Lady Warrior's Warth on Divorce Day novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Zoya Lucero was swinging by Nicolas Mayer’s office to drop off a project proposal when she froze mid-step. There he was, clipping a ruby necklace around Jasmine Ingram’s neck.

‘That necklace.’ Zoya’s gut twisted. She’d spotted it in an auction catalog and begged Nicolas to snag it.

Three years married, and she’d never asked him for a damn thing.

This was the one time she’d put her heart on the line-for a necklace that wasn’t just jewelry. It was her mom’s, a piece of her soul.

“Staring at that thing like it’s the Holy Grail? Typical orphan, zero class,” Darren Vaughan, Nicolas’s loudmouth friend, sneered from the sidelines.

Zoya didn’t spare him a glance. She lunged forward, reaching for the necklace dangling from Jasmine’s neck.

Before she could grab it, Nicolas caught her wrist. “It’s Jasmine’s now,” he said, voice cold as ice.

“You promised it to me!” Zoya’s voice shook, her usually soft face lit up with rare fury.

Nicolas’s jaw tightened, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Cool it, Zoya. It’s a gift for Jasmine’s big promotion to co-pilot.”

‘Cool it?’ Zoya’s heart plummeted. “What if I want it back?”

Darren let out a nasty chuckle. “Told you, Nick. Zoya’s not your level-greedy, no talent. Cut her loose already. Jasmine’s the one who fits you.”

Nicolas and Zoya’s marriage was hush-hush, known only to a tight circle. But everyone knew Jasmine was Nicolas’s old flame, the one he couldn’t shake.

“I’m not here to wreck homes,” Jasmine said, rolling her eyes. She tugged the necklace off and flicked it onto the floor at Zoya’s feet like it was a crumpled receipt.

A million-dollar necklace, tossed like trash.

Zoya’s eyes stung. This was her mom’s prized possession, sacred to her.

She knelt slowly, scooping it up, the sharp edges biting into her palm.

Jasmine smirked down at her. “Real women chase knowledge and goals, not sparkly junk. Maybe try leveling up instead of scrapping over jewelry.”

“Yeah,” Darren piled on. “What’s she got going for her? Some shady degree from a nowhere college? If Nicolas hadn’t tossed her a job, she’d be out cleaning gutters.”

And her husband? Not a single word to back her up.

Zoya rose, ignoring Darren, her eyes boring into Jasmine. “You swear you’re not a homewrecker, but you’re fine taking a million-dollar necklace from another woman’s man?”

Jasmine huffed. “It’s just a friend thing. I didn’t even peek at the price.”

“Oh, really?” Zoya shot back. “Friends just sling million-dollar gifts? Darren’s your buddy, right? He ever drop that kinda cash on you?”

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Chapter

Jasmine went quiet. Even Darren’s smug grin flickered.

“Alright, knock it off,” Nicolas snapped. “It’s just a necklace. Don’t make it a whole thing.”

Zoya’s fingers curled tighter around the necklace. ‘Just a necklace.

To him, sure. But to her, it was everything. Her mom had traded that necklace in a war zone for food and medicine, saving fifty orphans.

It wasn’t just a shiny object-it was her mom’s spirit.

Taking a shaky breath, Zoya thought of the call she’d gotten earlier. Her parents’ ashes were on a plane, landing in Ranard City tomorrow.

“On it,” Nicolas said, his tone warm and easy, like he was talking to a kid.

Before Zoya could say a word, the line went dead.

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24

A cold ache bloomed in her chest, her throat so tight it felt like she’d swallowed a stone. She wanted to scream, to let it rip, but her voice wouldn’t come.

What a joke-her husband could play knight in shining armor for his old crush’s mom over a bum ankle, but he couldn’t be bothered to help his wife bring her parents’ ashes home.

Zoya sucked in a deep breath, stood up straight, and strode out of the house. She drove to the military base, pulling up to the gates.

The camp stood tall and somber, guards in crisp uniforms gripping their rifles.

Zoya stepped out of the car, her back ramrod straight, her steps sure.

Three years out of the service, but she still carried herself like she was born in boots.

She stopped at the entrance, rooted herself, and snapped a sharp salute.

Even though she was flying solo, she’d bring her parents home.

Her voice sliced through the stillness, loud and steady. “Zoya, former Alpha Special Ops, here to retrieve the ashes of Lieutenant Felix Lucero and Medic Celina Lucero, Horizon Watch Regiment!”

Her words rang out like a gunshot, echoing across the base.

The gates groaned and slowly swung open.