Chapter 1

Freya Montgomery married her former student, and even after eight years together, their passion remained undiminished.

Tonight, Thaddeus Remington was particularly ravenous, his hands exploring every curve of her body. "We've been married for years now, Professor Montgomery," he whispered against her neck, his fingers sliding beneath the thin fabric. "Why are you wearing something so provocative? Are you trying to drive me wild?"

Thaddeus spun her around, pressing her bare back against the cold glass of the floor-to-ceiling window. The contrast of temperatures made her gasp as he pinned her wrists above her head and continued his passionate assault on her senses.

Freya wanted to tell him she was only wearing a simple nightgown, but words failed her as waves of pleasure coursed through her body. "You're particularly enthusiastic tonight," she managed between shallow breaths.

"That's because it's your birthday, darling," he replied, his voice husky with desire.

Afterward, Thaddeus carried her back to bed. "You must be exhausted after our little adventure. Relax now—I need to discuss some business with Declan and the others."

Still basking in the afterglow of their intimacy, Freya felt warm inside. Concerned he might drink too much, she quickly prepared a late-night snack and brought it to Room 1001.

As she was about to open the door, she heard a voice: "Thaddeus, you gave Sylvie a million dollars today when she found out she's pregnant. So when the baby comes, you're planning to divorce that old maid of yours, right?"

Freya's hand froze on the doorknob, her breath catching.

Then came Thaddeus's stern voice: "Everyone keep your mouths shut. Don't ruin my plans."

The others in the private room quickly agreed.

"Don't worry, Thaddeus. After all, Sylvie's baby will be the Remington heir, not some brat from that barren hostess you're stuck with!"

"Thaddeus is such a player. Even after Sylvie caused him to lose everything years ago, he still wants to get in her pants. He schemed to destroy her husband's company, orchestrated their divorce, and swooped in to claim his prize!"

"Exactly! Freya is just a washed-up former hostess who's unfit for public appearances. Plus, she's four years older than Thaddeus and can't even push out a kid. If he hadn't needed to create the image of a devoted husband to secure that investment deal with their competitor, he would never have touched damaged goods like her!"

"Thaddeus still keeps Sylvie's photo in his wallet—that hot young thing with flowing hair. He's truly obsessed with her. I can't wait until he dumps the old hag and gets with the woman he really wants!"

Hearing these words directly from her husband's mouth, Freya felt her world collapse.

So Thaddeus still loved Sylvie. His apparent coldness toward her was all an act!

They had been having an affair all along and now had a child on the way!

She stumbled backward a few steps when her phone began to ring.

Freya stared numbly at the handsome face lighting up her screen as memories flooded her mind.

Thaddeus had been a privileged heir with no interest in academics, while Freya came from a modest background but excelled in her studies.

When he was in seventh grade, she—a science prodigy—was hired by his stepfather as his private tutor.

During their first meeting, the young boy had splashed red wine all over her.

With arrogant flair and a dazzling smile, he'd asked, "What do you think of my welcome gift, Professor Montgomery?"

Despite being only a college student herself, Freya wasn't immune to his bad-boy charm and striking looks.

Though he acted indifferent, his incredible appearance had captured her heart completely.

Thaddeus recognized her feelings for him and casually enjoyed her secret admiration.

Even knowing Thaddeus only loved Sylvie, Freya remained available whenever he called after that.

She helped him get into the prestigious Xavier University.

She strategized ways for him to pursue Sylvie.

After graduation, she drank on his behalf at business dinners and accompanied him to project meetings.

She even learned kickboxing and martial arts to protect him.

When Thaddeus turned eighteen, Sylvie conspired with others to destroy his family business before abandoning him to study abroad.

Devastated, Thaddeus developed severe schizophrenia and was committed to a psychiatric hospital.

His family and friends gave up on him completely.

Only Freya stayed by his side, trying everything to provide psychological support and treatment.

Later, when Thaddeus recovered and left the hospital to start a new business, he became a financial titan in just three years.

She believed her unwavering eight years of companionship had finally warmed his cold heart.

After all, he had once defied his stepfather to marry her.

But today, Freya realized that her eight years of dedication had been nothing but a joke!

His heart had always belonged solely to Sylvie, with no room for Freya at all!

Freya tilted her head back to stop her tears, declining Thaddeus's call.

She turned and dialed the number of Odessa Remington, the Thaddeus's stepfather: "Mr. Remington, I agree to go to Germany. Please have someone process the cancellation of my state ID"

Chapter 2

"You've been secretly in love with Thaddeus for eight years, and just when you finally married him, you're suddenly willing to leave?"

Freya desperately held back her tears. " I want to pursue my own dreams again."

"Fine. The cancellation paperwork will be completed in three days. I'll give you ten million dollars as compensation, on the condition that you never return to the country or see him again."

"Agreed."

Thaddeus's father continued, "You'll also need to return the family heirloom given to Remington daughters-in-law."

Freya complied without hesitation. "Of course."

Five minutes later, his father's secretary delivered divorce papers and a bank card.

She signed the agreement without a moment's hesitation and handed over the Remington family heirloom—an emerald bracelet of imperial green jade.

Freya found her suitcase and began packing when she noticed her phone screen light up with a message from Thaddeus:

"Darling, are you asleep? I'm getting hungry. If you're still up, could you make some snacks and bring them to Room 1001?"

She stared at the message for ten seconds, then deleted their entire chat history with one tap.

Then Freya sat at her vanity and began cutting off her waist-length hair, one snip at a time.

In her mind flashed the memory of when she'd saved him from a car accident, and he'd carried her to the emergency room.

"Freya, you stay with me, don't you dare die! If you survive, I'll grant any wish you want!"

"When my hair grows down to my waist, will you marry me?" she had asked weakly.

"I will!" he had promised, holding her tightly.

True to his word, when she recovered and left the hospital, he proposed on one knee and even planted an orchard of ten acres of peach trees for her.

The sharp blade cut her finger, bringing a sudden pain that snapped Freya back to reality. She began to recall many details she had previously overlooked.

Thaddeus never brought her to meet his friends or family.

There was no grand wedding celebration on their marriage day.

Every night when he came home, he was only interested in intimate activities with her—otherwise, he worked in his study.

Looking back now, Thaddeus probably thought her humble background would embarrass him in public.

Her only value to him was as a bedmate.

His lack of love had been so obvious all along.

How could she have been foolish enough to think that her desperate devotion and kindness could ever replace Sylvie in his heart?

It was childishly ridiculous!

Freya removed her wedding ring and tossed it into the trash.

She opened her laptop, logged into her social media accounts, deleted all content, and booked a flight leaving North Ridge in three days.

That night, as Freya fell into a deep sleep, she felt someone lie down beside her and embrace her from behind.

She pushed away from his suffocating arms, pretending to be asleep.

Thaddeus pulled her back with his arm, his voice surprised: "Freya, why did you suddenly cut your precious long hair?"

Freya kept her eyes closed, not responding. Then his warm lips suddenly brushed against hers: "From behind, with your long hair, you looked a bit like Sylvie, though your eyes are different."

Her heart ached as her fingers secretly clutched her sleeve. No wonder he became especially passionate whenever she had her back to him—he had been fantasizing about Sylvie while satisfying his desires.

She had foolishly believed that even if he didn't love her emotionally, he at least desired her body.

These past eight years have been nothing but a ridiculous farce！

After a sleepless night, the next morning while brushing her teeth, she came across news of Thaddeus watching fireworks with an unidentified woman.

Although the media only captured a blurry silhouette of the woman, Freya recognized her instantly—it was Sylvie!

"Freya, come eat breakfast," Thaddeus called, setting dishes on the dining table.

She turned away, wiping tears that threatened to spill, her tone cold: "Don't bother. I'm not hungry.."

Seeing her gloomy mood, he grew curious, walking over to encircle her waist. "If you're feeling cooped up at home, how about I take you to pick out some new designer dresses?"

Unable to resist his persistent coaxing, she reluctantly agreed.

Just as they reached the entrance of the studio, they encountered Sylvie gliding toward them in a flowing white dress.

Chapter 3

Sylvie covered her mouth, stifling a delicate cough before flashing a calculated smile. "What a coincidence running into you here, Miss Montgomery. Shopping for a gown too?"

Before Freya could respond, Thaddeus's expression hardened. "She's Mrs. Remington. Get it through your head. If basic respect is beyond you, maybe you should go back to finishing school."

Sylvie's face drained of color. Tears welled in her eyes—perfectly timed, of course. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Remington. I never meant to upset you by being here. I'll just go."

Freya completely ignored her, walking into the boutique as if Sylvie didn't exist. Behind her, Sylvie's Freyatrical coughing grew more dramatic.

Meanwhile, Thaddeus stood absorbed in his phone, texting someone. Freya glanced at him, her voice practically arctic. "Do I seriously have to show up tonight? You've never dragged me to these corporate circuses before."

"Yes," Thaddeus snapped, pocketing his phone. "Tonight's Entrepreneurs Summit matters. You're going."

"David," he called to the shop assistant, "bring out your most exclusive pieces."

Every dress Freya's eyes lingered on, Thaddeus immediately purchased. Within minutes, he'd bought half the luxury inventory without batting an eye.

The staff whispered behind their hands, green with envy.

"Look at how Mr. Remington spoils her. Doesn't even care she's four years older and can't have kids. Talk about lucky."

"When his family dumped him in that psychiatric facility, she was the only one who stuck around. He values loyalty—she's earned the royal treatment!"

Freya lowered her gaze, masking the ice in her eyes. "I've got stuff to handle," she told Thaddeus flatly. "I'm out of here."

Noting her furrowed brow, Thaddeus misread the situation. "David, show us your premium collection."

Her attention caught on Dress #9 as the assistant hung it up. Through the window, she noticed Sylvie on the couch outside, staring at the same dress with naked desire.

"Freya, try on #9," Thaddeus suggested. "It's stunning."

She changed and pulled back the curtain, only to glimpse Thaddeus through the window—sitting on the couch, cradling Sylvie and helping her take medicine.

Sylvie draped herself around his neck, her voice a breathy purr. "Baby, I'm absolutely dying for Dress #9. Buy it for me? I promise I'll make it worth your while..." She bit her lip suggestively.

"No," Thaddeus stated firmly.

Tears spilled down Sylvie's cheeks as she pressed her mouth against his.

Freya looked away, changed, and brought the dress to checkout. "Ring this up with everything else," she told David, her voice emotionless.

David checked his phone, his expression instantly apologetic. "I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Remington, but this particular gown has an imperfection. We can't possibly sell it to you."

"It has a flaw and you still had my wife try it on?" Thaddeus appeared suddenly, glaring at David. "You have three days to fix it and deliver it personally to Freya for approval."

David stammered apologies, promising immediate action.

Leaving the boutique, Thaddeus claimed he had an urgent meeting at headquarters.

Driving to handle her affairs, Freya spotted a familiar black Maybach stuck in traffic.

In the backseat, Sylvie preened in the extravagant Dress #9, adjusting Thaddeus's tie with practiced intimacy.

Catching Freya's gaze, Sylvie shot her a triumphant look before deliberately pressing her lips to Thaddeus's cheek.

The next instant, Thaddeus pulled Sylvie into his arms as the privacy window glided upward.

Freya unlocked her phone with steady fingers and made a call: "Odessa Remington, regarding my new identity—make sure it's airtight. Nothing for your son to trace."

"He won't find you," his father assured her. "Safe travels."

She closed her eyes, allowing herself one last moment of weakness as tears slid silently down her face.

Soon she'd be free of him completely, finally chasing the dreams she'd put on hold for eight wasted years.