Chapter 1. Cruel Divorce

Laura Grey stared blankly at the divorce papers that her husband had already signed before dumping in front of her.

The heartbreaking pain of her situation was beginning to sink in as she closed her eyes and forced back her tears.

Her husband, Leo Carter stood tall and proud, looking every like the charming yet cold hearted man he was. Even after all these years of marriage, he was still cold hearted to anything concerning her.

“I’ve already signed the papers. You should quickly do the same. I want all all ties between us broken before Susie gets back,” he said, attention on his phone, not even bothering to glance her way.

Laura’s throat was thick with tears when she spoke. “What about our properties?

“According to our prenup, we’ve already sorted out the assets before we got married, so that won’t be a problem. I’ll also give you an additional 100 million and a vacation home in Italy. If not for my kindness, you’ll be leaving with nothing else, and I’m also doing it because I don’t want to explain your poverty to grandFather later.”

Laura felt a mix of shock and hurt. “Does your grandfather even know you’re divorcing me?”

Leo looked annoyed now. “What difference does it make? Do you really think his opinion will change my mind? Were you hoping to force me to stay with you by crying to him, if you are, then you’re more pathetic and desperate than I thought.”

The blow of his harsh words left Laura feeling dizzy, and she forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat. “Leo, please don’t do this to me… I don’t know what I did to offend you, but please can you not divorce me?” She begged, not caring if she sounded pathetic or desperate as she struggled to hold on to the only man she had ever loved.

Finally, he turned to face her, his expression cold and disgusted. His lips were thin, and his eyes were deep-set, his features sharp and hard. Even in her pain, Laura couldn’t help but feel a pang of longing at his strikingly handsome face.

“Why would I do something that stupid huh?”

“B-Because I love you,” she stammered, her eyes brimming with tears. “I love you, Leo. Please, I’m begging you, I want to stay as your wife, even if you don’t feel the same anymore.” She begged, not caring about the how desperate she looked right now.

“Laura Grey! I’ve had enough of this! I don’t want you and I’ve never wanted you. Every single minute with you in this loveless marriage feels like torture to me! Don’t you get it?!”

He waved his hand dismissively, clearly losing patience. “You knew it was a mistake to marry me. You knew I was forced by Grandpa to marry you because of a foolish promise he made to your grandmother. You also knew that I was in love with another woman, yet you forced yourself on me. Now that the five years of our contract marriage are up and Susie is coming back from Italy, it’s time for you to let go of being Mrs. Carter and give that title to the real woman who deserves it.”

Laura lowered her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away, but Leo already saw them, and his expression became more disgusted.

Just then, his phone rang, and when he saw who it was, he answered almost instantly.

“Hey sweetheart, have you packed yet? I’m just making space for you before you get here.” Leo’s previously icy hard tone had shifted to one of warmth and love, which was the very opposite to how he spoke to Laura.

“Oh babe, I’m already here, I just got to the city!” Susie’s voice chimed excitedly through the speaker.

“What? I thought you weren’t arriving until tomorrow?”

“I wanted to surprise you!”

“Susie, hold on. I’ll be there right away.” With that, he strode past Laura without a second glance.

As the study door closed behind him, a heavy silence fell over the room. Laura had loved Leo for a decade and had been his wife for five years. She had devoted herself entirely to him and his family, only to be met with disdain. Now, he was eager to be free from her, rushing off to his first love, and the pain in Laura’s chest felt like it was going to kill her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t earn his affection.

Taking a deep breath, Laura shook her head, tears splattering on the divorce papers.

Later that evening, Leo returned to their home with Suzanne, his lover in his arms, her slim delicate body was the opposite of his powerful commanding presence and it drew everyone’s attention.

“Leo, you haven’t finalized your divorce with Laura yet. I don’t think it’s wise for us to be so close. People will gossip and Laura might not take it well,” Suzanne said, nervously brushing her fingers against his chest.

“She won’t care,” Leo replied coldly. “I don’t love her. We were just in a contractual arrangement. She knows her place.”

The rest of the Carter family flocked around Suzanne, showering her with affection, while Laura was left alone in the dining room, preparing dinner.

Leo caught a glimpse of Laura’s lonely figure and smirked to himself, thinking, “Even now, she’s still acting like a loyal servant to me. Does she really believe she could change anything by being a slave? How fucking pathetic.”

Suddenly, the butler rushed in, panic evident on his face. “Mr. Carter! I need your attention, It’s urgent!”

“What is it?” Leo snapped, irritation flaring.

“Madam Laura has just left!”

“Left? When?”

“Just moments ago. She didn’t take anything. After she took off her apron, she slipped out the back door and got into an expensive looking car.”

Leo hurried to the bedroom, finding it eerily empty, save for the signed divorce papers on the bedside table, still stained with her tears.

He frowned and walked to the window, only to see a Ferrari speed away from the house.

“Wasn’t she just begging to stay just earlier? Now she’s gone?” Leo felt very angry and he didn’t know why, he called his assistant. “Find out who owns the car with the silver Ferrari just left my house, check the cctv for the footage.”

“Yes, Mr. Carter,” the assistant replied.

Within minutes, the assistant called back. “Mr. Carter, we’ve identified the owner. The car belongs to the president of Liberty Group.”

Leo’s mouth fell open in shock. The president of Liberty Group? Laura had come from a poor village without any connections or friends during their five years together. How could she possibly know someone so powerful? Had she really moved on that quickly? Or had she been cheating on him?

“Mr. Carter, did you finalize the divorce with Madam Laura today?” the assistant asked cautiously.

“And what if I did? Why do you care?” Leo snapped, anger bubbling over.

“Sir, it’s- It’s her birthday today.”

Leo froze at that revelation.

It was his wife’s birthday and he didn’t even remember.

In the back seat of the Rolls-Royce, Victor Harding held Laura’s hand, squeezing it gently.

“When Wilson found out you were finally coming back home, he set up an airplane banner to welcome you.”

“I’m not in the mood for any celebration,” Laura replied, leaning against her twin brother’s shoulder, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

She glanced at her phone, hearing the last voice message was from Suzanne, not Leo. She played it with her earpiece so her brother wouldn’t hear it.

“Hello bitch! Congratulations on your divorce. Didn’t I tell you this before? You’ll have to give up your position as Leo’s wife after stealing it from me. Leo belongs to me now. Don’t even think about trying to win him back!”

A bitter smile crossed her lips as the reality set in, and she finally wiped away her tears.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Did that asshole hit you?” Victor asked, concern and anger on his face.

Laura cried. “Victor, he dumped me on my birthday.”

“I know sis. I’m so sorry, that asshole deserves to be punished for doing this to you on a day like today.”

“It’s not that just the fact that it’s my birthday. Leo was the only man I have ever loved.” She sobbed and Victor’s heart broke for her.

When Laura opened her eyes again, she had pushed away the remnants of her feelings for Leo.

Leo was her life for the last five years, but he had destroyed her, now she was going to move on.”

“I’m finally free from him. I will never ever look back, and I’d rather die before I let anyone treat me like that again.”