Chapter 1 Leaving With Nothing

The June sun blazed fiercely, its heat so intense that it was nearly impossible to open your eyes against its burning rays. Giada Bensone, her clothes stained with blood, stepped out of Hystra Corporation's gates. She glanced down at the contract in her hand, her delicate features twisting into a bitter, hollow smile. To secure this deal, she had paid the ultimate price—a bullet. This would be the last thing she did for Samuel Connor. He had courted her for three years, married her for one year, and then, without warning, announced he was done with her. At first, she had fought, argued, and cried, only to be met with his cold, mocking tone. "Giada, you've become so hideous, it disgusts me. Let's get a divorce." It wasn't until later that she understood Samuel hadn't grown tired of her; he had simply found someone else. Since requesting the divorce, he hadn't been home for two months. There was no point in dragging it out any longer. Giada quickly changed and hailed a cab, heading straight for Connor Enterprise. When she arrived, she took the elevator directly to the CEO's office on the top floor. As she reached the door, she heard a woman's voice, soft and flirtatious. "Samuel, you're so naughty. My lips are swollen." A sharp pang of hurt twisted in Giada's chest. But, determined to cut all ties, she flung the door open and stepped inside. Inside the opulent office, Tilda Bensone, her face flushed, sat perched on Samuel's lap. They had clearly just shared an intimate moment, and her lips bore the evidence. When Tilda saw Giada, panic flashed across her face, and she quickly stood up. "Giada, I ... " The situation was awkward—Giada wasn't even officially divorced yet, and here was Tilda, the other woman, in her place. Giada and Tilda had been switched at birth, and this marriage had always belonged to Tilda. Giada didn't wait for an explanation. She walked up and placed the contract and divorce papers on the desk. Then, she turned to face the man sitting across from her—Samuel, the wealthiest man in Ulgard. Dressed in a sleek black shirt and trousers, he radiated a lazy, effortless elegance. He was charming and handsome in a way that almost seemed unreal. His dark hair framed a face that could have been sculpted by a master, with sharp brows and piercing eyes. His expression, however, was one of indifference, and it made Giada's heart ache. "The Hystra Corporation deal is finalized," she said, her voice calm and distant, as if the marriage meant nothing to her anymore. "Here's the divorce agreement. I've signed it. It's 2:00 p.m. now. We can head to City Hall to make it official." Her tone was steady, though her face had paled, her frail body trembling as if on the brink of collapse. Samuel's eyes showed a flicker of surprise, but he quickly returned to his usual cold expression. "Ms. Giada, impressive. A deal that many others failed to secure, yet you managed it. I'm curious—how did you do it?" His voice was low, dismissive, as if he suspected she had used underhanded methods. Giada clenched her fists, looking down to hide the pain in her eyes. She forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Mr. Connor, does the process really matter to you when the result is what you care about? Are we getting the divorce or not?" Tilda shot an anxious glance at Samuel. "Samuel, you promised me you'd marry me. Giada took my place and married you before. Now that I'm back, you have to keep your word." Samuel gently caressed Tilda's soft face, his eyes flicking toward Giada, his expression darkening. "Of course, I will marry you. I'm divorcing this woman right now." He looked at Tilda with a tenderness Giada had never seen, and Giada suddenly realized Samuel had never shown her such warmth. "Samuel, you're the best," Tilda cooed, leaning into him and throwing Giada a smug smile. Giada couldn't bear to look at them. The heartache was overwhelming, and the pain in her chest felt like it was merging with the physical ache in her body, making it hard to tell one from the other. Samuel took the divorce papers and noticed the changes Giada had made. His eyes narrowed, and his voice grew thick with tension. "You want to leave with nothing?" Giada's voice was rough as she struggled to speak, her words laced with quiet resolve, "If we're going to get a divorce, it needs to be clean. I'm leaving with nothing." Since this was the end, she would sever all ties without hesitation. Once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Four years had passed, and the promise she made had come to an end. She had to leave now. Samuel's face, handsome as ever, betrayed an unreadable emotion. His eyes burned with a hint of mockery. "You never disappoint, Giada. You always make decisions so decisively. Let's go to City Hall now."