Chapter 1

Nine years.

That's how long I've been with Caden Wilder.

And in these nine years, I had ten miscarriages because of him.

Each time, it was the same performance. Caden would drop to his knees like a man possessed by guilt, his face twisted with shame, telling me how sorry he was, how he failed me, how he failed our baby.

And every time, I let myself believe it.

I let his words wrap around my heart and squeeze just enough to make me forget how exhausted I was.

Because I loved him, God help me, I loved him.

But my love didn't survive betrayal. Not this kind of one.

It happened at one of his company's team-building events.

I wasn't even supposed to be there, but I was afraid that he would drink too much and drive, so I went ahead to pick him up.

But what did I walk into? It shattered whatever illusions I had left.

My husband was kissing his new assistant. Veronica Steele.

Right there in front of everyone, like I didn't exist.

"Caden, your wife is here. Stop kissing her," one of his friends alerted.

I was not angry, just stunned.

One of his friends tried to nudge him out of it, but he didn't even flinch. Caden just turned to me, drunk and grinning like this was some joke.

"Perfect timing," he slurred. "Hailey, my dear wife, come here and take care of Veronica. She's pregnant with my child. Early stages. She needs someone experienced. You've got the résumé, don't you?"

I swear, for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Someone in the room murmured, "Caden, your wife just had a miscarriage. That's not funny."

But he just waved them off like it was nothing. "What's the big deal? She's had ten of my kids. All of them aborted. And let's be real, if I don't settle for her, who else is gonna want her?"

And just like that, he said out loud what he'd always made me feel.

Disposable. Pitied. Unwanted.

I didn't respond. I didn't scream or slap him like they do in movies. I just turned and walked away.

Because I finally understood something I should've seen years ago—deep love is what we call it when we're too scared to admit we're settling.

——

Hailey's POV

Nine years.

That's how long I've been with Caden Wilder.

And in these nine years, I had ten miscarriages because of him.

Each time, it was the same performance. Caden would drop to his knees like a man possessed by guilt, his face twisted with shame, telling me how sorry he was, how he failed me, how he failed our baby.

And every time, I let myself believe it.

I let his words wrap around my heart and squeeze just enough to make me forget how exhausted I was.

Because I loved him, God help me, I loved him.

But my love didn't survive betrayal. Not this kind of one.

It happened at one of his company's team-building events.

I wasn't even supposed to be there, but Caden drinks like he has something to forget, and I knew he'd overdo it. I thought I was being responsible and kind by offering to pick him up.

But what did I walk into? It shattered whatever illusions I had left.

My husband was kissing his new assistant. Veronica Steele.

Right there in front of everyone, like I didn't exist.

"Caden, your wife is here. Stop kissing her," one of his friends alerted.

I was not angry, just stunned.

One of his friends tried to nudge him out of it, but he didn't even flinch. Caden just turned to me, drunk and grinning like this was some joke.

"Perfect timing," he slurred. "Hailey, my dear wife, come here and take care of Veronica. She's pregnant with my child. Early stages. She needs someone experienced. You've got the résumé, don't you?"

I swear, for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Someone in the room murmured, "Caden, your wife just had a miscarriage. That's not funny."

But he just waved them off like it was nothing. "What's the big deal? She's had ten of my kids. All of them miscarriage. And let's be real, if I don't settle for her, who else is gonna want her?"

And just like that, he said out loud what he'd always made me feel.

Disposable. Pitied. Unwanted.

I didn't respond. I didn't scream or slap him like they do in movies. I just turned and walked away.

Because I finally understood something I should've seen years ago—deep love is what we call it when we're too scared to admit we're settling.

Behind me, I heard one of his friends mutter, "Caden, she's mad. Go after her. She listens to you."

Veronica's voice followed, soft and pathetic. "She's probably upset I'm carrying your child. Maybe I should apologize?"

And then another voice.

He was one of Caden's drinking buddies.

Veronica, your heart is too tender. Her parents are gone. What else does she have but you?"

That's when Caden's voice cut through it all. "Hailey, if you take one more step out that door, don't think you can ever come back."

I froze, and it wasn't because I wanted to obey but because that was the moment I saw him clearly.

Not as the man I loved but as the man he truly was.

I turned around, and sure enough, there he was, smirking while his arms were still around Veronica like he'd already won.

"See?" he said. "She wouldn't dare."

He looked at Veronica. "Veronica is pregnant, and she still has to deal with your drama? Unreal. Go on, Hailey, apologize to her."

That's when something inside me snapped into place.

"We're getting a divorce," I said.

He raised a brow, grinning like I'd just confessed to cheating. "So eager to divorce me, your lover outside can't wait, huh?"

It would've been laughable if it weren't so pathetic. Caden was literally holding another woman, and I was the one accused.

"Fine," he told me. "But before we divorce, let's settle what you owe me."

Then he grabbed my hand like he owned it.

"The ring I put on your finger," Caden continued, ripping it off so fast the diamond cut my skin.

"The earrings I designed for you." He yanked them from my ears, and I felt the cartilage tear.

"The dress." He ripped it without a second thought.

"The lingerie is also something I once loved." He grabbed my hand and mocked, "You're really shameless, talking about divorce but still wearing this lingerie to seduce me behind my back."

People around us whispered and lewdly.

Some turned away. Most didn't.

I shoved him back, trembling, holding what was left of my dress against my chest. "Enough, Caden."

But he wasn't done. Of course not.

"Enough?" he said, mocking. "I owe you. It's time to pay you back."

Caden picked up a bottle from the table, twisted the cap off, and, without hesitation, poured the entire thing over my head.

The liquor was ice-cold.

It ran down my face and into my clothes, soaking everything.

I stood there, shaking, half from the cold, half from the humiliation.

Still, even in that moment, all I could think was: 'This is who he's always been.'

And I'm done pretending otherwise.

Chapter 2

Hailey's POV

"You, with your worn-out body… I've disinfected and cleaned you up." Caden's voice cut through the room like glass, sharp and humiliating.

The look in his eyes reflected pure disgust, as if I were something beneath him, something used.

His friends howled with laughter, the sound thick with mockery.

I reached for my coat, trying to cover what little dignity I had left, but Caden moved faster.

He picked it up with a flourish, then turned and draped it over Veronica like he was playing some hero.

"The weather's cold," Caden said softly to her. "Don't want my big baby and baby catching a cold."

His hand moved to her stomach like it was something sacred. She giggled and leaned into him like they were the center of some beautiful love story.

He swept her off her feet, carried her out the door, and didn't even glance back at me.

Like I wasn't standing there, soaked in alcohol, humiliated, bleeding.

Then came the parting blow.

"Don't forget the contract we signed in Holland. Unless we both agree to a divorce, you'll never leave me." His voice was casual, almost lazy.

I didn't even flinch. The wind outside bit at my skin, but it couldn't compare to the cold spreading in my chest.

Looking back over his shoulder, Caden paused, "I'll give you a chance. Be home before midnight, and I'll agree to the divorce."

Then the car door slammed shut.

Just like that, he was gone.

His friends stayed behind, still laughing.

One of them said, "Hey, Hailey, spend the night with me, and I'll take you home."

Another scoffed. "Don't be dumb. Caden posted about it. Anyone who helps her is off Riverford's list. You'd be risking your life."

I closed my eyes and let out a bitter laugh. Not because any of this was funny, but because I was starting to see the pattern.

The cruelty wasn't random. It was practiced.

An hour ago, I was lying on an operating table.

I stared at the tiny, lifeless form on the tray, tears falling uncontrollably. My body was still shaking from the pain of losing yet another baby—our baby.

Then I got a message from one of Caden's friends:

[Hailey, Caden's been drinking all day. No one can stop him.]

I thought Caden was heartbroken, too. I thought maybe he was spiraling because we lost the child. So I ignored the nurse's orders, pulled the IV from my arm, and left the hospital to bring him home.

But it wasn't grief. It was a celebration for the woman he actually loved.

"I'm sorry, Hailey," one of his friends murmured now, his voice low, apologetic. He looked away, then took off his coat and wrapped it gently around me. "Back then, Caden would've done anything to be with you. What happened?"

He sounded more confused than judgmental.

More heartbroken than I felt.

And for a second, I was just as dazed.

Caden had once chased me like I was the only thing that mattered. I'd rejected him so many times. Out of all the men who wanted me, he was the one I avoided the most—loud, impulsive, reckless.

I knew he loved without brakes, without boundaries. And deep down, I always feared that kind of love could turn violent.

I wasn’t wrong.

I remembered the day of the accident.

Smoke everywhere. The smell of gasoline choked the air. My legs were pinned under the seat. Flames were climbing up the frame of the car.

And then, there he was, Caden Wilder, tearing through the fire like a madman.

Blood dripped down his face as he smashed the glass, trying to reach me.

I was trapped under the crushed car seat, and the car was going to explode, so I pushed him out of the way.

"Get out of here, Caden! You'll die with me," I cried out.

"Hailey!" he screamed. "I'm willing to die with you! If we burn, let my brothers bury us together and tell the world I died for you!"

In the middle of all that smoke and noise, I looked at him so fiercely and so broken that I wasn't scared anymore.

"I'll marry you," I whispered.

Now I shook my head at the memory, like it belonged to someone else.

Someone naive.

Someone desperate to believe in something called forever.

"Guess true feelings really don't last, huh?" I whispered to no one.

I clutched the borrowed coat around my torn dress and started walking.

The winter night stretched out before me, cold and dark. Cars passed in the distance, their lights lighting the way as though they were watching over me.

My feet kept moving until the world started to spin. Everything went black.

I collapsed in the snow.

...

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.

The doctor looked down at me as he said gently, "You had a miscarriage, Mrs. Wilder. You didn't rest. You went out in the snow. When they brought you in, you were hemorrhaging. We almost couldn't save you."

I didn't say anything.

My eyes fluttered shut, and I let the tears come.

"Sorry..." I whispered.

I wasn’t even sure who I was apologizing to. Maybe it was to myself?

For staying too long. For believing too hard. For surviving something that didn't feel like living anymore.

Chapter 3

Hailey's POV

"Why are you apologizing to us?" The doctor asked in concern.

The nurse beside him glanced at him before chiming in, "The one you should be apologizing to is yourself, Mrs. Wilder. If you don't take care of your body, your uterus might not recover."

I froze.

Their words dropped like stones in my chest. For a moment, I couldn't breathe.

And then, I remembered something.

"Who… brought me to the hospital?" I asked.

"The man who said he was your husband," the nurse answered. "We scolded him pretty hard for what happened."

My throat tightened. I bit down on the inside of my cheek to hold back the emotions clawing their way up.

The door creaked open, and I instinctively braced myself, half-expecting Caden's shadow to fill the room.

But it wasn't him.

It was someone I hadn't seen in a decade—Killian Maxwell, my stepbrother.

I blinked in disbelief. "Killian, brother, it's been so long. What are you doing back in the country?"

He stepped in casually, hands in his pockets, as if he hadn't just walked in on my disaster of a life.

"I'm here for an international conference," Killian said. "Didn't expect to see you. I was on my way to the winery."

That was it. The car I saw through the snow—it had been his.

He walked over to me and gently placed a warm hand on my head. The comfort of his touch made my throat ache even more.

"If you're tired," he said softly, "come back with me. Mom's gone. You don't have to stay here—don't stay with someone you don't love to avoid me. I told you before. I'll always be here for you."

I stared at my blanket, unable to look him in the eye. "I chose Caden… because I loved him."

Killian exhaled, a sigh laced with both pain and patience.

Then he reached into his coat and pulled out a plane ticket, placing it carefully on my bedside table.

"It doesn't expire. Any time, take this to the airport, and a private jet will take you to me. Save my number. If you ever need me, just call."

And then he turned and walked out without asking for anything in return.

I stared at the ticket for a long moment. My fingers curled around it and then slowly let it fall back to the table.

I didn't know what I was holding onto anymore.

Pride? Grief? Habit?

After he left, I pulled out my phone.

My hands trembled as I booked the first available flight. Then I dialed the number for the legal office in Holland, the one that had processed our marriage certificate.

The woman who answered sounded cold and clinical. "If you're requesting a unilateral divorce, you'll lose all your assets to your husband. You'll also face up to one year in prison for breach of contract. I suggest you think carefully."

I didn't hesitate. "This marriage is already a prison. I'll give up everything. I just want out."

There was a pause. Then her voice returned, "One week from now, your marriage will be dissolved."

I hung up, the silence around me as sharp as broken glass.

A notification pinged on my phone.

An anonymous message. There were no words, just a series of screenshots.

They were all from Veronica's social media.

The timeline began the night I collapsed in the snow.

Post after post—more than ten in total—documented their tropical vacation.

The first showed Caden and Veronica on a beach, their fingers intertwined, silhouetted against the sunset.

Another had them cut a cake together, and the gender reveal caught mid-slice—blue frosting.

In the comments, people were starting to notice:

[Caden Wilder is still married. What is Veronica doing flaunting her position like this?]

Veronica didn't reply.

But Caden did:

[The one who isn't loved is the mistress.]

That line hit harder than anything else.

It didn't matter that it wasn't true. It didn't matter that I had been his wife in every legal and emotional sense.

All that mattered was that I'd been erased, and he wanted the world to know.

I stared at the screen until my vision blurred.

My heart ached dully, despair crested, and I could only smile weakly.

...

That afternoon, I checked myself out of the hospital without waiting for permission.

While they were away playing house on some tropical island, I went home to pack my things.

The moment I opened the front door, I gagged.

The smell hit me like a wall—musty, rotting. And scattered across the floor were dozens of tiny plastic Smurf figurines.

Some were broken. Some had bite marks. All of them seemed to leer at me.

I forced myself to move upstairs.

The master bedroom was gone.

In its place: a nursery.

The walls were plastered with photos—Veronica grinning, her pregnant belly cradled by Caden's hands—pictures of him kissing her forehead, painting the baby's room, holding up tiny clothes.

Every inch of space that once belonged to me had been overwritten.

My closet? Empty.

My things? Gone.

They were all in the backyard, buried beneath trash and rainwater.

Then, I found our wedding photo.

Our once-treasured photo, which used to hang above our bed, now lies discarded amongst the filth.

Chapter 4

Hailey's POV

My face had been slashed beyond recognition, bruised and smeared with the imprints of Caden's leather shoes pressed into my skin.

I took a deep breath. 'Forget it.

There was nothing left to pack anyway.'

Then and there, I grabbed my passport and a few documents, my hands shaking as I shoved them into my bag. I had nothing left here. The life I once knew was shattered.

I was done.

Just as I was about to leave, the door swung open.

Caden walked in, holding Veronica in his arms, just like he had on our wedding day when he carried me across the threshold.

The same words he had once whispered to me, words I used to cherish, came tumbling from his mouth. "The bride's feet should never touch the ground; only then can she have happiness for the rest of her life."

Veronica giggled, utterly charmed by him.

But the moment their eyes met mine, everything stopped.

The warmth between them turned to ice.

Caden's face shifted, a flicker of satisfaction and mockery flashing in his eyes.

"Aren't you proud of yourself, Hailey? I told you not to come back. You ran off, and now you're here? Jealous, huh? Regretful now that you've seen me and Veronica on our honeymoon? Too late. Even if you get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness, I won't go easy on you this time."

Veronica, pale but smiling stiffly, shifted in his arms.

"Caden, please," she said, her voice shaky but polite. "Put me down. I'm not really your wife. If you keep holding me like this, Hailey will get upset."

But Caden remained indifferent.

His gaze stayed cold, unyielding, locked on mine. "I've made it clear. Even if I marry Veronica, what's it to you? I don't love you, so you're the outsider. You don't deserve to carry my kid. Hailey, you get me?"

I felt the weight of his words sink deep inside me, hollowing me out.

My chest constricted, and it hit me that there was nothing more to express, nothing more to strive for. Everything was lost—everything we had created and everything I had faith in.

Caden had destroyed it all.

I reached into my bag, shaking my hands as I pulled out the divorce papers.

"Go ahead and sign it," I said, keeping my voice steady even though I was burning inside. "Make Veronica your wife—for real, on paper and in your heart."

Caden swiftly scooped Veronica into his arms, ignoring her panic, and strode over to me. He snatched the papers from my hands and, with a cruel smile, ripped them to shreds, throwing the pieces in my face.

I closed my eyes, the sound of Caden's grinding teeth almost drowning out the bitter words that followed.

"You want a divorce? Dream on. You've wasted so many years of my life, and now you want to walk away just like that? Dream on."

And that was it. There was no chance for reconciliation.

There was no chance for anything other than the cold truth that I was nothing more than a discarded memory of him.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

I turned to leave, but Caden's hand shot out, grabbing my wrist with a brutal grip.

"Where do you think you're going?" he barked. "Trying to run away from home again? Ever since Killian came back, you can't even stand to stay in this house, can you?"

I snapped, losing the last shred of restraint I had left. "What does Killian have to do with this? You want me to stay here and watch the two of you play house? Pretend this is some happy little family?"

Then I glared at him, my disgust flooding through me. "My God, Caden! Do you have a fetish for cuckoldry? Do you need to see me here, watching you and her be affectionate to get off?"

Caden's chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, shock briefly crossing his face.

A sick grin spread across his features. "You're jealous?"

I turned my head away, refusing to engage.

But the weight of his presence was suffocating.

"Yeah, I really do have that fetish," he mocked.

He released my wrist and strolled toward Veronica, who had been silent all this time.

Then, he taunted, "I love watching you stay by our bed, Hailey. After all, you know my rhythm better than anyone. You know when to pass the Smurfs and when to hand me the wet wipes."

His words were a slap. A gut-wrenching, heart-crushing slap.

I closed my eyes, repulsed, my hands trembling as I tried to steady myself.

I wanted to scream. To hit him. To lash out. But I couldn't.

"Besides, I'm not as shameless as you," he scoffed, a dark, bitter laugh escaping him. "I can't even imagine marrying someone else while carrying another man's child… and still dating with him."

The accusation landed with the force of a thousand knives, each one twisting deeper.

I shook.

From the anger, from the devastation.

My entire body trembled as I tried to push him away, but the shock was too much. Numb and broken, I stumbled toward the door, desperate to leave.

But as I walked by Veronica, her expression turned cold. Without warning, she stuck her foot out, blocking my path.

I couldn’t dodge in time.

The next thing I knew, I was falling. The world tilted, my body hurtling down the stairs. The sound of my bones cracking was deafening, the searing pain nearly unbearable.

I heard Caden's frantic cry just before everything went black.

Chapter 5

Hailey's POV

When I finally woke up, the first thing I saw was Caden's tired face. His eyes were hollow, his skin stretched tight, and that scruffy stubble he'd let grow for days made him look even more worn out than usual.

His gaze shifted when he realized I was awake, like a flicker of guilt washed over him. "You're awake? The doctor said your uterus couldn’t be saved. It’s already been removed."

I just stared at him, my head still fuzzy, trying to make sense of the words he’d just thrown at me.

He hesitated, and his voice softened, but there was still tension hanging in the air. "Your medical record says you were rushed to the hospital yesterday. You didn’t run away from home, so... what happened?"

I reached for my phone instinctively, trying to ignore him, but his hand shot out, grabbing mine before I could unlock it.

"I'm calling the police," I said flatly, my voice a whisper of resolve, "Veronica pushed me down the stairs. She caused all of this. Doesn't she deserve to face the consequences?"

Caden's grip tightened for a moment, but he didn't seem surprised.

"I've already punished her," he snarled.

Then, his lips pressed together in a thin line as if his words were a secret.

"Punished her?" I blinked, the confusion clear on my face. "How? How did you punish her?"

He hesitated, then muttered, like it was something shameful, "I told her... she's not allowed to eat today's cake."

My laugh was dry, the bitterness almost slipping from my lips.

"Is that so?" I scoffed.

The absurdity of the situation hit me all at once.

His brows furrowed, frustration overtaking him.

"Can you stop being so sarcastic?" he snapped. "Look, you've lost your uterus. You can't have children anymore. Instead of being angry about that, shouldn't you be hoping that Veronica can give me a child? What else do you want, Hailey, to just hurt her more?"

I didn't respond. I couldn't.

His words kept ringing in my ears, but I was too tired, too hollow to fight back.

Then his tone softened like he was trying to placate me, to smooth things over. "This time, it's my fault. Didn't you want a child? I couldn't give you one before. When you're better, I'll ask Veronica to let you be the godmother so you can still be a mother, just not the way you imagined."

I felt numb. His words didn't touch me. They couldn't.

Caden's patience seemed to wear thin.

His face twisted in anger, and he raised his voice louder than I had expected. "What's the meaning of your silence? What's wrong now?"

"Don't think I don't know," Caden continued, his voice rising, "You married me because Killian wanted you because he datd with you and got you pregnant. You were scared your mother, who finally climbed the social ladder, would get dragged into it, so you chose me as your backup."

I felt my chest tighten as he stepped closer, his anger boiling over. "You made me wear the cuckold's hat, and I made sure you couldn't have my child as punishment. But you went behind my back, sending all those flirtatious messages to Killian, selling my company's secrets to him! If Veronica hadn't told me, I would've been a fool, believing you."

The words hit me hard. They left me gasping for air. I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"I didn't!" I yelled, my voice shaking with frustration. "I didn't do that!"

Without warning, he stormed over, grabbed me by the hair, and yanked something from between the sheets.

My heart sank as I saw him suddenly turn red in the face, grabbing my hair and slapping me hard.

Then, in one quick move, Caden slapped me hard.

"You're still denying it? The boarding pass is for private jets! A private plane named after you by Killian! What the hell do you think he gave you that ticket for? To run away with him? And you have the nerve to say there's no affair between you two?"

Then, he shouted, "You've dragged me into your secret affair with Killian. And now? Now, you'll be the unwanted mistress. I'll never let you go, never let you find happiness with him. Even if you die, you'll still be mine."

His words stung, carving deep into me, but before I could even gather my thoughts, his foot came down hard on my chest, sending me tumbling off the bed.

The IV stand crashed beside me, glass shards digging into my skin.

Blood pooled beneath me, warm and sticky, as my vision swirled.

I weakly lifted my head, everything spinning around me.

My body felt distant as if I wasn't even in it anymore.

"Caden," I whispered, barely able to get the words out. "Are you really that insecure? Do you honestly think you don't deserve love?"

His eyes were red with frustration.

"Hailey…" Before he could finish, the housekeeper rushed in, her voice frantic.

"Sir Caden," she said urgently, "Miss Steele is emotionally unstable, and she's just had a miscarriage. You should come check on her right away."

Caden's expression immediately shifted.

The anger was gone, replaced by panic. Quickly, Caden grabbed me by the arm without thinking, dragging me out of the room.

"If it weren't for you," he snapped, "Veronica wouldn't have felt guilty and had a miscarriage. You need to come with me and calm her down."

His grip was iron-tight as he dragged me down the hallway. When we reached the VIP ward, Veronica's blotchy and swollen face rushed into Caden's arms without a second's hesitation.

Chapter 6

Hailey's POV

"Caden, I really didn't mean to hurt Hailey. I'm just clumsy because I'm pregnant. It was your wife who bumped into me. I was even trying to avoid her."

Veronica's voice was sickly sweet.

The sharp twist of pain in my chest , but I couldn't look away. Her smug little smile, the satisfaction in her eyes, burned me like fire.

She softened her voice, trying to play the innocent victim. "If Hailey still wants to blame me, I'll kneel to her."

A sick feeling crawled up my throat.

"Veronica!" Caden snapped, pulling her back as though she were some fragile thing.

His eyes were full of pity for her. "It's not your fault."

He turned to me then, his expression hardening. He grabbed my arm and, without a sound, forced me to kneel before her.

"It's this woman's fault," Caden muttered, dragging Veronica's hand and slapping me across the face.

Her hand, still wearing the wedding ring I used to wear, scraped across my skin, its sharp edge cutting deep.

Blood pooled in my mouth as I tasted the salt of my pain.

"It's all her fault for making you like this. Hit her back," Caden spat, his voice full of rage.

Veronica hesitated, pulling her hand back slightly, unsure of herself.

"Is this really okay?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Caden grinned at her, egging her on like a predator savoring its kill. "Come on, be brave. You're so gentle. How can you give me a strong baby if you're like this? Let me give you some courage. Just slap her. One slap and I'll buy you a Maserati. If you make her bleed, I'll get you a villa."

"Really?" Veronica's eyes lit up with excitement as she raised her hand, ready to strike me.

I stumbled out of the way, and Veronica nearly twisted her waist in the process.

Caden's expression darkened immediately. He stepped forward and kicked my leg with brutal force, snapping the bone with a sickening crack.

"No! Please, no!" I screamed in agony, the pain blurring everything around me.

"Now she won't be able to avoid it. Just hit her," Caden said, his voice chillingly composed.

I lay there, crushed by pain, hearing Veronica mentally count the money in her head. The buzzing in my ears drowned out everything else as the world turned black and white.

When I finally collapsed to the floor, Caden, looking heartbroken, of all things, embraced Veronica and blew gently on her palm.

"Good girl. Does your hand hurt? Let me blow on it for you. You’re such a brave girl," he said affectionately. "I’ll take you to Sotheby’s. We’ll buy all the diamonds—or the whole auction house if you want. Whatever you want, it’s yours."

Veronica giggled at me, her voice dripping with mockery. "What about Hailey?"

Caden's eyes flicked at me, and something cold seemed to settle in his expression.

He walked over to me, slow and deliberate, and said, "You want to leave me, right? I'll give you a chance."

I could feel the cold sweat dripping down my back as I forced out, "What are you going to do?"

He chuckled darkly, the sound almost maddening in its cruelty. "Back then, the most beautiful woman in Riverford must have been worth something, right? I should be able to auction you off at Sotheby's, don't you think?"

"You're insane!" I gasped, my breath coming in ragged gasps as the pain in my leg sent waves of dizziness through my head.

Ignoring me, he quickly had someone prepare a contract to auction me off and throw it in front of me.

I recoiled, shaking my head, refusing to sign, no matter how much he pressured me.

Caden sneered, clearly enjoying my resistance. "Not going to sign, huh?"

With another wave of his hand, someone stumbled into the room and knelt in front of me.

My eyes widened in shock.

It was James. He was the same James who had given me his coat at the winery that day. He had been Caden's best friend for years, even bringing his parents to witness our wedding.

But now, he was on his knees, covered in blood, his clothes torn, his dignity shattered.

"Are you crazy?" I screamed at Caden. "He's your childhood friend! How can you do this to him?"

Caden grinned, his smile sickening, like a beast enjoying my pain. "Why? Are you feeling sorry for him? The number one beauty in Riverford is quite the catch, huh? Not only did you seduce your stepbrother, but you also seduced my friend. He stood up for my wife, and I was so angry I had to punish him."

James was sobbing uncontrollably, his forehead bruised and battered from repeatedly banging it against the floor. "Hailey, I beg you, no matter what Caden says, please agree with it. My family's gone bankrupt, and my parents are stuck at a construction site. If you don't agree, Caden will have them buried alive with cement. Please, Hailey, I can't live without them."

Chapter 7

Hailey's POV

The sound of knees hitting the floor echoed in my chest.

My hands shook as I reached for the pen, my fingers trembling as I scrawled the word 'voluntary' on the contract.

Caden patted me on the head, a sick, twisted satisfaction spreading across his face. "When you get on that stage, you better put on a good show and sell yourself. Maybe some blind rich guy will buy you, and you'll keep playing the backup for the cuckold."

My lips quivered. I desperately wanted to speak, to say anything at all, but all I could force myself to utter was, "Caden, you'll get what you deserve."

He sneered. "Only those who betray true love get what's coming to them. Let's see who really gets their payback."

A man in a mask walked over, and before I could react, he injected something into my side.

Everything went black, my vision fading into nothing.

....

When I came to again, I realized I was completely naked, locked inside a glass display case in Caden's VIP auction room.

My heart skipped a beat as I processed what was happening. On the couch across from me, Caden and Veronica were tangled up together.

Their voices were low, but their laughter was unmistakable as they shared some private joke I wasn't a part of.

As if sensing that I was awake, Veronica, likely feeling self-conscious about the stench on her clothes, tossed a small piece of fabric at my face.

I numbly pulled it off, the world spinning around me.

I could hear Caden's friends outside, laughing loud enough for the whole floor to hear.

“Caden, bro, a lot of people are saying you’re auctioning off your wife. It’s getting wild. Some of the older rich guys are eyeing Hailey, planning to throw stacks of cash just to get her.”

Caden leaned back in his chair, letting out a lazy exhale. “Tell them not to rush. I’ll put her on display for the old guys to play with. She’s got no uterus anyway, so no baggage. Just how they like it.”

He kicked the side of the display case, his voice sharp and cold. "I’ll give you one last chance. Call your cheating brother and tell him this: you're my woman for life. Maybe I’ll take you and Veronica when I go all out for her."

I closed my eyes, choosing silence.

There was nothing left to say.

Caden muttered a curse under his breath and shoved Veronica off of him.

"Cheap woman, let's see how long you can keep up your act."

The auction began, and one by one, Caden snatched up items that Veronica had her eye on with a lazy flick of his wrist.

Sitting among a pile of luxury goods, Veronica stared wide-eyed, mouth slightly agape, completely enthralled by the chaos.

But Caden's expression grew darker with every passing second. His gaze kept landing on me, cold and calculating.

Finally, the auctioneer announced the last item.

“Our final item up for auction, titled ‘True Love,’ is brought to us by Mr. Caden Wilder of Wilder Enterprises, based in Riverford City.”

"$5 million!"

"$10 million!"

"$50 million!"

The bids climbed higher, but Caden's face hardened.

"Hailey, I'm giving you one last chance…" His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, full of venom.

"VIP 31 just threw down a ridiculous bid," someone said, their voice cutting through the bidding frenzy.

Caden's face turned pale. He whipped around, staring at the auction stage with growing fury.