Chapter 1

Three years into my arranged marriage with Julian Sterling, I unlocked a Divorce Compensation System.

The rule was simple: if Julian agreed to sign the divorce papers within thirty days, I’d receive a fifty-million-dollar cash payout.

I wasn’t broke by any means, but who in their right mind turns down fifty million? Besides, this lukewarm, convenient sham of a marriage was completely pointless anyway.

So, I slid the prepared divorce agreement right across the desk to him.

Julian glared at the paper, his jaw clenching so hard I could hear his teeth grind. "Chloe, what kind of childish game are you playing this time?"

Just as I opened my mouth to fire back, glowing lines of text suddenly drifted across my field of vision.

[SCREAMING! Julian hasn't even confessed his feelings yet and he’s already getting dumped?!]

[Girl, do NOT do this! The man is literally down bad for you! You’re tearing his heart into pieces!]

Wait. The System vs. mysterious floating comments... Which one was I supposed to believe?

Julian merely glanced at the papers, snatched his blazer off the rack, and stormed out the door without looking back.

The glowing comments kept floating in the air. Thinking my eyes were playing tricks on me, I swiped at them, catching nothing but empty air.

[Look at him! His eyes were red! He’s heartbroken!]

[This emotionally repressed idiot has a mouth, why won't he use it?! Wasted three whole years! Girl, don’t rush the divorce, give him one more chance!]

I scoffed. In our three years of marriage, Julian and I lived like polite roommates. Separate bedrooms, civil conversations, familiar yet completely distant.

Back then, my family’s business was hitting a rough patch and desperately needed backing from the Sterling Group.

Julian’s mom adored me, and so, Julian and I—lifelong rivals—ended up with rings on our fingers.

Over the years, we cooperated well enough. We stayed out of each other's hair.

I honestly thought we’d just coast through life like this until the Divorce Compensation System suddenly activated.

Fifty million dollars. Fifty million! How could I not jump at that?

With that kind of cash, I could permanently stabilize my family’s investments, and Julian and I wouldn’t have to play the dutiful, fake-happy couple in public anymore.

Yet the arrogant jerk actually thought I was playing a prank. Typical Julian, always assuming the worst of me. I was being completely sincere!

No. For fifty million bucks, this divorce was happening whether he liked it or not.

While I was racking my brain trying to figure out how to force his signature, those bizarre floating comments kept throwing me off.

Honestly? Between believing my bitter childhood rival was secretly in love with me and believing I'd get fifty million from a magical system, I’d take the cash any day.

Besides, Evelyn was back in town. With Julian’s legendary "first love" returning from abroad, our divorce was practically guaranteed.

God was smiling on me. My three years of marital prison were finally coming to an end.

To celebrate my impending single life, I did something I rarely did: I dragged my best friend out to a high-end club.

"Chloe, look at you, living on the wild side!" Harper shouted over the thumping bass, leaning close with a wicked smirk under the flashing neon lights. "Aren't you worried Mr. Sterling is gonna lose his mind?"

I glanced sideways at the two ridiculously hot, ripped bottle boys Harper had hired to pour our drinks. Abs for days.

"Worried about what? Julian’s probably going to set me free any day now."

Harper’s eyes went wide with pure gossip. "Wait, really? He’s actually letting you walk?"

Letting me walk? Why wouldn't he? We were a business arrangement with zero emotional attachment.

I downed the shot one of the guys handed me. The tequila burned down my throat, making my eyes water.

Right on cue, another row of floating comments popped up.

[Girl, keep dreaming! Julian doesn't want to set you free, he wants to lock you in a room and keep you all to himself!]

[Freedom? Zero chance. Losing you is literally his worst nightmare!]

[OH NO SHE DIDN'T. She hired hot guys at a club?! Julian is on his way with blood in his eyes!!]

Slightly buzzed, I read the floating lines and chuckled to myself. Yeah, right.

Evelyn was back. Julian was definitely spending tonight keeping her company.

Everyone around us assumed Julian and I grew up together, so our marriage must have been a natural, sweet progression of childhood sweethearts.

Even Harper, who read way too many dark romance novels, convinced herself Julian was some cold-blooded billionaire harboring an obsessive, secret passion for me.

Only I knew the truth. Julian and I had been at each other's throats since preschool. We were strictly business partners.

In three years, our physical intimacy consisted entirely of accidental elbow brushes.

Harper and I drank until the world started spinning. I’ve always been a lightweight. Three drinks in, the hot guys around me started multiplying.

"Hey, handsome..." I giggled, totally wasted and throwing all dignity out the window. "Hold still. Let me see if those abs are real."

Before my greedy little hands could reach his shirt, a steel grip clamped down around my wrist.

"Chloe Vance. What the hell do you think you're touching?!"

The voice was terrifyingly familiar.

I blinked heavily, struggling to focus through the alcoholic haze, and vaguely made out a face that looked suspiciously like Julian’s.

"Harper..." I slurred, giggling into his chest. "The guy you ordered looks just like Julian. Haha... cool. Let's have him spend the night with me..."