“Let’s get a divorce. She’s pregnant and deserves a place in my life.”
He once promised to protect Claire forever, yet when his first love returned, he cast her aside. For three years, Claire dimmed her brilliance, living quietly as the obedient wife behind him.
When he handed her divorce papers to give his pregnant mistress a place, Claire no longer hid her talents.
The woman he had overlooked was a legendary healer, racing prodigy, and a genius designer. After the divorce, she reclaimed her glory.
When he pleaded, “Honey, let’s remarry,” another man pulled her close. “She’s my wife now. As for you… Someone, take him out and give him what he deserves!”
Untouchable After Goodbye: She Had A Secret Empire Chapter 1
“Let’s put an end to this marriage,” Cade Willis said without warning, his tone as calm as if he were settling a business deal. Three years of marriage ended in a single sentence.
He opened the drawer of his desk, pulled out a document, and slid it across the table.
“Dina’s situation has become complicated,” he explained while lighting a cigarette. Smoke drifted upward and softened the sharp edges of his expression. “Her husband died recently, and she’s carrying his child. She has no family to lean on. With people staring and gossiping everywhere, she won’t be able to endure it.”
Thin strands of gray ash slowly fell from the tip of the cigarette.
“The least I can do is give her and the baby a proper name and place,” he went on, meeting Claire Lloyd’s eyes with distant indifference. “If you have any demands, say them now. Otherwise, sign the paper.”
Dina Murphy had once been the love of Cade’s life.
Now she was pregnant, carrying a fatherless child-which was exactly why Cade was leaving Claire to marry her.
The weight of Dina’s situation pressed down on Claire, her mind clouded as everything around her faded into a dull haze.
She remained where she stood, unable to move. A thin layer of tears shimmered in her eyes before she could hold them back. With unsteady fingers, she reached for the document.
The bold heading at the top-DIVORCE AGREEMENT-struck her like a blow.
“Is there truly…” Her voice sounded strained and uneven. Thick bangs hung low over the frames of her glasses, making her appear fragile and defeated. “Is there truly no other option?”
A faint crease appeared between Cade’s brows. “She’s in a fragile state. If I abandon her now, she won’t survive it. But you’re not like that, Claire. You’ve always been strong.”
Was strength the reason she had to be the one cast aside?
The thought cut through Claire like a knife and twisted deep in her chest.
Before she could steady herself, memories pulled her back to years ago. She saw the orphanage again and the boy standing there with sunlight resting on his shoulders. He had stepped in front of her with his arms spread wide, glaring at the children who liked to bully her.
“Don’t you dare touch her,” he had warned them.
Not long after, he had made another promise. “No matter what happens, I’ll keep you safe.”
That was when her heart had given in to him. From that moment on, she loved him completely, without hope of turning back.
Claire’s fingers slowly curled into fists.
“Claire, don’t turn this into a scene,” Cade said while watching her lowered head, irritation slipping into his voice. “You and I both know our marriage was never about love. I chose you because you were the appropriate choice…”
His words trailed off for a moment as he released a slow breath of smoke.
“Claire, I assumed you at least knew how to handle things with some… dignity.”
Dignity.
Claire nearly burst out laughing.
“Dina is a gentle person,” Cade continued, his tone turning colder. “She never wanted to harm you. Between the two of us, nothing inappropriate has ever happened.”
A tight pressure spread across Claire’s chest until even breathing became painful.
So now, lingering around a married man and walking that blurred line was considered perfectly acceptable?
“I’ll make sure you’re well compensated.” Cade pressed the cigarette into the crystal ashtray until the ember died out, and his voice grew sharper. “Just sign the papers and stop holding onto a position that was never meant for you.”
To be honest, Claire had handled the household perfectly. Even though her appearance was plain and easily overlooked, she maintained the home without fault. She organized everything, managed his daily arrangements, and quietly kept his life running smoothly without ever asking for recognition.
Still, she was far too restrained and proper. Being around her felt like drinking clear water that offered nothing beyond basic relief. It satisfied his thirst, yet left no lingering taste.
And Cade had grown tired of it.
“I’ll give you three days to decide,” he finally said. “But don’t test my patience by dragging this out.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Claire raised her head and picked up the pen.
The sound of the nib scraping across the page broke the silence.
Her signature appeared in swift, steady strokes. The writing was neat and firm, and she didn’t pause for even a second.
Cade couldn’t hide his surprise for a moment.
Soon after, his expression returned to its usual cool detachment. “At least you know how to make the sensible choice.”
He hesitated before continuing, “Since you had a stained past, it may not be easy for you to find work. Aside from what the agreement already states, I’ll transfer another fifty million as compensation. You can also keep the Porsche you’ve been driving.”
In a quiet voice, Claire asked, “If your heart always belonged to her, why did you choose to marry me?”
Cade’s gaze brushed across her face. This time, he didn’t avoid the question. Instead, he answered it.
“Back then, Dina had already made up her mind to leave,” he said. “I drove to the airport to stop her, but I never got there. I crashed the car on the way and almost lost the ability to walk.”
His voice stayed emotionless, as if he were recounting someone else’s life. “My grandfather threatened to strip everything from me. He called me useless and said I was ruining my future over a woman. If my mother hadn’t stepped in, they would’ve cast me out of the family entirely. To return to the center of the family’s influence, I needed a strategic marriage. I needed a wife who wouldn’t create complications.”
His eyes settled on Claire, the calm in them carrying a quiet cruelty. “You knew me from the orphanage. You were simple, quiet, and loyal to me. I know about the jail time. The sentence you served. That meant I could manage you easily and leave whenever I needed to.”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, almost as though he were complimenting her. “During these past three years, you performed your role perfectly. You did it so well that I nearly forgot the truth. From the very beginning, this marriage was nothing more than a deal between my family and me.”
Claire didn’t shed a single tear.
Instead, an overwhelming sense of absurdity spread through her chest.
For years, she had loved him without holding anything back. Her patience, her devotion, the way she quietly stayed by his side had meant everything to her. Yet to him, it had only been a deal.
What he never realized was the cost she had paid to become the wife everyone expected him to have.
With her own hands, she severed every connection to the life she once lived. The computer, the scalpel, her design work, the racetrack-those things had once filled her with excitement. Now so much time had passed that she could barely remember the feeling at all.
Day after day, her life had revolved entirely around him. She massaged his legs, guided him through rehabilitation, and stayed awake beside him on the long nights when pain refused to let him sleep. When the suffering became unbearable, she simply held his hand in silence.
Two years earlier, he finally regained the ability to walk.
Yet what difference had it made?
The moment Dina returned, every sacrifice Claire had poured into those three years seemed to fade into something trivial and weightless. The irony of it all felt almost ridiculous.
Fine. Letting things drag on would only deepen the damage. Ending everything now was the cleanest choice.
Just then, Cade’s phone began to ring.
He picked up the call, and his face changed at once. “What did you say? Dina is feeling uncomfortable? I’m heading there right now.”
Without another word, he ended the call, snatched his coat, and rushed out the door. Claire didn’t even receive a single glance.
Whenever it involved Dina, this was always the pattern. The moment she needed him, he became someone else entirely, a man who had no space left for anyone but her.
The sound of the front door slamming echoed through the quiet living room.
Claire remained where she stood, still struggling with the sudden emptiness spreading inside her, when voices and footsteps drifted in from outside.
Lorraine Willis, Cade’s mother, had returned home, and her daughter Jessie Willis came in with her.
The door burst open with a loud crash. Jessie stormed in, several luxury shopping bags swinging from her hands while her chin stayed lifted in pride. Lorraine followed behind her, perfectly dressed and wearing the same cold, superior air as always.
“Mom, look at this bag I bought today. It’s a limited edition!” Jessie was still admiring her purchase when she suddenly noticed Claire standing quietly in the middle of the living room. Disdain immediately spread across her face. “Why are you standing there like that? You’re unpleasant to look at.”
Claire ignored the remark completely. Without answering, she turned toward the staircase and prepared to go upstairs to pack her things.
“Hold it!” Jessie suddenly rushed forward and stepped directly in front of her.
Her eyes scanned Claire from head to toe with the same expression someone might use while looking through garbage. “The diamond necklace I left on my vanity is gone. Did you take it?”
Untouchable After Goodbye: She Had A Secret Empire Chapter 2
Claire slowed to a halt. Gradually and with clear intention, she raised her eyes toward Jessie.
Something about that gaze made Jessie’s chest tighten. She even shifted backward half a step before forcing herself to stop.
“Jessie, stop talking like that.” Lorraine intervened with a sharp tone, though her hand rested protectively on Jessie’s arm. “Claire might be… troublesome at times, but theft isn’t something she’d do. Isn’t that right, Claire?”
A carefully arranged smile appeared on Lorraine’s face. “It’s only a necklace. If you liked it, you could’ve asked me directly. Why go through the trouble of…”
“I didn’t take it,” Claire interrupted before Lorraine could finish, her voice steady and emotionless.
“You didn’t?” Jessie scoffed and immediately reached for the old canvas tote Claire had left beside the sofa. “Then you won’t mind if I check!”
Before she could grab it, Claire’s hand shot forward and seized Jessie’s wrist.
Her grip was firm and cold, as immovable as iron. Jessie stiffened instantly, unable to pull away.
Behind the thick frames of Claire’s glasses, her eyes remained eerily composed. “You have no right to touch my belongings.”
“Oh? Getting scared now?” Jessie’s confidence faltered under that calm stare, a shiver creeping along her spine, yet she still shouted toward Lorraine. “Mom, look at her! She obviously took it! She’s been in prison before-how could someone like her see diamonds and not get greedy?!”
Lorraine’s brows drew together as she arranged a look of displeasure. “Claire, have we ever denied you anything in this house? If there was something you wanted, you only needed to ask. Why lower yourself to something like this? That necklace was a birthday present Jessie’s father gave her. It’s valued at more than three million. This isn’t some small matter.”
“I already told you I didn’t take it.” Claire let go of Jessie’s wrist and spoke with measured calm, each word firm and deliberate.
“Of course you didn’t,” Jessie mocked while rubbing the reddened mark on her wrist, anger flashing through her eyes. Then her gaze sharpened suddenly. “Wait. Why does your bag look so full?”
Before Claire had the chance to answer, Jessie lunged forward. Her hand shot into the side pocket of the canvas tote and pulled out a velvet jewelry box.
“See? I knew it!” Jessie exclaimed, triumph spreading across her face as she flipped the lid open.
Inside rested a diamond necklace. Under the lights, it sparkled intensely, the central gem shining with blinding brilliance.
Lorraine inhaled sharply, her voice heavy with exaggerated disappointment. “Claire! Have we ever treated you poorly in this household? Yet you still did something like this? Do you understand what people will say about us? How will the family face anyone after this?”
“There’s the proof,” Jessie said with satisfaction, waving the jewelry box as if it were a prize. “What excuse do you have now? Mom, call the police. Let them take this ex-con back to where she belongs.”
At the far side of the room, several maids working in the dining area couldn’t stop themselves from whispering among each other.
“Who would’ve guessed she was that kind of person? She always looks so quiet, but those are the ones you can’t trust.”
“I heard she served time before. A real convict. There’s no way Mr. Willis married her willingly-he must have been tricked.”
“People never really change. Naturally, she’d aim for the most expensive thing she could find. A necklace worth over three million-has she ever even seen that much money before?”
“That’s enough.” Claire’s quiet voice sliced through the chatter, and the room immediately fell silent.
Her eyes moved slowly from the necklace-flashy and almost offensive in its brilliance-to the two women standing in front of her, their expressions full of calculation and hostility.
The entire scene suddenly felt absurd and draining.
Three years of her life had been spent on these people in this house.
During that time, she had done more than her share for Jessie.
Jessie had beauty and very little else to rely on. Trouble followed her everywhere, and the family was always left cleaning up the chaos she created.
The last incident involved the Morgan family, and if Claire hadn’t gone alone to handle the situation, Jessie would have paid a high price.
Unfortunately, Jessie turned against the very person who had helped her.
Claire had poured in everything she had, only to be rewarded with insults.
Slowly, Claire straightened her posture.
Her appearance hadn’t changed. Her features were still plain, and the dress she wore remained ordinary. Yet the way she stood in the center of the room carried a different presence now, a quiet pressure that made the air feel heavier. Jessie felt a strange unease rising in her chest without understanding why.
“It’s only a necklace,” Claire said calmly. “And yet you went through all this effort just to put on this little show?”
“What are you trying to say? You think this is some kind of act?” Jessie shot back, her voice rising sharply.
Rather than argue, Claire simply stepped closer and extended her hand toward Jessie.
Startled, Jessie instinctively stepped backward while clutching the jewelry box tightly against her chest. “What do you think you’re doing? Trying to get rid of the evidence?”
A faint smile appeared on Claire’s lips.
In the next instant, her hand moved swiftly and the velvet box was snatched straight out of Jessie’s grip.
“Hey!” Jessie barely managed to start protesting before Claire flicked her wrist.
The box sailed through the open front door in a smooth arc before plunging directly into the courtyard fountain with a loud splash.
“My necklace!” Jessie screamed as she dashed outside.
Lorraine’s composure faltered, the color draining from her face.
Claire brushed her hands together casually, as though she had just discarded something completely worthless. Then she faced Lorraine again, her gaze steady and her tone cool and precise.
“Lorraine, setting me up like this is painfully obvious. Should we review the surveillance footage and see who placed that necklace inside my bag?”
Lorraine’s expression stiffened. For a brief moment, no words came out of her mouth.
“And there’s something else you should know.” Claire kept her tone calm and steady. “Ten minutes ago, Cade and I signed the divorce papers. From this point forward, I have nothing to do with your family. I’m no longer your daughter-in-law, and you don’t get to slander or insult me whenever you feel like it. As for that necklace, since it’s sitting at the bottom of the fountain now, you can retrieve it yourselves.”
Right after that, Claire didn’t give either woman another glance. Without hesitation, she turned and walked upstairs.
Only after the faint sound of a door closing echoed from the upper floor did Jessie rush back into the living room.
Water dripped from her clothes as she shouted angrily, “Mom! She-she threw my necklace into the fountain! She’s completely crazy! Call Cade and make him come back so he can deal with her…”
“Be quiet.” Lorraine’s sharp voice cut Jessie off, her expression dark and severe.
Her eyes remained fixed on the staircase, and suddenly a memory from three years earlier resurfaced.
At that time, Lorraine had passed the study and caught sight of Claire standing quietly at Cade’s desk. Papers detailing an overseas acquisition were spread across the desk, along with several rare antiques.
Lorraine had assumed Claire was simply staring at them in fascination. She even found the situation amusing, thinking that an orphan wouldn’t recognize the value of what she was looking at.
Now, however, a forgotten detail returned with striking clarity.
Claire hadn’t been paying attention to the antiques at all!
Instead, her eyes had moved across a complicated column of financial numbers, and she had given the slightest shake of her head.
Lorraine felt a chill run down her spine. A creeping sense of unease tightened around her heart.
Perhaps… she had never truly understood the woman she had dismissed so easily.
Untouchable After Goodbye: She Had A Secret Empire Chapter 3
After stepping into the bedroom, Claire began packing her belongings with quick, practiced movements. When she finished, she took out a second phone and opened a messaging app she hadn’t used in years.
Inside a small group chat with only a few people in it, she sent a single message.
“I’m divorced. Back to being single.”
Almost instantly, her phone buzzed without stopping as replies flooded in.
Nate Singh, her racing partner, responded first, “Wait. What? Claire, did someone hack your account?”
Right behind him came Kenneth Wright’s reply-the medical genius everyone jokingly called a miracle doctor. “This deserves a celebration. You’re free now. Drinks tonight. No backing out.”
Next to appear was Zayne Ford’s reply-the hacker of the group. “Want me to erase your online footprint? Send me your IP. I’ll do it for free. Cade won’t be able to track you.”
Jemma Scott, Claire’s jewelry designer friend, chimed in with obvious excitement. “About time. I told you that man was never good enough for you. Claire, I’m sending you something from my ‘Rebirth’ collection. Let the world see how brightly you can shine.”
The notifications came so quickly that the screen began to blur.
Reading their messages, Claire felt something inside her soften. These friends were noisy, stubborn, and unfailingly loyal.
With calm fingers, she typed a short reply. “I’m serious. Divorce is finalized. See you at the same place later.”
After placing the phone aside, she walked to the farthest corner of the walk-in closet. Hidden behind a row of hanging clothes, a concealed drawer quietly slid open.
Inside, there were no garments at all. Only a black metal case rested there.
Claire placed her thumb on the scanner, and with a soft click, the lock released.
Everything inside the case was laid out with flawless order. A surgical scalpel reflected a cold metallic shine. Beside it rested a set of unique racing keys, a sleek high-end laptop, and a thick pile of design drafts filled with precise lines and meticulous detail. The work looked refined enough to hang in a gallery.
For three years, she had locked all of it away so she could live as Cade’s wife.
During that time, she buried her sharp instincts, her drive, and every trace of the life she once lived.
Now those parts of her would return.
Claire lifted the laptop from the case and switched it on. The familiar system appeared on the screen as her fingers quickly moved across the keyboard. Within moments, she had slipped into the Willis Group’s internal network.
One by one, she removed every record of the crises she had quietly resolved during the past three years. The deletion included the core technology she personally created, the same project Willis Group had planned to use in their cooperation with the Morgan family.
Cade had always assumed those successes were the result of luck or capable staff.
He would never realize how many nights she spent awake while he slept, clearing every obstacle standing in his path.
When the screen displayed the message “DELETION COMPLETE,” Claire’s face remained calm.
The marriage was over. Now, every last connection between them had to go.
The Willis family no longer had any claim on her. From this moment on, they would never gain another benefit from her efforts.
After closing the laptop, Claire picked up her phone and sent a private message to her closest friend, Rylie Miller. “I’m all free.”
Rylie’s response came almost immediately. “Give me ten minutes. I’ll be outside that idiot’s house to pick you up.”
That was how Rylie operated. When she made a decision, she moved fast enough to make people nervous.
She promised ten minutes, yet the roar of an engine reached the street in less than six.
A striking sports car glided to the curb and stopped sharply. Dressed entirely in black, Rylie leaned against the vehicle with complete confidence. The moment she spotted Claire stepping out with her suitcase, a wide smile spread across her face.
“Congratulations,” Rylie said brightly. “You’re finally free.”
Claire hadn’t even opened her mouth when Rylie suddenly produced a bottle of champagne like a stage magician. With an effortless flick of her wrist, she popped the cork.
The cork shot skyward, and sparkling foam burst into the air under the glow of the sunset before splashing onto Claire’s shoulder.
“I didn’t have time to grab anything extravagant,” Rylie said with a playful grin. “So, champagne will have to do. Let’s celebrate your new beginning.”
The cold liquid soaked into Claire’s shirt, but she barely noticed. Instead, a warmth filled her eyes as tears threatened to surface.
It felt wonderful.
Now that she’d walked away from Cade, the life that truly belonged to her was finally beginning again.
With a mischievous smile, Rylie tossed her the keys and raised an eyebrow. “Want to drive?”
“Hop in.” Claire caught the keys, slid behind the wheel, and pressed the accelerator without hesitation.
The Bugatti Veyron roared awake and surged forward, pulling away from the house before merging smoothly into the flow of traffic.
The speed rose quickly, yet the car remained perfectly stable under Claire’s control.
Rylie leaned deeper into the seat and tilted her head toward Claire. “So tell me something. What finally snapped you out of that awful taste you had in men?”
“His first love returned,” Claire said evenly without taking her eyes off the road. “They’re together again.”
Rylie nearly erupted. “Are you kidding me? She ran off, disappeared, then strolled back three years later? Are there no other men in the world? She had to go after your husband?”
Her frustration kept building, the words pouring out faster with every second. “And Cade? Total jerk. Married, and still clinging to his first love. Honestly. He’s revolting.”
Claire stayed silent. Rylie’s outburst was so fierce that she wasn’t sure how to respond.
Sensing her friend’s discomfort, Rylie coughed lightly. “I’m just furious about it. They get to pick up where they left off while you’re expected to quietly disappear? Why make things convenient for them? And that Dina-come on. You should compete with her directly.”
Claire shot back calmly, “And what would that accomplish? Announce to the world that I’m the woman who got thrown aside?”
“But they’re getting off far too easily!”
“They’re not,” Claire said softly, though her tone carried quiet certainty. “From now on, I’m simply Claire. I’m not anyone’s accessory anymore. I never will be again.”
“Now that’s what I wanted to hear.” Rylie’s mood shifted just as quickly as it had ignited, the anger fading away. “This calls for a celebration. Drinks?”
“We’ll do that later,” Claire said as she turned the steering wheel slightly. “I need to make a stop first. I’m getting a new look.”
“Finally.” Rylie’s eyes brightened with excitement. Then another thought crossed her mind, and she leaned forward slightly. “Oh, right. You’ve been completely absent for three years, and a bunch of people in the medical world have practically gone crazy trying to track you down. When are you planning to return?”
Claire’s face remained calm. “The timing feels right now. Let the news spread.”
Rylie chuckled, clearly entertained. “Speaking of that, Cade has been searching for you as well.” Her amusement only grew as she continued, “Apparently, his first love needs treatment. He won’t realize the truth, not until it smacks him directly in the face. The woman he discarded so casually is the one he desperately tried to reach for help: the legendary figure, Dr. L.”
A sharp smile formed on Rylie’s lips. “Honestly, I can’t wait to watch his expression when he finally figures it out, when that smug confidence of his finally cracks.”