Chapter 1 Dumping the Cheater " Nova , you're actually agreeing to divorce my son ? This isn't some trick ? " ] " It is . But I want $ 10 million in alimony . " A beat of hesitation came through the line . " Fine . But give me a month to wrap things up . After that , you're out of his life for good . " ] Nova Hale forced a laugh , sharp with pain . [ ] She slipped the divorce papers into an elegant velvet box and sealed it shut . [] Then she opened her messages and sent a reply . ] ] [ Professor , I'll be back in Seattle in a month for the design competition . ] ] [ Really ? Don't let me down ! I always thought you were crazy to give up your dream for marriage . This is your second chance ! ] ] ] ... 0 By 10 PM , Kael Voss was home . Before he even kicked off his leather boots , he pulled Nova into a tight hug , his voice soft with fake urgency . " I'm so sorry , Nova . The highway was a disaster - don't be mad at me , okay ? " ] ] His eyes looked warm , even tender . se.l But the faint , woodsy - floral perfume clinging to his cashmere sweater burned her nose . Highway trouble ? More like he'd just left another woman's downtown loft . ] She blinked back the stinging in her eyes and held out the velvet box on the marble table . [ ] She forced a smile . " This is for you . " ] " A gift ? " ] ] Kael's face lit up , treating it like it was a rare artifact . He went to open it immediately , but Nova stopped his hand . [ ] " Wait until our anniversary . In a month . It'll hit different then . " [ ] Kael paused , then grinned , brushing a strand of her hair off her cheek . " Whatever you want , baby . You call the shots . " [ ] He pulled out his phone , snapped a photo of the box , and posted it to his Instagram Stories , his pride practically glowing through the screen . But Nova's throat tightened . [ ] Memories flashed unbidden - Kael chasing her from high school to her college , fighting his family tooth and nail to marry her . His mom had sneered at her back then , saying . " No man stays loyal forever . You'll be gone soon - and I'll pay you to leave . " She'd defended him , saying , " Kael's not like that . " ] ] And now , Karl had proven her wrong . Turns out , all she needed was the money to walk away clean . [] Hele Hope he'd really be happy in a month -0 Karl fucked the box away in his custom closet , then headed to the kitchen to cook ] The table was soon covered with all her favorite dishes . [ ] Nova watched the man's busy figure in the kitchen , her eyes burning with soreness . ] ] Back then , Karl had been a suave man who d never even stepped into a kitchen - when had he ever done something like this ? ] Later , for her sake , he'd taken lessons for ages After marriage , he'd been even more attentive - wherever he was, the d never had to lift a finger [ ] A06 Chapter 1 Dumping the Cheater " You've lost weight - did you stay up late working again ? " Kael said , piling food onto her plate . " From now on , every pound you lose means one less day at work . " [ ] Every word was filled with thick concern . ] He treated her like a kid to spoil . ] But Nova's heart was a jumble of emotions , bitter and unbearable .[ ] " Kael , do you love me ? " She looked up at him , her eyes a little red . [ ] When Kael saw that , he panicked , immediately putting down his fork to pull her into a hug . " I love you , Nova . You're my whole life . When you cry , my heart breaks . Did someone say something to you ? Tell me I'll fix it . " [ ] The love and worry in his eyes didn't seem fake . [ ] Nova couldn't help but zone out , mages unconsciously popped up in her mind : photos of him kissing another woman , holding hands on a foreign street . [ ] In fact , she'd known he had an affair a month ago . ] He still thought he was hiding it well But little did he know - the faint perfume on his body , the long hair on his clothes ... they'd already given him away . [ ] Heh. Did he really love her ? Just then , the phone by her hand vibrated . ]] The man glanced at it , dark waves surging in his eyes , and pressed the power button to turn it off . [] But Nova still saw the name on the screen : Sloane Reed . [ ] " What's wrong ? " Nova's throat felt dry as she looked at him , trying to spot even a tiny crack in his act . [ ] But there was nothing . " Nothing , " Kael said , flipping his phone face - down . " There's an issue with a project . I need to go check on it . Stay home - I'll be right back . " [ ] Nova's heart sank . She grabbed the hem of his shirt , trying to hold him back . " What work is so urgent that you have to handle it at night ? Can't it wait until tomorrow ? " ] Kael didn't hesitate . He pulled her into a tight hug , patting her back gently . " Okay . I'll stay with you ." He was so gentle , but Nova's heart twisted into a knot , aching so bad she could barely breathe . The meal tasted like nothing . That night , after taking a shower , she'd just stepped out of the bathroom , and Kael wrapped his arms around her from behind , his broad body exuding raw tension . [ ] His hands caressed her waist , slowly moving lower ... ] " Honey , your period's over , right ? " Nova's eyes were tinged with pink . The moment his hand reached for her robe , she pushed it away . [] " I'm a little tired . " Kael paused , the desire on his face fading , replaced with a pitiful look . " Honey ... " Nova's face was expressionless as the climbed into bed to sleep [ ] When Kael saw how firm she was , he didn't push her . He leaned down and kissed her cheek . " Sleep , I'll go to the study to finish work . " ] " Okay T As night deepened , a soft door creak sounded , and Nova opened her eyes instantly . Chapter 1 Dumping the Cheater Maybe it was a woman's sixth sense . She got out of bed , threw on a coat , and left the bedroom . ] She checked the study - no one was there . She frowned , and when she glanced to the side , she saw two tangled figures in the garden outside the window . Her body froze stiff . [ ] " Who told you to come here ! I said before - don't let Nova find out ! " ] Kael pushed the woman away , snapping at her angrily . [ ] Sloane's eyes were misty with tears as she boldly wrapped her arms around his waist . [ ] " I just think you're too stuck pretending . She won't satisfy you , but I will , Kael . Look - I'm wearing the pajamas you bought me . Do you want to see ? " As she spoke , she pulled down her top , standing on tiptoes to kiss the man's jaw . " Kael , come on . " " 0 Kael's breathing clearly grew heavier . He squeezed her waist hard . [ ] He'd just been rejected by Nova - right now , he really wanted to release his urges . " You little troublemaker . " ] He kissed along her neck , whispering dirty words in her ear , then hurried to pick her up and carry her toward the car not far away . ] Soon , the car started shaking . ] It was obvious how intense it was . Nova watched , her eyes stinging , big tears plopping down . Her heart hurt so bad she could barely breathe . [ Because of her family background , she'd never believed in love . [ ] Later , Kael had chipped away at her resolve with his affection . [ ] He had doted on her so much - he'd never pushed further , even when they were passionate . He'd only kissed her . [ ] It wasn't until their wedding night that he had carefully taken off her clothes . ] } ] That arrogant man had even gotten teary - eyed . [ ] He'd held her tenderly and said , " I'll never let you down in this life . " [ ] Back then , her heart had melted completely . " Listen , Kael. As long as you don't let me down , I'll never leave you . " ] ] And now , all of this felt like a joke . [ ] He still let her down ] Then she would leave him - forever . ] Nova turned and walked away silently . Back in the bedroom , she packed some clothes into a suitcase .[] After that , she walked to the calendar and drew an X on the 24th . Kael Still 29 days left . ] Nova didn't sleep all night . She'd only drifted off just before dawn . [ ] Early in the morning , Kael's panicked voice woke her up " Nova , what is this ? " Nova opened her eyes groggily . When she saw what he was holding , her heart skipped a beat . [ ] It was her reservation for the fake death service !