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Chapter 1
“Lucian, we’ve been married for three years, but you’ve never once touched me. I’ve decided to give you my blessing to pursue the one you truly want. I’ll walk away from our marriage tomorrow, so you’re free to go after her. But for tonight… please, just make it up to me for all the feelings I’ve kept hidden for all these years.”
With a breath that trembled with frustration, Roxanne Jarvis leaned forward, pressing her lips to the man before her. It was a kiss born of desperation, a moth drawn to a flame. Her hands, uncertain and clumsy, roamed his chest, as if trying to claim him for the first time. She knew this was wrong, but after so many years of suffering in silence, all she wanted was a small moment of solace, something to ease the hurt she had endured.
“Roxanne… how dare you!” Lucian Farwell’s voice was thick with fury, and his jaw clenched as he fought to control his anger. His handsome face darkened with a storm of emotions, his eyes flashing with rage. He should push her away. He had to push her away. But his body, betraying him, was consumed by a fire he couldn’t fight. The taste of her lips… it clouded his judgment. How dare she try to manipulate him this way?
Roxanne didn’t flinch. A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye, unnoticed by him in the heat of the moment. She kissed him again, frenzied now, as though hoping that through sheer will she could break through the walls he had built around his heart.
“I’m not afraid of anything…” she whispered against his lips, her heart pounding. She could feel the resistance in him—both the rage and the unspoken desire that he refused to acknowledge. But it didn’t matter anymore. She had endured too much for too long, and all she craved now was something she could hold onto.
The battle inside Lucian escalated, fury crashing against a rising tide of heat. He wanted to push her away, to scream at her for the deceit, but everything inside him began to burn. His instincts overtook his reason, and soon, there was nothing left but the heat between them, the pressing need that neither could deny.
Roxanne woke up with the first light of dawn, her body heavy with the weight of what had transpired. She forced herself to rise, discomfort gnawing at her, but she went through the motions. She dressed quickly, almost mechanically, before pulling the divorce papers from the drawer and placing them on the bedside table. She stood there for a moment, looking at Lucian’s sleeping form.
“Lucian… I’ll set you free,” she murmured softly. “From today on, we go our separate ways. We’ll have nothing to do with each other anymore.” Her voice cracked, but she didn’t wait for a response. Without another glance, she turned away and left the Farwell estate, her heart heavy with the bittersweet ache of finality.
She had loved him for so long—seven years in total. From her teenage years through university, he had been her first love. She’d dreamed of being his wife, but the reality had crushed that dream. She remembered how her father and stepmother had eagerly agreed to the marriage, seeing it as a golden opportunity. But when Lucian had walked down the aisle, his face had been a mask of disgust.
“Roxanne, I want you to understand,” he had said coldly, “the woman I want to marry is Aubree Pearson. I never wanted to marry you. Only she has the right to be my wife. You’re not good enough for me.”
It had cut her deep, but Roxanne had clung to the hope that somehow, things would change. She poured herself into being the best wife she could be. She cooked dinner every night, waiting for him to come home. She stayed up late, making sure he wasn’t alone if he’d been drinking. She cared for him through every illness, every injury, going out of her way to make sure he was comfortable. Yet, no matter what she did, his heart never wavered. He had no love for her, and never would.
The day before yesterday had been her birthday, but Lucian had been at the hospital with Aubree. That was the moment Roxanne had finally realized the painful truth—she would never have his heart. It belonged to another. So, she made a choice. She would let him go.
Lucian didn’t wake until nearly ten in the morning. When he did, the first thought that crossed his mind was to strangle Roxanne. His mind was clouded with anger, confusion, and something darker. He was the CEO of Farwell Group, a man known for his sharp intellect and unwavering control. He had never been deceived. Yet, somehow, Roxanne had trapped him.
He scanned the room frantically, but she was nowhere to be found. Then, his eyes landed on a document on the bedside table. “What’s this?” he muttered, narrowing his eyes as he picked it up. The words “Divorce Agreement” were printed in bold letters.
His blood ran cold. He had been manipulated—forced into a moment of weakness, and now this. Roxanne wanted to leave him. The audacity of it all. First, she used him, then she wanted out. He couldn’t believe it. He refused to.
With a growl, Lucian stood and dressed quickly, fury driving every step. He stormed downstairs. “Lance, did you see Roxanne?” he demanded.
The butler, clearly taken aback, responded, “Mr. Farwell, Mrs. Farwell left with her luggage before dawn.”
Lucian froze. The shock was immediate, followed by a surge of disbelief. She had actually left him. Roxanne was gone.
Six years later, at the VR Medical Research Institute in Yartran, Roxanne stepped out of her laboratory, exhausted after a long night of work. Her assistant, Linda, approached with news. “Dr. Jarvis, Professor Lambert wants to see you. He’s in his office.”
Despite her fatigue, Roxanne snapped back into focus. “Did he say anything specific? Don’t tell me my little rascals got into trouble again?”
“They did,” Linda said with a sympathetic look. “Apparently, Archie and Benny were causing a ruckus in the professor’s office. I think he might’ve gotten a few more gray hairs from the ordeal.”
Roxanne couldn’t help but chuckle, despite the headache creeping in. Her twin sons had always been a handful. Six years ago, after leaving the Farwell residence behind, she’d come to Yartran to further her studies. But a surprise pregnancy changed her path. She had been torn, wondering whether to keep the babies or not. But when she saw the tiny lives growing inside her, there was no question.
She’d had triplets—two boys and a girl. Unfortunately, her daughter didn’t survive the birth, but Archie and Benny were her greatest joy. They were brilliant, and every day with them was a blessing.
But today, it seemed like they were about to get her into trouble again.
