Chapter 1: A Humble Beginning
Liam Gray woke up to the familiar creak of the worn-out bed he had slept in for most of his life. The small, dimly lit apartment he shared with his grandmother was a far cry from the luxurious homes of those he worked for. The peeling paint on the walls, the cracked windows, and the persistent chill that crept through the gaps in the woodwork were all too familiar. But Liam didn’t complain—he had learned long ago that life rarely dealt fair hands.
Today was no different. He had his shift at the local hardware store, a job that barely paid the bills but kept him going. After his parents had died in a car accident when he was just a boy, his grandmother took him in, raising him with love but very little else. She did the best she could, and for that, Liam was grateful.
As he stood by the mirror in their cramped bathroom, splashing cold water on his face, he caught a glimpse of the man he had become. Tall and lean, with dark brown hair and striking green eyes, Liam was often told he looked like someone who belonged in the movies rather than a run-down part of town. He laughed at the thought. Life had given him nothing close to the glamour of a movie star.
The only thing that had changed in his life was his marriage to Sarah Bennett. Sarah was the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in town—a family that had never approved of her relationship with Liam. The Bennetts were a name synonymous with power, wealth, and status. Sarah’s father, Henry Bennett, despised Liam from the moment they met. To Henry, Liam was nothing more than a charity case, a burden to his daughter’s future.
But Liam loved Sarah. She was the one bright spot in his life, her kindness and warmth always reminding him why he fought so hard. She had seen something in him that no one else had, and despite her family’s protests, they had married a year ago. It hadn’t been easy. Living under the shadow of her family’s wealth, Liam constantly felt out of place, like a stranger in his own life.
As he left the apartment, Liam grabbed his old leather jacket, a relic from his high school days. He waved goodbye to his grandmother, who was sitting by the window, knitting as she always did.
“Be careful out there, Liam,” she called, her voice thin with age but strong with affection.
“I will, Gran,” he replied, offering her a smile.
The walk to the store was a familiar one, past the same streets, the same people going about their daily routines. He knew most of them by name. The neighborhood might have been poor, but it was full of heart. People looked out for each other here, something Liam found comfort in.
Arriving at the hardware store, Liam threw on his apron and began his shift. The work was mundane but steady. It gave him time to think. His mind wandered to Sarah. Lately, things had been tense between them. Her father’s constant belittling of Liam had started to take a toll on their marriage. Henry Bennett’s sharp words echoed in Liam’s head:
“You’ll never be good enough for my daughter. What kind of life can you give her, working dead-end jobs?”
Liam clenched his jaw at the memory. He knew he wasn’t wealthy, but he loved Sarah deeply. He wished he could offer her more, but he was determined to prove his worth—not just to her father, but to himself.
The day passed slowly, each tick of the clock dragging out the hours. Finally, his shift ended, and Liam made his way home. As he approached the apartment building, he noticed a sleek black car parked outside. He frowned. No one he knew drove a car like that.
Walking inside, he was greeted by the sight of Sarah sitting in their living room, her face drawn and pale. Next to her sat a man in a finely tailored suit, his posture straight and intimidating. Liam’s heart sank. He recognized the man instantly—Henry Bennett’s lawyer.
“Liam, we need to talk,” Sarah said softly, her voice trembling.
The lawyer stood, his expression cold and professional. “Liam Gray, I have been sent by Mr. Bennett to discuss some matters regarding your marriage to his daughter.”
Liam’s hands balled into fists. He knew what this was about. Henry had been trying to force them apart ever since they got married, and now he was pulling out all the stops.
“What does he want now?” Liam asked, his voice steady but filled with barely contained frustration.
The lawyer cleared his throat. “Mr. Bennett is offering you a substantial sum of money in exchange for a divorce. He believes that this arrangement would be in the best interest of both parties.”
Liam’s heart pounded in his chest. A bribe. That’s what this was. A price tag on his marriage. He turned to Sarah, who couldn’t meet his gaze.
“Sarah, is this what you want?” he asked, his voice low.
Tears filled her eyes, but she remained silent. Liam’s stomach twisted. It was clear she was under immense pressure from her family.
The lawyer stood up and handed Liam a sleek envelope. “Consider the offer carefully. It is a generous one.”
Without another word, the lawyer left, leaving the room heavy with tension. Liam stood frozen, the envelope burning in his hand. His entire world felt like it was crumbling around him. But one thing was clear—he wasn’t going to be bought off that easily.
Liam placed the envelope on the table, his jaw set in determination. “I won’t let them tear us apart, Sarah. Not like this.”
But deep down, a storm of doubt and uncertainty had begun to brew. His life, once simple and straightforward, was about to change in ways he could never have imagined.