Chapter 1 Divorce Gift

Jean Wen moaned as the sunlight danced across her face. She knew she needed to get out of bed, but her body disagreed. She was exhausted despite how much she had slept.

As Jean took in her surroundings, she heard a man speaking. When she listened attentively, she realized that he was talking on the phone. From the conversation, it seemed he was about to leave. She rubbed her eyes as she tried to convince herself to get out of bed. Jean groaned as she stood and turned to the bedroom door.

"Zed Qi…" Jean Wen whispered when she saw the man. Wearing only the bedsheet, she stood by the door. Jean tapped her bare foot on the ground and smiled at the man bashfully as she waited for him to finish speaking.

"Okay, I'll talk to you later at the company." The man ended his conversation abruptly. A beep sounded as the call disconnected. Then he turned to look at the woman by the door.

Zed Qi's eyes slowly roamed over Jean's body. Her pale skin was in subtle contrast to the color of the bedsheet. He particularly liked how her ruffled hair added to her allure. Zed Qi thought Jean looked even more beautiful and charming in the morning light.

"I'm waiting." The man said in a nonchalant tone. He seemed a little impatient.

Jean chuckled, "The land in the suburb, could you…"

"No way!" The man reacted immediately. He didn't even let her finish her request.

Jean was a little surprised at his reaction. Slowly, she walked toward him and said, "I don't think you can be sure that the land has potential. Plus, you are already wealthy enough. Why are you so adamant on keeping it?"

The man frowned. His deep-set eyes reflected a terrifying coldness. He spoke in a low husky voice, "Mrs. Qi, please be careful about what you say. The land is mine, besides... do you always ask for a favor this way?"

Jean clenched her fists. Although his arrogant and homiletic tone displeased her, she smiled seductively. She needed him to agree to her request!

"You just got it yesterday..." Jean muttered softly.

The man didn't appear to have heard her remark. He finished settling his shirt before grabbing his coat. Then he turned to leave.

Determined to have her way, Jean doubled over to him and held his arm. She looked at her husband with her most charming expression as she pleaded, "Please, please, do me this favor. I know you are a very generous man. Please promise me that you will leave the land to the Wen family. Promise me, okay? Promise me..."

Zed shook off Jean's hands. Annoyed with her perpetuance, he gave her a stern and extremely cold look, "No!"

"You!" Jean seethed. She couldn't understand why he was being so stubborn. She couldn't hide her frustration as she had tried multiple approaches to convince him, and each time Zed refused her.

Without another word, Zed walked out of the room.

Since Jean was inappropriately dressed, she didn't follow him. Instead, she took a few deep breaths and returned to the bedroom.

Once in the closet, she selected her clothes. As she stood in front of the mirror, Jean couldn't help cursing, "You are a jerk, Zed. I tried so hard. I even slept with you last night! I can't believe you won't even consider my request. Let's see how you feel if the situation were reversed!"

As Jean lifted her leg to slide on her pants, she felt a sudden pain between her thighs. Memories of the previous night flooded her and Jean cursed Zen some more.

Suddenly, Jean saw a slender hand holding a dress appear in front of her.

Jean turned back with a frightened look. She had been loudly cursing her husband and now, he was standing right behind her. He looked at her curiously.

"Can you repeat what you just said?" Zed's face darkened and a sardonic grin appeared.

'I saw him leave! Didn't I? Why did he return so soon?

What should I do?' Jean wondered. What defense could she possibly have for all the things she just said? Jean found herself in an impossible situation.

She usually behaved decently and elegantly in front of Zed to please him. 'I suppose he heard everything I said.

Will he be more reluctant to help me with the land? Oh, it's all over.'

Unsure of what Zed might have heard, Jean decided to play dumb. "I didn't say anything. Did you hear someone talking? I heard nothing." Although embarrassed, Jean casually flicked her hair away from her cheek. She composed herself and managed to squeeze a smile, however, her trembling hands betrayed her.

Zed's grim expression worsened. Frightened, Jean shuddered. After glaring at Jean for a while, Zed threw the dress into her arms, before turning to the cabinet and taking the car key.

'So he returned for the car key.'

Looking at the Zed's back as he walked away, Jean swung her fists in the air and murmured with anger, "If I had known that you would be a heartless jerk, I would not have slept with you!"

As Jean recalled how wild she had been the previous night, shame and guilt flooded her. She felt nothing but hatred for her actions.

The marriage between Zed and Jean was nothing more than a business deal. This titular marriage, however, had been arranged by Jean's greedy father. He had coerced Jean to sleep with Zed just before their divorce. She felt like a prostitute.

And what had all this scheming gotten her? Jean had learned a lesson. Zed was not as easy as she had been led to believe.

Since her plans had failed, Jean had no other choice but to go home and tell her father the truth.

Once at the Wen house, Jean explained her failure to her father. Mr. Wen flew into a rage and smashed a teacup onto the ground.

"You gave up so easily? You couldn't do the one thing that I had asked you to do?"

Jean lowered head and pushed herself to apologize, "I'm sorry, Father. I did everything I could. There is nothing else for me to do. Zed Qi will divorce me soon. Can I just stay at home now?"

Their marriage had been quite an unpleasant experience. Zed always seemed cold toward her. Jean couldn't understand it and the more she tried, the more frustrated and anxious she became. Now, after the crazy night she had with him, Jean felt so embarrassed. She didn't think she could face him again.

"No! You are married to the man. You can use the marriage to get what you want. There's no need to agree to the divorce. Don't dream about coming back home till you have taken him down!" Mr. Wen threatened before forcing Jean to leave.

Since Jean had no other choice, she returned to Zed's house and waited him to arrive. She knew she had to talk to him about the land again.

She didn't want to be trapped in this meaningless marriage any more. There had to be a way out.

Jean spent the night alone in Zed's massive house. She gave up when she realized that Zed had no intention of returning.

Alone, Jean was consumed by pity. She felt devastated and couldn't accept that her effort from the previous night was not even worth a proper discussion about the land.

"Is it because I'm inexperienced?" Jean muttered.

When Zed returned the next morning, he looked very tired. After walking through the door, he headed straight for the bedroom.

"You are back." Jean threw away her dignity and started doting on Zed. She helped hang his coat, and wiped his face with a wet towel. She was determined to make every effort to please him.

"I'm going to bed." Zed said curtly, before lifting the quilt and lying down. Jean sighed as it looked as though he had no intention to speak with her.

'What excuse can I give my father if I fail again?' As she recalled his advise about her marriage, Jean frowned. The appointment for their divorce procedure was tomorrow, as agreed previously.

'There will be no more chances for me. I have to do it now.'

"Did you work overnight, Zed? You are not looking too good. I can give you a little massage. It will help you relax." She purred.

Zed did not react. Jean took his silence as consent and placed her fingers on his shoulders. As she began kneading, she increased pressure so that he wouldn't fall asleep.

"Although we are getting divorced tomorrow, we have been a couple." Jean blushed and fumbled as she couldn't bring herself to speak of the previous night. She hesitated before trying again. "We've been, you know, in a husband-and-wife relationship. Could you leave that land to me as a divorce gift?" Jean closed her eyes and bit her lip as she waited for Zed to reply.

Zed opened his eyes. Although he looked weary, her request seemed to make his eyes sparkle. "In return, what gift will you give me?" He asked.