Chapter 2

"I have no objections to the property division. After the mandatory thirty-day waiting period, we’ll finalize the divorce."

I pushed the signed divorce agreement across the table.

Julian froze.

Clearly, he never expected me to walk away so easily.

He stared at my signature on the paper. After a long struggle, he finally spoke.

"Serena, I had no choice."

"When we were young, you said you had a heart condition and couldn't have children. I got a vasectomy for you. Back then, I thought having you was enough. But I’m thirty-five now. Men change when they reach this age."

"I am the only son. The Vance family legacy cannot end with me. I want a child—a child with my own blood to inherit the empire. Is that so wrong?"

Julian became more excited as he spoke, acting as if he were the real victim here.

I listened quietly, barely holding back a laugh.

Honestly.

If you cheat, you cheat. If you change your mind, just say so. Don't make up a million noble excuses.

Just give me my money. That's all that matters.

But I kept my face blank, letting a look of unbearable heartbreak wash over me. My voice trembled.

"You're not wrong, Julian. Neither of us is."

"Since you want a child, and I can't give you one, I can't force myself to raise another woman’s baby. I'll let you go. I'll let you, Lacey, and your baby be happy."

I stood up, turned my back to him, and walked to the window. My shoulders shook slightly, making it look like I was crying my eyes out.

"Let’s just get divorced, Julian."

I heard his footsteps stop behind me.

Then came the sound of a pen scratching against paper.

Julian signed.

"Serena, I’ll transfer another two hundred million dollars to your account as compensation. In my heart, you’ll always be my wife."

With that, Julian left.

I stared at the snow falling outside the window. A slow smile spread across my face, my eyes completely dry.

I took out my phone and sent a quick text to my private investigator:

[Keep a close eye on Lacey Sterling. Also, dig up every man she’s been close to in the last three years, and get the baby’s hospital records.]

[Double the bonus if you find something juicy.]

I, Serena Sterling, was no saint.

I wasn’t about to let this trashy couple off the hook so easily.

I just had to wait.

I would wait until Julian was drunk on the joy of having a "heir," wait until Lacey paraded the baby everywhere, and wait until my former mother-in-law treated this bastard child like royalty.

And then, I would give them a gentle push.

The sound of their fall would be music to my ears.