Chapter 1 Chapter 1

... Kimberly Miles stood resolutely before Margaret Carter. She declared, "Mrs. Carter, I want to end the contract. You promised that if Daniel didn't fall for me in five years, it would be void." Margaret looked up from her desk. "I did say that." Her tone was measured as she continued, "But you've got Henry now. You love him so much. Can you bear to hear him call someone else Mom?""I can," Kimberly replied firmly. "My marriage to Daniel was based on a contract, and Henry was part of it. Now that Siena is back, they don't need me anymore." In the past five years, she had developed genuine feelings for Daniel Carter, only to be let down over and over again. Margaret sighed, reflecting on Daniel's behavior. Then she said, "The contract is almost due. Sign here, and in seven days, you're free to leave." Kimberly signed the document without hesitation, then strode out of the Carter Mansion. Once she got into her car, her phone pinged with a notification. It was a photo from kindergarten. In it, Daniel laughed heartily, leaning toward Siena. Henry clung to her hand, his face lit up with joy. They wore the family matching outfits Kimberly had bought for Henry's sports day. Siena had taken her place at the event and wore her clothes. The sight of it all twisted a knife in Kimberly's heart. ... Daniel and Siena's love story had once been a sensation. One was a billionaire heir, and the other was a rising star who dropped out of school to pursue fame in the entertainment business. Despite their vast differences, love had brought them together. But as Siena's career skyrocketed, she ended things with Daniel to focus on her dreams. Daniel spiraled into despair, drinking heavily and even contemplating suicide. The news of the Carter family heir's attempt to take his life for love exploded online that night. Meanwhile, Kimberly's father lay in the operating room, the high surgery costs crushing her. That was when Margaret approached her, promising to pay the fees if she agreed to marry into the Carter family and help Daniel recover. The duration? Five years. Soon after, Margaret introduced her to Daniel and proposed their marriage. "Would you marry Kimberly?" Margaret probed. Equally anxious, Kimberly waited for Daniel's answer. If he refused, the contract would collapse, and her father's surgery would remain unpaid. But surprisingly, he sighed and nodded. "Whatever. If it's not Siena, anyone would do it." They met through this deal, intended as pure business, but Kimberly grew to love him through her daily care. Daniel, on the other hand, remained distant, never truly paying attention to her. Even their marriage license was postponed. He claimed work kept him too busy. One night, Daniel stumbled home drunk. His unfocused gaze landed on her. "Let's have a kid," he mumbled. That night, they shared a passionate moment, and Kimberly hoped it marked the start of love. Later, she found out the truth. Siena had announced a new boyfriend earlier that day. After Henry was born, Daniel's attitude to her changed. He was no longer that cold and stopped ignoring her efforts. She thought it would endure until Siena announced her breakup. On the same night, the paparazzi caught Daniel and Siena holding hands by the river, with headlines buzzing about a reunion. Their contact grew frequent, and he even brought her home. Her appearance changed the cold temperament of Kimberly's son, Henry Carter. He became clingy, always wanting to play with Siena. Photos of the three multiplied. In five years, Kimberly and Daniel had barely a single picture together because he disliked taking pictures. But with Siena as a regular, he bought a new camera and saved every tabloid shot of them. For Siena, he always bent the rules. From that, Kimberly understood one thing. No amount of time would make him love her. His heart always belonged to Siena. Thankfully, their marriage was just a contract. In seven days, she would escape this humiliating home and pursue her dream of writing abroad. With the plan set, she contacted a foreign publisher and booked a flight for herself. Back home, she pulled into her usual parking spot, only for Siena's car to slide in first. The ones with her were none other than Daniel and Henry.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

... Siena stepped out of the car with an air of confidence and approached Kimberly with a smirk playing on her lips. "Sorry, I snagged your spot by mistake. You don't mind, do you?" Before Kimberly could respond, Daniel interjected, "This spot is not anyone's property. If you want it, no one's got a problem with that." He shot Kimberly a warning glance, and Henry chimed in, "Don't worry about my mom. Her car is ugly and out of place anyway." Kimberly's blood ran cold. She had nurtured Henry for four years, pouring all her love and care into raising him. Yet, here he was, defending Siena and looking down on her with such disdain. Daniel grabbed Siena's arm and raised an eyebrow. "Come on, check out the room I set up for you. It's right next to mine." Henry cheered, "Hooray! I've got a playmate from now on. Siena is good at any game, unlike my mom. She is so boring." Daniel glanced at Kimberly, his expression unreadable. Then, as if remembering something, he said, "Oh, Siena's lease is up. She'll stay at the villa for a bit." Kimberly's expression remained neutral. She merely hummed in response. Daniel paused, surprised by her calm demeanor. Siena faltered deliberately, "Maybe I should stay at a hotel. I don't think it's a good idea for an outsider like me to stay in your house and interrupt your life." Henry pouted. "You and my dad knew each other first. If anyone's an outsider, it's not you.""Exactly," Daniel echoed. "I bought this villa for you. How could you be an outsider?" They ushered Siena inside, leaving Kimberly standing alone in the driveway. Daniel handed her the car keys, his tone brusque. "Pop the trunk and help Siena with her bags.""Does she not have hands?" Kimberly retorted sharply. Daniel paused, surprised by her reaction. The defiance in her voice was new. It felt like she had stopped caring, and that unnerved him. "You don't wanna help, fine. I'll get the butler..." he said. "Forget it. Give me the keys," Kimberly cut in, taking the keys from his hand. Her face was blank, and her emotions were hidden behind a wall of indifference. When she entered the house with the bags, Henry was proudly showing Siena a gift: four five-gram gold bars. Siena's eyes widened in surprise, her fingers tracing the smooth surface of the gold. Kimberly's face drained of color as she watched the scene. The Carter family had the wealth to spare, but these gold bars were her hard-earned savings, gifted to Henry each birthday as a symbol of her support and hope for his future. Yet he handed them to Siena without a second thought, as if they were mere trinkets. Daniel frowned, noticing Kimberly's stricken look. "Those were your mom's gifts to you, Henry. How could you give away something so personal?" Henry protested, "Siena's not just anyone. I like her. It's just a few dumb gold bars. We've got plenty." Daniel tried to argue, but Kimberly's cold voice cut through. "He is right. They're just gold bars. If he wants to give them away, let him." Ignoring their stunned looks, she walked to her room. Once inside, she leaned against the door, closing her eyes in exhaustion and pain. "Seven days. Seven more days," she muttered to herself. In seven days, she would be set free.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

... The next morning, Kimberly rose early. She and Daniel always slept in separate rooms, partly because he hadn't fully accepted her into his life and partly due to his germaphobia, which barred others from his space. After washing up, she drove to her friend's law firm and shared her situation. Hannah Mitchell gasped, "So, all your kindness to Daniel was just for the contract?" Kimberly nodded. Hannah exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I kept seeing news stories about you and Daniel, and I felt bad for you. Knowing it's a contract eases my mind a bit." She paused, her gaze searching Kimberly's face. "So, what brings you here today? Need a divorce agreement?" Kimberly gave a bitter smile. "Daniel and I never got a marriage license. I'm here for a custody waiver for Henry." Hannah was shocked. "What? Everyone knows you'd die for Henry. You're giving up his custody?" The rims of Kimberly's eyes reddened, but when she looked up, her voice was steady and resolute. "Just draft it." Hannah, seeing her resolve, prepared the document quickly and handed it over. Kimberly gripped it tightly and stood to leave. Hannah, sensing her sadness, called out, "Kimberly, you spent five years trying to warm his heart. From now on, keep that goodness for yourself." Kimberly turned back and managed a small smile. "I will." ... It was ten in the morning when she returned home. The living room was empty, and the breakfast she had made sat untouched on the table. It was already cold. She reheated the burgers and went upstairs to wake Henry and Daniel, as was her routine. Daniel's rule was to knock first, given his dislike of uninvited entry into his personal space. She tapped once, and the door opened, revealing Siena in a bathrobe. Siena stretched lazily, unfazed to see Kimberly standing outside. She muttered, "I just borrowed Daniel's bathroom. Ugh, my back is killing me." Kimberly's stomach twisted with a mix of anger and betrayal. Before Siena could provoke her further, Daniel emerged from the bedroom in pajamas. He yawned, "Siena, who is at the door? Henry?" Kimberly looked inside and saw faint red marks on his neck, a telltale sign of intimacy. A bitter laugh escaped her lips. In five years of marriage, they had barely touched each other. She had assumed he lacked interest in physical intimacy, but clearly, it was just that he didn't want her. Daniel fidgeted, quickly tugging his collar up to hide the marks. He stammered, "Siena just needed my charger. Don't read into it." Kimberly scoffed at their lies. They hadn't even aligned their excuses, their deception as transparent as glass. But instead of calling it out, she simply said that breakfast was ready and headed downstairs alone. This marriage was a contract, a business arrangement that had long since lost its purpose. Daniel's closeness to others wasn't her concern, not anymore. Now she only needed to wait it out until she could leave this life behind. Five minutes later, the three people descended. The tension in the air was thick and heavy. Henry frowned at the burgers on the table, his nose wrinkling slightly. "Reheated burgers aren't fresh, Mom. I want doughnuts." Daniel coaxed him, "Your mom already made these, Henry. Let's not waste them. You can have doughnuts tomorrow, okay?""No! I want them now!" Henry refused, his voice rising in a tantrum. Never patient with Henry's outbursts, Daniel started to scold him. But Siena interrupted, her tone sweet and conciliatory. "Kimberly, I hear your doughnuts are amazing. I'd love to try them." Her eyes flickered with a mix of triumph and challenge. Daniel's stance shifted instantly, his tone softening as he turned to Kimberly. "Since everyone's craving them, go make some doughnuts.""I can't." Kimberly focused on her burger, never looking up. "Go ahead and make your doughnuts if you want them so badly. I got up early to make these burgers. Toss them if you don't want them."

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

... Daniel froze, unaccustomed to Kimberly's refusal. She had always bent over backward to accommodate even his most unreasonable requests. But now, her defiance hung in the air, a palpable shift that left him at a loss. Siena sighed affectedly, "My bad. I'm already a hassle staying here, and now I'm asking for fresh food." She stood to leave. Henry clenched his fists and cried out, "You're a bad mom! You can't bully Siena!" He lunged at Kimberly, his hands striking her arms in a childish tantrum. Daniel stopped Siena, turning to Kimberly. His eyes flashed with irritation. "You're still mad about this morning? She borrowed my charger, as I told you. Why are you making a big deal out of it?" Kimberly remained unfazed. "I'm not feeling well. I don't have the energy to cook.""You're sick?" Henry paused, his anger momentarily forgotten. Then he covered his mouth with his hands and complained, "Why didn't you say so earlier? What if you get Siena sick? Her health is poor." He tugged Daniel's sleeve. "Dad, we gotta get Siena some medicine to be safe.""No need, Henry. I'm okay," Siena chimed in, her tone sweet and reassuring. But Daniel felt uncertain. He insisted, "Listen to Henry. Don't push yourself. You never get over colds in less than two weeks." With that, the three held hands and left Kimberly alone with the cold burgers. It was ironic to no end. They had been living together for five years, yet neither Daniel nor Henry cared about her well-being. Instead, they rushed to get medicine for someone who was perfectly healthy. Her appetite gone, Kimberly dumped the burgers and stared into space. Shortly after, Daniel texted her: [We're at the supermarket. Drive over and pick us up.] When Kimberly arrived at the place, only Siena and Henry were there standing in front of the ice cream freezer. "I want ice cream," Henry whined. Siena pinched his cheek, soft and indulgent. "Anything you like." Kimberly's brows furrowed, her concern for Henry's health overriding her frustration. She stepped in, saying, "Henry, did you forget what the doctor said? Your stomach can't handle ice cream." The grin on Henry's face faded instantly, replaced by disappointment and resentment. Siena waved it off. "Take it easy. It's not a big problem. Let him have it.""This is my family's business," Kimberly retorted sharply. "You don't need to butt in." Daniel returned, confused by the standoff. Siena sobbed, "I just wanted to get Henry ice cream, but Kimberly said no." Kimberly explained, "The doctor just told us that other snacks are fine, but ice cream waits until he is better." Daniel, hating to see Siena upset, glared at Kimberly. "The more you do this, the more he'll resent you. Can't you let him have a bite and finish the rest? Siena is just being nice. Why make it a thing?" Kimberly's heart sank. To her surprise, Daniel would disregard Henry's health to defend Siena and even mock what mattered to her. She gave a bitter smile and stopped arguing, realizing that since Siena's return, she'd become the true outsider. No matter her efforts, she could never compare to Siena in their minds.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

... Siena's face glowed with triumph. Henry shouted, "Dad and Siena are the best! My mom is terrible! Won't even let me have ice cream!" His words drew stares from passers-by, and they pointed at Kimberly. Kimberly felt a pang of disappointment. All her care for him over the years was for nothing. Daniel just watched, making no moves to stop Henry. Siena, playing the nice person, hushed Henry and ended the scene. Outside the supermarket, they proposed eating out and gave Kimberly no chance to object. Daniel ordered a hearty meal, but the dishes were all spicy except for Henry's kid's meal. No one asked Kimberly's preference; they just submitted the order. "After all these years, you still remember my favorite dishes?" Siena marveled, touching his hand playfully. Daniel blushed up to his ears. When the food arrived, he kept serving Siena, while Kimberly sat silently, barely eating anything. Noticing her lack of enthusiasm, Daniel asked, "Why aren't you eating?""I can't handle spice," she replied flatly. Daniel paused, surprised. Kimberly often cooked spicy meals, so he had assumed she enjoyed them too, never noticing her true taste. Guilt stirred in him, and he grabbed the menu. "I'll order you something else. What would you like?""No need. You guys enjoy your meal," she refused. Before he could insist, a passerby spotted Siena. "Ms. Siena Gallegos... and Mr. Daniel Carter?" Siena nodded slightly. The fan gushed, "I'm a huge fan of you two! That news story was so sweet, like a rom-com. Are you back together?" Daniel glanced at Kimberly, then met Siena's hopeful eyes. He nodded and hummed. The fan cheered. "Five years apart, you're back together! That's true love!" Siena smiled, "I failed him before, but I will cherish him from now on." Daniel gazed at her, happiness brimming in his eyes. After the fan left, Henry beamed, "Dad, you and Siena are together? Does that mean I have a new mom?" Daniel quickly covered Henry's mouth, signaling him to stop. Looking up at Kimberly, he stammered, "It's just a kid's talk. Don't take it to heart." Getting no reaction from her, he added, "And I said that for Siena's career." Kimberly remained expressionless. "I get it. No need to explain." Daniel felt uneasy at her calm tone, but Siena grabbed his arm and urged, "Eat up. The food is getting cold." His face softened as he lost himself in her charm and forgot about Kimberly. After dinner, they crossed the street to the parking lot, when suddenly a car sped from an intersection. Daniel reacted fast, pulling Siena and Henry to safety. Kimberly was left alone on the road. In the next instant, the car braked sharply, and Kimberly collapsed. Daniel panicked, letting go of Siena and rushing to her. Kimberly curled up, convulsing. Sweat beaded on her forehead. His voice quaked. "Kimberly! Are you okay? I'm taking you to the hospital." Kimberly tried to speak, but pain silenced her. She reached for his hand to ease his worry, but Henry cried out, "Dad, Siena is gonna faint! Help her!"

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

... Daniel turned, his worry for Siena intensifying with every passing second. "I'm fine," she muttered weakly. "Just a dizzy spell from seeing blood. Don't worry about me. Kimberly needs you more.""But your face is bloodless," Henry shouted. "Dad, hurry! Let's get her to the hospital. The car stopped in time. Mom's just acting to get your attention." Daniel's gaze shifted to Kimberly, doubt creeping into his mind like a shadow. He was torn until Siena groaned softly. Losing reason, he rushed to her side, helped her up, and headed to the car. Passing Kimberly, he covered Siena's eyes and looked away. His conscience gnawed at his heart with every step he took. He stammered, "Siena has always been frail. I can't risk her health. I called 911. Help is coming. Hang on." Their footsteps faded into the distance, leaving Kimberly alone and abandoned on the cold, hard ground. She tried to laugh at the irony of the situation, but blood trickled from her lips. When the stretcher arrived, her vision blurred. The medics muttered incredulously, "What kind of people call an ambulance and leave the injured alone?" Kimberly woke up in a hospital bed. A doctor came to check on her. "Car accident? You've got scrapes and a mild concussion." Kimberly nodded. The driver had braked in time, but the impact still lingered in her body and mind. She asked, "How soon can I leave?""Don't think about leaving for now. With a concussion, you need at least four days of rest and observation," said the doctor seriously. Kimberly counted the days left before the contract ended. By the time she was discharged, there would be only one day left. She exhaled, feeling freedom closer. Nurses gossiped nearby. "Hey, did you hear? Siena Gallegos is in our hospital. Her rumored boyfriend is here too.""Really?""No joke. Mr. Carter was frantic, carrying her to the VIP ward.""He got a top specialist for her checkup." Kimberly gave a bitter laugh and hobbled to the VIP ward, leaning on the wall. Through a door crack, Siena was seen lying on the bed. Henry clutched her hand, and Daniel fed her soup, his eyes tender in a way Kimberly had never known. They looked like a sweet couple, while Kimberly, outside, felt like an intruder in their joy. A nurse came to check on Siena, mistaking Kimberly for a fan. She muttered, "You think they're sweet, huh? Mr. Carter was so worried, like he wished he'd fainted instead. With concern like that? The news must be true." Kimberly croaked, "Yeah, they are sweet." She returned to her ward where her phone stayed silent. There wasn't even a text from Daniel or Henry asking about her situation. Their care for Siena was a stark contrast to their indifference toward her. Only an urgent email from a foreign publisher awaited her. A contest loomed on the horizon, and she needed to submit her work soon. Losing no time, she had Hannah bring her laptop, and in her quiet private room, she turned off her phone, set the laptop offline to focus, and started typing away. For five years, she had fully devoted herself to Daniel. Rarely writing, she had forgotten the feel of the keys beneath her fingers. But now, it all came back to her, familiar and comforting like an old friend. She immersed herself in her writing and lost track of time. Till a nurse came with the notice that she could leave, she finally realized that four days had passed. Luckily, her essay was complete. After sending it off, she turned on her phone and saw 99+ missed calls and texts from Daniel.

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

... Kimberly wondered why Daniel, who rarely messaged, had called so much. With the question in mind, she headed home. A maid greeted her warmly. "Madam, you're back! Mr. Carter has been a mess these past few days. None of our cooking suited him." It looked like Daniel only missed her meals, not her. But he would need to adjust, as no one would cater to his tastes anymore. Kimberly changed her shoes and entered the living room, where Daniel sat on the couch with a sullen face. He heard her footsteps and looked up. His eyes were bloodshot, but they shone the moment he saw her. He stood up and sulked, "Where have you been? I called so many times. Why didn't you answer?" Kimberly walked to the sofa and sat down. "I was in the hospital. I just got out today." Daniel froze, guilt hitting him like a tidal wave. He'd been consumed with Siena, forgetting the accident, and believed Henry's claim that Kimberly had faked it for jealousy. He had assumed minor injuries, but the truth was she had been severely injured and hospitalized. "You're not mad about that day, are you?" he fumbled. "I didn't think it was so serious. Siena's condition could be life-threatening. I had no choice." Kimberly snorted at his double standards. He had overlooked her scrapes and bleeding but had taken Siena's dizzy spell seriously. Nothing could be more ridiculous than that. But she didn't dwell on it. Love explained the difference, and theirs was just a contract. She hummed and started to rise. Just then, Daniel noticed her manuscript. "When did you get into writing?" Kimberly's gaze cooled. Each anniversary, she had written him a poem, only for him to stash them away in storage, unnoticed. He never cared to learn about her passion. "Just something I scribbled," she said flatly. Daniel didn't press. "I haven't eaten well lately. I'd love some spicy beef." Kimberly pointed to the fridge. "There are no ingredients." Daniel blinked. "I'll go with you to buy some." Siena came downstairs with her luggage, with Henry following, full of reluctance. He grabbed her hand and pleaded, "Siena, can you stay? My dad and I don't want you to leave.""Don't worry, Henry," she said, patting his head. "We'll see each other at the gala tonight, right?" Then she turned to chat with Daniel. Henry tugged his hand. "Dad, don't just stand there. Drive Siena home." Daniel hesitated, gesturing to Kimberly. "But I..." Kimberly cut in. "Go take Ms. Gallegos home. She needs you." Panic gripped Daniel's heart, and he pulled her aside, whispering, "This winter, let's take Henry to the Northen land for a family trip. You've always wanted to go, right? Just us." His tone was rarely so gentle, but Kimberly glanced at Siena and Henry, who were laughing like a pair of mother and son. "We'll see," she said. By then, she would be long gone. Henry shouted for him to get in the car. Daniel fought back an uneasy feeling and drove off. Kimberly watched without feeling anything. She checked the calendar and smiled. After that night, she would leave the Carter family for good.

Chapter 8 Chapter 8

... A company gala was in full swing. As Daniel's companion, Siena dressed up and clung to his arm. Kimberly, on the other hand, hadn't even received an invitation. But she came anyway with a single purpose: to deliver the custody waiver. Her flight was scheduled to depart in just two hours, and time was of the essence. She navigated through the crowded ballroom for any sign of Margaret. Then the stage lights flared dramatically, revealing Daniel standing at the center, flanked by Siena and Henry. The employees whispered below, "Guess the rumors are true. Our boss is a romantic, always tied to the same woman.""Isn't he already married?""Yeah, to some small-town nobody. No feelings there. Siena is his true love." Kimberly ignored the whispers and continued her search. She even checked the stairwell, but Margaret was nowhere to be seen. As she turned back, Siena's voice came. "Did you even get an invite? Only one companion is allowed per guest. Guess who won? Me." Her gentle façade was dropped, replaced by a twisted expression of triumph and malice. She hissed, "Daniel will always pick me over you." Kimberly was unfazed. "I don't have time for your silly games." Siena smirked, then shoved her hard. Kimberly lost her balance, tumbling down the stairs and crashing to the floor. The custody waiver was still grasped tightly in her hand, the paper crumpling under the force of the fall. Pain surged through her body, old wounds flaring with the new. She grunted in agony, unable to move. The noise startled everyone in the hall. Daniel rushed up, pausing at the scene. Then he rushed to her side and carefully helped her up. "What happened? How did you end up like this?" he asked with a frown. Kimberly looked back at Siena, who seemed unrepentant at the top of the stairs. Far from it, she whined, her voice trembling with feigned pain, "Ow, my ankle hurts!""Dad, Siena's foot is hurt!" Henry shouted. "Check on her!" Daniel hesitated, looking at Kimberly with concern, but she forced herself to stand still. "Don't worry about me," she said evenly. Daniel faltered. "I'll check on her and come back fast." Kimberly shook her head, finally finding Margaret in a quiet corner of the ballroom. Margaret gasped at her state. "What happened? You're a mess, with blood on your clothes." Kimberly brushed it off and handed over the custody waiver. "Here, take it." Margaret skimmed through the document and sighed, "Maybe I shouldn't have signed you to this deal in the first place. We dragged you in and left you like this. We failed you. You can go." Kimberly's voice trembled with emotion. "Thank you." ... She boarded the plane, battered but joyful. She was free, no longer bound by the contract. Finally, she belonged to herself again. The morning light streamed through the window. Her life shed its darkness, and a bright future waited for her ahead.