I was born with a unique crimson mark between my brows, a sign of a rare and profound destiny. To save Marcus Thorne, the frail, only heir of the Thorne family, I used the power of my crimson birthmark to ward off his misfortunes. He not only recovered completely but also rose to become the top business magnate in the city’s elite circles. He called me his destined ‘crimson mark,’ the irreplaceable one meant for him. Everyone in the elite circles said I was the happiest woman alive. But in our third year of marriage, he became utterly obsessed with a college student. She wore a delicate, moon-white lace dress, with a striking painted crimson dot between her brows, smiling at him like a blossoming flower. That single image mesmerized Marcus, making him completely forget me, who had dedicated countless hours praying and seeking blessings for him every single day. He pursued her relentlessly and finally, after she became pregnant, he brought his new love home. When I confronted him, he casually said, “You can understand my desire for a child, Elara. You owe me this.” I didn’t cry or make a scene, because I knew he wouldn’t live much longer. In just one month, the power of my crimson mark would no longer be able to contain his fate. Once the fetus fully formed, his destiny would violently turn against him… … My phone screen buzzed with breaking news headlines popping up one after another. # Elite’s New Money King, Marcus Thorne, and His Co-ed Spotted at Hospital! # # CONFIRMED!!! Marcus Thorne’s College Girlfriend Is Pregnant! # The kitchen knife in my hand clattered to the floor. My foot instantly bled, a gash gaping open on my instep. The maids rushed over, one stemming the blood while shouting for the driver to take me to the hospital. “Madam, the cut is too deep, you must get it treated at the hospital.” “Don’t worry, I’ll have dinner ready on time. It won’t delay your and Mr. Thorne’s third wedding anniversary celebration tonight.” I looked at the dishes laid out on the counter, all Marcus’s favorites, and a self-deprecating smile touched my lips. My eyes burned, and tears streamed down uncontrollably. “No need.” I stood up and headed to the hospital. Due to an anesthesia allergy, I bit down hard, enduring the pain as the doctor stitched up my wound. Then my phone suddenly rang. I answered, and Lila Monroe’s sobbing voice came through the receiver. “Elara, you need to come to Metropolitan Medical Center now.” Marcus’s voice was filled with frantic urgency. A calling number echoed through the hospital lobby. The voice on the other end paused, then spoke again. “You’re at the hospital?” “Perfect. Hurry up and come to the eighth floor. We’re here.” He hung up before I could say a word. Looking at the disconnected call, my heart went cold and trembled. When did his eyes stop seeing me? Having endured years of suffering from illness, he knew the agony of pain all too well. That’s why he was always so protective, couldn’t bear to see me hurt in the slightest. Once, when my high heels chafed my skin, he spared no expense, hiring the world’s most renowned designers just to create custom-fit shoes for me. And now, hearing I was in the hospital, he only thought about how quickly I could come to their rescue. I closed my eyes, quietly considering my options. My promise to Eleanor was fulfilled. Since Marcus no longer needed me, it was time for me to make my exit. As I struggled to force my injured foot into my shoe, several urgent messages already popped up on my phone. As soon as I reached the eighth floor, I saw security guards blocking a crowd of reporters at one end of the corridor. When they saw me appear, everyone swarmed towards me frantically. “Mrs. Thorne, what are your thoughts on Mr. Thorne’s affair with a college student?” “Mrs. Thorne, are you here to catch him in the act?” “Mrs. Thorne, is your foot injured because of Mr. Thorne?” “Mrs. Thorne…” My heart felt like it was seized by a giant hand, and pain instantly assaulted every part of my body, leaving me breathless. So that was why Marcus wanted me on the eighth floor. To use me as a distraction for the reporters, allowing him to slip away with Lila Monroe. I was packed in so tightly, the flashing lights made me dizzy. Reporters surged forward, pushing and shoving. I lost my footing and tumbled down the stairs. The scene erupted into chaos. In the second before I lost consciousness, I saw Marcus carefully shielding Lila Monroe behind him as they entered another elevator. He didn’t even glance my way. When I woke up again, a sharp pain flared between my brows. My eyes focused, and I realized I was lying in a hospital bed. The worried driver stood beside the bed. “Mr. Thorne said you should rest well. He’ll be over once he’s done with his work.” I scoffed inwardly. Completely absorbed in the joy of impending fatherhood, why would he be distracted by anything else? 2 The high fever plunged me in and out of consciousness. When I truly woke up, three days had passed. The driver had long been called back. Marcus’s chat window on my phone was still stuck on his terse message from three days ago: “Hurry!” My SnapChat was flooded with messages from friends. Only then did I learn that for the past three days, Marcus had booked out a private hospital in the suburbs to care for a startled Lila Monroe, staying by her side constantly. As I turned off my phone, my reflection appeared on the screen. The crimson mark on my forehead had faded even more. After being discharged and returning to the mansion, the main gate stood open. Maids hurried in and out, carrying luggage. Seeing me return, their eyes were filled with pity. It wasn’t until I saw Marcus cooing over Lila Monroe, coaxing her to eat fruit, that I understood where that pity came from. Seeing me enter, Marcus quickly waved me over. “Elara, you’re back just in time. Come tell Lila how good avocado is for pregnant women.” “I’ve been trying to coax her for ages, but she still won’t eat it. You’re the best at persuasion; even I didn’t want to eat it back then until you convinced me.” Yes, once, I gave my all for him. I heard avocado was a superfood, but he couldn’t stand its smell. I patiently coaxed him to eat a little every day, hoping he’d be healthier. But now, he was using the same tactics to coax another woman, completely oblivious to my limping foot. Only sarcasm remained in my heart. Perhaps my expression was too grim, for Marcus paused, then put down the avocado and walked towards me. “Elara, you know I love you deeply, but I really want a child, a child like you and me.” “Look closely at Lila, doesn’t she resemble you?” I stared at him in shock, unable to believe what I was hearing. Marcus’s eyes flickered nervously, then he impatiently said, “I know you’re going to talk about my fate of being childless again, but I don’t believe it. Look, haven’t I found a way now?” I lowered my head and smiled soundlessly. Since you insist on going down this dark path, I won’t stop you. Three years ago, to repay Eleanor Thorne’s kindness, I married Marcus Thorne when he was gravely ill. I used the crimson mark between my brows to seal away his misfortunes, but the cost was my inability to conceive, for he was fated to be childless. If that fate were defied, Marcus would be violently consumed by destiny. “As you wish.” With that, I walked directly upstairs. Next to the master bedroom, my private sanctuary had been emptied and converted into Lila Monroe’s room. The handwritten blessings I’d copied for him, filled with wishes for his well-being, were strewn haphazardly in the corridor, like forgotten trash. For three years, countless days and nights, I had knelt in that sanctuary, copying each stroke for him. Now, I felt like the biggest fool. And so, I truly laughed, tears streaming down my face, uncontrollably. Hearing the noise, Marcus rushed over, carefully shielding Lila Monroe, as if worried I might lash out. “Sister Elara, please don’t be angry, I’ll move my things out right away.” Lila Monroe spoke timidly, already moving to go inside and move her belongings. But Marcus pulled her tightly into his arms, glaring at me with a furious frown. “I told her to stay here. This room gets good sunlight, it’s suitable for a pregnant woman.” I nodded knowingly, wiping away my tears. “I understand!” I tossed all the handwritten blessings into the trash bin and turned to my room. I quickly packed my luggage—just one small suitcase, exactly as it had been when I arrived. I planned to return to my grandmother’s place first thing tomorrow morning. That night, I felt someone gently caressing my forehead, murmuring words in my ear, but I was caught in a nightmare and couldn’t wake up. Suddenly, my phone rang, jolting me awake from my dream. “Elara, your grandmother isn’t well! Come home quickly!” Brenda Miller’s anxious voice came through the phone from my hometown. It was so late; I had no choice but to ask Marcus for help. Crying and frantic, I scrambled up and rushed to knock on the door next door. Finally, Marcus, yawning, emerged from Lila Monroe’s room, his face etched with displeasure. Ignoring his mood, I grabbed his hand, weeping. “Marcus, please, please take me back to my grandmother’s place.” “My grandma is sick.” A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He paused, then turned to settle Lila Monroe. Only then did he grab his car keys to drive me back to my hometown. Outside, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled; a heavy rainstorm was clearly brewing. My heart ached with worry for Grandma, leaving me restless. Marcus drove, his hand tightly gripping mine. “Don’t worry too much, Grandma will be fine.” We had barely gotten onto the highway when the torrential rain began to pour. Then Marcus’s phone rang. The Bluetooth automatically connected, filling the car with Lila Monroe’s desperate sobs. “Mr. Thorne, save me! Your grandmother… she’s trying to force me to lose our baby…” 3 A cacophony of voices erupted from the phone, then the call was abruptly cut off. Marcus dialed back repeatedly, but no one answered. He kept redialing, becoming increasingly agitated. I looked at the heavy rain outside, worried about driving safety, and gently warned him, “Everything will be fine. Just focus on driving for now.” As I spoke, Marcus seemed to remember something suddenly. He turned to me, his eyes like shards of ice. “It was you!” “You and Grandma conspired, didn’t you?” “You lured me out, so Grandma could go after Lila.” He slammed on the brakes, stopping the car abruptly in the middle of the highway, speaking through clenched teeth. “What a cunning move you cooked up.” “Elara, how could you be so heartless? And you claim to be some kind of saint, a benevolent soul? How can you not tolerate a small innocent life?” As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed my throat, his eyes bloodshot, demanding answers. He squeezed harder and harder. I couldn’t make a sound, only frantically tried to pull his hand away. Just as I felt I was about to black out, the crimson in his eyes gradually faded. He scoffed and got out of the car. He dragged me, coughing violently, from the passenger seat and threw me onto the highway. “Remember this! I can’t stand being deceived!” With that, he turned, got back into the car, and was about to drive away. I struggled to my feet, desperately hitting the car window, trying to explain. “Marcus, it wasn’t me! I really don’t know anything!” Marcus rolled down the window, his eyes filled with disgust. “You’d better pray Lila is alright, or I swear, I won’t let you off the hook.” He rolled up the window, hit the gas, and did a U-turn right on the highway. I was flung several feet, tumbling along the asphalt, but he didn’t even look back, driving out of my sight. My phone was still in his car. Standing on the highway without a penny to my name, I was filled with despair. I tried to flag down passing cars, but no one dared to stop for a disheveled woman on a stormy highway at night. Helpless, I limped for five hours, dragging my bruised body, until I finally reached the nearest service area. With the help of the police, I finally made it back to my grandmother’s place. But in the end, I never saw Grandma one last time. I quietly handled Grandma’s funeral arrangements alone. To everyone’s questions about “why the grandson-in-law didn’t return,” I simply smiled. I bought a new phone in town. The moment I inserted the SIM card, messages started pouring in. Two unread messages from Marcus’s profile picture. Every single word pierced my heart. “Good thing Lila is okay. You should learn your lesson, and stop complaining to Grandma.” “Lila is young, and she’s been through a lot of fright this time. I’ll come back to see Grandma after I’ve calmed her down.” I blinked hard, trying to keep the tears from falling. I glanced at Grandma’s portrait in the living room, then replied directly with, “No need.” My phone rang. “Eleanor Thorne” flashed across the screen. “Elara, I just heard about your grandmother…” “I’m so sorry, Elara, and I’m so sorry for your grandma too!” Eleanor Thorne’s voice, full of remorse, came through the phone. Tears fell like broken pearls, impossible to wipe away. I choked out, “Eleanor, please, just let me go. Grant me this freedom.” “Elara, you can’t give up on Marcus! He truly won’t survive without you.” “I know he acted like a jerk and hurt you. But don’t worry, I’ll fix this mistake quickly.” I let out a soft laugh. “It’s too late.” I had counted the days. In three days, the fetus would be three months old. It was the seventh day since Grandma’s passing, and according to tradition, Grandma’s ashes were to be enshrined at The Serenity Monastery atop the mountain. It happened to be the monastery’s monthly communal prayer and meditation session, so the place was bustling. I saw Marcus, whom I hadn’t seen in days. He was standing among the college volunteer group, carefully protecting Lila Monroe, who was doing volunteer work. 4 He held an umbrella over her to shield her from the sun, periodically offered her water, and gently wiped the sweat from her temples. The surrounding students cast envious glances at them. Whispers filled the air. “Wow, he’s the epitome of a good man. I want to find a man like that someday.” “Lila Monroe is so lucky. Even if she’s the other woman, I hear she’s about to become the official wife.” “He’s such a great catch, I’d be willing to be the other woman too.” … I shook my head, carrying Grandma’s urn into the main hall. After the ceremony, as I prepared to place Grandma’s urn in the columbarium, A pair of hands suddenly reached out. Before I could even see who it was, I felt my hand lighten, Then I heard Lila Monroe shriek. *Crash!* The urn hit the ground with a heavy thud, shattering into pieces, and the grey-white ashes scattered everywhere. “I’m so sorry! I… I’m so sorry!” “I just wanted to help, I’ll clean it up right away.” Lila Monroe frantically tried to scoop up the ashes, only making a bigger mess. I trembled with rage, unable to bear it any longer. I slapped her across the face. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Lila Monroe clutched her cheek, looking utterly wronged. “I didn’t!” “The columbarium is part of my volunteer duties today, I just wanted to help! How could you just hit me?” Marcus appeared from somewhere, pulling the tear-streaked Lila Monroe into his embrace. His eyes, when he looked at me, were like shards of ice. “So what if an urn got broken? Was it really worth hitting someone over it?” I snapped my head up, my fingertips trembling uncontrollably. Heartbreak and despair surged through me again. “So what if an urn got broken?” “Marcus Thorne, are you even human?” Marcus clearly flinched. In three years of marriage, I had never said a harsh word to him, always gentle and poised. Perhaps my gaze had startled him. He softened his tone slightly. “Lila didn’t mean it.” “I can pay for it!” With that, he pulled out his checkbook from his inner suit pocket, and with a flourish, he signed a number and handed it to me. “Is that enough?” Looking at the check he offered, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain so intense I could barely breathe. Seeing me hesitate to take it, he frowned slightly, then tore off another check and wrote a new number. “Not enough?” His tone was so cold, as if he were merely discussing a business transaction. “What about this then?” The amounts grew larger and larger, but my heart grew colder and colder. Finally, I took the last check, and with all my strength, I said, “It’s enough.” Not just this check was enough… *We*, were enough! With that, I turned to clean up the ashes, but before I could, Marcus’s icy voice came from behind me. “Stop.” I paused, raising my eyes to him. “I’ve paid for the urn. Now it’s your turn to apologize!” I stared at him, my voice trembling as I said, “What if I don’t?” Marcus pulled Lila Monroe’s wrist, “Don’t be afraid. Hit her back.” My pupils constricted. Before I could react, I saw Marcus’s well-defined knuckles wrap around Lila’s hand, swiftly swinging towards me. *Slap!* My cheek stung, burning hot all the way to my scalp. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart, which felt like a gaping hole, hollow and whistling with wind. Marcus tenderly wiped away Lila Monroe’s tears with his thumb. “Feel better now?” After hearing Lila’s tearful “Mm,” he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and turned to leave. A sharp pain shot through my forehead, and a wave of dizziness swept over me. I collapsed weakly to the ground. In the distance, Marcus suddenly clutched his chest, his face turning ashen. 5 When I woke again, I was lying in a meditation room at the monastery, the pain in my forehead making me frown. I grabbed my phone from the bedside table. On the screen, the crimson mark on my forehead had faded to barely visible.
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