After my husband topped the wealth rankings, he hired his first love as his personal housekeeper at a high salary.

“Quincy, you hail from humble beginnings. I don’t want you embarrassing me in high society, so I specifically brought in Vivian to teach you the rules. From now on, everything you do must be reported to her for approval.”

From that moment on, in public, I was the glamorous Mrs. Lane.

However, behind closed doors, to even enjoy simple marital moments with my husband I had to write a thousand-word application seeking Vivian’s approval.

Then, my adoptive father had a heart attack. I dropped to my knees, begging her to transfer me five hundred thousand dollars.

She laughed coldly. “What kind of surgery costs half a million? Stop making excuses to pad your family’s finances.”

“This isn’t a small sum. Write a 10,000-word application, and this time it’s denied.”

Rage coursed through me, my body trembling uncontrollably as I spun toward Tyler and fell to my knees, begging him to save my father’s life.

There wasn’t even a flicker of emotion on his face. “Vivian did nothing wrong. I know you’re still clinging to your old poor habits even after getting rich, but my money doesn’t grow on trees.”

“This time, your father’s medical treatment will be put on hold as a lesson. Next time, don’t blame me if he’s kicked out of the VIP ward.”

In the end, my adoptive father died on the operating table due to the delay in treatment.

Completely disheartened, I finally asked Tyler for a divorce.

“Let’s get divorced.”

The look on my face was perfectly calm. It was as though I was commenting on the weather instead of declaring the end of my marriage.

Tyler, who was sitting across from me, sipped his coffee leisurely. He didn’t even raise his head.

He scoffed, “What are you trying to do now? Threatening me with divorce?”

“When your father begged the Lane family for a meal back then, why weren’t you this stubborn?”

It felt like invisible hands had clamped around my throat, crushing me.

My chest tightened, my lungs screaming for air, and suddenly I could barely breathe.

Memories flashed through my mind, frame by frame.

My adoptive father was a bodyguard for the Lane family. Seven years ago, when Old Master Lane was attacked by enemies, it was my adoptive father who took a bullet for him.

In the hospital, Old Master Lane asked what he wanted.

He struggled to breathe, his breaths shallow and weak. “Please… make sure Quincy is taken care of… protect her for the rest of her life…”

At that time, Tyler had just broken up with his first love, Vivian. He married me out of gratitude.

On the day of our wedding, he declared to everyone, “Quincy is the lady of the Lane family. As long as I’m here, nobody can touch her!”

However, those promises crumbled the moment Vivian returned.

‘Tyler, you’ve almost crushed me to death…’

I forced down the sour lump in my throat and clenched my fists.

“I’m not acting! I’m really divorcing you!”

Hearing those words, he finally looked up at me. There was no warmth in his gaze, only thick impatience.

“Enough! You want to divorce over your adoptive father’s medical support being paused? That’s a trivial matter.”

“If you hadn’t been trying to defy Vivian’s rules, I wouldn’t have stopped it.”

“The treatment? I’ve already hired the best medical team in the world. Learn to behave next time. Stop acting like a lowborn liar, begging for money!”

Then, he turned around and walked away, completely ignoring me.

Tyler was certain I was just throwing a tantrum.

He thought that as long as he waved at me, I would bend over backwards like before, follow behind him and willingly play the role of his maid.

No, I did not even deserve to be called a maid.

Even a maid received a steady paycheck. I was at most a volunteer working for free.

I was supposed to be Mrs. Lane, the envy of high society, yet I did not even have the right to make my own decisions.

My outfits, jewelry, comings and goings, even marital intimacy, all had to be reported to that so-called personal housekeeper, Vivian, for approval.

Even if Tyler had brought the world’s top medical team for my father, what good was it?

Nothing could turn back the clock.

Last night, my adoptive father had a heart attack. I dropped to my knees, begging Vivian to transfer money to save him.

She deliberately made it difficult.

Twirling her hair, she looked at me with a provocative smirk,

“Quincy, he just had a heart episode. He’s not dead. Who are you crying for?”

“I visited him yesterday. He’s fine. You’re not going to lie just to pad your poor family’s finances, are you? Follow the rules. You need to write a 10,000-word application for my approval.”

Rage coursed through me, my body trembling uncontrollably. My father’s surgery could not wait another second!

I spun toward Tyler and fell to my knees, begging him to save my father’s life.

However, he did not even flinch.

“Vivian’s right. You’re still clinging to your old poor habits. Money can’t be wasted. It has to be spent wisely. Everything is for your own good!”

Vivian let out a sigh. “Tyler, deep down she’s still petty and weak. She’s not fit for our circle. Everyone says that she’s embarrassed you…”

I roared, “Shut your mouth!”

Her eyes turned red, filled with false innocence. “Tyler, I think she’s holding a grudge against me because I’ve reminded her so many times how a rich lady should behave, and that she shouldn’t act like before and break the rules.”

Tyler’s voice was sharp and impatient.

“Quincy, I warned you. Don’t make things difficult for Vivian. She’s just following my orders! Do as she says.”

Again…

No matter what I needed, he always brushed me off with that line.

“Vivian is right. Just listen to her!”

“Vivian grew up in the elite circles. She wouldn’t hurt you!”

“Listen to Vivian… Anything you need, go through her…”

It seemed like Vivian was a pearl in his eyes, and I was just a pile of dirt.

What glamorous, high-society Mrs. Lane am I? I was nothing but a puppet on strings.

I could not even protect my own child with Tyler!

The baby was fully formed, yet because Vivian delayed the approval, he suffocated inside my womb.

“Quincy, your due date isn’t even here yet! Isn’t this request for approval a little early?”

“Quincy, the baby hasn’t been born. You can always buy formula after the baby is born.”

“Quincy, you can’t act like those lowborn people, always lying for money. Mr. Lane earned that money with his blood and sweat!”

She rejected my requests each time, refusing to even take me to a doctor.

By the time Tyler came home, I was covered in blood, and the tiny feet of my child were still trapped in the bloody mess beneath me.

He blamed me, “Quincy, didn’t you have the sense to call for help? You were about to give birth and didn’t alert anyone?”

“Vivian had already assigned a birth attendant for you. You’re pathetic! Even one strand of Vivian’s hair is worth more than you are!”

The pain made me lose consciousness. The only thing left in my ears was Vivian’s instinctive murmuring.

“Tyler, I’m so jealous of Quincy. Even if childbirth hurts like hell, knowing I’d be bringing your child into the world for you, I’d do it gladly!”

My heart felt like it had been gouged out. Pain was piercing me to the core.

Tyler acted like nothing was wrong.

I lost my child. I could not afford to lose my adoptive father too.

“Vivian, I’m begging you! My father’s surgery…”

Before I could finish, she cut me off,

“Quincy, you should have accepted it by now. Your adoptive father’s condition has been stable for a long time. There’s no need to make a fuss with an extra surgery. He'd just suffer more.”

“Besides, five hundred thousand dollars isn’t small change. Everything has to follow the rules. Mr. Lane’s money doesn’t grow on trees.”

Her words implied that I was recklessly wasting money and didn’t appreciate Tyler’s hard work.

Then, Tyler looked at me with a complicated expression.

“Quincy, Vivian told me that your father’s condition is stable. Surgery isn’t necessary at the moment.”

“I can’t believe you’re the kind of person who lies so blatantly just to get a little extra money.”

He shook his head, disappointed, took his phone out, and transferred me five thousand dollars.

“Here. This is enough for you to spend.”

“And remember, my money doesn’t grow on trees! Stop causing trouble for Vivian. She did everything right. You, on the other hand, haven’t learned a thing!”

I collapsed to the floor, utterly shattered.

In the end, I never got the rest of the money.

My adoptive father missed the best window for treatment and died in the hospital.

Pain washed over me like a tidal wave, stabbing my chest like countless tiny knives.

This marriage was a poisoned chalice, sweet on the surface, deadly inside. I had to end it!

At the thought of this, I immediately started preparing the divorce papers.

Just as I picked up my phone to contact a lawyer, I noticed that Vivian had posted something on social media.

In the photo, Tyler sat elegantly across from her, knife and fork in hand, enjoying a lavish dinner. Her caption read: [Who’s got a boss this gorgeous? I do!]

The words were full of provocation. In the past, I would have flown into a fit of rage, demanding answers.

Now, I almost laughed mockingly. I even calmly gave her a like.

Tyler’s message came immediately afterward:

[Vivian won a raffle prize at the annual gala — a dinner with the CEO of the company. Don’t overthink it.]

Tyler was always like this. He acted faster than anyone else when it came to her.

Then he added: [What’s the point of just liking it? Leave a comment praising Vivian for being hardworking and responsible.]

A cold smile curled at the corner of my lips as my fingers flew across the screen.

[Miss Linton’s work ethic is truly admirable. The lady of the house is being set a daily food allowance of ten dollars, yet you’re enjoying a steak worth thousands. You really know how to treat yourself.]

[Every penny you pry out of me now will become shared assets when you finally take my place. Congrats! Keep going!]

That was the moment I tore all pretenses apart. I no longer cared about being the virtuous wife they loved to talk about.

My phone exploded with calls and messages.

I tossed it aside and started packing, only to realize I had fewer than five pieces of clothing worth taking with me.

The expensive clothes, jewelry, bags, and shoes were all locked away in the walk‑in closet.

Vivian, the so-called personal housekeeper, was the only one who knew the password.

After all these years, I had lived here like a tenant.

I would not even leave a trace behind.

Tyler arrived home quickly. He stormed in furiously and questioned me. “Quincy, why didn’t you answer my calls?”

Without looking up, I replied flatly, “I didn’t feel like it.”

The look on his face was almost comical. It was like he had just heard a joke.

“What right do you have to not answer? Everything you have now was given to you by me!”

“Without me, could you live this kind of life?”

He jabbed a finger at me. “You’re too narrow‑minded. I only had dinner with Vivian, and yet you cursed her so viciously. How is she supposed to survive at work now?”

“Everyone at the company is gossiping about her. Women already have it hard in the workplace. If you dare slander her again, I’ll have your adoptive father kicked out of the VIP ward!”

A sharp pain twisted my chest as years of suppressed emotions finally collapsed.

I hurled my packed luggage at him. “Tyler, is this the good life you’re always talking about? I’m living worse than a dog!”

“I don’t even have one decent outfit to wear, not to mention eating well. Do you know my daily food allowance is ten dollars? Even your family’s maids are treated better than this!”

I dragged him to the closet and screamed while pointing at the locked door. “Open your eyes and see for yourself!”

“Even the closet in my own bedroom is locked, and only your precious housekeeper Vivian knows the password! What a wonderful life I’ve been living!”

“I’m not even as well‑treated as a mistress you keep on the side!”

Tyler frowned, staring at me in disbelief. “So this is why you want a divorce? The reason why you trashed Vivian’s reputation online?”

“After all that talk, don’t you just want more money?”

My arm dropped limply to my side.

“Believe whatever you want.”

I turned away and continued packing.

He let out a cold snort, “Fine. I’ll give you an extra fifty thousand dollars a month. No more approvals required. I’ll also have Vivian give you the closet password.”

“And I’ll bring in a top medical team from overseas for your adoptive father. Now will you behave?”

At that moment, I finally understood. He despised me deep in his bones.

In his eyes, I was nothing more than a woman willing to do anything for money.

I replied calmly, “I don’t want any of that. I just want a divorce.”

His voice turned sharp with irritation, “Quincy, don’t forget we signed a prenup. Divorce me and you won’t get a single cent!”