For five years, our marriage had been purely a business arrangement. Julian and I were still practically strangers. Even our intimate moments were strangely polite. Julian would always start the same way. He’d kiss my collarbone, a routine gesture, then tell me, “I’m starting now.” Then, slowly, inch by excruciating inch, he’d peel off my clothes, his voice a low whisper as he asked, “Is this okay?” His voice would be rough, almost a whisper, as he added, “If you’re uncomfortable, just say stop.” Minutes stretched into an eternity. The bed shook violently. My breath came in ragged gasps, my slender fingers clenching the sheets until my knuckles went white. I bit my lip, enduring for what felt like forever, before finally whispering. “I’m sorry, but this is getting out of hand. It’s been three hours, Julian. I can’t take anymore. Can we please stop?” Julian froze mid-motion, his body suddenly rigid. He immediately mumbled, “I’m sorry.” Then, unable to stop himself, he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. He apologized again, then vanished into the bathroom for a cold shower. The sound of the running water from the shower echoed for a long time. Only then did I finally start to breathe normally again. Slowly, I sat up. My fingers trembled as I pulled on my clothes, covering the kiss marks branding my skin. I clicked on the bedside lamp. Then, I leaned over and pulled a document from the nightstand drawer. It was a—A divorce agreement.
I let out a soft breath. Five years. It was time for everything to end. Everyone in our social circles knew about the strategic alliance through marriage between the Wynter and Hayes families. Julian Hayes and I, they said, had a wonderful relationship since our wedding, a model couple envied by all. But what no one knew was that we each harbored a secret love. Julian’s true love was Willow, his adoptive sister, but their societal roles kept them apart. My true love, Leo Blackwood, had died five years ago, making it impossible for us to ever be together again in this life. One parted by life, the other by death. On the very first day of our marriage, we confessed our true loves to each other and agreed to a marriage of convenience. It was a five-year contract to secure our families’ business interests and to avoid the pressure to marry. We would fulfill our obligations but nothing more. After five years, we would go our separate ways. Now, five years had passed, and it was time to end things. I was waiting for Julian to come out so I could talk to him, but then the bathroom door suddenly burst open. Julian hurried out, his hair still dripping water, grabbing his car keys and heading for the door. I froze, instinctively asking, “It’s so late. Where are you going?” Julian paused, his usually cool tone laced with urgency. “Willow had a nightmare. I need to go be with her. You should rest.” Willow Hayes. His adoptive sister, and his true love. I understood. Normally, no matter when he went to see Willow, I would never question him. Even when I had a car accident, a fever, or terrible period cramps… I strictly adhered to our agreement, alone in this empty house, never disturbing him and his true love. But today was different. Thinking about what I needed to discuss, I had to politely stop him. “Can you give me five minutes? I have something important to talk to you about.” Julian was clearly taken aback. “Is it that important?” I paused for a moment, then softly said, “It’s… moderately important.” Julian was about to speak when his phone suddenly rang. He glanced down. It was Willow. The moment he answered, her tearful voice came through the phone. “Brother, I’m so scared. Are you here yet? I want you to hold me while I sleep…” Julian’s eyes softened instantly, his voice gentle. “I’ll be there in a minute.” He hung up, then turned to me, speaking politely. “You can decide everything. No need for discussion.” I was stunned for a moment, then nodded. I flipped to the last page of the divorce agreement in my hand and offered it to him. “Then please sign.” Julian nodded, signing it without even looking, then turned and rushed out. Listening to the sound of his car engine fading into the distance, I picked up my phone and called my lawyer. “The divorce agreement has been signed. How soon can our relationship be legally dissolved?” The lawyer’s voice came through the phone. “Ms. Wynter, you just need to wait out the one-month cooling-off period.” I felt a significant weight lift off my chest. After hanging up, I opened my phone and booked a flight to Solara City. There was a reason I needed to go to Solara City. A while ago, my best friend, Chloe, saw a college student in a Solara City bar who looked exactly like Leo Blackwood. The boy seemed very poor, working part-time at the bar. I couldn’t stand the thought of someone in this world suffering such hardship while wearing a face so uncannily similar to Leo’s. Since he needed money, and I had plenty, I entertained the thought of making him my kept man. I asked Chloe to negotiate, and after two or three days of silence, he agreed. However, his grandmother lived in Solara City, so he couldn’t come to Averna City. I figured, my parents were gone, and I had no real family left here anyway. In that case, I might as well move to Solara City. As long as I could see that face, so much like Leo’s, every day, I imagined the rest of my life would be filled with joy.
That night, I had a wonderful dream. When I woke up, a faint smile still lingered on my lips. The thought of no longer having to play the polite farce of a respectful marriage, and instead seeing a face so similar to Leo’s every day, made my mood lighten considerably. I was even a little impatient, wishing time would speed up, just a little faster, for this “divorce cooling-off period” to pass quickly. When I went downstairs, the staff had already prepared breakfast. After eating, I was about to go back to my room to pack when I heard a commotion in the entryway. I looked up to see Julian pushing the door open, followed by Willow and several bodyguards carrying large bags. Julian wore a perfectly tailored black suit, making his broad shoulders and long legs even more striking, exuding an aura of cool elegance and nobility. Willow, on the other hand, wore a white dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, a sweet smile on her face. She held Julian’s arm, and they looked like a perfect match, a couple made in heaven. Julian stepped aside to let the bodyguards bring in the luggage, then turned to me to explain. “Willow has been having nightmares lately. She only feels safe when I’m around, so I’ve brought her to stay with us for a while.” He finished speaking and pulled a delicate gift box from his pocket, offering it to me. “This is a necklace I had someone bid on at an auction. Consider it… compensation.” I glanced down at the box, but didn’t reach for it. Instead, I gently pushed it back, my tone soft. “No, thank you. I don’t need compensation. There are plenty of rooms in the house; we have space.” Julian was clearly surprised. “You’re not angry?” I was more surprised than him. “Angry about what? After a month, I’ll be moving out anyway.” Julian froze, clearly not understanding my meaning. *What did she mean, she’d be moving out anyway after a month?* He was about to ask when Willow beside him spoke first. My lips curled into a triumphant smile, my voice tinged with a hint of provocation. “Well, thank you, Ms. Wynter.” She never called me “sister-in-law,” simply because she never acknowledged my status. Five years ago, when I first married into the Hayes family, Willow had stormed into our bridal suite with a group of bodyguards and smashed everything to pieces. Her eyes were red then, like a cornered animal, screaming hysterically, “How dare you steal my brother!” Later, Julian must have found some way to appease her, because after that, Willow never caused such a scene again. Perhaps it was because, whether Julian was married or not, his doting affection for Willow never lessened. He still went shopping with her, sang her to sleep, and even stayed by her bedside all night when she was sick. He treated her as he always had, loving her, while treating me, his wife, as if I were invisible. “Brother, didn’t you say you’d take me to the amusement park after we finished moving in?” Willow swayed Julian’s arm, her voice sweet as honey. Julian looked down at her, his gaze so tender it could melt. “Yes, we’ll go in a little while.” He finished, then looked up at me, as if he wanted to say something. But I still smiled gently. “You two go ahead. Just let me know if you’ll be back for dinner, and I’ll have the staff prepare it.” Willow’s lips curved when she heard this. “Well, thank you, Ms. Wynter.” I caught the hint of provocation and triumph in her voice, but I didn’t react. I just nodded politely and returned to my room. I spent the entire day packing. By the time everything was sorted, night had fallen. Julian and Willow hadn’t returned. I showered, changed into my nightclothes, and lay in bed, ready to sleep. Just as I was about to drift off, I heard voices outside the door. “Brother, please sleep with me. I’m scared alone.” It was Willow’s voice, a hint of childish pleading in it. “Willow, my wife is here. This isn’t appropriate.” Julian’s voice was still gentle, but tinged with a touch of helplessness. “What isn’t appropriate? You like me, and I like you. She’s just a prop anyway.” My fingers curled slightly, but I didn’t move, keeping my eyes closed as if I hadn’t heard a thing. Outside, Julian was silent for a moment, then spoke softly. “Willow, I can treat you just as well as before, and my heart belongs entirely to you, but nothing more. I’m still legally married. If anything were to happen between us, it wouldn’t be good for your reputation. Just know that I will always love you.” “Then you’re not allowed to touch her tonight.” Willow’s tone was demanding. Julian seemed to say something, but his voice was too low for me to catch. A moment later, the bedroom door was gently pushed open. Julian walked in, his gaze falling on the suitcase by the bed. He seemed a little surprised. “What’s with these bags?” I was about to tell him the truth, but then I remembered him saying earlier that I could decide everything. He didn’t even know about the divorce yet, so maybe there was no need to tell him I was leaving for Solara City either? So I lied. “Just decluttering for the new season.” Julian nodded, not asking further, and turned to enter the bathroom. When he came out after his shower, he was only wrapped in a towel, water droplets tracing a path down his chest to his V-line. He walked to the bed and leaned down, kissing my lips. I was stunned by the kiss, instinctively pushing him away. “Didn’t your sister say she didn’t want you to touch me?” Julian froze. “You heard that?” I nodded honestly. Julian was silent for a moment, not answering my question. Instead, he changed the subject. “I want you. Is that okay?”
I wanted to refuse, but then I remembered our agreement before the wedding to fulfill our marital duties. Since we weren’t officially divorced yet, I reluctantly nodded, forcing myself to agree. “Go ahead.” Julian leaned in and kissed my lips. I couldn’t help but let out a soft moan, my fingers gripping the bedsheets tightly. Julian rarely smiled, but he did then, his voice low and husky. “Can’t hold back? I’ll go easy on you then.” I closed my eyes and softly said, “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” Julian’s voice held a hint of amusement, and he deepened the kiss. When I woke up, the room was empty. I got up to wash, changed my clothes, and went downstairs. Julian had left at some point. In the dining room, only Willow was sitting, head bowed, eating breakfast. I walked to the dining table and politely asked, “Did you sleep well yesterday? Is breakfast to your liking?” Willow didn’t answer, didn’t even lift her head, as if I didn’t exist. I sighed softly, thinking how rude Willow was compared to Julian. I said nothing more, silently sat down, and began to eat. But as I picked up a slice of toast and took a bite, a wave of nausea suddenly washed over my stomach. I abruptly stood up, rushing to the bathroom and dry heaving over the sink. When I came out of the bathroom, I found Willow standing at the doorway, her face frighteningly dark. Her gaze pierced me like a knife, her voice icy. “Are you pregnant?” I froze, about to explain, but Willow had already completely lost it. Her voice was sharp and furious. “I tolerated you getting married, even tolerated you sleeping together, but I will *never* tolerate you having my brother’s child!” With that, she spun around and shouted at the bodyguards by the door, “Hold her down!” Then she told the staff, “Get the abortion pills!” The staff and bodyguards froze, exchanging glances, none daring to move. Willow’s eyes were already red as she shrieked, “Didn’t my brother tell you to take good care of me before he left? Now you’re not even listening to a word I say. Is this how you ‘take good care’ of me?!” The bodyguards and staff looked at each other, but ultimately didn’t dare defy her orders. They stepped forward and restrained me. I finally snapped out of my daze and struggled. “You’ve misunderstood, I’m not pregnant, I just have an upset stomach…” But Willow had completely lost her mind. Seeing that the staff hadn’t returned yet, she rushed into a room, rummaging through a medicine cabinet, pulled out a bottle of pills, and strode quickly towards me. “How dare you deny it? I won’t let you have this child, absolutely not!” Her voice was filled with madness. She gripped my jaw tightly, forced my mouth open, and brutally shoved the pills down my throat. I shook my head frantically, but the pills still slid down my throat. My stomach churned violently, and the excruciating pain made me almost unable to stand. Cold sweat trickled down my forehead, my vision blurred, and I tried to scream but found I couldn’t make a sound. Finally, I collapsed weakly to the floor, my consciousness fading. When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. Dimly, I heard the doctor’s helpless voice. “Mr. Hayes, your wife wasn’t pregnant. How could she be given abortion pills? Fortunately, she was brought in quickly and had her stomach pumped, otherwise almost half her stomach would have to be removed.”
I slowly opened my eyes. The doctor was gone, and Julian was sitting by the bed, his brows furrowed, a hint of guilt in his eyes. Seeing me awake, he quickly helped me sit up. “I know what happened. I’m so sorry. I didn’t think Willow would do something like that.” My stomach still ached terribly, and I barely had the strength to speak. I sighed faintly. “Let the police handle it. She’s not a child anymore; her impulsiveness could lead to serious trouble. A few days behind bars might do her some good, give her time to reflect.” I reached for my phone, ready to call the police, but Julian snatched it away. “No, Willow didn’t mean it, Iris. Let’s just drop this.” I froze, then processed his words. “ Are you saying… I went through that stomach pump for nothing?” Julian was silent for a moment, then said, after a long pause, “I’m sorry. I’ll compensate you, but please, don’t make trouble for Willow.” I looked at him and sighed again. “Aren’t you spoiling her too much?” Julian shook his head. “If your true love were still alive, you wouldn’t want him to suffer even a scratch, would you?” I froze. After a long while, I softly said, “I understand. Don’t let it happen again.” Even though I had decided to let Willow off the hook, the words somehow made Julian feel inexplicably uncomfortable. He stared at my face, and some words slipped out. “After all this time, you’re still thinking about him? Hasn’t he been gone for ages?” I didn’t understand why he suddenly said that. I liked Leo Blackwood; hadn’t he always known that? I had never interfered with his feelings for Willow, but now it seemed he was angry that I liked Leo. I was about to speak when Julian’s phone suddenly rang. It was Willow calling. After answering, he composed himself, the nameless anger he’d felt moments ago now suppressed. He stood up, returning to his polite demeanor, his voice tinged with helplessness. “Willow is acting up again. I have to go. I’ll come see you when I have time.” As I watched his hurried departure, I couldn’t help but call out to him. “Please tell your sister that she doesn’t need to worry about me getting pregnant. I won’t get pregnant. I had my tubes tied on the very first day we were together.” Julian’s steps halted abruptly. He turned back, disbelief in his eyes. “What did you say?!” I looked at him with growing surprise. In our five years of marriage, we had always treated each other with polite distance, and Julian’s face had always been expressionless. But today, I had rarely seen him so uncharacteristically reactive. I said, “I won’t have any children except Leo’s. You can understand that, can’t you?” Julian’s face instantly darkened, as if he was suppressing something. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Go get the surgery reversed immediately.” He finished, then, as if fearing my refusal, added, “This is a marital obligation.” I shook my head. “But we’re already in the process of getting divorced. I don’t need to fulfill marital obligations anymore.”
I finally told Julian the truth, but he didn’t hear it. Because just as I spoke, Willow called again, urging him. He whispered soothing words into the phone and quickly left. I let out a soft sigh, but there wasn’t much ripple in my heart. I had grown accustomed to such scenes. In Julian’s world, Willow was always the first priority. Over the next few days, Julian sent staff to deliver my meals daily and hired a nurse to care for me. Although he didn’t appear in person, the arrangements were quite thoughtful. The only downside was that my phone vibrated constantly with provocative pictures from Willow. Julian taking her shopping, buying her jewelry, taking her to upscale restaurants… Each photo came with text, flaunting Julian’s doting affection for her. I looked at these photos without a trace of jealousy. I simply forwarded each one to Julian with a caption: “Your sister sent this.” Julian was silent for a long time before replying politely, “I’m sorry, I’ll handle it.” I replied, “Okay, thank you.” I thought our conversation was over, but then Julian sent another message: “Did you go get the tubal ligation reversed? Please do it as soon as possible.” I stared at the message, not understanding why Julian was suddenly so insistent about this. We were getting divorced soon, and there was no way I would have his child, so his urging me to get surgery was pointless. Moreover, why was he so determined for me to reverse it? I put down my phone, simply choosing not to reply. On the day I was discharged, Julian came to pick me up himself. I opened the car door to find Willow sitting in the passenger seat. Willow turned around and said in a snide tone, “Brother and I are going to an auction later. I get car sick, so Ms. Wynter, if you don’t mind sitting in the back.” I said nothing, silently getting into the back seat. As soon as I was in the car, I heard Julian softly say to Willow, “Did you forget what I told you before?” Willow pouted, then reluctantly turned to me and said, “I’m sorry, Ms. Wynter, I was too impulsive before and caused you to be hospitalized. I apologize.” I was a little surprised, not expecting Willow to apologize. It wasn’t until I saw Willow’s swollen lips and Julian’s helpless expression that I instantly understood. Julian had always refused to touch Willow before, but now, to appease her and make her apologize to me, he had actually kissed her? I saw through it but didn’t say anything, merely nodding calmly. Julian glanced at me through the rearview mirror and asked again, “Did you get that surgery reversed?” I didn’t know why he asked so many times, but I calmly replied, “Yes, I did.” I really hadn’t wanted to have children before, but things were different now. I thought of the college student who looked so much like Leo Blackwood. Life was long, and perhaps having a child who resembled Leo wouldn’t be so bad. Julian, however, misunderstood. He nodded, a hint of a smile in his eyes, seemingly pleased. He continued, “We’re taking Willow to an auction later. Iris, you should come along too.” I was about to refuse, but then I realized I hadn’t been out in a long time, so I nodded. At the auction, Julian bid on almost everything Willow showed interest in—jewelry, famous paintings, antiques… each item was incredibly valuable. People around us whispered, envious. “Mr. Hayes is so good to his adoptive sister, even better than to his wife.” Julian heard these words, turned to me, and asked in a gentle tone, “Is there anything you want? I’ll buy it for you.” I was about to shake my head when I suddenly saw a watch displayed on the auction stage. It was a classic men’s wristwatch, with a simple yet elegant design. *Leo would have looked so handsome wearing it,* I thought. But he couldn’t wear it anymore. However, I could buy it for the college student who looked like him. So, I raised my paddle and called out, “Three million.” At that moment, Julian’s eyes subtly changed. He had been buying things for Willow, but never for me. Yet I was thinking of buying a watch for myself? A complex emotion suddenly surged within him, and his gaze towards me softened a little.
Willow saw the way Julian looked at me, and her face instantly changed. “Five million!” I wasn’t to be outdone and raised my paddle, calling out a higher bid. “Six million!” “Seven million!” We went back and forth, the price soaring higher and higher. Finally, I pushed the bid sky-high, stunning everyone in the room. Everyone assumed I was buying the watch for Julian and exclaimed, “Ms. Wynter must truly love Mr. Hayes deeply!” When I received the watch, Julian draped his jacket over my shoulders and softly said, “Thank you. Please put it on me.” I froze, about to explain that the watch wasn’t for him, when Julian’s phone rang. He took a call; there was an urgent company matter that required his immediate attention. He could only leave in a hurry, asking the driver to take Willow and me back first. I had already bought what I wanted, so there was no need for me to stay. I turned and left the auction. As I was about to get into the car, I turned to tell Willow to hurry up, but then I saw her exchanging glances with one of the bodyguards. I had a bad feeling. Sure enough, the next second, the bodyguard delivered a chop to the back of my neck. My vision went black, and I passed out. When I woke up again, I found myself locked in a cold storage unit. The biting cold permeated everything, and my hands and feet were numb with frost. Willow stood outside the cold room, watching me with icy eyes through the glass. “Don’t think you can win my brother’s affection with a mere watch. He’ll always love only me.” I really didn’t know how to explain it to her. I shivered with cold, my voice filled with helplessness. “You’ve misunderstood. That watch wasn’t for your brother.” Willow froze, then sneered. “If not for him, then for whom? You can stay in this cold room. This is your punishment for coveting my brother.” With that, she violently smashed the watch I had bought on the ground and turned to leave. “Willow! Willow!” Even with my usually good temper, this time I was genuinely angry. I didn’t understand why Willow had to target me again and again like this. Julian should have told me that our marriage was just a business alliance. I had also heard Julian declare his true feelings to Willow countless times, saying his heart belonged only to her. If I had known Willow was so irrational, I probably wouldn’t have agreed to this business marriage in the first place. The cold room door was tightly shut, the outside world seemed cut off from me. My phone had long lost signal, and a thin layer of ice had formed on the screen. The cold felt like countless fine needles, pricking my skin, penetrating my very bones. Just as I felt I was about to freeze to death, my body on the verge of losing consciousness, a loud crash suddenly echoed. I vaguely looked over and saw the cold room door had been violently kicked open. Julian was running towards me. When I woke up again, I was lying in my bed at home. Julian sat by the bed, his eyes showing a hint of guilt and exhaustion. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize Willow would do something like this again.” I leaned against the headboard, my face pale. I softly asked, “So, I can’t hold her accountable this time either, can I?” Julian was silent for a moment, then softly said, “I’ve already punished her.” I looked up at him. “Punished her how?” Julian hesitated, his voice tinged with unease. “I… I made her eat one less bowl of rice.” I froze. After a long while, I softly said, “I see.” Julian looked at me, a hint of probing in his eyes. “Aren’t you angry?” I looked up, my gaze calm but tired. “I am angry. But then I thought, if Leo made a mistake, I wouldn’t have the heart to punish him either. Perhaps that’s just what it’s like to love someone. You love your sister so much, just like I love Leo.” Julian’s face suddenly changed. He abruptly stood up, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—a mix of anger and some indescribable sense of loss. I looked at him, feeling a little confused, wondering why he reacted so strongly. I waited for him to speak, but he just stood there, his lips moving, eventually only managing to squeeze out, “Can we… not mention him anymore?”
I froze, a hint of confusion in my eyes. “Why?” Julian’s voice was low and suppressed. “Because I don’t like it.” I looked at him, not understanding why. But I didn’t ask further. I lowered my head, let out a soft sigh, then looked up, my tone calm. “Alright. For the next seven days, I won’t mention him again.” Julian frowned, a hint of confusion in his voice. “Why seven days?” “Because in seven days, our marriage will be over.” However, my words were once again drowned out by Willow’s voice. Willow suddenly pushed the door open, her voice tinged with petulance and complaint. “Brother, you’ve doted on her enough. Can’t you dote on me too? You actually punished me for another woman! I didn’t even eat enough today.” Julian, uncharacteristically, seemed annoyed. “Stop it, Willow.” Willow pouted, her eyes instantly reddening. “You don’t love me anymore, do you? Fine, I’m leaving!” With that, she ran out, her eyes red. Julian watched her defiant retreating back, his brow etched with helplessness. He turned to me and said, “I’ll go check on her.” I hummed in acknowledgement. As their figures gradually disappeared, I got up to pour myself a glass of water, when I suddenly heard a loud crash from outside! My heart sank. I quickly got out of bed and went outside. I saw Willow lying on the roadside in the villa complex, covered in blood, with a car stopped nearby. The driver frantically got out to check, while Julian knelt beside Willow, his face terrifyingly pale. “Willow, don’t scare your brother…” His voice trembled as he clumsily picked Willow up and put her in the car, speeding towards the hospital. I stood rooted to the spot, stunned. This was the first time I had ever seen Julian so distraught. Fearing something serious had happened, I quickly hailed a taxi and followed them. Willow was rushed into the operating room. But after only a short while, the doctor hurried out, his voice grave. “The patient has lost too much blood and needs a transfusion, but the hospital’s blood bank is insufficient. What are we going to do?” Julian immediately rolled up his sleeve. “Take mine. We’re the same blood type!” The nurse quickly led him into the operating room, drawing the maximum tolerable amount, 400cc, but it still wasn’t enough. Just as she was about to stop drawing blood and find another solution, Julian grabbed her hand, his voice hoarse. “Keep drawing.” “We can’t…” “I said, keep drawing!” The nurse hesitated, then turned to me. “Ms. Wynter, please try to persuade Mr. Hayes. If we continue drawing, his body won’t be able to handle it.” I didn’t know how to persuade him, so I could only ask, “Julian, do you love her more than your own life?” Julian’s face was cold, and he answered almost without hesitation, “Yes.” I was silent for a moment, then turned to the nurse and said, “I can’t persuade him. Just do as he says.” The nurse was distraught, but seeing both of us with the same attitude, she reluctantly continued to draw blood. Not until 1000cc had been drawn was Julian’s face as white as paper, barely able to stand. But he stubbornly remained outside the operating room, refusing to leave. Fearing he might die there, I quickly walked over. “I’ll stay here and watch over her. You should rest.” Julian shook his head, his reddened eyes fixed on the operating room. “No, I’m worried.” I said nothing more, only stood silently by his side, watching the operating room door. Not until the doctor came out to announce that Willow was out of danger did Julian finally let out a sigh of relief. His body swayed, then he could no longer hold himself up and fainted.
I had originally thought that as long as I peacefully got through the remaining few days, I could completely leave this marriage and start a new life. But I didn’t expect something like this to happen, with Julian and Willow both hospitalized. I had to take care of both of them simultaneously, and for several days, I was utterly exhausted. And Willow, to top it off, was being incredibly difficult. Either she’d complain my porridge wasn’t tasty and splash the scalding hot粥 onto my hand. Or she’d say she wanted dessert in the middle of the night, making me drive out to buy it. I knew Willow was deliberately tormenting me. But I thought, since there were only a few days left of our marriage, I’d just endure it, and it would pass. I didn’t want any more conflict with Willow in these final days. Julian noticed my forbearance and said sympathetically, “You’ve worked hard these past few days. I’ll compensate you. What do you want?” I shook my head. “No, thank you.” Julian, however, seemed to take it to heart. When he had recovered a little, he had the nurse take care of Willow and took me out himself. That day, Julian took me to an amusement park—a place we had never been to in all our years of marriage. He bought me ice cream, rode the Ferris wheel with me, and even took a few photos of me in front of the carousel. We watched a movie, had a candlelight dinner, and did all the things a couple should do, without missing a single one. I wanted to say I didn’t like these things and that he didn’t need to do them, but seeing Julian so absorbed in the moment, I ultimately kept quiet. When I returned to the hospital, Willow was waiting at the door, her face dark with anger. She looked at me, her eyes tinged with madness. “Did my brother take you out on a date?” I was about to explain, but Willow suddenly raised her voice, agitated. “Don’t think for a second that this means he’s fallen for you! I’ll make you realize that in his heart, I will always absolutely crush you. No one can compare to me, not even you!” I wanted to say I already knew that, but before the words could leave my mouth, Willow had already covered my mouth and nose with a towel. The next second, my consciousness slowly blurred, and I passed out. When I woke up again, I found myself suspended by ropes over a cliff. The sea wind howled, and the waves crashed against the rocks with a deafening roar. The rough ropes chafed painfully against my wrists, and below me was the bottomless ocean. And right beside me, Willow was also suspended by ropes. A triumphant smile played on her face. “I hired a kidnapper to stage this, pretending we’ve both been abducted. My brother will be here soon. Who do you think he’ll save?” I looked at Willow, feeling utterly helpless. “You.” Willow snorted coldly. “At least you have some self-awareness.” I didn’t know what to say anymore. How could Julian have ever loved Willow? Not long after, Julian indeed arrived. He stood at the edge of the cliff, his face pale, his eyes filled with anxiety. A large case of money was thrown at his feet, but the kidnapper’s purpose wasn’t just about the money. He sneered, “Mr. Hayes, you can only save one of these two. Choose.” Julian roared, “I’ll save both of them!” The kidnapper impatiently brandished his knife. “Choose now, or both will die.” Julian’s gaze darted back and forth between Willow and me, his eyes filled with an unprecedented panic and struggle. As the kidnapper was about to cut the rope, he finally made his choice: “Save Willow!” He then looked at me, speaking with difficulty. “Willow just had a car accident, her body isn’t well, I…” I smiled, my voice calm. “It’s alright. Even if she hadn’t had an accident, you would still save her.” Julian’s heart violently clenched, as if pierced by my words. He was about to speak when, the next second, the kidnapper cut my rope. My body instantly plummeted into the sea, and the icy water completely swallowed me. “Iris!” When I woke up again, I was once more in a hospital bed. My wrists were wrapped in thick bandages, and my face was so pale it was almost translucent. Julian sat by the bed, his eyes showing a mix of exhaustion and guilt. “I’ve investigated. This kidnapping was Willow’s doing again. Three strikes and you’re out. It won’t happen again.” “I will definitely compensate you, Iris. Tell me what you want, and don’t say ‘nothing’.” I looked at him, my eyes as calm as still water. “Then go be with Willow. She must be terrified too.” Julian’s pupils widened slightly, a hint of shock in his gaze. “That’s the compensation you want?” I nodded, my voice calm. “Yes. Go be with her. That way, I won’t have to waste any more thought on you.” Julian’s throat seemed to be choked by something. After a long pause, he softly said, “Okay, I’ll come back after I’ve spent time with her.” With that, he tucked the blanket around me and hurried away. But I just quietly watched his retreating back, gently shaking my head. No need, because today, I was leaving. After Julian left, I disregarded the nurse’s protests, pulled out my IV drip, and checked myself out of the hospital. My flight was at eleven o’clock. Now, I only had two hours to settle everything. I quickly hailed a taxi to the courthouse and got my divorce certificate as fast as possible. Then I returned home, placing the divorce certificate, the divorce agreement, and my wedding ring together on the coffee table where he would surely see them. Finally, I picked up my packed luggage, left the keys, and walked out of the villa. Standing at the villa gate, I took one last look at the house I had lived in for five years. “Goodbye, Julian Hayes.” These five years were truly over.
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