I couldn't help but look up at the people laughing and chatting inside the private room.

Under the dim, seductive lighting, Prudence and Jackson were drinking from a shared glass, lips pressed together.

Jackson pretended to stumble into Prudence's arms, his face flushing red as the others egged them on.

One of her friends teased with a laugh.

"Prudence, you really know how to play the game."

"You got your hands on a gorgeous guy like Solomon without spending a dime, and he's been devoted to you for years."

"But aren't you worried he'll find out and lose it on you?"

Prudence lifted Jackson's hand to her lips and kissed it lightly, then laughed as if it were nothing.

"You know how much Solomon's penalty for breach of contract is?"

"Eight hundred million."

"Without me, he'd never pay that off in his lifetime."

"So no matter what happens, he has no choice but to stay right by my side like a good boy."

She leaned back, smugly sharing her secrets for "keeping a husband in line" with everyone around her.

How she'd bankrupted my family's company, then swooped in like a hero to win my heart.

How she'd used a box of fever medicine to destroy my reputation and career, leaving me no choice but to stay trapped beside her.

As she spoke, her face glowed with pride.

She had no idea that outside the door, tears were streaming down my face.

I remembered when I first met Prudence. I was at the lowest point of my life.

My family's company had gone bankrupt. My father had killed himself out of despair.

My mother, who'd never weathered a single storm, had a heart attack and ended up in the hospital.

To make money, I threw myself into any work I could get—acting jobs, anything.

But I was tangled up in lawsuits back then. Every actor and director who'd once been friendly with me suddenly wanted nothing to do with me.

Only Prudence stepped forward to help.

That day was bright and sunny. She crouched down in front of me and smiled.

"Solomon, I've seen your work."

"You're pure, beautiful—nothing like all those people chasing fame and fortune."

"Give me a chance. Let me do something for you."

Before I could even react, she was already taking action.

She paid off every debt my family owed in one sweep.

She found the best specialists to treat my mother.

Designer jewelry, a mansion, diamond rings—Prudence gave them without hesitation.

When she found out I loved animals, she threw money around like it was nothing.

Right in the heart of Crown City, where land cost a fortune, she built me a sprawling estate that covered several acres.

Everyone said I was lucky to have found a golden goose like Prudence.

She single-handedly lifted me from a nobody to an A-list star.

Back then, I was young and naive.

I didn't understand how quickly things could change, or how cruel people could be.

I fell for her warmth and generosity.

Then came our wedding day, and Prudence said to me:

"Solomon, I've been burned before. The thing I hate most in this world is a gold-digger."

"I want our relationship to be free of any ulterior motives."

For that reason, she'd prepared a special divorce agreement.

The terms were crystal clear.

Prudence would only take a salary of one dollar per year.

If we divorced, the only asset I could claim was that single dollar.

To put her mind at ease, to prove my feelings were real—

I signed my name on that agreement without a second thought.

But after we married, I discovered the truth.

Prudence's scheming ran far deeper than I'd realized.

Every investment she'd made in my family had been structured as a loan.

Every single cent had to be repaid—with interest.

All that jewelry? Registered under Old Mrs. Gillian Delgado's name.

I didn't just lack ownership—every time I wore those pieces, I had to pay a hefty rental fee.

The so-called luxury mansion and cars? Only the down payments had been covered. The massive loans that remained were mine to pay off.

On top of that, the prenuptial agreement spelled it out clearly.

As Prudence Delgado's husband, I was obligated to maintain the image of the Delgado family and their company.

I had to accompany Prudence to all kinds of events, serve as an unpaid spokesperson for their products.

I had to buy designer jewelry out of my own pocket just to keep up appearances.

The packed schedule and endless social obligations ate up every moment I had.

My career—once at its peak—collapsed.

And my savings, already running thin, were bled dry.

It wasn't like I'd never complained to Prudence about it.

But every time, she'd just hold me and say:

"Solomon, I don't want this either."

"But the Delgado empire is too big. I can't override the Board's decisions."

"Just bear with it a little longer. Once I've taken over everything, I'll make it up to you for all your hard work!"

So I endured. For three years.

Three years of pouring out my heart, giving everything I had.

And what did I get in return? My family destroyed. My reputation in ruins.

And thanks to Prudence's scheming, an astronomical breach-of-contract penalty hanging over my head.

All that so-called love. All that so-called sincerity.

From the very beginning, it had been nothing but a calculated scheme to suck me dry.

I couldn't hold back anymore.

I practically fled into the bathroom, sobbing uncontrollably.

The running water drowned out my cries.

When I finally looked up, Jackson Pruitt was standing right in front of me.

He was dressed in some designer outfit that probably cost more than most people's rent.

His eyes were full of satisfaction as he looked at me.

"Solomon, you heard everything we said just now, didn't you?"

"Heartbroken? Devastated? And absolutely helpless to do anything about it?"

"Here's some friendly advice—just be a good boy and divorce Prudence."

"While you've still got a little fame left, go shoot some skin flicks, find yourself a sugar daddy. You'll pay off those debts eventually."

"Otherwise, once your looks fade and you get kicked to the curb, life's going to get real hard."

He saw my weakness. He understood exactly where it hurt.

So every word was a knife aimed straight at my wounds.

When I didn't respond, Jackson leaned in closer.

In a voice only the two of us could hear, like a devil whispering:

"Oh, and there's something else you probably don't know."

"I'm the one who drafted your prenup. And your family's bankruptcy? I engineered that too."

"So don't think you can get rid of me."

"I'm nothing like a pretty face like you. I'm the one who deserves to be at Prudence's side in the end."

That vicious look on Jackson's face brought back the memory of my father's eyes—hopeless, in his final moments.

I couldn't hold back anymore. My hand flew across his face.

The slap had barely landed when a force shoved me hard to the side.

Prudence had appeared out of nowhere, shielding Jackson.

Her face was full of concern as she examined the faint red mark on his cheek.

Those eyes that once looked at me so tenderly now barely concealed her fury.

"Solomon, what are you doing?!"

"Apologize to Jackson. Now."

"Do you have any idea what it would do to the company's image if someone saw this?!"

She felt sorry for Jackson. She cared about the company.

But she hadn't noticed at all—my face, already dead inside.

I slowly got to my feet. The words came out through clenched teeth.

"Prudence. Let's get a divorce."

Divorce.

I could cover Mom's medical bills myself.

I could work to pay off every cent I owed.

Even if it took the rest of my life.

Even if it drained every last drop of my energy.

That was still better than spending another day suffering at Prudence's side.

When she heard me, a flicker of shock crossed her face.

But it vanished just as quickly, replaced by that familiar look of arrogant control.

She pulled Jackson behind her and looked down at me like I was something beneath her shoe.

"Solomon, stop being ridiculous."

"You know how destroyed your reputation is right now."

"Leave me, and your life is over. Permanently."

"Just do as I say. Apologizing to Jackson is for your own good."

My life was already in ruins—ruins she had made.

How much worse could it possibly get?

This time, I wasn't backing down.

I refused to meet her eyes, refused to see that fake affection she wore so well.

I shook off her hand and walked out without looking back.

My phone buzzed the entire way. Message after message from Prudence.

She still didn't know I'd discovered everything.

She kept up her act—earnestly urging me to apologize to Jackson, insisting it was all for my benefit.

I ignored every one. But when I rounded the corner, two men stepped into my path.

"Solomon Henson. You're being detained on suspicion of assault. Come with us."

They showed me footage of me hitting someone. The terms were simple: kneel and apologize, or pay $300,000 in settlement fees.

Prudence, ever eager to protect her image as a devoted wife, transferred the money without hesitation.

I'll handle everything for you, she said.

I was still wondering what game she was playing when the lawyer placed a phone in front of my face.

"Mr. Henson, we've just received word from the hospital. Your mother is in critical condition. She needs $300,000 for emergency surgery."

"Conveniently, that's exactly the amount Mr. Pruitt is demanding in compensation."

"So—would you like to apologize to Mr. Pruitt? Or would you prefer to watch your mother die?"

Mom's face filled the screen. Pale. Gray. Barely breathing.

My hands wouldn't stop shaking.

Prudence played the loving wife, promising to solve all my problems.

And then she used my mother's life as leverage to force me to my knees.

She was the real actress here.

Performance after performance—each one dripping with false devotion.

My chest seized. The tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over.

But in the end, I closed my eyes and made the only choice I could.

"I'll apologize."

I couldn't let Mom die because of me.

Under the weight of their mocking stares.

Through the hum of their cruel whispers.

I bent my knees and lowered myself to the ground.

Jackson stood there with that smug, victorious expression. Fresh hickeys dotted his neck—marks that hadn't been there before.

He leaned in close, voice soft and taunting.

"A-list celebrity, kneeling in apology."

"Solomon, how are you ever going to show your face again?"

"Whatever. Your life was over a long time ago anyway."

"I've got better things to do—Prudence just sent me a gift I need to unwrap."

I watched him walk away.

Then I dragged myself back to the Seaside Villa, hollow and broken.

The moment I stepped through the door, Isabel Lambert rushed toward me, panic written across her face.

"Sir, where have you been?"

"The hospital called. They said... they said your mother just passed away."

"I went to ask what happened. They told me the surgery payment was held up. That's why she didn't make it..."