A single sheet of paper — a divorce agreement — was placed on the table in front of Amari. She glanced up instinctively, her eyes following the hand that laid it down.
"After waiting for many years," the man began coldly, "Louisa had finally woken up. Sign the divorce agreement so we can finally be together again."
Amari didn't flinch. She had already expected this to happen. It had been weeks since her stepsister Louisa woke from her coma. A sense of inevitability has lingered in the air ever since.
She lifted her gaze towards the man standing in front of her. Her voice came out bitter, strained with the weight of betrayal. "You still don't believe me, do you?"
Sebastian's lips curled into a sneer. He stared back at her with contempt, his eyes devoid of affection. "From the beginning until now, you've always been the same — vain and manipulative. "Tell me, Amari, what is there left in you that's worth believing?"
He paused for a moment, his face hardening as if to emphasize his next words. "Don't make me repeat myself. Sign the papers. Once you do, the villa will be yours. That's the last thing I'll give you — for your so-called dignity."
A sarcastic smile danced across Amari's lips. The irony of his words hit her harder than she expected. So, this was Sebastian's twisted idea of mercy — giving her the villa so she wouldn't walk away with absolutely nothing? A part of her wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, he was showing the tiniest sliver of care. But she knew better.
Without a word, she reached for the document on the table. Her eyes skimmed over the contents. Sebastian's signature was already there. Hers was the only one missing now.
A lump formed in her throat, her vision momentarily blurring as heat welled up in her eyes. Still, she maintained her composure. Her fingers didn't tremble as she held the paper.
"Will Grandma approve of this?" she asked quietly, though she already expected the answer.
Sebastian, as his full name echoed in her memory — looked at her blankly. "What, you think Grandma's going to give you her undying support forever?" he said dryly. "You know exactly why we got married, Amari. Don't be greedy. Don't make me hate you more than I already do."
Amari chuckled bitterly. "What's the difference between you hating me now and hating me more? There's no going back, is there?"
The tension in Sebastian's face twisted into something more vicious. "Amari!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the room.
Without a flinch, Amari reached for the pen resting beside the document. "Fine," she said calmly. "I'll sign it. Maybe then, you'll finally shut up."
Ever since her cousin woke up, Amari had received photo after photo — Louisa and Sebastian, smiling and intimate, rubbing salt into wounds that hadn't even begun to heal. How long had she clung to this delusion of love? What was the point of holding onto a marriage when love had long since left the room?
With quiet resolve, she struck a line through the clause about the villa. She didn't want it — not if it came from him. Then, she signed her name with firm, unshaken strokes.
Just like that, the three-year marriage ended.
And with that final stroke of ink, Amari was free.
She handed the signed agreement to Harold and stood tall. "Give me one hour. I'll pack and leave."
Sebastian furrowed his brows. His lips parted in confusion. "Wait... wasn't the deal that the villa would be yours? You don't have to leave."
"No," Amari replied with a chuckle. "I think this place suits you better. It's filthy." She enunciated the last word carefully, her eyes piercing straight through him.
"Amari!" Harold bellowed, visibly shaken by her newfound defiance.
She ignored him. The obedient, soft-spoken wife he once knew was gone. Without another word, she pushed him out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Exactly one hour later…
Amari descended the stairs with her suitcase. Sebastian was gone. Silence hung in the air.
Her eyes fell on a sleek, expensive object on the table — a men's Rolex watch.
She picked it up, examined it. This was supposed to be her birthday gift to him — a luxury timepiece she had spent months saving for, planning for. It sparkled under the lights, its value apparent at a glance.
Without a second thought, she threw it in the trash bin. Over a hundred thousand dollars — wasted.
She inhaled deeply. For three years, she had treated him like royalty — like a devoted wife who lived only to serve and please.
Not anymore.
From now on, she would live for herself.
She drove away from the villa — her former prison — and made her way to another one.
Her villa.
It had been hers for years, bought before she entered the Sandoval family. But she never stayed there — not while she was still playing the role of Mrs. Clavel.
The staff, startled by her sudden appearance, rushed to greet her. They quickly lined up on both sides of the grand hallway.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Clavel!" they chorused.
Amari set down her bags and sank into the sofa, exhaustion hitting her all at once. She rubbed her temples before correcting them in a quiet but firm voice. "Not Mrs. Clavel. From now on, call me Miss Sandoval."
The maids blinked in surprise, but none questioned her. They bowed again, this time offering a new greeting in unison. "Welcome home, Miss Sandoval."
In her bedroom, Amari pulled out her phone and dialed a number. The call was answered almost immediately.
"Lea," she said. "How have you been?"
The woman on the other end gasped. "Amari?! What miracle made you call me? What happened?"
"I'm divorced," Amari said plainly. "I took your advice. I'm done with the marriage, and starting today, I'm refocusing on my career."
There was a pause, then a loud shriek from the other end. "WHAT?! Are you serious?! You — Amari Clavel — the perfect, stay-at-home wife for three years, just walked away?! Oh my god. I can't believe this."
Lea had been Amari's assistant — and one of the few who knew her secret.
Because Amari Sandoval wasn't just a wealthy heiress or a former wife.
She was also Kayden — the legendary lawyer feared in courtrooms nationwide.
Online, there was a popular saying: "Kayden is second, no one is first."
The very mention of her name made even seasoned attorneys nervous.
Lea was still rambling in disbelief when Amari cut in. "Has anyone reached out to me recently? Any interesting cases?"
Lea blinked, regaining focus. "Actually... yes. One came in with a very high offer. But no one wants to take it. Even I didn't think you'd be interested."
"Oh?" Amari's voice, normally cool and indifferent, now held a curious edge. For the first time in years, she sounded... alive.
"I think I might take it," she said, a slow smile forming on her lips.
The old Amari — the real Amari — was back.
And the world had better be ready.