"9527, your sentence is up. You're free to go."
The prison gates creaked open. Jonathan Carter stepped out, carrying a worn-out canvas bag.
"Five years... I wonder how Claire and our kid are doing."
"With all those big shots I helped back then secretly supporting her... life should’ve been good for her."
He muttered under his breath.
Five years ago, Claire Nelson, trying to curry favor with a powerful figure, gave away one of Jonathan’s experimental drugs before it was ready.
That person’s mother died because of it.
Enraged, the man swore to put Claire behind bars.
Claire was pregnant then—with Jonathan’s child.
Looking at his beautiful wife, her slight baby bump, Jonathan made a choice. He took the fall for her.
During those agonizing five years inside, he thought of them constantly—his wife, and the child he’d never even met.
"She didn’t come?"
Outside, Jonathan looked around, searching hopefully.
Today was supposed to be the day she came to pick him up—with their child.
But the road outside the prison was empty.
A few minutes passed.
Just when disappointment was settling in, a champagne-colored BMW 5 Series swerved to a stop beside him, wheels screeching to a dramatic halt.
Out stepped a tall woman in a crisp white office outfit, heels clicking, gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose—Anna Reese.
"Claire—wait, no... it’s Anna."
Jonathan’s eyes dimmed again.
Anna wasn’t just Claire’s secretary.
She used to be *his* secretary—back before he handed over his company and everything he owned to Claire before going to prison.
"Claire didn’t come?"
He couldn’t keep the letdown out of his voice.
"Miss Nelson had to meet someone important," Anna said briskly, grabbing a suit from the passenger seat and tossing it at him. "Change. You’re coming with me."
"No need. My clothes are fine." Jonathan’s tone cooled, her attitude pushing his limits.
"Really? You think a prison uniform's clean? Don't drag your bad luck onto my new ride," she snapped.
"Anna, do you even realize who you’re talking to right now?" Jonathan’s brows tightened.
Five years ago, she was just a fresh grad with nowhere to go.
He was the one who gave her a shot. Mentored her. Showed her the ropes.
Now? She talked down to him like he was some nuisance.
"Fine," Anna said, dropping the act. Her voice turned sharp. "Claire didn’t come because Mr. Nolan’s back."
"She went to the airport to meet him. Oh—and she asked me to give you this."
She pulled out a divorce agreement and handed it over.
"Everything’s spelled out. You sign, you get ten million in cash, a downtown condo, and a Benz E300."
Mr. Nolan. Divorce?
Jonathan stood there for a second, stunned—then it clicked.
Henry Nolan. Claire’s first love.
Back in college, if Henry hadn’t dropped out and gone overseas, Claire would've never ended up with him at all.
"So... all these years, she never really let him go?" Jonathan gave a bitter smile. His heart ached like hell.
Five years. He swallowed the sentence. Endured every second for her. For the child they never even had a chance to raise.The day he got out of prison, she went to the airport—to pick up her old flame.
So everything he sacrificed for her… what was it worth?
“I’m not signing that. Tell Claire Nelson to come meet me herself!”
Jonathan Carter’s voice was sharp with fury.
He ripped the divorce papers into shreds.
Anna Reese crossed her arms, giving him a cold sneer. “Don’t be stupid. Agree to the divorce, and you walk away with ten million, plus a house and car.”
“If you say no, don’t blame Ms. Nelson for being ruthless. She doesn’t even need to lift a finger—plenty of people would gladly deal with you just to please her. And when that happens, you’ll end up with nothing.”
“She’s on a completely different level now. We’re talking about a billionaire CEO. There’s a line of men who’d kill for a chance to date her.”
“And you? You’re just a washed-up ex-con. You won’t even get a proper job, let alone a future. Take the ten million and enjoy what's left of your life.”
“Ten million isn’t pocket change. Some people wouldn’t make that in ten lifetimes. Sign it, or end up with nothing. Your call…”
“Smack!”
Before Anna could finish, Jonathan slapped her across the face.
“That’s for forgetting who helped you get where you are,” he growled, eyes blazing. “Now take me to see Claire. If you don’t, I won’t mind going back to prison for putting you in the ground.”
Anna's face turned pale. Her body trembled. This wasn’t just anger—this was fury that chilled her to the bone.
Looking at the savage glare in Jonathan’s eyes, she backed down.
...
An hour later.
Jonathan stood in the legal department’s conference room at StarSnow Group.
“Wait here. Ms. Nelson will be here soon,” Anna said stiffly. Back on home turf, her fear had faded, and her tone returned to its usual sharpness.
Several suited lawyers stood beside her, waiting with tense anticipation.
The door finally opened.
Claire Nelson stepped in, her high heels clicking confidently against the floor.
Five years had passed, and she’d only grown more stunning. Her tight dress hugged her curves in all the right ways, and everything about her radiated power and poise—like a queen ruling her domain.
She was clearly dressed to impress—far more glamorous than her usual look.
Knowing she made this extra effort for Henry Nolan, not him, twisted something in Jonathan’s chest.
His fists clenched. His lips were dry. His brain screamed that maybe this was just some kind of cruel joke.
“Claire… you’re here…” Jonathan forced a smile. “You’ve been through a lot these years, but I’m back now…”
“I have been through a lot,” she cut him off, voice cold. “But now he’s back. Jonathan Carter, let’s just get this over with. Sign the divorce papers and stop chasing after me. To me, you were never more than a stand-in for him. If ten million’s not enough, I’ll make it twenty. Don’t get greedy—let’s keep this clean.”
“A stand-in…” Jonathan laughed, but there was no joy in it—only pain that ran deep.
“I was nothing to you, huh? Then what about the baby… That child was ours, flesh and blood—”
Claire cut him off again.
“The baby? You think I wanted to have your child? If I hadn’t been drunk that night and forgot protection, it never would’ve happened.”
“And since you brought it up—on the day you went to prison, I had the kid aborted.”"My heart only has room for Henry Nolan. I’d never have a child with anyone else. And you? You were just a stand-in, nothing more."
