MoboNovel Lite
Chapter 1
Celine caught her husband, Adam Alvarez, cheating on her.
The other woman was a college student. Today was Adam’s birthday. Celine had spent the whole day preparing a special dinner for him.
Just then, his forgotten phone buzzed with a text.
She picked it up and saw a message from the college student.
“I fell while grabbing the cake. Hurts so much…”
Attached was a photo—no face, just legs. The woman wore a pleated blue-and-white skirt just enough to reveal her long, pale legs.
Her knees were visibly reddened from the fall.
The youthful vibrancy of her figure, paired with her coy words, carried an air of forbidden allure.
It was said that wealthy businessmen tend to favor this type when choosing a lover.
Celine’s grip on the phone tightened until her knuckles turned white.
Soon, another message came.
“Adam, meet me at the Elysian Hotel tonight. I want to celebrate your birthday!”
It was Adam’s birthday, and his mistress had planned a celebration for him.
Grabbing her handbag, Celine headed straight for the Elysian Hotel. She had to see this woman with her own eyes.
When she arrived at the hotel, she was ready to storm in. But before she could, she spotted her parents, Hayden Tate and Lucy Garcia. Shocked, she approached them.
“Dad, Mom, what are you doing here?”
The two froze for a moment before exchanging glances.
Their eyes flickered as they said, “Oh, Celine, your sister is back from abroad. We came here to drop her off.”
“Carly Tate?” Through the gleaming floor-to-ceiling window, Celine spotted Carly inside.
She froze instantly. Inside, Carly was wearing the same blue-and-white skirt from the photo.
So, the college girl was her sister.
Carly had always been a stunner, hailed as Mercity’s Scarlet Rose. Her legs, in particular, were the stuff of legends.
They were the most beautiful in all of Mercity.
Men practically worshiped her. Now, the famous legs had ensnared Adam.
One almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
She turned to her parents.
“So I’m the last to find out.”
Hayden’s eyes twisted awkwardly.
“Celine, Mr. Alvarez needed you.”
Lucy chimed in, “Exactly. Do you know how many women in Mercity would kill to be with him? Better your sister than some stranger.”
Hearing that, Celine clenched her fists.
“I’m your daughter, too!” With that, she spun on her heels to leave. Just then, Lucy’s voice cut in behind her.
“Celine, tell me something. Has Mr. Alvarez ever truly loved you?”
Celine stood mid-step.
Hayden said sharply, “Don’t act like we owe you anything. Back then, Mr. Alvarez and Carly were the couple in everyone’s eyes. We only asked you to marry him on Carly’s behalf.”
Lucy gave Celine a disdainful once-over. “Look at yourself, Celine. Three years as a housewife, running around after your husband. Meanwhile, Carly is a lead ballerina now, a graceful swan. You’re just a frumpy little duckling. Be reasonable and give Mr. Alvarez back to Carly.”
Those words felt like a knife to Celine’s heart.
She blinked back her tears and turned to walk away.
By the time Celine returned to the villa, it was already dark. She had given the housekeeper, Sofia Dotson, the day off.
The house was empty, with no lights on, leaving it cold and desolate.
Celine sat alone at the dining table in the darkness. The table was set with a feast, but the food had long gone cold.
Her homemade cake sat untouched, with the words “Happy Birthday, honey” scrawled across it. She stared at it, her eyes stinging. It all felt like a cruel joke, just like her life.
Adam and Carly had always been the couple in the city. Everyone knew that Carly, the Scarlet Rose, was Adam’s heart and soul.
But three years ago, a sudden car accident left Adam in a coma, and Carly vanished without a trace.
The Tate family had broken down and forced her to marry the comatose Adam. When she found out that the man lying in that hospital bed was Adam—the man she had always loved—she didn’t hesitate.
She married him without a second thought. After the wedding, Adam remained in a coma for a whole year.
During that time, Celine took care of him tirelessly, never leaving his side.
She gave up going out and socializing.
Her sole focus was on his recovery. She became a housewife dedicated to nothing but him.
In the end, her devotion brought him back to life.
She lit the candles on the cake with a flick of the lighter. The dim glow flickered, casting her reflection in the mirror in front of her.
She looked at herself—the housewife in her dull black-and-white dress.
She was lifeless, boring, and unremarkable. Meanwhile, Carly had flourished into a lead ballerina.
She was young, vibrant, and beautiful.
Celine was the ugly duckling, while Carly was the swan.
After waking, Adam had abandoned the ugly duckling and returned to the swan. So, her sacrifice for the last three years had been for nothing.
Adam didn’t love her, but she loved him with all her heart.
It was said that the one who fell in love first was always the loser in the relationship.
And today, Adam had made her lose everything.
Her eyes filled with tears, and she blew out the candles.
The house plunged back into darkness.
Just then, headlights pierced the night as Adam’s Rolls-Royce Phantom sped up the driveway and parked.
Celine’s heart skipped a beat.
He was back.
She had thought he wouldn’t return home tonight.
Soon, the villa’s front door swung open.
A tall, handsome figure stepped into view, bringing with him the chill of the night air.
Adam was home.
The Alvarez family had long been royalty in Mercity.
Adam, the heir to the Alvarez family, had been a business prodigy since childhood.
By 16, he had earned dual master’s degrees from the prestigious Harvard University.
By the time he reached adulthood, his first company had made waves on Finance Street.
Now, he sat at the helm of Alvarez Group, crowned as Mercity’s wealthiest man.
Adam strode in with his long legs.
His voice was low and pleasant but distant.
“Why didn’t you turn on the lights?” With a flick of his hand, he turned on the wall lights.
The harsh light made Celine squint.
When she opened her eyes again, she looked at Adam. He was wearing a hand-tailored black suit, every inch the picture of perfection.
His perfect proportions and regal air made him the object of desire for many women.
Celine glanced at him. “It’s your birthday.”
His face was a mask of indifference.
His eyes lazily swept over the table.
“Don’t waste your time. I don’t celebrate birthdays.”
Celine sneered and asked, “You don’t celebrate birthdays, or you just don’t want to celebrate it with me?”
Adam barely spared her a glance, as if he didn’t want to waste time on her.
“Think whatever you want.” Without another word, he turned and started toward the stairs.
This had always been their dynamic.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get close to him. Celine stood up and, looking at his indifferent back, she said, “Today is your birthday. I’ll give you a birthday gift.”
Adam didn’t stop or turn to look at her.
“I don’t need it.”
Celine smiled again.
“Let’s get a divorce, Adam.”
Adam had already placed one foot on the stairs when he suddenly paused.
He spun on his heel, his deep eyes locking onto her.
Chapter 2
Her voice was soft but firm as she repeated, “Let’s get a divorce, Adam.”
“Do you like this birthday gift?”
Adam’s expression remained indifferent. “Are you suddenly asking for a divorce because I didn’t spend my birthday with you?”
“Is Carly back, isn’t she?” Celine asked.
At the mention of Carly, Adam’s lips curled into a sneer.
He stepped toward her with long strides. “Are you bothered by her?” As the youngest business mogul in Mercity, Adam exuded a powerful presence built from his wealth, status, and influence.
As he advanced toward her, Celine instinctively took a step back. Her delicate back hit the wall. At that moment, the world around her seemed to darken.
Adam had already closed the distance, placing one hand against the wall beside her, trapping her between his solid chest and the wall. He looked down at her with a mocking smile. “Everyone in Mercity knows that Carly is the one I’m going to marry. Didn’t you know that when you schemed to become my wife? You didn’t mind back then, so why are you bothered now?”
Celine pursed her lips. Yes, Adam was supposed to marry Carly. If it weren’t for the accident, she would never have had the chance to marry him.
She would never forget the day he woke up. When he saw it was Celine beside him, the disappointment and coldness in his eyes were unmistakable.
Since then, they had slept in separate rooms, and he had never touched her. She had always known that, but…
She looked deeply at Adam’s face. Slowly, it began to merge with the image of the youthful boy he had been.
“Adam, do you not remember me?” Celine thought. It seemed that only she had stayed in the past. Never mind. She would take these three years as her misguided love.
Celine pushed down the bitterness and pain in her heart. “Adam, let’s end this platonic marriage.”
Adam suddenly raised an eyebrow. “Platonic?” His deep voice was full of mockery.
He reached out and cupped her chin. His thumb brushed over her soft lips, pressing against them in an enticing motion. “So that’s why you want a divorce? You want to have sex?”
Celine’s face flushed bright red, like a tomato. That was not what she meant. Now, his thumb was pressed on her crimson lip, rubbing with a malicious yet seductive force.
Celine hadn’t expected such a flirtatious side from a man so cold and refined. He was actually playing with her lips with his finger.
Adam had never been this close to Celine before. She always hid behind these oversized black-framed glasses, wearing plain clothes, making herself look like an older woman. But up close, Adam noticed how small her face was. Beneath these glasses, her features were delicate and striking, and those eyes were mesmerizing.
Her lips were soft too, where his finger pressed; the red faded for a moment, then returned with a slight bounce. Her lips were not just soft but tender as well.
It was an enticing sight that made his eyes darken.
“I didn’t expect you to have such strong desires. Do you long for a man in you?” Suddenly, a loud slap echoed in the villa. Celine had slapped him hard across the face.
Adam’s head jerked to the side. Celine’s fingers trembled with anger.
She had been too humble in her love, allowing her heart to be trampled. How dare he humiliate her like this? Furious, she said, “I know you’ve never let go of Carly. I’ll make it easier for you. I’ll return the position of Mrs. Alvarez to her!”
Adam’s expression instantly turned icy, like a sheet of frost had fallen over his handsome face. He had never been slapped before, not by anyone.
He stared at her coldly. “Celine, you thought you could just marry me when you wanted and divorce me when you felt like it? What do you take me for?”
“A plaything, of course.”
Adam couldn’t believe what he heard. Celine fought back the pain in her heart and lied, “You’re just a plaything I took from Carly. Now I’m tired of playing with you. I want to throw you away.”
Adam’s expression grew darker. “Fine, Celine. You want a divorce? Alright. But don’t come crawling back to me, begging to get back together!” With that, he stormed off and slammed the door to his study.
Celine seemed to lose all her strength. Her delicate body slowly slid down the wall. She crouched on the carpet, wrapping her arms around herself.
“I won’t love you anymore, Adam,” she swore in her mind.
The next morning, Sonia entered Adam’s study. Adam sat at his desk, reviewing documents. He was well-known for being a workaholic.
“Mr. Alvarez,” Sonia called out. Adam didn’t look up.
Sonia could tell that he was in a bad mood. The air around him seemed to freeze. She placed a cup of coffee on the table. “Mr. Alvarez, Mrs. Alvarez made this cup of coffee for you.”
Adam’s hand holding the pen stilled. The cold expression on his face softened slightly. Was Celine trying to appease him? To be fair, she was good at understanding his preferences, hand-washing his clothes, and taking care of every detail of his daily life.
Adam picked up the cup of coffee and took a sip. Celine definitely made this. It was exactly how he liked it.
She was angry. She had slapped him last night, and that anger would not be easily soothed. A cup of coffee wasn’t going to fix this.
Adam asked, “Did Celine realize her mistake?”
Sonia looked at him with a strange look. “Mrs. Alvarez has left.”
Adam frowned, his eyes snapping up to meet Sonia’s. “Just this morning, she took something and left with her suitcase, Mr. Alvarez. She asked me to give this to you before she left.”
As Adam took the paper and opened it, the words “Divorce Agreement” jumped out at him. Adam was left speechless.
He had thought she was trying to make peace. Sonia hesitated. “Mrs. Alvarez said you should finish the coffee and sign the papers as soon as possible.”
Adam glanced at the cup of coffee. “Throw it out!”
All of them! Sonia thought he was enjoying the other’s affections earlier. Why didn’t he like it anymore? However, she didn’t dare voice her thoughts. She quickly grabbed the coffee and left the room.
Adam’s face darkened. He scanned the divorce agreement and realized Celine agreed to leave with nothing—no alimony, no property. She seemed determined.
She certainly had some nerve. She didn’t want a single dime from him. What could a country girl like her possibly expect to live on without money? He remembered how, three years ago, she had done everything she could to be his wife. Wasn’t it all about the money?
His gaze fell upon the last article of the divorce agreement written by Celine in neat handwriting: *The husband’s health does not allow him to fulfill his marital duties. Adam was indeed speechless. His face flushed with rage. That damned woman!
He grabbed his phone and immediately dialed Celine’s number. The phone rang many times before a clear voice came through.
Chapter 3
Adam pressed his thin lips into a hard line.
“Celine Tate, get back here now!”
Celine choked, “You want me to come back just because you say so? We’re divorced, Adam. I’m not going to put up with you anymore.”
Adam gritted his teeth. “I’m giving you one more chance to rewrite the contract!”
Celine’s smile widened. “Is there something wrong with what I wrote? You’ve been awake for half a year now, but in all this time, you haven’t even held my hand. You were in a coma for three years. Although your health seems fine now, I seriously doubt your manhood is working. You should see a doctor. I sincerely hope you can regain your musculature.”
Adam was speechless. The veins on his forehead were visibly pulsing. This woman had really lost it! “I’ll show you how capable I am in bed one day, Celine Tate!" he exploded.
“Sorry, you don’t have that chance anymore.”
A couple of beeps sounded, and the call was abruptly disconnected.
Adam seethed in rage. But before he could vent, all he heard was the dial tone.
“Omg, Celine! You’ve already arrived," said Robin Smith, her best friend, at her apartment.
When she hung up, Robin burst into laughter and gave her a thumbs up. “That was perfect, Celine! He’s probably so mad right now he might burst a vein.”
Celine felt that it was because Adam had been too humble in the past that he had come to see himself as superior. People should love themselves before loving others. It was crucial to prioritize one’s happiness.
Robin added, “When Carly found out Mr. Alvarez was in a coma 3 years ago, she left him, right? But now that he’s awake, he’s going after her again. Honestly, it’s better to be single than with someone like him.”
Celine snapped some pieces of candy and popped them into her mouth. The sweet taste seemed to mask the bitterness in her heart.
“Robin, that’s the difference between being loved and unloved. The one who’s loved could act without fear, while the one who’s unloved has to remain cautious and insecure.”
Robin glanced at Celine, who had already eaten a whole bunch of candy. She pulled Celine to her feet. “Cheer up, Celine! When you let go of one tree, you’ll realize you’ve gained a whole forest! Let’s write his eight cards and throw you a singles party tonight!”
Celine laughed, patting her forehead. At that moment, Robin reached up and took off Celine’s black-toned glasses. She tossed them straight into the trash…
“My glasses!” Celine went to retrieve them.
Robin stopped her. “Celine, you’re too used to wearing those glasses from all your academic work. You should learn from Carly and dress yourself up beautifully.”
Celine remembered how her parents called her an ugly duckling while Carly was the swan. It seemed that it wasn’t just her parents who thought so. Adam probably saw her as an ugly duckling.
Robin pulled her out the door. “I’m taking you out for a full makeover—hair, nails, outfit, everything! I want Adam and the others to open their eyes and see just how beautiful you are!”
As they were leaving, Robin suddenly remembered something. “By the way, Celine, you really don’t want any of Mr. Alvarez’s money?”
“I have my own money," Celine replied.
“Well, then you’re leaving that money to Carly. She’d probably thank you.”
Celine was rendered speechless.
“Where’s the card Mr. Alvarez gave you?” Adam had always been generous and had given Celine a gold-plated black card, but she’d never used it.
Celine pulled the card out of her purse and said with a wink, “Mr. Alvarez can foot the bill for our shopping today.”
Club 19 is the playground for the wealthy elite of Mercy, where the rich heirs and socialites spend their money without a second thought. That night, the DJ kept the music going, and the crowd danced wildly.
In one of the luxurious booths, Adam sat center, wearing a black shirt and black pants. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms and a watch worth millions. He looked every bit the hot, aristocratic type that had women in the club constantly looking his way. Sitting beside him was his good friend, Benjamin Good—the heir to the Goodwin family—along with a few other trust fund babies.
Benjamin laughed loudly. “What’s this I hear, Adam? Celine wants a divorce?”
The others joined in the laughter.
“Who doesn’t know how much Celine is in love with you, Mr. Alvarez? She even wanted to marry you when you were in a coma,” one of them said.
“There’s no way she’d leave you! We should make a bet to see how many days Celine can resist before reaching out to Mr. Alvarez,” another chimed in.