Chapter 1 During a reality show shoot, my sister and I both fell into the water. My husband, Julian, didn't even hesitate. He dove in and saved my sister. He held her, looking distressed and frantic, and walked away without once looking back. He left me sinking toward the bottom of the lake. I was barely conscious when the crew finally pulled me out. The next day, when I handed Julian the divorce papers, his face darkened. "Lily can't swim, so I saved her first. Are you seriously jealous over that?" I looked him calmly in the eye. "Yeah. Just sign it." Julian and I finalized the divorce quietly. Julian kept frowning, his brow furrowed in that way I used to find so attractive. But now? It didn't stir a single emotion in me. He shoved the decree into his pocket. "I'll drive you." I shook my head. "No need." Julian seemed annoyed by my attitude. "Jessie, you don't have to be like this. We were married for three years. Divorce doesn't mean we have to be enemies." I was genuinely shocked for a second. I couldn't believe those words were coming out of his mouth. Now that Lily was back, he should be thrilled I was stepping aside so easily. "Julian, to me, divorced means divorced. We aren't family, and we certainly can't be friends." "You..." "Besides, we don't have kids. There's really no reason to stay in touch." Julian, clearly irritated by my indifference, turned and stormed off. I watched his retreating back and let out a sigh. But then I thought about my bank account balance, and the heaviness vanished. Although I was technically the second daughter of the Sterling family, I hadn't seen a dime of their money. This divorce, however, had made me a very wealthy woman. I knew I wouldn't get half of the Thorne empire, so when I had my lawyer draft the agreement, I asked for twenty million dollars. Julian agreed. He also threw in a penthouse in New York, a villa in Los Angeles, and several commercial properties in prime locations. It was enough to ensure I’d never have to worry about money again. Looking at the numbers on my screen, I laughed out loud. Finally. I could start living for myself. Within twenty-four hours, I moved into a sleek apartment in Manhattan. Seeing my name on the deed gave me a sense of security I’d never felt before. I thought leaving Julian would shatter me. For three years, I had truly loved him. But surprisingly, that night, I slept better than I had in years. A wave of relief washed over me, and I didn't wake up until noon the next day. Chapter 2 Julian and I were a business arrangement. A merger between the Thorne and Sterling families. Grandfather Thorne and my grandfather had served in the military together. That bond sealed the marriage pact years ago. But the engagement was originally meant for Lily. She was the Sterlings' golden child, raised like a princess for eighteen years. I was the biological daughter who had been switched at birth. Julian Thorne was New York royalty. A guy like him and a girl like me were never supposed to meet, let alone fall in love. Until I was eighteen. The Sterlings found me, crying about how a nurse’s mistake had separated us. They said I was their flesh and blood. Back then, I was living in a foster home. When I saw my biological parents in their luxury sedan, I thought my life was about to get easier. I thought I wouldn't have to collect cans to pay for school fees anymore. But I didn't get love or compensation. I got indifference. They told me the "fake" daughter’s parents had passed away, so they couldn't just send her away. But the way they treated us? Night and day. I didn't feel like the second daughter. I felt like the help. I didn't mind. I just wanted to finish college. Then came the marriage pact. I found out that Julian, the handsome boy Lily had been following around like a puppy, had been in a severe car accident. Doctors said his leg would never fully heal. He would walk with a limp forever. Lily screamed and cried, refusing to marry a "cripple." So, the duty fell to me. I could have said no. But I remembered seeing Julian once, years ago, before I knew who he was. He was brilliant, kind, and handsome. I was twenty, a sophomore at Columbia. My parents made me take a leave of absence to get married. When I first met Julian after the accident, he was furious. He smashed a vase near my feet, screaming for Lily. But Lily? She had already taken her parents' black card and fled to Paris for "art school." The Sterling family business relied on the Thornes. Lily wouldn't marry him, but they needed a body to secure the alliance. That body was me. That was the first time my mother, Mrs. Sterling, showed me any kindness. She wept about how hard it was for the family, how pitiful Lily was, how my father’s hair was turning gray from stress. I didn't care about their tears. I wanted to marry him. Not for them, but for him. When I was a freshman, Julian was a senior. He was the campus legend—brilliant, wealthy, unattainable. And back then, Lily was always by his side. Everyone admired his looks, but I admired his mind. He published papers on advanced mathematics that blew me away. I read every single one. They helped me solve problems I was stuck on. I fell in love with his brain first. On our wedding day, Julian didn't smile once. I was so nervous my hands were sweating. When he took my hand, I almost tripped. The guests chuckled. I felt like an embarrassment. I heard people whispering about Lily, and Julian’s face went black. He loved Lily. I knew that. That’s why he resented me. For a moment, I regretted everything. The marriage. The secret crush. That night, Julian was rough, venting his anger. But his leg was hurting him. I saw him wince. So I pushed him back gently, straddled him, and took control. Soon, the anger faded into something else. His face flushed, and we both got lost in the rhythm. Chapter 3 Life at the Thorne estate was quiet. I actually liked it better than the Sterling house. I loved to read and study. Even though I had dropped out, I never stopped learning. Julian changed, too. He went from staying out late to coming home on time every day. Even when work was crazy, he’d text me to let me know where he was. I started learning massage therapy from an old specialist. I thought maybe I could help his leg. When I first suggested it, I was shy. But six months later, I knew every pressure point on his body. Julian went from resisting it to waiting for it every night. My hands grew stronger, more confident. Life was peaceful, if a bit boring. One day, while dropping off documents for Julian at Thorne Enterprises, a producer spotted me. He asked if I wanted to audition for a small role in a web series. The character was a quiet genius. I said yes on a whim. Julian didn't object. Unexpectedly, the show blew up. I gained a small, loyal fanbase. It was fun. I never thought I’d be part of the entertainment industry. The Thorne family owned a massive media conglomerate, Rainmaker Entertainment. Julian told me I could do whatever I wanted, as long as I didn't use the Thorne name to get ahead. So, I got an agent, Sarah, and started booking small roles. I became a C-list actress, and honestly? I loved it. Sometimes, I’d lie in bed and read fan comments to Julian while massaging his leg. One night, my hand slipped higher than intended. Julian groaned. I tried to pull away, but he pinned me to the bed. The kiss was natural. The intimacy that followed was explosive. From that moment on, everything changed. He bought me my favorite pastries. He bought me jewelry. We went to movies and walked by the lake. We were like a normal, happy couple. And thanks to my massages, his leg improved miraculously. Unless he walked very fast, you couldn't even tell he had been injured. Three years into our marriage, Lily came back. That day, for the first time in a long time, Julian didn't cling to me in the morning. My parents called—the first time in three years—demanding we come for dinner. Lily hadn't returned once in three years. My parents always made excuses for her. Julian’s face was cold. I didn't know what he was thinking. When we arrived at the Sterling estate, a vision in white threw herself into Julian’s arms. I stood there, watching. He didn't push her away. She was crying, ruining his custom suit with tears, calling him "Julian, Julian." My heart felt like it was being stabbed with a thousand needles. Seeing me, Lily straightened up. "I'm so sorry, Jessie. I was just so happy. Julian... oh wait, should I call you brother-in-law now?" Julian’s jaw tightened. He took my hand and led me to the table. Lily stared at our joined hands in shock. Dinner was torture. My parents ignored me completely, spending the entire meal trying to get Julian to talk to Lily. It felt like they were trying to sell her to him. From that day on, Lily was everywhere. Julian went from annoyed to accepting in less than a month. Lily wanted to act. Julian assigned Rainmaker’s top agent to her. She strutted around Thorne Tower like she owned the place. Everyone assumed she was Mrs. Thorne because I had kept my identity a secret. Lily would call Julian on speakerphone, whining and flirting, then bring lunch to his office. I had visited his office once. He scolded me for interrupting. I never went back. People just thought I was some starlet trying to sleep her way to the top. With Julian’s backing, Lily became an overnight sensation. My agent, Sarah, asked if I knew her. I said no. Sarah vented about what a diva Lily was, stealing endorsements left and right. When I lost three contracts in a row to her, I realized she was targeting me. And Julian? He gave me nothing. If we passed in the hallway, he looked right through me. I hadn't thought about divorce yet. I still loved him. Chapter 4 Until the accident. The moment I realized we were over. It happened on a reality survival show. Both Lily and I were cast. Lily played the delicate flower. I was the capable quiet one. Julian came to visit the set. We were filming near a lake. The old wooden dock Lily and I were standing on suddenly collapsed. We both plunged into the water. Chaos erupted. Crew members shouted. But before anyone could react, Julian—billionaire CEO Julian Thorne—dove into the water. I can't swim. When I saw him diving, I thought he was coming for me. I was his wife. But when I saw him grab Lily and swim toward the shore, something in me broke. I realized then: He doesn't love me. It was like he didn't even see me. He carried Lily to his car, frantic, treating her like fine china. As I sank into the darkness, the last thing I saw was his car driving away. By the time the crew fished me out, I was unconscious. Because Julian had caused such a scene saving Lily, everyone assumed I was safe. It took the assistant director screaming to make them realize I was still under. I woke up in the hospital. Only Sarah was there. She was crying. "Sarah, I'm not dead," I croaked. "Oh my god, Jessie! You scared me to death! You have the worst luck. Julian made such a scene saving that green tea b*tch that everyone forgot about you!" "It's okay." My heart was calm. Dead calm. I thought we were one. Reality slapped me awake. That afternoon, I was discharged. I saw them in the lobby. Julian was supporting Lily. My parents were trailing behind them, fussing over her, putting a coat over her shoulders. They looked like a happy family. They had completely forgotten I existed. I watched them walk away. Then I pulled out my phone and called the lawyer Sarah had recommended. "Draw up the papers," I said.
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