Chapter 1
Throughout their three-year marriage, Roxanne Harrett and Johnny Padilla’s intimacy was solely about having a baby. Never about love.
As usual, Johnny had the housekeeper bring Roxanne to Missanne Garden.
Today marked the end of their three-year pact. It was her last time coming here.
Johnny was stepping out of the shower when she entered the room.
They had sex as planned, mechanical and passionless, bringing her nothing but heartbreak.
By midnight, Roxanne stirred awake, hunger gnawing at her.
Johnny had already gone. There wasn’t even a trace of warmth left on the bed.
Every bone in her body ached. She struggled to get out of bed, put on the robe, and went downstairs.
The housekeeper approached her.
“Mrs. Padilla, you’re awake. You must be hungry. Before Mr. Padilla left, he instructed the kitchen staff to make some soup for you.”
“Thanks.”
Roxanne sat down and sipped the soup leisurely.
She casually scrolled through her phone, and several trending topics came into her view.
“Mr. Padilla Hosts Seven-Figure Birthday Bash for Ms. Dolton”
“Johnny Padilla and Maryanne Dolton Sealed the Deal in Fruyca”
She froze, her pupils contracting out of disbelief.
All of a sudden, a wave of dizziness surged through her.
Turned out his first love was called Maryanne Dolton.
She never knew he was so romantic-even Missanne Garden, the place they were supposed to make love in, was named after Maryanne.
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10:45
Chapter 1
Roxanne’s eyes reddened as she stared at Johnny’s familiar face in the photo.
His smile lit up his entire face as he held Maryanne in his arms.
She had once believed he was simply cold by nature. After all, he never smiled.
But now, the cruel reality crashed down on her-his smiles were never meant for her.
A ruby lily-shaped necklace glittered on Maryanne’s neck, a sight that stung her eyes.
She had adored that very necklace for so long…
Setting down her spoon, she went upstairs to change.
Her gaze turned icy as it fell upon the empty bed.
1 288 (Vouchers
Johnny sure was a man of stupendous energy. After spending the afternoon in bed with her, he still rushed off to Fruyca to celebrate Maryanne’s birthday.
Ten minutes later, she went downstairs and asked the housekeeper to take her home.
She’d never set foot in here again.
After returning home, she took out the divorce agreement from her bag and flipped through it.
She had prepared this a month ago and kept it in her bag, planning to give it to Johnny today. But he was gone before she had woken up.
The next noon, the insistent ringing of Roxanne’s phone jolted her awake.
Dozens of missed calls lit her screen-all from Chloe Sarratt, her best friend. She couldn’t help getting worried, wondering if something big had happened.
So she dialed back immediately.
“Finally, Roxanne! I thought you might have slashed your wrist or something. I was worried sick!” Chloe’s displeased complaint came through.
Roxanne pinched the bridge of her nose, helpless.
“Chill. I cherish my life far too much to do anything drastic.”
After a night’s sleep, she felt better.
“I’m flying back to check on you right away. Wait for me,” Chloe said urgently.
The moment she hung up, that same old emptiness surged through her again. As she stared blankly at the ceiling, memories of her years with Johnny came flashing back to her.
She had shadowed him through every step of his life-skipping grades when he did, following him abroad, and choosing medicine just as he had… Even when he fell into the sea, she jumped in after him without hesitation.
And yet, she had never left an imprint on his heart.
Three years ago, a car accident left him blind.
After learning his first love had gone abroad, she reappeared in his life.
Back then, Linette Benson, who had taken Roxanne in, was on her deathbed. Using her connections with Windsor Padilla, Johnny’s grandpa, she orchestrated Roxanne’s marriage to Johnny.
