Chapter 1

Three months before the divorce, Dorothy Acosta applied for a job transfer.

One month before the divorce, she mailed the divorce papers to Dwayne Lambert.

Three days before the divorce, she packed all her belongings and moved out of their marital home.

She decided to end the six-year marriage when Dwayne appeared before her with his unforgettable love and her child, a child who called him "Daddy".That was the moment she woke up.

Since he kept choosing them over her, making her feel like the other woman in her marriage, she would set him free. She would walk away.

Yet when she truly vanished from his world, Dwayne went crazy.

She thought Dwayne would finally marry his unforgettable love. Yet, surprisingly, this untouchable, powerful man appeared before the media with red-rimmed eyes, pleading in utter vulnerability, "I never cheated. I don't have any illegitimate children.I just have a wife who left me.Her name is Dorothy Acosta. And I miss her."

---

"Dottie, are you sure you want to be transferred to Rovigo Hospital?"

Weston Harrison, the director of Dewbury Medical Center, looked at Dorothy Acosta in surprise with her transfer report in his hand.

Dorothy's eyelashes fluttered as she smiled bitterly, "Yes."

Seeing the determined look on her face, Weston sighed and finally signed the report.

Dorothy walked out of the director's office—and stopped in her tracks.

Just ahead stood Dwayne Lambert, Sonia Frazier in her white coat, and her son Brenden Frazier.

The three seemed like a happy family.

Sonia and Dwayne held Brenden's hands and walked side by side, and the smile on Brenden's face was so genuine and radiant.

The scene stung Dorothy's eyes.

Dwayne had always been gentle and patient with Sonia and Brenden, yet she had never been this lucky.

She knew Dwayne hated her.

Sonia was Dwayne's first love. Back then, Dorothy had made a deal with Aliyah Lambert, Dwayne's grandmother, and married Dwayne. Only then did she know Sonia and Dwayne had broken up by then.

In Dwayne's eyes, she was a vicious woman who took advantage of the situation and schemed her way into marrying him.

But he forgot one thing.

She had known him earlier than Sonia.

She thought he'd remember her after she married him.

And she could win his favor.

But she was so wrong.

He hated her.

So, why would he love her?

During their six years of marriage, he had always claimed he was single and even pretended he didn't know her.

"Dr. Acosta?" Sonia saw her.

Dwayne frowned and stared at her.

It seemed he was worried she'd tell Sonia about their relationship.

His detachment made her heart ache for a second. But soon, she regained calmness. "Dr. Frazier, Mr. Lambert, hi."

Dwayne had invested in Dewbury Medical Center a while ago and was now a shareholder.

Dorothy knew he did it for Sonia, not her.

After Sonia came back to the country, Dwayne arranged for her to work here as the director of the Surgical Department.

Everyone here knew Dwayne had Sonia's back, and he had never clarified anything when rumors spread, saying he was Sonia's boyfriend.

Sonia linked her arm with Dwayne's casually. "Dr. Acosta, I haven't been on board long, and you've been here longer than I have. I'm sure there's a lot I can learn from you."

Before Dorothy could say anything, Brenden shook Dwayne's hand. "Daddy, I'm tired. Could you hold me?"

Dorothy's expression changed at once.

Did Brenden just call Dwayne "Daddy"?

Chapter 2

Sonia pretended to be mad. "Brenden, that's so not appropriate!" She then turned to Dwayne and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Dwayne. Brenden didn't mean it."

Dwayne's gaze swept over Dorothy, and she saw no anger on his face. Then he picked Brenden up and said, "It's fine."

"I like Dwayne!"

Brenden wrapped his arms around Dwayne's neck and pouted. "I wish Dwayne was really my daddy."

"Oh you," Sonia smiled, tapping his little head.

Dorothy clenched her fists.

She had never seen this side of Dwayne—it turned out he could be so gentle.

Forget it.

She couldn't win his heart anyway.

Why should she care?

She tried her best to suppress the bitterness in her heart, walked past them, and entered the elevator.

***

Dorothy didn't tell anyone she had filed the application for a transfer including Dwayne, because she didn't think it was necessary.

Maybe he wasn't interested to know anyway.

She drove to the Lambert's manor and rang the doorbell.

Soon, the maid Liana Gibson opened the door. "Mrs. Lambert, you're back."

"Is Madam Lambert home?" she asked.

"Yes. Come on in," Liana said respectfully.

Aliyah was a well-respected elder of the Lambert family. After Dwayne's grandfather passed away, she took over the management of all family affairs and had held that authority ever since.

Her birth family was a powerful business clan in the south, and she was a decisive, formidable businesswoman in her earlier years. Even Carolyn Strickland, Dwayne's mother, who'd never hidden her disdain for Dorothy, didn't dare cross the line when Aliyah was present.

Liana led Dorothy to a room where Aliyah was praying with her hand on the Bible.

"Madam Lambert, Mrs. Lambert is here."

Aliyah opened her eyes slowly and turned around. "Take a seat."

After Liana left, Dorothy sat beside Aliyah.

Aliyah was a religious lady, who spent more time in the chapel than at home—lighting candles, whispering prayers, and volunteering for church events as if her soul depended on it.

"Madam Lambert, I want a divorce from Dwayne."

Chapter 3

Aliyah was stunned for a few seconds and then met Dorothy's eyes. "That's not what you wanted when you made the deal with me. You regret it now?"

Yes, she regretted it.

Dorothy looked down, hiding the sadness in her eyes. "Sorry that I've let you down."

Aliyah closed her eyes and sighed deeply, "Fine. If that's what you want, then that's what you have. You've had your chance, but you still can't win Dwayne's heart. The Lambert family now owes you nothing."

Dorothy's heart twisted with bitterness as she smiled and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you, Madam Lambert."

***

She came back to Tranquility Apartments.

Just her luck—she bumped into Dwayne, Sonia, and Brenden again.

Sonia and Brenden took Dwayne's car back.

Dorothy couldn't help but freeze.

Upon seeing her, Sonia seemed surprised. "Dr. Acosta, you live here, too?"

Dorothy instinctively looked at Dwayne.

He had no intention of helping her out.

The calmer he was, the more her heart ached.

Tranquility Apartments was an upscale residential complex in downtown Dewbury, and it was under the Lambert Group's name. Dwayne had given her the apartment as his compensation for her.

She had accepted it because it was close to the hospital.

Little did she know that he'd arrange for Sonia and Brenden to live here, too.

He really couldn't wait.

"What a coincidence."

Suppressing the emotions, Dorothy was about to leave when Sonia asked, "Dr. Acosta, I heard you got married. Where's your husband?"

Dorothy froze.

Her husband?

She glanced at Dwayne.

His gaze turned deeper.

She couldn't help but sneer deep down, thinking, "Are you really that scared of Sonia finding out about us?"

She said flatly, "I don't have one."

Something obscure flashed across Dwayne's eyes, which had always been calm.

"How so? You're married, right?" Sonia maintained a smile.

Married...

She had indeed stated that she was married on her hospital application form.

But no one had ever seen her husband.

She smiled a bit sarcastically, "Are you talking about the application form? It was a bad joke. I don't have a husband."

Dwayne heard her reply loud and clear.

He squinted as a cold, dangerous glint flashed across his eyes.

What Dorothy was thinking was, now that she had resigned and decided to leave, their secret marriage no longer mattered to her. Why bother exposing it?