Chapter 1
The sight turned my heart to ash.
After 7 years together and 3 years of marriage, I had never imagined Gavin Mercer would cheat on me.
Still less had I imagined he would fall in love with a woman who had hurt me—or that he loved her precisely because she had gone insane and hurt me. What a sick joke.
I stood frozen outside the door like a walking corpse, unable even to react.
Then Gavin pushed Brielle Foster away and instantly reverted to his usual cold, detached self, the man who supposedly had no interest in any woman but me.
He sneered. "Brielle Foster, Elise is the love of my life. I would never betray her. The fact that you went crazy for me and even committed a crime moved me, so I rewarded you with a kiss. That's all you're getting."
Ignoring the way Brielle's face drained of color, he shoved her aside and snapped, "Get out."
Brielle went wild. She clung desperately to his arm, sobbing pitifully. "Gavin, you can't do this to me! I love you so much! I'd do anything for you. You can't treat me like this!"
Inside the office, the star-crossed pair continued their agonized struggle.
I had no patience left to watch. I turned and walked away without looking back.
Gavin had made it sound so noble: he would never betray me.
But Brielle had previously been sentenced to 2 years in prison for k********g me. How could she possibly be standing here unless the mighty CEO Mercer had protected her?
And that kiss just now wasn't betrayal?
I would never forgive him.
I called my professor and said firmly, "Professor, I'd like to join Project Stratum."
After receiving his approval, I hung up, satisfied.
I was a doctoral student in geology, fascinated by mountains, lakes, seas, rock strata, and landforms.
Some time ago, my professor had approached me personally. An unrecorded geological formation had been discovered in Norvale. Its ancient, unusual system of strata had tremendous research value.
The university planned to assemble an elite research team and send its best people abroad for a long-term field study.
At the time, I had refused without hesitation.
All because of Gavin. I hadn't wanted to leave him alone.
I had never expected him to betray me.
Now that he had, nothing held me back.
When I returned to our home, I took out the divorce agreement I had prepared and waited for Gavin to come back and sign it.
We were finished.
The front door flew open. A gust of cold wind carried the heavy scent of perfume into the house.
I looked up and immediately saw Brielle standing in the doorway.
Her makeup was glamorous, and a deranged, brazen smile curved her lips. Behind her stood four burly bodyguards in black, their hard faces menacing.
My stomach dropped. I shot to my feet, instantly alert.
Before I could react, the bodyguards rushed forward and pinned my arms.
I was no match for them. They crushed my attempt to struggle in an instant.
A rag reeking of chemicals covered my nose and mouth, and consciousness rapidly slipped away. The light before my eyes doubled, blurred, and finally vanished into darkness.
