Chapter 1 Fourth Wedding Anniversary

On their fourth wedding anniversary, Thalia Coleman told her husband, Darion Blackburn, she wanted a divorce.

"You want a divorce just because I was with Miya on our anniversary? Thalia, don't you forget we've been in love for eight years?" Darion frowned, utterly confused.

Thalia nodded. "There's more to it, but this is the last straw."

The previous night, she had asked the housekeeper to prepare a special feast and bought fresh flowers and carefully chosen gifts, all for a romantic anniversary night with Darion.

It had been their tradition for four years. They had never missed celebrating their special day.

Thalia had even put on her new lingerie, excited and ready for an unforgettable night.

But as she was about to take it off, Darion's phone rang.

Thalia clearly heard a woman's sobbing voice on the other end.

Darion immediately froze, climbed out of bed, and headed straight for the bathroom.

Thalia lay on the bed, her cheeks burning, as she listened to the sound of running water from the bathroom.

When Darion finally came out, she whispered, "Can't you stay? Do you have to go?"

Darion was already dressed, his sharp features clouded with worry. "Keith has a fever. I need to go check on him. I'll be right back."

With that, he left. Thalia waited the entire night, but he never came home.

She sat there until dawn, until at last her phone lit up with a message from her sister-in-law, Miya Coleman.

It was a photo, showing Darion holding Miya's son, Keith Blackburn, in a hospital bed, his eyes soft and full of care, as if he were the boy's own father.

And under the photo was another text from Miya.

[Lia, you'd better go to bed. Darion's truly worried about Keith. Maybe it's because he even flew overseas to be with me when I gave birth. He cares for Keith like he's his own son. He won't be coming home tonight.]

Thalia read the message again and again, stunned, unable to believe what she was seeing. 'He was with Miya when she gave birth?'

After Emely, Darion's elder brother and Miya's husband, passed away suddenly, Miya had said she needed a change of scenery and went abroad. Not long afterward, she'd found she was pregnant and stayed overseas for her entire pregnancy.

It suddenly dawned on Thalia that during the month Miya was due to give birth, Darion had been away on endless business trips.

'He flew all that way to be with her when she delivered?' Thalia wondered, her heart sinking.

Tears blurred her vision and fell onto the screen. She closed her eyes tightly, her heart shattering.

'He's been taking care of Miya and her son since way back then,' Thalia thought, her heart aching.

No wonder every time Miya called, Darion dropped everything and rushed to her side, no matter how late it was.

His excuse to Thalia never changed. "Keith is Emely's only child. Now that Emely's gone, it's my duty as Keith's uncle to look after him. You understand, don't you, Thalia?"

Thalia kept telling herself that Darion was only doing this for Emely's blood.

But today, she could no longer force herself to accept it.

'Is he really doing this for Keith or for Miya?' Thalia wondered, her heart aching.

She opened the drawer and took out the divorce papers.

Right before walking out, she glanced at their wedding photo on the wall. Her smile back then had been full of genuine joy.

Four years together as lovers, four as husband and wife. And now, everything was crumbling into divorce.

Chapter 2 Sign It

Thalia stood in the hospital room doorway, watching as Miya held out a glass of water for Darion. He didn't even bother taking it. He drank straight from her hand.

Thalia squeezed the divorce papers tightly in her grasp. When she pushed the door open, Keith, his feverish face flushed bright red, jolted and began wailing in Darion's arms.

No one had expected her to come.

Darion's brows knitted into a deep frown. "Thalia, what are you doing here? Keith finally fell asleep just now."

"What's that to me?" Thalia retorted coldly. "What about you? Is he even your son? Why do you care so much?"

"Thalia!" Darion's tone grew sharper. "He's a sick kid. If you're here to pick a fight, wait until I get home. Don't disturb him now."

Thalia was there to send him divorce papers. Even as a normal visit, as Keith's aunt, she had every right to be here.

But the moment she walked in, Darion's instinct was to assume she was only there to cause a scene.

Thalia snapped out of her daze and thrust the divorce papers at him, saying, "Sign it. The sooner you do, the sooner we'll be done with all this."

Darion stared at her icily, as if she were being completely unreasonable.

Miya stepped over and spoke softly. "Lia, maybe it's all a misunderstanding. Darion only came for Keith. He's better now. Why don't you both go home?"

She leaned down close to Keith, coaxing him softly, "Keith, come to Mommy. Darry needs to go home and rest now."

The three-year-old Keith was curled up weakly, haggard from his fever. He grabbed Darion's collar and refused to let go. "Darry, I want you to be here with me. Please don't go..." he cried.

Miya's face looked troubled, and her tone turned a bit more stern. "Keith, good boy, come here."

"Alright, I'll stay with him," Darion said. He looked at Thalia. "You can see how he's suffering, Thalia. Can't you be more reasonable?"

Thalia fixed them with a cold stare, her chest burning with a sharp, splitting pain.

She let out a scoffing, sarcastic laugh. "Can you be reasonable? Sign the papers... or..."

She glanced at Keith, leaning in with a menacing edge to her voice. "The bad wolf's coming for you, kid."

Keith was already fragile and fever-worn, and her cruel words sent him into even more hysterical tears.

But he was so terrified of the "bad wolf" that he didn't dare sob out loud. Only quiet, trembling sniffles escaped him, making him look all the more pitiful.

Darion's expression turned even gloomier. "Thalia, really? Picking on a child?"

"Sign it," Thalia said, nodding at the divorce papers. The look in her eyes said it all: no signature, no peace for Keith.

Thalia thought bitterly, 'He's so desperate to protect them, isn't he? Alright, I'll step back.

'Without me around to get in the way, he can do whatever he wants. Even get cozy with them, sleeping in the same bed? I don't give a damn anymore.'

The atmosphere in the hospital ward was heavy with stifling tension. Darion's face was dark, Keith was still sniffling weakly in his arms, and Miya stood to one side, looking flustered and guilty.

Thalia glanced down at the luxury watch on her wrist and said calmly, "It's late. I need to go get some rest. Darion, if you're a real man, sign it."

Chapter 3 Petty

Darion's gaze turned icy, a sharp, cutting glint in his eyes as he spoke in a deep, frigid voice. "Thalia, don't regret divorcing me."

Thalia's lashes shook hard, but her voice stayed firm. "Go ahead, sign it."

She scoffed inwardly, 'Regret? Please. Was I supposed to wait up every night for him to come back from the other woman and her child?

'I've never been the forgiving type. In fact, I can be downright petty when pushed.'

She'd endured it for him for two whole years, all because she loved him. She'd proven her devotion, again and again.

But he'd cast her devotion aside like it was nothing more than trash. So she was done wasting her heart on someone who didn't care.

She watched as Darion signed the papers, his long, sharp fingers gripping the pen as he scribbled his name. Then she stepped up, yanking the divorce agreement from him.

"See you at the courthouse tomorrow. Don't be late," she said. With no second glance, she turned and walked away.

Keith kept sniffling softly, his eyes still wet with tears. Darion looked down at him, comforting. "Keith, shuh. Be brave. You can be brave enough to beat the bad wolf."

Keith held back his sobs, tears still pooling in his eyes, and said shakily, "I wanna be a real man. I'll beat the bad wolf."

"That's my boy," Darion praised him, a faint smile curling his lips.

But that smile didn't reach his eyes, which stayed empty.

Miya looked guilty. "This is all my fault. I panicked when Keith got sick, and now Thalia's leaving you. Darion, you should go after her. I'll take care of Keith."

"No," Darion said, his voice low and heavy.

"She's being childish, throwing a fit over nothing. She never knows when to quit. Maybe this will teach her a lesson."

Miya pressed, "But she seemed to be serious about divorcing you."

"She won't," Darion said confidently. "Miya, go home. I'll stay here with Keith."

Miya shook her head. "No way. I'm Keith's mom. I can't walk out on him."

Darion didn't press the issue. He looked down, his voice remaining steady, yet a sudden unease gnawed at him somehow.

Thalia had gotten upset with him over Keith before, but he'd always managed to soothe her with a few gentle words. And she had never once mentioned divorce.

But now she did. Darion wondered, 'Is she escalating things? What does she want this time?'

*****

Holding the signed divorce papers at last, Thalia felt a huge weight lift off her chest. She went home, opened a bottle of wine, finished it all, and fell straight asleep.

When she woke up the next morning, a heavy arm was locked tight around her waist. The clean, masculine scent she knew so well filled her nose, and a warm body pressed against her back.

Thalia stiffened. Turning around, she saw Darion lying next to her. She had no idea when he had returned.

He held her closely, their bodies tangled like nothing had changed.

But they had just signed the divorce papers the night before.

Thalia bit her lip, staring at Darion's sleeping face. He was still as handsome as ever, and she remembered falling for him at first sight.

Back then, after she saved him in the earthquake, their lives kept crossing paths. When they went to the same university, he confessed that he wanted to be with her forever.

She had laughed at how naive he was

"Who talks about forever when you've only started dating?" she'd teased back then.

But she'd fallen hard for him. They dated, graduated, and married. She had truly believed they would be together forever.

But now, his heart was no longer hers. It had been completely stolen by Miya and Keith.

Thalia didn't feel like sharing her husband with others. Since Darion loved someone else more, she'd rather set him free.

Chapter 4 Soothe

Thalia blinked, fighting back the tears stinging her eyes.

Just then, her phone vibrated suddenly. She checked a new email, only to freeze in utter disbelief.

Attached were dozens of photos, all capturing Darion with Miya.

One showed Miya in early pregnancy, with Darion accompanying her to a prenatal checkup. Another pictured her with a swollen belly, walking hand in hand with Darion in the park.

There was even a photo of Darion pacing anxiously outside the delivery room as Miya gave birth.

Every image was clearly dated, all from the year Miya had her baby.

It proved that his constant business trips that year were to stay by Miya's side throughout her whole pregnancy.

And yet there he was, lying next to Thalia, holding her captive in his firm, unyielding hold.

A heart-wrenching pain overwhelmed her, and the tears she had held back for so long spilled over at last.

She wondered, 'Eight years together. Has he ever loved me for real?'

Thalia sat up abruptly and slapped Darion hard across the face.

Darion jolted awake from the sting, ready to snap, but the sight of her weeping face drained his anger instantly.

"Thalia," he whispered. His heart twisted as he sat up and grabbed her shoulders. "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

"Darion, I want a divorce," she stated coldly.

She dropped her gaze and pulled away, avoiding his touch.

Darion's voice softened even more. "Thalia, what happened? Why are you suddenly like this? We are okay, aren't we? Don't say that."

Thalia's tears stopped. She lifted her head, asking, "Do you think I'm only being irrational?"

Darion said nothing. His silence said it all.

In that instant, Thalia felt as if she were punching into thin air. Powerlessness washed over her.

'He'll dismiss me as jealous. He thinks that after soothing me, everything will go back to normal. He'll keep running between Miya and me as if nothing happened, won't he?' Thalia thought bitterly.

She flipped to the photos on her screen and tossed the phone directly in front of him.

She snapped, "Darion, all that year you fed me excuses: Emely's death, the plummeting stocks, urgent business trips. But you were never working. You were with Miya during her pregnancy.

"What is she to you? Can't her own family take care of her? Why you? Why did you, her brother-in-law, have to be there for everything? Tell me."

Thalia thought she would scream, would fall apart. Yet her tone remained eerily calm and steady.

Her eyes glinted with cold sarcasm. "Or is this some twisted tradition your family follows? When the elder brother dies, the younger takes his place and marries his widow?"

"Thalia!" Darion shouted, his expression darkening dangerously.

'How could she know that? I need to get to the bottom of it,' Darion thought grimly.

With a faint sigh, Darion tried to explain, "Emely passed away so suddenly. My parents were too heartbroken to take care of her. As for her parents..."

He paused, his tone becoming more conflicted. "You've always disliked her and kept her away from your parents. She didn't dare tell anyone what she was going through.

"Alright, stop it. I took care of her and Keith all for Emely. Don't let your thoughts run away with you."

Chapter 5 Birthday Party

Thalia gave a cold laugh. "Of course I won't. We're getting divorced anyway. Come on, time to go to the courthouse.

"Even if you told me Keith is your son, I don't give a fuck."

Darion's face was cold as ice. "You... We'll talk about this after you've cooled off."

He strode out, letting the door slam shut with a sharp bang.

After he left, Thalia glared coldly at the framed photo on the wall. She ripped it down and threw it violently onto the floor.

The glass shattered, splitting the image of her and Darion apart, like their broken relationship.

Just as she finished, her phone rang. It was her mother, Shyla Mcgee.

"Thalia, have you forgotten what day it is?" Shyla asked softly.

Thalia checked the calendar and realized it was her father, Trenton Coleman's birthday.

"Of course not. It's Dad's birthday. I've already got his present ready and was about to head home," she said, forcing a smile.

Shyla's voice was gentle. "I knew you wouldn't forget. Drive safely. We'll be waiting for you."

"Sure," Thalia replied.

After hanging up, Thalia went to wash up and got herself together.

Gazing into the mirror, Thalia froze. Her eyes were swollen, red-rimmed, her features haggard. She looked as if she'd survived a war and lost.

'This is not the Coleman heiress I am,' Thalia thought to herself.

She put on some makeup, and a swipe of red lipstick to mask the pain.

It took almost two hours before she finally stepped out of the bathroom, and her phone rang again.

It was Shyla calling. "Thalia, your dad decided not to celebrate his birthday this year. He thinks it's too much fuss, so we won't throw a party or something."

'Seriously? That's it? He's canceling on me now?' Thalia thought, her disbelief turning into annoyance.

After all, Shyla had only reminded her an hour ago.

Then, a cold, hard truth hit her, and her eyes turned frigid.

"Alright, I get it. I'll have someone drop off the gift. I'm not feeling well, so I won't be coming over today," Thalia said, her voice steady yet icy with detachment.

"Okay, get some rest," Shyla said before hanging up.

Thalia put on some light makeup, masking her pale, haggard complexion and reclaiming a glimmer of her usual poise.

Yet her eyes remained icier than ever, her fingers white-knuckling the car keys.

She turned, walked out the door, and drove back to Coleman Manor.

The sun shone brightly as she pulled up, but the cheerful glow did little to soften her mood, especially when she heard the sound of laughter drifting from the living room.

A maid, catching sight of her, looked instantly flustered, her expression a mix of worry and fear.

"Mrs. Blackburn..." she mumbled, stumbling over her words.

"I'm always a part of the Coleman family. Wrong title. Your salary will be deducted." Thalia's voice was cold, crisp, as she stepped out of the car, gift box in hand. "And the Coleman family has one heiress. That's me. Memorize that."

The maid nodded frantically, her body shaking with terror.

Thalia walked straight through the door, and when she rounded the entryway, a warm, familial scene in the living room greeted her.

Trenton was wearing a birthday hat, with a little boy sitting in his lap. Shyla was sitting nearby, playing with the boy using a toy.

Miya, meanwhile, was busy snapping photos with her phone.

"Dad, mom, Keith, look over here. I'm taking a picture. Too bad Emely isn't home, or we could get a family photo," Thalia said.

At her sound, everyone turned to look.

In that instant, they spotted Thalia, standing quietly in the doorway.

"Thalia... Why are you back?" Shyla's toy dropped from her hand, her face paling with surprise and unease.

She stood up and walked to Thalia. "Didn't you say you weren't feeling well?"

Thalia didn't move, her eyes frosty. A faint, sardonic glint flickered across her face, her voice calm yet laced with biting irony. "I guess I'm lucky I came. Otherwise, I'd never realize you all were having such a happy little birthday party without me."