1. The Divorce

"We have to get a divorce now," Cloe said as she handed Darren the divorce papers.

In front of Cloe, Darren looks at her with a shocked expression. Darren clutched the tote bag that carried his clothes.

For seven years Darren had been imprisoned due to false accusations from his workplace. This was his long-awaited day of freedom. But Darren didn't expect Cloe to give him divorce papers instead of a warm welcome.

Darren is speechless and doesn't know what to say. For a split second, Darren tries to wait to see if Cloe is just making a joke or not.  

"Why are you silent? Sign the letter," Cloe said once again.

It wasn't just Darren who fell silent. But also Cloe's family and another strange man.

Darren asked, "What did you say?"

Cloe folded her arms across her chest as she laughed sarcastically. She looked away for a moment, then looked at Darren again through disgusted eyes.  

"Don't you get it? I want a divorce from you. I've been waiting seven years for you to get out of prison," Cloe retorted without hesitation.

"No... Cloe, you can't do this," Darren insists with a worried shake of his head.

As if ignoring Darren's words, Cloe picked up a ballpoint pen from the table and thrust it at Darren.

"Take this. Sign it now. We can't afford any more time, Darren," Cloe said urgently.

Darren still didn't want to accept the pen that Cloe held out. For some reason, this situation felt awkward. Cloe should have given him a warm welcome because he was imprisoned on false charges.

Why is Cloe asking for a divorce now?

"I don't understand. After seven years of my imprisonment, you're giving me divorce papers?" Darren asked, his tone starting to sound angry.  

"Of course, why would I continue a marriage with an ex-con like you?" Cloe replied using a sarcastic tone.

"You know the charges against me are false, Cloe. I am completely innocent."

Darren knew that Cloe wouldn't believe him easily. Just like seven years ago, when he was accused of embezzling funds and masterminding the company's illegal activities, Cloe didn't listen to his explanation.

It's not just Cloe. Everyone, including Cloe's family, doesn't want to know the truth either.  

Now Darren thinks maybe Cloe can change her mind to trust him. But what he gets is a divorce decree. It never even occurred to Darren that Cloe would take care of this.

"I don't care, Darren. You're an ex-con. You've got a bad reputation, and you're going to make my family's company very bad," Cloe retorted firmly.  

Darren immediately laughed with a smirk as he lowered his head for a moment. When he lifted his face again, his gaze had turned sharp on Cloe.

"You sacrificed our marriage for the good name of the company?" Darren asked.

Cloe nodded without hesitation. "I did, and I'm not going to live the rest of my life with an ex-convict. Besides, I don't love you, Darren. Never have."

For a few seconds Darren just watched Cloe. At that moment Darren couldn't help but be curious about something.

"Is that why you're in a relationship with another man?" Darren asked as he glanced at the man behind Cloe.  

Cloe looked back and smiled at the stranger. Cloe extended her hand, and he returned it until they clasped hands.

Cloe looks back at Darren with a guiltless smile.

"That's right. I'm going to marry him, Darren," Cloe said, firmly.

Darren felt anger rise in his heart. He hadn't expected Cloe to say that.

"You've been cheating on me all this time?" asked Darren, smiling sarcastically. "For how long?"

"Two years. I'm so tired of waiting for you to get out of prison," Cloe retorted as she squirmed in her new lover's arms.

"How dare you..." Darren's tone sounded trembling with anger, his jaw hardening.

Cloe then glanced at the document on the desk. "Sign it now. We're divorced."

Darren immediately nodded his head, even though his chest was filled with anger. Without further ado, Darren picked up the pen that was lying around.

Darren then took the pen and signed their divorce document.

"You're such an ignorant traitor, Cloe. I've been doing business with you all this time!" Darren said in a high tone. "After you became CEO, you dumped me for nothing..."

Cloe didn't seem to care.

From behind Cloe, two mansion maids come in carrying a large tote bag. Cloe and Pablo, her father, throw the tote bag to the floor. It falls right in front of Darren.

"Get out of the mansion!"

Feeling trampled, Darren picked up the two tote bags on the floor. Darren briefly looked at Cloe, Pablo, and Teressa-Cloe's mother with a fierce glare.

"I will come before you to make you sorry!" Darren said firmly.

***

Darren's steps were somewhat staggered as he walked down the city's footpaths. Darren is now homeless after his house was sold to give to Cloe as business capital.

Darren carried three tote bags on his body with anger. His hopes of a happy marriage with Cloe are shattered. His disappointment is so great in Cloe after his sacrifice was wasted.

"Ah, right, he's the one!"

Darren immediately turned around spontaneously after hearing a male voice. Not far behind, there were four well-built men with the appearance of thugs.

Shortly after, one of the more prominent men ran quickly towards Darren. His gaze was furious. Without further ado, he grabbed Darren by the collar.

"You bastard! You didn't pay your debt and just disappeared!"

BUGH!

A powerful punch connected with Darren's jaw.

Darren's body is sent crashing to the pavement, the strap of his tote bag slipping away.

"Hey, you poor guy! If you can't pay your debts, don't run away like a loser!"

Darren groaned in pain at the hard impact of his body. He didn't understand what was happening, nor did he even know who the loan shark was that was coming after him now.  

Before Darren could get up, the loan shark approached and pulled his collar again. Darren's body was forced to stand up and then received a fist to his stomach.

"Hold him there!" the loan shark boss said as he pushed Darren's body against the wall.

The three right hands of the loan shark boss held Darren's body against the wall. Darren did not have time to fight back because he was trying to understand the situation.

As Darren's body was pressed against the wall and his hands were held by the three right hands of the loan shark, the loan shark boss stood in front of him.

The loan shark boss' gaze was very sharp at Darren.

"You can't escape now." Then, the loan shark boss grabbed Darren's jaw. "Give me your money. You have to pay back everything you owe!"

Darren's heartbeat was racing fast at that moment. He had no idea what the loan shark boss was talking about.

"I don't know what you mean," Darren replied, his clenched jaw making it difficult for him to speak.

"Shit! You're even still trying to escape?!" The loan shark boss snapped at Darren again.

"I really don't know! What debt are you talking about?!"

The loan shark boss laughed sarcastically. "Gosh, it turns out that someone used your name as a guarantor for a debt. What a pity. But I don't care, debt is still debt!"

Darren frowned. His heart sank. Who would use his name as a guarantor for a debt? He'd been in prison all this time.

"How much is the total debt?" Darren asked.

"Ten million dollars!"

Darren glared in surprise. That's a huge amount! How could he pay such a huge amount?!

"If you don't pay, you will die here. Tonight."