Chapter 1
Chapter 1:
Brinley Shaw placed her resignation letter on the HR manager’s desk, smoothing the edge of the paper with her fingertips as if determined not to leave a single crease behind.
The manager parted his lips, letting out a tired sigh before he spoke. “It’s such a pity to see you leaving, Brinley. Are you absolutely certain about this p>
“Yeah,” Brinley replied with a gentle smile, her eyes curving like crescents. “I’d like to spend more time with my family p>
When she stepped out of the company building, a flood of sunlight met her at once. She squinted against the glare, pulled a pair of sunglasses from her bag, and slipped them on.
Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Ryland Francis, a real estate agent: “Mrs. Palmer, the owner of the villa you like has agreed to lower the price. Could you come view it this afternoon p>
𝗠o𝗌𝘵 𝘳е𝗮𝘥 𝘵𝗵𝗂s 𝗐𝗲𝗲k о𝗇
Brinley’s smile widened at the good news.
The small villa on the outskirts of the city—a place she had admired for a long time—sat far from the noise and bustle of downtown. Its quiet surroundings might be exactly what she needed, a chance to mend her fragile marriage with Colin Palmer.
They had been married for two years, yet she and Colin had never once been intimate.
At first, she had told herself it was because of his hectic schedule. But as time went on, doubts began to creep in—sharp and persistent—until she found herself questioning her own attractiveness. In the end, she couldn’t deny it anymore: something had to change. So she quit her job, determined to spend more time with her husband and salvage their relationship.
That afternoon, she went to see the villa. In person, it was even more charming than it had looked in the photographs.
The elderly couple who owned it had tended a garden brimming with roses, their sweet perfume hanging heavy in the air.
Standing in the middle of the sunlit living room, Brinley watched her shadow stretch long across the polished floor.
“This is the one. How do we proceed?” she asked, her voice steady.
Ryland’s face brightened. “Excellent! I’ll prepare the contract immediately. By the way, will Mr. Palmer be joining you to sign p>
Brinley shook her head. “No, he’s tied up with work. I’ll take care of it p>
“All right, then. Please bring all the necessary documents with you tomorrow so we can complete the paperwork p>
On her way home, Brinley sent Colin a quick message: “I resigned and found a villa I love. I’m planning to buy it p>
His reply came almost instantly: “So sudden? But if it makes you happy, that’s what matters. I’ll come home early tonight; we’ll celebrate p>
Warmth spread through Brinley’s chest as she stared at the screen.
Colin had always treated her with care and tenderness. He remembered her favorite meals, always had sweet treats ready when she had her period, and never let an anniversary pass without a thoughtful gift. Apart from his refusal to be intimate with her—which cut deeper than she ever admitted—he was nearly the perfect husband.
The following morning, Brinley dressed with special care before heading to the real estate agency. She chose a pink-and-white dress—the very one Colin often said suited her best.
“Mrs. Palmer, please have a seat,” Ryland greeted her warmly. “I’ll bring out the contract p>
Smiling, Brinley handed him a folder. “Here’s a copy of my marriage certificate with Colin. I’d like to register the house as joint marital property p>
Ryland accepted it and typed for a while, but his expression soon tightened. He frowned at the screen. “That’s odd… the system isn’t pulling up your marriage registration record p>
Brinley’s smile faltered. “What do you mean p>
“It’s probably just a system error,” Ryland said quickly, trying to reassure her. “You can confirm it directly at city hall. It happens every now and then p>
Brinley’s heart began to pound, hard and unsteady. A creeping sense of unease slid over her, cold and insistent.
Forcing herself to stay calm, she nodded. “All right. I’ll head there right away p>