CHAPTER ONE

DIVORCE PAPERS

"I'm tired of this hellhole you call marriage!" Jake read the first line of the letter, unbelief flashing across his features.

He squeezed the paper in his hand and shook his head. "No! This can't be right? It's a prank." He faced his wife's secretary, hoping for her to prove the letter wrong.

The secretary cleared her throat awkwardly. "Uhmm----- Mr. Ryder, I'm afraid I have more bad news for you." She paused, watching his face closely. "My boss instructed me to also hand over these papers to you." She held out a manila envelope.

Jake felt his heart sink. "Papers?" he asked, struggling to maintain his cool. He knew the answer in his hearts of hearts. But he dreaded it.

He took the envelope with trembling hands, and his worst fears were confirmed as he saw the words "Divorce papers" written on the front. Blood seized to flow through his veins and he suddenly felt sick in his stomach.

He let out a laughter, refusing to believe all of this were true. "This is a joke, right?" No, it had to be! This can't be real! He screamed in his head.

He had come here for the purpose of giving his wife a surprise birthday package, but guess who was in for the biggest surprise package of their life.

He smiled sadly, shaking his head firmly. "No! She can't do this to me! There has to be an explanation! She can't just break off the marriage! Did she tell you the reason!? His voice had risen more than an octave and the secretary shuddered in fear.

He had lost all his cool as he moved closer to the secretary, his eyes sparkling with a furious intensity.

"How dare you come here, you gold-digging scoundrel?" A sharp voice hissed behind him and he immediately knew the owner of the voice.

He turned to greet her, bowing slightly. "Aaah! Mother-in-law."

"Shut your trap!" Darcy yelled at him, her eyes flashing with anger. "Who's your mother-in-law!? You've only ever wanted to take advantage of my daughter, and now you've ruined her life! I wouldn't allow you to destroy her completely!"

Jake was taken aback by the sudden attack. Ruin her life? Ruin his beloved wife's life? He mused. More than anything in the world, he loved Madison, so why would he ruin her life?

He struggled to find words. "That's not true, mother!" he said, his voice weak and faltering. "I love your daughter, and I would never do anything to hurt her."

Darcy was having none of it, and she smacked him hard across the face. "I'm not your fucking mother. I've warned you times without numbers not to call me that! You're not my daughter's husband anymore. Stop being delusional!" She spat.

As if it was not enough, she continued, her voice laced with hysteria. "All you know how to do is lick off my daughter's ass. You're just a useless and worthless piece of  shit!" She glanced up and down his clothes and shook her head. "As usual, you're still dressed in rags. How dare you come to my daughter's office and create a nuisance!?"

The insults were becoming unbearable for Jake and he felt his face boil in anger as he said calmly, "Mrs Lowell, I'm really wondering who is creating nuisance here. This is a business between me and my wife. And the last I could remember, this office still belonged to her and not you."

Stunned by his words, Darcy flew into rage instantly. "How dare you talk back at me, you son of a worthless bitch. I took you in when you had no one, but you went behind my back and seduced my daughter so you could marry her and steal all her money. You think I would just sit around and watch you destroy her!??" She raised her hand to deliver another slap to his face but before her palm was about to land on his face. He held her wrist roughly and twisted it slightly.

"Arrgh! You mother fucking bastard!" She cried in pain, wincing. "I might be a pushover but I won't let you hit me whenever you wish to?" His voice sounded cold even to his own ears as he jerked her hands away.

"You------!" Her words caught in her throat when she saw the dangerous glint in his eyes. She cowered in fear, biting deep into her lips in suppressed anger.

He made his way to the door when Darcy suddenly said something, making him stop in his tracks.

"What did you say!?" He asked, turning back.

"Please sign the papers. Madison might die if you don't do it."