitchen, a slender silhouette was busy cooking.

"Mommy." Nolan spotted Cora first. His tone was softer than it'd been at the welcome dinner, though it still sounded distant.

Axel acted like he hadn't heard, with his eyes fixed on the phone.

"Good morning, Ms. Spade. Would you like breakfast?" Louise emerged with a bowl of oatmeal.

Cora's eyes flicked to Nolan's wary face before she gave a faint nod. Relieved that she wasn't about to drive Louise away, he went back to his omelet.

"Bring it to the study," Cora added. "I need to answer some work messages."

Louise looked conflicted. "The oatmeal's for Mr. Jaeger. He has a weak stomach."

"In that case, make me another bowl," Cora replied as she drew a steadying breath.

Louise glanced at Axel, who didn't so much as look up. "Do as my wife says."

Her eyes widened in wounded disbelief. But noticing his firm attitude, she murmured after a beat, "Got it."

Just five minutes later, a sharp cry came from the kitchen, followed by the crash of pots and pans.

Cora rushed out of the shower to see that Louise's wrist was bright red and covered in large blisters. She bit her lip hard, tears welling up in her eyes, as if she was glass about to shatter, stubbornly holding on.

"You're the worst, Mom!" The moment Nolan saw Cora, he bolted forward and swung at her with his little fists. His face was filled with fury as he screamed, "If you hadn't demanded breakfast, Lulu wouldn't have gotten hurt! You're the worst mom ever!"

Each tiny blow thudded against Cora's chest, striking her squarely in the heart.

"I'll take her to the hospital," Axel announced as he scooped Louise into his arms and carried her out, his cold eyes sliding past Cora without a pause.

Nolan trailed after them in tears, leaving the house in chaos. It was barely recognizable after Cora had left for three years.

Exhaustion washed over Cora as she took out her phone and dialed a number she never thought she'd call.

The wait was so long she'd almost convinced herself the line must have been dead for years when it was picked up. A deep, aged voice answered, trembling with restrained emotions. "Cora?"

Cora calmly replied, "I'll do it, Dad."

Chapter 2

At the architecture firm, the director, Harvey Dale, asked, "Why are you resigning?"

"For personal reasons," Cora answered.

Harvey scratched at his thinning hair and looked almost regretful to hear that. "When you came back, the board had planned to make you the deputy director."

Three years ago, Cora had volunteered for the most dangerous assignments in Auchendale, amid war, disease outbreaks, and unstable militias. She'd worked harder than most of her colleagues, driven by a single hope to finish early and return to her family, even if it was just a little sooner.

Noticing her unwavering stance, Harvey sighed. "Fine."

With her resignation form in hand, Cora thought of all those days and nights of hard work. She couldn't deny the sting of leaving, but now, there seemed to be no reason to stay.

Her best friend, Ella Welsh, on the other hand, was overjoyed. At 7:00 pm sharp, she showed up outside the firm in a skimpy designer dress, leaning against a flashy red Ferrari and waving dramatically.

Cora flushed with embarrassment. "Aren't you supposed to be on vacation in Errington?"

"I rushed back as soon as I received this massive piece of great news."

"Is there a flight that can get you back this fast?"

"I took a private jet, obviously." Ella widened her eyes in shock. "Seriously, Cora, have you gotten so used to living poor? Why else would you ask such odd questions?"

Cora forced a weak smile, while Ella immediately said, "But it's a good thing you've finally come to your senses.

"Come on. Tonight's on me. We're celebrating your escape from misery and your glorious return to the world of champagne and caviar."

After scrolling through the reviews online, Ella complained that the small Stawford City had nothing decent to eat and promised to make it up to Cora once they were back in Molina. At last, she finally settled on a local restaurant with an average of a thousand-dollar spend per head.

On the way, Ella chattered endlessly, complaining about her dad's latest batch of illegitimate half-siblings over the years before updating Cora on how her mom had ruthlessly handled all the mistresses and illegitimate children scattered across countries.

Even her wealthy, womanizer dad had been lying low lately.

"At this rate, my family could start its own Global Accord," Ella said with a sigh. "To be honest, your dad is considered one of the responsible ones in the elite circle, not to mention that he couldn't have more kids after that car accident.

"Even if he married the housekeeper, so what? You're still the only one he can rely on, and if your mom hadn't…"

She trailed off, then added, "If I were you, knowing I had such a huge business empire waiting for me, I'd be grinning every night in my sleep."

Noticing Cora's silence, Ella pressed her lips into a thin line before continuing, "Stop being naive, Cora. Marrying a man with nothing doesn't guarantee happiness. You tried that, and look where it got you."

"Look where it got you…" Cora pondered those words the entire ride.

"Come on. Stop zoning out." After Ella parked the car, she tugged the dazed Cora along. When she noticed the latter staring fixedly at a car, she curiously asked, "What's so special about that car? When you come home, I'll buy you one just like mine. It'll turn heads everywhere."

She had no idea that was Axel's car.

That afternoon, Axel had texted Cora, telling her that the company had hit a snag on a project, and he had to work late.

Yet, Cora spotted him and Nolan by the restaurant's window. Wearing a birthday hat, Louise sat across from them, and the three of them laughed as they shared a cake.

Louise handed her phone to an attendant, and the trio posed together, flashing peace signs at the camera.

"How old are you, little one?"

"Five!" Nolan announced.

The attendant returned Louise's phone with a grin. "You're all grown up, kid, but your mommy and daddy are still lovey-dovey."

Louise's ears turned bright red as she frantically explained, "Oh, I'm not…"

Axel cut her off with a smile and slid a piece of cake in front of her.

"Daddy, why can't we celebrate Lulu's birthday at home like we did before?" Nolan asked.

Before Axel could answer, Nolan scowled. "I get it! It must be Mommy being petty again!"

"Don't say that," Louise gently chided, though her eyes carried quiet disappointment. "Now that your mommy's back, my job here is done."

"No way! You're the one who's always put me to bed and fed me. Why should you have to leave just because she came back?"

The words pierced Cora like needles.

If Axel hadn't begged her, crying about his bankruptcy and overwhelming debts back then, she'd never have left the two-year-old Nolan behind for Auchendale.

"But…"

"You don't have to quit," Axel firmly stated. "While she's still here, I'll put you on paid leave, and it'll give you time to heal that burn on your wrist."

"Oh? Is Ms. Spade going on another business trip?" Louise asked in surprise.

"Hooray!" Nolan cheered. "So, when is Mommy leaving?"

"Soon," Axel said as a faint, cold smile touched his lips.

Yes, he meant it when he said soon. It was a month at most.

Not far away, Cora heard every word and could feel a chill seeping into her bones, making her shiver uncontrollably.

Familiar with such scenes, Ella asked lightly, "Do you need a lawyer?"

"No," Cora said, forcing a smile. She'd long drafted the divorce papers herself.

She wanted nothing from Axel other than her freedom.

Chapter 3

After dinner, Ella dragged Cora out for a night of singing at a bar. By the time Cora made it home, it was close to 11:00 pm.

Flipping on the lights, she was startled to see Axel sitting alone in the dark living room. His eyes were red-rimmed, his voice was hoarse, and his expression was utterly defeated. "Cora, I need to talk to you."

"I've got something to tell you, too," Cora said as she withdrew a folder. "Look through it, and we'll talk after I take a shower."

The moment Cora disappeared down the hall, Axel's phone began buzzing incessantly.

"If Cora doesn't agree tonight, you'll lose 100 million dollars, Mr. Jaeger."

"Losing money is one thing, but what if Cora refuses to cover your debts again?"

Axel's thumbs flew across the screen. "There's no way that will happen. You'll see."

"Are you sure you'll keep her in Auchendale for ten years?"

"Honestly, she lasted three years in that last test. Isn't that enough proof of her sincerity?"

Was it enough? Axel stared at his phone as doubt crept back in.

In truth, he was born into one of the country's wealthiest families. He didn't come from an ordinary family and wasn't a self-made businessman as Cora believed, but he had his reasons for hiding the truth.

Back in high school, his first girlfriend had schemed to get him into bed after learning about his affluent family. Months later, she turned up pregnant at his parents' door, demanding 30 million dollars for an abortion and silence.

Her money-hungry greed had shocked and horrified him to the point where he could barely recognize her. It was his first lesson that gentleness could hide a sharp blade, which would wait for the right moment to draw blood.

His dad, Paul Jaeger, doubtful of Axel's lack of self-control, had canceled his plans to study abroad. Other than that, the family's core business, which should have been his, was handed to his less capable younger brother, Asher Jaeger.

To this day, Axel hadn't fully regained his position within the Jaeger family's inner circle.

"One last time," he typed, his lips pressed thin. "After she goes to Auchendale for just one more year, I'll bring her back and tell her everything. From then on, she'll be the Jaegers' rightful lady."

"What about Ms. Leighton?" someone asked.

Another teased, "Don't you get it? With Cora away and no woman at his side, Mr. Jaeger needs someone to care for Nolan, but his wife will be the one who really matters. A year is more than enough for him to tire of Ms. Leighton and clear out every other fling."

"Exactly. Mr. Jaeger understands that Cora's the real deal. Smart and educated, she's suited to be the wife, while women on the side are just for fun."

"Right? She's beautiful, elite-educated, and capable. If not for her weak family background, he wouldn't have had to test her loyalty, and Ms. Leighton could never compare."

Axel lifted his brows at that and offered no reply. When he heard the bathroom door open after Cora took a shower, he quickly locked his phone.

"Honey," he said, taking the towel to dry her hair, his voice dripping with humility and exhaustion. "The company's recently been in serious trouble, and we're a million dollars in debt."

In the past, Cora's heart would have ached for him. She'd have immediately said, "It's fine. We'll get through it together."

But tonight, she just closed her eyes and stayed silent.

"Please, just help me one more time…" His voice cracked, full of fragility and wounded pride.

Cora's expression stayed cold. "I don't have any money left, Axel."

He drew in a long breath and put more effort into his pitiful act. "If you could just go back to Auchendale one more time…"

"Did you look at the folder?" she asked, suddenly getting up. "The divorce papers."

The shift in Axel's expression was almost theatrical. Shock and disbelief flashed across his face before it twisted in outright anger.

"Do you think I'm broke, and that I'll never make a comeback? I misjudged you, Cora," he snapped, his face flushed with rage.

With that, he grabbed his coat and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Cora stood still for a moment. When she noticed the warm glow still spilling from Nolan's slightly open door, she decided to stay.

She texted Ella, "He left."

In response to that, Ella replied with an "Okay" sticker.

Earlier that evening at the restaurant's underground parking lot, Ella had clipped a live tracker, which she always carried, under Axel's car. She'd half-joked, "This is how we usually play the heir game."

Cora quietly slipped into Nolan's room, where the latter was fast asleep. He inherited her facial features, but at the same time, he had Axel's mannerisms and the gentle expressions that sometimes carried a trace of disdain.

She still remembered the day she left. Clutching her sleeve with tiny fists, he'd refused to let go and cried "Mommy" over and over until her heart almost shattered.

She owed him and missed so much of his growing up, and Axel was to blame for everything.

That was when her phone buzzed with another update from Ella, who sent her the car's location. "It looks like your cheap husband's not so broke, after all."

Axel had driven to the city's most expensive neighborhood, where prices started at 150 thousand dollars per square foot, and every apartment was a sprawling penthouse over 3,000 square feet.

Cora looked around the modest three-room apartment they'd scraped together for five to six years, topped with her mom's last 200 thousand dollars just to afford the down payment.

She couldn't help but laugh coldly.

Chapter 4

Before dawn, Cora was jolted awake by a sharp, stabbing pain in her lower back.

Over the years, she'd spent countless days and nights hunched over her computer drafting designs, just to earn more money and speed up her return. Working 12 hours a day was the minimum, and all-nighters were routine.

"You're so young, yet you have such severe back strain and a herniated disc." The doctor had held up her scans and sighed.

She'd never brought it up to Axel for fear that he might worry, but today, she simply couldn't get out of bed.

After some thought, she decided to call him. He was Nolan's dad, after all.

"Hello?" a sweet female voice answered.

Cora froze for a second before checking her screen to make sure she hadn't dialed the wrong number.

"Who told you to answer my phone?" Axel's furious voice barked in the background, and Cora finally understood that was how it was. Her heart clenched violently, and each breath suddenly hurt so much.

"Cora?" When Axel's voice came on the line, it sounded careful and tentative.

Cora's tone was cold as she said, "I can't get out of bed. Come back, make breakfast for Nolan, and take him to school. Or perhaps Ms. Leighton beside you can do it."

Axel panicked. "Wait! It's not what you think—"

She hung up before he could finish.

Half an hour later, Axel rushed into the house, followed by a red-eyed Louise, who looked like she'd been weeping.

Her voice was a blend of righteousness and hurt as she said, "Ms. Spade, I must explain. Mr. Jaeger had stomach pain from drinking too much last night, so I came this morning to make him some hangover soup."

Instead of looking at her, Cora kept her eyes on Axel and asked, "Where were you last night?"

"I stayed at a cheap motel," he blurted out without a second thought.

Cora turned back to Louise. "So, you're saying you went to a cheap motel at 6:00 am to make him some hangover soup?"

Noticing their stiffened expressions, she let out a low laugh.

Louise's lips twitched into a barely noticeable smile before she lowered her head and slipped out of the room. "I'll make breakfast."

Meanwhile, Axel awkwardly slid into the seat beside Cora and asked, "What's wrong with your back?"

"Did you sign the divorce papers?"

His expression darkened. "Are you still blaming me for not making enough money, and that you have to work hard to pay our debts? I promise that after we clear this one-million-dollar debt, you'll finally have the life you deserve."

She was about to answer when the bedroom door creaked open. Nolan stood outside, clutching his blanket, and timidly asked, "Mommy, are you going on another business trip? You work so hard, Mommy. I'll take care of you when I grow up."

He climbed onto the bed and nestled in her arms for the first time in a while.

All Cora could manage was a quiet hum and said nothing else, though she wasn't planning to leave for Auchendale, anyway.

Nolan's lips curled into a secret grin. Louise's trick had worked, after all.

Behind her, Axel's fingers flew across his phone. "I won. Now, pay up your 100 million dollars."

After breakfast, Axel and Louise dropped Nolan at school, while Cora took painkillers and sleeping pills before deciding to get a nap. Exhausted from a sleepless night, she soon fell into a deep slumber.

Axel and Louise returned after dropping Nolan off.

Seeing how Cora was forced to sleep on her stomach due to the back pain, a flicker of genuine concern flashed in Axel's eyes.

Louise immediately began skillfully massaging Cora's lower back and explained, "Ms. Spade must've developed this lumbar strain after spending too many hours hunched over a desk for work."

"She never told me," Axel murmured, frowning.

As Louise pressed harder, she said, "Don't blame yourself. My massage can be your way of apologizing to her."

"If only she were as thoughtful as you are," Axel said, his finger suggestively tracing Louise's lips.

The latter blushed and turned her head away. "Your wife's right here!"

"Don't worry. She took sleeping pills." He slid his hand further along Louise's body, unashamed.

…

Cora woke up in the afternoon to an empty house, but there was a lingering, odd odor that made her frown.

She tried to push herself up, her arm numb and tingling, when an unprecedented, excruciating pain exploded from her lower back.

By the time she fumbled for her phone, cold sweat had soaked through her clothes.

"Hello? 911?"

Chapter 5

When Cora woke up again, she was in the hospital with a thick bandage wrapped around her waist.

The ward was far from quiet. Ella was locked in a furious argument with Axel.

At Cora's bedside, Louise sat with her head bowed as tears dripped from her eyes. Her voice was a mix of restrained emotions and humility. "Ms. Spade, I didn't mean to… I didn't know massaging during an acute episode could cause paralysis…"

"Paralysis?" Cora gasped.

"Cora, you're awake!" Ella and Axel dropped their fight and rushed to her side.

Ella quickly said, "Don't worry, Cora. Aaron performed your surgery, and it was a huge success. There shouldn't be any lasting effects if you get some proper rest."

Ella's older brother, Aaron Welsh, was a world-renowned surgeon.

"Isn't he in Molina?"

Ella snorted. "He flew back as soon as he heard you were getting—"

"Cora!" Axel urgently cut in. "Since the surgery went well and you're fine now, could you not press charges against Lulu when the police arrive?"

"Police?"

"Yeah, I called them," Ella proudly declared. "I heard everything—this bitch massaged your back while you were knocked out on meds and nearly paralyzed you. Isn't that attempted harm? And what was she even doing in your house?"

Louise's tears were almost streaming as she said, "I-I'm Nolan's nutritionist, and I know a little massage therapy, but I never thought…"

Cora shut her eyes and said, "Let the police decide."

"Cora!" Axel's face flushed red in rage. "She apologized! Do you really have to drag her into jail?"

"Mr. Jaeger, please don't… It's all my fault. Please don't fight with Ms. Spade for me." Louise swayed and nearly lost her balance.

"Ugh, what a piece of work." Ella scoffed.

Just then, the police arrived and asked, "Who's Ms. Leighton? Please come with us."

Axel immediately pulled the pale-faced Louise close and played hero. "I'm going with her."

Before leaving, he turned and shot Cora a furious glare. "You've disappointed me."

Nolan, who'd been hiding outside the door, burst into the ward, crying and screaming when the police took Louise away. He threw a hard punch directly onto Cora's freshly operated back.

A searing pain shot through the already agonizing injury, and it felt almost like that punch had shattered her back. Cora's face instantly lost all color as beads of cold sweat dotted her forehead.

"Why did you tell the police to take Lulu away? You're an awful mom! You're a monster!"

Nolan raised his hand for another blow, but Ella grabbed him by the collar and tossed him out of the ward like garbage. "Join your precious Lulu in jail, you little brat!"

She turned back to find Cora with her eyes tightly shut, tears and sweat streaming down her face. "Are you in pain? Shall I get Aaron here?"

"No," Cora whispered. Her face was ghostly pale as she could no longer tell what hurt more—her heart or her back.

Ella looked apologetic as she said, "My mom is suddenly demanding that I go home tomorrow, so I can't stay to see you recover before we leave together."

"It's fine," Cora said, shaking her head. "You've done a lot for me, and I'm grateful. Besides, I need him to sign the divorce papers before I can leave."

Ella's expression shifted. She took a deep breath before pushing a thick folder toward Cora. "I had my men dig up everything on Axel, and I think you need to see this."

The first few files were expected. Paul's assets exceeded 20 billion dollars and made him Stawford City's hidden wealthiest man, who'd ventured into the food, real estate, agriculture, and energy industries.

Ella stole a glance at Cora's reaction before pursing her lips and commenting, "It looks impressive, but it's still far from our league."

In the real estate section, several companies were familiar to Cora, an architect. Corestone Real Estate—the very client that had sent her to Auchendale for three years—was, unsurprisingly, wholly owned by Axel.

Though mentally prepared, the sheer absurdity of it all made Cora laugh bitterly out loud. With every page she turned, the color drained further from her face.

The final page was a simple summary of Axel's personal details.

Cora's hands trembled uncontrollably, and her face was ashen as her eyes fell on the words "Axel Jaeger's marital status—single".

It seemed that six years of their marriage had been a lie all along.

"Cora!" Ella caught her as she collapsed and fumbled for the call button, yelling, "Doctor!"

Cora's eyes were squeezed shut, and her lips quivered as she forced out, "Flight tickets… I want to leave right now."