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Chapter 1: Let’s Get a Divorce
“I only want to protect you!”
Pearl Cooper held a glass of wine, her gaze fixed on the screen playing a confession video–her husband, Caleb Rhodes, professing his love.
A romantic moment–if only the confession hadn’t been meant for another woman.
At that moment, Caleb walked back into the banquet hall, hand in hand with his first love, Violet Archer.
The once lively banquet hall fell into utter silence.
On the large screen, the confession video kept playing on loop.
Caleb immediately realized what had happened he had been secretly recorded.
Without hesitation, he tightened his grip on Violet’s hand and kept walking out.
Pearl had never felt such humiliation in her life.
Enduring the weight of countless stares, she forced herself to ask, “And what about me? What am I to you?”
In such a setting, in such disgrace–how was she supposed to hold her head up in the future?
All he had to do was offer the slightest explanation.
“Don’t embarrass yourself any further!” Caleb didn’t even look back as he pulled Violet away.
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Half an Hour Later – At Rhodes Residence
“This is all because of you! The Rhodes family has been utterly humiliated!” Anya Rhodes, the matriarch of the family, shrieked in rage, her voice sharp and cutting.
What should have been a grand celebration for the old Mr. Rhodes‘ birthday had now turned into a complete joke.
Pearl was forced to kneel on the floor.
She had always been quiet and avoided conflict in this household, but this accusation was absurd. Unable to hold back, she defended herself, “I wasn’t the one who disgraced the Rhodes family!”
“If you hadn’t questioned him in front of everyone, things wouldn’t have escalated like this!” Anya, unwilling to
blame her son, turned all her fury on her daughter–in–law. Shooting Pearl a scornful glance, she sneered, “Commoners have no class.”
Anya had despised Pearl for her humble background from the very beginning.
“Right. If you had any sense, you wouldn’t have made a scene at such an occasion.” Caleb’s sister, Olivia Rhodes, looked at Pearl with contempt. Bullying her had always been her favorite pastime.
The absurdity of their accusations made Pearl laugh bitterly. “Am I the unreasonable one? Am I supposed to just pretend nothing happened when I see my own husband confessing his love to another woman? Do you think I’m an idiot?”
Pearl had always been meek, but today, she refused to back down.
Anya’s expression darkened, and in her fury, she slapped
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Pearl hard across the face. “How dare you talk back to your elders? You have no manners at all!”
Across the room, Caleb’s father, Aiden Rhodes, approached with Caleb, his face grim.
Olivia, seeing an opportunity, quickly put on a pitiful act.
“Mom, Dad, I saw everything! Pearl was the one who set up the recording! Now, great–grandfather is so furious he’s been hospitalized–all because of her!”
“Then let her kneel until grandfather is discharged!” Aiden commanded sternly.
He cared about nothing more than the family’s reputation, and to him, any disgrace should be handled in private.
Caleb had been wrong to confess to Violet, but in Aiden’s eyes. Pearl was the greater offender–for making the matter public.
With that, Aiden led everyone back inside. Before leaving, Olivia smirked and stuck out her tongue at Pearl in mockery.
Caleb, however, didn’t follow them. Instead, he stood in front of Pearl, his voice cold. “That wasn’t a confession. I would never degrade Violet by making a public declaration while being a married man.”
It was the first time Caleb had ever explained anything of this nature to her. His tone was harsh, but Pearl still held onto a glimmer of hope.
Her heart leaped as she looked up at him. “Caleb, the video was arranged by Violet. I have proof.”
She held out a USB drive, pressing it into his palm.
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Caleb took it—then, in the next second, crushed it under his foot.
Pearl stared at him in disbelief. “You… Why?”
“There’s a million dollars on this card. Kneel for a few days, then take a nice vacation.” Caleb didn’t even bother answering her, tossing a black card in front of her.
“So… Even though you know Violet is guilty, you’re still going to protect her? You’re even trying to buy me off with a million dollars to take the blame for her?”
Pearl looked at the card, her heart freezing over. Grief and indignation swelled inside her.
Caleb remained silent–his silence was his answer.
“I don’t want your money. I’ll take the blame for her, but only on one condition–you publicly declare that there’s nothing between you and Violet.”
This was the last shred of dignity she could hold onto.
“Impossible.” Caleb rejected her outright.
Doing so would push Violet back into the spotlight–he wouldn’t do that. He didn’t need to.
He had always been impatient with Pearl. Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Pearl stared at his retreating back and suddenly spoke-
“Let’s get a divorce.”
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