Chapter 1Once Wanted to Be With Him Forever

He crashed his car and lost his memory the day he chased after the woman he'd always loved.

That same day, his mother and I made a deal.

She offered a billion dollars.

I'd take care of him, marry him, and give him heirs.

For five years, we built a happy life.

So happy that I forgot it began as a transaction. I let myself believe we were truly, madly in love.

Then he saw a photograph of her. And he remembered everything.

The day I got the positive pregnancy test, I watched him pull that woman into his arms and kiss her with deep affection.

Jade POV

It was my fifth year as Julian Hayes's wife. The moment I confirmed his memory had returned, I called my employer.

"Your divorce from Julian will be finalized within a month. I'll send you the visa paperwork along with it."

My grip tightened on the phone. "Understood, Mrs. Hayes. Thank you."

A slight hesitation from the other end. "Are you certain? You truly want to divorce him?"

My eyes closed, long lashes brushing against my skin. "Our agreement was clear. I may leave once I'm carrying his child."

"Very well. Once the child is born abroad, our arrangement will be concluded in full."

Not long after the call ended, my phone buzzed with a transfer notification.

A billion dollars. And it wasn't even the final payment.

It was enough for lifetimes.

Suddenly, a deep voice came from behind me. "Who was that?"

My heart clenched. I turned. Julian stood in the doorway of our bedroom, having entered without a sound.

He was impeccably dressed in a suit, tall and handsome, exuding an air of effortless sophistication and raw power.

I managed a smooth, practiced smile. "Just a friend."

His gaze dropped to my hand.. "What's that?"

"Our five-year anniversary itinerary."

I folded the positive pregnancy test I'd been clutching and held it out to him. "Want to see it?"

Julian didn't move. His eyes, fixed on mine, were a turbulent, unreadable storm. "Cancel the anniversary plans. I don't have the time."

But just half a month ago, he'd cleared his entire schedule for it.

Ten days ago, we were still sweetly planning how we'd celebrate.

His phone suddenly rang. Julian saw the caller ID, and his usually sharp eyes softened, a tenderness I hadn't seen in days blooming within them.

"I have to go out for something. Don't wait for me for dinner tonight."

With that, he answered his phone and strode out, leaving me behind.

Watching his retreating back, my heart felt like it was being pricked by countless tiny needles, a suffocating, unbearable pain.

Julian and I had been inseparable, a loving couple for five years.

Until five days ago, when everything changed.

I don't know where he got Isabella Stone's photo, but upon seeing her face, he recovered from his five years of amnesia, remembering his first love.

I'd vaguely heard that he and Isabella were once a perfect match.

But five years ago, Isabella's family went camping with Julian's father. They were accidentally kidnapped by an anti-social, wealth-hating extremist.

To save their own lives, Isabella's family betrayed Mr. Hayes's identity as Emerald City's wealthiest man, leading to him being brutally murdered and dismembered by the extremist.

The Hayes family was furious, unleashing their full power to ensure the perpetrators suffered a fate ten times worse. Isabella's parents also quietly died in prison.

Only Isabella was protected by Julian.

And the day Isabella was forcibly sent abroad by Mrs. Hayes, Julian frantically chased after her, ending up in a car crash.

When he woke up, he'd forgotten everything.

That's when Mrs. Hayes found me, and they made their deal.

At the time, I didn't know the inside story and even laughed, thinking Mrs. Hayes was desperate for grandchildren.

Mrs. Hayes had said, "You don't understand how deeply Isabella is ingrained in Julian's heart. Any woman can marry into the Hayes family and bear a Hayes child, except her."

Over the years, to prevent Julian from ever getting involved with Isabella again, Mrs. Hayes had acted with ruthless efficiency, not only erasing all traces of Isabella's existence but also making it clear in their social circles.

Anyone in Emerald City who dared to mention Isabella again would be crossing the Hayes family.

But after five years of peace, Julian still recovered his memory.

After remembering everything, he almost immediately flew abroad.

Just yesterday, I found out I was pregnant and heard he was returning.

I eagerly rushed to the airport to meet him, only to see him walking out of the VIP lounge hand-in-hand with a woman.

I drove after them, only to discover Julian hadn't just brought Isabella back from abroad, but had settled her in a secluded villa he owned.

Seeing him carefully hide Isabella away, my heart plummeted to my stomach.

Right then, I knew it was time for me to leave.