Chapter 1

Tags: Ruthless Male Lead, Cheating & Betrayal, Ungrateful Ex, Ultimate Revenge, Cutting Losses

In the fifth year of Eliana’s blindness, I spent a fortune flying in the world's top ophthalmologist to restore her sight.

Yet the very night she regained her vision, she called me ugly and demanded separate bedrooms.

"Babe, when I was blind, I could pretend you were hot. But looking at you right now? I literally can't bring myself to kiss you."

"Why don't you try turning off the lights first?"

I glanced down at her phone. On the screen was a grid of shredded, thirst-trapping male models.

So that was what she really wanted.

A cold, enigmatic smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. I cut straight to the chase:

"Let's get divorced. I'll walk away with nothing."

Eliana froze, completely stunned. Terrified that I might change my mind, she grabbed the pen and signed the divorce papers on the spot.

Little did she know, I was laughing my ass off inside.

Stupid idiot. Did she really think I was just some pathetic, lovesick fool?

"What did you just say? You're agreeing to a divorce?"

Eliana jerked her head up. Her freshly restored eyes were filled with disbelief.

I smirked, repeating myself in a careless, breezy tone.

"Yeah. A divorce. I’ll walk away without a single cent. Consider yourself free."

She shot to her feet, her expression a chaotic mix of ecstatic relief and deep suspicion.

"Are you serious? You're actually letting me go? And you won't take anything? Why?"

Eliana had always treated me like an obsessive lapdog who clung to her every breath. She couldn't wrap her head around why I’d ever let go so easily.

I lowered my head, biting back a laugh, and put on a miserable, broken-hearted act.

"I know you never loved me. Back in the day, you were out of everyone's league. Men were lining up around the block just for a glance from you. If you hadn't gotten into that car crash, gone blind, and nearly ended up in a vegetative state, a guy like me would have never stood a chance."

Every word out of my mouth was true, straight from the heart.

When Eliana was younger, she looked like an absolute goddess, carved to sheer perfection.

Countless men threw themselves at her feet, only to be rejected.

I was one of them.

Back then, she used her looks to hook a filthy-rich trust-fund heir, planning to lock down his fortune for life. But right before she could seal the deal, she got into a brutal car accident.

Terrified of being saddled with a cripple for the rest of his days, her fiancé dumped her instantly, leaving her to rot in the hospital.

When I heard the news, I poured in all the cash and effort I had, dragging her back from the brink of death.

Now, the tight tension on Eliana’s face melted into an arrogant smirk.

"Sean, at least you have some self-awareness. If you hadn't forced me into marriage back then, I would've been living the high life in a billionaire's mansion by now!"

"Even without him, you still would've been way out of your league. And now you want out? Too late!"

"Is that so? Don't forget, Eliana—without me, you would've been six feet under five years ago. What right do you have to bark at me now?"

Her smirk vanished, struck completely dumb. Deep down, she knew damn well who saved her life and who pulled her out of that burning hellhole.

And I knew damn well she resented me for it.

She blamed me for ruining her billionaire dream. She blamed me for marrying her, making all her superficial girlfriends mock her for ending up with an "ugly" guy.

"Did I beg you to marry me? You're the one who thought you were being clever, throwing yourself at me!"

"Fine, it's all my fault. Just sign the papers, and we're done forever."

I stared at her, completely unfazed, my eyes dead calm. My total lack of emotion only pissed her off more.

"Fine! You've got quite the backbone now, don't you, Sean? A divorce it is! Like I ever wanted you anyway!"

She casually scribbled her name, crossed her legs, and immediately began kicking me out.

"Pack your crap tonight and get the hell out. Don't you dare come crawling back begging for another chance, because I won't even look at you."

"And take all those tacky gifts you bought me over the last five years. Looking at them makes me sick!"

Those gifts were luxury items I’d personally sourced from across the globe, yet she treated them like garbage.

I didn't bother arguing. Remembering the one-way ticket to Miami already booked on my phone, I didn't say another word. I grabbed my suitcase and walked out the door.

Clearly, Eliana had spun some grand fantasy in her head, expecting me to play the desperate ex chasing after her. Keep dreaming, sweetheart.

The only reason I was in such a hurry to leave was because I knew that if I waited a few more days, she'd be down on her knees begging me to stay.