Serene Haven, one of the priciest villas in Orchid Town, worth over a hundred million, basically every inch of land is gold.

But no one knew a girl had been locked inside this place for three whole years.

The weather was ridiculously sunny today. Light spilled through the floor‑to‑ceiling windows and landed on the girl. She sat on the carpet, holding a book, quietly lost in its pages.

She was completely absorbed when the sound of the door opening suddenly cut through the silence. She looked up—and the moment her eyes met the man she hadn't seen in three years, her so‑called legal husband, her whole heart trembled. She couldn’t even tell if it was joy, nerves, or straight-up fear.

Xavier Thornton stepped in with that same icy expression, a file bag in his hand. His gaze swept across the wife he hadn’t bothered to see for three years, but his face didn’t move an inch.

He tugged off his tie, unbuttoned his suit jacket, then glanced at Rosalie Sterling who had stood up, looking flustered. “You planning to just stand there and listen?”

Rosalie tightened her grip on her clothes, forcing herself to sit on the sofa opposite him, trying not to show how uneasy she felt.

He was still that devastatingly handsome man, still untouchably elegant, still carrying that cold aura that kept everyone miles away.

Even though he hadn’t looked at her once in the past three years… she still loved him like a fool.

Five years—five long years—ever since she met him at seventeen, she had fallen for him completely.

Now she was twenty‑two. On paper, she was Xavier Thornton’s wife.

But no one knew that in their three years of marriage, they had never had any intimacy. They barely even interacted.

Seeing how nervous she looked, Xavier’s hand tightened slightly around the file bag. But in the end, he still said it. “Your match with Arya was successful. Someone will pick you up tomorrow morning for the surgery. And this is for you.”

Last time she went for the bone marrow match, the butler and driver were the ones who took her. He didn’t show up, didn’t care. But now that the match succeeded, he finally came in person—just to show how terrified he was of losing Arya Goodwin.

Rosalie looked straight at him, ignoring the file bag he was offering. “Xavier Thornton, was there ever even one second where you actually liked me?”

“Never.”

Rosalie lifted her chin a little, forcing back the tears stinging her eyes. “So you kept me here… locked me up here… just to use me as her bone marrow supply?”

“Yes.” He didn’t even hesitate.

“Let’s get divorced. I’ve given you the best five years of my life. Whatever time I have left—I want it back for myself.”

Xavier clearly hadn’t expected that. Divorce… it had never crossed his mind.

“Not in a rush.”

“You’re scared that once I divorce you, I won’t save her, right?”

Xavier Thornton shook his head. “That’s not it.”

Rosalie Sterling gathered every bit of courage she had, her eyes stubborn and a little shaky. “Then why won’t you divorce me?”

Xavier lifted his gaze, clearly annoyed she was still asking. His brows tightened just a touch. “You don’t need to know why. The envelope has your compensation. I’m exhausted and need to rest. Don’t bother me if there’s nothing urgent.”

With that, he stood up and headed upstairs.

Rosalie stayed rooted to the spot, staring at the envelope on the coffee table. To her, that thing felt like a slap in the face.

Tears slipped down, burning hot. Her heart twisted so hard it hurt to breathe.

Five years. She’d loved him—truly loved him—for five whole years. And all she ever got in return was this cold, heartless treatment. Maybe… it really was time to let go.

Xavier reached the master bedroom. The moment he pushed open the door, the sight inside hit him—everything was exactly the same as three years ago. The bright red wedding symbol was still stuck above the headboard, and every object in the room remained just like the day of their wedding, untouched, frozen in time.

He remembered how, right after they got their marriage certificate three years ago, he’d left her here alone. He figured she’d cry, throw a tantrum, call him nonstop, demand he come back. But she’d only sent one message.

“Someone at home is quietly waiting for you to return.”

He didn’t reply. He didn’t go back.

To him, she was just the granddaughter‑in‑law his grandfather picked. He told her before the wedding that he would never fall in love with her, that there was a girl he would take care of for life. Yet she still insisted on marrying him.

So he assumed the worst—that what she really loved was his money, the Thornton name, the power.

Xavier shrugged off his jacket. It was his first time returning to this place since the wedding. Serene Haven was too far from the city, and he was jet‑lagged and worn out from the flight, so he didn’t feel like driving back tonight.

He opened the wardrobe. The clothes hanging inside were the exact ones prepared for the wedding—everything neatly arranged from inside out.

He grabbed a set at random and headed into the bathroom. After showering, he stepped out and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

He had no idea how long he’d been out when a knocking sound pulled him halfway awake. He answered lazily toward the door, “Come in.”

Mrs. Atkins, the housekeeper, pushed the door open. “Mr. Thornton, Ms. Goodwin is here.”

Xavier Thornton froze for a second. “Arya’s downstairs?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let her sit for a bit. I’ll be right down.”

“Yes.”

Xavier shot up from the bed, changed clothes in a rush, and headed downstairs. He’d braced himself for Rosalie Sterling to lose it—maybe scream, maybe accuse someone—but instead, she simply set a glass of water on the table and spoke to Arya Goodwin with surprising politeness.

“I wasn’t sure what you drink, so I poured you some water. I’ve got things to do, so just make yourself comfortable.”

Seeing Rosalie so calm and composed, Arya instantly grabbed her hand. “Thank you… really, thank you for donating your bone marrow to me.”

Rosalie gently pulled her hand back and handed Arya the file bag on the coffee table. “No need to thank me. If it were anyone else, I’d still donate. Could you return this to Mr. Thornton? And this too… please talk him into signing it. I’ve got things to handle, so I won’t stay.”

Arya looked down and saw the file bag—and the divorce papers. She shot to her feet, eyes wide. “You’re divorcing him… because of me? You don’t have to worry. I won’t live long anyway. If Xavier hadn’t pushed for a transplant, I’d have already given up.”

“If he wants you alive, then live well,” Rosalie said, forcing her voice to stay steady. “I’m divorcing him because of him and me. It has nothing to do with you.” If she could never win the place Arya held in Xavier’s heart, then fine—she’d step away. She’d had enough.

“Can I beg you not to divorce him?” Arya’s voice trembled with pleading.

Rosalie looked at her for a long moment, then drew in a deep breath. “Why don’t you want me to leave him? Because he’s ignored me for years? Because when you needed saving, I stepped up and made it easier for you? Or is it because if he married someone else, you’re afraid your days wouldn’t be as easy anymore?”

Grandfather had said—even if he died, he would never let Arya Goodwin through the Thornton family’s doors.

So Arya chose her—someone she thought was easy to push around, someone Xavier would never care about. Better Rosalie as his wife than someone who might actually matter.

Xavier came down the stairs right in time to hear that. His brows snapped together. Of course—she’d been pretending. He strode over, raised his hand, and slapped her hard.

A sharp crack echoed.

“Who gave you the nerve to talk to her like that? Who do you think you are?”