Chapter 1
“Gabby, as long as you stay, I’ll give you a billion dollars. No, make that two billion!”
At Palmer Manor, Theodore Palmer pleaded with the young woman before him.
However, Gabriella Robinson simply shook her head and pushed the check back across the table.
She replied, “Grandpa, I’m sorry. We agreed on six years, and now that time is up. My debt is repaid. It’s time for me to go.”
Her voice was soft yet unwavering.
Seeing that Gabriella had made up her mind, Theodore sighed heavily and said, “You’ve had a hard time these past six years. Before you leave, just say the word if there’s anything you want.”
Gabriella fell silent for a long moment.
“I want your blessing for Alex and Melody to be together. You asked me to get close to Alex so he’d move on from her, but six years have passed. You’ve seen it yourself. Maybe love just can’t be broken.”
Theodore sighed again, the exhaustion and helplessness in his eyes deepening.
“Fine, fine. I’m too old for this. I shall let the younger generation do as they please. As for the divorce, you’ll have to talk to Alex yourself.”
Gabriella nodded, curtsied respectfully, then turned and left.
Once inside the car, she cast one last glance at Palmer Manor.
The first time she had come to this estate had been to repay a debt of gratitude.
Gabriella had grown up in an orphanage. Like most other kids, she should’ve dropped out of school early. But luck had been on her side. Theodore had chosen to sponsor her education, giving her opportunities she never would have had otherwise.
She had the talent and the drive, which led her to skip grades until, at just 22 years old, she earned a doctorate from Hanbridge College.
The year Gabriella graduated, she’d made a special trip to Palmer Manor to thank Theodore in person. Unexpectedly, the weary old man had made his request.
“Gabby, my family doesn’t need money. If you truly want to repay me, do me a favor. Starting today, for the next six years, I want you to get close to my grandson. Marry him. Have his child. Make him forget… his sister.”
It was only then that Gabriella learned that Alex Palmer, heir to Palmer Group, had fallen in love with his adoptive sister, Melody Palmer. He was willing to give up everything, even his inheritance, to be with her.
The Palmer family had been in chaos because of that.
Alex had been the perfect successor—brilliant, disciplined, and groomed for leadership since birth. Yet for the sake of a woman, he had defied them all.
Desperate to put an end to it, his family had sent Melody overseas.
But that only caused Alex to spiral. He drowned himself in alcohol, wasting away.
So, out of gratitude toward Theodore, Gabriella had agreed to his request.
She’d spent years chasing Alex, playing the role of an infatuated woman hopelessly in love. Eventually, she’d succeeded in getting him to marry her. She’d even had his child.
For six long years, she had done everything she was supposed to. However, the moment Melody returned, all those feelings Alex had buried came rushing back.
Even their son, whom she had carried and raised, had started to distance himself from her.
Alex took him to see Melody so often that the boy had grown attached to her instead, and he’d begun showing open resentment toward his own mother.
It turned out that although he’d never mentioned his true love, he’d never forgotten her.
Well, none of that mattered to Gabriella anymore.
Her contract with the Palmers was over, and she had birthed Alex’s child as promised. Now, she was finally free to leave.
Gabriella pulled herself out of her thoughts and withdrew her gaze from the manor.
The very next second, a truck that had lost control came hurtling toward her car.
A deafening crash rang out, and the world lurched. Gabriella’s forehead slammed into the seat in front of her. The pain caused her vision to blur, then everything went black.
When Gabriella regained consciousness, the stark white ceiling and the sharp scent of disinfectant immediately told her where she was.
A nurse making her rounds noticed she was awake and asked a few routine questions before sighing in relief.
“You’re incredibly lucky, you know. You only have a mild concussion. Out of the dozen patients brought in from that multi-car pileup, you’re the only survivor.”
After checking her condition once more, the nurse relaxed and added, “You’re fine to leave once a family member signs the discharge papers.”
Gabriella struggled to sit up, still shaken by the realization of how close she had come to death. It took her a moment to gather herself before she reached for her phone and dialed Alex’s number.
The dial tone rang endlessly as no one answered.
Eventually, he outright declined the call as if annoyed.
Gabriella called over a dozen times, but each attempt was met with silence.
Lowering her gaze, she tapped on her son, Lucas Palmer’s contact number.
As minutes passed, all of her calls were ignored. At last, a text popped up on her screen.
“Can you stop bothering me? I’m busy right now. Also, make some chicken soup for me.”
Judging from the impatience and condescending tone, no one would believe that the person behind this message was her child whom she had carried for ten months.
Outside the ward, a couple of nurses walked by, and their conversation drifted in from the hallway.
“Mr. Palmer is really spoiling his wife. It was only a tiny burn from hot water, and the burn would’ve healed on its own. But he still booked an entire floor just for her. Their son is such a well-behaved kid, too. He’s running around to take care of her.”
“You got it wrong. That’s not Mr. Palmer’s wife but his adoptive sister, Melody.”
The first nurse quickly refuted in a low voice, “You’re new to Tramont, so you probably don’t know. Mr. Palmer was in love with her. He was even willing to give up his inheritance for her, which caused a huge scandal. It was only after Ms. Palmer was sent abroad that he ended up marrying his current wife.”
At that moment, Gabriella finally understood what Alex and Lucas had been so busy with.
She let out a soft chuckle as she wondered that if she had actually died in that car accident, would there even have been anyone left to claim her body?
Looking up at the nurse, Gabriella asked quietly, “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any family. Can I sign the papers myself?”
Perhaps taken aback by the unusual request, the nurse cast her a look of sympathy before nodding and making an exception by handing over the discharge forms.
After Gabriella completed the paperwork on her own, she went to pick up her medication. On the way, she happened to pass by a hospital room and heard familiar voices.
Instinctively, she stopped in her tracks and glanced inside.
There, beside Melody’s hospital bed, sat Alex and Lucas. Both of them were gazing at Melody with warmth and tenderness—expressions Gabriella had never once seen directed at her.
She watched silently, unfazed as though those weren’t her husband and son.
After a while, she looked away and walked off.
Back home, Gabriella opened a drawer and pulled out a set of divorce papers. The last page bore Alex’s signature.
For a split second, the memory of the day he had first signed his name resurfaced in her mind. She could vividly recall his detached gaze when he had looked at her.
“Gabriella, I know you’re madly in love with me, but my heart belongs to someone else. I only married you because my family pressured me into it. If you ever want to leave, just sign your name here, and you’re free to go anytime.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Gabriella picked up a pen and signed her name.
