On the third anniversary of Hazel Miller and Julian Thorne’s marriage, Hazel’s sister, Seraphina Hayes, returned from abroad. Hazel wanted to invite her sister over for dinner. But before she could, she overheard Seraphina’s emotional voice from her and her husband’s bedroom. “Seraphina, it’s been three years since I married her, and I’ve listened to you. I haven’t touched her once. When will your test finally end?” “That depends on your performance, darling!” Hazel’s lips trembled, as if she couldn’t believe the two sentences she’d just heard. Three years ago, an arranged marriage between the Miller and Thorne families was set. Seraphina Hayes was originally supposed to marry Julian Thorne. But her sister had told her, “I don’t like Julian. I don’t want to be a pawn in a business marriage. So, you take my place at the altar!” Hazel had grown up in an orphanage and was later taken in by the Millers. Their financial support had allowed her to study all the way through college. To repay their kindness, she agreed to the substitute marriage.
Then, Julian Thorne’s voice continued. “You just wanted to test if I could resist other women’s temptations, right? If you don’t believe me, let her get tested. I swear I haven’t touched her!” “Besides, our marriage certificate is fake. If you’re willing, I can marry you right now!” These words, undoubtedly, shattered all her love for Julian over the past three years. Every moment of warmth and affection turned into a cruel joke! So, everything was fake. The marriage certificate was fake, the love was fake, and even the substitute marriage was fake! She was just an experiment, a tool for her sister to test Julian’s loyalty. She was just a pathetic pawn in her sister’s and her husband’s twisted love game. For three years, she had indeed never shared a room with Julian. Julian had told her he had a medical condition that prevented conjugal relations. From the moment she got married, she decided to love Julian and uphold her wedding vows, staying by his side no matter what. So, she was willing to keep his secret. For three years, her mother-in-law constantly pushed for children, and Hazel, to protect her husband’s dignity, had always claimed it was her own problem. But she never imagined that Julian wasn’t unable to be intimate; he just refused to be intimate *with her*! Julian and Seraphina emerged from the room. The moment Julian saw Hazel, an uncomfortable flicker crossed his face. But he immediately demanded, “Why are you back? Didn’t you say you were going out to buy groceries?” Her nails dug into her palms. Hazel took a deep breath and asked, “Why is Seraphina in my room?” Seraphina smiled sweetly, “What do you mean, sis? Your husband was just showing me your wedding room.” Julian, however, grabbed Hazel’s arm, pulling her aside and scolding, “Seraphina’s finally back. Is this your attitude as a sister? Go buy groceries, now!” Seraphina also came over, taking Hazel’s hand, putting on a show of sisterly affection. “You know what I like to eat, don’t you? Your cooking is the best. I love your dishes!” In the past, if Seraphina said she wanted something, Hazel would be thrilled to learn how to make it for her on the spot. But now, she just felt a suffocating tightness in her chest. “Julian, today is our wedding anniversary,” she insisted, unwilling to let it go. Julian’s brow furrowed deeper. “Wedding anniversaries happen every year. Seraphina’s been abroad for three years and this is her first time back. Can’t you tell what’s more important?” “Besides, she’s your sister. If it weren’t for her, would you even be a Miller? Would you have married me?” Every word Julian spoke felt like a slap across Hazel’s face. Seraphina, however, feigned understanding. “Since it’s your anniversary, if you don’t want to cook, that’s fine. I’ll treat you both to dinner out, how about it?” “Don’t spoil her. This is her duty. And didn’t you say you love her cooking?” Julian then ordered Hazel, “You *must* cook today. Go buy groceries now. And remember to get bamboo shoots; Seraphina loves them most!” That one sentence completely shattered any lingering hope she had. Right, Seraphina loved bamboo shoots the most. She knew, and her husband knew too. How ridiculous that for three years, Julian had never bothered to learn what *she* liked or disliked to eat. She’d thought he was just careless, but it turned out: a willing heart needs no teaching, an unwilling heart will never learn, no matter how much you try. Enough. If everything was fake, what was there left for her to hold onto? After leaving the house, she immediately called her professor. “Professor, I’ve decided to take part in the study abroad program.” The professor on the phone sounded both surprised and delighted. “Why the sudden change of heart? Didn’t you say you wanted to focus on family after marriage?” “There’s no marriage, and no family,” Hazel said firmly. In ten days, she would exit this love game.
During dinner, Julian constantly served Seraphina food. “Seraphina, eat more. Isn’t Hazel’s cooking wonderful?” “Julian, you’re so lucky! You married such a great wife like Hazel. I heard everyone saying you two are a match made in heaven!” She heavily emphasized “match made in heaven,” with a strong hint of jealousy. To appease her, Julian secretly held her hand under the table, gently stroking it. This scene, of course, didn’t escape Hazel’s eyes. She watched their interaction beneath the table with a blank face, but her heart ached so much she could barely breathe. Just two days ago, her husband had shown her affection. Now, he was giving that same affection to another woman. Oh, no, that wasn’t right. Julian never had any real affection for her; it was all a pretense. But it didn’t matter. In ten days, everything would be over. Just then, Seraphina suddenly let out a startled cry, “Ah!!” Then, before Hazel’s eyes, Seraphina broke out in a full-body rash, looking incredibly horrifying! Seraphina’s breathing became rapid, and she cried out in pain, “Hazel, what did you put in the soup? I’m having an allergic reaction!” No sooner had she spoken than Julian shot up, angrily stirring the soup with a ladle. In a moment, he fished out a dried scallop. “Hazel Miller, don’t you know Seraphina is allergic to seafood? Why would you put dried scallops in the soup?” Hazel’s eyes widened, astonished by Julian’s reaction. Julian also realized his reaction was a bit too much. His eyes darted nervously, and he quickly tried to save face. “I… I was just too angry for a moment. Don’t misunderstand. I just didn’t want Seraphina to have an incident in our home. Otherwise, you’d feel guilty, wouldn’t you?” Hazel didn’t expose his lie. Instead, she said, “I didn’t buy any seafood. I don’t know what happened.” “Hazel, what do you mean? Are you implying that I’m trying to frame you?” Seraphina wailed, “Julian, what’s wrong with Hazel? She’s suddenly like a different person. She never used to be like this.” “I didn’t—” “Smack!” Julian slapped her hard across the face, roaring with a fierce expression, “Hazel Miller, you are truly malicious! Seraphina is your sister! Without her, where would you be today? How could you treat her like this?!” Hazel was knocked into the corner of the table by the slap, and blood immediately streamed from her head. But Julian didn’t even glance at her. He scooped Seraphina into his arms and rushed out of the villa. Hazel covered her face, silently shedding tears. Even though she had already known about their relationship, her heart still ached to the point of suffocating. It didn’t matter. She was leaving this place soon anyway. That night, Hazel was packing her things in her room when Julian suddenly burst in, panting. He violently grabbed her hand. “You need to come to the hospital with me right now, to take care of Seraphina!” “But—” Julian saw her packing, narrowed his eyes, and asked, “What are you packing for? Where are you planning to go?” “…Nowhere.” Hazel was dragged to the hospital by him. Seraphina had already woken up but looked a bit weak. “Since you caused Seraphina’s allergic reaction and hospitalization, you’ll stay here and take care of her for me!” Julian ordered forcefully. Then he turned to Seraphina, his voice incredibly gentle. “Seraphina, I have some urgent company matters to attend to. Will you be a good girl and wait for me here?” Her husband’s tender side stabbed Hazel’s heart. Only after he left did she let out a self-mocking bitter laugh. “Seraphina Hayes, you’re not allergic to seafood at all, are you?” Seraphina instantly dropped her weak demeanor, smiling provocatively. “That’s right!” “And what I overheard about you two in the room, that was intentional too, wasn’t it?” “That’s right!” “Why?” Seraphina played with her hair, a malicious smile on her face. “I thought it would be fun. I wanted to see how far Julian would go for me.” A surge of anger rushed through Hazel. She clenched her fists tightly, trembling with rage. To treat her as a piece of their twisted love game, and for the other person to be so brazen about it! But then she remembered the Miller family’s kindness to the orphanage. Hazel swallowed her anger, thinking, *If they want to play, I’ll play this love game with them for the last ten days. Consider it repayment for the Millers’ generosity.* “Want to try?” Seraphina raised an eyebrow. The words had barely left her lips when she suddenly fell from the bed, crashing hard onto the floor. She cried out, “Hazel, I’m sorry! I wasn’t trying to seduce Julian. Please don’t hit me—” Hazel’s eyes widened. Before she could even process what was happening, a sharp, stinging slap landed hard on her face. Julian, who had somehow burst in unnoticed, stood there with a furious expression. “Hazel Miller, have I spoiled you too much, perhaps? First, you intentionally caused Seraphina’s allergy, and now you’re trying to hit her? How can you be so vicious?!” “I—” Before she could explain, Julian kicked her in the back of the knee, snarling, “Get down on your knees and reflect! You won’t stand up until Seraphina is discharged from the hospital!”
Her husband was like a completely different person. Hazel knelt on the floor, large tears silently falling. Faced with such baseless accusations, she had initially wanted to explain, but then she remembered their twisted relationship, and all the words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat. *Forget it.* Whatever she did, she knew it was all part of their game. Why bother with such pathetic efforts? Seraphina was discharged three days later, and Hazel had knelt for three days. Upon returning home, Julian perhaps remembered his role as a loving husband and tried to comfort Hazel. “Hazel, I punished you for your own good. Otherwise, how would Seraphina’s parents see you? Do you want them to withdraw their funding from the orphanage?” “Don’t worry, I’ll always be your husband. As long as you’re obedient, I’ll love you as always.” “Seraphina, after all, is your nominal sister. Can you just be a little more accommodating to her? I believe you can do it. My wife is a generous and kind person!” If she had heard these words before, Hazel would have been moved to tears. But now, hearing them, she only felt like he was treating her like an idiot. For the past two days since they returned, Julian had resumed his act of an affectionate, loving husband, though his performance was even more clumsy than before. Clumsy as it was, it only made Seraphina’s gaze toward Hazel even more venomous. Hazel continued to quietly pack her belongings in her room, admonishing herself not to let those two affect her emotions anymore. Yet, the thought of her three years of devotion being utterly wasted made tears stream down her face, her heart filled with bitterness. Perhaps only the people at the orphanage truly cared for her in this world? Thinking this, Hazel decided to visit the orphanage before she left. The thought of Director Evans and the children at the orphanage brought a flicker of joy to Hazel’s bitter heart. Director Evans had always been wonderful to her since she was little, like a mother. And the children were like her younger siblings. Though an orphan, she had never felt lonely at the orphanage; instead, she had been incredibly happy. The next morning, she quickly tidied her things, composed herself, and prepared to leave. As she went downstairs, she saw Seraphina and Julian playfully bickering. “Julian, look, does this dress look good on me?” “Beautiful, beautiful!” “What about this jacket?” “Beautiful! Everything looks beautiful on you!” Hazel noticed the sofa piled high with shopping bags, all filled with expensive luxury brands. Julian had bought Seraphina many clothes, shoes, and handbags. She couldn’t help but glance at her own outfit, all inexpensive items that cost just a few hundred. Julian had once said he disliked women covered head-to-toe in luxury brands, and that he loved her simple, unpretentious style. Now she saw it was just because he didn’t want to spend money on her. Where there was love, there was money. Julian truly didn’t love her at all. Just then, the two of them noticed Hazel about to walk out the door. Julian frowned. “Where are you going with all those bags?” Hazel answered truthfully, “I… I want to visit Director Evans and the children at the orphanage.” Seraphina feigned innocence, asking, “Oh, why do you need to take so many bags to the orphanage? Hazel, you’re not taking the things Julian bought to give to the orphanage, are you?” “No, it’s not! These are all things I bought myself, just some children’s clothes and shoes!” To prove she wasn’t taking anything from the house, Hazel immediately opened her bag. Inside were indeed children’s clothes and shoes. However, Seraphina then whined, “Julian, what does Hazel mean? What do you mean ‘she bought them herself’? Didn’t you give her the money? And now she’s using your money to buy so many things for the orphanage? How can she be so wasteful?” Julian’s eyes narrowed, and he demanded angrily, “Hazel Miller, have you been using my money to help the orphanage all this time? What do you take me for? An ATM?!” “No, no!” Hazel hurried to Julian, carrying the large and small bags, looking rather disheveled. She said sincerely, “Julian, I didn’t spend much. These clothes and shoes are all very cheap. The children at the orphanage aren’t picky; they can wear these inexpensive clothes!” She then weakly pointed to one of the luxury brand shopping bags on the sofa. “Just one bag of clothes from here would be enough to buy ten bags of children’s clothes and shoes…” Who knew Seraphina would interject again: “Children’s clothes and shoes may be cheap, but no matter how cheap, it’s still Julian’s money, isn’t it? Don’t you think it’s too much to just take his money and buy clothes for the orphanage?” Before, Hazel might have righteously declared she was Julian’s wife, so what if she used his money? But ever since she learned their marriage certificate was fake, she could no longer utter such words. She hung her head, looking embarrassed and humble, asking, “Julian, can I give these clothes and shoes to the orphanage?” Julian’s heart skipped a beat. When had he ever seen Hazel so humble? Perhaps out of reluctance, he was about to agree, but Seraphina interjected again: “Julian, rules are rules. Do you want to raise Hazel to be a wasteful Mrs. Thorne? Whose money just grows on trees?” She paused, then put on a show of magnanimity. “How about this? I’m not stopping you from giving these clothes and shoes to the orphanage. After all, I care about those children even more than you do. But you can’t just spend money without earning it, can you? You need to put in some labor!” “Labor? What kind of labor do I need to put in?” Seraphina pointed to the newly bought clothes. “You can wash all these clothes. But the fabric of these clothes is very delicate, so you’ll have to hand wash them!”
Tears welled up in Hazel’s eyes. She had only ever hand-washed Julian’s clothes. Seraphina’s demand now was clearly meant to humiliate her. “Julian, do you really want me to hand-wash Seraphina’s clothes?” Julian’s tone was cold. “What’s so bad about washing clothes? It’s just as Seraphina said, you just want something for nothing!” The phrase “something for nothing” felt like a harsh slap across Hazel’s face. For three years, to better care for Julian, she had quit her job and devoted herself to being a full-time wife. Though she didn’t work outside the home, she kept their house meticulously organized, ensuring Julian always had a meal ready when he returned from work and neatly ironed clothes to wear when he left. Yet, all this effort, in his eyes, was “getting something for nothing”? Hazel swallowed her heartache and tears, taking a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll earn this money with labor!” She resignedly took Seraphina’s clothes to hand-wash. The icy water, sharp and biting, covered her hands. Tears fell, one by one, into the water. Hazel was sobbing uncontrollably. Just then, she noticed a kingfisher brooch on Seraphina’s clothes, identical to the brooch Julian had given her for her birthday two years ago. Except Seraphina’s brooch was heavier, and the gems on it sparkled with a more brilliant fire. In an instant, a chill spread through her entire body, and her heart felt like it was being slowly flayed. So, everything Julian had given her was fake. His sincerity was fake, their marriage certificate was fake, and even a simple brooch was fake! After washing the clothes, she returned to her room and unhesitatingly threw her own brooch into the trash can. Along with the fake marriage certificate, she tore it into pieces and tossed it into the bin. Hazel handed the washed and dried clothes to Seraphina, saying to both of them coldly, “Can I take the children’s clothes now?” “Ah!!” Seraphina suddenly shrieked, pointing to a barely visible tiny black spot on the clothes. “My new clothes are ruined! How am I supposed to wear them now?!” Hazel quickly interjected, “But the stain isn’t obvious. It doesn’t affect them at all!” “Julian, this is a limited-edition dress you bought for me, and now it’s stained! How can I wear it?!” Julian indulged Seraphina completely, turning to Hazel. “Go wash these clothes again!” “But…” Hazel’s eyes welled with tears, and she gasped, choking out, “I’ve only ever washed *your* clothes before. When have I ever washed anyone else’s?” Perhaps that sentence jogged Julian’s memory, and a flicker of reluctance appeared. He tried to reason with Seraphina. “Seraphina, let’s just forget it. I’ll buy you another one.” Seraphina was furious, but her eyes quickly darted around, and she came up with a new idea. She smiled, looking perfectly understanding. “Hazel, I heard you’re going to a class reunion tomorrow, right? I don’t think you have any nice clothes. Why don’t I give you this dress, so you can make a splash at your reunion tomorrow?” Hazel was too upset to go to the orphanage and instead chose to rest at home for a day. This university reunion was set at a bar. Hazel went to the reunion wearing the expensive dress Seraphina had given her. She had never worn such a fine dress before. It was laughable, really. She’d never realized that Julian, who constantly claimed to love her, hadn’t even bought her a single decent piece of clothing or jewelry. And she, foolishly and happily, had been immersed in that ‘love.’ How pathetic, how pitiful, how ridiculous! At the reunion, everyone was clinking glasses and boasting to each other. Hazel huddled in a corner, silent, trying to make herself invisible. She didn’t want to talk to anyone; mainly, there was nothing to say. Yet, someone still noticed her. “Hey, isn’t that Hazel Miller? I heard you married into a wealthy family and became a socialite?” This single comment immediately drew whispers and gasps from the crowd. She and Julian had kept their marriage quiet, so hardly anyone knew she was married. “No way? Hazel Miller, weren’t you from the orphanage? How could you marry into a wealthy family? She couldn’t possibly be a mistress to some rich guy, could she?” “Hahahahaha! Look how expensive that dress she’s wearing is! How could *she* afford it? She definitely must be a rich man’s mistress!” “Julian Thorne is rich and handsome. Why would he ever look at a woman from Hazel Miller’s background? If you ask me, he and Seraphina, the Miller family’s eldest daughter, are the perfect match! So, Hazel Miller, are you really a mistress?” These malicious words filled Hazel with shame and indignation. She suppressed her emotions and calmly stated, “I’m not a mistress. I am Julian Thorne’s lawfully wedded wife.” However, no one believed her. Just then, someone sharp-eyed saw Julian and Seraphina entering the bar and shouted, “Mr. Thorne, Mr. Thorne, please come over! Hazel Miller here says she’s your wife. Is that true or not?!” Hazel had never so desperately hoped Julian would confirm their marriage. She asked expectantly, “Julian, tell them. Am I your wife?”
Julian didn’t answer. Instead, he fell silent, then chuckled. “What kind of joke is this?” These words plunged Hazel into an icy abyss. She closed her eyes in despair. She knew it. Why would Julian ever come to her rescue? She was merely a tool for Seraphina to test Julian’s loyalty… Although she had long anticipated such a situation, her heart still ached uncontrollably. Her body trembled slightly, and her eyes stung. The surrounding classmates, fueled by his denial, began to insult Hazel even more savagely. “I knew it! How could someone from Hazel Miller’s background be Mr. Thorne’s wife? If you ask me, Mr. Thorne and Miss Miller look like a real couple!” “Exactly! Mr. Thorne and Miss Miller are so perfect for each other—a match made in heaven, truly. Hazel Miller, you have no shame!” Hearing these words, Seraphina demurely covered her mouth and giggled, then exchanged a glance with Julian. They both smiled at each other, appearing incredibly harmonious and well-matched. Hazel’s blood ran cold. Looking at the man and woman before her, tears welled in her eyes. The mockery from the crowd continued. “Hazel Miller, you’re disgusting! To stoop so low and try to latch onto a rich man for money!” “Why choose to be a mistress when there are so many other things you could do? Are all people from orphanages as shameless as you?” “No way? Hazel Miller, you were so good at school back then. Not only do you shamelessly claim Mr. Thorne as your husband, but you’re secretly a mistress? Tsk tsk tsk, having a classmate like you is truly an embarrassment!” These words were like knives, piercing Hazel’s heart. Tears finally streamed down her face. Hazel, strong and resilient, said each word distinctly: “I am not a mistress! I am Julian Thorne’s wife!” But Julian turned his head away, still choosing to ignore her. Hazel closed her eyes again in despair. This was the husband she had been married to for three years, allowing others to falsely accuse her without a single reaction. Just then, a slice of cake suddenly splattered onto her face. The perpetrator smiled maliciously and said, “Calling someone else’s husband your own and being a mistress—how shameless can you be?” As soon as she finished speaking, the other classmates found their outlet, continuously throwing cake and food from the tables onto her body and face. Wine and drinks were all splashed on her. Some even went as far as to tear off her clothes. “How dare a mistress like you wear such expensive clothes?” “Strip off all her clothes! A mistress like Hazel Miller deserves to be punished by righteous people like us!” “Mistresses don’t deserve to wear expensive clothes!!” A class reunion instantly devolved into a bullying session. Hazel’s clothes and dress were quickly ripped to shreds, barely covering her. Her head was even shoved into a cake. She weakly cried out for help to Julian, “Jul… Julian, save… me…” She didn’t know if Julian felt a second of pity, only that he stared blankly at her, still doing nothing, as if watching an irrelevant spectacle. At that moment, Hazel’s heart died completely. Three years of a loving marriage, all turned to dust. Finally, Hazel was taken away by an ambulance. Before getting into the ambulance, she glanced at Julian. Her eyes no longer held any love, only cold resolve. Julian remained stunned, his fingers slightly curled, tips turning pale. He couldn’t explain what was wrong with him, only that he suddenly felt a pang of pity for Hazel. “Julian, what’s wrong?” “Nothing… nothing…” Seraphina’s eyes darkened, then filled with venom. *Hazel Miller, just you wait!* After Hazel Miller returned from the hospital, she was utterly dejected, completely ignoring Julian and Seraphina, not a word or a glance for either of them.
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