Chapter 1
Evelyn Kendall was a conservative woman. The wildest thing she'd ever done in her life was agree to her husband Sebastian Ashford's idea of outdoor thrills.
"Babe, I heard making love mid-bungee jump is incredible... wanna try it?"
His shirt hung open, his sculpted muscles pressed against Evelyn as he kissed her earlobe, coaxing her to say yes.
Even though they'd booked a completely private bungee site, Evelyn was terrified. Not just terrified—embarrassed.
But Sebastian was so insistent, calling her "babe" over and over. "Come on, just try it. I'll make you feel amazing."
She couldn't resist him. She finally gave in. They'd been cold and distant for months. This trip was supposed to fix things. She didn't want to ruin it.
Once they were strapped into the harness and suspended in midair, Evelyn curled into Sebastian's chest, trembling.
Behind her, the man chuckled low in his throat. His large hands stroked her skin soothingly, trying to distract her.
But Evelyn was terrified of heights. Nothing could calm her down. She told herself not to look down—that would make it bearable.
"Mmm—" A soft sound escaped her lips.
Sebastian's agile fingers slipped beneath her skirt, finding their way deeper, sending shivers through her body.
Three years of marriage had taught Sebastian exactly where Evelyn was most sensitive. He knew how to make her melt.
When he sensed she was ready, he gripped her slender waist with both hands and slowly pushed inside her.
To avoid swaying in midair, Evelyn practically hung off Sebastian's body, her long legs wrapped tightly around his solid waist.
It was exactly as thrilling as Sebastian had promised. Every subtle sway pushed him deeper. He barely had to move. It was even more intense than usual.
Evelyn tilted her head back, biting her lip to stifle any sound. Even with no staff around, doing this outdoors felt incredibly shameful.
Suddenly, a phone rang—sharp and insistent.
She flinched, shrinking into Sebastian's arms.
Anyone would be annoyed by an interruption like this. Sebastian's face darkened. He tried to ignore it, but the ringing wouldn't stop.
Irritated, he pulled out his phone. When he saw the caller ID—Annie—his expression changed completely. He answered immediately.
Evelyn could faintly hear a woman crying on the other end. Sebastian forgot he was still inside her and began gently comforting the other woman.
Evelyn's heart sank like a stone.
Only one person could make Sebastian stop at such a critical moment—Arianna Jackson. She wasn't just Sebastian's sister-in-law. She was his true love.
"Annie, don't worry. I'm coming right now."
Sebastian hung up and pulled out of her without hesitation, completely forgetting the wife he'd been tangled up with moments ago.
He called for the staff to release them from the harness and lower them down.
Evelyn thought bitterly, at least she'd worn a dress. It was easy to straighten out.
Sebastian seemed to realize he'd been too abrupt. He offered a quick explanation. "Annie's in trouble. I have to go. If you want to keep having fun, go ahead."
With the staff's help, they were finally unstrapped. Sebastian bolted without a backward glance at Evelyn.
Evelyn stared blankly at his retreating figure. The urgency and concern on Sebastian's face looked exactly like a husband rushing to his wife's side.
But she was his wife.
And today's bungee jump had been his idea.
A dense, suffocating pain spread through her chest.
Last time, he'd abandoned her during an appendicitis attack because Arianna's water pipe burst. The time before that, Arianna said she was afraid of the dark. Sebastian braved a storm to comfort her while Evelyn lay home with a fever.
And the time before that...
It had happened so many times, Evelyn couldn't even keep track anymore. But every single time Arianna was in trouble, Sebastian rushed to her side.
Between her and Arianna, Evelyn was always the one left behind. Even during sex... he could abandon her at any moment.
Sebastian didn't come back that night. The next afternoon, he finally pushed open the hotel room door—but his phone was pressed to his ear, mid-conversation with Arianna.
"You're on your period. Don't eat anything cold. I already had someone send you hot soup."
"You need to take better care of yourself. If you need anything, just ask. Don't catch a cold like last night—I don't want to have to come rub your stomach again."
Evelyn watched the scene unfold, expressionless. Even though she'd already felt Sebastian's favoritism last night, her chest still ached.
He'd abandoned her on a bungee platform because Arianna had period cramps. It was absurd.
A bitter smile tugged at Evelyn's lips. She pulled out a document that had been gathering dust for years. She signed her name and glanced at the bold letters on the first page—Divorce Agreement.
Without hesitation, she walked over and handed it to Sebastian. "Sign it."
This divorce agreement had been drafted before their marriage. Sebastian had given it to her himself.
When they registered their marriage, he'd told her sincerely that his brother had passed away, and his sister-in-law Arianna needed him to take care of her for the rest of her life. If Evelyn ever wanted a divorce, she could use this agreement.
He'd wronged her, he said. It was his way of giving her security.
The agreement stated that aside from company shares, Sebastian would give Evelyn two-thirds of his assets as compensation.
At the time, Evelyn had been moved by his honesty. She never doubted his sincerity. After they married, the agreement sat forgotten in a corner. She never looked at it again.
Because of that supposed sincerity, Evelyn had endured three years of Sebastian's mistreatment—all for Arianna's sake.
Now she realized it was nothing more than a liability waiver. He'd made it clear from the start: Arianna was the most important person in his life. If Evelyn could accept that, they'd get married. If she felt wronged, it was her own choice. She couldn't blame him.
Sebastian only needed a glance to know it was a divorce agreement.
But he was too busy listening to Arianna act cute on the phone. Without looking, he picked up a pen and casually signed his name.
Was he that trusting? Or did he just not care enough to pay attention?
Evelyn let out a cold laugh and tucked the agreement away before he could change his mind.
Sebastian didn't notice anything unusual. He patiently spoke to Arianna for a few more minutes before finally hanging up.
The warmth and affection in his eyes vanished instantly. When he turned to Evelyn, his expression was cold and detached.
"Annie's not feeling well. I need to fly back home to be with her. You can stay abroad and enjoy yourself."
It wasn't a discussion. It was an announcement.
Evelyn studied Sebastian's eyes carefully. He didn't feel even a shred of guilt about abandoning her on the bungee platform yesterday.
She nodded. "Okay."
"I'm going to be busy for a while. I might not be able to answer your calls. If you need anything, contact my assistant."
With that final instruction, Sebastian grabbed his coat and left. From start to finish, he treated her like a business associate. And Evelyn understood the subtext of his last sentence perfectly.
Don't call him unless it's urgent.
The door clicked shut behind Sebastian.
Evelyn sank back into the chair, staring at the divorce agreement in her hands. She felt like a bird trapped in a cage for years who'd finally found the key.
For the first time in a long time, she felt... light.
In one month, the divorce would be finalized. She and Sebastian would have nothing to do with each other. He would disappear from her life completely.