Instead of a gift on our third wedding anniversary, Christian Leighton sent me the ninety-ninth divorce agreement.

I never imagined that after just two years, the man who once swore eternal devotion to me would change his heart.

It all started a year ago, when Christian became infatuated with Jocelyn Stone, a female archaeologist.

In pursuit of her, he abandoned his company and ventured into the desolate Gobi Desert, boldly confessing his feelings. He even publicly declared that he would voluntarily transfer all his assets to Jocelyn.

When the secretary handed me the latest divorce papers, I glanced at them indifferently.

I knew this was merely Christian's tactic to appease his new flame. Every time they quarreled, he'd send me a divorce agreement—only to withdraw it at the very last moment, right before the cooling-off period ended.

I calmly signed my name and headed straight to my private lawyer's office.

"Hello, please help me draft a mandatory divorce agreement," I requested.

Since things had come to this, I decided I would voluntarily hand this hundredth divorce agreement to Christian.

The female lawyer worked swiftly, drafting the divorce agreement promptly after clarifying all my demands.

A few minutes later, she presented the final draft to me. "Ms. Clarke, once both parties sign during the cooling-off period, the application becomes irrevocable."

I didn't hesitate and resolutely took it. The paper in my hands still seemed to radiate a final warmth, but my heart had long turned as cold as a harsh winter.

Afterwards, I booked a flight for a week later, giving myself only a week to prepare for my departure.

When I first found out about his affair, I had thrown tantrums, cried and even sought out Jocelyn herself, offering money to make her leave Christian for good.

Yet that night, Christian stormed home, his hands tightening around my throat as he growled a warning. "I've given you the title. What more do you want?"

He continued, "My patience is limited. If you dare trouble Jocelyn again, don't blame me for being merciless."

That was the first time he laid his hands on me because of another woman.

After that day, Christian grew even more brazen. He disregarded his married status and pursued Jocelyn with frenzied declarations of love, making their affair the talk of the town.

I wanted to ask him what all these years of our relationship mean. What did my position as Mrs. Leighton even represent?

Sadly, all I got was Christian's icy reply. "Serena, I've known you too long. I'll eventually get tired of you. Besides, you're not as interesting, brave, or sunny as Jocelyn."

The moment he mentioned Jocelyn, the coldness in his eyes melted away, replaced by unmistakable affection and yearning.

Yes, we were childhood sweethearts, inseparable since we were young.

I met Christian when I was twenty years old. At that time, my brother's failed investment led to the Clarkes' bankruptcy overnight.

Upon learning this, Christian fought desperately to salvage the situation. Yet in the end, my parents jumped from a building in despair and my brother lost his mind.

Our once-great family collapsed in an instant.

The Leightons immediately moved to call off our engagement, but Christian refused. He knelt in the main hall for three days and three nights, his back torn and bloodied from whippings, insisting he would marry no one but me.

I had initially assumed Christian would return after his fun, but what I found was Jocelyn wearing my nightgown, sleeping in my bed, with my most beloved husband lying beside her.

That sight made me scream hysterically, only to be met with Christian's displeased rebuke. "You scared Jocelyn. She finally agreed to live with me to build our relationship."

"You should thank her. Seeing you helpless, she allowed you to remain here as Mrs. Leighton. From now on, she is the mistress of this household."

As the memories faded, the car gradually stopped. Looking at the incredibly familiar house before me, I only felt a deep sense of irony.

I sighed, seemingly mocking my own foolishness. How could I have trusted a man's hollow promises?

As soon as I reached the entrance, I heard Jocelyn's sobs. "You clearly know I don't like children, so why would you have a baby with her?"

Christian quickly argued, "I switched her sleeping pills for birth control months ago. Besides, I haven't touched her in half a year. How could she possibly be pregnant?"

My feet froze at those words. My eyes widened in terror, as if a sword had pierced my chest. The pain was so intense I couldn't breathe.

The shadow of my parents' death had haunted me for years. That was why all this time, I'd relied on sleeping pills to get any rest.

I was unaware that Christian had started replacing my sleeping pills with birth control tablets in an attempt to win Jocelyn's heart.

My body started to tremble violently and my face went deathly pale.

When I returned to my senses, I found myself staring into Christian's dark, sullen face. His gaze was filled with disgust and contempt.

In the study, a medical report was slapped down hard onto the desk. The air around me seemed to solidify.

Christian's lips curved into a faint smile, but it chilled me to the bone.

"You're pregnant."

His eyes grew fierce after saying those words and a hint of anger seemed to linger deep within them.

Christian's words exploded in my mind like a clap of thunder. In disbelief, I snatched the pregnancy test report, which clearly stated I was six weeks pregnant.

My hands trembled slightly. This child had come at the worst possible time.

Before I could speak, Christian coldly declared, "I'll arrange for you to go to the hospital tomorrow. Jocelyn doesn't like children."

I couldn't believe that man could be so heartless.

The anger I'd bottled up for so long finally erupted at that moment. I couldn't hold back any longer, letting out a hoarse, furious roar. Disappointment was etched all over my delicate face.

"Christian, this is your child!"

The words had barely left my mouth when he scoffed with contempt.

"My child? I haven't touched you in half a year. You know perfectly well whose child this is."

His cold, cutting words pierced my ears, plunging me into utter despair. Now, tears poured from my eyes like a dam breaking.

Over a month ago, a drunken Christian had barged into my room. He had clung to me, crying, apologizing over and over.

It made me naively believe that Christian still loved me. Even with a high fever, I didn't stop his hands from roaming my body. But when I woke up the next day, that man had returned to his usual cold self.

I later learned that he had argued with Jocelyn that day and was completely drunk and I was merely a temporary tool for Christian to vent his lust.

I was about to open her mouth to explain when a sudden, fishy-sweet taste surged up my throat. My entire body immediately went limp and I felt as if I was about to collapse.

In the last moment before my consciousness faded, I looked helplessly at Christian.

I prayed that he still held a final shred of feeling for me, but he just sat there indifferently, not even deigning to spare me a glance. He even watched me fall, unconscious, in silence.

Later, the pungent smell of disinfectant, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, slithered into my nostrils.

The door to the hospital room opened, then the doctor came in with a report and informed me, "Madam, Mr. Leighton has scheduled an abortion for you shortly. Please prepare yourself."

Hearing this, I abruptly sat up, yanked the IV needle from my arm and rushed out without a word.

It was my child, too. How could Christian strip away my chance to be a mother with just one sentence?

Not only was I going to leave, but I was also going to take this child with me!

Alas, the bodyguards at the door heard the commotion and stood rigidly blocking the exit.

The doctor sighed at the scene. "Mrs. Leighton, because of your long-term use of birth control pills, the baby is already deformed. An abortion is the best choice for both you and the child."

"Moreover, your body is no longer suited for childbirth. This is likely your final pregnancy."

My steps faltered. For a moment, rage, despair and grief flashed through my eyes all at once.

The doctor's words utterly crushed my final defense. My legs gave out and I sank helplessly to the floor.

Right then, the silent ward echoed with my desperate sobs.

After a long time, my sobs slowly weakened and finally stopped. I felt like a marionette whose soul had been stripped away. My eyes were empty, while my face gradually returned to a terrifying calm.

The last tear slid down my cheek and brushed against my lips, its bitterness spreading deep into my chest.

I lowered my gaze, now the last of my defiance slipping away, leaving only a hollow surrender behind.

Soon, the blinding lights of the operating room burned my eyes. My vision blurred and my consciousness began to completely fade away.

I eventually fell into unconsciousness, as if plunging into an endless darkness—cold, terrifying.

Christian's stern features greeted me when I awoke.

That man sat at my bedside, exuding a cold and terrifying aura. His deep, dark eyes, like a desolate shore, stared coldly at my deathly pale face.

When he saw I was awake, Christian gestured to the bodyguard beside him. Afterwards, an open gift box was presented to me.

His face remained expressionless as he spoke, "This is a gift Jocelyn specially chosen for you."

I didn't move. My silence was frighteningly calm.

The gift he claimed was "specially chosen" was nothing more than an old, slightly yellowed pearl necklace that Jocelyn had already grown tired of wearing.

In the early days of our marriage, Christian would spare no expense, showering me with luxurious jewelry every day. He had even clumsily designed unique pieces exclusively for me.

He used to say that I deserved the best and most expensive jewelry in the world. Now, it seemed utterly ridiculous.

Seeing that I remained silent, refusing to take it for a long time, Christian's half-raised arm looked incredibly awkward.

He frowned, his voice tinged with irritation as he warned again, "Serena Clarke, don't be ungrateful. Don't forget your brother is still in the hospital. Without my family, he would have died long ago."

The mention of my brother sent shivers through my body, my voice suddenly cracking. "What do you want?"

I struggled to sit up. My eyes were bloodshot, while my hands were clutching the hem of my clothes tightly.

I had planned to take my brother away the moment I was discharged. What I didn't expect was that just as I regained consciousness, Christian would already be using my brother to threaten me.

My brother was one of the few family members I have left in this world. So, I would fight with all my life to keep him alive.

Christian rose with disdain, a cold laugh escaping his lips. "Tomorrow night is Jocelyn's celebratory party. I want you to publicly apologize to her and transfer ownership of that island under your name to her."

"Jocelyn said there might be rich mineral resources on that island. It's a waste to leave such a valuable place to someone ignorant like you."

My eyes widened sharply. That island was the extravagant engagement gift he had once lavishly bestowed upon me. It was even named after both our names and my parents' ashes were buried there.

Christian had sworn before my parents' graves that he would never betray me, that he would protect me for the rest of his life. Yet now, he was giving away the island that bore witness to our love to another woman.

Under his relentless pressure, I gritted my teeth and finally agreed. "Fine, I agree. Just don't hurt my brother."

Having secured the answer he sought, Christian turned and walked away without waiting for me to finish speaking. With a thud, the ward plunged back into deathly silence.

My face was ashen, like a flower that had instantly withered.

It turned out that Christian's love hadn't vanished, but had simply shifted.

At that time, my phone buzzed repeatedly with notifications from the immigration bureau. It showed that my paperwork was complete. Once Christian signed the divorce agreement, I could finally leave this hellhole forever with my brother.

Accidentally, my finger brushed the screen and the first thing on my social media feed was a video of Jocelyn showing off their affection.

In the video, Christian's face was clearly visible as the two of them kissed passionately beneath the dazzling fireworks.

Meanwhile, I was lying in a hospital bed, enduring all the pain alone. That was the moment my heart died completely.