The Househusband Was a Hidden Monarch

Chapter 1

Cassian Vane was in the laundry room, carefully washing clothes with a small smile on his face, the washing machine hummed beside him while he folded a clean shirt with patience. 

He worked slowly but seriously, like the task meant something important to him and while working, his mind kept drifting to his wife. 

She had been busy lately, always leaving early and coming back late, but Cassian never complained. As long as she was happy, he felt satisfied. Thinking about her made him smile again.

“Cassian!”

Her voice suddenly came from the living room.

Cassian quickly wiped his wet hands on his pants and hurried out of the laundry room. When he reached the sitting room, he saw his wife standing there beside the table. His face immediately softened and he smiled warmly.

“You called me, sweetheart?” he asked gently. “What’s wrong?”

His wife covered her nose, "You smell awful." She scoffed then pointed at the table. 

Cassian ignored his wife's remark but the moment his eyes landed on the table, his smile froze.

There was a stack of papers placed neatly in the center. At the top of the document were bold words that made his mind go blank.

Divorce Agreement.

Cassian stared at the papers for a long moment like he didn’t understand what he was seeing. His hand slowly lifted, pointing at the documents while his eyes moved back to his wife’s face.

“What is this, love?”

He forced out a small laugh, though it sounded weak even to himself.

“Is this one of your jokes again?” he asked awkwardly. “You know I’m not good with these kinds of pranks.”

He waited for her to laugh or say something to prove it was fake.

But she didn’t, instead, she let out a cold scoff, the disgust in her eyes so visible it hurts

Without saying much, she opened her handbag and pulled out a bank card. She held it for a moment, then casually threw it at him. The card hit his chest and fell to the floor.

“There’s five million in that card,” she said calmly. “Take it. Sign the divorce papers and leave.”

Cassian didn’t move.

He looked down at the card on the floor, then slowly looked back at her, still not understanding what the heck was wrong with her all of a sudden. 

She'd been misbehaving and all but he always ignored her tantrums and hurtful words because he wants to be a good husband. 

She crossed her arms and spoke again, her voice sharp and impatient.

“Stop staring at me with those dirty eyes, I'm being generous. Five million. That should be more than enough for someone like you.”

Her eyes swept over him with clear irritation. 

“You’re not fit to stand beside me anymore, Cassian. Just sign the papers and get out of my life.”

The room became quiet.

Cassian stood there, staring at the divorce papers on the table and the bank card at his feet. His mind still hadn’t fully caught up with what was happening.

Just a moment ago he was happily doing laundry, thinking about dinner with his wife.

Now she was paying him five million… to disappear 

Finally he spoke slowly.

“So… five million?”

His eyes stayed on her.

“That’s what three years of our marriage means to you?”

Before Fiona could answer, another voice came from the kitchen.

A middle-aged woman walked out holding a glass bottle of expensive juice.

It was Cassian’s mother-in-law who looked at him with open disgust before letting out a loud scoff.

“You should be grateful you’re even getting that much,” she said sharply and set the bottle down and crossed her arms.

“If my daughter didn’t insist on giving you something out of pity, you wouldn’t get a single cent. Five million is already too much for a nobody like you.”

Her eyes swept over him like he was dirt.

“With that money, you’re set for life. Do you know how many people would beg for that amount? A useless man like you couldn’t earn it in ten lifetimes.”

She snorted again watching the son-in-law she'd hated and treated worse than a dog.

“Look here, your whole generation probably hasn’t seen that much money before.”

Cassian stayed silent.

The words clearly stung, but his expression slowly became calm again. The shock in his eyes faded and got replaced by something colder.

He looked at Fiona once more and if his soon to be ex wife was paying attention, she would have noticed something was off.

“So this is really what you want?” he asked calmly. “A divorce?”

Fiona sneered.

“Stop wasting time,” she said impatiently. “Just sign it.”

Her voice turned colder.

“Take the money and disappear. If you keep dragging this, don’t blame me for being rude… and don’t expect to keep that five million either.”

Cassian stared at her for a moment longer before shaking his head slowly.

“I don’t want your money, it's useless to me, Fiona.”

The words surprised both women.

“But before I sign,” he continued calmly, “give me back the jade pendant I gave you as our love token.”

Fiona rolled her eyes.

“That ugly thing?” she muttered.

She reached around her neck and pulled a small jade pendant before tossing it onto the table carelessly.

“I never liked it anyway.”

Cassian looked at the pendant for a second and his eyes darkened slightly, but he said nothing more.

He picked up the pen and without hesitation, he signed his name on the divorce papers.

Fiona grabbed the pendant from the table and threw it straight at him with a sneer.

“Take your trash and get out,” she said coldly. “You should thank us for letting you leave with money instead of kicking you out with nothing but since you want to be arrogant, don't come crying to me later, I'll have you arrested for trespassing.”

Cassian caught the pendant calmly and he didn’t argue or look angry.

He simply closed his fingers around the jade pendant, placed the signed papers back on the

table, and turned toward the door.

Without another word, Cassian Vane walked out of the house he had lived in for three years.