“The family business…” Amara muttered, laughing herself bitterly.

Well, a powerful Family Group was awaiting her back to manage yet she kept delaying it for someone who wasn't worthy of her love at all.

What did Tobias call her? A gold digger? If only he knew what family name she was born to have. The Crawford owed business everywhere in this world. If it weren't for the unexpected shipwreck, her fate would never have intersected with Tobias'.

Why should she keep on the wrong way? It was time to back home.

Seating into the black GMC Yukon, Amara picked up the call from her grandfather, Elvis Crawford.

“Grandfather, good evening.” She politely greeted, dipping her head subtly even though the man couldn’t see her.

“Evening Amara,” the old man asked directly. “Have you finally decided to stop playing house?”

"Yes," Amara replied firmly, carrying the tone of an elite who had been trained by the finest tutors.

"I'll divorce Tobias Larsen and back home soon. But I have a request, I want more time to deal with something here first."

The other end of the line was silent after her words, making her palms sweat.

Amara scrunched up her face. She just didn't want to disappear like the wind, making Tobias and Celestine think she was defeated.

“Please respect my decision Grandfather. I’m not coming home now. I don't want to leave like a loser. I want to build my name here before I go back home."

It felt like an eternity passed before Elvis spoke, “You know I especially hate when you disobey me,”

“I’m aware Grandfather. I apologize.” She apologetically bored her head, ready to accept whatever words her grandfather would throw at her. She knew she was being willful again.

“But you're right, there's no coward in our family. I'll give you a year to stay there as the manager of the London branch."

"And in return, you must have raised the company’s profit by thirty percent within a year.”

“What?! Grandfather, thirty percent, that’s three billion!”

“And? Are you incapable of doing so?”

“No.“

“Good. But let me be frank, failure to do so would also have consequences.”

“Like?”

“I have a close friend of mine whose son is interested in you. I’m sure you both would make a wonderful couple.”

Amara’s brows twitched. She understood the meaning in her grandfather’s words perfectly well.

“An arranged marriage.”

“You were fine with the first one, weren’t you? And let me tell you, unlike that bastard, Ah, I should have him castrated,” Amara chuckled lightly at how her grandfather had trailed off topic. “Unlike that bastard, Elijah is a fine man. He’d treat you well and-“

“That won’t be necessary, Grandfather,” Amara interrupted, politely. “I’ll raise the company’s profit by Thirty percent, and then I won't need this marriage anymore.”

“Yes.”

“Alright then, Deal.” Amara agreed.

“I've done that much for granddaughter, so please, decease from disobeying me once all this has come to an end.”

“Yes, grandfather. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I have to attend my golf meeting now, rest well.”

“Have a nice time, Grandfather.”

Just like that, the call ended, leaving Amara alone with her thoughts.

One year, thirty percent profit.

Don't see her agreeing lightly, and only she herself knew how much pressure this would bring. During the past six years, Amara had abandoned her identity as well as talents only to be Tobias' wife wholeheartedly. But it all turned out to be a worthless daydream.

Yes, it was time to wake up. And she was not that generous to forgive everything.

"Xavier," she spoke, softly rubbing her temple with her fingers. "Get ready to acquire the cosmetics company of Melanie Woods at once and make sure we're faster than the Larsen."

"Yes, my lady," the man in the front seat replied respectfully. "I'll definitely live up to your trust."

Amara looked out of the car window and a smile curled on her lips. She knew her new life started.

***

“Melanie, what are we doing here?” Staring up at the huge club building in front of her, Amara couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

She glanced to her side, finding Melanie who had just finished checking their attendance with the bodyguard, before she continued.

“You said we were going out…to celebrate.”

Melanie nodded her head. After learning that Amara had decided to divorce Tobias, Melanie couldn't wait to celebrate her best friend being single once again.

Amara agreed because being depressed for days over a dick like Tobias wasn’t her thing. But now, staring at the rather flashy club in front of her, Amara was doubting she had made the right decision.

“Come on Mara,” Melanie spoke as she pulled her by the wrist and into the club. “Where else did you expect us to go while dressed like this?”

The moment Melanie said this, Amara passed by a floor-to-ceiling mirror and caught sight of her dressing for the second time this evening. Knee-length, tight, black leather gown, boots that stopped at her ankle, and a glistening golden necklace that highlighted the curves of her neck exposed by her wavy brown hair which was now pulled up into a tight ponytail.

She looked stunning, felt confident, and unlike the unappealing woman who had been married to Tobias for six awful years. And the stares she got the instant she walked into the club told her every bit of that was true.

“You’re single now, Amara, we gotta celebrate that. Especially when it’s you that’s dumping that asshole.”

Amara chuckled, dryly, while Melanie ordered a third drink. She really admired her friend's hostility towards Tobias. It was on a whole other level, unlike her half-assed one.

“Four shots of whiskey for the two beautiful ladies.” The bartender announced as he came back with the drinks Melanie had ordered. When he placed them down, Amara sent the man an innocent smile that had him blushing like a high school geek.

“Even the bartender has it out for you,” Melanie commented as she picked up the first shot and downed it, soon urging Amara to do the same.

“Just celebrate the single life, Mara!” She cheered after their second shot, immediately hopping off the stool, pulling Amara with her in the process, and rushing into the dance floor.

Amara could only but chuckle at her friend's optimistic attitude. Melanie was clearly determined to see her have fun. And she was having fun, despite her gloomy mood, she had managed to keep a smile on her face the whole night.

But clearly, the universe had other plans for her.

As Amara and Melanie danced and swayed on the dance floor, a tall, lean individual dressed in a suit stepped into the club, beside him was a blonde beauty that quickly caught the eyes of many men in the club.

“Toby, where do you want to seat?” Celestine asked as she wrapped her arms around his upper arm, acting innocent as she pressed her chest against his arm.

“Wherever is fine,” Tobias responded, seemingly not disturbed by her actions.

Celestine didn’t like that, but she knew better than to complain, because the moment she did so, or tried any harder, Tobias was sure to notice the shift in her innocent demeanor.

“How about there?” She pointed to a spot beyond the dance floor.

Tobias followed the direction of her finger, but suddenly, something, no, someone caught his attention.

At the center of the dance floor was a familiar figure, dressed in a provocative black dress, swaying her hips to the rhythm of the music while laughing at the attention her current dance partner, a male in his late twenties, was showering her with.

Even though she looked noticeably different, seductive, alluring, and far from the usual humble aura she usually gave, Tobias had no trouble recognizing her. His wife. And the longer Tobias watched HIS wife shower in the attention of another man, the more irritated he grew.

“You can go on ahead.” He said without glancing at Celestine as he walked off, leaving her standing on her own.

“Tob-,” Celestine was cut short, as Tobias had already walked away, his gaze focused on a particular figure, dancing on the dance floor.

He wasn't aware of how fast his strides were or how harshly his fist clenched. He wasn’t aware of any of it until he found himself in front of his wife, and the man who had had his hands all over her for the past two minutes.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He snarled, his hand clamping tightly around her wrist and pulling her away from the man.

Amara was more than surprised to suddenly see Tobias. But the way he had pulled her, coupled with the tone of voice he had used, had her temper rising.

“Let go!” She demanded with a glare after he had succeeded in pulling her off the dance floor and away from her dance partner.

But Tobias wasn’t the least bit fazed. Instead, he simply tightened his grip, making her wince in pain.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here? Engaging publicly with another man while you’re still married to me? Don’t you have any sense of shame?”

Any sense of shame?

How dare this fcking bastard talk about that to her? When he was the shameless one who betrayed their marriage first!

If Amara wasn’t as angry as she was, she’d have laughed.

She forcefully freed her wrist from his hold before fixing him with a glare.

“You’re quite funny Tobias. The last time I checked, you were the one who wanted a divorce. And might I point out that a few days ago, you also shamelessly ‘engaged’ with another woman, my dearest husband?"

"So please, save your preaching for someone who hasn’t seen your true colors.” Amara sneered and turned to leave but Celestine appeared.

“Toby, there you are-“ Her attention was quickly snagged by Amara and her eyes went wide upon seeing how she was dressed. “A-Amara? What are doing here?”

“And how’s that any of your business?” Amara sneered, not bothering to hide the disgust in her voice.

Celestine flinched. “I was simply-,”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.” Silencing the wench, Amara turned her attention back to Tobias. “And you-”

He couldn’t help but narrow his eyes at the disdain in her voice as she addressed him so rudely.

“I suggest you don’t try to stick your nose into my business. We may be a married couple now, but in a few days,” She snapped her finger. “It’d all be over."

"So focus more on your mistress, and not the person you’ll be divorcing.”

“A-Amara,” Celestine cut in with a coy tone to her voice. “Please don’t misunderstand, Tobias and I aren’t together…”

Turning to Tobias, Celestine was practically glued to him, feigning kindness as she spoke. “Toby, please don’t be angry at Amara, she’s simply overwhelmed and confused."

"It should be a normal reaction seeing that as soon as you divorce her and she moves out of the sheltered doors of the Larsen home, she’d no longer have someone to fund her lifestyle. So it’s normal for her to look for a man to fund her lifestyle.”

“Sheltered doors? Fund my lifestyle?” Amara repeated with a chuckle. “Oh, that’s a new one, Celestine.”

“But she isn’t wrong, is she?” Tobias asked, his eyes narrowed and his voice cold as ice. Sure, he had no feelings for her, but that didn’t mean he was fine with his wife sleeping around for penny change and potentially soiling his name.

Amara’s brows creased at his reaction. Whenever Celestine was around, he had no brain to think wisely.

“Mind your own business, both you and your little slut.”

Amara didn't want to waste time with them anymore but Tobias gripped her hand again.

“Are you doing this only to challenge me? I see, you're doing all these just because I refused to give you no penny?"

"Well, fifty million pounds, I’ll pay you that as divorce compensation, as long as you apologize to me and Celestine. Right this instant!”

His words were so arrogant and irritating that her lips curled upwards, a smile coming on her face, but the coldness in her eyes could rival the chill in Tobias’s.

“Arrogant, aren’t you?” She smirked. “Well, I’d have to bust that bubble of yours.”

Taking a step forward, she raised her head and looked her husband dead in the eyes.

“I already filed for a divorce, Tobias, and I’m going to make sure that I get every single penny I deserve."

"So trust me, your fifty million is nothing in my eyes. I will never bow to you and your bitch!”

Tobias couldn't believe his ears.

Amara, the woman who had claimed to love him for the past 6 years and always stuck to him like gum, had filed for a divorce even before he could. This fact kept disturbing him.

He was the one meant to file for a divorce! And not the gentle wife he remembered!

"You're really testing my patience, Amara." He threatened, eyes cold and voice colder. " you know what I'm capable of."

"It's not a test, Tobias. It's a fact that is about to happen," Amara retorted, not at all intimidated by his words and demeanor.

"So you're sure you want to go against me, is that it?" Tobias said dangerously.

"What are you gonna do? Destroy me, ruin my reputation, destroy Melanie's business, or something along the lines of that?"Amara laughed coldly. Without waiting for Tobias to speak, Amara warned him."I dare you, Tobias. Try to lay even a finger on the people I hold dare and you'll see just how that'd turn out."

Tobias looked at Amara's cold gaze, as if he was looking at a stranger. Was this really the wife who had served him for six years by his side? Or she was a disguised viper from the beginning?

Over the past six years, she had just been pretending! Pretending to gain his grandfather's sympathy, and after his grandfather passed away, her true colors were exposed.

Thinking of this, Tobias' eyes darkened further. "Grandpa has passed away. So you've decided to tear off your mask now?"

"There's a difference between shedding skin and becoming the real me. Try me and I'll show you just who the real me is.""Amara looked at him and said coldly.

"Amara...please don't be angry. If you're willing to tell us who the man you fell for is, I think Tobias would definitely agree to give you more compensation," Celeste interjected.

Upon hearing Celeste's words, Tobias immediately thought of something. He grabbed Amara's arm, his expression darkening as he said, "So you think you've found yourself a new sugar daddy, and that's why you're defying me?"

Amara shot Celeste, that vile snake, a fierce glare, but she didn't care what Tobias thought. If this could make him agree to the divorce faster, she was willing to play the villain.

She shook off Tobias' grip on her arm and said coldly, "It has nothing to do with you. I've already signed the divorce agreement. Now, take your whore and leave! Don't ruin my mood!"

After saying that, Amara pushed past them and went to find Melanie, who was conveniently walking over from the booth, having likely noticed the commotion.

She didn't hesitate to give Tobias and Celestine a nasty look as she asked. "What are they doing here?"

"I don't care and I don't wanna know. Come on Mel, let's go elsewhere, I can't stand the air being polluted by the stench of sluts and assholes."

Without saying another word, or looking back at Tobias, Amara took Melanie's hand and walked off.

Only after she had walked away did Tobias clench his jaws and allow the impact of all her words show on his face and might I tell you, he did not look pleased in the least bit.

"Toby?" Celestine gently called out, wanting to snap his attention away from staring at where Amara had stood.

But Tobias was having none of it.

He was pissed, irritated, and enraged beyond words.

Who was Amara to treat him like she just had done?

File a divorce against him? And even threaten him?

Just the mere thought of what she had done had him seething and without hesitation, he fished out his phone and dialed the number of his assistant.

The line only rang for a few seconds before his assistant, Dean, answered the line.

"Yes Sir?"

"Have you gathered the necessary documents needed to ensure a smooth purchase of the Woodlands Cosmetics?" He asked.

"...about that Sir," Came Dean's answer, voice filled to the brim with hesitation.

Tobias narrowed his eyes, feeling his temper rising. “What’s the issue, Dean? Can't you even handle this little thing?”

“The acquisition could have been completed smoothly today, but...Ms. Woods had sold the business to someone mysterious and I'm still trying to get in touch with the one.”

“Enough. Send me the necessary information I need regarding the business group that now holds the Woodlands’ rights.” He demanded.

“Y-yes Sir. Immediately.”

Once Tobias was done with the call, he was marching towards the exit, ignoring Celestine who had called out to him.

Just as he stepped out of the club, he caught sight of her wavy brown hair and black gown, back facing him as she stood alone in front of a black GMC Yukon.

Beside her was an old man, dressed in a well-tailored suit and he handed Amara a thin object, which Tobias quickly identified as a premium black card. He was more than sure that Celestine’s words were true.

It was no wonder she rejected the fifty million. Amara had gotten herself a sugar daddy!

How dare she! She's still wearing the title of his wife!

Tobias wanted to confront Amara but the car drove off before he could get her.

Well, if she thought she was going to get away with her dirty deeds, then she had another thing coming.

For the second time this night, Tobias pulled out his phone. Except the person who he called wasn’t his assistant, but rather a private investigator.

“Mr. Larsen,” The person answered.

“I want a detailed file on Amara Miller, everything, her current lifestyle, where she has been to, who she’s been in contact with, and what she’s been up to.

"You have twenty-four hours to get that file to me or else you can say goodbye to the life you’ve built here in London.”

“Y-yes sir!”

“Good.”

With that, Tobias ended the call and stared darkly at where the car had been.

His wife might think she’s gotten away with cheating, but soon enough, she was going to regret her decision.