From Our Marriage Bed to the Divorce Agreement

Start Reading

After getting back together, Ashton Blackwood spent one hundred million to buy his first loves virginity.

When I went to confront him, I found them tangled together, naked, in our marital bedroom.

Right in front of me, Ashton calmly dressed Vivian, whose skin was still marked with traces of their intimacy, his movements gentlealmost tender.

He said, Be understanding and gracious. Vivian once saved my life. I still cant forget her.

He was certain that, this time too, ISeraphinawould swallow my pride and endure it.

But faced with Vivians taunting smile, I was tired.

I took out the divorce agreement.

Lets get divorced. I really dont want you anymore.

Seraphina's POV

I dated Ashton for four years. The moment I discovered his affair, I didn't hesitate to break up with him.

The first day after our breakup fight, Ashton knelt outside my apartment building for a full day and night, trying to win me back. I ignored him completely.

A week after the breakup, Ashton learned to bake my favorite strawberry mousse himself. I fed it to the dog without even looking at it.

A month after the breakup, Ashton bid on my favorite antique piano at auction. I donated it to a children's home on the spot.

After that, Ashton publicly announced that he was transferring all his shares to my name. If he ever wronged me again, he'd be left with nothing.

After a whole year of going back and forth, I was moved. I agreed to get back together with him.

On our wedding day, Ashton rented every billboard in the city, displaying our photos on rotation, announcing our wedding of the century in the most high-profile way.

He kissed me under the fireworks.

"Everything I have is yours now, Seraphina. You're my everything. From now on, I'll never let you go."

In that moment, I truly believed he would love me like his own life and never betray me again.

Until that charity gala night. Ashton brought me to the event, but during the auction segment, he saw a girl in a white dress with a pale face.

She was brought on stage by the host as a "special auction item." Dinner with the highest bidder.

With just one glance, Ashton's expression changed completely.

"Ten million."

"Twenty million."

"Fifty million."

The gavel rose and fell.

Ashton's bids grew more frantic each time, every raise of his paddle carrying absolute determination.

The numbers climbed to absurd heights. Even the auctioneer started sweating.

"One hundred million! Sold!"

The final strike of the gavel. Ashton won the "dinner rights" at an astronomical price.

The entire venue erupted.

Before the applause even stopped, Ashton was already striding onto the stage. Under everyone's gaze, he took off his suit jacket and draped it over the girl's trembling shoulders.

"Mr. Blackwood?"

The gala host approached in surprise.

Ashton ignored him. He grabbed the girl's wrist, his voice low.

"What are you doing here? Do you know what this so-called dinner right actually means?"

"I..."

Tears instantly welled up in the girl's eyes. She looked pitiful.

"I need money. They said if someone was willing to bid on my dinner rights, I'd get one-tenth of the auction price. My mom is sick and hospitalized. I need a lot of money. I had no choice..."

Ashton's thumb gently wiped away her tears, the gesture painfully tender.

"How much do you need?"

The girl named a figure.

Without a word, Ashton signed a check and handed it to her.

The gala host, reading the room well, immediately stepped forward to smooth things over.

"Mr. Blackwood, what is your relationship with this young lady...?"

"She's the daughter of an old friend."

Ashton said, his gaze never leaving the girl.

"Her father saved my life."

I stood frozen in place, nearly crushing the pearl clutch in my hands.

I recognized her, of course.

A year ago, I broke up with Ashton because of her.

Under the host's subtly changed expression, Ashton finally looked at me.

"Seraphina, don't misunderstand."

He quickly turned and came down from the stage to my side.

"Her father died saving me years ago. Now her mother is sick and hospitalized and needs money. I can't let her go down the wrong path for money. You know what this dinner right really means."

Those words were like a key, unlocking the floodgates of my memory.

A year ago, when I discovered those intimate text messages on Ashton's phone, he said the same thing.

"Seraphina, let me explain. Her father died saving me. I'm only taking care of her to repay that debt."

But later, when I caught them in bed together, he had another righteous explanation.

"Seraphina, listen to me. I was drugged last night. I thought she was you."

And now, hearing his excuses that barely differed from a year ago, I couldn't help but laugh.

"A year ago, you took care of her in every way, saying it was to repay a debt. Later, when you were in bed together, you said you'd been drugged and mistook her for me. Now you've spent a hundred million on dinner rights with her, saying you don't want her to go down the wrong path for money."

My heart felt like it was being carved with a knife, my voice trembling.

"Ashton, how many more reasons and excuses do you have?"

Ashton hadn't expected me to question him publicly. His face immediately darkened.

"Seraphina, that's enough. Don't make a scene here."

"A scene?"

I laughed.

"Ashton, am I the one making a scene?"

Behind him, the girl timidly tugged at his sleeve, her voice barely a whisper.

"Mr. Blackwood, please don't fight with Ms. Hart because of me..."

Ashton stepped forward, shielding her behind him, his gaze falling on me.

"We'll talk about this at home."

I watched him protect another woman and found the whole situation absurdly laughable.

"Ashton, do you remember what you said to me before?"

He said he would cut all ties with this girl. He would never wrong me for another woman again.

Ashton's expression flickered. He was about to speak when I turned and left.

"Seraphina!"

He called after me.

I didn't look back, just walked quickly away from this suffocating gala.

Ashton instinctively moved to chase after me, but the girl gently held him back.

"Mr. Blackwood, Ms. Hart seems really angry... It's all my fault..."

He paused mid-step, turning back to look at her.

Seraphina's POV

After leaving the charity auction, I drove aimlessly. When I came back to my senses, I'd stopped by the lake near the university district.

The lake surface glittered with fragmented silver light under the moon. This was where Ashton and I had our first date, first held hands, first kissed.

Ashton and I first met at a party.

At the time, I'd rejected the advances of a man in our circle, and he publicly dumped a drink over me and verbally humiliated me.

Everyone knew I was the adopted fake heiress of the Hart family. With the return of the real heiress, I'd fallen out of favor.

When no one was willing to speak up for me, Ashton stepped forward and punched the man to the ground, forcing him to apologize to me.

From that moment on, I fell helplessly for him.

And Ashton seemed to like me too. He pursued me actively.

After we got together, he treated me incredibly well. My friends all envied me.

If only there had been no Vivian...

Vivian appeared two years ago.

Ashton said that when he was a teenager, his family's enemies came for revenge. Vivian's father had taken a fatal knife blow meant for him. He owed the family a life, so he had to take responsibility for taking care of her.

At the time, I thought it was right to repay kindness.

But then Ashton started frequently taking Vivian's calls, even during our dates.

He remembered all of Vivian's preferences. He knew she was allergic to mangoes, knew she was afraid of the dark, would take care of her during her period.

"Her father died for me."

Whenever I showed even a hint of insecurity, Ashton would explain it this way.

"Seraphina, I have to repay this debt."

Back then, I naively believed that Ashton's special treatment of Vivian was purely because she was his savior's daughter. Despite my misgivings, I endured it.

Until a year ago, when I saw Vivian running out of Ashton's bedroom wearing my pajamas. Even then, Ashton claimed he'd been drugged and mistook Vivian for me.

I thought after that, I'd never cry over Ashton again.

But now, the tears still wouldn't stop.

My phone vibrated in my bag again and again. All calls from Ashton.

I didn't answer. Finally, I just turned it off.

At one in the morning, I finally returned to the villa.

The massive house was empty. The festive wedding decorations in the bridal suite hadn't been taken down yet. They looked particularly glaring now.

I took a shower, buried myself in the blankets, and fell into an exhausted sleep.

The next morning, I was woken by my phone ringing.

I groggily answered. Before I could speak, my best friend Lily's urgent voice exploded through the line.

"Seraphina! Have you seen the news? Look now! Right now!"

"What news..."

My voice was hoarse.

"Ashton and that Vivian! They're trending!"

I was instantly awake.

I hung up and opened social media.

No need to search. The top trending topic was #Blackwood CEO Spends Fortune on Mystery Woman's Dinner Rights#.

I clicked in. Nine photos arranged in a grid.

The first three were from last night's charity auction. The rest were candid shots from various angles.

In the photos, Ashton and Vivian shared dinner at an upscale restaurant. After they left the restaurant, they got into Ashton's car together.

The car stopped at a five-star hotel entrance. Ashton and Vivian walked in side by side, eventually entering a hotel suite together.

The caption was suggestive and detailed.

"Blackwood Group CEO Ashton Blackwood spent one hundred million to win the 'dinner rights' of mystery woman Vivian. The two shared a romantic dinner before entering a hotel together, not leaving until this morning. Reportedly, Ashton and his wife Seraphina Hart were recently married, having held a high-profile wedding of the century. The vows are still ringing in our ears."

The comment section had exploded.

"One hundred million! Just for dinner? Only an idiot would believe that! This is obviously 'dinner' turning into 'all night'!"

"This Vivian's got something. She can make Mr. Blackwood throw money around like that and publicly slap his legitimate wife in the face."

"Ashton is so handsome though. Spending a fortune just for one dinner? Why do I find this kind of sweet?"

"Am I the only one who feels bad for his wife? She was there last night, right? Watching her own husband bid frantically for another woman. What kind of hellish scene is that? Their wedding billboards aren't even down yet..."

Seraphina's POV

When Ashton came home, I was sitting in the dining room eating breakfast.

On the tablet to my left was the entertainment news about him and Vivian.

"Seraphina, it's all false reporting. Don't believe what these journalists write."

A flicker of panic crossed his eyes as he stepped forward.

"Last night, Vivian was too upset about her mother's illness. I only took her out to eat. She got drunk, so I had to get her a hotel room."

I ate my eggs and smiled slightly.

"You got her a hotel room, but forgot to leave yourself? You slept in the hotel with her all night?"

Ashton's expression stiffened, guilt flashing by.

"Last night she kept crying and vomiting. I had no choice but to stay and take care of her. But I really didn't touch her. Nothing happened between us."

I looked at the fresh kiss mark barely hidden beneath his collar. My stomach churned, nausea rising.

"Ashton," I put down my knife and fork, closing my eyes. "Make her leave. Send her back to the countryside, or another city, or anywhere abroad. I don't want to see her again."

He was silent for a few seconds, impatience creeping into his expression.

"She only has her mother left. Her mother is seriously ill and needs surgery. If I make her leave now, it's like sending her to her death."

"Then let's get divorced."

I looked up.

"Since you can't send her away, let's get divorced."

"Seraphina, you've pulled this stunt before. It won't work twice."

Ashton's eyes darkened.

"The first time you made a scene about breaking up, I was willing to humor you and let you throw your tantrum. But now we're married. Do you think the position of Mrs. Blackwood is something you can take or leave as you please?"

His tall figure loomed over me with oppressive pressure, his tone ice-cold.

"The Hart family raised you for years. They won't pass up your value. Without me, you're nothing but a bargaining chip for the Hart family to trade for profit. They could marry you off to someone else at any time."

Those words were like a blade, stabbing straight into my heart.

"Be realistic. Stop threatening divorce at every turn, because this time, I might not humor you."

Then he made another declaration, firm and final.

"Vivian needs money and a job. Starting tomorrow, she'll join the company as my personal assistant."

My last shred of rationality completely crumbled. I raised my hand and delivered a resounding slap across his face.

"Ashton, you disgust me."

He turned his head, running his tongue along the inside of his cheek. When he turned back, his eyes were ice-cold.

"It seems we both need to cool down. I'll stay at the company for the next few days. I won't be coming back."

With those words, he turned and left without hesitation.

My chest felt like it had been brutally carved open, a gaping wound.

I laughed softly.

After a moment, I picked up my phone from the table and made a call, my heart turning to ash.

"Prepare divorce papers for me. I want a divorce."

For several days in a row, Ashton didn't come home.

But an unfamiliar number I didn't recognize sent me photos almost daily.

In the photos, Ashton brought Vivian to yacht parties, accompanied Vivian to the hospital to visit her seriously ill mother, and at business receptions, held her waist while introducing her to everyone.

Unable to bear it any longer, I drove straight to Blackwood Group. Ignoring the reception desk's attempts to stop me, I swiped my card and entered the executive elevator.

In the office area, Vivian was talking with someone.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up.

"Mrs. Blackwood?"

I didn't pause. I walked right up to her and slapped her across the face.

The crisp sound exploded in the quiet air.

"Miss Vivian, Ashton wants to repay his debt and keep you by his side. I have nothing to say about that."

I said coldly.

"But we both know exactly what you're thinking. As long as I haven't signed divorce papers, you're nothing but a homewrecker."

Vivian covered her rapidly swelling cheek, tears welling in her eyes.

"Mrs. Blackwood, you misunderstand me. I really didn't..."

"Seraphina!"

Seraphina's POV

Ashton's voice came from the end of the hallway.

He strode over quickly, pulling Vivian behind him and completely shielding her with his body. His gaze fell on me like a frozen pond.

"Seraphina, know your place. Don't bully people."

Anger simmered in his eyes.

"Do I need to remind you how you were publicly drenched in alcohol at that party years ago? How people bullied you and said those horrible things?"

Something squeezed my heart viciously.

That party years ago. He was the one who came to my rescue, stomping on that man and forcing him to apologize to me.

But now, this same person was digging up my most shameful past.

He once pulled me out of that humiliating situation. Now he was laying it bare before everyone.

Ashton's tone was harsh.

"It seems I've spoiled and indulged you too much all these years. You've forgotten that you're just the Hart family's fallen-from-grace fake heiress who once endured endless bullying and ridicule from others."

"Go home."

He commanded, brooking no argument.

"Go home and accept your punishment."

I couldn't believe it. I pointed at Vivian, whom he was protecting behind him.

"You want me to accept punishment for this woman?"

"I just want you to understand. Don't forget what you went through. And don't think that sitting in the position of Mrs. Blackwood means you can abuse your power and do whatever you want."

Nearby, Vivian tugged at his sleeve, her voice fragile and uncertain.

"Mr. Blackwood, forget it. Punishment is too severe. Please don't fight with Mrs. Blackwood because of me. I'm fine already... See, my face doesn't even hurt anymore."

"She must accept this punishment."

Looking back at me, his expression grew dark and oppressive again.

"As Mrs. Blackwood, you should be tolerant, generous, and dignified. Not run to the company like a madwoman and hit people."

I'm like a madwoman?

I was so shocked I almost laughed.

I pressed my lips together.

"What if I refuse to accept this punishment?"

His presence was intimidating.

"Seraphina Hart, I'm not negotiating with you."

The atmosphere was nearly frozen.

Just as we reached a stalemate, suddenly Vivian let out a weak moan. Her body swayed and she fell backward softly.

"Vivian!"

Ashton's expression changed. He reached out to catch her.

Vivian leaned in his arms, unconscious.

Ashton swept her up into his arms. When he looked at me again, his eyes were filled with barely suppressed fury.

"You'd better pray nothing's wrong with her. Otherwise, I won't forgive you."

He didn't spare me another glance. Carrying Vivian, he strode quickly toward the elevator.

I stood there, feeling eyes on me from all directions. My heart felt like it had been stabbed and twisted repeatedly with a knife. The last bit of light in my heart went out.

I took the elevator downstairs. As soon as I walked out of the company entrance, two bodyguards in black suits grabbed me from either side.

"Mrs. Blackwood, our apologies. Mr. Blackwood ordered us to take you to the basement for punishment."

I struggled, but it was futile.

I was shoved into a car. The car drove toward the suburbs, finally stopping in front of the Blackwood family estate.

The bodyguards dragged me out and pushed me into the basement.

"Accept it, Mrs. Blackwood."

I straightened my spine.

"I did nothing wrong. I won't kneel!"

The two bodyguards exchanged a glance. Then one of them kicked the back of my knee directly.

Caught off guard, my legs gave out and I crashed heavily to my knees.

Searing pain shot through my kneecaps.

I gasped.

I struggled to stand, but the two bodyguards pressed down hard on my shoulders, forcing me back down.

"Mr. Blackwood ordered that you must kneel for a full twenty-four hours before you can get up."

The Blackwood family's punishment. Kneeling in the basement, atoning for a full twenty-four hours.

But on our wedding night, Ashton held me in his arms and said he'd never let me suffer this kind of humiliation.

Ashton, your words truly can't be trusted. Not a single one.

But I was too foolish before. I believed him again and again.

I'll never love him again.