A Tenth of His Love

The love Edward Abend gives me is only a tenth of what he gives Daisy Neal. He gives me one set of jewelry but gives her ten sets. He throws me a wedding and throws her ten parties to celebrate them becoming an item. After being intimate with me once, he does it with her ten times. I think I'll endure this until the end of time for the sake of my family. However, Edward brings Daisy to me one day and says, "Daisy is pregnant. I want you to pretend to be pregnant, too. Once the child is born, we'll act like it's yours. Then, the child will be Abend Group's proper heir." I'm sick of this, so I don't go along with him anymore. "Let's get a divorce." Chapter 1 I had become Edward Abend's wife, so as compensation to Daisy Neal, the love he gave me was only a tenth of what he gave her. For the sake of both our families' interests—and with the hope that he would return to me—I endured it all. Until one day he said, "You have to pretend to be Daisy's child's biological mother and let the child become the Abend family's heir." That was when I asked for a divorce. The man and woman before me ignored my words and continued their discussion. "This must be done in secret. No outsiders can know. This family would never accept an heir whose birth mother is an ordinary woman. Once the child comes of age, we'll tell him the truth and have him recognize you as his biological mother." Teary-eyed, Daisy clung to Edward like a pet. "I'm willing to do anything for our child." Filled with tenderness, Edward comforted her. "I'll make it up to you a hundred times over for all your suffering." Then, the two shared a deep kiss, and their saliva splattered onto my face. A wave of cold emptiness filled my heart. I cut in, breaking their moment. "Edward, I'll say it again—I want a divorce. I will not raise your child." Edward reluctantly pulled away from Daisy, giving me a once-over before scoffing, "What's with this tantrum? What choice do you have besides agreeing? "We've been married for three years, and you still haven't gotten pregnant. You failed to do your duty as a wife. Now, I'm giving you a child for free. You should be thanking us. "Dad is already anxious that we don't have a child. Do you think he'll say anything if I kick you out and marry a younger woman? Do you really think you'll find someone richer and better-looking than me after the divorce? You'll be miserable for the rest of your life!" Edward was confident, but I wasn't so easily intimidated. I chuckled. "Divorced or not, I'm still the heiress of Oskar Group. I have money and power—I can afford to keep a few young, handsome men around. My life will be nothing short of wonderful." "Are you serious?" Edward finally realized I wasn't bluffing. After briefly hesitating, he said, "I was just asking you to raise a child. You don't have to overreact like this. You've changed. No matter what I did before, you always forgave me. But I won't force you if you're unwilling to be tolerant now." With his agreement, I turned and left immediately. Behind me, Edward's and Daisy's voices faded into the distance. "What if she really divorces you?" "Don't worry. I know her. She'll calm down in a few days. Our child will be the future president of the company. There's no doubt about it." The old me might have tolerated this. But after going through this time and time again, my love had completely worn away. So when Edward shamelessly asked me to raise his illegitimate child, I suddenly realized I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't live like this for the rest of my life. Just as I got a lawyer to draft the divorce papers, Peter Abend—Edward's father and the president of Abend Group—came looking for me. Chapter 2 "You're getting a divorce?" Peter patted his chest, taking a moment to collect himself. "Stella, this is Edward's fault. I'll deal with him. Don't worry—I will never allow a child of lowly blood to become Abend Group's heir." Then, he ordered, "Someone, go get Edward!" Not long after, Edward stormed in, his face dark with anger. He glared at me and shouted, "Didn't I tell you to keep this a secret? Why did you tell Dad? So the divorce was just an excuse—you just don't want to raise the child." "Insolent fool! Watch your tongue!" Peter's face turned red with fury as he pointed at Edward and scolded, "I turned a blind eye to your affair with Daisy, but that doesn't mean I'll indulge your every whim. Stella is your rightful wife, and only your children with her have the right to inherit the company." "Dad! Stella still hasn't gotten pregnant. She's probably infertile! Daisy may come from humble origins, but she has a pure heart and a noble character—something Stella could never compare to." I couldn't help but scoff. "A woman of such 'pure heart and noble character' wouldn't destroy someone else's marriage." "Shut up! Daisy is with me because she truly loves me." "Enough!" Peter slammed his hand on the table. He had finally lost his patience. "Stella, Edward, your marriage is tied to the fate of both our companies. It's not something you can just walk away from. Edward, treat Stella better—she is your wife, after all." "Fine. Stella, this was my mistake. I'm sorry," Edward said casually, his apology completely insincere. I had endured for far too long. Even when I tried to resist, these people treated it as a joke. Taking a deep breath, I looked into Peter's eyes and said, "I truly want a divorce. A marriage isn't meant for three people—it's far too crowded. Of course, this won't affect Oskar Group and Abend Group's alliance." "You're still not satisfied after I apologized? Look at all the rich men in the world—who doesn't have multiple lovers? I only have Daisy. That's already more than reasonable." Peter quickly stepped in to ease the tension. "Stella, it's normal for young couples to argue. Don't mention divorce again. I'll take care of Daisy for you." Glancing at his assistant, Charlie Smith, he said, "Charlie, keep an eye on these two—don't let them secretly file for divorce." He then waved me off, dismissing me without room for discussion. It was clear that neither Edward nor Peter would let me go so easily. But thankfully, I had the support of a powerful maternal family. Without hesitation, I reached out to my brother, Austin Oskar. Austin was the president of Oskar Group, a man of immense power and influence who had always doted on me. If he intervened, the Abends would have no choice but to agree to the divorce. Shortly after I sent the message, Austin replied, "Wait for me. I'm coming." Chapter 3 I thought Edward would at least show me some respect after Peter's intervention. But to my surprise, he became even more brazen. I was jolted awake early the following day by a commotion outside my door. "You can't move in!" "I'm the heir of the company! You're fired!" "This isn't your bedroom!" "Get lost!" I got dressed and stepped outside, only to see Edward and Daisy standing there with their luggage behind them. My maids were blocking their way, refusing to let them in. The moment he saw me, he let out a cold laugh. "Stella, did you really think you could deny me what I want just because Dad backed you up? Use your brain. You're just the woman I married, but Daisy is carrying his biological grandson. It's obvious who's more important." "So?" My voice trembled. I couldn't believe they could be this heartless. "Dad and I have already discussed it. Once Daisy gives birth, the child will be handed over to you to raise. If you can have a child of your own, then they'll be the heir. But if you can't…" Edward's gaze drifted to my flat stomach, and he smirked mockingly. "You and your father are truly shameless." "We're only thinking about Abend Group's future. Daisy really likes your bedroom, so why don't you let her have it? Once she gives birth, she'll return it to you. "I gave you the title of my wife, so I need to compensate Daisy in other ways. I promised her I'd repay her ten times over," Edward continued, trying to persuade me, but I couldn't listen any longer. His words made me nauseous. "Edward, how did we end up like this? There was a time when we truly loved each other. We vowed to love only one another for a lifetime in that chapel." He hadn't expected me to say that. He was stunned, as if recalling the happy moments we had once shared. After a long moment of silence, he finally lowered his head and said, "Back then, we were young. Hormones control our brains. We didn't understand how long a lifetime really was, so we thought loving only one person forever would be easy." "I love you now, and I love Daisy too. I can't give her the title of my wife, so I want to make it up to her in other ways. But one thing is certain—no matter how many women I have outside, you will always be my wife." A sharp pain tore through my chest, making it hard to breathe. "So now, can you let Daisy have the bedroom?" I turned away, letting them come and go as they pleased. What did a bedroom matter? I would let Daisy have my husband as well. "Mrs. Abend, I'll help you pack." A man with blond hair and blue eyes approached me. "Who are you? Why haven't I seen you before?" "I'm Arthur Burke, an assistant at the company," he said with a slight smile, his long lashes fluttering gracefully. I didn't think much of it and simply let him pack a few essential belongings for me. Chapter 4 I moved into the most secluded room in the estate, where I could no longer hear Edward and Daisy's laughter. It was peaceful. Arthur would visit me from time to time, trying to cheer me up. There were only two days left until Austin arrived—I just had to endure a little longer. A voice came from outside the door as I daydreamed about my future freedom and happiness. "Stella." I opened the door to find Daisy standing there. She was wearing a dazzlingly elegant gown embellished with pearls and a jewel-encrusted necklace. The softness and timidity in her eyes were gone, replaced by sharp, unyielding arrogance. "What do you want? If it's not important, please leave," I said, unwilling to engage with her. I just wanted some peace. "Aren't you going to invite your guest in for tea? Is this the kind of hospitality the Oskar family teaches?" Since Daisy had abandoned all pretense of respect, I saw no need to be polite either. I struck her where it hurt. "You used to be Edward's nanny—you have no right to judge me. No matter how luxurious your gown is, it won't change the fact that you come from nothing but an ordinary background. As for your child, one day, he'll hate you for giving him such a lowly lineage." "You!" Her face turned ashen, her lips trembling as she struggled for words. I felt delighted and was about to shut the door. "Wait!" She forcefully pressed her hand against the doorframe. "Daisy, I have no energy to fight over trash with you. There's no one else here. You don't have to pretend anymore." "I have no idea what you're talking about." Daisy's expression turned bitter for a moment before she regained her composure. "Ever since you moved here, Edward has been missing you. He keeps bringing you up. He even claims you wouldn't ignore him if I weren't so harsh." "That's between the two of you. It has nothing to do with me." "You're just playing hard to get, aren't you? You think distance makes the heart grow fonder, and once Edward grows tired of me, he'll remember how good you were." I sighed softly, feeling exasperated. "I really have no interest in him anymore. You don't have to worry—I wouldn't talk to him even if you paid me." "You need to stop this game! Move back in. I don't want your stupid bedroom anymore." "I don't want to see either of you. Get out!" I shouted. "If you truly don't care about him, why are you avoiding him? You can fool Edward, but you can't fool me. You're so manipulative!" Daisy's lips curled into a twisted smirk, and an overwhelming hatred filled her eyes. "Do you know why you've never gotten pregnant?" I froze, memories flooding back to me. The doctor had always assured me that I was perfectly healthy and that it was only a matter of time before I conceived. But now, with Daisy's words hanging in the air, a terrifying thought took root in my mind. My voice came out in a whisper, "It was you two." "That's right." She sneered. "To ensure my child becomes the rightful heir of Abend Group, Edward added birth control to your food after every time he slept with you. Now that you know, do you think you two could ever reconcile? You'll never win against me." The rest of her words blurred into white noise. My head spun, and my legs nearly gave out beneath me. Before I could steady myself, Daisy suddenly threw herself backward. I instinctively reached out to catch her. "Stella! What are you doing?" Edward's furious roar came from across the hall. Behind him stood Arthur. Chapter 5 At that moment, Daisy fell right before me while my hand hung in the air. From any angle, it looked as if I had pushed her. Panic surged through me, and I quickly explained, "It's not what you think! I didn't push her—she fell on her own." Edward raised his hand to slap me, but Arthur firmly caught his wrist just before he could. "Edward, I won't let you hurt her." Edward let out a cold snort and crouched down to check on Daisy carefully. "Are you okay? Do you feel any discomfort? Does your stomach hurt? Don't move. Wait for the doctor to arrive." He carefully pulled her into his arms as if she were his entire world. Meanwhile, I—his legal wife—was treated like trash and cast aside. Even though I had already decided to leave him, my heart still ached unbearably. "Edward, I fell on my own. Stella didn't push me, so please don't punish her," Daisy said, looking pitiful, with tears in her eyes. "You're too kind. Without me there to protect you, how would you survive in this world?" "Stella found out about the birth control pills, and she's very upset." Edward handed Daisy over to Arthur and approached me with a dark expression, his voice heavy with suppressed anger. "You went too far, hurting Daisy over something so trivial! If you had an issue, you should've come to me directly. You have no right to harm the woman I love." I let out a bitter laugh and glared at the man before me. "Firstly, I didn't push her. Secondly, why did you drug me? What did I do to deserve this? Even if we've fallen out of love, I am still your wife under the law. You owe me respect!" Faced with my questioning, Edward was no longer so aggressive. His gaze wavered, and he stammered, "W-What's wrong with a man wanting to have children with the woman he loves? Besides, if your child became the company's heir, you would definitely seek revenge on Daisy. I retorted, "The whole purpose of our marriage was for us to have a child carrying both the Abend and Oskar families' bloodlines and solidify the bond between our families." "See? You've always been obsessed with power, even when it comes to having children. Daisy is different. She's having my child out of love for me. Fine. I won't drug you anymore. You can get pregnant if you want." "It doesn't matter anymore. There's no future for us." "Ha! Dad will never let you leave. Stay here and raise the child properly." Silence fell over us until a loud male voice shattered it. "Since Stella wants to leave, this ends now." It was Austin. Suddenly, my whole world seemed to have brightened. "Austin! How did you get here so soon?" "I was worried you wouldn't be able to handle these people alone, so I got here as fast as I could." Edward was momentarily stunned, then quickly put on a polite facade. "Austin, welcome. It's good to see you again." Austin's face was stone-cold as he glanced between Edward and Daisy. "I can't say the same. I know about everything that's happened. Since things have come to this, you can stay with your nanny. I'm taking Stella home. Edward protested, "The alliance between our families can't be broken just like that. Only by standing together can we maintain our dominance in Naglet!" Austin snapped, "If the Oskar family can't even protect Stella's happiness, our power means nothing. Let's go. We're meeting your father." "So, you've all planned this behind my back." Edward's face turned red with fury. His gaze landed on Arthur, and something seemed to click in his mind. "Why are you helping Stella? Have you two been having an affair all along?" Before I could respond, Edward snapped again. "You wench! How dare you betray me? Fine! Leave if you want." "Yes, I love Stella. I will cherish her if you won't," Arthur declared firmly. His conviction tightened my chest, and a surge of gratitude enveloped me. Arthur had gone so far as to lie, willingly making an enemy of Edward just to help me. For a brief moment, I almost believed his words. But I quickly dismissed the thought—why would someone like Arthur love me? … The divorce was finalized without issue. As I sat in the car, leaving the Abend family behind, I felt lighter than ever. "Stella! Stella!" It was Edward. He clung to the car door, shouting through the window, "I won't let you go that easily."