Chapter 1 " I need two documents drafted ," Violet said calmly . " One for my resignation , and the other … a divorce from Gabriel ." The lawyer hesitated , his brow furrowed , his voice low with concern . " Violet , your relationship with Gabriel hasn't been easy to build . Maybe give it some more thought before moving forward with something so final . " For the past three years , Violet had served as Gabriel Bennett's secretary . Behind closed doors , she had also been his wife- something no one else knew . A month ago , she was abducted . Her captors repeatedly called Gabriel , demanding a 1/14 Chapter 1 +5 Points ransom . He didn't answer a single time . Eventually , they tossed her into the icy sea . She would've died if a fisherman hadn't found her by chance and pulled her out . That very night , Gabriel was at a hotel - with Ruby , Violet's younger sister . In one swift blow , everything Violet had once treasured - years of affection and three hidden years of marriage - crumbled into nothing . She finally saw things clearly . This time , she was truly ready to walk away . " My decision's made " she said , steady and sure . " Gabriel won't fight it ." 2/14 Chapter + 5 Points The truth was , she had always known- Gabriel had never loved her . Not for a single day . But she had loved him since they were young . When he agreed to marry her three years ago , she'd said yes through tears of joy . Now , with their third anniversary approaching , she had prepared her final gift . A signed divorce . Freedom - for both of them . 3/14 Chapter 1 + 5 Points That evening , when Violet returned to the villa , Gabriel was in the kitchen cooking . It was odd . He hated the mess cooking made -always had . She remembered once , early in their marriage , when he walked into the kitchen mid - dinner , wrinkled his nose , and muttered , " What is this ? A garbage dump ? " But when Ruby said she liked home - cooked meals , he immediately signed up for cooking classes . Tonight , he brought out a tray of food . " Didn't you say work was slow today ? What took you so long to get home ? " 5/14 Chapter 1 + 5 Points Even in a kitchen apron , Gabriel looked effortlessly attractive - tall , broad - shouldered , and composed . Violet put on a calm face and answered evenly , " The new hires just came in . I've been putting together training manuals . " Gabriel didn't press further . To him , she was always tied up with work . " Alright then ," he said . " Dinner's ready . Let's eat . " She took her seat . He placed a slice of bitter melon onto her plate . " I remembered you liked this . I made it just for you . " A dull pain bloomed in Violet's chest . Bitter melon was Ruby's favorite . Violet was allergic . 6/14 Chapter 1 +5 Points Three years of marriage , and he still didn't know . If he had paid even a little attention , he wouldn't have gotten it so wrong . Gabriel noticed her pause . " Vivi ? Why aren't you eating ? " Instead of answering , she pushed the plate aside and retrieved two papers from her bag . " Dinner can wait . I need you to go over these and sign ." He frowned - business talk at the dinner table wasn't his thing . " What's so urgent ? It can't wait until later ? " Just as he reached for the documents , his phone lit up . 7/14 Chapter 1 + 5 Points He turned the screen away quickly , but Violet had already seen the caller ID . It was Ruby . Without a word , he stood and walked out to the balcony to answer . In the process , his arm bumped the table , sending plates crashing to the floor . Shards of glass scattered across the tile . One piece nicked Violet's finger , drawing a line of red that trickled silently to the floor . Gabriel didn't notice . He spent fifteen minutes on the call , then returned , grabbed his jacket , and headed for the door . " I've got plans tonight . Don't wait up . " 8/14 Chapter 1 Violet blocked his path . " You still haven't signed ." He let out a sharp sigh , clearly irritated . Without reading them , he flipped to the last page and scribbled his name . " There . Happy now ? Can I go ? " She looked down at his signature , her voice hollow . " Yeah . You can go ." As though he couldn't get out fast enough , he disappeared without another glance . Violet laughed under her breath - dry , bitter . If he had cared even a little , he would've realized he'd just signed divorce and resignation papers . 9/14 And that she was still bleeding . But Gabriel's heart had always belonged to Ruby - her sister , the one everyone believed was the " true " daughter of the Martin family . Twenty - five years ago , their nanny and Violet's mother, Isabella , gave birth in the same hospital . A mix - up switched the babies . Violet , the real heiress , was raised by the nanny . Ruby became the cherished daughter of the Martins . It wasn't until five years later - after the nanny's death - that the truth came to light . The Martins took Violet in , but they never gave Ruby up . Isabella had said , " Vivi , she's grown up with 10/14 Chapter I + 5 Points Then a month ago , Ruby came back - and Gabriel betrayed Violet without hesitation . To push her out , he even leaked intimate videos of himself with Ruby . Violet saw one of them . In it , Gabriel said , " Violet never did anything wrong . But if I just ask for a divorce , both families will push back . We have to ruin her image so her parents won't argue ." Ruby had asked , " You've been married for three years . Did you ever love her ? " Gabriel's answer was immediate . " She was just a placeholder . I married her to keep people quiet ." Violet used to think she could win his heart through patience and love . 12/14 Chapter 1 + 5 Points She had been wrong . Eyes blurry with tears , she took a worn notebook from her bag . Three years ago , she'd written herself a promise . If Gabriel disappointed her 99 more times , she'd finally walk away . That video was the 99th . That night , she placed three items in a box , sealed it shut , and locked it away in the safe . It was her final anniversary gift to Gabriel . He might even appreciate it . With everything done , Violet picked up her 13/14 phone and dialed a number she hadn't used in years . " Xavier … my cooling - off period ends in a month . Come get me then . " 14/14