Allison Clarke thought she had it all—until her husband, Colton Stevens, shattered her world by filing for divorce on their third anniversary. But Colton had no idea who he was really dealing with. Allison, once a brilliant genius in perfumery and hacking, had buried her talents to become the perfect housewife. When Colton’s betrayal pushed her to the edge, she unleashed her true self, uncovering his dark secrets of corruption and smuggling. With the help of a secretive intelligence network, Allison turned the tables, exposing Colton’s crimes and bringing his empire crashing down. But as she fought to reclaim her life, she realized the battle wasn’t just against Colton—it was also about rediscovering who she truly was.
As Colton faced justice, Allison built Phoenix Rising, a nonprofit to help others rebuild their lives after betrayal and abuse. But even as she found new purpose, shadows of her past lingered. Colton, desperate and vengeful, tried to haunt her from behind bars. Allison refused to let him control her anymore, focusing on her mission to inspire hope and resilience. With her strength and determination, she rose from the ashes of her old life, proving that even the deepest wounds can heal. Yet, as she stepped into her new future, one question remained: could she truly leave the past behind, or would it follow her forever?
Chapter 1: Divorce
“I’ve filed for divorce,” Colton Stevens announced, his voice sharp and impatient as he walked over. He tossed a piece of paper on the table. “Four million dollars should be enough to set you up for life.”
Allison Clarke froze for a moment, her nails digging into her palm as she tried to keep her emotions in check. Today was supposed to be special—their third wedding anniversary. She had spent hours cooking his favorite dishes, hoping to celebrate the occasion together. But instead of gratitude, she was met with the cold reality of divorce.
“It’s our anniversary,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Can’t we at least finish this meal together?”
Colton didn’t even look at her. His eyes were cold, distant. “Even if we finish this meal, it won’t change anything. I’ll never love you. Melany’s back, and she won’t tolerate this situation.”
At the mention of Melany Johnson, Colton’s expression softened. Melany was the one who had always held his heart. She had left him three years ago, breaking off their engagement and moving abroad. But now, with just a word from her, Colton was ready to throw away his marriage to Allison without a second thought.
Allison’s heart ached. She had given up so much for him—her career, her dreams, her identity. Once, she had been a celebrated genius—a perfumer, a hacker, a designer of advanced weapons. But for the past three years, she had buried all that to become the perfect housewife, caring for Colton’s parents and supporting him in every way. And yet, it had never been enough.
“Does your grandpa know about this?” Allison asked, her voice trembling.
Colton laughed mockingly. “Don’t try to hide behind Grandpa. He’s in the hospital and can’t handle any stress. My parents are on board with the divorce. In fact, Melany met with them earlier today.”
Allison’s heart sank. She had always been close to Colton’s grandfather, the one person who had truly appreciated her. But now, even that connection seemed to be slipping away.
“So, Melany’s at your parents’ place?” Allison asked, her voice brittle.
“Of course,” Colton replied, a small smile playing on his lips. “They just had dinner together. My parents adore her. They’ve been praising her all evening—saying how thoughtful and understanding she is.”
Allison’s eyes glistened with tears. Thoughtful and understanding? That’s what they used to say about her. But now, it seemed like none of that mattered.
Colton glanced at her, his expression turning impatient. “Look, it wasn’t intentional. The butler just forgot to tell you. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
He looked at her then, really looked at her, and for a moment, his face twisted with disdain. Allison was beautiful—flawless skin, striking features, and bright, clear eyes. But to Colton, she was boring. The perfect housewife, yes, but living with her had become suffocating. Her routines were predictable, her life devoted entirely to him and his family. And he was tired of it.
“Whether you like it or not, you’re leaving tonight,” Colton said, his tone final. “You can move to Starfish Villas. Take the villa—it’s yours.”
He thought he was being generous. After all, Allison came from a modest background. She had dropped out of school early and hadn’t seen much of the world. If it weren’t for the fact that she had saved his grandfather’s life, she would never have married into the Stevens family. In his mind, the villa and the four million dollars were more than enough for someone like her.
But Allison didn’t care about the money or the villa. She could make far more as a top-tier hacker. What hurt was being discarded after three years of loyalty and sacrifice.
“So, she’s moving in now?” Allison asked, her voice cold.
Colton sighed. “The room on the second floor was always hers. Melany’s back and has nowhere else to stay, so I told her she could move in. If you’re still here, she’ll feel uncomfortable.”
Allison’s silence only annoyed him further. “Don’t push it, Allison. You need to know when enough is enough.”
He glanced at his watch, clearly eager to end the conversation. “Now that I’ve filed for divorce, we’ll meet in court in a few days. You’d better hire a lawyer and—”
“I know what to do,” Allison interrupted, her voice laced with disgust.
Her mind drifted back to a memory from her childhood. She had been blind and in grave danger when a boy carried her on his back for three days and nights, saving her life. That boy had said his name was Colton Stevens. Now, three years into their marriage, that same boy was forcing her to leave.
Time had a way of turning people into strangers.
“I’ll go,” Allison said, standing up and looking at Colton with detachment. “From now on, we owe each other nothing.”
Colton let out a breath, relieved. “Good.”
As if on cue, the housekeeper, Kaelyn Thorpe, appeared at the top of the stairs, struggling with a suitcase. “Sir, your parents called and said Ms. Clarke needs to leave right away, so I packed her things… Oh no!”
Before she could finish, Kaelyn pretended to twist her ankle, and Allison’s suitcase tumbled down the stairs, spilling her belongings everywhere.
Allison didn’t react. She simply walked away, leaving behind the life she had built for three years. It was time for her to reclaim who she truly was.