My mother’s hands and feet were broken, and she was thrown into the sea to die, all because she accidentally touched the couture gown of the daughter of a powerful mogul. The day I dragged that arrogant heiress to court, she was acquitted. Why? Because the lawyer defending her was Liam Vance, the founder of the city’s most untouchable law firm, a legal powerhouse no one dared to cross – and my husband. When the trial ended, the handsome, elegant man left the defendant’s side and placed an “apology letter” in front of me, Audrey Hayes. “Audrey, sign it. You don’t want to be sued for defamation and end up in prison, do you?” His voice was coaxing, but the gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses was as sharp as ice. My tear-filled eyes, stubborn with pain, met his. My voice trembled, “Why, Liam Vance?” I just couldn’t understand… I was his wife. He loved me so fiercely that he’d even given up his inheritance and been cut off by his family just to marry me, their family’s caregiver. But after my mother’s death, I had cried and begged him countless times. Even this morning, for the ninety-ninth time, I knelt at his feet, threatening divorce if he didn’t drop this case. What did he say then? — *Audrey, don’t make me do this!* Liam impatiently loosened his tie. “Serena is different. She’s chased me for ten years, and she even saved my life.” “I have to protect her, even if the enemy is the wife I love most.” As he spoke, he tapped his tablet, showing a live stream to me. “You have two minutes to think, Audrey. Even if you’re not thinking for yourself, think about your mother. Sign it, and I’ll give you back your mother’s ashes…” The screen showed a scene at sea, several bodyguards holding a sandalwood urn. One slip, and… Tears streamed down my face. “What are you doing?” But he didn’t even flinch. “Be a good girl, don’t waste time. Can you bear to let your mother soak in the sea forever?” “Liam Vance!” I stared fixedly at the man before me, my mouth almost bleeding from biting my lip. “I want a divorce from you…” Yet, in this cruel confrontation, he remained utterly calm, unwilling to yield an inch. “Audrey, you only have thirty seconds left.” In that moment, my heart felt as if it were being pierced by needles. How ironic. This man had once loved me more than life itself. Eight years ago, he fell in love with me at first sight in the Vance family estate. I was Old Mr. Vance’s caregiver. Our social standings were miles apart, yet he had confessed his love a hundred times. If I glanced at a patch of bellflowers, he’d have all the roses in the garden replaced overnight. When I accidentally sprained my ankle, he booked an entire floor of the hospital. It was then I learned he had a long-time admirer, the daughter of a powerful mogul he’d grown up with, who’d pursued him for years, loving him to the point of obsession. But he had no eyes for anyone else. “Audrey, I only love you. What does it matter if Serena Thorne is from a family as good as mine? I only feel disgust for her!” To force him to let go, the Vance family not only seized his shares but even used their influence to send him to an island abroad. For twenty whole days, Liam went on a hunger strike, forcing his family to compromise and completely winning my heart. And so, we married. He truly loved me as he’d promised, more than life itself. The change happened half a year ago. After years away, Serena Thorne suddenly returned to the country. This time, his attitude towards his childhood friend abruptly shifted. He canceled international meetings to personally pick her up from the airport. He even stayed away from home for three days to arrange a lavish welcome-back party for her. Under my wounded gaze, he finally confessed. “A year ago, I went to London and was in a car accident. Serena saved me and was in a coma for an entire year because of it.” “Audrey, I only love you, but she just woke up. I have to repay this debt. One year, just give me one year, okay?” At first, I believed him. Until the night of the party, I unexpectedly suffered a relapse of an old illness and was rushed to the hospital. Liam’s phone, however, was unreachable. In desperation, my mother went to the luxury yacht where the party was being held. But once she went, she never came back. Everyone insisted it was an accident, saying my mother had committed suicide. Even Liam, who wasn’t at the scene of the incident, believed that story. But that night, after I was pushed out of the emergency room, I distinctly received a call. I heard chaos on the other end, mixed with Serena Thorne’s angry shouts, and my mother’s agonizing screams. My mother was *forced* to fall into the sea! For the past six months, I had been in torment, drowning in tears of self-reproach. In my despair, I finally unearthed a shred of evidence from a certain waiter. I had begged Liam countless times to help me. Yet, in this criminal private prosecution, he unhesitatingly stood against me. He protected my mother’s killer, and to force me to apologize to her, he even threatened me with my mother’s ashes… At this very moment, looking at Liam Vance, I felt as if he was a stranger, sprung from hell itself. I despaired, and I surrendered. With trembling fingers, I scrawled my messy signature on that apology letter. “Satisfied? Now tell them to bring her back from the sea…” But no sooner had my hoarse voice faded than a gasp suddenly erupted behind me. Serena Thorne suddenly clutched her head, collapsing onto the defendant’s bench. “Liam, help me! My head hurts again!” In that instant, Liam panicked, dropping the tablet and rushing towards her. On the live stream, the countdown had ended. Without Liam’s command to stop, the bodyguards had already opened the urn… “No! I’ve signed it! Liam Vance, tell them to stop now!” I screamed like a madwoman, but those bodyguards wouldn’t obey me. I lunged, trying to grab Liam, but his mind was completely on Serena. As he scooped her up and rushed out, his elbow brutally slammed into me. I fell hard onto the floor, my forehead hitting the corner of the table. Tears streamed down onto the tablet. It was too late. It was already too late… The ashes were being poured from the boat, scattering into the cold sea breeze, slowly vanishing into the rippling waves. A heart-wrenching remorse tore at my chest. My mother had always been afraid of the cold. She hated the icy sea most, but now, she had not only died there but would be forever trapped in those waters. “Mom, I’m so sorry…” My sobs were utterly broken. Suddenly, I regretted so much. Regretted falling in love with Liam. Regretted marrying him. An endless wave of regret crashed over my mind like a muffled bell. My vision suddenly blurred. In the world that flickered and darkened around me, I only heard Liam’s anxious voice from outside the courtroom. “Serena, just hold on. If you’re okay, I’ll do anything you ask!” I woke up in a hospital. Junior Lawyer Dean stood by the bed, looking helpless. “Ms. Hayes, this case has been categorized. You need to accept it. Your health is most important.” I came back to my senses amidst the lingering ache in my heart, ignoring the IV in my hand. I sat up abruptly, quickly fumbling through my bag. “Could you please check if this agreement is valid?” My voice trembled as I handed him the document I’d pulled out. He quickly gave an affirmative answer. “Ms. Hayes, your husband has already signed this divorce agreement. You just need to sign and submit it, and you’ll receive your divorce certificate in a month.” This morning, it was with this very document that I knelt before Liam. Perhaps he was too rushed to leave, or perhaps he didn’t believe I would actually divorce him. He was convinced the agreement was fake and signed it without even looking. But he would never guess that everything I said was true. I didn’t want to wait a moment longer. I pulled out the IV needle and rushed to the registry office to submit the documents. After completing the procedures, I made one last trip to the seaside. In the cool drizzle, I knelt directly down. “Mom, from now on, I’ll go to places with the sea, and I’ll be with you forever.” But only the cold sea breeze answered me. I don’t know how long I knelt. Wiping away my tears, I made a call. “Hello, I want to… book a simulated death rescue.” My voice, broken yet resolute, was filled with determination. “One month from now, the cause of death will be ‘homicide.’ I will arrange the location. All you need to do is prepare a new identity for me and take me abroad after rescuing me.” Yes, I wasn’t just getting a divorce. A month from now, I would personally claim my justice and leave Liam Vance with a surprise he would never forget. By the time I finished everything and returned to the villa, it was already late. The living room lights were on. Liam was holding a bowl of chicken soup, spoon-feeding Serena. “Liam, I posted that apology letter online.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Audrey has been slandering me constantly. Getting slammed online will teach her a lesson. Don’t you dare interfere.” Liam’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he still acquiesced. “Alright. She made a mistake, she should be punished.” I suddenly remembered the online insults. They cursed my mother, saying she deserved to die, calling me a pathetic caregiver, not even worthy of polishing the heiress’s shoes… A sharp pain pierced my heart. I walked into the living room, my face expressionless. “Where have you been?” Seeing my pale face, Liam paused, his tone softening inexplicably. “Your forehead… how did you get that cut?” I ignored him. Serena, however, feigned a soft voice, changing the subject. “You’re back, Audrey! Perfect, I brought you some gifts. Come and see.” Liam cleared his throat, a hint of hesitation in his expression. “Audrey, Serena was in a coma for too long, her body hasn’t fully recovered. She’ll be staying here for a while. You need to be extra attentive with her. She’s lactose intolerant and can’t eat cold food. She needs her beauty sleep until ten AM, and all her fruit must be juiced…” Every single word felt like a knife twisting in my heart. I couldn’t believe it, and a cold laugh escaped me. “What? You want *me* to take care of her?” “Be a good girl, Audrey. What happened before is in the past, let’s not dwell on it. You used to be a caregiver in the Vance household, so I trust you…” He stopped himself before finishing the sentence. On one side of the dining table, the detailed instructions for taking care of the heiress filled 267 lines. On the floor, scattered haphazardly, were luxury shopping bags: a Chanel handbag with a scuffed clasp, an Hermes keychain likely given as a ‘gift with purchase’ from some big spend, and obviously worn Dior heels… So, these “gifts” were nothing more than discarded junk. I suddenly remembered years ago, when Liam’s best friend merely called me “the little caregiver who serves people,” he’d flown into a rage. That very night, he’d found someone to sabotage his rival’s multi-million dollar project. “Audrey is my wife! Whoever dares to belittle or bully her is disrespecting me, Liam Vance!” But now, he was slapping his own face, making me a personal caregiver for my enemy. What deep love, what sacred vows – all so fragile. I would never believe him again. I forced back the dampness in my eyes. For these last thirty days, I had to endure everything… But who would have thought, on the very first night she moved in, Serena would be tormented by nightmares. She rushed into the master bedroom barefoot just as Liam finished showering. “Liam, I can’t sleep alone.” Fragile and delicate, she climbed directly into his arms, burying her face against his bare chest. “The guest room mattress is so hard. I’m scared, I want you to sleep with me.” Liam’s handsome brows furrowed slightly at her words. I knew he felt pity for her… Pity so strong that, despite me still being there, he scooped Serena onto his lap, embracing her soothingly. He glanced at the left side of the king-sized bed. “Audrey, Serena has never endured hardship since she was a child. You see… could you, perhaps, stay in another room for now?” In that moment, I saw a flicker of triumph on Serena Thorne’s face. I pulled my lips into a sarcastic smile, grabbed my pillow, and got out of bed. “If Ms. Thorne likes it so much, then this bed is all yours.” Yes, not just this master bedroom, this bed, but this man too – I wanted none of it anymore. Over the next few days, with Liam’s nightly companionship, Serena quickly regained her vibrancy. When bored, she’d occasionally invite a few girlfriends over for afternoon tea. “Serena, Liam definitely still has feelings for you. The year you were in a coma, he ran to London every other day! He even swore that if you woke up, he’d divorce for you!” I happened to be walking past and overheard this. My heart felt as if it had been ripped open by a knife. With Liam gone, Serena didn’t bother to pretend. In a whiny voice, she called out to me, “Audrey, this coffee you brewed looks like dishwater. It’s disgusting.” I walked up expressionlessly, intending to take the coffee away, but someone grabbed my wrist. “No, what’s with your attitude? Our Serena’s caregiver, dares to make her sick? You should be on your knees apologizing! What, you think you’re above it now?” Receiving a look from Serena, one of her girlfriends snapped, her voice sharp. Before I could react, she yanked my hair, and the full cup of hot coffee instantly splashed over me. “Stop it!” But the next second, a sudden male voice shattered the confrontation. Liam had just walked through the door and witnessed the scene. His face dark, he rushed over, pulling me behind him. “Who gave you permission to bully her?” No sooner had his roar fallen than Serena, who had been watching with a smirk, instantly had tears welling in her eyes. She smoothly clutched her stomach. “Liam! It’s not like that!” “Don’t blame my friend. She was just doing it for me… Audrey, she, she deliberately put dairy in my coffee. My stomach hurts so bad.” Liam’s movements froze. He looked at me with scrutiny, his gaze turning completely cold. Dairy? “Audrey, I clearly told you Serena is lactose intolerant!” How ridiculous. From protecting me to casting me aside, it took only one lie from Serena. “I didn’t!” Coffee dripped from my hair. My eyes burned. “She’s faking it.” But my explanations were drowned out by Serena’s superb acting, compounded by her friends’ exaggerations… Liam finally exploded in anger, smashing the coffee cup on the table. He strode forward, sweeping Serena into his arms, and declared sharply, “Audrey Hayes, you stay home and think about what you’ve done!” But Serena was clearly not satisfied. She cried piteously. “I’m not going to the hospital! No one has ever dared to bully me like this since I was little. I can’t take it, Liam, just let me die from the pain.” Serena threw a tantrum, refusing to go to the hospital, until Liam finally hardened his heart and coldly called for the bodyguards. “Take my wife to the backyard! Put her in solitary!” Solitary confinement was a punishment reserved for Vance family bodyguards who committed serious offenses. That two-square-meter, fully enclosed dark room would then be infested with all sorts of venomous insects… I trembled and struggled under the bodyguards’ restraint. “No! I don’t want to go!” But no matter how much I cried out, the figure carrying Serena out of the villa never looked back. For a full 24 hours, I curled up in the corner of the dark room, enduring the fiery itch and pain on my skin. The sensation of countless insects crawling over my skin almost drove me mad! But no matter how much I cried out, the bodyguards Liam had arranged stood impassively outside the door. Until the moment I lost consciousness, I felt the large red welts on my body, numb to the point of forgetting what pain was. Only a single tear tracked down my cheek. I closed my eyes, letting despair drain away the last of my love… “Audrey, don’t sleep. Wake up, okay?” When a familiar male voice pulled me back to consciousness, I snapped my eyes open. My gaze fell on the crystal chandelier in the guest room. Liam, sitting by the bed, finally sighed in relief when he saw me awaken, his voice unconsciously softening. “I know you’re upset, Audrey, but you really did the wrong thing. No matter what, you shouldn’t have harmed Serena.” Waking up only to face his accusations, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. “You trust her that much?” Liam frowned, a flicker of impatience in his eyes. “Alright, that’s enough. I’ve had a spiritual advisor perform a blessing ritual for your mother’s ashes at sea. Don’t cause any more trouble. Right now, Serena’s condition is really the tricky part…” “She’s been pampered since childhood. This time, you scared her, and they can’t find a diagnosis. She can’t sleep all night. The spiritual advisor said that the person who harmed her must personally grind a protective bracelet from thorny branches for her…” I froze. So, he was watching over me, waiting for me to wake up, all just for Serena? My hoarse voice trembled. “Liam Vance, can’t you see me like this?” I lifted my arm; it was covered in large, red welts, without a single patch of normal skin. The deep bloody marks were horrifying. But Liam remained silent for a moment, then cruelly said, “Serena hasn’t rested for a whole day. The bracelet must be finished tonight!” “What if I say no?” My eyes reddened, but no more tears would fall. “Are you going to lock me back in that solitary room and let those venomous bugs bite me to death?!” Liam seemed hesitant to look at me, swallowing my tears, and merely closed his eyes in resignation. “Audrey, just bear with it. Once Serena’s body is fully recovered, once I’ve repaid her for saving my life, we’ll go back to how we used to be.” He spoke as if making a promise, then placed several finger-thick thorn branches on the bedside table, his demeanor returning to calm. “Remember, if you don’t do it, the bodyguards will help you. They say a bracelet ground from these thorns works best if it’s stained with human blood.” The guest room door slammed shut. Several bodyguards dutifully stood by the bed. “Madam, don’t waste time. Mr. Vance said you need to remove the thorns with your fingers, and each bead must be polished by hand with sandpaper.” That night, I was pulled out of bed by the bodyguards and didn’t close my eyes for a moment. My fingers were punctured with bleeding holes, torn into raw fissures by the sandpaper. Every movement brought agonizing pain. Finally, at dawn, Serena’s satisfied chuckle drifted from the master bedroom. “Liam, this bracelet really works. My head doesn’t feel dizzy anymore once I put it on.” Liam responded gently, “That’s good. Be a good girl, get some sleep. I’ll stay with you.” I slowly curled myself up in the corner of the bed, clenching my injured fingers, watching blood drip onto the sheets. My eyes burned, wanting to laugh. Once, if a rose thorn pricked me and drew a bead of blood, Liam would be heartbroken and remorseful for half a day. Now, he could take a bracelet stained with my blood and use it to make another woman happy. Liam Vance, Liam Vance, you still say we’ll go back to how we used to be? How could it be the same? My love for you has clearly been exhausted… The next day, Serena had a peaceful night’s sleep thanks to the bracelet. In high spirits, she dragged Liam out for a stroll. I only found out about their outing through her online posts, sharing that they had gone to Greece to watch the sunset. The photos showed the white walls of Santorini. Serena’s hand was held tightly by Liam’s long fingers, with the caption: “Ten years of loving you, a wish finally granted…” I stared at the photo, my heart feeling empty as if wind swept through it. Yet, surprisingly, I no longer felt pain. I silently slipped off the ring from my ring finger, then went to the garden, pulling up all the bellflowers in the flowerbed by their roots. I snipped them into pieces, discarding them in the trash. After doing this, I opened my laptop, logged into the account filled with hateful comments, set a scheduled post for one month later, and wrote: “When this letter is sent, I will likely no longer be here…” I wrote that planned “suicide note” for a very long time. As I typed the last period, the sound of a car parking suddenly echoed from the yard. Liam rushed into the villa, his steps hurried. “Why did you destroy those bellflowers, Audrey? Didn’t you love them most? I planted them myself for you back then.” For some reason, his face was pale, and there were traces of blood seeping through his sleeve. I calmly glanced at him, asked nothing, and simply slammed my laptop shut. “Their roots are rotten. We should plant something else from now on.” Hearing me mention “from now on,” Liam finally suppressed his unease. “Alright, I’ll plant them for you again later.” The night Liam returned, there was a charity gala in their social circle that required me to attend. In the evening, before the Rolls-Royce headed to the event venue, it first stopped at a styling salon. Liam personally got out to greet us. Serena, wearing a million-dollar custom-designed gown and carrying a rare-skin diamond bag, stood there motionless. Liam reluctantly opened the rear car door. “Audrey, look…” But before he could finish, I got out of the car without a word and directly sat in the passenger seat next to the driver. The charity gala was held at a grand estate villa. In the ballroom on the first floor, light and shadow intertwined beneath the enameled chandeliers. When Serena appeared, arm-in-arm with Liam, she instantly became the center of attention. A group of socialites eagerly gathered around her. “Serena, Mr. Vance is so good to you! This couture gown, you’re the first in the world to wear it!” “Right, I heard that a few days ago, overseas, to snatch this gown from a Parisian millionaire, he made a bet with them and raced cars, even injuring his arm?” So, he got hurt to get the heiress that couture gown… This conversation made Serena’s eyes redden. “Don’t even mention it, I was so worried, he bled so much. But I just said I liked it, and he…” “Haha, he’s clearly loving you so much he doesn’t care about his own life.” The group showered her with compliments, one person even scoffing and glancing at me. “Some people, they wear five-year-old out-of-season rags and think they’ve become a phoenix flying onto a branch. In reality, they’re not even fit to carry the heiress’s shoes!” I looked at the dress I was wearing; Liam had arranged it. I tried to endure, clenching my fingers tightly. Until the event began, and there was a charity auction. Although it was mostly small trinkets Serena wouldn’t care for, Liam, wanting to bolster her image, repeatedly bid lavishly. Only one emerald ring, he was a step too late. Another buyer swiftly outbid everyone. But Serena, of course, loved it. She whined, tugging Liam’s sleeve. “Liam, I really, really love that ring. If I don’t get it, I won’t be able to eat tonight.” With just that one sentence, Liam, after the auction ended, personally approached the buyer. “Mr. Sterling, name your price. Ten times, a hundred times, I have no objections.” The man on the other side chuckled. “Mr. Vance, you should know my rules. Money isn’t what I care about. It’s just that I’m lacking creative inspiration lately and happen to need a model. How about this…” I was on my way to the restroom when I inadvertently overheard their conversation around a corner. “Your wife, Ms. Hayes, I find her quite appealing. If she could model for me in the nude just once, I’ll let you have that ring at its original price.” Liam’s face darkened. “I’ll consider it.” In that moment, I felt as if I had fallen into an ice cellar. What did he mean by… *consider it*? Mr. Sterling was an infamous playboy in their social circles, rumored to have a peculiar hobby: he loved photography, but he only photographed… My body trembled imperceptibly. I turned and quickly walked away. But not long after, in a corner of the ballroom, someone grabbed me. “Audrey, I have something I want to discuss with you.” Liam paused, trying to appease me by handing me a personally mixed fruit wine. “You’ve seen how much better Serena’s been doing lately. She’ll be able to move out after a bit more recovery. It’s just… she saw that ring today.” “But the buyer said if you’d agree to model for him just once, he’d give up the ring. You see…” “Impossible!” I suppressed my trembling, pushing him away. “Liam Vance, what do you take me for?!” A massive bitterness surged within me. I tried to suppress the overwhelming emotions, draining the fruit wine in my hand in one desperate gulp, as if to drown my anger. But just as I walked out of the ballroom, a dizzying fog clouded my mind. I lost control and stumbled backward. That drink, it was drugged… In my hazy consciousness, I vaguely felt Liam embrace me. His murmured voice held suppressed regret. “I’m sorry, Audrey. This is the last time.” *Click*— The spotlight suddenly flared, and I opened my eyes in the excessively harsh light. I was lying in a completely blacked-out room, my clothes already stripped off… A chill instantly swept through my entire body. In a panic, I curled my body, my slender arms drawn to my chest, but the meager cover was useless. A full-body weakness prevented me from standing. “Ms. Hayes, you’re truly beautiful, especially through my lens.” From behind the camera, the man’s malicious chuckle reached me. The dark, gaping lens, like a predatory beast, was pointed directly at me. “You pervert! I’m calling the police! What you’re doing is illegal!” I cried out in despair. “Oh? And who are you going to report? Me? Or your husband?” The man sneered. “This estate is my territory. All I’m asking is for you to pose nude for art. I did promise Liam I wouldn’t touch you beyond photography. But if you have other needs, I…” “Get away from me!” In that moment, I could no longer hold back my tears. I was like a fish on a chopping block, naked and exposed on the soft, diffused fabric backdrop… But he showed no intention of letting me go. “Yes, good. You’re even more enchanting when you cry.” The camera’s flash felt like knives, slicing at my heart again and again. I don’t know how long it lasted before the flashing camera finally turned off. I don’t even remember how I got dressed, or how I managed to get up and walk out of that room. I felt like a broken marionette, my humiliated steps heavy and slow. “Ms. Hayes, I’ve photographed tens of thousands of women to date, but you’re the first to be personally handed over by her own husband,” a mocking chuckle drifted from behind me. My fingers, gripping the doorknob, were white. I knew this wasn’t the time to confront him. My self-deprecating voice was filled with resolve. “I’m divorced. He’s no longer my husband…” Behind me, that door finally closed. I started to tremble uncontrollably, wrapping my arms around myself, trying to find some warmth. By now, the banquet downstairs was nearing its end. As I numbly walked out of the hall, I suddenly heard a “boom”— The next second, fireworks erupted across the estate’s sky. Brilliant sparks formed clear words in the air: “Happy Birthday, Serena!” It turned out this was Liam’s surprise. After midnight, it was Serena’s birthday… In the garden nearby, Liam stood under the fireworks, his eyes filled with deep affection in the night. “Happy birthday, Serena. Whether it’s the gown or the ring, whatever you want, I’ll find a way.” He spoke, opening a jewelry box in front of Serena. It was the emerald ring he had obtained by sacrificing me… The crowd around them was cheering wildly. “Kiss her! Kiss her!” Liam hadn’t even reacted, but Serena was already on her tiptoes, leaning in for a kiss…
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298752”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic
Leave a Reply