Chapter 1
The twentieth time I caught Caleb Chadwick in bed with another woman, I finally snapped. I exposed the mistress online and ruined her reputation.
To get back at me for his mistress, Caleb bankrupted my family and left us all homeless on the streets. Even then, I didn't back down. I kept fighting, drove that mistress out—but no sooner was she gone than Caleb found another one.
So I went after her too. I slashed her face. Caleb responded by breaking my dad's legs and disfiguring my mom's face.
And he made his stance crystal clear, "Every time you hurt someone I hold in my arms, I'll hurt your family. I'll destroy everything you care about."
I was devastated. Everyone told me to give up—that all I was doing was destroying us both. It wasn't until he cheated with the fake heiress and got her pregnant that I finally gave up completely.
Caleb held the fake heiress in his arms, his voice cold as ice. "Vivian, I'll give you thirty million. Sign the divorce papers."
From his wheelchair, my father spoke up. "Mr. Chadwick loves your sister, Vivian. Just let him go."
I covered my face and sobbed, tears streaming through my fingers as I signed the papers—like I couldn't sign fast enough.
Honestly? I was almost tired of playing the furious wife.
Did Caleb really think I cared that much about the family that had abandoned me and abused me all these years?
*****
I was carrying a cup of hand-brewed coffee, heading for the study, when the two maids at the door tried their damnedest to block my way. "Madam, please don't go in," they said, looking terribly troubled. "Mr. Chadwick is busy."
That only made me more determined. I shoved them aside and pushed the door open. And there she was—Isabel, perched on Caleb's lap, laughing and chatting with him like they hadn't a care in the world. Both of them were disheveled. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had just happened.
Isabel's face went white with panic. She instinctively tried to get up, but Caleb's arm locked around her waist like a vise. My breath came unsteady. "Isabel, last month, he ran over Dad's legs with his car. How could you sleep with him?"
Isabel's eyes welled up. "Sister, I really love Caleb. Please, I'm begging you—let us be together. And I'm already carrying his child."
I forced every muscle in my face into the right expression. It took every ounce of acting I had. When I didn't answer, Isabel wriggled out of Caleb's arms and dropped to her knees, sobbing. "I know I'm a horrible person. I betrayed you, I betrayed the Windsor family, and I fell in love with the man who hurt Mom and Dad. Please forgive me."
Before she could say another word, the coffee in my hand—still scalding—poured straight over her head. A shrill scream tore from her throat.
Caleb's hand shot out and closed around my neck. His eyes were murderous. "I warned you. You don't get to hurt anyone I care about."
I couldn't help it—a laugh slipped out. "Isabel is my sister. She's family too. Go ahead, take revenge."
Caleb had warned me before: every time I hurt his woman, he'd hurt my family.
That had been our dance for years. Tit-for-tat. Knife for knife.
Now that Caleb was cheating with Isabel—my so-called sister—I was dying to see who else he could go after.
Caleb's eyes turned to ice. "Smooth talk won't save you, Vivian."
Right on cue, Dad was wheeled in, his face dark with anger. "Vivian, enough. Just stop fighting with Mr. Chadwick. He loves your sister. After all these years of you causing trouble, haven't you ruined this family enough?"
I mustered every tear I could. "Dad! He broke both your legs! Why are you taking their side?! Isabel is no daughter of yours!"
"Compared to Isabel, you're the one who's no daughter of mine!" he spat. "If it weren't for your jealousy, the Windsor family wouldn't be in the gutter. Who in this day and age doesn't keep a few women on the side? You're the only one making a fuss."
My breath hitched. Caleb smirked. "Hear that? Your father is fully on board with me and Isabel."
I shut my eyes, letting the pain show on my face. Caleb shoved me hard. I hit the floor with a heavy thud. My manicure split clean down the middle. Blood welled up.
He saw it. His gaze stayed cold. "Your choice, Vivian. Divorce me, or accept Isabel. Pick one."
"Caleb Chadwick! You bastard!"
Caleb pulled Isabel close and walked out without a backward glance. The moment they were gone, I let go. I doubled over and laughed until my stomach hurt. Those two... Did they really think I still loved him?
