Chapter 1 Let's Get Divorced
- My brother married you only because your voice resembled Sophia's. The two of them are childhood sweethearts. If you have any shame left in you, don't be a cuckoo in the nest anymore! You're just a substitute. Sophia has returned, and they are now celebrating Ben's birthday together. Just wait until Ben divorces you!
- "Benjamin, let's get divorced," said Melanie Davis with trembling hands as Jadyn Moore's mockery rang in her head.
- As it turns out, he didn't come home all night because he was celebrating his birthday with another woman, huh? Melanie thought. Not only that, he married me because I sounded like her… No wonder he liked making me call him Ben repeatedly.
- Benjamin Moore fixed his gaze intently on Melanie, his voice icy. "What did you say?"
- Melanie pressed her lips together tightly. Her eyes were reddening at the corners, but they were filled with determination nonetheless. "I said, let's get divorced."
- She took out a suitcase and began packing, moving swiftly with a sense of urgency, whereas Benjamin turn grimmer and clasped her wrist. "You were the one who begged me to marry you."
- His grip hurt her, and it was then Melanie realized her genuine feelings were nothing more than pleas to him. Instantly, irony and regret entangled within her heart.
- At that, she retorted through gnashed teeth, saying, "In that case, isn't divorce exactly what you want?"
- They were well aware of how their marriage came about in the first place.
- She thought that as long as she played the role of Mrs. Moore well, she could eventually win his heart. But in reality, it was merely her wishful thinking all along.
- With tearful eyes, she stared at him with resentment, and Benjamin suddenly let go of her as he squinted his eyes.
- "Do you know what divorce means?" he asked.
- Melanie remained silent, her face momentarily paling.
- At that, he monotoned on her behalf, saying, "Once you walk out that door, you will no longer be Mrs. Moore. According to the terms of our marriage agreement, you won't receive a penny from the Moore Family. What awaits you is the life you had before."
- "Huh, as if anyone knows I'm Mrs. Moore!"
- It was only after Melanie got into the cab that she let her tears flow, but she quickly wiped them away, leaving no trace behind.
- Inside the massive mansion, while Benjamin wore a grim expression, his phone rang non-stop, and he eventually answered it.
- "Ben, are you home?"
- "Yes," replied Benjamin as he got up to stub out his cigarette.
- "Let me ask you this, then. Now that Sophia's back, when are you going to divorce Melanie?" Jadyn eagerly asked on the other end of the line.
- Benjamin, on the other hand, turned even grimmer upon hearing the sensitive word. "When did I ever say I wanted a divorce?!"
- Jadyn was silenced at once, and she took a gander at the woman next to her before gritting her teeth, saying, "But didn't you marry her simply because—"
- "It's not your place to meddle in my affairs," Benjamin interjected icily, but just as he was about to hang up, an oh-too-familiar voice came from the other end of the line. "Ben, are you still mad at me?"
- Benjamin fell silent upon hearing her voice, his gaze fixed on a forgotten bracelet on the coffee table. He picked it up and played with it in his hand before saying curtly, "It's late. Get some rest." Then, he hung up.
- "Ben? Hello? Ben!" Jadyn gazed shockingly at the disconnected phone, her voice filled with incredulity. "What is the meaning of this? Does he not want a divorce?"
- Meanwhile, Sophia looked at the disconnected phone with profound emotions for a long while before asking softly, "Jadyn, do you think your brother has developed feelings for his wife?"
- "No way!" The young woman frowned. "I heard it with my own ears that Ben admitted to marrying Melanie because her voice resembled yours, and you already married someone else. That was why he chose her in the end, but there's no way Ben would fall in love with Melanie."
- "But…" Sophia's fists clenched involuntarily as she recalled the moment he saw her earlier that night. There was everything but joy on his face. "Feelings might inevitably develop over time."
- "Well, that'll be even more unlikely," said Jadyn while gazing at Sophia in bewilderment. "You and Ben have known each other since you were kids, and it's only been like, what, a year since Melanie married my brother. She has nothing on you."
- At that, Sophia seemingly relaxed. "But you saw it yourself tonight. He was distant toward me." His demeanor toward her was no different from how he treated others, but it wasn't like that before.
- Jadyn patted Sophia's hand in response, comforting her as she said, "Trust me, Sophia. You're all Ben wants, and I can assure you that he will never fall in love with a substitute. Back when you left without a word, Ben searched for you for six whole months only to learn that you had married someone else. Naturally, it's understandable that he feels somewhat resentful. Just coax him however possible. He'll eventually forgive you."
- At that, Sophia drooped her eyelids and smiled gently. "You're right. There's still a long road ahead."