Chapter 1 Unveiling Deceit

Briana was picking a gift for their three-year anniversary when she received Kiley’s text.

Briana was bombarded by more than a dozen photos. Once she processed what she saw, her face drained of color in an instant.

While the photos varied, Maxim and Kiley appeared in each and every one of them.

In the pictures, they were seen hugging, kissing… What remained consistent was the affectionate gaze Maxim directed toward Kiley in those images.

Despite spending three years by Maxim’s side, he had never regarded Briana with the same look.

“Does this look familiar to you?”

Briana felt a headache starting to emerge and instinctively massaged her temple. The house in the pictures did seem recognizable. However, before Briana could draw a conclusion, she received another message from Kiley.

“This is the house you are supposed to live in after you married Maxim. Don’t you recognize it?

“Oops… I almost forgot. Maxim never allowed you to enter it after your wedding night. Do you know why?

“Because Maxim had decorated this house for me. If Norma didn’t butt in on your wedding day, you would never have the chance to enter this house.”

Every word was a stab to Briana’s heart. Briana’s hand started trembling subconsciously as she read the text.

Briana clenched her phone and slowly typed a reply to Kiley.

“Stop sending me these photos. You and Maxim are over.”

“Do you really believe that?

“I’ve been back in the country for two months. Has Maxim ever come home in these two months?

“While he was away from your home, he would meet me in this house every day after work. Do you know what he said about you when we were in bed? He said that you were boring and just like a sex toy.

“What a loser. If I were you, I would kill myself.

“I suggest you leave Maxim before he grows sick of you. Otherwise, things may not end well for you.”

***

Briana didn’t know how she got home. She snapped out of her trance at the sound of the fingerprint lock.

Maxim opened the door and saw Briana sitting in the hallway.

Maxim frowned, a glint of displeasure in his eyes.

“Why are you sitting on the floor?”

Briana looked up at Maxim. Her heart couldn’t help but skip a beat when she saw Maxim’s handsome face.

She looked into Maxim’s eyes, trying to find proof of his love. Yet, besides impatience and anger, she couldn’t see the faintest trace of love.

She thought she should get used to this look of Maxim as he had been looking at her this way for the past three years. But that was before she found out Maxim could look at someone with such tenderness. At that moment, Briana felt the pain in her heart was unbearable.

She slowly stood up and stared at Maxim.

“Why didn’t you tell me that Kiley was back?”

A glint of shock flashed across Maxim’s eyes. He answered nonchalantly, “You aren’t on speaking terms with Kiley. I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Briana chuckled and thought, “Was he genuinely considering it unnecessary, or was he anxious that I’d discover his affair with Kiley?”

Briana closed her eyes briefly and stated firmly, “Maxim, if you had shown me the respect I deserve as your wife, you wouldn’t have been involved with Kiley in our house!”

Maxim’s face fell. “How did you know?”

“How did I know? Ask Kiley! She’s a homewrecker. How dare she send those photos to taunt me?”

“Briana!”

Maxim’s expression was dangerous as he shot daggers at Briana.

Maxim always believed that Kiley was an innocent girl. She wouldn’t harm anyone, let alone provoke Briana.

“Kiley and I are just friends. I lent the house to her so she could have a place to stay. She would never send you some lewd photos.”

Briana was hurt by Maxim’s angry expression. Her eyes welled up with tears. “You let Kiley use the house? How dumb do you think I am? You didn’t expect her to send me those photos. Are you implying that I’m lying?”

“You may not do it to others. But you hate Kiley. And you had done something like this before.”

Briana pressed her lips tightly together. At that moment, she felt like a joke. Maxim had taken Kiley’s side without even investigating the situation.

No wonder Kiley had the courage to provoke Briana with those photos.

Kiley must know Maxim would side with her.

Briana closed her eyes wearily and replied in a detached tone, “Fine, think whatever you want. You can believe I’m trying to tarnish her.”

Maxim’s eyes showed a glimmer of anger and he said coldly, “Kiley doesn’t owe you anything. I don’t want to hear something like this again.”

Maxim was so protective of Kiley. Briana assumed if she really hurt Kiley, Maxim would go after her harshly.

Briana let out a scoff, “Maxim, we’ve been married for three years. Have you ever loved me, even just a little?”

Maxim’s dark gaze fixed on Briana. “I’ll take care of you for life since we’re married.”

Maxim’s evasive attitude had answered the question…

Briana chuckled and turned her head. She didn’t want Maxim to see her tears. She said in a deadpan tone, “Let’s get a divorce.”

Briana had invested three years of effort trying to earn Maxim’s love. She could no longer deceive herself with the hope that Maxim would eventually reciprocate her feelings.

Briana told herself that it was time to stop dreaming.

Maxim frowned and said impatiently, “Briana, this isn’t funny.”

Briana was shocked that Maxim thought she was joking.

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and looked at Maxim. Briana said solemnly, “I’m serious. I’ll call a lawyer to draft the papers. I want nothing from you.”

Briana married Maxim with an empty pocket. She didn’t want Maxim to think she was after his money as they were getting a divorce.

Maxim’s expression became gloomy at Briana’s words. He was emitting a dangerous vibe.

“Briana. I’m busy and don’t have time to argue. I’ll forget this conversation. We can talk again after you calm down.”

Maxim left immediately.

He always left after a fight. They would go into a cold war until Briana caved in.

Briana had decided to give up on Maxim and finally realized how humble she was before. Maxim wouldn’t even take the time to make peace with her.

But this time was different.

The following day, Briana contacted a lawyer to draft the divorce papers.

The lawyer tried to talk her out of it as they printed the papers out.

“Mrs. Yoder, the Yoder Group is valued at hundreds of billions. You’ve kept your marriage hidden from the public for three years, sacrificing your reputation. You can request Mr. Yoder for a settlement amount in the hundreds of millions.”

Briana smiled bitterly, “Not necessary. I just want to divorce him as soon as possible.”

The lawyer dropped the topic and left after handing Briana the divorce papers.

Briana turned to the last page of the file and signed her name without hesitation. She took off her wedding ring and dropped it into the file before going upstairs to start packing.

In less than an hour, Briana had packed up. She didn’t have many belongings and didn’t want to take anything that Maxim had given her. So, she had managed to fit all her things into just one suitcase.

As she looked at the house she had lived in for three years, Briana didn’t display any signs of reluctance. She pondered, “No matter how much effort you put in, if something doesn’t belong to you, you’ll never truly possess it.”

It took Briana three years to understand it.

Luckily, it wasn’t too late.

Briana turned and walked out of the house. A red Lamborghini was parked in front of the house.

The driver horned as she saw Briana.

Briana put her suitcase in the back and sat on the passenger’s seat.

The driver was a woman with a curvy body and fair skin.

Almost her entire face was covered by a pair of oversized sunglasses, giving her a more delicate appearance.

Once Briana sat down, Melody Joyce arched her eyebrows. “Are you serious about this?”