Chapter 1 Divorce Papers

Lenoville, Daneo Bay Estate. "Alexei, just sign the damn papers! "You know you're not exactly in Ingrid's league anymore. She's being generous, giving you a house, a car, shares in her company, and 5 million dollars in cash. "Do you know how many women would line up for a guy with that kind of package? So, stop dragging this out." Frida Nelson stood in the middle of the living room, arms crossed, her sharp voice cutting through the air. She looked every bit the professional; sleek business suit, black stockings, short skirt, and a pair of black-framed glasses perched on her nose. Her polished appearance was at odds with the anger radiating off her. Alexei, on the other hand, was at the sink, casually washing dishes like he hadn't just been served a verbal slap. His sharp brows and steady eyes gave him a quiet, grounded presence. Rugged, not movie-star handsome, but still far from forgettable. "Alexei Walker, are you even listening to me? You don't have a choice here. Sign the papers," Frida snapped, clearly frustrated. Alexei finished rinsing the last plate, set it on the rack, and untied his apron. Without a word, he grabbed a cigarette, lit it, and leaned back against the counter. Finally, he met the woman's eyes—his wife's secretary who also happened to be her cousin—and said, calm but firm, "Give me one reason." "What?" Frida blinked, caught off guard. "You heard me, Frida. If Ingrid wants a divorce, she needs to give me a reason," he said, exhaling a slow puff of smoke. Frida rolled her eyes. "Well, Ingrid doesn't owe you anything. Least of all a reason." Alexei raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Still, shouldn't you know what she's thinking better than anyone?" Frida's face tightened. "Fine! You want a reason? I'll give you one. Ingrid is on a completely different level now. Her business is thriving, her connection with the Rivera family is rock solid, and she's practically unstoppable." Her lips curled into a smug smile. "And you? You're just... some guy. A loser. You'll only hold her back." Alexei chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. "So, that's it? I'm just not good enough for her, huh?" Since marrying Ingrid Miller, Alexei had been doing everything he could. When Ingrid struggled early on, he was there, quietly backing her up, staying late to help brainstorm ideas. He drove her to work every morning and night, rain or shine, never once complaining. And he took over all the housework, just so Ingrid didn't have to worry about anything. But now, with her company booming, she was already looking to kick him to the curb. He felt used and discarded. "Rivera family?" Alexei sneered. That so-called "resource" from the Rivera family? He was the one who'd actually pulled the strings to get it. What a joke. "Yeah, you're not good enough for Ingrid," Frida said, slamming the divorce papers onto the table. "If you're smart, you'll sign them and get it over with." "What if I don't?" Alexei asked, staying calm. Frida dropped the nice act, her voice sharp now. "If you don't, I can make your life hell. Our legal team doesn't mess around. Filing a divorce lawsuit against you would be a walk in the park." She stood there, like she was certain she had won. Alexei met her eyes for a beat, then said, "I'll sign it. But only if you do one thing." "What's that?" Frida asked, losing patience. "Tell Ingrid to come talk to me in person," he said, his tone steady. Frida laughed, rolling her eyes. "Who do you think you are? Do you really think you're important enough for Ingrid to make time for you? She's busy." "Then I won't sign," Alexei said, no hesitation. "Don't be ridiculous," Frida shot back, her irritation finally breaking through. "You really she'll be here in minutes after I called?" Alexei's gaze went cold. "Go ahead, try. Just let me talk to her." The call had barely ended when the door swung open, and she walked in. The woman was 5 feet 6 inches, tall enough to command attention, and absolutely stunning. With her oval face, sharp, intelligent eyes, perfectly arched brows, and lips so red they looked like they had been kissed by the gods, she was a vision. Her pearl-white teeth completed the look. Her long purple dress hugged her figure, highlighting her elegance, while her delicate arms added to the overall picture of sophistication. She looked like she had stepped right out of a painting. Next to her, Frida might as well have been invisible. Alexei's chest tightened. Even now, after everything, she could still do this to him. Once, their lives had been filled with laughter and love, but now, that felt like someone else's story. "Ingrid, don't waste time talking to him. Just let the lawyers handle it," Frida cut in, her voice sharp with irritation. "Relax, Frida. I'll take care of it," Ingrid said. Frida hesitated, clearly wanting to say more, but instead, she stepped back, shooting Alexei a look that could've cut glass. The silence that followed was thick, suffocating. Ingrid's eyes rested on Alexei. For a moment, memories of their past flickered through her mind, clear as day.