On New Year’s Eve, my husband, Daniel, personally handled the kidney transplant for me, his wife, who he claimed was suffering from uremia. As I was slowly regaining consciousness, I overheard the anesthesiologist and nurse talking. “Dr. Daniel was truly ruthless this time. He personally removed his wife’s healthy kidney to transplant into his mistress.” “I heard Audrey wasn’t sick at all; Dr. Daniel forged her medical records. The one truly in late-stage uremia was Holly.” “So now, what’s inside Audrey’s body is…” “Holly’s failing kidney. Dr. Daniel personally sewed it in.” I simply couldn’t believe my ears. The moment I opened my eyes, I struggled to prop myself up, a tearing pain erupting in my abdomen. “Daniel, I’m asking you, was I ever sick?!” My voice was hoarse. “Not before, but now you are.” He walked to my bedside. “Holly’s kidney, stage four uremia. I personally put it in you.” After saying that, Daniel turned and left. Watching his retreating back, my heart turned to ash. I sent a message to a phone number I hadn’t contacted in ten years: “I want to leave Daniel, and go with you. But before I go, Daniel has to pay!”

Holly and I were in the same room, with only three meters separating our beds. But the difference between us was worlds apart. My husband Daniel, my mother, and even a few familiar nurses, all hovered around Holly as if she were the center of the universe. “Holly, does it still hurt?” Daniel held her hand, his voice filled with tenderness. “Daniel, I’m fine…” Holly’s eyes were teary, but she forced a smile. “I just feel bad for Audrey, she must be in so much pain, right?” “What pain could she be in?” My mother said without turning her head, as she spoon-fed Holly soup. “Audrey’s always been healthy; losing a kidney is nothing. But you, you’ve always been weak since childhood. Now that you have a healthy kidney, you must take good care of yourself.” Holly saw that I was awake and suddenly burst into tears: “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault… I shouldn’t have accepted this kidney… but Daniel said if I didn’t, he would never speak to me again…” She struggled to get out of bed, pulling at her incision, and her face turned ghostly pale from the pain. “Holly!” Daniel and my mother exclaimed in unison. Daniel immediately pressed her back down. When he turned to look at me, his eyes were terrifyingly cold. “Audrey, can you please stop making a scene?” I turned my head away, not wanting to see any of them. My mom brought over a plate of freshly baked cookies. “Audrey, have some too. You used to love them when you were little.” I looked at the almonds on the cookies and suddenly burst out laughing. I laughed until tears streamed down my face. “Mom,” I said softly, “I’m allergic to almonds. Have you forgotten?” My mom’s hand trembled slightly. Daniel impatiently snatched the bowl. “If you’re not going to eat it, then don’t! Holly had good intentions, do you have to be so ungrateful?” “Daniel,” I looked up, at this man I had loved with all my heart for ten years. “If you love her so much, why don’t you give her your own kidney?” Slap— A loud slap. I turned my head, a metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. Daniel grabbed my hospital gown, dragged me off the bed, and pulled me towards the door of the ward. “Go outside and clear your head!” He pulled open the ward door, and the cold wind rushed in. “Daniel! Audrey just had surgery!” My mom finally cried out. Daniel paused for a moment. Holly’s weak voice chimed in, perfectly timed: “Daniel… don’t be like that to her… it’s all my fault…” Daniel’s hand loosened. Then, he pushed me out the door. Bang— The door closed behind me. I stood barefoot in the hallway, dressed in a thin hospital gown. Outside the window at the end of the corridor, fireworks exploded one after another, illuminating the city’s night sky. New Year’s Eve. Families everywhere were gathered. My husband was in the ward with another woman. My mother was making cookies for that mistress. And I, who had just had a healthy kidney removed and replaced with a failing one, was thrown into the hallway like a dog.

I don’t know how long I stood there. Until my legs went numb, and the pain from my incision became unbearable, almost numb itself. The door opened. Daniel walked out, and when he saw me still standing there, he froze. “You’re still here?” There was a hint of panic in his voice, quickly overshadowed by disgust. “Who are you trying to get sympathy from? Holly has been crying ever since because of you.” I turned my head and looked at him. “Daniel,” I said, “you will regret this.” He scoffed, “Regret? My biggest regret was marrying you. If it wasn’t for the pressure from your family back then, I would have already—” “Married Holly already?” I finished his sentence. His expression changed. “Daniel! The car’s here!” My mom’s voice came from the ward. “Holly said she wants to go home for the holiday, hurry and carry her downstairs!” Daniel gave me a long, deep look. “Do you want to come back with us?” I didn’t say anything. He took my silence as agreement. Daniel carefully carried Holly into the back seat, and my mom quickly got in after her. I stood by the car, looking at the seats, which were already full. “Audrey,” Daniel said, a hint of awkwardness in his voice, “How about… you make do and sit in the trunk? It’s only a ten-minute drive.” Before I could answer, Holly softly said, “Audrey, you really should come home with us. We’re family.” Family. How ironic. My mom also said, “Audrey, just make do. Holly is a patient, she can’t be out in the cold.” So, on the first day of the New Year, in the freezing ten-degree Fahrenheit night, I, fresh from kidney transplant surgery, was shoved into the car trunk by my husband and mother. Thud. The lid slammed shut. Darkness and bone-chilling cold enveloped me. My incision tore open with every bump, and I curled up in pain, biting my wrist to keep from crying out. Through the thin car wall, I could hear their cheerful chatter. “Daniel, drive slower, I feel a little dizzy.” “Okay, I’ll drive slower.” “Holly said she wants shrimp,” my mom’s voice faintly drifted in, “Let’s buy some fresh ones.” “You’re both so good to me…” They leisurely picked out items in the market. I was in the trunk, my body temperature slowly draining away. Three hours. I endured three hours in the darkness and cold. When the trunk finally opened again, I was so frozen I couldn’t speak. Daniel saw my pale face and paused. “Audrey… I’m sorry, I forgot you were still in here.” He reached out to help me, but my mom called from a distance, “Daniel! Come get the seafood!” He hesitated for a second. Then turned and walked away. “Audrey,” he said, looking back, “If you’re cold, just get out and walk around. We’ll call you when we’re done shopping.” I dragged my almost rigid body out. I stood by the roadside, watching them, a family of three. My husband, my mother, and the woman who now carried my kidney, walking towards the parking lot, laughing and chatting, loaded with bags of seafood. I stood there for ten minutes. Then, I saw that familiar black sedan slowly drive out of the parking lot. It didn’t stop. It didn’t look back. It just drove straight away.

It would take thirty minutes to walk home from the seafood market. This was the same road Daniel and I had walked countless times, hand-in-hand, when we first got married. He didn’t like takeout, so I learned to cook. He didn’t like vegetables, so I’d find creative ways to hide them in meat. He loved seafood, so I’d endure my allergies and accompany him to the market countless times, noting down the names and cooking methods of every type of fish and shrimp. He used to say, “Audrey, having you in my life is my greatest blessing.” Now, that blessing belonged to Holly. By the time I reached my building, the sky was already beginning to lighten. The house was brightly lit, and I could hear fierce arguing. I pushed open the door. Holly was pulling a suitcase, sobbing dramatically: “Audrey must hate me, I shouldn’t have come back!” My mom clung to her tightly, “Holly, don’t talk nonsense! This is your home!” Daniel saw me, clinging to me like a drowning man grasping at a straw: “Audrey! Quick, tell Holly you didn’t get lost on purpose!” I looked at them. Suddenly, I felt so tired. “Daniel,” I said, “didn’t you tell me to get out and walk? I walked back.” He froze. “Do you know I just had surgery?” I asked softly. “Do you know what it means for someone who just had a kidney removed to walk for thirty minutes in ten-degree Fahrenheit weather?” “I…” Daniel’s mouth opened, but no words came out. “You don’t know,” I finished for him. “Because your heart is only for Holly.” Holly suddenly rushed forward and dropped to her knees before me with a thud. “Audrey, I’ll give you back your kidney! I’ll give it back right now!” She tore at her hospital gown, revealing an incision in the exact same spot as mine. “Holly!” Daniel and my mom exclaimed in unison. Daniel immediately picked her up, then turned and roared at me, “Audrey! Are you only satisfied if you drive her to her death?!” I laughed. Laughed until tears streamed down my face. “Daniel,” I said, “take a closer look at her incision.” He froze. “A kidney transplant incision is usually in the mid-abdomen, at least fifteen centimeters long.” I slowly lifted my hospital gown, revealing the bandage-wrapped incision. “But hers…” Everyone’s gaze fell on Holly’s side. There was a bandage there, but it was only half the size of mine. Daniel’s mouth opened, but no words came out. “You all conspired to deceive me,” I said, each word deliberate. “You forged my medical records, tricked me into signing the surgical consent form, and took my healthy kidney. Daniel, you’re a doctor; you’ve committed aggravated assault.” Daniel finally panicked. “Audrey, let me explain…” “Explain what?” I cut him off. “Explain how you fell in love with Holly? Explain how you gradually plotted to make me ‘voluntarily’ give up my kidney? Explain how you convinced my mom to lie to me?” I turned to my mom. “Mom,” I asked, “Why?” She wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Holly… Holly saved my life…” Her voice trembled. “That year, in the car accident, she pulled me out of the wreckage…” “So you repay your debt using your daughter’s kidney?” I laughed, tears streaming down my face. “Mom, that year, in that car accident, I called 911. I gave you 500 milliliters of blood. How could you forget that?” My mother collapsed to the floor, covering her face and crying. Seeing this, Holly also cried and suddenly ran out the door. “Holly!” Daniel chased after her. My mom also scrambled up and stumbled out after them.

Only I remained in the house, along with a table full of now-cold seafood. Just then, I received a text message: “Happy New Year. Do you like this gift? Your kidney, your husband, your mother, they’re all mine now.” I put down my phone. I walked to the mirror. The person in the mirror had a ghastly pale face, red rashes all over, thick bandages wrapped around her abdomen, like a ridiculous monster. I looked for a long time. Then, I picked up my phone and dialed Alexander’s number. The call connected. “Three years ago, you asked me if I would leave Daniel and go with you. Now, I agree.” On the other end of the line, Alexander’s deep voice came through: “Location.” “Come to my place.” The call ended. I walked into the bedroom, retrieved my passport and a bank card from the safe. The bank card was secretly given to me by my dad before he passed away. He said, “Audrey, don’t let Daniel know about this money. Men can’t be trusted; you need to have a backup plan for yourself.” Back then, I laughed at him for being overly cautious. Now I know he was right. After packing a small bag, I returned to the living room and left a note on the dining table: “Daniel, I’ll send you the divorce papers. From today on, we’re both free.” “Mom, the debt of raising me, I’ve repaid with a kidney. From now on, we’re even.” As soon as I finished writing, the doorbell rang. I pulled open the door. Outside stood Alexander, tall and imposing, with a stern gaze. Behind him was a black Porsche. He took off his coat, wrapped it around me, and lifted me into his arms. “Alexander,” I asked, “where will you take me?” He opened the car door, gently placed me in the passenger seat, and leaned over to fasten my seatbelt. Then, he looked into my eyes and said, “Somewhere he’ll never find you.”

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Five years. Two thousand days and nights. I perfected the role of “Jax’s favorite toy.” By day, an indispensable assistant. By night, an obedient one. I never once asked for a title, never craved his affection. Even in bed, I meticulously copied her every move, her every whisper. Everyone said I was hopelessly in love with Jax. Until the night I learned Chloe had returned. Scarlett POV The lighter flared, its blue flame spitting and dancing in the dim room. Jax King leaned against the headboard, shirtless, his sharp features already hazing behind the fresh cigarette smoke. I didn’t look at him, just bent to pick up the clothes scattered across the floor. My knee scraped against the silk sheets, sending a sharp sting through my nerves. “Chloe arrives tomorrow.” His voice was hoarse, like he was announcing an arrangement that needed no discussion. My fingers paused on a button, just for a second, then quickly, deftly fastened it. “I know. My resignation letter is in your email. I’ll complete the handover with Miss Chloe tomorrow.” Jax King scoffed, the cigarette still between his lips. The next second, he reached out, clamping my chin, wrenching my face to his. “Scarlett, this professional act of yours, it’s sickening.” His fingers tightened, pressing painfully into my jaw. I didn’t utter a sound, just lowered my eyes, gazing at the angry red marks still scarring his torso. I’d left them there, moments ago, in a moment of lost control. “Good,” I said, my voice flat. “Because you won’t ever have to see it again.” He stared at me, his gaze dark and heavy, saying nothing. Soon, he released me, grabbing a check from the nightstand. He held it between two fingers, then casually tossed it onto my lap. “Five million. With the five million from our contract five years ago, that’s ten million total. Settled.” I picked up the check, glancing at the numbers. Just enough. Barely enough for Leo’s heart transplant next week. “Thank you.” I folded the check, slipped it into my bag, and started to get up. But a hand suddenly seized my wrist. The world tilted, and I was back on the bed before I could blink. His body was a hot, inescapable weight. “Taking the money and fleeing?” His breath was hot against my ear, his voice chillingly soft. “We’re not done.” I pushed against his shoulder. “Jax, Chloe’s back tomorrow.” “So what?” He bit hard, right on the fresh hickey blooming on my collarbone. The force was brutal. “Until she walks through that door, you’re mine. And I’ll have you whenever I damn well please.” I gasped, a sharp intake of breath from the pain. “No marks. She’ll notice.” That did the trick. His movements stopped instantly. He propped himself up, looking down at me, his gaze cold and hard. A moment later, he rolled off the bed and walked straight into the bathroom. The sound of running water quickly filled the room. I lay on the tangled sheets, staring at the chandelier on the ceiling. Didn’t care? How could I not? Five years ago, desperate for Leo’s surgery money, I signed that contract. I told myself it was just a deal. But the truth? I was already gone, lost to him the moment I first saw him, back in the campus library. For five years, I loved him. I wore white like Chloe. Drenched myself in her perfume. In the bed, I even mimicked her whispers, her sighs. Now the original was back. And I, the substitute, it was time to dissolve. I sat up on the bed, my legs still shaky. I straightened my clothes, checking that the five-million-dollar check was tucked securely against my body. That was the most important thing now. Outside the door, the electronic lock chimed. “Jax! I changed my flight! I’m back early!” The voice was clear, light, bubbling with undisguised joy. My fingers, mid-button, froze. The water in the bathroom stopped. The bedroom door swung open. Chloe, draped in a custom-made designer dress, fluttered in like a delicate butterfly. Our eyes met. The air seemed to drain from the room. Her smile faltered. Her gaze, sharp and calculating, raked over my disheveled hair, my slightly swollen lips, and the faint, undeniable bite marks I hadn’t quite managed to hide. “Scarlett?” Her voice turned sharp. “What are you doing in Jax’s room, so late?” Before I could speak, the bathroom door opened. Jax walked out, wrapped only in a towel, his hair still dripping. Seeing Chloe, he clearly paused. “Chloe, why are you back so early?” He strode towards her, passing me without a single glance. “Jax…” Chloe’s eyes welled up instantly. “Why is she here? What are you-” He pulled her close, murmuring soft comforts against her hair. Then he looked at me, his tone chillingly calm. “Scarlett was just here with some urgent documents,” he said smoothly. “I accidentally spilled coffee on her, so she came in to change.” Chloe sniffled, clearly unconvinced. “Documents that needed to be delivered… right onto your bed?” “The documents are over there.” He gestured to a file on the nightstand. It was an employment termination agreement. Dated today. His way of saying goodbye. Chloe saw it and laughed, tears still clinging to her lashes. She looked at me, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips. “So you’re leaving. I almost thought you were trying to seduce your boss, no boundaries at all.” I squeezed the strap of my bag, my fingertips aching. My gaze, against my will, drifted to Jax. He was bent over, gently wiping away Chloe’s tears, a tenderness so alien to me, it was almost laughable. “Well, the misunderstanding is cleared up,” He looked at me. “Scarlett, aren’t you going?” “Right.” I nodded. “Enjoy your reunion.” As I turned to leave, I heard her playful voice behind me. “This sheet is dirty, Jax. I can’t possibly sleep on it.” “I’ll have new ones brought up immediately.” “And I don’t like the smell in here.” “I’ll have everything dealt with tomorrow.” I closed the door, shutting out their voices. In the elevator mirror, my reflection was ghost-pale. The final five million. At last. Seven days. After Leo’s surgery, I would vanish. Goodbye, Jax.

Scarlett POV Monday. Top floor conference room, King Group headquarters. The air hung heavy and suffocating, thick with unspoken fear, like a tomb. “This is the best you could come up with?” Jax slammed a folder onto the long table, papers scattering everywhere. The executives sat with bowed heads, no one daring to speak. I stood behind him, bending to pick up the scattered documents, neatly categorizing them, and stacking them back on the corner of the table. “Jax,” I reminded him, “you have a video conference in ten minutes.” He irritably tugged at his tie. “Cancel it.” “It’s with the CEO of UBS. We can’t cancel.” I handed him the tablet. “All the relevant data is compiled, key points highlighted.” He scanned the screen, his expression visibly softening. The conference room door suddenly swung open. Chloe strolled in, carrying several exquisite insulated containers. “Jax! I brought you lunch!” Every eye in the room snapped to her, even the executive mid-report froze. Jax frowned. “Why didn’t anyone announce you?” “I just wanted to surprise you, honey!” She strode over in her heels, pushing me aside without a second thought. “Scarlett, darling, I can handle the little things. Why don’t you go take a break?” I took a step back. “Miss Chloe, this is a conference room.” “I know, silly.” She opened one of the containers, and the rich, savory scent of chicken soup instantly filled the stark, silent room, a jarring contrast to the tension. “Everyone’s working so hard, taste some of the soup I made!” No one dared to move. Jax rubbed his temples. “Chloe, we’re in a meeting.” “Even busy men need to eat, right?” She spooned a mouthful of soup, lifting it to his lips. “Here, open up.” I saw him hesitate for a second, then he took it. “Is it good?” “Mmm.” She beamed, then turned to me. “Scarlett, darling, you look positively ghastly. Too much stress from the handover? Here, have some soup!” She approached me, holding a steaming bowl. “No, thank you.” “Don’t be shy!” She insisted on pressing the bowl into my hands. With a sudden, deliberate jostle, Chloe let out a theatrical shriek, her hand conveniently “slipping.” The scalding hot soup splashed all over my chest and abdomen. I gasped, my back hitting the wall. My white shirt instantly became a second, burning skin, clinging transparently to my flesh. The skin, right before my eyes, turned an angry, blistering red. “Oh my god, Scarlett! How could you be so clumsy?!” Chloe cried, covering her mouth in feigned horror. “I was only trying to be nice, and you just dropped it!” Cold sweat beaded on my forehead, the agony clawing at me. I bit back a cry, my gaze locked on Chloe, pure venom in my eyes. “You did that on purpose.” “I did not!” She whirled and buried herself in Jax’s arms. “I was just trying to be kind, and she’s being mean and blaming me!” Jax stood up, his eyes briefly flicking to the angry red patch on my chest. It looked bad, even to him. His foot barely moved- “My hand got splashed too! It stings, Jax…” Chloe whimpered, crying even louder in his arms. He looked down at her hand. Then, he looked up at me, his voice hard as stone. “Scarlett, apologize to Chloe.” I stared at him, head snapping up, disbelief coiling in my gut. “Apologize? Me?” “You didn’t hold the bowl steady,” Jax said, his voice cold. “And you scared her.” The conference room was silent, like a tomb. Everyone knew Chloe had done it on purpose, but Jax had spoken. So it was my fault. My chest felt like it was on fire, but my heart burned worse. In his eyes, Chloe’s fake tears mattered more than my burning skin, more than my very life. “I’m sorry.” I lowered my head, my voice raw and hoarse. “Louder,” Jax pushed. “I’M SORRY! I WAS UNGRATEFUL! I WAS CLUMSY!” I yelled, refusing to cry. “Now get out. Go fix yourself up. You’re an eyesore.” I turned and left. In the restroom, I turned on the faucet, splashing cold water over and over onto my chest. The pain made me tremble. My phone buzzed. “Scarlett,” the voice on the other end was urgent, “Leo’s condition has worsened. He needs surgery this week. Is the money ready?” “It’s ready.” “I’ll transfer it right away.” I hung up, taking a deep, shuddering breath. Just a few more days. Just a few more days, and I would finally be free. I tended to my wound, changed into a spare black turtleneck sweater that covered all the marks, and returned to my desk. A tube of burn cream sat on my desk. No note. Just the cold, clinical gesture. I recognized the brand. Thousands of dollars a tube, top-tier, imported stuff. The kind that works wonders. I picked it up, then tossed it straight into the trash. Less than two minutes later, the internal phone rang. I walked into the CEO’s office. Chloe was gone. Only Jax remained. “Did you use the medicine?” he asked, not looking up from the documents he was reviewing. “Tossed it.” His pen scraped, tearing the paper. Jax looked up, his eyes dark and menacing. “What’s with the attitude? Chloe is going to be my wife. What’s a little inconvenience? Haven’t I paid you enough?” “Your ‘compensation,’ Jax, tastes like poison.” Jax laughed, a cold, humorless sound. He yanked open a drawer, snatched out a velvet box, and slammed it onto the desk. “Is this the attitude I get after paying you ten million?” The lid sprang open, revealing a glittering diamond necklace. “There’s a charity auction tonight. Chloe needs someone to model a necklace. You’re roughly her size. You’ll do it.” I stared at the necklace. I’d seen it two years ago, when I accompanied Jax on a business trip to Paris. I’d lingered, admiring it. “Like it? I’ll get it for you for your birthday,” he’d said. But on my birthday, Jax had been on a FaceTime call with Chloe, completely forgetting. Now it was Chloe’s prize, and I was merely the mannequin. “Jax, I’m injured. I can’t wear a gown.” “Then wear a high-neck dress. Figure it out.” Jax cut me off impatiently. “This is your last task before you leave. Do it well, and I’ll have accounting transfer the five million immediately. Mess it up…” He smirked, a cruel glint in his eyes. “Or your brother’s surgery? It can wait.” My blood ran cold, freezing in my veins. He knew exactly where to twist the knife. “Fine.” My voice, when it came, was a hollow whisper. “I’ll do it.”

Scarlett POV 8 PM. The Grand Victoria yacht. The charity auction blazed with lights, a glitterati gathering of the city’s elite. In the backstage dressing room. The makeup artist’s hands trembled as she saw the raw, weeping burn on my chest. “How… how can you wear a gown like this? One brush of fabric, and that skin’s coming right off.” I took the gauze, my face expressionless, and simply wrapped it around the wound a few times. “It’s fine. Just tie it tight.” The gown was a deep-V, backless mermaid dress. To hide the damage, the stylist added a delicate lace choker. It covered the worst of the burns, but ironically, only enhanced the raw, fragile vulnerability in my eyes. A hush fell over the room the moment I stepped into the spotlight. The spotlight caught me, illuminating the ‘Beloved’ diamond necklace glittering at my throat. But it was my face, stark and unreadable, that truly held their gaze. Cold, distant, like a dark rose blooming on a cliff’s edge, I was later told. Jax, seated at a table below, stared at me, his fingers absently tracing the rim of his wine glass. It was then I realized, for the first time, how truly I belonged in black. I used to wear white, pink, trying to mimic Chloe. Now, those colors seemed utterly bland. “Wow, who’s that model? Never seen her before, her presence is incredible.” “I hear she’s Mr. King’s assistant.” “His assistant? With looks like that?” The murmurs reached me faintly. Jax’s face darkened. I stood on stage, my gaze empty, not looking at anyone below. Jax raised his paddle, a casual flick of his wrist. “Fifty million.” A collective gasp rippled through the room. The price had just quintupled. The auctioneer frantically hammered his gavel. “Fifty million once! Fifty million twice! Sold!” On stage, I heard the number, my lashes fluttering. Fifty million. A casual flick of his wrist, just to buy a smile for Chloe. And I? I stood here, a piece of merchandise, enduring this agony for Leo’s paltry five million, his only hope. Just my luck. After the auction, I returned backstage. The moment I stepped in, Chloe, flanked by several bodyguards, blocked my way. “Take it off, now.” Chloe said, arms crossed, a sneer on her face. I reached for the necklace clasp. “Wait.” Chloe stepped closer. “Don’t you dare touch it with your filthy hands. I have a phobia of dirt. You’re disgusting.” “What do you want, Miss Chloe?” “Kneel.” Chloe pointed to the floor. “Crawl over here. Let me take it off myself.” I looked at Chloe’s twisted face, and a sudden, bitter laugh escaped me. “Chloe, Jax isn’t here. You can drop the act.” Then- Chloe’s hand lashed out, slamming hard against my face. “You pathetic bitch! You think Jax doesn’t know who I am? He adores me! He’ll protect me no matter what I do! You’re just a worn-out toy he’s done with!” My head snapped back, the sharp tang of blood filling my mouth. I didn’t fight back. Because through the mirror, I saw him. Jax. Leaning against the doorframe. He watched it all, silent, unmoving. My heart, finally, froze solid. Slowly, I sank to my knees. My knees hit the hard floor with a jarring thud. I crawled, inch by inch, towards Chloe, tilting my head back like a sacrificial lamb. Chloe let out a triumphant laugh, then roughly yanked the necklace off. The lace choker snagged. She gave it a violent tug. The gauze ripped away, tearing at the raw, tender skin beneath. “Ah! Blood! Ugh, that’s disgusting!” Chloe cried, throwing the necklace to the ground in revulsion. Jax finally moved. He strode in, shedding his jacket and roughly wrapping it around my trembling shoulders. “That’s enough.” Jax’s voice was low, devoid of emotion. Chloe instantly adopted a startled expression. “Jax, she’s bleeding! It’s so gross and scary!” Jax didn’t look at her. He just stared, hard, at me in his arms. My face was ashen from the pain, sweat plastering my hair to my temples, but I was still smiling. “Jax,” I said, “mission accomplished.” I shoved his hand away, shrugged off the jacket still warm with his scent, and let it fall to the ground. “The money. When will it be transferred?” Jax stared at the jacket on the floor, his eyes instantly turning menacing. “Do you have to be so transactional?” “We’re done. No more debts.” I pushed myself up, clinging to the table, swaying, but standing tall. I started for the door. “The transfer message by 9 AM tomorrow. Otherwise…” I turned back, my eyes hollow, dead. “I’ll send Chloe every single video from the past five years.” Jax’s eyes went wide, then narrowed to slits. “Are you threatening me?” I laughed. It was the first time I’d laughed so wildly, so desperately, in front of him. “Jax, even a cornered animal bites. Don’t push me.”

Scarlett POV The next morning, 9 AM. Hospital emergency room. My wound from last night was badly infected, spiking a fever, so I was stuck in the ER, hooked up to an IV. My phone screen lit up. No transfer message. Just a text from Jax: “Come to the office. We’ll talk.” I stared at the screen for three seconds, then yanked the IV from my hand, not even bothering to stop the bleeding, just slapped a flimsy bandage over it. I grabbed my bag, ready to leave. Just then, Leo’s attending physician stopped me. “Scarlett,” he began, “Dr. Mason made arrangements for Leo before he left, but his family has frozen his personal accounts. They’re demanding he go back and honor an arranged engagement. Until he does, not a cent moves. And they’ve got him on lockdown at home. So, about the funds…” My face went white. I knew Dr. Mason, the brilliant surgeon who’d been discreetly helping us, had nearly faced Jax’s wrath over this. His family, terrified of Jax’s power, had disowned him. I couldn’t drag him down any further. “‘Two hours,’ I cut him off, my voice steely. ‘The money will be there in two hours.’” King Group CEO’s office. When I pushed the door open, Jax was feeding Chloe cherries, one by one. Seeing me, Chloe deliberately nipped his finger, purring a playful complaint. “So sweet, Jax. You should try one.” Jax pulled his finger away, not even looking at me, and slowly, meticulously, wiped his hand with a wet wipe. “You’re here?” I walked to his desk, holding up my phone with the payment QR code. “Jax. It’s nine o’clock. Transfer the funds.” Jax tossed the wipe into the trash, leaned back, crossing his legs. “What’s the rush? Leo’s been in that hospital for ages. What’s a little longer?” “The doctors said tonight is the absolute last deadline.” My hand trembled, but my voice was steady. “Jax, don’t play with a man’s life.” “A life?” Jax scoffed, pulling open a drawer and tossing a stack of photos onto the desk. “See for yourself. Is this your dying brother?” Photos scattered across the floor. All of Leo. He was in a hospital gown, yes, but in the hospital’s garden, he was laughing with a young nurse, a drink in his hand. The photos were clearly taken from angles designed to deceive, showing Leo looking rosy and perfectly healthy. “Is this why you faked his illness to get five million?” Jax stood, advancing on me step by step, his eyes blazing with fury. “Scarlett, you’d curse your own brother to death for money? Is your heart truly that black?” I froze. Those were photos from last week. That was the day he had a brief remission. He’d forced himself downstairs for some air, just to make me think he was getting better. He hadn’t touched that drink. He was back in his room, coughing up blood and collapsing into a coma, minutes later. “No, it’s not…” I tried to explain. “Shut your mouth!” Jax clamped a hand around my throat, pushing me back against the desk. “Or is it that this money isn’t for Leo at all, but for your little runaway fantasy with Dr. Mason?” He threw another photo. In it, I’d fainted from low blood sugar, and Dr. Mason had caught me. The camera angle made it look like a kiss. Chloe, from the side, gasped. “My God, Scarlett! Are you really using Jax’s money to support a lover?! That’s utterly repulsive!” The air squeezed from my lungs. I looked into Jax’s eyes, filled with utter disgust, and suddenly, I didn’t want to explain anymore. What was the point of explaining? He only saw the ‘truth’ Chloe painted for him, twisted and ugly. “‘Yes,’ I choked out, a defiant whisper. ‘I am supporting a lover. So give me the money.’” Jax’s hand tightened, the storm in his eyes growing fiercer. “Fine. Very good.” He released me, and I collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. “You want money, huh?” Jax pulled out his wallet, flicked out a hotel room key card, and threw it at my face. “Tonight, there’s a dinner with Mr. Hayes. He’s… taken a particular interest in you. Spend the night with him. Keep him happy, and I’ll transfer the five million directly to you.” I stared at the key card on the floor. Mr. Hayes. A notorious pervert, rumored to have ruined more than one young woman. “Jax,” I whispered, my eyes burning, refusing to shed a single tear. “I’m your assistant.” “In my eyes, there’s no difference.” Jax turned his back to me. “Take the card and go, or watch Leo die. Your choice.” I knelt on the floor, my nails clawing five deep gouges into the plush carpet. A long time passed. Slowly, numbly, I reached out and picked up the key card. “Fine.” I stood, my body swaying slightly, but I stood tall. “As long as the money gets transferred, I’ll go.”

Scarlett POV 8 PM. The Grandeur Hotel, Room 888. I stood at the door, took a deep breath, and swiped the key card. The room was dark, but I heard the sound of water running in the bathroom. I stumbled to the coffee table, poured a glass of hard liquor, and threw it back. The fire in my throat barely dulled the twisting agony in my gut. The click of the bathroom door opening. But it wasn’t Mr. Hayes who emerged. It was Jax. He was wrapped in a bathrobe, his hair wet, his eyes dark with menace, as if he wanted to devour me whole. I froze. “You? Where’s Mr. Hayes?” “So eager to please that old pervert?” Jax strode towards me, shoving me onto the sofa, then looming over me. “Jax! What are you doing!” I struggled. “What am I doing? Inspecting the merchandise.” Jax roughly tore open my collar, buttons scattering. His cold fingers slid beneath my shirt, no preamble, just a brutal, humiliating penetration. “Since you’re so willing to whore yourself out, let’s see if this body of yours is even worth five million.” “Let go of me!” I thrashed violently, trying to knee him. Jax pinned both my hands above my head with one hand. His other hand continued its ruthless exploration. “Already wet?” Jax lifted his hand, his fingers glistening, a thin, suggestive trail in the air. He smirked coldly. “Scarlett, you’re perfectly trained. Who else but me could make you react like this?” Humiliation. A raw, burning shame unlike any I’d ever known. I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood, refusing to cry out, refusing to give him the satisfaction. I lay there, a dead weight, letting him light a fire, only to cruelly extinguish it. “Say something!” Jax, infuriated by my silence, bit down hard, right on the fresh, tender burn on my chest. A jolt of agonizing pain tore through me. It was where Chloe had scalded me yesterday, barely scabbed over, now broken open again. “Does that hurt, Scarlett?” Jax lifted his head, my blood smeared on his lips, smiling cruelly. “Good. Remember this pain, Scarlett. This is the price of betrayal.” He suddenly lost interest, getting up and adjusting his bathrobe. “Mr. Hayes isn’t coming tonight.” Jax looked down at me, disheveled and exposed. “You’re filthy. I wouldn’t want you to infect him.” I pulled my ripped clothes around me, curling into the corner of the sofa. “The money…?” “The money’s already transferred to the hospital account,” Jax said, lighting a cigarette. “But I froze the account again.” I snapped my head up. “What do you mean?” “Leo’s surgery is postponed.” Jax blew out a puff of smoke. “Chloe’s dog went missing last night. She’s upset, and she wants you to help her find it. The funds stay frozen until you do.” “Jax! This is a life! Your bodyguards could find it faster!” I shrieked, tears finally falling. “No. Chloe specifically requested you.” Jax flicked his ash. “Find the dog. Then we’ll talk.” Just then, Chloe’s voice came from outside the door. “Jax, aren’t you done yet? It’s going to rain, and my Snowball is still out there!” Jax stubbed out his cigarette and turned to leave. “Get dressed. And get out there to find that dog.” I watched his retreating back, despair washing over me like a tide. My hand closed around the fruit knife on the coffee table. For a split second, all I wanted was to plunge it into his heart. But I couldn’t. Leo was still on that breathing machine, waiting for me. I dropped the knife, trembling as I buttoned my last button. Find the dog. Fine. If it meant saving Leo, I’d walk through hell.

Scarlett POV The rain poured down in sheets. A desolate, muddy hillside on the outskirts of town. “Snowball! Snowball!” I stumbled through the thickets, sinking deep with every step. My thin shirt was drenched, clinging to my skin. Rain and mud blurred my vision, stinging my eyes. Jax’s car sat idling on the roadside, its headlights cutting through the rain, twin beams of cold, unforgiving judgment. Chloe rolled down the passenger window, shouting through a megaphone. “Scarlett, go check that ditch! Snowball loves to burrow in places like that!” It was a putrid, muddy ditch. I stood at the edge, trembling. My stomach churned with agony, my vision swimming from low blood sugar. “No… I can’t…” I whispered. “What was that?” Chloe didn’t quite hear me. She turned to Jax, pouting. “Jax, Scarlett isn’t willing. Looks like Leo’s surgery fund…” “I’LL GO!” I screamed, closed my eyes, and plunged into the stinking ditch. The cold, foul-smelling muck swallowed me whole, up to my thighs. Rotten branches tore at my skin. I fumbled through the mud. No dog. Nothing. “Oops. My mistake.” Chloe’s laugh, from the car, was unrestrained. She raised the megaphone again. “Scarlett, move it! My Snowball is a champion! Worth far more than your worthless brother rotting in that hospital bed! If Snowball gets sick from this, can your brother’s pathetic life even begin to cover the cost?” I had no strength left, no will to even acknowledge Chloe’s venomous words. Every step was like walking on thorns. I dragged myself to the car, my hand bracing against the window, gazing at the two dry, immaculate figures inside. “Jax, please… just a quick call to the hospital?” My voice was barely a whisper, utterly humble. “The doctors said it’s now or never.” Jax looked at my pathetic state, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by cold indifference. “Find the dog first.” “Please…” I suddenly sank to my knees. In the mud, facing his car window. “Jax, I’m begging you. I’ll do anything. Take my life if you want. Just unfreeze the funds, please?” I slammed my head against the ground. Again. My forehead struck sharp rocks, blood mingling with rain, streaking my face. Jax’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, his grip like a vice. He made a move as if to open the door. “Jax, look! Snowball! Over there!” Chloe suddenly pointed towards a tree on the hillside. The little white Pomeranian was huddled under a distant tree, seeking shelter. “Scarlett, go get it.” Jax commanded coldly. “Bring it back, and the money will be transferred instantly.” I looked up, through the blood and rain, towards the hilltop. A steep, treacherous slope, the earth loose and slick. “Fine.” I stood, swaying, then began to climb. It wasn’t just a dog. It was Leo’s life. The rain intensified, thunder rumbling. I scrambled, hands and knees in the mud, nails tearing into the earth, inching my way towards the tree. “Woof!” The startled dog snapped, its teeth sinking deep into my wrist, perilously close to the artery. Blood welled up instantly. I didn’t let go. Clutching the animal, I turned back. Then the ground vanished beneath us. The hillside collapsed. Dog and I were swept down in the cascade of earth and mud, consumed by the slide. As consciousness bled away, I thought I heard Jax screaming my name. But what did it matter now?

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Three years into our marriage, I was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. All I wanted was one final, proper meal with Julian. Instead, he abandoned me at the restaurant, left me to drown in the pouring rain, and served me divorce papers, all to be with Chloe, the woman who haunted his heart. He called me greedy, accused me of scheming, and forced me to leave with nothing. I simply smiled, signed the papers, wished them happiness, and then vanished from his world. After I left, he went completely insane. He smashed open my art studio, a place I never let him enter, only to find the walls covered with his portraits. He found the hidden transfer records of how I’d secretly filled the financial gaps when his company faced ruin. And tucked away in a corner he never bothered to look, there was a crumpled medical report. Only then did he realize I wasn’t after his money; I was just clinging to the last shred of love left in my dying life. Later, all of Manhattan saw the once arrogant and untouchable Julian Sterling kneeling at my tombstone, reduced to a sobbing wreck as he begged for a final glance. The wind might have heard his pleas, but I was long gone.

Audrey’s POV Today marked our third wedding anniversary. It was also the day I was handed my death sentence: late-stage gastric cancer. Three months, the doctor said. I clutched the thin report in my pocket, its sharp edges digging painfully into my palm. My stomach twisted in a familiar spasm, so intense that cold sweat beaded on my forehead. It was 9:30 PM. Two and a half hours had passed since our seven o’clock reservation. I’d sent him dozens of texts and called him five times. No answer. I told myself he was probably just busy. Julian was the CEO of Sterling Corp, constantly swamped with work. Being busy was his default. Over the past three years, I’d grown used to waiting. But a voice deep inside mocked me: Audrey, stop deluding yourself. Today, Chloe was back. The woman Julian held precious in his heart, the one he’d loved for ten whole years – his precious first love. And me? I was just a mere stand-in, a convenient pawn he used to appease his grandfather when he was at his lowest. My stomach clenched, harder this time. With trembling hands, I fumbled out two painkillers and dry-swallowed them. The bitterness did nothing to calm the storm raging inside. Just then, my phone screen finally lit up. It was Julian. I almost instantly hit “accept.” “Julian, are you done with work? I’m still at the restaurant.” “Who told you to wait?” His voice on the other end was devoid of warmth, impatiently cutting me off. “Audrey, can you stop being so childish? I have something extremely important going on today.” Extremely important… I heard a soft, fragile voice in the background, laced with tears: “Darling, I’m so sorry, did I interrupt something? I just got back, and I’m a little scared.” It was Chloe. So, his “extremely important” business was comforting his precious Chloe. “It’s fine.” Julian’s voice instantly softened, a tenderness I’d never heard from him, a warmth that had always been denied to me. “Don’t be scared. I’m right here.” It was a tenderness that felt like a knife, plunging straight into my heart and twisting brutally. I asked, “Julian, are you… coming back tonight?” It was our wedding anniversary. Even for just a second, I wanted to see him. The phone line went silent for a few seconds, then came an even deeper impatience. “Audrey, are you done making a scene?” “Chloe just got back to the country; she’s not feeling well. I need to be with her.” “Just take a cab home yourself. Don’t make a spectacle of yourself here.” A spectacle. My hopeful waiting, in his eyes, was nothing but an embarrassment. The rain outside intensified. The restaurant played soothing music, but I heard nothing but Julian’s cold words, a spectacle. The pain in my stomach surged again, like countless needles piercing me. My vision blurred from the agony, and breathing became a struggle. “Julian…” I gasped, using my last ounce of strength. “My stomach hurts.” I hoped he’d hear the vulnerability in my voice, hoped for even a second of concern. However, all I got was a cold scoff. “Audrey, what new game are you playing? Playing the victim won’t work on me.” “If you love acting so much, why don’t you go win an Oscar?” Beep… beep… The call was ruthlessly disconnected. I stood frozen. The rain outside blurred the entire world. Five years of loving him, three years married. In his heart, I was nothing more than a manipulative, insatiably greedy woman. Yet, I couldn’t shed a single tear. I paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant. The cold rain instantly drenched me, chilling me to the bone. I shivered uncontrollably. I didn’t call a cab. I walked step by painful step down the deserted street. By the time I reached the villa, I was soaked through. The living room lights were blazing. I pushed open the door. Julian sat on the sofa, his face grim. On the coffee table in front of him lay a stack of documents. Seeing me enter, he didn’t even lift his eyelids, just commanded in his usual tone, “Come here.” I stiffly moved my feet, each step like walking on razor blades. He finally deigned to look up. His deep eyes held nothing but raw, unconcealed disgust. “You’re tracking water everywhere. It’s filthy.” I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. He seemed too lazy to hear my explanation, directly tossing the documents in front of me. Divorce Settlement. “Chloe’s back,” Julian’s voice was flat, as if stating something entirely unrelated to him. “We’re getting a divorce.” I lowered my head, staring at those bold words. The sharp pain in my stomach strangely vanished. So, this was his three-year anniversary gift to me. Divorce papers.

Audrey’s POV I didn’t bother to read the specific terms of the agreement, just stared at those few words. Three years ago, Sterling Corp faced a crisis, and his grandfather was gravely ill. Julian was trapped, besieged from all sides. But Chloe, when he needed her most, chose to leave the country to pursue her music dreams, walking away without a second glance. It was I who used all my mother’s savings to plug the company’s financial hole. It was I who stayed by his side, sleepless nights, when he was blackout drunk. It was I who painstakingly prepared the perfect strategy to counter the board’s attacks. It was also I who learned to cook all sorts of stomach-soothing soups when he suffered from gastritis. I thought even the coldest heart would eventually warm to me, that my love could melt stone. But I forgot that Julian’s heart wasn’t stone; it was ice. Ice that only melted for Chloe. He married me because I bore a slight resemblance to her, and because his grandfather had practically blackmailed him with an ultimatum. For three years of marriage, he was utterly cold to me, grudging me even a civil glance. He never took me to any public events. In all of Manhattan, hardly anyone knew who I was, Mrs. Julian Sterling. He hadn’t even touched me once. We were husband and wife, yet we lived more like strangers under the same roof. Every effort, every attempt to win his favor, was twisted into ulterior motives and insatiable greed in his eyes. “What? Not enough for you?” Julian saw my continued silence and sneered, a cruel twist to his lips. “Audrey, don’t be so greedy.” “This villa, plus ten million in the account, is more than enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life.” “Don’t forget, you married me for money, didn’t you? Wasn’t that your whole game?” I slowly lifted my head, looking at his handsome yet cruel face. All I ever wanted was him. But what was the point of saying that now? I forced a faint smile. “Mr. Sterling is truly generous.” He frowned, then the contempt in his eyes deepened. “Good, glad you see sense.” I ignored him, turned, and went upstairs. I took a hot shower and changed into clean clothes. The pain in my stomach seemed to ease a little, but the hollowness in my heart grew wider. The next morning, I went for a follow-up at the hospital. The scent of antiseptic in the hallway was thick and suffocating. I sat on a cold bench, waiting for my number to be called. “Audrey?” A warm male voice spoke above me. I looked up, seeing a familiar face. The man, in a white coat and gold-rimmed glasses, had kind eyes and was looking at me with a hint of uncertainty. “Daniel Harrison?” I was surprised. Daniel, my college classmate and the president of our art club back then. He’d always looked out for me, like an older brother. We’d lost touch after graduation; I never expected to see him here. “It really is you.” Daniel sat beside me, his voice gentle. “What are you doing here? You look terrible. Are you not feeling well?” My eyes burned, and I choked back a sob. It had been so long since anyone had shown me such genuine concern. I shook my head. “It’s nothing, just a bit of stomach trouble. Here for a check-up.” I couldn’t tell him the truth. I didn’t want anyone to see my weakness or my mess. Daniel, a gastroenterologist, clearly didn’t buy my flimsy excuse. But seeing that I didn’t want to elaborate, he didn’t press, just sighed. “Audrey, you’ve lost so much weight. Have you been well these past few years?” Have I been well? I married the man I loved most, yet I lived the most miserable life. I lowered my eyes. “I’m doing great.” Daniel looked at me, his gaze complex, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, it just turned into another sigh. He pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it to me. “This is my number. If you ever feel unwell, you can always come to me.” “Thank you.” Leaving the hospital, Daniel insisted on driving me home. I couldn’t refuse him, so I got into his car. The car drove smoothly; we chatted about college memories, and the atmosphere lightened considerably. The gloom that had pressed on my heart for years seemed to lift a little. The car stopped at the villa gate. Just as I was about to get out, my phone buzzed. It was a text message from Julian. I opened it. A photo glared from the screen. In the picture, Daniel was gallantly opening the car door for me, a gentle smile on his face. The angle made it look incredibly suggestive, as if I was desperate to throw myself into his arms. Immediately, a second text popped up. “Already found a new fling? Audrey, you wasted no time, did you? Then hurry up and sign the papers. Don’t hold me back.” He’d had me followed. In his mind, I was that kind of disgusting woman. I looked out the car window. Daniel’s car was already a distant, blurry shadow. I returned to the villa. Julian wasn’t there. Good. I took out the divorce agreement and flipped to the last page. I picked up a pen and slowly signed my name where required. From this moment on, Audrey Harrison and Julian Sterling were completely severed.

Audrey’s POV After signing, I collapsed onto the sofa. The dull ache in my stomach returned, but I was too tired to reach for the pills. Compared to the pain in my heart, this physical discomfort was nothing. Julian didn’t come home for three days, probably enjoying his little world with Chloe. Good. That gave me quiet time to pack my things. There wasn’t much that truly belonged to me in this villa. Aside from a few clothes, it was just my art supplies and paintings in the small studio on the second floor. That studio was my sanctuary, my only forbidden zone. I never let Julian in. Because inside, it held all my love and all my deepest vulnerabilities. I was packing my art supplies when an unfamiliar number called. I hesitated but answered. “Audrey, it’s me, Chloe.” On the other end, Chloe’s voice was sweet and delicate, laced with a carefully crafted fragility. My hand tightened around the phone. I stayed silent. “Audrey, please don’t misunderstand. I don’t mean anything by it.” “I just wanted to meet you in person. There are some things I think we should clarify face-to-face.” “I’m busy.” I refused her outright. “Audrey, I know you’re still angry with Julian.” “But matters of the heart truly can’t be forced.” “Julian’s heart has always belonged to me. I’m truly sorry for your wasted three years.” Her voice sounded full of apology, but I could picture the triumphant smile on her face. “Just one meeting, okay? Downtown café. I’ll be there.” She hung up before I could speak. I didn’t want to go. But it was time to end this. I changed and took a cab to the café. Chloe was already there, wearing a white dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders. She looked pure and innocent, the picture of delicate vulnerability. No wonder Julian was so obsessed with her. She saw me and immediately stood up, offering a sweet smile. “Audrey, you came.” I ignored her familiarity, sitting across from her. “What do you want? Just say it.” Chloe stirred her coffee, head bowed, an expression of hesitation on her face. “Audrey, I know you’ve sacrificed a lot for Julian.” “But Julian recently mentioned to me that your spending has been very high, and he’s a bit worried…” Just a while ago, one of Sterling Corp.’s subsidiaries hit a major financial crisis. It was I who, anonymously, injected the last of my mother’s inheritance into the company, helping him through the tough spot. That was fifty million dollars. I hadn’t told anyone about it. “Julian said he knows you hold resentment, but he thinks it’s low for a wife to resort to this.” “He’s worried you might be siphoning off assets, so he’s temporarily frozen your bank cards.” Chloe looked up, eyes wide with feigned concern. I felt a wave of nausea. So, he not only thought I was cheating but also stealing his money. That’s why he’d frozen my cards. How utterly pathetic. I used my own money to save his company, and he thought I was robbing him. What a joke. I forced a cynical smile. “Are you finished?” Chloe was momentarily stunned by my reaction, then quickly reverted to her fragile demeanor. “I’m not here to accuse you.” “I just hope we can part ways amicably. Julian… he truly loves me.” As she spoke, she lifted her hand and casually brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. A massive pink diamond ring on her slender finger sparkled, an obnoxious flash. “Julian gave this to me yesterday. He said he designed it himself. He called it ‘My Only One.’” “He said, I’m his only one.” She looked at me, her smile full of blissful pride and blatant showing off. I recognized that ring. It was from my design sketch. A year ago, I spent an entire month designing it, naming it “Audrey’s Embrace,” a silent plea for a love I thought was finally mine. I’d left the design in his study, hoping to surprise him. But he hadn’t even glanced at it, tossing it straight into the trash. He’d said, “Audrey, keep your trash away from me. Don’t soil my sight.” Turns out, he didn’t dislike it; he just disliked it because it came from me. He had picked up my discarded design, had it made into a ring, and given it to his only one. And I was the pathetic joke. A sudden, violent spasm tore through my stomach, more intense than any before. I bit down hard on my lower lip, refusing to make a sound. I wouldn’t show any weakness in front of this woman. Chloe watched my agony, a flicker of triumph, cold and sharp, darted in her eyes, but her voice was laced with false concern: “What’s wrong? You look so pale. Are you feeling unwell?” Julian had seen me like this before. When my stomach pains flared, he’d just watched coldly, calling it a cheap trick to gain sympathy. They truly were a match made in hell. I took a deep breath, looked up at her, and said, “Chloe, don’t touch what isn’t yours.” Then, I looked at the ring on her hand and smiled. “And by the way, that ring is called ‘Audrey’s Embrace,’ not ‘My Only One.’” “I wish you both eternal happiness.” I stood up, no longer looking at her stunned face, and walked away. The moment I stepped out of the café, I could no longer hold myself upright, leaning against the wall, coughing violently. I slowly opened my palm. Blood. Dark and coppery.

Audrey’s POV Back at the villa, I immediately collapsed into bed. The physical pain and mental exhaustion intertwined, suffocating me. Chloe’s words, that ring, felt like poisoned thorns, tearing me apart. I thought my heart had turned to ash, but it still hurt. The next day, Julian’s assistant called, asking me to come to the office. I guessed it was about the divorce papers. This was only my second time stepping foot in Sterling Corp in three years. The first was three years ago, when I delivered the anonymous investment contract. The receptionist didn’t recognize me and stopped me. I gave my name and said I had an appointment with Mr. Sterling. After an internal call, she reluctantly let me through. I took the CEO’s private elevator to the top floor. The moment the doors opened, Mark, Julian’s assistant, was waiting anxiously. “Mrs. Sterling, you’re finally here.” Mark whispered, carefully. “Mr. Sterling is waiting for you in his office. He’s not in a good mood.” I nodded and walked towards the CEO’s office. I pushed open the door, and a wave of oppressive silence, thick with anger, hit me. Julian sat behind his enormous desk, his face stormy. Across from him, Chloe was weeping, her shoulders shaking, looking utterly pathetic. Seeing me enter, Julian’s gaze shot towards me like a sharp blade, full of icy rage. “Audrey, how dare you show your face here?” What did I do? “Julian, don’t blame her, it’s all my fault… all my fault…” Chloe sobbed harder, wiping away tears and choking out words. “I shouldn’t have left such important design drafts on the desk. I never thought… my sister… would…” Design drafts? A cold dread settled in my stomach. I had a terrible feeling. Sure enough, Julian snatched a stack of files from his desk and hurled them at my feet. “Tell me! Why did you do it?” Julian stood up, striding towards me, his tall figure radiating an intense pressure. “You leaked the company’s latest design drafts to our competitors to get back at me, didn’t you?” I froze. “I didn’t.” “Didn’t?” Julian scoffed, pointing at the crying Chloe. “Chloe saw you with her own eyes, sneaking around, rummaging through her things in her office.” “And then, this morning, our rival company released designs identical to ours! You still dare to deny it?” I looked at Chloe. She hid behind Julian, but a flicker of triumph was visible in her supposedly innocent eyes. I understood instantly. This was another one of her setups. Such a flimsy excuse, yet Julian bought it hook, line, and sinker. “I didn’t go into her office.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “I came to the company today because your assistant…” “Enough!” Julian roughly cut me off. “You still want to argue now? Audrey, I really underestimated you!” “I thought you were just greedy, but I never imagined your heart could be so malicious!” “To get revenge on me, you’d even sabotage the entire company’s interests!” His voice was loud, and the office door hadn’t been completely shut. Employees from the secretarial pool peered in, their faces alight with anticipation of a spectacle. I had become the company’s laughingstock. In front of everyone, my own husband was pointing a finger at me, accusing me of malicious intent. My heart felt squeezed by an invisible hand, making it impossible to breathe. I looked at this man who refused to seek the truth, only believing his precious Chloe. I just felt utterly exhausted. Loving someone to this extreme, I realized, left no room for hate. Only an empty ache. I gave up explaining, gave up struggling. I looked at the man I had loved for eight years. Then, I smiled softly. “Julian.” I spoke quietly. “I’ll sign.” Julian was taken aback by my sudden words, clearly not understanding. I ignored his shock. I walked directly to his desk, picking up the divorce settlement from the scattered papers on the floor. The agreement was stained with coffee, looking as messy as my three years of marriage. I turned to the last page, pointed to my signature, and showed it to him. “I said, I agree to the divorce.” Then, I slowly removed the wedding ring from my left ring finger. Julian had casually asked his assistant to buy this ring three years ago when we got married. It had no special design, and the size wasn’t even quite right. Yet, I had treasured it, wearing it for three full years without ever taking it off. Now, this cold metal band finally left my finger. I gently placed the ring on the desk, pushing it towards him. The metal clinked against the surface, a clear sound that felt like the death knell of my pathetic marriage. I looked up at him and said, “I wish you both eternal happiness.”

Audrey’s POV The entire office fell into a dead silence. Chloe stopped crying, staring at me in shock. The employees gathered at the doorway also widened their eyes. And Julian-that usually impassive face-showed a crack for the first time. “You…” His throat bobbed, as if he wanted to say something. But I no longer wanted to listen. I turned and walked toward the door. As I passed Chloe, I stopped and whispered, in a voice only she could hear, “Chloe, you won. I hope you never regret it.” Chloe’s face instantly paled. I didn’t look at her again, walking straight out of the office. Behind me, Julian’s roar, thick with suppressed rage, followed. “Audrey! Stop right there!” I didn’t stop. From the moment I signed my name and took off the ring, Julian, this man, was no longer anything to me. I returned to the villa and began packing my few belongings. Clothes, documents, and a photo my mother had left me. I took nothing else. I didn’t want any of the things Julian had bought for me. I only wanted what was truly mine. An hour later, Julian returned. He kicked open the bedroom door, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at me like a cornered beast. “Audrey, what is this? You think you can threaten me like this? Do you think I care?” I looked at him and found it almost funny. “Mr. Sterling, are you misunderstanding something?” I zipped my suitcase shut, stood up, and met his gaze calmly. “We’re divorced. I’m simply fulfilling the agreement and moving out of your house.” My calmness seemed to enrage him further. He grabbed my wrist, his grip so fierce it felt like my bones would shatter. “Divorced? I haven’t signed the papers, so this divorce isn’t final!” he snarled, gritting his teeth. “Audrey, don’t think you can just walk away so easily! You still owe me!” I owe him? For him, I abandoned my dream of becoming an artist. I sacrificed my pride and self-respect, almost even my life. What exactly did I owe him? “Julian, let go.” I was furious. “No!” He stubbornly clung to me. “You need to explain yourself! Why did you leak company secrets?” “Why did you suddenly agree to the divorce? What game are you playing now?” He still didn’t believe me. Even now, he still thought everything was a carefully orchestrated plot of mine. I suddenly felt incredibly tired. Too tired to even argue. “Believe whatever you want to believe.” I closed my eyes. “Julian, I’m exhausted. Let’s just end this, okay?” “End this?” He laughed as if I’d told the biggest joke. “Audrey, you were the one who shamelessly insisted on marrying me. And now you’re just walking away like this? What do you take me for?” I opened my eyes, looked at him, and said, “I take you for… the man I was blind to, the one I loved wrong.” His pupils constricted. His grip on my hand unconsciously loosened. He took a step back, staring at me in disbelief. This was probably the first time in three years I’d spoken such harsh words to him. I didn’t look at him again. I picked up my suitcase and walked straight downstairs. As I passed the locked art studio on the second floor, I paused. I looked back, taking a long, deep look at that door. Inside that room lay the love of my entire youth. Now, I was saying my final goodbye to them too. Julian followed me down. He noticed my gaze and scoffed. “What? Can’t bear to leave your dirty secrets? Still putting on a show?” I ignored his taunts, dragging my suitcase, and continued down. The front door of the villa was right in front of me. Outside, the sun was bright, almost blinding. I took a deep breath and pulled the door open. The moment I stepped out, Julian’s cold voice came from behind me. “Audrey, the agreement states very clearly, you leave with nothing.” “Aside from your personal belongings, not a single thread in this house belongs to you.” My steps faltered, but I didn’t turn back. “Don’t worry. Your things? I find them disgusting.” With that, I dragged my suitcase, leaving without a backward glance, walking out of the prison that had held me for three years. Behind me, the villa door slammed shut with a resounding bang. Goodbye, Julian. Goodbye, my foolish youth and love. From now on, I am just Audrey. Audrey, living for herself. The moment I stepped out of the villa complex, my tightly wound nerves suddenly snapped. Pain instantly overwhelmed me. The intense agony blurred my vision, and I almost collapsed. I grabbed a nearby tree trunk, gasping for breath, cold sweat soaking my back. Audrey, hold on. You’re free now. You can’t fall here. I desperately tried to hail a cab, but as I took a step, an uncontrollable metallic taste flooded my throat. I doubled over, coughing violently. Each cough tore at the wound in my stomach, making me curl into a ball. I opened my hand, staring at the bloodstains on my palm. My consciousness began to fade. So, this is what dying feels like. It’s fine. Freedom. Just before I completely lost consciousness, a black sedan screeched to a halt in front of me. The door opened, and a frantic figure rushed towards me. “Audrey! Audrey!” It was Daniel’s voice. He lifted me from the ground, and I could feel his arms trembling. “Don’t be scared. I’m taking you to the hospital. You’ll be okay, you’ll be okay…” He tried to comfort me, his voice laced with panic. Leaning against his warm embrace, smelling the faint scent of antiseptic on him, I felt a rare sense of peace. I struggled to open my eyes, wanting to thank him. But in the end, I passed out completely.

Julian’s POV In one of Manhattan’s most exclusive private clubs, I was drinking with a group of friends. Chloe nestled beside me, smiling as she poured me a drink. “Julian, congratulations! You finally dumped that leech and got your freedom back!” one of Julian’s cronies shouted, raising his glass. “Exactly! Women like her, who’ll do anything for money, should’ve been kicked out ages ago!” “Chloe, you’re so much better, kind and beautiful!” Everyone chimed in, their words full of contempt for Audrey and flattery for Chloe. I swirled the red wine in my glass, remaining silent. Yet, Audrey’s resolute back as she walked away, and her words, “I find them disgusting,” flashed uncontrollably in my mind. I tilted my head back and downed the wine in one gulp. “Julian, what’s wrong? You don’t seem happy?” Chloe’s keen senses picked up on my mood, and she asked with concern. “Nothing.” I set down the glass. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Audrey was finally out of my life; I should be celebrating. But why did I feel this hollow ache in my chest, a suffocating sense of panic? I even felt a hint of regret. Regret that I hadn’t chased after her. No. How could I regret it? I wished Audrey would disappear completely! It must be the alcohol. Just then, my phone rang wildly. It was an unfamiliar number. I intended to ignore it, but the persistent ring wouldn’t stop. Finally, I swiped to answer. “Who is this?” “Julian.” A cold, unfamiliar male voice came from the other end. “It’s Daniel Harrison, Audrey’s college classmate.” Audrey’s classmate? The man from the photo? I scoffed. “What? Not enough money, so you’ve come to extort me? Let me tell you, you won’t get a single dime!” This had to be a new scheme Audrey and that man cooked up together. A few seconds of silence on the other end. Then, Daniel’s voice came through, dripping with ice. “Julian, are you satisfied now?” “She’s dying.” She’s dying. Those two words exploded in my ears. It was utterly preposterous. “What the hell are you talking about?” I roared. Another new trick. What wouldn’t Audrey do for money, to stay by my side? Feigning illness, playing the victim, and now even claiming she was dying. It was truly laughable. “Whether I’m talking nonsense or not, you can come and see for yourself at City Central Hospital.” Daniel’s voice was devoid of warmth. “Late-stage stomach cancer. An acute gastric perforation caused massive internal bleeding. She’s in surgery now.” “Julian, if anything happens to her, I swear I won’t let you get away with it.” Late-stage stomach cancer? My mind went blank with a loud buzz. My hand, clutching the phone, tightened uncontrollably. Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Audrey had always been perfectly healthy. How could she have stomach cancer? This must be a new scam she and that bastard were trying to pull. Yes, it had to be. “Quite the performance.” I forced myself to calm down. “Tell Audrey this pathetic stunt won’t work on me. You think I’ll come rushing to her side? Dream on.” With that, I hung up. “Julian, who was that on the phone?” Chloe leaned closer, asking cautiously. “Some con artist.” I tossed my phone onto the table, picked up my glass, and took another large gulp. The burning liquor didn’t quell the growing irritation and panic in my heart. Daniel’s cold voice. The words late-stage stomach cancer. They echoed like a curse in my mind. I thought of Audrey’s perpetually pale face. I remembered the numerous times Audrey had clutched her stomach, groaning in pain, cold sweat on her forehead. I recalled the piercing red I’d accidentally seen when Audrey was leaning against a wall, coughing… No. It couldn’t be. Audrey was just faking it. She was just trying to win my sympathy. But my heart, for the first time, began to pound uncontrollably. “Julian, what’s wrong? You look awful.” Chloe’s voice pulled me back from my chaotic thoughts. Chloe’s face, so like Audrey’s yet more delicate and alluring, sharpened my irritation. This face… it’s so annoying. “I’m not feeling well. I’m going home.” I stood up, grabbed my jacket, and left the club without a backward glance. But I drove to the hospital. I had to see for myself if that woman was truly dying.

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On our wedding night, Ashton held me close and suddenly said: “I’ve been having an affair. It’s her birthday tonight, and I need to be with her.” My head started spinning. “If you love someone else, why did you marry me?” He got up and started getting dressed. My kiss marks were still visible on his neck. “Nora, I love you. But we’ve been together too long. I need some excitement.” My throat tightened. “So you’re going to leave me on our wedding night to celebrate another woman’s birthday?” He pinched my cheek. “You’re already my wife. We’ll have plenty of nights together in the future. Just let her have tonight.” “And if I don’t?” I asked. He smiled. “Then we’ll divorce. But you’ll get nothing!” Ashton sighed and stroked my hair. “Remember the day you tried on your wedding dress? I was in the fitting room right next to yours, taking her virginity. She didn’t dare make a sound, holding back her moans like a kitten. That kind of thrill is something you can’t give me. Do you understand?” All the blood in my body seemed to freeze, yet tears kept streaming down my face. That day, I had been so happy trying on what I thought was the most beautiful wedding dress. When I came out, I couldn’t find him anywhere. When I called, his voice sounded strained. He said he had an urgent business deal to handle. I thought he was just in a bad mood, so I stupidly tried to comfort him, telling him not to work too hard. Ashton caught my tears, his voice gentle: “Actually, I didn’t want to miss a single second of you in that wedding dress, but that little temptress was too clingy. I didn’t get out of bed all day.” I stared blankly at the ceiling for so long I forgot to blink. Ashton clicked his tongue and lifted my hand to kiss it. “I’m sorry, Nora. I know you’re hurt. If you really want a divorce, I can give you a villa in the city center as compensation.” “But if you’re willing to endure this for me, everything I have is yours. My heart too.” Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. I married the man I’d been with for eight years. Dream wedding, million-dollar diamond ring—everything felt like a fantasy. Just five minutes ago, we were making love, completely lost in each other. Now I was crying like a fool, asking him: “Why did you tell me? Why tonight of all nights?” Ashton wiped my tears over and over, his eyes almost tender: “Silly girl, because I care about you. I know I’m terrible, but now that we’re married, I should be honest with you.” He paused, then suddenly smiled: “Of course, there’s another reason. I’ve been dying to see your reaction when you found out the truth. Just like I imagined—so pitiful it makes me want to take care of you even more.” “So, let’s not divorce, okay? I’ll still love you like before, hmm?” I slapped him hard across the face. I grabbed everything within reach and threw it at him, screaming with all my strength: “Get out! Get the hell out!” Ashton tilted his head and wiped the corner of his mouth, standing up with a light laugh. He straightened his collar and walked toward the door. “Nora, calm down. I’m going to celebrate her birthday now.” The door closed softly. I saw my reflection in my ring—like a person who’d lost their mind.

I huddled in the corner of the bed, tearing at my hair like a madwoman. I banged my head against the wall over and over, until the pain became numb, until my consciousness sank completely into darkness. The moment I closed my eyes, I was transported back eight years. In that cramped room, Ashton stood between me and my abusive father, shielding me with his body. His back was a bloody mess. I screamed for them to stop. When the police sirens finally wailed, he smiled at me with a missing tooth: “Don’t be afraid, Nora. No one will ever hurt you again.” Later, we stayed in homeless shelters, collected recyclables. His thin back was my bed. Eventually, he worked construction sites, did sales jobs, until he finally earned enough for a tiny studio apartment. He held me tight and said: “Nora, we have a home now.” Those memories were too beautiful. I drowned in them in my dreams for too long. When I opened my eyes again, I’d been woken up by my best friend Jessica bombing me with SnapChat messages. “Nora! It has to be fake news! Ashton loves you so much! It can’t be true!” I numbly clicked on the link she sent. One glance made my whole body freeze. Ashton caught with his mistress having sex at a rooftop restaurant, witnessed by hundreds of people. It was trending everywhere. My hands shaking, I called him to demand answers. His voice was hoarse: “Oh, that. We just got carried away. I didn’t want you to see it. The news is hard to suppress. If you really can’t handle it, deal with it yourself?” Like a walking corpse, using the last of my strength, I went to the address he’d sent me. In a daze, I remembered when he was just starting his business. A real estate mogul’s daughter and an import-export tycoon’s heiress both pursued him. The whole city was betting on which wealthy family he’d marry into. But Ashton surprised everyone. He contacted hundreds of media outlets to publish just one sentence: “I have a girlfriend. I love her very much. Only death can separate us.” From that day on, the whole world knew Ashton loved me. That’s why today, his betrayal felt so shocking to everyone. I found Ashton’s second home, but ran into his assistant Richard at the door first. The way he looked at me, full of pity, made my breathing stop. I pushed open the door. Clothes were tangled all over the floor. Ashton was lounging on the sofa with a woman. Hearing the noise, he patted her back: “Get dressed. My wife is here. Show some manners.” The woman slowly pulled on her dress, acting cute as she asked him to zip up the back. Then she stuck her tongue out at me: “Sorry, I didn’t think Ashton would really leave you to celebrate my birthday. I got too excited and we got carried away.” She blinked, as if suddenly remembering something, and gasped: “I think we didn’t use protection. But I’ll take the morning-after pill, so don’t be mad, okay?” I covered my mouth as my stomach churned violently, bending over in painful dry heaves. Ashton’s expression changed. He immediately got up to support me: “Nora? What’s wrong? Are you okay? I’ll take you to the hospital!” I pushed away his hands as he tried to hold me. Tears and vomit came out together in a pathetic mess. Ashton’s face darkened as he barked at the woman: “Get out!” The woman stamped her foot and whined. Ashton frowned but still went over to kiss her lips, coaxing softly: “Don’t pout. I’ll have Richard buy you the pill later. Tonight I’m still yours, okay?” Only then was she satisfied. She deliberately draped her lacy underwear over his shoulder and shot me a provocative glance before leaving. Ashton casually tossed the scrap of fabric onto the sofa, then turned back with concern in his voice, gently rubbing my back: “Nora, feeling better? I know this is hard for you to accept. I understand. So if you want a divorce, I won’t blame you.” I wiped the filth from my mouth and looked up, staring at him with red, swollen eyes. “Ashton, I’m not divorcing you.” I didn’t even know what I was thinking. Maybe it was disgust, anger, but mostly it was unwillingness to let go. I didn’t want to cut my losses. I was like a gambler who’d lost everything, desperately clutching at the chips that said he still loved me. I cried, I screamed, I even held a knife to my own throat as a threat. Ashton finally gave in and promised he’d end things with that woman completely. See? He still cared about me. As long as he loved me, maybe everything could still go back to how it was. But I never expected the slap in the face to come so quickly.

A month later, on my birthday, photos of him getting intimate with Jessica in her office went viral. The double betrayal felt like a dull knife slicing my throat. I violently coughed up blood. I used all my strength to write a long expose, bribing media outlets to try and destroy both their reputations. But Ashton crushed all my struggles with one simple move. He produced a forged psychiatric evaluation and announced to the world that I was mentally unstable. At the same time, he paid a fortune to send Jessica to a top overseas university, saying at a press conference: “She is an exceptional woman. I look forward to her return after graduation.” I became a joke. And Ashton, after the spotlight faded, gently took my hand. His tone helpless yet indulgent, like comforting a child who didn’t understand: “Nora, last time you threatened me with your life, I was very unhappy. Sleeping with Jessica was just a little lesson for you.” He sighed: “I’ve been patient with you. I haven’t found anyone new for a whole month, but a man’s nature—you can’t stop it.” “I thought since you two were such good friends, you wouldn’t make such a scene. I’m disappointed.” “If you pull this again, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” The day after he said that, he found a college student. To show off his affection, and more importantly, to warn me. He sold our original studio apartment. That place held all our memories from when we were young. In that tiny studio, we once shared a single cup of instant ramen, dreaming about our beautiful future. He said he’d never let me down. I got on my knees and begged him. I could give up everything, just please keep that apartment. But I failed. The apartment money became Chloe the college student’s allowance. After two months with Chloe, he moved on to Lily, a restaurant server. My mental state was deteriorating. I went back and forth between therapists and an acupuncture clinic. I often ended up looking like a pincushion. Until one day I came home early and found Ashton with someone in our marital bed. This wasn’t the first time, but it was the first time I witnessed it myself. I attacked him like a madwoman, attacked that woman, and beat her badly enough to send her to the hospital. To get revenge for his new lover, Ashton had me committed to a psychiatric hospital. Three days of electroshock therapy. The day I came home, the bedroom door was locked. I could hear his heavy breathing inside: “Nora, wait outside for a bit. We’ll be done soon.” I waited from daylight until late into the night. When Ashton came out, I’d already slit my wrist with a knife. I woke up in the hospital. He was at my bedside with dark circles under his eyes. He gripped my hand tightly, his voice trembling: “I’m sorry, Nora. I went too far this time.” “But how could you gamble with your life like that?” “If you really can’t take it anymore, you can ask for a divorce. I’ll give you satisfactory compensation.” Eight years together—saying we hadn’t suffered would be a lie. But he suffered much more than I did. We didn’t eat well, but at least I could eat my fill. He was always hungry, collapsing at construction sites, collapsing on the street, collapsing right in front of me. That year I was so afraid he’d starve to death because of me, I threatened to break up, went on a hunger strike. That was the first time he cried, begging me not to leave: “Nora, don’t go. If you leave, I really won’t make it.” Now, lying in the hospital bed, I gently touched his face and asked seriously: “Ashton, do you still love me?” He squeezed my hand hard and kissed my palm over and over: “Silly girl, how could I not love you?” During my hospital stay, he seemed to transform back into the Ashton who used to love me most. We held hands, hugged, kissed, gave ourselves to each other.

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Walking out of the doctor’s office with the test results, my expression was grave. My husband glanced at the report and clearly saw the three words: ALS diagnosis. He didn’t say anything. When we got home, he cooked me an elaborate dinner. After we ate, he looked at me seriously. “Claire, we still have to pay for Jamie’s college. This disease is a bottomless pit, and there’s no cure. Maybe we shouldn’t treat it.” I stared at him in shock. He continued: “If I were the one who was sick, I definitely wouldn’t get treatment either. I couldn’t let myself drag down the whole family.” “Claire, I hope you understand.” Of course I understood him. So I nodded: “Okay, then we won’t treat it.” But he clearly hadn’t figured something out—I’m not the one who’s sick. 1 Marcus had been complaining lately about feeling weak all over. I wasn’t feeling well either, so we went to the hospital together for checkups. After the test results came back, the doctor called me into the office alone. “You’re Marcus’s wife, right? Based on his test results, he has ALS.” Those three letters exploded in my mind. I knew exactly what they meant. “Doctor, money isn’t an issue for us. We need to do everything possible to slow down my husband’s condition and give him a few more years of quality life. Where there’s life, there’s hope. I don’t care if we have to sell everything we own!” Coming out with the report, my whole body was shaking. I tried my best to control my expression, but Marcus still noticed something was wrong. He glanced at the test report in my hand. I quickly stuffed it into my bag. Marcus didn’t say anything. He just pulled me into his arms: “You must be hungry. Let’s go home and I’ll cook you something delicious!” He made a whole table of his specialties—all my favorite dishes. I couldn’t hold back. I started crying right in front of him. He gently wiped away my tears: “Let’s eat first. We can talk after.” I figured he must know. After dinner, we sat in silence for a long time. Marcus suddenly spoke: “Claire, maybe we shouldn’t treat it.” I cried harder: “No! The doctor said with proper treatment and disease management, we can still have several good years!” “But ALS treatment costs are too high. Hundreds of thousands a year. We’re already stretched thin!” I grabbed Marcus’s hand: “Don’t worry about the money. We both make good salaries. Even if only one of us keeps working, we can afford it. Worst case, we’ll just live more frugally.” “Claire, we still have to pay for Jamie’s college. This disease is a bottomless pit with no cure. We really shouldn’t treat it.” I froze. “What are you saying?” “If I were the one who was sick, I definitely wouldn’t get treatment. I couldn’t let myself drag down the whole family.” “Claire, I hope you understand.” Apparently he hadn’t looked closely at the name on the report. He thought I was the sick one. I pulled my hand away from his. My tears stopped instantly. Turns out it’s so easy to stop loving someone. “Fine. I understand. Then we won’t treat it.” 2 Marcus visibly relaxed. He grabbed my hand: “Claire, it’s not that I’m stingy with money. I’m just thinking about Jamie’s future.” “Our son needs to study abroad eventually, get married someday—everything costs money. If we drain our savings on medical treatment, what will Jamie do later?” “Most importantly, this disease has no cure. Why waste money on something that can’t be fixed?” I raised my hand: “Enough. Stop talking. If we’re not treating it, we’re not treating it. This disease really is a waste of money to treat. Besides, you already said if you had this disease you wouldn’t treat it either, so what reason do I have to insist?” “I’m glad you understand. With the money we save from treatment, we can travel abroad. See sights we’ve never seen, eat food we’ve never tried, experience different cultures. Wouldn’t that be great!” Suddenly I felt a bit guilty. Maybe I’d misunderstood Marcus. For his final days, I hoped Marcus could have a good time too. “Then book the tickets. Pick a place. The three of us will take a trip together, wherever you want to go.” “Okay, let me look up some travel guides first.” That night he was on his phone constantly. I thought he was researching destinations. But three days passed with no news. “Marcus, have you picked where we’re going? When are we leaving? I need to request time off from work.” Marcus’s eyes darted away: “I had everything booked, but then my dad suddenly got hospitalized. I need to go take care of him. I’m not comfortable with you and Jamie going alone.” “Let’s wait a bit. Once Dad’s better, we’ll go.” Marcus had this tell—whenever he lied, his eyes would shift around. “Then let me go visit Dad.” “You don’t need to. Hospitals aren’t good for your health if you go too often. Dad will understand.” “By the way, I won’t be coming home after work today. I’m going to the hospital to stay with Dad.” I didn’t call him out. I just nodded and said okay. At seven that evening, Marcus’s phone location showed he was at a bar. I immediately took a cab there. After checking with the front desk, I went straight to his private room. The door was slightly ajar. Before I even entered, I could hear Marcus inside boasting loudly. “Everyone here today is Vivian’s good friend. Don’t hold back! Order whatever you want to drink or eat. It’s on me!” Everyone cheered. “Marcus is so generous! We won’t worry about Vivian’s future with you.” Marcus had his arm around a woman I didn’t recognize, grinning from ear to ear. I pushed the door open. “Marcus, this is what you call taking care of your dad at the hospital?” The lively room instantly went silent. Marcus jerked his arm away from the woman’s shoulder like he’d been electrocuted. “Claire, what are you doing here?” “If I hadn’t come, how would I know you were having such a great time? Who was it I just heard saying they wanted to be with you?” “Vivian. She’s my new secretary.” “We just closed a big deal at the company, so I’m treating everyone to celebrate. There’s a nurse watching Dad. You don’t need to worry.” “I’ve been to your company many times. I’ve met your colleagues. Why don’t I recognize a single person here?” Vivian stood up, looking at me coldly: “They’re all my friends.” I smiled. “Mr. Marcus, you’re really generous—treating your new secretary’s friends to such an expensive place.” “Why don’t you introduce me to everyone?” Marcus stood frozen. I linked my arm through his and addressed the group: “Let me introduce myself. I’m Marcus’s wife. My name is Claire.” 3 The room fell completely silent. A girl next to Vivian said mockingly: “I know you. You’re Marcus’s wife with ALS.” “Marcus is such a good man—knowing you have this disease and still not divorcing you.” I looked at Marcus: “So even your new secretary’s friends know about this? You really don’t hold back, do you?” Marcus said nothing. I walked right up to Vivian. “Are you really in such a rush to take my place?” Vivian’s lip trembled and she started crying. Marcus stormed over, yanked me away, and slapped me across the face. “I organized this gathering. I asked Vivian to invite her friends. If you’re angry, take it out on me!” Looking at my husband getting furious over another woman, I felt like I didn’t even know him anymore. One illness had shown me exactly who my husband really was. Marcus was livid: “You’ve completely ruined the atmosphere.” He called over the server: “Check, please.” “We’ll end here for today. I’ll treat everyone again another time.” The server brought the bill. Total: $80,39

Marcus waved his hand and paid it without hesitation. I actually laughed. No money to treat his wife’s illness, but plenty to wine and dine his mistress. Marcus called a rideshare to take us home. The moment we walked through the door, he said: “Claire, let’s get divorced.” I paused: “Are you sure?” “I’m sure.” “Fine. Then let’s talk about how to divide our assets.” “We have $200,000 in savings. We each take $100,000. The house and Jamie both go to me. You have no objections to that, right?” Rage flooded through me: “Marcus, we’ve been married ten years. Our savings should be at least $3 million. Now there’s only $200,000 left? Are you kidding me?” “And this house—you bought it with a mortgage. We’ve been paying it off together. Why should it all go to you? And Jamie—I’m keeping him too!” “The savings really are only $200,000. Forgot to tell you—I used the money to start a small business. Lost it all.” “As for the house, even though we’ve both been paying the mortgage, the deed is in my parents’ names. It has nothing to do with you.” I slammed the table: “Marcus! When we got married, you clearly said this house was yours!” “It is my house. Just because it’s my house doesn’t mean I can’t put it in my parents’ names, right?” “Fine. You want to scheme against me like this? Then I won’t divorce you. Let’s see who outlasts who!” “Claire! Do you think you have many years left? If you won’t divorce me, then I’ll just wait to be widowed!” I sneered: “Then let’s just wait it out. See which one of us dies first.” Marcus violently smashed a glass on the table: “Marrying you was the worst luck of my life!” He slammed the door and left. This time I didn’t care where he went. I immediately contacted a lawyer to discuss divorce matters and asked her to help investigate Marcus’s transfer of marital assets, as well as how to fight for custody of Jamie. My eight-year-old son was trembling from our argument. He asked me: “Mom, are you going to divorce Dad?” I held him in my arms: “Sweetheart, if Mom and Dad separate, will you hate me?” My son shook his head: “It’s not your fault. Dad likes another lady now.” He pulled out the Polaroid camera I’d bought him: “I took pictures of Dad kissing that lady.”

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My pregnant wife was in excruciating pain, so I rushed her to the ER. After filling out the admission forms, the doctor gave me an earful: “Look, intercourse during pregnancy is generally safe, but you need to cut back! And when you do, take it easy on her.” Those words hit me like a bucket of ice water. I’d been on a business trip for two weeks and just got back today. I hadn’t even laid a hand on her. I asked the doctor in a low voice: “Could masturbation cause issues too?” The female doctor shot me a dirty look: “Don’t try to pin this on your wife! Whether you’re the one or not, you need to take proper precautions during pregnancy to lower miscarriage risks.” I nodded numbly. After a chaotic night, Cassandra had finally drifted off into a deep sleep in her hospital bed. She’d struggled with mild insomnia throughout her pregnancy. This was the first time she’d fallen asleep so fast. I went to tuck the blanket around her, when I caught a clear glimpse of the red marks all over her chest! Had she really cheated on me? Right before I came home? If I hadn’t texted her that I was landing soon, would I have walked in on them? The marks varied in color—some darker, some lighter. Clearly, they weren’t all from today. But remembering her past allergic reactions and skin rashes, I pulled out my phone to look it up. I found that some pregnant women do develop red rashes on their chests as their breasts grow during pregnancy. Once again, I pushed down the paranoid thoughts swirling in my head. To get back early to be with Cassandra, I’d pulled three all-nighters in a row at the office. Now, watching Cassandra breathing steadily in bed, I couldn’t sleep a wink. I stayed by her bedside all night long. When Cassandra woke up well-rested and energetic, she was shocked by the dark circles under my eyes: “Babe, you didn’t sleep at all last night?” She glanced at the empty bed next to hers, looking confused: “Didn’t the nurse tell you? You could’ve slept there.” I stared at her unblinking, looking kind of dazed. This face I’d cherished and protected was so beautiful. “Babe, is there something on my face?” I shook my head: “No, I was just too worried about you and the baby. I couldn’t fall asleep.” At that, Cassandra’s eyes immediately welled up. She affectionately looped her arm through mine and kissed my cheek: “Babe, I love you.” But the doctor’s words loomed over me like a dark cloud. When we got home, I found cigarette ashes while cleaning. Nobody in our house smoked. Cassandra definitely didn’t. Before she got pregnant, the smell of smoke would make her feel suffocated. After getting pregnant, she couldn’t stand it even more. So which guy had been to my house? And felt comfortable enough to smoke in the kitchen? Just then, Cassandra said to me: “Babe, your mom brought over a chicken the other day. Could you make me some chicken soup?” My mom had been here? That made sense then. After all, my mom was a smoker. I opened the fridge and sure enough, there was a fresh chicken, already cut up. After getting everything ready and putting the soup on to simmer, I called my mom: “Mom, thanks for looking after Cassandra!” “How’s her appetite been these past few days? Is the morning sickness any better?” My mom went on and on with advice about taking care of pregnant women, but then suddenly asked: “Liam, did you get a new car?”

My heart sank for no apparent reason: “I didn’t get a new car!” “Oh, I must have seen wrong then. Never mind.” My mom hung up before I could say anything else. After tidying up the house and bringing Cassandra a nice lunch at the hospital, I finally couldn’t hold out any longer and collapsed into bed. I forced myself not to overthink. But in my restless half-sleep, I kept feeling like someone was staring at me. The sleep was fitful because my mind was troubled. I even seemed to hear Cassandra calling me, but no matter how I struggled, I couldn’t wake up. In my semi-conscious state, I thought I heard familiar sounds of heavy breathing. I don’t know how much time passed before I finally woke up. Cassandra handed me some strawberries: “Try these, they’re so sweet!” Now that she mentioned it, my throat did feel dry. “You’re supposed to be resting. Why’d you go out to buy strawberries yourself?” “I didn’t go out. Delivery’s so easy these days.” I ate the strawberries, but my mind was weighed down with worry. Once suspicion takes root, you can’t control where your thoughts go. Unfortunately, even up until discharge, I couldn’t find any more evidence. But when I went to handle the discharge paperwork, the attending physician pointed at the ultrasound and said: “Your wife needs to watch her diet. She’s only in her second trimester, but the baby is already measuring large.” I blurted out: “How is that possible? She had severe morning sickness the first three months and couldn’t keep anything down. Her appetite only improved these past two months. How could the baby be measuring large?” “It’s related to metabolism. Maybe the baby just absorbs nutrients well, or maybe your wife’s last period date wasn’t accurate. Some variance is normal!” “At this rate, the baby is about a month ahead of other fetuses the same gestational age!” Hearing this, my vision went black! A month? How could there be so many coincidences? Dammit! Was the baby in Cassandra’s belly even mine? I’d dated Cassandra for three years, and her mother flat-out refused to let her marry me. But Cassandra proposed to me herself. A month later, she started having morning sickness. I’d never imagined Cassandra would betray me. Now my mind was completely blank. To catch the son of a bitch she was sleeping with, I secretly installed surveillance cameras at home. But even when the baby was almost due, I hadn’t found a single trace! After all, this was someone I’d loved for years. I still took meticulous care of Cassandra. But no matter how I controlled her diet, her belly kept growing like a balloon, way bigger than other women at the same stage. At 35 weeks, Cassandra went into premature labor. My heart dropped. When the doctor urged me to sign the surgery consent form, I signed with shaking hands. A premature baby weighing nine pounds? Who would believe that? My mom was grinning from ear to ear as she held the baby: “This little guy looks just like you did as a baby!” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I also hoped this chubby boy was my biological son. I took some of the baby’s hair for a paternity test. The waiting process was torture. When I got the results, the hope I’d been clinging to finally died…

The child had no blood relation to me whatsoever! After the other shoe dropped, I wasn’t in a rush anymore. Since Cassandra had played me like this, I wasn’t going to be polite either. While she was busy with postpartum recovery, I wasn’t idle either. Channeling my inner Sherlock Holmes, I investigated every man connected to Cassandra. Unfortunately, except for discovering an innocent teenage crush from her youth, I found nothing. Until the day before the wedding, Cassandra told me: “Babe, I have class tonight, so I’ll be home late, okay?” I hung up the phone casually. I watched her get into an Uber. I followed all the way to the airport. Looks like the mystery was about to be solved. I stared intently at Cassandra waiting in the crowd at arrivals. A tall guy wearing a baseball cap appeared, and Cassandra ran over and wrapped herself around his waist like a koala. The two kissed passionately, oblivious to everyone around them. I clenched my fists, forcing myself not to rush over. I tailed them all the way to a luxury hotel and watched them go into a room. My heart ached uncontrollably. Over the past six months, I’d gone from initial suspicion to denial, shock, and anger, gradually becoming cold and disappointed. Now I should be completely done with her. My years of genuine feelings meant absolutely nothing! Defeated, I punched the wall several times in the stairwell! I kept telling myself to stay calm. The pain from my swollen, bleeding knuckles shot through to my heart, but couldn’t mask the grief rising up again. I pulled out my phone and suddenly realized there had been signs all along. At some point, she’d stopped pestering me with silly, pointless jokes like she used to. She no longer rambled on about celebrity gossip. There was a time when we used to have endless things to talk about. Did she ever have any genuine feelings for me at all? Was I too busy? So busy that I never noticed her changing. Looking through our old chat history, hatred surged in my heart. It was time to end this charade! Getting close to the door, I could hear sounds that made my face burn. Timing it right, I knocked on the door. The man who answered was him. Steam from his recent shower still clung to his hair. He was casually wrapped in a bathrobe, his broad shoulders and narrow waist alluring. His exposed chest had several bite marks and scratches. Looks like things had gotten heated. Rage burned in my chest, adrenaline rushing to my head. I clenched my fists tightly and got straight to the point: “I’m looking for Cassandra!” “Oh, she’s in the shower!” The man’s nonchalance made my flushed face look pathetic. The man was a good half-head taller than me, creating invisible pressure just from the height difference. When I saw his chiseled, strikingly handsome face, I actually felt a twinge of inferiority. Facing me, but still with his hand on the door, the man said: “I’m Cassandra’s college classmate, Adrian.” That’s when Cassandra came out of the bathroom. “Did someone come?” Her lazy tone conveyed utter contentment. I bit my lip hard and said nothing. I wanted to see how Cassandra would react when she saw her husband. She was casually drying her hair as she walked to the door. When she saw it was me, panic clearly flashed in her eyes. Then she recovered from her initial surprise and awkwardly pulled the wide collar of her bathrobe closed. Adrian sensibly moved his hand from the door: “Come in and talk.” His manner of acting like he owned the place made me furious: “What have you two been doing alone together?!” I shoved the door wide open! “Cassandra, is this what you call ‘going to class’?”

Faced with my anger, Adrian remained calm as a rock. Like the ones who got caught weren’t them, but me. “If you don’t tend to your garden, someone else will come along and plant in it!” Even though I was prepared, I hadn’t expected this guy to be so shameless. “Is that right? Then why don’t you guess why I’d rather leave this ‘fertile field’ alone than touch it?” Cassandra’s expression immediately changed, and she stamped her foot indignantly: “Liam, what are you trying to say!” “What am I trying to say? You don’t get it?” “Don’t you know how dirty you are?” The moment I saw the guy’s face, I knew the baby was his. No matter how desperate I was, I’d never touch a cheap woman who’d been cheating on me from the start! I threw down the paternity test: “Cassandra, how long were you planning to lie to me?” Seeing the paternity test, Cassandra dropped all pretense, her face twisting: “You didn’t have to lift a finger to become a father. What more could you want?” So she was done pretending now that I’d torn off the mask! Not only was she shameless, she actually thought I should be grateful to them! I believe a good man never hits a woman. But in that moment, my hand was itching to move. I’d been slaving away at the company every day to keep the promise I made her. And she repaid me like this! Making a fool out of me?! I made the money while she stayed beautiful and had another man’s baby? My chest tightened with pain. My hand didn’t hesitate anymore. I slapped her hard across her flushed face. Not expecting me to actually hit her, Cassandra stumbled backward from the force. Adrian caught her quickly and steadied her. Those slender hands held firmly on Cassandra’s waist. Like he’d done that movement countless times before. “Liam! You hit me? You bastard!” Adrian frowned in displeasure as he helped Cassandra up: “Grow up. Can’t you handle this?” I laughed bitterly. He calls this “can’t handle it”? This was a first for me! “Cassandra, you’ve been playing me this whole time, haven’t you?” “This guy is your dream man you kept pining for, right?” “You’re so pathetic. Let me guess – he’s already married, isn’t he!” “When I was on that business trip, it was him, wasn’t it? That’s why you almost miscarried?” Hearing my rapid-fire questions, Cassandra’s face turned pale: “No! I didn’t mean to deceive you!” “I genuinely wanted to marry you at first!” “The pregnancy was an accident. You’re the one who wouldn’t let me get an abortion!” I was stunned. She’d thrown that blame at me so unexpectedly. Before I could respond, Adrian said with a sneer: “If Cassandra had really married me, you never would’ve had a chance!” “If she hadn’t rejected me to get back at you, you wouldn’t have been good enough to be my son’s father!” “I guess fate works in mysterious ways.” Turns out, when Cassandra found out Adrian was getting married, she decided to marry me out of spite. Adrian came back to stop her, but she refused. The two of them had one last perfect goodbye to commemorate their past! The result of that goodbye was me becoming a dad. Then Adrian had a shotgun wedding. Cassandra gave up completely, and came to propose to me while carrying Adrian’s baby. No wonder Cassandra looked so terrible when she first had morning sickness! She was terrified! She never expected to get pregnant! But she knew from the very beginning that the baby wasn’t mine! That’s why she started having insomnia! With guilt on her conscience, how could she sleep peacefully? When she first found out she was pregnant, she was particularly insistent that I didn’t need to accompany her to prenatal appointments. She insisted she could handle it and told me to work hard and earn money for baby formula! When the morning sickness was severe, she mentioned abortion several times. But I talked her out of it every time: “Honey, we’ve been together three years, and this is the first time you’ve gotten pregnant. It must be fate bringing us this baby.” At the time, her face was pale as she hugged the toilet, throwing up nothing but bile: “Honey, I…” She trailed off, unable to continue.

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My husband, Marcus, brushed off my objections and donated his sperm to his childhood best friend, Camille—all because she had a terminal illness and wanted a child. Afterward, he dismissed my feelings with a casual shrug. “Camille doesn’t have much time left, Audrey. Why would you start trouble with someone so sick? I promise, once she has the baby, I’ll make sure the kid calls you Mom.” Everyone assumed I was head over heels for Marcus, completely devoted—convinced I’d never walk away. But this time, I signed the divorce papers without hesitation. The next day, I booked a flight and left the country. I ran into Marcus again two years later at our high school reunion. The second I walked into the private room, he thrust a toddler into my arms, his face oozing arrogance. “Audrey, you’ve been throwing a fit for two years. Don’t you think it’s time to get over it? If you apologize to me in front of everyone, I might just let you be a mother to my child!” The crowd snickered behind their hands, murmuring about how lucky I was—how I’d “landed a ready-made family” without lifting a finger. I just held up my left hand, flashing my wedding ring. “No thanks. I already have a child and a husband. I don’t need to raise someone else’s kid!”

The words barely left my mouth when the room went dead silent. Everyone gaped at me before erupting into laughter. “Oh come on, Audrey! Everyone knows you were obsessed with Marcus. When he had kidney failure, you gave him one of yours! Someone like you wouldn’t just marry someone else—would you?” “Seriously? Could you at least make your lies believable? That’s so far-fetched—who’d buy that?” I rolled my eyes at their gossip. I didn’t blame them for being shocked. The old Audrey really had been head over heels for Marcus. When he was diagnosed with kidney failure, I didn’t hesitate to donate one of mine. Even now, my left side still aches when it rains—a constant reminder of that sacrifice. I always gave him the sweetest parts of the watermelon and checked every dish meticulously because I knew about his seafood allergy. Because I loved him, I even put up with him going on dates with his childhood sweetheart, Camille, over and over. I tolerated him fixing her hair and plating her food right in front of me. As long as he came home and remembered he had a wife, that was enough for me. Everyone knew I was love-struck, so they naturally figured I was just venting. Snapping back to the present, Camille—who’d been standing nearby—grabbed a wine bottle from the table and walked over. Her tone was casual, but her words were cutting. “Audrey, I know you’re still upset about what happened two years ago.” “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t gotten sick, Marcus never would’ve donated his sperm so I could have something to remember me by.” “Since everyone’s here today, I’ll have this drink as a public apology to you!” She grabbed a glass and chugged it, the strong liquor making her cough hard. Marcus jumped up, handed Noah to a nearby friend, and rushed over, patting Camille’s back gently. His voice mixed anger with concern. “Camille, are you out of your mind? The doctor said no drinking! Even if your condition’s been stable all these years, you need to take it easy!” After calming Camille down, Marcus shot me a smug look, his voice icy. “Audrey, you’ve been acting out for two years. That’s more than enough!” “I just donated sperm—it wasn’t like I cheated. Why are you still holding this grudge over something so small? Is it really that big of a deal?” Everyone started murmuring again. “Audrey’s totally overreacting. She gets a ready-made kid—if anything, it’s easier for her.” “And Marcus has been looking for her this whole time. She left for two years, and he searched for two years. Time to let the past go.” So donating sperm to someone else without my consent—a decision that should’ve been made together in our marriage—was just a “small thing” to Marcus? What surprised me more, though, was this idea that Marcus had been looking for me all this time. Why? Lost in thought, I heard Marcus announce, like it was a done deal: “Look, Audrey, Noah needs someone to take care of him right now. Since you’re back, you should step up with the kid. Even if he’s not biologically yours, you’re his legal mom—you have a responsibility.” I actually laughed out loud. Two years later, Marcus was still this arrogant—ordering me around like he had every right. But I wasn’t the Audrey he could push around anymore. The second Marcus made that decision two years ago—completely ignoring how I felt—my heart turned to stone toward him. I left the country without looking back. And I wasn’t just posturing earlier—I really was married with a kid. After moving abroad, I got a new job, and soon after, I met my husband, Liam. He stuck with me through those dark days, and before long, we got married and had an adorable son. My heart warmed just thinking about Liam and Leo. Snapping back to the moment, I shut him down cold. “No thanks. I’ve got my own kid to take care of. As for yours? Maybe his biological mom should step up.” At that, Camille’s eyes filled with tears. “Audrey, I know you hate me—that’s why you won’t accept my child.” “I want to raise Noah myself, but my body just can’t handle it…” “I’m trusting you—that’s why I’m begging you to help. Noah’s a good boy, he won’t be any trouble. Please… just help a sick person out.” Camille put on a show of bowing her head like she was begging, but Marcus quickly rushed to prop her up and comfort her. Then he turned, shooting me a cold glance. “Plenty of people want to be around Noah, but I wouldn’t trust them. It’s a privilege for you to care for him—don’t be ungrateful!” His eyes raked over my outfit, and Marcus sneered. “Audrey, must’ve been rough living overseas these past two years, huh? You can’t even afford decent clothes for a reunion.” “Quit putting on a front. Take good care of Noah, and I’ll give you a nice monthly allowance—way more than whatever crummy job you’ve got.” Camille joined in, acting like she was the one in charge. “Exactly. Take good care of Noah, and we’ll treat you right. At least you won’t have to dress so… basic.” That’s when everyone noticed my simple, casual clothes. Whispers erupted immediately. “Audrey’s living such a… normal life? She doesn’t even have any designer stuff?” “She should’ve thought twice before acting out! I heard Marcus’s career blew up right after she left. If she hadn’t run off to another country throwing a fit, she’d probably be living the high life now.” I just quirked my lips into a small smile. They had no idea my clothes weren’t ordinary at all. They were subtly custom-made, pure silk—easily worth a fortune. Seeing my smile, Marcus assumed I’d agreed to take Noah. He pulled out his phone, ready to transfer money to me. “I’ll send you some upfront. Go buy yourself nice clothes later—don’t let Noah think you’re cheap.” But as soon as he hit send, his phone showed “Transaction Failed”!

Marcus’s eyes went wide. “Audrey, you blocked me?!” I had to laugh. I’d deleted all his contact info two years ago. Was he just figuring that out now? Marcus looked totally humiliated and demanded I add him back immediately. I shot back coldly, “An ex-husband? Why would I bother?” “Besides, my husband doesn’t like me having random people in my contacts. It bugs him.” Seeing me keep refusing to play along, Marcus finally lost his cool. “Audrey, are you done with this act? I’ve given you an out—if you keep dragging this out, we’re getting a divorce!” Back in the day, Marcus would always threaten divorce when things didn’t go his way, making me back down. He thought he could still push me around like before. But I just let out a bitter laugh. “Marcus, don’t you remember? We got divorced two years ago.” The room went dead silent at my words. Marcus froze. “Divorced? When did that happen?” Then it hit him, and he scoffed, “I get it! This is just another one of your games, isn’t it? Two years later, and you’re still pulling this manipulative crap!” I shook my head, exasperated. “Marcus, didn’t you see the papers I left you two years ago?” Marcus looked confused. “What papers?” Before I left the country, I’d left Marcus a package. Inside was my wedding ring, which I’d taken off, plus a signed divorce agreement. I’d made him sign that divorce agreement the very day he ignored me and signed those sperm donation papers. He’d always been careless with me—signed it without even glancing at it. He probably hadn’t bothered to look inside that package two years ago. That’s why he had no idea we were already divorced—still thought I was just throwing a fit. I let out a bitter laugh, pulled the divorce decree copy from my bag, and slammed it on the table in front of him. “Marcus, that package had a signed divorce agreement. I made two copies—this is mine. Take a good look. We’re divorced.” Marcus picked up the papers, stunned. But when he saw his signature and the date, his face went white. “I… I signed this? How could I have signed something like this…?” “You did. Remember that ‘important document’ I had you sign the day you scheduled your donation appointment?” My reminder finally hit Marcus—too late. He realized what he’d signed that day was the divorce papers. His face went pale. The rest of the room was shocked too. “Audrey actually divorced him? Did she finally snap out of it?” “If they’re divorced, why’d she come back? Bet she still can’t get over Marcus.” Hearing that, Marcus lifted his chin, sure I still had feelings for him. Little did he know, I was only back in the country to be with my husband and son. Liam had a big industry summit to attend here, and Leo wanted to visit the local amusement park during his vacation. I’d just arrived when I got the reunion invite, so I figured I’d stop by. I was about to burst his bubble when his phone rang. It was his assistant. “Mr. Miller, we just got word that Mr. Smith from Wenyan Group is back in the country with his wife and kid—they’ll be at tonight’s charity gala too. The board wants us to add seats and roll out the red carpet.” “They specifically said to treat his wife well. Apparently Mr. Smith values her opinion more than anything—winning her over could make or break our future partnership.” That’s when I realized Marcus’s company was one of the gala organizers. As soon as Marcus hung up, everyone started sucking up to him. “Marcus, Wenyan Group is an industry giant! Your company actually connected with them? You’re set for life!” “I heard only the top players from every field are going to this gala. Can you hook us old classmates up with introductions?” Marcus gave me a smug look, looking down his nose at me. “Audrey, you regretting divorcing me in that fit of yours now?” “If you agree to take care of Noah, I might think about remarrying you…” The irony hit me hard. Wenyan Group was my husband’s company, and I was the “Mrs. Smith” they were so desperate to impress. Before Marcus could finish, I cut him off sharply. “Wenyan Group might not even want this collaboration.” Camille, who’d been quiet, gave me a sneer. “How would you know anything about that?” I enunciated each word clearly: “Because I am Mrs. Smith.” Silence. Everyone stared, jaws dropping. Camille actually laughed. “If you’re Mrs. Smith, then I’m Mr. Smith’s sister!” “Everyone knows Mr. Smith spoils his wife rotten! He just bought her some crazy expensive jewel at an auction! Mrs. Smith is like royalty—you think you can just pretend to be her?” “Look at you! You don’t look anything like Mrs. Smith!” I stayed calm, pulling a necklace out from under my collar. The pendant was a flawless, deep blue gem. “You mean this one? The ‘Star of the Deep Sea’?”

Everyone’s jaws hit the floor. “They went viral with that story about Mr. Smith buying that insane gem necklace! That looks exactly like what Audrey’s wearing!” “Does that mean… Audrey really is Mrs. Smith?” Camille’s eyes went wide when she recognized the necklace, jealousy flashing across her face. Before I could react, she lunged forward and snatched it, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Audrey, you’re shameless—wearing fakes to trick people! How dare you pretend to be Mrs. Smith?” “I’ll admit, this knockoff is pretty good—but it’s still a fake.” “Marcus is about to close a deal with Mr. Smith. Are you trying to sabotage him by pulling this Mrs. Smith act?” I gave her a icy stare. “Who said it’s fake? Give it back—now!” I stepped forward to take it back, but she pulled away, clutching the necklace tightly. The sharp setting could scratch the gem. My chest tightened. Liam had picked that out specially for me. Marcus scowled. “Audrey, it’s just a necklace. If Camille likes it, can’t you be the bigger person? I’ll buy you a better one later.” “Don’t bother,” I said coldly, stepping closer again. But Camille suddenly stumbled back with a gasp, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at Marcus. “Marcus, I didn’t mean to! I was just curious… I thought Audrey might still be mad at me…” Marcus rushed to hold her, then turned his anger on me. “That’s enough, Audrey! Camille’s sick—can’t you cut her some slack?” “You started this by pretending to be Mrs. Smith! Are you trying to ruin our company’s chance? Two years later and you’re still this bitter!” I met Camille’s provocative look, and it all clicked. She wasn’t even that sick. Her “terminal diagnosis” had always been fishy—her medical records wouldn’t hold up to real scrutiny. I’d mentioned it to Marcus before, but he’d called me bitter. Said I was just being malicious. And now? He was still choosing to believe her. I didn’t have the energy to argue. I braced myself for more accusations, just like old times. But he took a deep breath, like he was forcing himself to stay calm. “Fine. If Camille likes the necklace, just give it to her as an apology.” “Let’s drop it. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that crazy talk earlier.” That necklace was from Liam. No way was I handing it over. When Camille looked away, I snatched it back quick but careful, my voice icy. “This was a gift from my husband. You have no right to it.” I moved too fast—Marcus reached for it, but missed. Marcus’s face darkened when I wouldn’t let him off the hook. “Audrey, it’s just a necklace. Are you for real?” “Camille, forget it. I’ll buy you something even better—something that’ll make certain people sorry they crossed us!” I tuned them out, tucked the necklace safely away, and headed for the door. Later, I went back to the hotel to rest. That evening, I changed into a formal gown and headed to the charity gala. Before I left, Liam texted—he and Leo had just finished the amusement park fireworks and were on their way. He told me to go in and wait for them. Knowing Liam and Leo have a sweet tooth, I grabbed some desserts on a china plate, planning to find a seat and wait for them. I turned and ran straight into Marcus and Camille, both dressed to the nines. When he saw it was me, Marcus scowled. “How’d you get in here? What, you tracked me down hoping to get back together?” “Weren’t you so high and mighty earlier? Turns out you’re not that tough after all!” Camille saw me holding the pastries and giggled, her voice dripping with mockery. “Audrey, don’t tell me you’re working here? I heard the pay’s decent, but it’s still serving people. You’d be better off coming back to take care of Noah.” Marcus looked down his nose at me. “Audrey, if you beg nicely, I might—for old times’ sake—let you come back.” I kept my voice steady. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not staff. I’m waiting for my husband and son.” Camille laughed like she’d heard the funniest thing ever. “Audrey, the only family attending tonight is Mr. Smith’s. You’re not still claiming to be Mrs. Smith, are you?” “I’ve been telling the truth all along.” Camille crossed her arms and sneered. “Audrey, you’re a compulsive liar! How dare you spout this garbage at an event like this—still wearing that fake necklace!” “If Mr. Smith finds out, you’ll ruin this for all of us!” Before I could stop her, Camille lunged again, trying to grab my necklace. I stepped out of the way, but her momentum made her stumble into a nearby server table. Wine glasses crashed to the floor, shattering loudly. Her nail scraped my wrist, sending a sharp pain through my arm. Before I could check the injury, Camille pointed at me and screamed to the gathering crowd. “She’s a fake! She’s pretending to be Mrs. Smith! Get her out!” The commotion by the champagne tower drew a crowd. Marcus watched coldly from the sidelines, not saying a word to defend me. Then someone in the crowd murmured, “Mr. Smith is here!” Heads turned toward the entrance. I tried to catch Liam’s eye. But Marcus grabbed my wrist, his voice low. “Audrey, calm down! I know you followed me here because you can’t let go.” “If you stop this now, after the gala, I might hear you out. We could even have another baby—our own this time…” He tried to pull me closer, but I wrenched my hand free. Liam had already noticed the chaos. He walked over holding Leo, his forehead creased. “What’s going on here?” Camille instantly put on a polite, wronged expression. “Mr. Smith, this woman is impersonating your wife and making a scene. I was just trying to ask her to leave…” Marcus jumped in, “Yes, Mr. Smith, just a little misunderstanding. Nothing to worry about.” Suddenly Leo squirmed out of Liam’s arms and ran to me. When he saw the red mark on my wrist, his little face fell. “Mommy, what happened to your hand? Who hurt you?”

The room went silent—everyone was stunned. “Wait, that kid just called her ‘Mommy’?” “So… she really is Mrs. Smith?” Marcus and Camille froze, their faces white with shock. “Audrey, how could you be married to Mr. Smith?” “No, that’s not possible!” Marcus knelt down, forcing a smile as he talked to my son. “Hey there, little guy—you must be confused. This lady… she’s my ex-wife. She can’t be your mommy.” Leo’s face scrunched up, his cheeks puffing out in anger. “I’m not confused! This is my Mommy! She’s never been your wife!” Leo ran to my side, gently taking my scratched wrist and blowing on it with his little lips. “Mommy, does it hurt?” “Who did this? I’ll tell Daddy to teach them a lesson!” Leo tugged Liam over, looking up at him to tattle. “Daddy, Mommy got hurt!” Liam took my hand gently. When he saw the red mark, his eyes turned cold. “Does it hurt?” I shook my head, glancing at the broken glasses. “I’m okay. Just hate ruining this dress… and I’m sorry if I caused a scene.” Liam put his arm around me, his stare cutting through Marcus and Camille. “Who’s in charge here?” “My wife is a guest here. Is this how you treat invited guests?” Liam’s words hit Marcus like a truck—he finally had to face the truth: I was Liam’s wife. His face twisted, but he forced a smile when he looked at Liam. “Mr. Smith, this is all just a mix-up. I had no idea Audrey was your wife—I thought she’d snuck in somehow…” Liam’s scowl deepened, his expression turning icy. Anyone who knew him could tell he was furious. And sure enough, his voice turned frigid. “So you just stood there while my wife was being harassed? Who do you think you are?” The crowd backed away, not wanting to get involved. Camille finally panicked, her face going white. She hid behind Marcus, tugging his sleeve. “Marcus, what are we gonna do?” Marcus stepped in front of her, still trying to weasel his way out. “Mr. Smith, we didn’t hurt… Mrs. Smith. She tripped, that’s all. Just a little misunderstanding with my friend here…” Camille nodded frantically. “Yes! I just wanted to talk to her. It was all a misunderstanding…” Their pathetic excuses made my blood boil. They were still trying to twist the story—just like old times. But not this time. Liam was known in business circles for being sharp as a tack. He didn’t buy it for a second. He turned to the banquet manager. “Get the security footage. Now.” “Let’s show everyone how my wife ‘tripped’ and got hurt.” Liam was about to have them pull the footage. Camille, already guilty as sin, panicked—terrified of being exposed, terrified of the consequences. Finally, she made a split-second decision, shoving Marcus forward and pointing at him. “Mr. Smith, no need for footage! It was Marcus! He was… mad Audrey wouldn’t take him back, so he held a grudge and told me… to mess with Mrs. Smith!” Marcus froze. He never thought Camille—who he’d always protected—would throw him under the bus like this. He stared at her, stunned, his voice rising with rage. “Camille, what the hell are you talking about? When did I ever tell you to do that?” Camille bit her lip, her eyes desperate. “Marcus, I’m sorry, but I can’t afford to cross Mr. Smith.” “You’ve always been good to me. Just take the blame this once? Your company’s big enough—Mr. Smith won’t do anything to you…” Marcus had always rambled about loyalty and friendship when he wanted me to take the fall for Camille. But now that it was his turn? He couldn’t handle it. Marcus shot daggers at Camille. “You deal with your own mess!” He snapped, turning to Liam with the truth. “Mr. Smith, Camille’s lying. I didn’t mess with Audrey—she did!” “Check the cameras if you don’t believe me! Everyone here saw it!” Before Marcus could finish, Camille shrieked at him. “Marcus, you asshole! How could you say that? You totally egged me on!” Marcus shouted back. “Only because you started lying first!” They bickered back and forth, making a total scene. With them pointing fingers, Liam tuned out their excuses. He called security and had Camille escorted out. He also told his assistant to cancel all deals with Marcus’s company—and said he’d be pursuing legal action for harassment. Now both Camille and Marcus really panicked. Camille tried to run to Liam, begging, but security held her back. “Mr. Smith, I’m sorry! I messed up! Please give me another chance…” Marcus turned to me, trying to play on old feelings. “Audrey, for old times’ sake, put in a good word. We can’t lose this deal…”

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My wife used to travel for work once a month, and she always brought me back a little something. On her 99th trip, she came home with a single flower from Savannah. Since you can’t check flowers as luggage, she carried it in her hands the whole time—through two connecting flights—just to bring it home. “Spring starts early down there,” Sophia murmured, “I couldn’t wait for you to see it.” But a minute before she walked through the door, a text popped up from an unknown number: “Your wife went to Savannah with her boyfriend this month.” The photo that came with it showed Sophia and Vincent kissing under those old oak trees. As soon as she went to shower, I threw the flower in the trash. Staring at my computer screen, I dialed a number I hadn’t called in three years: “Dad, I messed up. I’m leaving Sophia.” They say marriages without family support rarely work out. That wedding three years ago? Probably a mistake. Now it was time to cut my losses. “Babe, can you send that file to Alex for me? It’s on my phone.” “Sure.” Only after I answered did Sophia turn on the shower and step in. Her phone was on the table. Sophia never cared if I looked at her phone—she even told me to check it whenever I wanted. I typed in my birthday and unlocked the screen. After sending the file, my eyes drifted to Vincent’s name in the messages. The chat history was all business. Sophia was too careful to leave anything suspicious. I clicked on Vincent’s social media profile. His most recent post was a photo of two hands clasped together under an ancient oak tree. [She took me to Savannah, just like I always wanted.] This post was definitely hidden from coworkers and me. There was only one comment from a mutual friend: *Was that your beautiful mystery girl who took you? Vincent replied: Yep. Two weeks ago, an unknown number texted me, saying my so-called devoted wife was cheating. Since then, I’d been getting daily proof of Sophia’s affair. Turns out her monthly business trips were actually romantic getaways with Vincent. They’d seen oceans, snow, and the northern lights—kissing and cuddling all over the world. I had the photos authenticated; they weren’t faked. Sophia, Vincent, and I went to high school together, though I never really talked to Vincent much. Then one day, Sophia said Vincent was applying to be her assistant. Since he was an old classmate, I told her to hire him. Never thought I’d be letting the fox into the henhouse. Scrolling through more of Vincent’s social media, he posted travel photos every month—each caption hinting at his secret lover. [Life’s best adventures are half the journey, half you.] [Falling in love as the sun goes down.] [Checking off bucket list destinations with my person.] Every location matched Sophia’s “business trip” cities—and lined up perfectly with those anonymous texts. Some photos showed a woman’s silhouette. Her face was blurry, but I’d recognize Sophia anywhere. On top of that, Vincent was showing off jewelry, fancy watches, and designer stuff. Turns out the gifts Sophia gave me? He got similar ones too. Three years into our marriage, this perfect partner—so attentive, so admired by everyone—had really cheated on me. Memories of Sophia and me together flashed through my mind like a movie reel. All those sweet words and hugs now felt like thorns digging into my chest. I glanced at the project proposal next to me—I hadn’t slept well in two days because of it. Suddenly, I felt arms wrap around me from behind. Her hands locked tightly around my waist. Sophia nuzzled into my neck, her voice muffled: “What are you thinking about?” “Babe, I missed you so much while I was gone.” I didn’t say anything. Just thinking about her being with someone else made me sick to my stomach. “What’s wrong? Your eyes look red.” Sophia could tell I was off. She turned me around gently, looking worried. I shook my head, fanning my burning eyes: “Just stressed lately. Work’s been overwhelming.” Sophia knelt down, noticing the proposal by my hand. Her voice was soft and hopeful: “Once this project hits, we’ll go to Iceland to see the northern lights like we planned—really unwind.” She brushed her fingers over the file like it was something precious. Then she looked up at me, eyes shining: “Our hard work’s gonna pay off, right?” Sophia… How can you plan a future with me while traveling the world holding another man’s hand? I managed a weak nod. She stood up, her thumb brushing my lips. After a second, her voice got a little rough: “The doctor said… your stomach’s been acting up lately. You need more rest.” She leaned in to kiss me, but I couldn’t handle it. I spun around and ran to the bathroom, dry-heaving. Sophia followed, panicking. She rubbed my back, worried: “Once this project settles down, we’ll take a real vacation. You’re pushing yourself too hard.” She thought my stomach issues were flaring up again. She had no idea I was planning to walk away from this project we’d both poured our hearts into.

“You’re certain you want to terminate the ‘Daybreak’ project and start the equity split process?” The lawyer set down the papers, looking at me like I was crazy. I stared through the glass door. Sophia was on the phone, a soft smile on her face. Anger and sadness twisted in my chest. “Yep.” I looked back at him, steady. “Does Ms. Sophia know? She seems really invested in this project. Her company’s swamped, but she makes every key meeting.” Sophia built her company from nothing. By thirty, she was running an industry leader. She was in financial news all the time—even the lawyer recognized her. Everyone admired her, and everyone knew this brilliant CEO was head over heels for her husband. “It’s my call. Please don’t tell her yet.” The lawyer sighed and kept talking, but I tuned him out. A marriage built on lies, a business partnership built on deceit—it was all going to crash. Why keep dragging it out? That day, Sophia took the day off and got up early. She thought I was still asleep and tiptoed into the kitchen. Between work stress and everything else, I’d been sleeping poorly. When she left the room, I opened my eyes, watching the sky lighten through the window while listening to the quiet sounds from the kitchen. When she came back, I closed my eyes again. Sophia gently squeezed my cheek: “Rise and shine.” I hadn’t been eating well, so Sophia even signed up for cooking classes. I barely cooked after we married. She’d leave work half an hour early just to make me dinner. Her employees always joked she was whipped. “Still got it, right? Made all your favorites.” Sophia was wearing an apron, looking proud. Before I could answer, her phone rang on the table. She grabbed it fast, but I still saw “Vincent” on the caller ID. Sophia answered, all business: “Got it, I’ll be right there.” She hung up and turned to me, apologetic: “Work emergency. Sorry I can’t stay for breakfast. Take it easy after eating, and rest if you need to. I’ll probably miss lunch, but I’ll order you something. Call me if you need anything. I’ll pick you up tonight for the reunion.” I’d almost forgotten about the high school reunion tonight. Before leaving, Sophia came over, smoothed the crease between my brows, and kissed my forehead: “Don’t look so down.” See? She was a pro. Could lie straight to my face before running off to her other guy. The door clicked shut, and the breakfast in my mouth turned to ash. I got up and scraped it all into the trash. Spoiled things belong in the garbage. Trying to stomach them only makes you sick. People are no different. That evening, Sophia came to pick me up. She didn’t open the passenger door like usual. Instead, she told me to get in the back. When I saw Vincent in the front seat, I hesitated. Sophia cleared her throat, nervous: “Vincent’s going to the reunion too. Thought we’d carpool since we’re going the same way.” “He gets carsick… does better up front.” Vincent smiled, all innocence: “Liam, mind if I ride up front? You haven’t been feeling great, and the back’s roomier.” His watch glinted—the exact same model as mine. I nodded, got in, and quietly took off my watch. She leaned back to buckle my seatbelt. From this angle, I could see a faint mark under her collar. It hadn’t been there this morning. The whole ride, listening to them laugh and chat, my head started pounding.

“Well, well, look who showed up!” “If it isn’t our class’s power couple!” Sophia and I walked in holding hands, and our old classmates started teasing right away. Her pursuit of me back then was legendary—even teachers knew about it. But since we both got good grades, they mostly looked the other way. Sophia switched colleges just to be with me and started her business freshman year—all to prove she was good enough. It was high school lore. Right before graduation, I finally gave in to her persistence. I still remember the night I said yes—Sophia cried so hard, swearing: “Liam, I’ll only ever love you. Forever.” There were three empty seats in a row. At first, I sat to Sophia’s left, Vincent to her right. She frowned a little, then said softly: “Babe, let’s switch seats.” That got everyone teasing again: “Look at Sophia being careful—she knows Vincent’s single, so she won’t sit next to him.” “Liam, what’s your secret? After all these years, she’s still head over heels.” “They’re always posting couple stuff online—it’s sickeningly sweet!” Sophia laughed: “I just adore my husband!” She looked at me, eyes all gooey. Everyone bought it—hook, line, and sinker. Only I knew her love, like those gifts, was split right down the middle. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Vincent’s mouth twitch. He shot Sophia a look—half annoyed, half something else. “Vincent’s girl spoils him too! Check out that watch—she got it for him.” Someone pointed out, and the chatter started up again. Vincent touched his wrist, glanced at me, and ground out: “She treats me like a king. Takes me traveling every month, buys me more stuff than I know what to do with. The other day I mentioned wanting to retire in Miami someday, and she bought a house there on the spot. This watch? Limited edition—only ten in the whole world.” Ten in the world. Sophia bought two of them. “Whoa, Vincent’s girl’s keeping up with Sophia! When we gonna meet her?” “Oh, definitely soon.” Vincent gave Sophia this sappy look. She ignored him, just kept putting food on my plate. Halfway through dinner, Sophia stepped out for a call. A minute later, Vincent said he was going to the bathroom. I followed. By chance, I heard them talking in the stairwell. Vincent grabbed her by the neck, voice tight: “You just can’t quit him, can you? We’ve been hooking up for two years.” Sophia warned him: “As long as you don’t push Liam’s buttons, as long as he never finds out, I’ll keep you happy. You know if he leaves me, I’ll lose it.” “Fine.” Vincent stared at her, then grinned: “Good news though—I’m on the core team for the Daybreak project now.” My stomach dropped. I went cold all over, like someone dumped ice water on me. Sophia froze, then narrowed her eyes. She grabbed his chin: “He approved that? Then why the hell did you show up here today? You want him to find out and blow your new gig?” “Aw, come on—I just missed you.” Vincent nuzzled her neck. Sophia half-smiled and ran her hand through his hair. In the dim stairwell light, they kissed like they meant it. I watched, pressed against the wall, struggling to breathe. My hands shook. My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was the lawyer. [Docs ready. Sign Saturday.]

Saturday morning. I handed Sophia two papers: “Daybreak project addendums. Need both signatures.” Sophia took my hand, grinning: “Project’s not even launched and you’re already on the paperwork?” “Investor requirements. Terms look good.” I smiled. She stared at me, softening: “You’re so handsome when you smile. More of that.” She picked up the papers to read, but I stopped her: “I checked ’em. All good.” She ruffled my hair: “Gotta be careful. What if there’s a catch?” My heart raced as she flipped to the next page. Her phone rang. I heard Vincent’s voice through the line. Sophia walked to the balcony, listening. She came back, rushed: “Work emergency. Gotta go.” She signed without reading. “Sophia.” I called as she headed for the door. “Hmm?” “Remember what you said at our wedding?” “If I ever cheated, you’d leave me without looking back.” “That’s right.” I smiled. Sophia crossed her arms, smirking: “Testing me? I remember every word.” She grabbed the doorknob, hesitated, then hugged me tight: “I don’t know why I’m so on edge today. But I meant it—only you, forever. Wait up for me, okay?” I nodded. She exhaled and left. Once I heard her car start, I opened the folder. “Divorce Agreement” stared back at me. Ten years—from high school sweethearts to this. Our story was over. I packed my bags for the movers, then donated everything Sophia gave me—even the fancy gear for the Daybreak project. When we first planned Daybreak, Sophia dragged me to office tours and equipment shopping every free minute. She bought everything—startup to expansion. I told her she was overspending. She just laughed: “So? Our baby deserves the best.” We were both so excited. That project was supposed to be our future. Everything squared away. I left the divorce papers on the coffee table and walked out. On the way, that unknown number texted again—with a photo: [Wonder who Sophia really cares about—you or Vincent?] The photo showed Sophia and Vincent at some fancy restaurant terrace. She was dabbing his mouth with a napkin, same soft look she gave me earlier. Guess she didn’t notice her heart had already picked sides. [Sophia and I are divorced. I’m out of the project. Stop texting. Hope you two work well together.] I hit send and blocked the number. No one stays a secret forever. I knew it was Vincent from the first text. On my way to the lawyer’s, Dad texted—him and Mom were picking me up. Stepping into the elevator, I saw them through the glass—Sophia holding Vincent’s hand, walking out of that Michelin place next door. She saw me too. She dropped his hand and ran across the lobby. “Liam!”

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My husband always left little clues after cheating. One time, I found a lipstick under the passenger seat of his car. Another time, a pink thong under the bed. This time, I found a ripped black stocking under his pillow. They were all left by the same nurse who worked with him at the hospital. I always pretended not to see them. But my indifference seemed to piss off the nurse. She deliberately sent me explicit photos of them to provoke me. 【You’re just getting old, Dr. Miller is tired of you. You know how passionate he was when he pinned me down on your bed?】 I silently saved them. Finally, I put together a thirty-five-page presentation and uploaded it online. She likes to share, doesn’t she? Then let’s give her plenty to share. Ryan stood at the bedroom doorway, disgustedly pinching the black stocking. “Lily, we need to talk about this.” After pulling an all-nighter making that presentation, my eyelids felt too heavy to lift. I closed my laptop. “Nothing to talk about. You deal with it.” “No.” Ryan ignored my cold expression and started talking anyway. “Last week, you were on a business trip, and I had a major surgery. I gave the key to someone from my department to help me grab some fresh clothes from home.” “I didn’t expect it to be Chloe, and I certainly didn’t expect her to do something so disgusting…” “Lily, you have to believe me.” “Are you done?” He was stunned into silence. I tried to push past him into the bathroom. “Lily.” Ryan grabbed my wrist. “You don’t care at all?” I used to care. A year ago, the first time I found lipstick in his car, I smashed the dinnerware we bought on our honeymoon. Six months ago, when I saw their Ins post about going to the movies, I cut all his white shirts into pieces. Three months ago, when I saw the flirty emojis she sent him on his phone, I smashed our living room TV. I fought with him countless times, but we never broke up. Because we were childhood sweethearts. At three, we fought over the same building block in preschool. At ten, he took the scolding from the teacher for me. At seventeen, the night before the most important exams of our senior year, he climbed through my window onto my balcony. Just to say one thing. “Lily, wherever you go, I’ll go too.” Twenty-seven years of memories wrapped around me like a thick cocoon. “Ryan, I’m really tired.” I struggled to pull my wrist free, but couldn’t. “What do you mean?” He stared at me, not wanting to miss a single expression. “Let go.” “No! You have to explain yourself today!” Struggling was almost my instinct. In the frantic push and pull, something got knocked over. A sharp, shattering sound exploded in the dead of night. We both froze. A pile of scattered porcelain shards gleamed coldly under the light. It was a ceramic vase we’d made together. Over all these years, we’d moved several times, fought countless times. I’d smashed necklaces he’d given me, furniture we’d picked out together, but I’d never touched this vase. It had always sat there, holding dried baby’s breath. Now it was broken. Ryan flinched, suddenly loosening his grip. But I had no strength left, and I sank straight onto the broken porcelain shards. Instantly, blood stained the white porcelain, blurring it red. It also blurred all the time of my youth. Ryan’s face went instantly pale. “Lily…” His hands were trembling uncontrollably. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to, I—” More and more blood flowed, pooling into a small puddle on the floor. Strangely, I didn’t feel any pain, just a stinging in my eyes. He frantically scooped me up, and after a quick clean-up, He drove me to the hospital. His hands, clutching the steering wheel, wouldn’t stop shaking. He drove to the hospital at top speed. Went straight to the ER, but to my surprise, Chloe was the one on duty. He frowned and said. “Get someone else.” Chloe gave a playful shrug. “Oh, no, I’m the only one available right now.” Ryan was about to say something else, but I cut him off, pointing at Chloe. “You do it.” My opinion of Chloe had always been straightforward. Stupid and malicious. But I didn’t expect her to be so brazen, even in front of Ryan. When she deliberately poked my wound with the tweezers for the third time, Ryan shoved her away. “Can you even treat a wound, damn it? You can’t even do basic bandaging, how did you get into this hospital? Get out!” Chloe looked on the verge of tears, but Ryan ignored her. He immediately went to change into scrubs and performed surgery on me.

Ryan immediately got me a private room. “We need to observe you for a few days.” He handed me warm water, the pills resting in the bottle cap. “The wound might get infected, so be extra careful these next few days…” He spoke at length. I didn’t respond. His voice was very soft. “I’ll buy you your favorite macarons, okay?” Seeing I still didn’t react, he stood for a moment, then turned and left. When he returned, he was carrying macarons and a box of sliced fruit. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and several doctors in white coats stopped at the doorway. The one leading peeked in and smiled. “Well, Dr. Miller, you’re here even earlier than us?” Ryan’s ears turned slightly red, and he pressed his lips together. “Heard you arranged an operating room for a family member in the middle of the night yesterday, that’s against regulations, isn’t it?” Another person winked at him. Even though he knew they were teasing, he explained seriously. “Everyone was busy yesterday, it was an urgent matter, so I used my discretion. But if the hospital decides to take action, I’ll cooperate fully.” Everyone burst into laughter, then, understanding the situation, left. He lowered his head, ears bright red, not daring to look at me. He was like this the first time he confessed his feelings to me. He was like this the first time he held my hand. He was like this when he said ‘I do’ at our wedding. How wonderful those times were. I closed my eyes, curling up in the blanket. He called my name a few times, but I ignored him. He just stayed by my side. As I drifted into a drowsy state, I heard someone push the door open. Their voice was cheerful. “Dr. Miller, I’m here to apologize to Lily. Yesterday really wasn’t on purpose, I was just so nervous. With you watching, Dr. Miller, my hands were shaking.” I cracked my eyes open, looking in the direction of the voice. I saw Ryan grabbing her arm, trying to push her out. “Who let you in?” “The door was open.” She took a step closer, almost pressing against his chest. “And I genuinely want to apologize… You snapped at me yesterday, I went home and cried all night.” As she spoke, she raised her hand, her fingertips subtly brushing against Ryan’s name tag on his chest. Under his white coat, he was wearing a thin, dark grey shirt today. “Chloe.” Ryan’s voice was deep and low, a warning. “Hmm?” She leaned in even closer, her lips almost touching his ear, whispering. “Dr. Miller, your heart is beating so fast…” I pushed myself up to a sitting position on the bed. “Why don’t you two go outside? Or perhaps I should leave and make the bed available for you.” Ryan abruptly pushed her away. Chloe stumbled back a couple of steps and landed hard on the floor. “Ryan, you—” Her eyes immediately welled up. “Get out.” Ryan’s voice was icy. Chloe scrambled up, shot me a furious glare, and ran out, covering her face. Ryan stood rooted to the spot, his back to me. His shoulders rose and fell a few times before he finally turned around. “Lily, I…” “My apologies for interrupting your little make-out session with your mistress.” I lay back down, turning my back to him. He stood there for a long time. Then his phone vibrated. He didn’t answer the first time. On the fourth ring, he picked it up. “Hello?” Crying came from the receiver, intermittent and starkly clear in the quiet hospital room. “I got hit, that old guy on the motorcycle, he won’t let me leave. Dr. Miller, I’m scared.” Ryan was silent. “Can you please come? Just by the hospital’s back entrance, please.” The crying grew louder, and there was a man’s angry shouting in the background. Ryan silently hung up the phone and glanced at me. He walked to the bedside and called out softly. “Lily? I’m going out for a bit, I’ll be right back. She’s my colleague, after all…” As he spoke, his phone rang again in his pocket. He hung up again. Then I heard the doorknob press down. Ten minutes later, I pulled out my IV needle and checked myself out. The wound on my knee hadn’t healed yet. But that pain, it didn’t matter anymore.

As I walked near the park lake, I saw them. Ryan was supporting Chloe, half her body leaning into his embrace. Her right hand was resting on Ryan’s shoulder, her left pressed against his waist. Her fingertips traced along the top edge of his belt buckle, stroking it repeatedly. Ryan’s free hand tried to pull away. But Chloe was quicker; her fingers slipped into his palm, lacing them together. He stiffened but didn’t pull away. I stopped dead in my tracks. Suddenly, Chloe seemed to sense something and turned her head. She whispered something into Ryan’s ear. Ryan nodded, released her hand, and turned to walk towards the outpatient building. Chloe stood there, waiting until he was far away before she walked towards me. “Oh, you’re out of the hospital? Why didn’t you ask Dr. Miller to take you home?” I ignored her. She followed me. I glanced at the ankle she had just pretended to twist. She shrugged fearlessly. “Do you know? He held me all the way here, and his hand never let go. How do you think a surgeon like him wouldn’t be able to tell if I was really sprained?” She tilted her head, her eyes curving into a smile. “But I also understand you.” She sighed, feigning sympathy. “After all, you two haven’t had any passion for so many years, just habit, right?” “Are you done talking?” I stopped walking. “Oh dear, are you angry?” She covered her mouth, letting out a delicate giggle. “There isn’t a man in the world who doesn’t cheat. You can’t expect him to stay faithful to you for life. But I do admire you, being able to turn a blind eye to all this…” “Chloe.” I cut her off. “Do you know what the most pathetic thing about you is?” Her smile froze. “You need to use such despicable methods to try and steal a man who doesn’t love you.” She suddenly grabbed my wrist. “What do you mean?” “Exactly what it sounds like.” I shook her off. “Let go.” I yanked my hand back forcefully, making her stumble. She instinctively shoved me. I fell backward towards the artificial lake. I desperately pulled her with me, and the inertia made us both tumble in. The water surface was covered with a layer of ice, and there was a loud crash when we fell in. It attracted a lot of attention. Including Ryan, who had just returned. He hadn’t seen Chloe push me. So from his perspective, I was trying to push Chloe in, but she pulled me in with her. Ryan quickly pulled her out. Chloe was drenched, her nurse’s uniform clinging to her body, shivering uncontrollably from the cold. She threw herself into Ryan’s arms, sobbing breathlessly. “Dr. Miller…” She desperately burrowed into Ryan’s embrace. Even his shirt buttons came undone. Ryan didn’t speak, his eyes fixed on me. I’d seen that look before. That’s how he looked at me every time I caused a scene over the past two years. Cold, disappointed, and a hint of impatience. “Lily.” His voice was heavy. “This is a human life. If you have any grievances, take them out on me, don’t take it out on someone else.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue, so I reached out, bracing myself on the muddy bank, trying to stand up. But Chloe suddenly ‘fainted,’ her foot slipped, and she deliberately kicked me hard on the side of my knee. Right on the wound. My hand slipped, and I fell backward into the lake again. But Ryan frantically picked up Chloe and strode towards the outpatient clinic. This fall was even worse. The back of my head hit the ice, and my vision went black for a few seconds. I inhaled the icy lake water, choking and unable to cough. I struggled to surface, but he never once looked back. The water wasn’t actually deep; standing up, it only reached my chest. But I tried twice, and my right leg completely gave out. Every movement made my vision go black from the pain. Finally, the cleaning lady found me. When she pulled me out with a mop handle, I was already too frozen to speak. My lips were purple, my fingers so stiff I couldn’t close them. The lady draped her jacket over me. “How did you fall in? Where’s your family?” I shook my head. The moment I stood up, a sudden, searing pain twisted in my lower abdomen. My vision went black, and I passed out.

When I woke up, I saw Ryan slumped beside my bed. I wiggled my fingers, and he immediately startled awake. “Lily…” His voice was terribly hoarse, and his eyes instantly reddened. “You’re awake… I’m sorry, it’s all my fault.” He reached to touch my face, but his hand hovered in mid-air before retracting, finally just pressing my hand against his cheek. Warm liquid dripped onto the back of my hand. “I’m sorry… once you recover, we can…” I slowly processed his words. “Are you saying…” My hand rested on my flat lower abdomen. A twisting pain seized my chest. Here, without my knowledge, a child had briefly resided. I clenched my hand tightly, my nails digging into my palm, trembling from the pain. He knelt by the bedside, apologizing incoherently, saying we could find the best doctors, saying we could do surrogacy, saying we could adopt. I just stared at him, as if he were a stranger. “Why would I need a surrogate?” He flinched, his gaze flickering, then he quickly explained. “The OB-GYN said you’re too thin, and pregnancy itself is hard. I don’t want you to suffer that hardship.” I stared at him. “Last physical, you said everything was normal, that I was perfectly fit for pregnancy. Ryan, what exactly are you hiding?” I vaguely guessed the possibility. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m not… it’s just that your current condition isn’t suitable for carrying a pregnancy, and I only said that because I was afraid you’d be upset.” The air in the hospital room solidified. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His phone rang then. Chloe. It kept ringing, again and again. I saw him actually let out a sigh of relief. “I’ll go take care of it, I’ll be right back.” The door closed. I stared at the ceiling until the door was pushed open again. “Lily, how are you feeling? It must hurt, right?” I closed my eyes. She chuckled softly. “Well, of course, it hurts. You had half your uterus removed.” I snapped my eyes open. “What?” She feigned surprise. “Didn’t Dr. Miller tell you?” She opened her phone and turned the screen towards me. It was a photo of the surgical consent form. Under the post-operative instructions, Ryan’s name was written. “Then he probably also didn’t tell you that you were eight weeks pregnant.” She leaned in, her voice dropping even lower. “What a shame, it was already a little formed thing, gone along with your uterus.” I clutched the bedsheet. “Oh, and while you were unconscious these past three days…” She sat on the edge of the bed, twirling a strand of her hair. “I was right there with Dr. Miller when he was on night duty. Right there in the bathroom, he covered my mouth and told me not to make a sound…” I was still reeling from the previous revelation, utterly numb to her words. She clicked her tongue, pulled a copy of a medical record from her pocket, and tossed it onto the bed. “No fun. Take a good look yourself.” I opened the medical record. On the diagnosis page, it said ‘threatened miscarriage’. Other than that, there was no other diagnosis. So why did they remove my uterus? I clutched the medical record, tears streaming down my face. Twenty-seven whole years. A person who had occupied almost my entire life. Never spoke a single truth to me. On the way home from the hospital, I was in a daze the whole time. I couldn’t understand how it had come to this. Even though I had decided to leave long ago. Back home, I pulled the signed divorce papers from my bag. I placed them on the table along with the medical record. Then I found an iron box in the study. Inside were twenty-seven years of our memories. The building blocks I’d assembled for him in elementary school, the concert tickets he’d stayed up all night to buy in college, the vows he’d written on our wedding day, and all the love letters he’d written to me since childhood… I took them out, one by one, and put them into the fire. The flames devoured the vows where he promised to love me forever. Devoured the wishes we’d made for the future in our youth. Devoured all the lies about ‘forever’. I slipped off my wedding ring and placed it next to the stack of documents. I put the organized USB drive into my bag and said softly, “Ryan, I have a big gift for you too.”

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Seven years into our marriage, my husband Dominic Vance personally switched off my younger brother’s life support. All because his idealized “first love” wanted that specific, life-saving medication. That day, I knelt on the cold hospital floor, begging him to spare my only family. He looked down at me, his voice a cruel caress. “You’re not being good again.” Later, my brother died, my baby was gone, and I was driven to madness by Dominic’s own hands. Everyone assumed I would forgive him, waiting for him to come back to me. They never knew the truth. The moment Liam took his last breath, I decided to disappear from this world. After that, Dominic turned the city inside out. All he found in the end was a divorce agreement and a name scrubbed from the world. He wanted me back with a desperate, frantic madness. But this time, I was the one who didn’t want him. Seraphina POV The winter wind was as sharp as a blade. I stood on the balcony all night, wearing nothing but a thin nightgown. Dominic sat on the sofa, his voice soft yet chilling. “What did you say to Aurora?” Aurora Sterling was the acclaimed sculptor, lauded as a genius. An hour ago, she’d deactivated all her social media accounts. And now, Dominic was punishing me for it. My body trembled uncontrollably. “I didn’t… I haven’t even seen her.” Dominic smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes. “You’re not being good.” He spoke softly, gesturing to the bodyguard behind him. The bodyguard immediately handed him a tablet. The screen lit up. The surveillance footage showed my younger brother, Liam Hayes, lying critically ill in a hospital bed. Someone unplugged his life support. The heart monitor’s lines jumped wildly, and Liam convulsed from lack of oxygen, struggling in agony. “No!” My mind went blank, my blood felt like it had frozen. I lunged forward, falling at Dominic’s feet, clutching his leg tightly as tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. “Dominic, I beg you! I truly don’t know anything!” “I didn’t do anything, please save Liam…” Dominic’s fingers traced my face, his touch light, yet it felt like he was examining an object. “The backup power only lasts for three minutes,” he said. “Now, there are two minutes and fifty seconds left.” Every second felt like a knife twisting in my heart. I looked at the man I had loved for seven years, in so much pain I could barely breathe. Three months ago, Dominic became obsessed with the aloof Aurora, beginning a very public pursuit of her. Everyone waited to watch me become a joke. Back then, he’d also stroked my face, saying, “Sera, it’s just a game. Men always have a desire to conquer a new prize.” “You just need to be obedient, and the title of my wife will always be yours.” I had no choice but to nod. “Thirty seconds left.” Dominic’s voice pulled me back to reality. The image of my brother struggling painfully flashed in my mind. I couldn’t lose him. In extreme fear and despair, I lied to Dominic for the first time. “It was me.” I closed my eyes, my voice trembling. “I forced Aurora away… I was jealous of her, so I sent someone to warn her to stay away from you…” Dominic finally smiled, satisfied. He leaned down, stroking my head like he was comforting a pet. “Wouldn’t it have been easier if you’d just done that from the start?” He warned me, “Don’t ever take matters into your own hands again. Remember your place.” A subordinate rushed over, respectfully reporting, “Mr. Vance, we’ve found Ms. Sterling. She said she wanted to go to the art museum to clear her head.” Dominic’s joy was undeniable. He immediately stood up and strode out, his voice filled with an urgency I’d never heard before. “Book every art museum in the city. Clear them out. No one is to disturb her.” “And, lock Seraphina Hayes in the wine cellar.” He didn’t spare me another glance from start to finish. I was dragged into the cold wine cellar and couldn’t help but curl into a ball, slowly losing consciousness. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my abdomen, and a warm liquid slowly trickled down my legs. I awoke to the searing pain. My baby… my child… I stumbled to the door, frantically pounding on the heavy wooden slab. “Open the door! Save my baby!” “Please, I beg you, take me to the hospital…” My throat grew hoarse from screaming, my nails scratching blood onto the door. From outside, the butler’s cold voice cut into my heart like a knife. “Mr. Vance said this child wasn’t part of the plan. You’ll just have to reflect on your actions here.” Total despair washed over me. I collapsed to the floor, the physical pain a fraction of the agony in my heart. Before my consciousness faded, I whispered. “Dominic, the baby is gone…” “And I don’t want you anymore.” 2. Seraphina POV The acrid smell of disinfectant in the hospital brought me back to consciousness. My lower abdomen was flat. The place that once nurtured life was now just an empty void. My baby was truly gone. My tears soaked the pillow. The ward door opened, and Dominic walked in, followed by Aurora, her eyes swollen and red. “Seraphina!” Aurora rushed to my bedside, her voice accusatory. “I just want to create in peace, why won’t you leave me alone? Wasn’t my leaving enough? Why did you have to send people to harass my family?!” Baseless accusations enveloped me like a net. I instinctively looked at Dominic, the man I once thought would protect me forever. But his eyes held only sympathy for Aurora, not even a glance for me. My heart felt like it was being torn apart. “Dominic,” I said. “Our child… why didn’t you save him?” Dominic finally turned his gaze to me, but his eyes were like those of a stranger. “What right do you have to bear my child?” He retorted, his tone full of mockery. “Didn’t I tell you to take your birth control? Who gave you permission to get pregnant?” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I remembered the birth control pills he’d forced me to take, remembered him constantly whispering, “Sera, it’s not the right time for a baby.” It wasn’t that the time wasn’t right; it was that he never wanted my child. “Dominic, don’t say any more,” Aurora gently interrupted him, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I don’t want to cause discord between you two, but you must give me an explanation for what happened today.” Dominic immediately turned to comfort her, his voice softening. “Don’t cry, Rory. I’ll handle this and then we’ll leave.” When he looked at me again, his eyes were utterly devoid of warmth. “Apologize.” Two words, weighing on my heart like mountains. “I didn’t do it.” I shook my head. Dominic’s patience ran out. He gave a look to the bodyguard by the door, his voice chilling. “Will you do it yourself, or should I have them help you?” The bodyguard’s towering figure loomed closer, full of oppressive menace. I looked at Dominic, still hoping to gamble on a shred of affection he might have left for me. I lost. “Do it.” With that cold command, the bodyguards no longer held back. I was violently pulled from the hospital bed, my head forced down towards Aurora’s feet. “I’m sorry.” Those words drained me of my last bit of strength and dignity. I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood, just to stop myself from crying out. Aurora’s lips curved into a smirk, then she quickly reverted to her elegant facade, turning to Dominic. “Dominic, I should still leave. I don’t want to ruin your family.” “Don’t go!” Dominic grabbed her hand. To keep her, he didn’t hesitate to pull out his phone and call his lawyer. “Prepare the divorce agreement immediately and send it to the hospital.” “Compensation… make it half a billion.” I looked up in disbelief at the man who had once defied his entire family to marry me. Now, for a new flame he’d known for less than three months, he was abandoning me like this. Soon after they left, the lawyer arrived with the divorce agreement. He pushed the agreement toward me, relaying Dominic’s words in a businesslike tone. “Mr. Vance said this is only temporary. Once his interest in Ms. Sterling fades, he’ll remarry you. Then you can have as many children as you like.” “He also said for you to take the money and go abroad for a change of scenery after your seventh wedding anniversary. He’ll come pick you up once everything is settled.” The lawyer’s words sounded like a sick joke. Did he think I couldn’t survive without him? Did he think money and empty promises would appease me? I laughed, tears welling in my eyes. I picked up the pen and, without hesitation, signed my name at the bottom of the agreement. Each stroke was decisive, etched with a force that felt like severing the painful entanglement of the past seven years. I took the half-billion dollar check, but my heart had already died. Dominic, I’m done playing. 3. Seraphina POV I lay in my hospital bed, scrolling through my phone. The screen was filled with news of Dominic and Aurora. “Business Titan Publicly Declares Love for Genius Sculptor” “Dominic Spends a Fortune to Win a Beauty’s Smile” I thought I had already given up all hope, but seeing these headlines still stung. I went to the hospital, and through the glass of the intensive care unit, I saw my brother lying in bed, unconscious. He was my only family left in this world. “Liam, your sister has to go.” My hand pressed against the glass. “Once I’m settled, I’ll take you with me. We’ll go somewhere no one knows us and start over.” From that day on, I began to prepare for my departure. The first stop was the identity registration office. I submitted an application to revoke my identity as Seraphina. The second stop was the auction house. The jewelry Dominic had given me was brought out one by one for appraisal. Those gifts, once symbols of love, were now just a string of numbers in my eyes. The third stop was the law firm. I returned the beachfront estate Dominic had gifted me before our marriage. After doing all that, I returned to that villa. The fire in the fireplace roared merrily. I found the jewelry box I’d treasured for seven years. Inside were the cufflinks and tie clips I’d made myself, each one he’d once treasured like gold. I tossed them into the fire, one by one. As the flames consumed them, my heart, too, turned to ash. I had just turned around when I froze. Dominic and Aurora stood behind me, I don’t know when they got there. “What are you burning?” Dominic asked, his face expressionless. I lowered my eyes, not answering. “Find that sapphire necklace and give it to Aurora.” A needle-sharp pain pierced my heart. That sapphire necklace was a family heirloom. He had once personally placed it on me, promising me a lifetime. Now he wanted me to give it to another woman with my own hands. I was no longer his wife. I nodded silently and turned to go upstairs. Aurora followed me into the walk-in closet. The moment she shut the door, her facade crumbled. “Seraphina, what are you still doing here? Waiting for Dominic to change his mind? Dream on!” I ignored her, took a box from the safe, and handed it over. Aurora took the necklace, admired it for a moment, and then a malicious smile curved her lips. She suddenly smashed the necklace to the ground, and the sapphire shattered into fragments. Before I could react, Aurora shoved me towards the top of the stairs! Caught completely off guard, I tumbled down the staircase. My forehead hit the sharp edge of a step, and blood streamed down, blurring my vision. Upstairs, Aurora picked up a shard of the sapphire and deliberately cut her own leg, then collapsed to the ground, letting out a terrified scream. Dominic rushed over at the sound. He saw me, bloody and disheveled, and Aurora, with a cut on her leg, looking utterly pitiful. He only glanced at me before rushing to Aurora, sweeping her into his arms. “Did she hurt you?” His eyes were cold and sharp, piercing me. Aurora trembled in his arms, her voice choked with sobs. “Dominic, I just wanted to look at the necklace. Seraphina wouldn’t give it to me, she’d rather destroy it. She even said she’d push me down the stairs. I was scared, so I fell, and then she rolled down too…” She was lying. “She pushed me!” I struggled to explain. “Look at the surveillance! The surveillance!” “Aurora wouldn’t lie to me.” Dominic cut me off, his eyes filled with disgust. He held Aurora, looking down at me sprawled on the floor. “It seems I’ve indulged you too much, making you forget your place.” He handed Aurora to a maid, then turned and took a whip from the wall. “Today, I’ll teach you what it means to obey.” The whip whistled through the air as it lashed across my back. I curled into a ball, in searing pain. I wanted to beg, to explain, but facing his emotionless eyes, I couldn’t say a word. In the throes of agonizing pain, I despairingly closed my eyes. I remembered when everyone opposed our relationship, his family especially, punishing him severely. Dominic had been beaten almost to death protecting me, yet he still held me tight, saying, “Unless I die, no one will ever touch her.” He also said I was more important than his own life. But now, the one wielding the whip against me was him. Love can vanish. Perhaps it was never love at all. Just a madman’s possessive obsession with his property. 4. Seraphina POV I woke up in my own bed. Dominic sat on the sofa beside the bed, a cigar between his fingers, smoke curling around him. Seeing me awake, he stubbed out the cigar and spoke in a commanding tone. “Aurora was upset by you and won’t eat. Go and coax her.” I looked at him silently, then finally spoke. “Mr. Vance, we’re divorced.” “Mr. Vance”-that address infuriated him. Dominic’s face darkened. He rose and walked to the bed, roughly caressing my lips with his ash-stained fingers. “Don’t throw a tantrum with me.” He leaned in, his eyes dangerously narrowed. “I don’t like it when you’re disobedient.” I smelled the familiar scent of tobacco on his fingers, and my stomach churned. I lowered my eyes and nodded. Dominic smiled, satisfied, stroking my head like rewarding a pet. “That’s better, now be a good girl.” He personally applied medicine to the wounds on my back. The ointment was cold, and I trembled with pain when it touched my injuries. But his touch made me feel even colder than the wounds. “Aurora has a party tonight. Prepare a cello solo to apologize to her.” I couldn’t refuse, so I could only nod. As night fell, the maid dressed me in a luxurious haute couture gown. The silk rubbed against the wounds on my back, throbbing with pain, but my heart ached even more. I was led into the ballroom and immediately became the center of attention and ridicule. Aurora was an artist, and the socialites, eager to curry favor, were all dressed simply and elegantly. My ornate attire made me look like a clown who’d stumbled into the wrong circus. “Isn’t that Mrs. Vance? Why is she dressed like some flashy parvenu?” “Not anymore, Mr. Vance’s woman now is Aurora.” The piercing whispers stung my ears. I remembered another time, at a party, when someone mocked me as nothing but eye candy by Dominic’s side. The next day, that person’s company went bankrupt. Back then, he sheltered me under his wing, forbidding anyone from speaking ill of me. Now, he had personally pushed me into an abyss of public ridicule. The lights in the ballroom dimmed, and a spotlight shone on the entrance. Dominic, escorting Aurora, resplendent in a flowing white gown, slowly entered, receiving everyone’s gaze. Aurora whispered something in his ear, and he snapped his fingers. A server brought a cello to me. “Begin.” Dominic’s voice came from across the crowd, cold and distant. Under everyone’s gaze, I took the incredibly familiar cello. Dominic had made it for me with his own hands; it was one of a kind in the entire world. I once loved the cello more than anything. But after marrying him, he said my music could only belong to him. Now, even that rule was broken for Aurora. I took a deep breath and placed the bow on the strings. As the bow fell, an impassioned, sorrowful melody poured out – Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata,’ third movement. Each note was like a blade, severing my past with Dominic. This piece was my final farewell to him. Never again would we meet. From then on, I would never love Dominic again. Aurora, displeased, interrupted the performance. She clung to Dominic’s arm, looking down at me with a mocking sneer. “Seraphina, I know you’ve been wronged, but there’s no need to fish for sympathy in an environment like this, is there?” “This piece hardly fits the mood of the evening.” I lowered my eyes, silently enduring the humiliation. Seeing that I didn’t retort, Aurora grew even more displeased, shaking Dominic’s arm playfully. “Did you bring her here just to humiliate me?” 5. Seraphina POV Dominic simply smiled at Aurora’s complaint. He wrapped an arm around her waist, leaned down, and kissed her forehead, gently coaxing, “Alright, don’t be angry. I’ll dance the first waltz with you, as an apology, how about that?” A graceful waltz melody began, and Dominic led Aurora onto the center of the dance floor. They naturally became the focus of the entire room. I watched their swirling figures, feeling no ripple of emotion. I quietly put away the cello, intending to turn and leave this place. I had only taken a few steps when several women dragged me into a corner of the terrace. “Seraphina, do you remember us?” The woman in the lead grabbed my chin, her gaze venomous. I recognized them. These women had once been prominent socialites, but because they had offended me, Dominic had retaliated against them with cruel methods. One’s father went bankrupt and committed suicide, another was publicly jilted and disfigured by her fiancé, and another had her entire family’s business uprooted. The extent of their fear of me in the past was now matched by the depth of their hatred. “Ms. Sterling told us to entertain you,” another woman sneered, picking up a bottle of red wine from a server’s tray. “Ms. Sterling said that whoever could make your life a living hell tonight, she would put in a good word for them with Mr. Vance, helping us get back what we lost.” “So, don’t blame us for being ruthless.” Cold wine drenched me from head to toe, soaking my gown. Then, a sharp slap rang out across my face. They took turns stepping forward, unleashing all their pent-up resentment on me. Someone smashed a wine bottle, using a sharp shard of glass to slice my arm, leaving streaks of blood. I wanted to scream from the pain, but my mouth was tightly covered. “Let me go…” I found an opening, pushed the crowd away, and stumbled towards the ballroom. I hadn’t run far when a towering champagne pyramid toppled directly in front of me. I fell awkwardly into the shattered glass, my palms and knees bleeding profusely from the cuts. “What game are you playing now?” Aurora appeared at some point, looking down at me with contempt. “Seraphina, even if you’ve fallen out of favor, there’s no need to harm yourself to gain sympathy, is there? That’s not a very clever trick.” “It was you!” I pointed at her, my voice trembling. “You sent people to hurt me!” Aurora covered her mouth and laughed exaggeratedly, as if she’d heard the funniest joke. “I sent people to hurt you? Seraphina, you overestimate yourself. The way you are now, are you even worth my effort?” The women who had attacked me on the terrace also came over, angrily testifying for Aurora. “Ms. Sterling, don’t let her fool you! She tried to bribe us to harm you, and when we refused, she got angry and is now feigning victimhood to frame you!” “That’s right! We can all testify!” At these words, the guests gathered around, pointing and whispering about me. “How vicious! Just because she’s out of favor, she can’t stand to see others happy!” “Women like this deserve to be scorned!” I don’t know who started it, but champagne, red wine, and cake came flying at me one after another. Amidst the insults and attacks, my gaze cut through the crowd, landing on the face of the man I had loved for seven years. Dominic stood not far away, calmly watching it all. His eyes were empty, devoid of pity, anger, or even the slightest ripple of emotion. That look seemed to be blaming me: Why are you always disobedient, always causing me trouble? In that moment, all the wounds on my body began to ache. The worst pain wasn’t my skin being sliced by glass, or my face being swollen from blows. It was his indifference. His coldness hurt more than any physical assault. I felt like everything was meaningless. Explain? Who would believe me? I gave up struggling, forcing myself to stand up from the chaotic mess on the floor. Every movement pulled at my wounds, making my vision blur with pain. I glanced at Dominic. Seeing no intention from him to intervene, I limped towards the door. With every step, the glass shards on the floor dug deeper, leaving a trail of blood behind me. But I didn’t stop, and I didn’t look back. Leave this place. Leave Dominic. Only this single thought remained in my mind. 6. Seraphina POV I woke up in the hospital again. After being discharged, I began preparing to take my brother away. I contacted a private recovery center on the outskirts of town, anonymously donating a large sum of money to ensure they would secretly admit my brother, Liam. Once my new identity was processed and the contracts were signed, I could leave this city for good. Harboring a final sliver of hope, I went to the hospital to visit my brother, but at the ward door, I saw the last people I wanted to. Aurora’s parents were struggling with a nurse, trying to snatch Liam’s life-saving imported medication. “We’re taking this medicine! Our son needs it too!” Aurora’s mother, Sophia, shrieked. “No! This is Mr. Hayes’s life-saving medicine!” The nurse desperately shielded the medicine box. “Let go!” I rushed forward, pushing Sophia away. “Who allowed you to touch my brother’s things?!” Sophia staggered back. Before she could throw a tantrum, Aurora walked from the end of the hallway, her smile beautiful and cruel. “I allowed it,” she said. “Seraphina, I’m taking this medication.” Behind her, Dominic’s bodyguards easily restrained the nurse and me. “Don’t go in!” I struggled desperately, only able to watch as Aurora’s parents rushed into the ward, lunging for the medicine box. I charged in without hesitation, spreading my arms to block the medicine box. “Don’t touch my brother! Get out!” Sophia’s eyes darted. She suddenly fell backward, pretending I had pushed her, letting out a piercing scream. When Dominic entered, he saw Sophia on the ground groaning, Aurora’s eyes red and looking utterly wronged, while I stood there like a madwoman. His face darkened. “You can’t even restrain one woman?” He coldly reprimanded the bodyguards, his displeased gaze implicitly permitting them to use any means necessary. The two bodyguards stopped being polite, brutally dragging me away, one on each side. “Let me go! Dominic!” I shrieked, my voice hoarse. Seeing the medicine box about to be taken, I desperately cried out to the man who had once sworn to protect me for life. “Dominic, no! That’s my brother’s life-saving medicine!” “Please! I beg you…” Dominic only looked at me with cold indifference, saying with dissatisfaction, “You’re not being good again.” Those three words were like a bucket of ice water, chilling me to the bone. I was violently pushed to the ground by the bodyguards, my forehead hitting the bed frame, my vision blurring. I could only watch as that life-saving medicine was carried away by Aurora’s family like a trophy. From start to finish, Dominic stood there, not moving an inch. “Liam…” Ignoring the pain, I scrambled on all fours to my brother’s bedside. I saw Liam’s body begin to convulse, his face turning purplish-blue. “Doctor! Someone, quickly!” I frantically pressed the emergency bell above his bed, but there was no response. I rushed out of the ward, screaming in the empty hallway, but no one answered. I ran to the elevator, pressing the down button frantically, but the elevator was locked on the first floor. It was Dominic’s warning to me! He’d cleared out the entire floor, locking down every escape route. He was using my brother’s life to punish my defiance. I rushed to the stairwell, tumbling and scrambling down the stairs. I fell countless times, my knees and elbows scraped raw, but I felt no pain. When I finally returned to the ward with doctors and nurses, it was too late. The searing flatline on the monitor announced Liam’s death. I looked at the young boy on the bed, his body lifeless, his face forever eighteen, unable to shed a single tear. The pain in my heart was so extreme it had turned to numbness. I regretted it. Not regretting loving Dominic, but regretting ever meeting him. If I could go back, I wished I had just watched him die in that alley, beaten to death before my very eyes.

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