SWNOVELS Chapter 1
“I’ve filed for divorce.
” Colton Stevens approached impatiently, his frustration almost palpable.
“Four million should give you life.
”
Allison Clarke’s face froze for a moment.
Her nails dug painfully into her palm as she struggled to maintain her composure.
“Today is our third wedding anniversary,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Can’t we at least finish this meal together?”
She smelled of cooking oil and smoke, and her hair was pulled back in a simple black clip.
A few loose strands framed her face, giving her a neat but simple appearance.
Today was supposed to be different.
She had spent hours preparing a table full of their favorite dishes to celebrate their anniversary.
Instead of receiving her gratitude, they told her they were going to get divorced.
Colton sneered, his eyes cold and distant.
“Even if we finish this meal together, I’ll never love you.
Besides, Melany’s back.
She’s proud and she won’t tolerate this.
” A flicker of softness crossed his face at the mention of Melany Johnson—a warmth that had never been reserved for Allison, no matter how hard she’d tried.
She’d gone out of her way for him, taken care of his parents, and sacrificed everything for years.
But none of it had earned him more than a passing glance.
Melany was the one who had his heart, she always had.
She had left him three years ago, breaking off their engagement and going abroad.
However, now, with a simple word from her, Colton had easily accepted her return and decided to divorce Allison without a second thought.
Allison gripped the edge of the table as if trying to steady herself against a sudden gust of wind.
“Does your grandfather know?”
Colton let out a high-pitched, mocking laugh.
“Don’t think you can hide behind Grandpa.
He’s in the hospital and can’t handle the stress.
My parents are okay with the divorce.
In fact, Melany met with them just today.
” Allison’s heart sank, an icy chill running through her veins.
She had been renowned as a genius perfumer, a renowned hacker, and a designer of weapons so sophisticated that even world leaders sought her out.
For three years she had buried all traces of that brilliance, becoming the perfect housewife.
Recently, she had landed a rare opportunity with Cobweb, the most elusive intelligence network, in the hopes of helping the Stevens family close a deal.
A crucial deal.
Such an opportunity was almost impossible to obtain.
However, now it all seemed like a cruel farce.
"So, Melany is at your parents' house?" she asked, her voice breaking.
“Naturally.
” Colton smiled, his features softening as if thinking of Melany brightened everything up.
“They just had dinner.
Melany has always gotten along well with my parents.
They’ve been praising her all night, saying how thoughtful and understanding she is.
”
“And you all knew I was coming back,” Allison muttered, her voice thick with disbelief, “but you left me in the dark.
” Her eyes glittered with the deep sting of betrayal.
Thoughtful and understanding… how ridiculous.
Her parents often made the same comments about her.
Colton looked at her impatiently.
“It wasn’t on purpose.
The butler forgot to mention it.
Don’t start creating drama where there isn’t any.
”
He looked at her then, really looked at her, and for a moment, his expression changed to one of disdain.
Allison had always been delicate, her skin flawless and her features striking, especially her bright, clear eyes.
But none of that mattered.
She was boring, that was all.
The ideal housewife, yes—everything he could have wanted in a caregiver for his parents—but living with her was stifling.
Allison ironed clothes and prepared meals with precision every day.
Her routine was so predictable that Colton never had to wonder what she was doing.
She was the perfect housewife, obedient and completely dedicated to staying home.
But he was more than a little tired of her.
“And whether you accept it or not, you’re leaving tonight.
” Colton hesitated, realizing how harsh he sounded.
“You can move into Starfish Villas.
Take the villa; it’s yours.
”
I had researched Allison.
She came from a modest rural background, had dropped out of school early and hadn't seen much of the world.
If it weren't for saving her grandfather's life, she would never have married into the Stevens family.
In her mind, offering him the villa seemed more than generous for someone of her humble origins.
But Allison’s face showed no gratitude.
Instead, she offered a thin, cold smile.
“So, you’re moving in now?”
Allison didn't care about the villa or the four million he offered her.
She could make much more as a high-level hacker.
What hurt her was being discarded after three years of loyalty.
Colton sighed and said, “The room upstairs was always yours.
Melany is back and has nowhere else to stay, so I told her she could move out.
If you stay here, she’ll feel uncomfortable.
”
Her silence was enough to annoy him, assuming she was not happy with the arrangement.
His frustration grew.
“Don’t push her.
You have to know when enough is enough.
” He looked at his watch, clearly counting the time.
“Now that I’ve filed for divorce, we’ll be seeing each other in court in a few days.
You better start preparing and hire a lawyer…” He didn’t get to finish.
"I know what I have to do," Allison cut him off, her voice breaking with disgust.
Her mind flashed back to a childhood memory, when she was blind and in grave danger.
A boy had carried her for three days and three nights, saving her life.
That boy had said his name was Colton Stevens.
Now, three years after they were married, that same boy was forcing her to leave.
Time had a strange way of turning people into strangers.
“I’ll go,” Allison said, coming back to the present.
She stood and looked at Colton firmly, her distance clear.
“From now on, we don’t owe each other anything.
”
Colton let out a sigh of relief.
“Good.
As if nothing had happened, the housekeeper, Kaelyn Thorpe, appeared at the top of the stairs, struggling with a suitcase.
“Sir, her parents called and said that Mrs.
Clarke has to leave right away, so I packed her things… Oh, no!
Before she could finish, she gave a dramatic scream and pretended to twist her ankle.
Allison's suitcase fell down the stairs, spilling her belongings everywhere.