Eliana Hamilton went to Jared Palmer, her ex-boyfriend and a renowned lawyer, to arrange a divorce from her current husband.

In the past, after Eliana casually said she liked something, Bryson Snyder had purchased the entire brand and presented it to her on her birthday. He waited at her company entrance on rainy days to take her home, and protected her when Celia Snyder made things hard for her. To ensure she received acknowledgment from her family, he even suffered ninety-nine lashes.

Everyone believed Bryson deeply loved the orphan girl, Eliana.

Until the day his first love came back to the country, he joked with his friends.

“Everyone believes I secretly loved Eliana, false.”

“From start to finish, the only one I liked was Althea Wagner, but my mother looks down on her, thinking she’s just a young model without status.”

“So I made it seem like I had secretly loved Eliana for many years, first because her reputation was already ruined, having been involved with Jared for so long. After being together long enough, my mom might allow Althea to join the family.”

At that moment, Eliana finally understood that love could be faked.

Bryson did not love her, so she applied for divorce again and again, but was turned down repeatedly by top law firms.

Not only that, but it was even during the crucial time of her younger brother’s surgery.

Just because a dog raised by Althea had a stomach problem, Bryson pulled all the doctors out of the operating room.

While everyone gathered in the nearby consultation room to treat the dog, her younger brother, due to the missed rescue timing, died completely in the cold operating room.

When it came to feelings, she could not match Althea.

When it came to value, her younger brother’s life was not even worth a dog.

It was her younger brother’s bloody death that fully woke her up.

However, Bryson did not remember that he also had his own first love, just as Eliana did.

If Mila Palmer had not parted the lovers before, her husband now would have been Jared.

Still, on the day Jared succeeded in helping her with the divorce, he knelt before Eliana, his eyes flushed as he asked for her forgiveness.

Eliana only smiled. “You cheated, I divorced, but I reunited with my ex. Why are you crying?”

...…

Five years ago, Eliana left the reigning king of the legal world, Jared, and turned to marry Bryson, the crown prince of the city circle.

Five years later, Eliana sat across from the man and pleaded, “Jared, as long as you can help me handle this divorce case, I can pay any amount.”

Jared smiled smugly and lifted his brows as he asked, “What? You lost?”

Eliana looked down and self-mockingly smiled.

Back then, she and Jared had been close to getting married.

However, one day before the wedding, Mila threatened her through her only younger brother.

Mila strapped a bomb to her younger brother and warned.

“At the wedding tomorrow, you will publicly break things off with Jared and make sure he gives up on you. If you don’t, your younger brother will be the first to suffer. If he means nothing to you, then feel free to go through with the marriage.”

Eliana had lost both parents when she was young and relied on her younger brother to survive.

The Palmer family stood at the top of the city’s wealthy circles, and since she started seeing Jared, Mila had never respected her status.

Jared was now set on marrying her no matter what, and Mila used her final tactic.

She knew that even if she revealed the truth and Jared protected her this time, what about the second time?

So, on the wedding day, she publicly abandoned Jared.

When Bryson, the crown prince of the city circle, found out, he started chasing her relentlessly and once again used her family to threaten her.

If she refused the marriage, no one in the Hamilton family would remain alive.

Eliana was forced to accept, counting the days as she waited for Bryson to get tired and take the lead in letting her go.

Yet after the wedding, Bryson had fully changed into a different man.

Just because Eliana casually said she liked something, Bryson would acquire the entire brand and present it to her for her birthday.

On rainy days, he would show up at her office on time to pick her up after work.

When Celia made things difficult for her, he would defend her and even endure ninety-nine lashes to help her be accepted by the family.

Eliana believed that what she lost had been replaced elsewhere, and she gradually developed feelings for him.

Yet at that moment, Bryson had an affair with a young model.

When she discovered it, Eliana argued, caused a scene, and even said she would divorce him.

The night before they went to the City Hall, Bryson knelt down and admitted his fault, promising it would be the last time.

Around that time, Eliana became pregnant with Bryson’s child, and for the sake of the baby, she decided to give him another chance.

Four peaceful years made her believe he had truly changed.

But half a month ago, when she went to the company to find Bryson, she discovered the truth.

That day, the rain poured heavily. Eliana was soaked to the bone, but it was nothing compared to the pain caused by Bryson’s cruel words.

Bryson said, “Everyone assumed I secretly loved Eliana, wrong.”

“From start to finish, the only person I liked was Althea, but my mother looked down on her, thinking she was just a young model and not from a high status.”

“So I acted as if I had quietly loved Eliana for years, partly because her situation was already messy, having been with Jared for so many years. After staying together long enough, my mother might have agreed to let Althea join the family.”

Inside the room, everyone laughed, and someone asked, “Bryson, aren’t you worried that one day your wife will find out and make a scene by asking for a divorce?”

Bryson laughed openly and replied with confidence, “In the capital, there isn’t a lawyer brave enough to handle my case. In this lifetime, I’m the only one who can walk away from her. Eliana has no right to say it’s finished.”

After that, Eliana had searched for every possible way to divorce, checking all the law firms in the capital.

Yet as soon as they found out it was Bryson’s divorce case, they all declined her request.

Worse still, during the critical moment of her younger brother’s surgery.

Simply because Althea’s dog had stomach pain, Bryson pulled all the doctors out of the operating room.

As everyone stayed in the next consultation room to care for the dog, her younger brother, due to the missed critical rescue time, passed away in the cold operating room.

In terms of affection, she could not match Althea.

When it came to value, her younger brother’s life was less than that of a dog.

It turned out that a man’s concern and love could be pretended.

It was her younger brother’s bloodied life that completely woke her up.

The love from before had faded like smoke and clouds, all unreal, leaving behind only endless lies.

So no matter what, she had to take the child and completely get away from Bryson.

The Snyder family in the city held overwhelming power, and ordinary people truly did not dare to oppose them.

But the Palmer family stood against the Snyders, and in the whole city, the only one who dared to take this case was Jared.

So even though she knew Jared hated her, she still had no choice but to go to him.

Coming back to her senses, Eliana looked at him and spoke clearly, word by word.

“Yes, back then I couldn’t tell the difference between a person and a dog, so will you take this case?”

Even in this hopeless situation, Eliana kept her back straight.

Jared lit a cigarette. The smoke drifted around his face, making his expression hard to read and impossible to guess to Eliana.

“Eliana, you were the one who left me back then. The fact that I’m not making things worse for you now is already kindness. What makes you think I’d help you?”

“With the small amount of money you have, it isn’t even enough to cover my appearance fee.”

Eliana fixed her gaze on him.

Unlike five years ago, the innocence on her face had faded, replaced by calmness and coldness.

She should have realized it earlier. After five years of experience, Jared had already changed.

“Then why did you still come to the meeting, to see how miserable I am and then laugh at me?”

Jared did not reply, only smiled and made a soft sound, which was taken as agreement.

Eliana’s pride was trampled under the man’s feet, yet she did not give up and instead continued to bargain.

“Jared, as long as you agree to help me handle this divorce case, I will stay with you.”

Across from her, Jared’s fingers gripping the cigarette tightened slightly without reason.

Some brief gentleness flashed in his eyes, but his words remained cold until the end.

“Five years, what made you think I still wanted you?”

Eliana gestured toward the necklace on his neck. “Because you are still wearing the necklace I gave you.”

“This necklace was something I bought with my own earnings back then, a little more than one hundred dollars. Attorney Palmer’s status has gone up. Could it be you can’t even buy a necklace?”

“Help me get a divorce, and I will give you a big gift.”

Jared curled his lips and lifted his brows with a smile. “What kind of gift?”

“I hold all the Snyder family’s illegal business operations over the years, enough to make them fall.”

“I only have one requirement. When the time comes, I want eighty percent of the Snyder family’s assets.”

Jared suddenly put out the cigarette in front of him. “Miss Hamilton, you have quite a strong appetite.”

“But I accept this cooperation.”

“Can the divorce be filed successfully within one week?”

Seeing Eliana’s anxious expression, Jared curled his lips into a cold smile.

“You rushed into marriage back then, and now you’re rushing into divorce.”

“Eliana, are feelings so worthless to you?”

Eliana clenched her lower lip, aware that Jared still held a grudge against her.

He had always thought she had abandoned him to cling to Bryson.

Despite this misunderstanding, he was still willing to assist her, and she felt thankful enough.

“Jared, I know you have resentment toward me in your heart, but this divorce is really important to me.”

Seeing the redness in her eyes, Jared’s heart seemed to be gripped hard.

He abruptly stood up. “Within one week, I will fulfill your request, and you need to keep your promise.”

After saying this, Jared’s back gradually vanished from Eliana’s sight.

Eliana took a deep breath, feeling relieved that Jared agreed to help her.

In seven days, she would be able to take her daughter and fully leave Bryson behind.

After departing from the law firm, she went to the funeral home, retrieved her younger brother’s ashes, and held the funeral.

At the funeral, only a few people came to pay their respects.

Eliana’s parents had died when she was young, leaving just her and her younger brother, and the relatives in the family had always treated them poorly.

Over the past few years, only after they found out she had married the crown prince of the city did they begin to reconnect.

But upon hearing lately that Bryson had been unfaithful again, they all watched from the sidelines, waiting to mock her, so they would not come to grieve for her younger brother.

The warmth and coldness in human relationships, she completely understood them this time.

Yet things did not turn out as she wished; someone still came to make trouble for her even at this time.

“Eliana, I am deeply sorry about your younger brother’s passing, so I came today to apologize.”

Althea set down a bouquet of lilies in the funeral hall, her expression full of guilt.

From old times, no murderer would dare stand before the victim and speak.

Eliana pointed at her and yelled, “Get out! You are not welcome here!”

Her younger brother had been gone for so long, and she had many chances to come and apologize, yet she never did.

Now, she did not come to say sorry; she clearly came to stir trouble.

With just that one line, Althea felt very hurt, crying as she hid in Bryson’s arms.

“Bryson, did I say something wrong that made Eliana upset? Is she still blaming me?”

“Does Eliana think I caused her younger brother’s death, so she wants me to pay with my life?”

Bryson held her and gently comforted, “It’s fine, don’t be scared, with me here, no one can push you around, and no one can make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

Eliana felt a little lost after hearing this.

Back then, she was laughed at by people around her, treated like a public bus.

Bryson was the one who came out to protect her, saying before everyone: No one can bully my wife.

It had not been long, but things were already different.

After soothing Althea, Bryson frowned and stared at Eliana.

“Eliana, Althea has already given you a way to step down. Just follow it and let it go. She felt guilty and woke up early, especially chose a bouquet of lilies for you. What more do you want?”

Each word Bryson asked felt like tiny needles digging into her heart.

The pain made her shake.

Bryson forgot that she had an allergy to lilies.

Even after all these years, he still did not remember.

It showed that love or the lack of it had long appeared in these small things.

Eliana felt worn out, both her body and mind drained.

Now, she only wanted to properly complete her younger brother’s funeral, then bring her daughter and leave him.

She lifted her gaze and weakly said, “My younger brother died, can I not speak one fair sentence? I do not want anything, I only want you to give me some quiet.”

“My younger brother’s funeral does not accept you; you go.”

Eliana kept her head lowered as she burned items for her younger brother.

But Bryson and the others stayed, then passed a document to her.

“You can go, but you need to sign this paper first.”

Eliana’s heart shook again.

So the sadness was fake, the aim was true.

She only lifted her eyes; her view landed on a few large words on the front.

[Guardianship Transfer Letter]

Eliana frowned and asked, “What do you mean?”

Bryson spoke as if it were normal. “It means exactly that, give Hera to Althea to raise.”

“With one more person caring for her, this is good.”

Eliana looked at the man with shock, her nails pressing into her palm, yet she felt no hurt; only empty numbness remained.

“Bryson, you make my child call a mistress mother?”

“Are you still a human?!”

“The child belongs to me. I am her only mother. No matter what, I will never sign this agreement!”

Once she finished speaking, Eliana got up and forced them out.

Her strong response made Bryson’s face turn cold immediately.

He swung his arm, sending Eliana to the ground. Her arm was torn open with a wound over ten centimeters long, blood flowing out nonstop.

A slight ache passed through Bryson’s eyes, but he still said in a firm tone. “I came here today to tell you, not to discuss anything.”

“If you refuse to sign, you won’t be able to carry out today’s funeral.”

Right after he spoke, the bodyguards at the door entered and started breaking things in sight.

They were about to ruin the younger brother’s memorial tablet.

Eliana felt both pain and anger, her eyes turning red. “Enough, I sign! I sign!”

The one who passed was respected; this was her younger brother’s final quiet. She had to protect it.

It was only an agreement. After a week, she would bring her daughter and go far away.

This agreement was only a useless piece of paper.

Eliana picked up the agreement, her hand shaking without control as she wrote her name.

Seeing Eliana like this, Bryson felt a strange pain in his heart.

He bent down, softly trying to comfort her.

“Eliana, don’t worry. I will buy the best grave place in the capital for your younger brother, just take it as compensation for your brother-in-law.”

Eliana’s tears fell into the cracks on the ground, her lower lip, and she bit, and even started to bleed.

The person had already passed; what was the point of doing this?

Give a hit and then give something after?

She did not want it.

She lifted her eyes and looked at the man, clearly the same one from her memory who once placed her first in everything.

But Eliana understood that there was no future for them anymore.

Bryson reached what he wanted, then left together with Althea.

And Eliana stayed beside her younger brother through the night.

When the night grew deep and quiet, the phone beside her kept ringing. It was messages sent again and again by Althea to upset her.

There were images of Bryson spending a lot of money on her during the auction.

There were also pictures of them finishing a box of condoms in one night.

And photos of both of them without clothes, in many positions.

In the past, Eliana always thought Bryson was distant; only now she realized that the reason he was like that was because of her.

At the start, Eliana still felt pain, but later she turned completely numb.

In any case, she no longer cared; Bryson could do anything he wanted.

But she saved screenshots of everything; all of it would serve as evidence in court later to leave Bryson with nothing.

Eliana stayed up through the night, and the next morning she received a call from her supervisor to report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

She was a forensic doctor, and whenever there were suspicious deaths, she needed to go inspect the body.

This time was the same, but different from before; the body was an infant, around four years old, judging by the condition.

At the start, Eliana could still calmly handle the remains, restore the appearance, and analyze the cause of death.

Only after spotting the lucky charm on the baby’s neck did Eliana freeze in place.

Four years earlier, before Hera was born, she had also bought the same lucky charm.

Afterward, Bryson claimed it had gone missing in the hospital and was never recovered.

But now, that same lucky charm appeared before her, hanging on a child’s body.

Eliana’s arm went stiff, and a chill ran through her whole body.

A terrifying thought quickly filled her mind.

Was this dead child actually hers?

If this lifeless baby was her own, then what about Hera?