Monica Brown was grabbing groceries at the supermarket when her phone buzzed. It was Alexander Smith's mom, Bertha Davis.
She glanced at the caller ID, hesitated, and then answered, "Hey, Mom..."
"What's taking you so long? Get back right now!" Bertha's angry voice barked through the phone.
Before Monica could even respond, Bertha hung up.
With a sigh, Monica abandoned her shopping and headed home.
As soon as she entered the living room, without even removing her shoes, Bertha threw a jewelry box at her, yelling, "Where's my emerald necklace? It's worth millions!"
"I didn't take it, I swear."
"You're the only poor country girl here. If it wasn't you, who else could it be? How did the Smith family end up with someone like you?"
Monica stayed quiet.
She knew Bertha despised her. Ever since she married Alexander three years ago, Bertha had been making her life miserable with insults and accusations.
In the past, Monica would defend herself, but now she knew it was pointless. No matter what she said, Bertha would just get angrier. It was easier to let her rant and get it over with.
This time, Bertha went even further. She jabbed Monica's forehead with her finger. "Don't think you can get away with it. I've already called Alexander. You need to explain yourself today. Either give me the necklace or get out of the Smith Villa!"
Monica stayed silent.
She suspected Bertha had hidden the necklace herself, just to create this drama and force her out.
An hour later, Alexander walked in.
Monica looked at him instinctively. He was tall and slender, his custom suit jacket draped over his arm, carrying a faint scent of women's perfume.
Bertha rushed to him. "Alexander, divorce her immediately. How could you marry a thief?"
"I get it. You can go now," Alexander said, his face as cold as ever.
He walked up to Monica and handed her a document. "Take a look. If it's fine, sign it."
It was a divorce agreement.
Monica didn't take it. She looked at him, her voice trembling. "Do you also think I stole it?"
"It doesn't matter. Just sign it," he said, his voice emotionless.
So, he didn't believe her either.
She watched as he tossed the divorce agreement onto the coffee table and started to head upstairs. She spoke softly, "Stella is back, right?"
Alexander turned, his deep voice tinged with impatience. "Monica, you know why we got married. Don't make this ugly."
Monica let out a bitter laugh.
Yeah, she knew.
Three years ago, Hazel Carter was seriously ill and wanted to see her grandson Alexander get married before she died.
Back then, it was supposed to be Stella Brown marrying into the Smith family, as she had grown up with Alexander and they had feelings for each other.
But just before the wedding, it was discovered that Stella wasn't the biological daughter of the Brown family. She had been switched at birth with Monica, who was born on the same day at the hospital.
Hayden Brown searched high and low and finally found Monica, who had been living out in the countryside.
So, naturally, Monica was the one who ended up marrying into the Smith family.
Stella wasn't having it, so she tried to ruin Monica's marriage on her wedding day. However, she ended up falling down the stairs, breaking her leg, and being sent abroad for treatment.
The whole thing blew up, and in a society that loves to side with the underdog, everyone painted Monica as the villain who stole someone else's love. Bertha insulted her, and Alexander couldn't even stand to look at her, let alone touch her.
Even her own parents thought she was a nasty piece of work.
To them, Stella was the epitome of grace, elegance, and education.
Monica? Just a spiteful country girl.
Honestly, she didn't care what others thought. She only cared about Alexander.
She put up with Bertha's insults, took care of Alexander, and held down the fort.
She believed her love would eventually melt his cold heart, but she was mistaken.
This loveless, sexless marriage was too much. She didn't have the strength to keep going.
But why should she leave just because they told her to?
Monica walked up to Alexander. "Spend one night with me, and I'll sign the papers."
Alexander was untying his tie, thinking he misheard, his eyes filled with disgust. "Monica, how can you say something like that? Do you have no shame?"
"Shame?" Monica sneered. "If fulfilling marital duties with my husband is shameful, then what do you call someone who willingly becomes a mistress or cheats during marriage?"
"Monica!" Alexander was pissed.
"This is my only condition for agreeing to the divorce!" Monica cut him off, stepping forward and grabbing his tie, her eyes filled with hatred and challenge. "What, Mr. Smith, are you unwilling? Or are you impotent?"
Alexander was instantly enraged. "Nonsense! I'll show you right now!"
He grabbed the back of her head and kissed her fiercely.
Monica kissed him back with equal passion.
Alexander showed no tenderness, throwing her onto the bed, tearing open her shirt, and roughly touching her body.
Monica had never been touched like this before, and her body reacted instantly.
Alexander sneered, "You're already this wet. Do you want a man that badly?"
With that, he thrust into her forcefully.
Without giving her time to adjust, he began to move rapidly.
Monica wanted to curse, but the sounds that came out were a series of seductive moans.
Alexander had never felt this way before. Her body seemed tailor-made for his size, making him insatiable. He wanted more and more until dawn, finally letting her go.
Monica looked at him as he slept.
When he was asleep, he didn't seem so cold or cruel. His facial features were well-defined and handsome.
She used to be infatuated with his face, but now, looking at him, she didn't seem to like him as much anymore.
When Alexander woke up, she was already gone, leaving only the signed divorce agreement on the bedside table.
In the section for the reason for divorce, she had handwritten: [The husband has sexual dysfunction and cannot fulfill marital duties.]
Alexander's handsome face turned extremely dark.
Damn woman!
He took out his phone and called Monica, but her number was already disconnected.