Chapter 1The 24-Hour Marriage

After a wedding three months in the planning, one night was all it took for me to decide on a divorce.

The reason was simple: my new husband, Gary, transferred a thousand dollars to my account before we went to bed. Then, in the middle of the night, another two thousand appeared.

The memo on the second transfer read: "Final Payment."

I couldn't stomach it. The next morning, I announced my intention to divorce him right in front of his parents.

My new in-laws, their hands still outstretched with wedding gifts, were stunned into silence.

Gary slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, pointing a trembling finger at my face. "I sent you that money because I care about you! What is this drama now?"

My voice was ice. "I'd love to know in what world 'caring' for someone involves splitting a payment into a deposit and a final installment."

* * *

"Audrey Vance!" Gary’s voice was a mixture of fury and disbelief. "We just got married! Are you trying to start a power struggle on day one? Isn't it a little soon for that?"

"I'll have the papers drawn up by noon," I said, my tone flat, refusing to engage with his tantrum. "I'll come find you then. We should go to the courthouse as soon as they're signed."

Without another word, I turned and walked out.

My mother-in-law's hand, still holding a gift, was frozen in mid-air. My father-in-law just looked bewildered, completely lost as to what could have possibly imploded between us in a single night.

Gary himself was momentarily stunned. He clearly hadn't expected my resolve to be this absolute, this unshakeable.

I had my lawyer draft the divorce agreement with lightning speed and took it directly to his office at Cross Enterprises.

As I stepped out of the elevator, I saw his parents waiting for me outside his office. He had obviously called them, hoping they could talk me down.

I ignored them and walked straight toward the door.

But Gary's secretary, Lily Marsh, stepped into my path.

"Mrs. Cross, Gary is in a meeting. No one is allowed to disturb him." Her voice was professionally polite, but her eyes held a different story. "And he told me what happened. You asking for a divorce on the first day... Audrey, as a fellow woman, I'm advising you to know when to quit."

She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Don't forget how good he's been to you. You wanted to see the Northern Lights, and he dropped everything to fly around the world with you. You mentioned off-hand that you didn't feel like cooking, and he took a three-month culinary course. A man like that is a unicorn. If you keep this up, you'll find yourself in a mess you can't get out of."

Her words, especially "asking for a divorce," were just loud enough to draw the attention of nearby employees. They began to drift closer, chiming in.

"Lily's right. Mr. Cross turned down a multi-million dollar deal just to be with you. That's how much he loves you."

"Exactly, Mrs. Cross. Don't mind us saying so, but he's a rare find. You should treasure him!"

Just as their chorus of unsolicited advice reached its peak, the office door swung open. Gary emerged, giving Lily a grateful look. She responded with a knowing, gentle smile.

He then turned to me, his expression a mask of sincerity, and took my hands in his. "Audrey, I know you've always been so supportive and understanding of everything I do. Is this because I didn't send the money all at once? Did it lack a sense of ceremony? Is that why you feel hurt?"

He squeezed my hands. "Or is there something else I don't know? Please, just tell me, and we can fix it together. Okay?"

His parents moved through the small crowd to join him.

"He's right, Audrey," his father said gently. "I don't know what happened between you two last night, but I'm sure it was something small. Can't you just talk it through?"

"Did this boy do something to upset you?" his mother added, her tone warm and placating. "Don't you worry, I'm on your side. I'll make him apologize."

Everyone watched me, expecting me to soften, to yield. My in-laws treated me like a child throwing a temporary tantrum. After all, they had witnessed the long and often difficult journey Gary and I had taken to get to this point.

But I ignored their expectant faces, yanked my hands from Gary's grasp, and said, my voice cutting through the air, "There's nothing to talk about. I'm done with you."

The office fell silent. You could have heard a pin drop.

"What are you talking about? We just got married…" Gary's eyes started to redden, as if he couldn't process my words.

"Let me repeat myself so you understand. I'm. Done. With. You. I'm cutting my losses."

With that, I pulled the divorce agreement from my bag and slapped it against his chest. I turned to leave. "Get it signed. My time is limited."

I didn't get far. Lily grabbed my arm, her grip so tight it left an immediate red mark on my wrist. Her face was twisted in a mask of indignation. "Could you stop being so unreasonable? You're an embarrassment to women everywhere!" she hissed. "Who else would put up with you? If Gary hadn't interned at your father's company back in the day, you'd still be some lonely old spinster. You should be thanking him, not making a federal case out of nothing!"

I met her glare with a cold stare of my own. "This has nothing to do with you. You're his secretary. Know your place."

Lily jutted out her chin. "I'm speaking for everyone here! Who in this office agrees with what you're doing?" she challenged. "They're too afraid of you to say anything, but I'm not. Our Gary doesn't deserve this."

She tightened her grip. "Apologize to him right now, or you can kiss your position as the CEO's wife goodbye!"

My hand shot out, and the sharp crack of a slap silenced the room. A collective gasp went through the crowd.

"I'd be delighted!" I spat.

Gary exploded. "Audrey, don't push your luck! How dare you hit Lily!"

He shoved me forcefully, sending me stumbling back several feet, before rushing to Lily's side, fussing over her with frantic concern. He then positioned himself in front of her, a human shield protecting her from me.

"You two seem close," I observed, raising an eyebrow. My comment only seemed to fuel the crowd's disapproval. The murmurs started again, painting me as the unhinged, jealous wife who couldn't admit when she was wrong.

Lily clutched Gary's arm from behind, her voice dripping with manufactured sweetness. "Gary, it's my fault. I just couldn't stand to see you being treated like that. Maybe Audrey is just acting out because she loves you so much. I won't say another word, I don't want to make her angry again." She pouted, looking as if she were the one who had been deeply wronged.

"Thank you, Lily," Gary said, patting her hand. "This is my fault for dragging you into it." He turned back to me, his voice softening into a placating tone. "Audrey, stop this. Look how upset you've made Lily. Let's talk about this at home, behind closed doors. We can talk after I finish work, okay? I'll buy you whatever you want."

By the end, he was practically begging, performing the role of the doting, patient husband for his audience. He was painting me into a corner, making me out to be the irrational one.

His father stepped in to deliver the final blow. "Audrey, we all see how much you've supported our family. None of us want this. If you agree to stop this nonsense, I'll have Gary transfer another ten percent of his company shares to you. How does that sound?"

The employees who had been defending Lily all exchanged looks of sudden understanding.

"So that's what this is about."

Gary nodded eagerly, his eyes pleading with me. "Honey, I'll give you any amount of money you want. Just please, don't divorce me."

"Think whatever you want. Give it to me, don't give it to me, I don't care. You're signing those papers." My expression didn't change.

"Audrey Vance!"

His mother, who had been silent until now, finally lost her temper. "Your first day as a wife and you're already acting lawless! What will you be like in the future? He's not giving you the shares, and he's not signing anything. You had better take back that agreement and stop this now. And don't you forget," she added, her voice dropping to a low threat, "your father's company is still waiting for us to bail it out."

The mention of my father was a clear warning. The onlookers smirked, waiting for my inevitable surrender.

But I ignored them all, turned on my heel, and walked away.