Culinary Queen: When the Boss Falls in Love

After a passionate intimacy, Olivia Parker snuggled up to Ryan Brooks, her eyes half-closed and content. She joked around, her voice still a bit breathy, "We've been married for ages, and we've only just begun to explore the life beyond 'I do.'"

She was all smiles, looking at Ryan and his good looks that always gave her butterflies.

But getting this kind of affection from him wasn't common these days, two years into their marriage.

Ryan, putting on his serious face as he slipped on his robe, grabbed some papers from the drawer and tossed them in front of her. "Sign these," he said, all business-like.

Olivia's smile dropped as she picked up the papers, her heart sinking as she read 'Divorce Agreement' in big, bold print. Shocked, her voice cracked, "You want a divorce?"

He wouldn't look at her; he just pushed a pen her way. "This whole marriage was a show you put on. Time to give back what's not really yours."

Give back what's not hers?

A name popped into her head, and she sat up straight, asking, "Is Ava back?"

The sweet moment they'd just shared was gone in an instant, leaving her feeling stabbed in the heart.

Was their two years together so easy to forget because of someone else?

"You have no right to even say her name," Ryan snapped back, ice-cold.

Olivia couldn't help but laugh a bit sourly, "I've been there for you through everything. She shows up, and suddenly, I don't exist, even though I'm your wife."

He looked at her, those thick eyelashes shading eyes full of scorn, "In my heart, you were always the interloper."

He played with the pen as if it were nothing, "Didn't you just marry me for my money? Sign the papers, and I'll give you a hundred million as a goodbye present."

Her heart hurt, but she scoffed, "You think that's all I'm worth? After everything I've done? You wish!"

Ryan's face twisted a bit, a mean smile as he touched her hair, "Cut the act. You're just after my money, aren't you?"

Olivia couldn't fake it anymore, her anger boiling over, "Alright, you want a divorce so bad? Make it two hundred million, and I'll be out of your life!"

With the year's end straining financial tensions, would Ryan agree?

Or would he hold back? Did that show he still had feelings for her?

"Alright," Ryan said, dropping Olivia's hair like it was hot."Looks like Mr. Brooks is happy to pay up big just to get rid of me."

Olivia went pale. She didn't see that coming; Ryan's coldness hit her hard. Clearly, he never really cared about her, not even a little bit. She felt sick to her stomach, trying to hold back the tears.

She took a deep breath, signed the divorce papers in a rush, stood up, and said with a bit of bite, "Mr. Brooks has made his move, and I'd be dumb not to take the hint. I'll get my stuff and get out so you guys can have your space."

She was trying not to fall apart as she got dressed.

Just as she was about to leave, Ryan grabbed her. "It's late. Sleep now. Go in the morning," he said, all cold, and then left, the sound of the door clicking shut behind him like it was locking her sorrow in with her. Olivia finally let the tears out.

Why did love have to be so painful?

She cried her heart out until her voice was nothing but a scratchy whisper.

By morning, her eyes were swollen and red, but some ice from the maid helped calm the puffiness before she packed her bags in silence. She'd rather leave because she wanted to, keeping some pride.

As she was about to leave, Ryan was blocking her way. He said seriously, "Goodbye then."

She laughed, but it was more at herself, "Goodbye to my fancy life."

Passing the living room, she made her own, walking through the garden she cared for; every step was heavy. All her work and dreams, like the garden's roses, didn't last.

She had loved Ryan with everything, hoping it might pay off. But with no hope left, there was no point in staying.

She walked out, Ryan following silently until her ride showed up. Getting into the car felt unreal. With everything over, she had nothing left.

"If you need anything, call me," Ryan said, holding the car door open for her and giving her a check—a big chunk of her settlement.

"Always the generous Mr. Brooks," Olivia said, gripping the check.

"Do you have to talk like that?" Ryan leaned against the car, his handsome face frosted over, irritation simmering in his deep eyes. "We were nothing more than a transaction, after all. Weren't you always infatuated with Dylan? You're free now. Go find him."

He'd seen her diary, all her words about Dylan.

Olivia's heart clenched as she looked up at him. "You read my diary?"

But then she just smiled, shut the car door, and said, "Thanks, Mr. Brooks, for the go-ahead. I can go after real love now."

As the car drove away, she turned her back on Ryan and the life she was leaving. She acted cool, but as the house got smaller in the distance, she covered her mouth, crying hard.

(Back with Olivia's family)

"Divorce? Did that jerk Ryan hurt you? I swear, I'll make him pay—send him straight to hell!"