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Once, she was Sister Clarissa—a devoted nun who lived far from the world’s cruelty. One act of mercy changed everything. She saved Kenton Guzman, a dying heir poisoned by his enemies, and followed him down the mountain, believing love could be her new faith. But marriage only led her into betrayal and humiliation. Her husband took another woman, forced her into experiments, and destroyed the child she never knew she carried. Years later, when the truth came to light, the whole city watched his empire collapse—just as she had planned. Now, back in the monastery, she prays not for vengeance, but for peace. Until one snowy dawn, a broken man appears at her door, whispering, “Judith… will you ever forgive me?”

On her wedding day, right after Josephine kissed her husband, his adopted sister slapped her. No one stopped it—they told her to “deal with it.” Six years later, life seemed calm. A daughter, a home…, until Helena returned. She cooked for Wilfred, chose his clothes, even walked hand in hand with him like they were married. Then Josephine opened the bedroom door—Helena in a nightgown on top of him. “Fred, I’m sweeter than Josephine, right?” And he didn’t deny it. When love and family both betray you, that’s the deepest cut. Right after Josephine Copeland kissed her husband Wilfred Hayden at their wedding, his adopted sister Helena Pollard slapped her. Helena cried, demanding they split up. Wilfred and his family didn't stop her from making a scene. Instead, they told Josephine to put up with it. Josephine agreed for the sake of her marriage. Six years had passed since the wedding, and she gave birth to Belinda Hayden, her sweet little girl. She was pretty content with her life. But two months ago, Helena returned from abroad. Since then, she started to take care of Wilfred-handling both his work and personal life. Every day, she picked out his outfit, cooked for him, and even took a walk with him hand in hand. Josephine had been busy with the development of third-generation imaging chips in the past two months. So, she had barely come home. She'd never doubted Wilfred-until she saw Helena on top of him, wearing nothing but a nightgown. Wilfred's robe collar was half-open, his honey-toned chest peeking from under it. Helena slid her hands inside, her voice light and teasing. "Get up, you lazy bones. Belinda's left for the kindergarten already, and you're still in bed..." Wilfred gave a rare laugh. "That tickles. Stop it, Lena. I surrender, alright? I'm getting up now." "Fred, admit it-I'm way sweeter and more considerate than Josephine, right?" Josephine expected Wilfred to say no. After all, he had rather cut all ties with his family six years ago just to marry her. He even made a vow-"I'll burn in hell if I ever betray you, Josie." The pain of his betrayal was so suffocating that she could barely breathe. Helena buried her face in Wilfred's chest, looking upset. "Fred, if only I could stay by your side forever." Wilfred cooed, "What are you talking about, silly? This will always be your home." Helena's home? Josephine smiled bitterly. Had Wilfred forgotten that this manor belonged to her? In five years, she had earned her bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. in semiconductor materials, and chip companies worldwide were vying for her. Wilfred had built Rose Manor according to her liking, and she was so moved. Otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed in Vexford. A cold glint flashed in Josephine's eyes as she turned and walked downstairs. Zoey Dodson, the maid, greeted her, "Hello, Mrs. Hayden, you're back." "Hi." Josephine nodded but didn't slow her pace. She knew Helena and Wilfred were aware she was home. She'd be waiting for them in the living room. *** Josephine pulled up the surveillance footage, finally realizing Helena had been putting on an act. When she was at home, Helena played the part of the innocent, obedient sister. But once she was gone, Helena would drink from Wilfred's glass, hug him from behind, and even sleep with her head on his arm. Wilfred had never stopped her, showing no objection to her shameless oversteps. On top of that, Helena had affected Belinda. She kept encouraging Belinda to wear perfume and makeup, saying that was how a free, perfect childhood should be. Now, in Belinda's eyes, Helena was the best, and Josphine was nothing compared to her. "Josephine, let's go back to the room, and I'll explain everything to you, alright?" Wilfred's deep, slightly cold voice rang out above Josephine's head. She looked up and saw him in his bespoke suit. At thirty, he remained the same tall, lean frame of his youth. His deep-set features, coupled with his always-calm, detached expression, gave his demeanor a certain charm. Standing next to him, Helena seemed even more petite. Biting her lip, she looked at Josephine with her doe-like eyes, seemingly perfectly innocent. Knowing he was in the wrong, Wilfred explained patiently, "Lena is my sister, and you're my wife. Don't get the wrong idea, Josephine." "Fred's right, Josephine. We were just messing around." "While you were on top of him?" Josephine sneered. Chapter 2 Helena pouted, looking aggrieved. "Josephine..." "You don't get to say my name, you angelic bitch!" "Josephine!" Wilfred's expression darkened. "Don't go too far. Lena's family, and she's been through a lot. Don't you think we should be nice to her?" "Cut it out, Wilfred. You just wanna build a damn harem!" Josephine's jaw tightened. "Wilfred, this is my home. If you want this marriage to last, get her out of my sight for good." Wilfred had been responsible and loyal. Josephine would give him a chance if he could correct his mistakes in time. To her disappointment, Wilfred snapped, "Lena's just come back, and she's got no one but me. Besides, she's only twenty-three. Where else could she go?" Josephine spat, "A hotel, a shelter-anywhere! Better yet, she can get married and have her own home. Oh, if she can't survive out there, she might as well drop dead!" With that, she drove back to the R&D Center of Novo Tech without even glancing at the two. The logic and circuit diagrams for chip design needed software support. Since she had to handle some personal affairs in the following days, she handed off the task of buying the licensed software to someone else. At 4:30 p.m., Josephine went to the kindergarten to pick up Belinda. Belinda was about to turn five years old. Though Josephine had always been there for Belinda for the past few years, Belinda had never been close to her. The reason was simple-her parenting style was completely different from the Hayden family's. Wilfred put zero limits on Belinda's phone time. His parents, Korbin Hayden and Yvonne Jordan, never said no to her. Not to mention Helena. Everyone in the family vied for Belinda's affection with indulgence. Only Josephine enforced rules. And for that, Belinda resented her. Belinda was very disappointed that it wasn't Helena who picked her up. So she stayed quiet the whole ride. And when she found Helena wasn't home, she grew even more upset. She punched Josephine hard in the leg and screamed, "Mommy, you drove Auntie Helena away, didn't you? She doesn't even dare to raise her voice whenever you're around. Why? Why did you come back? I want Auntie Helena! I want her back!" Josephine's chest tightened painfully. Though Belinda had never been affectionate, she had never been violent before. How could she raise a hand against her own mother? She crouched down, trying to reason with Belinda. But Belinda wouldn't listen, even sinking her teeth into Josephine's arm. Wilfred strode into the room, scooped Belinda up, and carried her to her room to soothe her. Irritated, Josephine snapped a cigarette between her lips and lit it by the window. Wilfred saw her smoking as soon as he stepped out of Belinda's room. She was like a walking corpse, her lifeless eyes devoid of any emotions. For some reason, his heart twitched hard. Josephine had never smoked before. She had excellent academic performance, and combined with her pretty looks, she had always been the center of attention. But her parents' death devastated her. She couldn't get over it, so she started smoking to cope. He got it, but that didn't mean he could handle her turning so mean. Helena was his only sister. It had just been two months since her return, and Josephine already wanted her gone? She had become so unfeeling and heartless. Such a woman wasn't worthy of his pity at all. He looked away and stepped into the room coldly. Josphine saw the indifference on his face and smiled self-mockingly. He was always that perfect husband in others' eyes. Only she knew how stubborn he was-he always gave her the silent treatment when angry. Even when he did respond, it was because the "Josephine's always right" rule forced him to, and he'd always seem so reluctant. The night fell. Chapter 3 Wilfred had intended to ignore Josephine all night, but then Belinda's request flashed across his mind. So, he said to Josephine, his tone stern, "Birthdays should be celebrated on the actual day. Belinda said she doesn't wanna celebrate it in advance this year." Josephine was stunned. Belinda was born on a special date. According to her request, the celebration always came three days early. And Josephine would always try her best to fulfill Belinda's birthday wishes. On each of her birthdays, Belinda would give her those rare hugs and say with a sweet smile, "Thank you, Mommy. You're the best." Suddenly, Belinda wanted something else this year? Josephine said firmly, "Helena's behind this, right?" "How can you always pin everything on Lena?" Wilfred snapped. "I can't believe how unreasonable you are, Josephine. It's been five years since your parents passed away. Get over it already!" Josephine clenched her fists tightly, the tightest in her chest suffocating her... That night, she had a nightmare. In the dream, she went back to that earthquake in Marisbury five years ago. To shield her, who was in her late-stage pregnancy, her mother died in the falling debris. She woke up, sobbing. There was nobody in the bed next to her. Wilfred was on the phone, standing next to the floor-to-ceiling window. "What's wrong, Lena? Don't cry. Are you in danger? Talk to me. Lena, where are you?" Utterly worried, he rushed out, still dressed in his robe. He left so hastily, completely oblivious to the tears on Josephine's face. The sound of the door closing shattered the last shred of hope in Josephine's heart. She took off the wedding ring and tossed it into the trash bin. *** At dawn, Josephine went downstairs. Having been waiting for her for a long time, Helena approached her with an exquisite tray of fruit in her hands. "I'm sorry, Josephine. I know I shouldn't have come back, but I was ... just so worried about Fred and Belinda." Josephine eyed her with contempt. "Drop the act, Helena. We both know you're really here for the hostess." Since there was no one else around, Helena let the mask slip. "You caught me, Josephine. Good for you. Are you gonna let me?" Josephine's expression turned icy. "Come on, Josephine. Don't be mad. It's just a joke. I feel bad for calling Fred away last night, so I made some pastries to say sorry." Helena's hypocrisy disgusted Josephine. She turned to leave. Just then, Helena said, "It's rose macarons." Immediately, Josephine froze. Even her blood turned cold. Before the earthquake, her mother had held her close, pouting and pleading with her for her homemade rose macarons. But she had refused. Her father, ever indulgent, went out to buy some. Then the earthquake struck. Her mother shielded her from the falling debris, protecting her and her baby. Though her body lay broken, her mother still tried her best to smile at her. "Josephine, don't feel bad. I'll eat your rose macarons again in another lifetime..." Josephine's eyes were brimming with tears. From then on, she had never made any rose macarons. And the roses planted in the manor had never bloomed again. "Josephine, give it a go. See if you like the rose macarons I made," Helena smiled sweetly. Josephine knew for sure-Helena was doing this on purpose. It must have been Wilfred who told Helena about her deepest sorrow! She snapped, gritting her teeth, "Scram!" But Helena acted like she hadn't heard that. She continued, "Josephine, I know your parents' death anniversary is around the corner. If you want, you can take these macarons to your mother's grave. Maybe that will fulfill her last wish." Josephine was further enraged. She immediately turned around and slapped Helena across her face hard. Helena let out a sharp shriek. She fell to the floor, the tray crashing down with her, and her left cheek instantly turned red and swollen. Chapter 4 Covering her cheek, she grinned, her face glowing with smug satisfaction. Josephine glanced over. Then she saw jasmine macarons. Helena lied just to get under her skin. She quickly calmed down. "You wanna set me up? I'm afraid you're gonna have to pay a heavier price." Before Helena could figure out what she meant, she slapped Helena again-harder this time-the sharp smack ringing out. Helena felt her right cheek burning. Immediately, Josephine crouched down, picked up a jasmine macaron, and stuffed it into Helena's mouth. "Didn't Wilfred teach you to respect the deceased? You're gonna pay for what you did." Hearing the commotion, Wilfred strode downstairs while holding Belinda's hand. "Josephine!" His expression turned grim as he yanked Josephine back violently. Caught off guard, Josephine slammed into a glass cabinet, frowning at the great pain. "Fred..." Tears streamed down Helena's doe-like eyes, and she looked so aggrieved. Wilfred's hand hovered mid-air before touching her face. He didn't want to bring her any pain. He turned around and glared at Josephine sternly. "Apologize!" Enduring the pain, Josephine met his gaze, not flinching at all. He was so hopelessly stupid. How could he take Helena's side just like that without even hearing the full story? She said with a sneer, "Yeah, not gonna happen." Wilfred's expression turned glacial. "Josephine, no matter how much I love you, I'll never let you bully Lena like this." With that, he grabbed Helena's wrist in his left hand and raised it hard. A loud smack rang out. Five distinct finger marks immediately swelled on Josephine's right cheek. The entire manor fell into dead silence. At that precise moment, Josephine clearly heard the sound of her heart shattering. The last trace of her love for him was over for good. She let out a low chuckle, giving off a sharp, dangerous aura. Then she grabbed Wilfred's arm, stepped forward, and pivoted low. With an over-the-shoulder throw, she slammed him hard onto the floor. Terrified, Belinda burst into tears at once. "Bad Mommy! You hit Auntie Helena, and now Daddy? Go away! Leave! Get out of my home! I don't wanna see you again!" Josephine's chest heaved, her eyes bloodshot. She looked down at Wilfred at her feet. "Wilfred, let's get a divorce." Josephine asked Belinda, "Are you sure you wanna celebrate your birthday on the day we mourn Grandma and Grandpa?" Belinda said with hatred, "Yes. Blame yourself for giving birth to me on that day." "I see. Then I won't celebrate your birthday for you, Belinda. A week later, I'll be back from Marisbury, and I'll divorce Wilfred. Think carefully about who you want to stay with," Josephine said. Belinda blurted out, "I'll stay with Daddy! No way I'm gonna go with you. You're such a bad Mommy. I want Auntie Helena to be my mommy!" All color leached from Josephine's face. After quite a while, she said with difficulty, "Fine. It's up to you." Helena, who was standing on the second floor, curved her lips slightly. It turned out those slaps were worth it-Josephine wanted a divorce. She went to the bedroom to sound Wilfred out. Upon entering the door, she said in a sobbing voice, tears streaming down her red and swollen cheeks, "Fred, Josephine went to Marisbury." Wilfred's back was killing him, and he was still furious. "Good. She'd better not come back." Helena secretly beamed. Having been coddled and buttered up since birth, Wilfred had old-money arrogance clinging to him like a birthmark. Being thrown to the floor like that was definitely humiliating for him. "But, Fred, I'm worried. What if she wants to break up with you in the heat of the moment?" Hearing this, Wilfred arched an eyebrow, seeming surprised. But in the next second, he regained calmness. "Whatever. She wants a divorce? Fine by me." Belinda and he were Josephine's only family. Just hearing them cough would break her heart. Chapter 5 There was no way she'd want a divorce. *** Josephine had already arrived at the airport, but she still hadn't calmed down. She wanted to smoke but couldn't find any designated area. So, she bit the cigarette and took deep breaths. During her six-year marriage to Wilfred, she had developed two generations of imaging chips for Novo Tech. One of them-namely X2+ Chip-drove record-breaking sales of the flagship smartphones, and it also made them inseparable stakeholders. If she wanted a divorce, dividing shared assets would be a real headache. She pondered for a long time. Then she texted her assistant, "You have a week to find out Wilfred's debts, assets, and all his financial transactions with Helena." "Ma'am, you can't smoke here." Josephine felt someone tugging at the hem of her clothes. Lowering her head, she saw a neatly dressed little girl looking up at her. The girl's double eyelids framed her eyes, which weren't exactly large but were sparkling bright. Josephine frowned, plucked the unlit cigarette from her lips, and held it between her fingers. "Kiddo, meddling may get you trouble. Got it?" "Yeah, but that's OK. I'm not afraid." The girl's smile was dazzling. Then she took out a piece of candy and gave it to Josephine. "Daddy says I can only have one candy every day. Ma'am, you can have this one. After you eat it, your face will hurt less." Josephine was slightly stunned. Seeing the sincere look on the girl's face, she took it before realizing it. The sweet little girl and the piece of candy made her day. Perhaps today wasn't so bad after all. At Marisbury Cemetery. Wearing a mask, Josephine was between her parents' graves. It made her feel she was sitting between them. But she couldn't find her father's body. The ground had split open during the earthquake, swallowing many lives. Her father was one of the unlucky ones. Kneeling on the ground, she wiped their tombstones clean. The cemetery caretaker walked over. "Josie, why are you here alone? Mr. Hayden didn't come with you this year?" She said concisely, "He's busy." He was busy taking care of and soothing Helena, his cute, pitiful sister. Sister? More like his secret lover. He had raised Helena up and didn't want to see her with another man. Though he wanted to be with Helena, he struggled with his ethical boundaries. Even the thought of the despicable duo disgusted her. After saying bye to her parents, she walked toward the exit together with the cemetery caretaker. A large number of tombstones were opposite her. She stared at them, her eyes filled with unreadable emotions. "Dr. Harrington's family still hasn't shown up?" she asked the cemetery caretaker. The caretaker shook his head. "No. I've had someone keep an eye on it." Hearing this, Josephine nodded heavily. She had been barely alive when being carried out of the rubble. Claire Harrington, a doctor, had performed an emergency C-section and even donated blood to keep her alive. Sadly, Claire had lost her life during an aftershock while sending a dead mother's baby for rescue. Josephine had asked Wilfred to track down Claire's family, wanting to help in any way she could. After pulling strings, all Wilfred could find was that Claire was born in Vexford and that her husband was also a doctor. Straightening her clothes, Josephine bowed solemnly in front of Claire's grave, paying her respect. The anniversary of Josephine's parents' death arrived, but Belinda and Wilfred still couldn't reach her. Patricia Dorsey, a close friend of Josephine, sent her a couple of messages to cheer her up. At night, the Marisbury government organized a public memorial ceremony at the cemetery, and people honored the victims of the earthquake by lighting candles. The glow from candles illuminated the night sky, carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken griefs. Many people cried out loud. Chapter 6 Josephine's eyes turned red as she murmured, "Dad, Mom, I hope you live a long, happy life in another lifetime. And I hope I get to be your daughter again..." She lit up the candle in her hands, its flames trembling gently in the evening breeze. Just then, Helena sent her a video. It was recorded in a hotel under Novo Tech's name. Being surrounded by a large crowd, Belinda squealed happily, "It's great celebrating my birthday on the actual day! "I hope this will be the way it is every year from now on. Dad, Auntie Helena, I want both of you to be here with me." Helena and Wilfred gazed at each other and smiled, their fingers interlacing. The flickering lights caught the heat in their locked stares, and they looked no different from a couple in love. Josephine clutched the phone so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. She walked away from the crowd, took off her mask, and gulped for air. Suddenly, a little girl's voice crying for help rang out not far away from her. She immediately turned to look. Then she spotted a man in white, walking quickly with a girl tucked under his arm. Not sure if he was a kidnapper, Josephine didn't make a move at once. She said loudly, "Stop right there! And put the girl down!" Hearing her voice, the little girl looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "Ma'am, it's me! Me! From the airport!" It was the little girl who had given her the candy at the airport. No longer hesitating, Josephine clenched her fist and swung it at the back of the man's neck. Sensing a gust of wind, he dodged nimbly and struck back. His attack was quick and neat. Once being hit, Josephine would have no chance to fight back. She dodged barely in time and met his eyes. He was tall, lean, and composed. Under the streetlight, the silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose glinted coldly, sharpening his intimidating presence. But as he saw her, razor-edged demeanor was immediately replaced by gentleness. "You?" The man's word was baffling indeed, but Josephine didn't dwell on it. She looked at him seriously. "Put the girl down." But he didn't move. Trained in combat since childhood, Josephine had once defeated five combat champions consecutively. Not afraid of him at all, she tried to punch him again. But this time, he had become much more gentlemanly, only blocking her attack with one hand and not striking back. She spotted an opening and aimed a kick straight at his groin. Just then, the little girl shouted nervously, "Ma'am, he's my daddy." Hearing this, Josephine hastily pulled back her leg and stumbled a few steps before steadying herself. Footsteps rang out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a pair of premium-quality casual sneakers. Then the man said, his voice gentle and soothing, "Are you OK?" Instead of answering, Josephine looked at the little girl. "Is he really your daddy? Then why did you cry for help?" The little girl nodded, looking a bit embarrassed. "I wanna light a candle, but Daddy said no." Only then did Josephine turn to look at him. He seemed of her age, but there was something complicated in his aura. Though he struck with cruelty and swiftness, right now, the gentle smile touching his lips only accentuated his refined temperament. Adjusting his glasses elegantly, he explained unhurriedly, "There were so many people. I didn't want her to get lost." "I won't get lost, OK? Daddy, compared to me, you're the worrying one." The little girl leaned closer to Josephine. Then she lowered her voice and whispered, "Ma'am, my daddy seems like a badass, right? You know what? In fact, he's just hopeless with directions. He can't even read a GPS." Josephine was genuinely surprised. Could someone be this ... challenged? Chapter 7 The man glared at the little girl, seeming to want to protest. But when Josephine looked at him, he nodded calmly, showing no objection to being mocked at all. "Yes, I'm lost. Could you lead us out of the cemetery?" he said to Josephine. She nodded, not saying anything else. Skipping along in Josephine's shadow, the little girl introduced themselves with a grin, "Ma'am, my name is Natalia Maynard. "And my daddy is Zachery Maynard. You can call him Zachery." Josephine tilted her head and sized Zachery up. They were still in the cemetery, and she was still grieving, yet somehow, a word popped up in her mind-ascetic. The crisp white shirt accentuated his razor-sharp precision, whereas his black trousers added a touch of steadiness and calmness to his temperament. Together, they created perfect harmony. With his hands behind his back, he looked down at the ground, his expressionlessness reminded her of the word again. But she knew it wasn't true. How could any man who was ascetic have a daughter? Maybe her gaze was too blunt-Zachery sensed something and looked up at her. He said to her naturally, as if chatting with an old friend, "You've got great fighting skills. "I hope you don't mind me asking you this-what happened to your face?" She answered straightforwardly, "Isn't it obvious? Someone hit me." "Who?" he asked. Glancing at him, she said, "Now that's a question I indeed mind. "The exit is just ahead. Bye." After saying this, she walked into the darkness, not glancing back again. Therefore, she missed the complex emotions flashing in Zachery's gentle eyes. At Vexford Airport. Just as Josephine got off the plane, she received a call from her assistant, Matilda Tate. "Boss, I've emailed you the financial records of Mr. Hayden's assets and all his transaction history with Ms. Pollard over the past six years," Matilda reported. "Alright. Make sure you pay the PI well." After checking the documents Matilda had sent, Josephine called Wilfred, restraining her emotions. "Where are you?" "Home. Dad and Mom came back from Eophia," Wilfred said deadpan before hanging up. Opposite him, Helena was pleading with Korbin in the main seat pitifully. "Korbin, Josephine didn't mean to hurt me and Fred. Now that she has finally calmed down and wants to come back, please, just let this slide, alright? Don't hold this against her." Korbin slammed his teacup down heavily. "She's gone too far! How could she hit you both? She's such a disgrace to our family!" Saying this, he glared at Wilfred. "You've always spoiled her. This is all on you." "Why is Wilfred getting blamed for Josephine's fault?" Yvonne shielded Wilfred, pinning all the blame on Josephine. "She thinks she can act however she wants because Wilfred dotes on her too much. We'll make sure she learns her lesson when she gets back." Hearing their conversation, Belinda walked over to Wilfred. "Daddy, is Mommy coming back?" He ruffled her hair gently and asked Zoey to take her upstairs to play. Belinda pouted, extremely frustrated. She didn't want Josephine to come back at all-it'd only upset everyone. Besides, Josephine would go back to her old ways, not letting her do anything. Just thinking about it annoyed her a lot. Wilfred was irked, too. He had kept his distance from women after marrying Josephine, and Lena was the only one he cared about. After all, he was the only one Lena could lean on. Why did Josephine have to be jealous? Hadn't he given her enough sense of security? All his friends kept mistresses-more than one, actually. They all called him weird. They also warned him not to be too nice to Josephine, or she'd push her luck and end up walking all over him. He now realized they were right. *** Josephine soon came back to Rose Manor. Gazing at the exquisite building, she remembered-this was where Wilfred had proposed to her. Chapter 8 "Josephine, the day I first saw you at the campus recruitment, I swore to myself I'd marry you in the future. I'll love you forever." It had only been six years. Yet everything had changed after Helana came back. She had reasons to believe Helena had always been the love of Wilfred's life. But Helena was his sister in name only. She wasn't of age yet when he wanted to get married, so instead, he had used Josephine as a placeholder. Her eyes turned icy. She put her suitcase at the door before stepping in. Just then, someone hurled a teacup at her. She tilted her head and dodged in time. The teacup shattered on the floor, but the scalding water all splashed onto her arm, causing blisters right away. Wilfred seemed worried and frowned. He wanted to stand up, but then he thought of something and sat back down. Josephine's forehead was covered in cold sweat due to the great pain. She looked around, her gaze razor-sharp. Wilfred seemed indifferent, Korbin was sipping tea leisurely, Helena smiled complacently, and Yvonne let out a cold sneer. "Josephine, consider this a warning. We won't put up with your nonsense. Now, apologize to Lena and Fred..." Before Yvonne could finish speaking, Josephine had already bent down, picked up a shard of the broken teacup, and hurled it at Wilfred's head. Wilfred didn't see it coming at all. The shard sliced his forehead, drawing blood at once. Josephine said while looking at Yvonne, "Since you hurt me, Wilfred's gotta pay the price." No matter what, Wilfred was Josephine's husband, and the blood trickling down his forehead made her heart ache. But the fact remained-he and his family had hurt her first. Of course, she'd show them no mercy, not even to him, the man she once loved. "How dare you!" Korbin slammed the table while standing up. Before he could give Josephine a hard time, a dull thud rang out, and Yvonne slumped to the floor like a shot bird. The scene became chaotic at once. Wilfred stormed toward Josephine, gripped her by the neck, and pressed her against the wall. He used so much strength that even the veins were bulging on his arm. "Josephine, this is all because of you." Josephine had returned to discuss the divorce with Wilfred, not expecting to see Yvonne end up in a life-threatening situation. As Yvonne was overwhelmed by rage, her blood pressure rose in a short time. Her blood vessels hardened and ruptured, causing a cerebral hemorrhage. Due to extensive bleeding, chances were, she might become a vegetable after the surgery. Fearing the Hayden family's influence, the doctors were worried they might be blamed after doing everything they could, so they all refused to treat Yvonne. Hendrix Freeman, the director of Jovitas General Hospital, recommended Zachery to Wilfred. Hendrix said Zachery was a medical professor who'd recently returned from abroad, though he wouldn't officially start until tomorrow. He gave Wilfred Zachery's number so that Wilfred could reach out. Wilfred came back to the ward an hour later. The frustration on his face was a first. Zachery was indeed gentle, but he was also a peculiar one. Wilfred called him, telling him what the call was about and offering him huge rewards. But Zachery said flatly, "Sorry, Mr. Hayden. I'm afraid I can't help." Then Wilfred personally visited him using the address Hendrix provided. Staring at his wounded forehead for a while, Zachery asked, as if pondering something, "Who did this to you?" Why did Zachery care? This had nothing to do with Yvonne's surgery. Wilfred didn't answer, and then Zachery turned him down again. Watching the closed door, Wilfred had a feeling-Zachery was hostile toward him, though he didn't know why. Korbin said, leaving no room for discussion, "Dr. Maynard must be the one who performs this surgery." He then glanced over at Josephine, his gaze filled with menace. Chapter 9 "Get him to agree. I don't care what you do. If anything happens to Yvonne... Think about Good Samaritan Shelter in Marisbury." Wilfred and Josephine had built Good Samaritan Shelter under the name of Novo Tech. It was home to disabled people who required care after the earthquake. Since Korbin was Novo Tech's chairman, he had every right to deal with Good Samaritan Shelter as he wanted. Clenching her fists, Josephine was so furious, but there was nothing she could do. After saying this, Korbin left. Without shooting Josephine a glance, Wilfred turned around, intending to ask Hendrix to get another doctor to operate on Yvonne. He didn't believe for a second that Josephine could change Zachery's mind. After all, Zachery wasn't even slightly interested in those priceless collectibles he had brought. Clutching her scalded arm, Josephine called out to him as he walked toward Hendrix's office. He turned around, his face devoid of any warmth. She said, "I have one condition. If I can get Dr. Maynard to perform the surgery, you must agree to divorce. No delays, no excuses." Wilfred's jawline tightened obviously. "We'll talk after you get him here." She had gotten so carried away. He was the only man in the world who put up with all her nonsense. But that stopped now. From now on, he'd never put up with her again. *** Gazing at Zachery's number, Josephine sighed heavily. If she had known she'd ask for his help, she would have been nicer to him yesterday in Marisbury. But, at this point, regretting it was useless. She could only brace herself and give it a go. She dialed the number. While she was waiting for him to pick up, her heartbeat, which had been steady all these years, actually turned erratic. Zachery picked up just as the call was about to drop. His voice, as gentle as ever, seemed to be slightly trembling. "Zachery speaking. Who's this?" He was so polite. For a moment, Josephine actually didn't know what to say. "J-Josephine." Realizing he didn't know her name, she quickly added, "We met last night in Marisbury. "I guided you and Natalia out of the cemetery." "I remember," Zachery said. Josephine carefully chose her words. "I'm sorry to call you so abruptly. I ... have a favor to ask. My mother-in-law has a cerebral hemorrhage, and she's now hospitalized at Jovitas General Hospital..." "Be right there," Zachery interrupted her right away. "Huh?" She was stunned. Did she mishear? He explained, "I'll be there within fifteen minutes." "Yeah, well... OK..." She was still dazed after hanging up. Zachery agreed just like that? It must be because she had "saved" Natalia last night. Who knew? Kindness brought one surprise and good luck indeed. *** Since Josephine skipped lunch, her stomach was aching dully. Zachery's voice rang out above her head as she pressed a hand to it. "You got injured again?" She looked up slowly, only to see him stare at the blisters on her arm. He had chiseled, stunning features, exuding elegance and refinement. "Dr. Maynard." She stood up, about to tell him about Yvonne's condition. But he cut her off, saying, "I'll deal with your wounds first." His voice was as gentle as the spring breeze. "That won't be necessary. You've got a more critical patient waiting," she said, shaking her head. He mused, "First come, first served. This is how I work. I find it hard to treat someone else unless I deal with your wounds first." She arched an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "Alright." Then she nodded. They walked ahead, maintaining a careful distance. Around the corner, a male doctor greeted Zachery, "Hey, Zach. I thought you'd start tomorrow. Why are you here?" As his gaze fell upon Josephine, his eyes lit up with amazement. "Hey, isn't this..." Zachery immediately said, cutting him off, "Dr. Castro, I'm about to treat a patient. Don't let me keep you from your business." Chapter 10 Dalton Castro caught his drift and nodded meaningfully, drawling, "Oh... Sure." As Josephine sat down in the ER, she tucked her shoulder-length curls behind her ear, revealing her delicate earlobe. Smiling had never been her custom, least of all today. The frigid atmosphere in the room accentuated her distant, detached temperament. Yet Zachery was chatty. He struck up a conversation, chatted with her casually, as if they had been old friends, and even asked her if her injuries had something to do with her husband. Not comfortable sharing her private life with people she barely knew, she changed the subject. "Dr. Maynard, my mother-in-law has been suffering from unstable blood pressure for years. She got agitated, which triggered a cerebral hemorrhage. It'll be greatly appreciated if you could do your best to treat her. It's best if there are no aftereffects. It's very important to me." Zachery paused while applying ointment to her arm. "Are you close to your mother-in-law?" "No. It's quite the opposite. "Anyway... I'm counting on you." Zachery stared at her intently. Though her appearance hadn't changed much, the look in her eyes... She wasn't as gentle as she used to be. Had she been unhappy these years? He gripped her wrist. "Fancy a drink tonight?" After stepping out of Hendrix's office, Wilfred called Helena, who was at home. He knew her well-she was so timid. What had happened must have terrified her. Sure enough, she was still crying while answering. "Fred, how's Yvonne doing? Are you still bleeding? I'm worried sick. Is Josephine still there? I wanna go to the hospital so much, but I don't wanna upset her..." However, Wilfred didn't respond. He saw Zachery and Josephine in the ER. They were so close to each other. What were they talking about? "I've been busy these days. Next time, maybe," Josephine said, though she indeed fancied a drink. These days had been tormenting. Zachery shrugged, seeming disappointed. Then he looked at her, gently reminding her, "Use cling film to wrap your arm before taking a shower. And don't pop the blisters. Or there'll be scars." She nodded. As she stood up, her hair brushed against his chin. The scent of her hair wafted to her, mingling with the warm, sun-infused aroma of his clothes. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized they were too close to each other. She instinctively moved slightly aside. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed his fists clenching and unclenching by his sides. Maybe he was a bit flustered, too. Her heartbeat raced as he added, "Oh, and don't rub or press the wound. Get proper rest, and make sure you have a balanced diet, and load up on proteins and vitamins." She frowned. Noticing this, Zachery stopped talking at once. Did she find him nagging? Was he? But there was so much more he wanted to say... She smiled, "Dr. Maynard, do you usually spend so much time instructing your patients? If so, they're probably all gonna end up in the morgue." He answered truthfully, "I just wanna spend more time with you." "Maybe next time, Dr. Maynard. I'm off. See you..." Someone grabbed Josephine's right wrist before she could finish speaking. Wilfred forcibly dragged her out while glancing at Zachery, his gaze razor-sharp. Failing to break free, she turned her head around and said to Zachery, "Bye, Dr. Maynard." Once out of the ER, she shook Wilfred's hand away hard. Wilfred's expression was extremely grim. "What's Dr. Maynard doing here?" She didn't want to talk to him at all unless it was about the divorce. She turned to leave, but he dragged her back again furiously. "Didn't you hear my question?" "I don't wanna answer. Let go!" Her breathing became rapid. They had attracted some onlookers' attention, who even started taking photos and recording. Chapter 11 Realizing arguing with Wilfred now would drag Zachery into the mess, she explained, her tone lukewarm, "I met him at Marisbury Cemetery yesterday. I saved his daughter." Wilfred's expression softened slightly. Now he knew why Josephine could invite Zachery over. He had thought there was something going on between them. "Fred, what happened? Is Josephine there?" Just then, Helena's voice rang out. Josephine lowered her head to look at Wilfred's left hand. His phone screen was lit, the word "Lena" stinging her eyes. It turned out he had been on the phone with Helena all along. She sneered and left decisively, not disturbing the little moment of the so-called siblings. Wilfred placed the phone next to his ear, still a bit distracted as he stared at Josephine's back. She was heading toward the hospital's cafeteria. It suddenly occurred to him that she hated airplane food. So, she'd probably had nothing since morning. He had always prepared food she liked whenever he picked her up in the past. And she'd hug him before eating, saying the feeling of being cared about was so good. She must have been so upset, now that he had started to ignore her. "Don't worry. Mom and I are fine. After dinner, get with Belinda early." He said to Helena on the phone, sounding so gentle, as if coaxing a little girl. Meanwhile, his gaze was still fixed on the cafeteria. He decided to keep ignoring Josephine. Once she knew what it was like to be unloved, she'd be more understanding and accept Helena. At the cafeteria of Jovitas General Hospital. The dining area was quiet and soothing. Eating fish soup, Josephine was lost in thought. Claire's husband was born in Vexford, and he was a doctor... And she ran into Zachery last night at Marisbury Cemetery. Could it be ... Zachery was Claire's husband? She put down the spoon, wiped her mouth, and went to the operating room. Helena was here, talking to Wilfred with tears in her eyes. Cupping her face, Wilfred gazed at her, the affection and distress in his eyes undisguised. Wilfred, ever the cold, proud man, had said to Josephine when courting her back then, "Josephine, if I'm lucky enough to be with you, I swear I'll never get close to any other woman again." She still remembered how quickly her heart had raced back then. Yet now, seeing him caressing another woman's face, she actually felt nothing. She found a comfortable seat to sit down. Spotting her, Helena walked over. "Where were you, Josephine?" She said coldly, "Stay away from me, unless you're looking for a beating." "Don't be mad, Josephine. I just think it's a pity that you didn't get to see Yvonne before the surgery." "Why? It's not like she's gonna die on the operating table." "Josephine, how could you say this?" Helena's eyes turned bloodshot with anger. Wilfred strode over, glanced at Josephine in disgust, and sat far away from her while wrapping his arm around Helena's shoulders. Josephine shrugged. It was just what she wanted. The surgery stretched into what felt like ages. While waiting, Josephine texted Matilda, "Sell all the jewelry in my safe at Rose Manor. If my wedding ring is still in the trash bin in the bedroom, sell it, too. And list Rose Manor for 150 million dollars ASAP." Matilda was born in Marisbury, too. Her grandfather was her only family, who lived in Good Samaritan Shelter currently. Having been Josephine's right hand since graduation five years ago, Matilda was now her most trusted assistant. The operating room light flickered off, and Zachery, dressed in olive-green scrubs, stepped out first. Wilfred immediately walked forward, followed by Helena, "Dr. Maynard, how's my mom?" However, Zachery didn't look at them, much less respond. His calm eyes behind those silver-rimmed glasses rested on a figure in the distant corner. Josephine stood up, looking at him, inquiring silently. Chapter 12 He took off his surgical mask. "The surgery was successful. Since the patient was saved within the six-hour golden window, the risk of lasting effects is extremely low." After saying this, he joined the other surgeons exiting the OR, discussing procedural details as they walked away. Thrilled, Helena jumped up, wrapping her arms around Wilfred's neck. "I knew it, Fred! I knew Yvonne would be fine!" He smiled, holding her in his arms. "Yes, Lena. It's all thanks to you-you've been praying for her." Josephine's gaze upon them was filled with mockery. A jerk and an angelic bitch were indeed a perfect match. She genuinely wished they'd stick and rot together. She turned her head around to look at Zachery's retreating figure. He was so tall, his shadow stretching long on the white wall. After some thought, she still caught up to him. "Dr. Maynard." Zachery stopped in his tracks, and other surgeons stepped into the locker room. He tilted his body slightly, waiting for her to continue. She walked closer to him, asking curiously, "May I ask you something? You were from Vexford, right? So, what were you doing with Natalia at Marisbury Cemetery?" A bit surprised, Zachery adjusted his glasses, arching an eyebrow. "I thought you were gonna thank me." Josephine's cheeks heated in embarrassment as she pursed her lips. "I will. Later." If not for her request, Zachery could have had the day off. "Don't tell me you've got some fancy gifts for me." His gentle, deep voice was tinged with amusement. "We can't accept bribes. You're not trying to get me fired, are you?" "You're overthinking it," she said, tugging at her lips. She had wanted to give him money, actually. Compared to fancy gifts, cash was more direct and practical. Zachery keenly noticed the fleeting smile flashing across her eyes. With the bruises on her face gone, her slightly upturned eyes seemed brighter and even more charming. She said, "Let me know if there's anything I can help you with in the future, Dr. Maynard." He asked, "Can we exchange WhatsApp contacts?" "Sure." She nodded and took out her phone. Then she saw his WhatsApp name-"1107". It happened to be her birthday. Snapping out of it, she realized he hadn't answered her question. Just as she was about to ask him again, she saw Hendrix walking toward them. She nodded at Hendrix, greeting him. After her figure completely vanished from Zachery's sight, he lowered his head, his gaze falling upon her WhatsApp profile. Then he saved her contact as "Her". *** Josephine stopped by the R&D Center of Novo Tech before heading back to Rose Manor. The purchase of the licensed software went smoothly-well, mostly. Though the software could be used after paying, it was just the old version they bought, and only until it expired. In other words, they couldn't get any updates or technical support at all. Once again, she wanted to replace it with domestic software. She had brought this up to Wilfred more than once already. But he had always thought it was a waste of money, since domestic software wasn't as functional. She shifted her work direction, stopping designing X3 Chip entirely and started to upgrade X2+ Chip instead. It was already 9:00 p.m. when she came back to Rose Manor. Zoey was coaxing Belinda to sleep. Belinda pouted. "I wanna wait till Daddy and Auntie Helena get back." Upon seeing Josephine, Zoey said to her with a smile, "Mrs. Hayden's back. "Ms. Hayden, would you like her to tuck you in tonight?" Belinda immediately pulled a long face. "Mommy's divorcing Daddy. She won't be my mommy soon." Josephine hadn't seen Belinda in a week, and she missed Belinda. But Belinda's words chilled her to the core. She changed into her slippers and went to the study, not even glancing at Belinda. Chapter 13 Looking at Belinda, Zoey said with pity for Josephine, "Ms. Hayden, Mrs. Hayden nearly died delivering you. She was rescued in Marisbury for a month before finally pulling through." Admiring her own reflection in the mirror, Belinda adjusted the red wig and shrugged. "Blame the earthquake, not me. Of all days, why did she have to have me during the earthquake?" Zoey parted her lips but didn't know what to say. Belinda must have said this under Helena's influence. Josephine was Belinda's birth mother. Yet, Helena had poisoned Belinda's mind so badly that she didn't feel grateful to Josephine at all. How scheming and hateful Helena was! Soon, Helena and Wilfred came back. Helena went upstairs to draw a bath for him. Seeing Josephine's shoes in the doorway, Wilfred asked Zoey, "Where's Josephine?" "She's in the study," Zoey answered. At first, Wilfred wanted to ignore Josephine. But when he heard the sound of typing, he couldn't help but turn around. He had to admit she was indeed pretty. It wasn't about her outfit or makeup-it was that natural aura she carried. She could be either as bright and passionate as the sun or as cold and untouchable as the moon. Wherever she went, she always stood out effortlessly. Every time he took her to a banquet, Patricia was the only one who stood beside her. Because no one else wanted to be outshone. Spotting him at the door, Josephine pushed over a printed document. "You're back. Great. Take a look at this." Noticing her ring finger, he pulled a long face. "Where's your wedding ring?" he asked. "I threw it away. You may wanna do the same. We're getting a divorce anyway." Her tone was flat, as if she were commenting on something trivial like the weather. As he saw the words "Divorce Agreement", he tore the papers into pieces at once. He snapped, "You want a divorce? On what grounds?" Looking at him, she said calmly, "Dr. Maynard performed on Yvonne." "I didn't agree to it!" "Fine. Then let's take this to court. You want the subpoena sent to the front desk at Novo Edifice?" He raised his voice, getting all worked up. "I dare you! Josephine, I've been way too nice to you over the past six years, never saying no to you at all. You've always had your way, and I'm always the one who caved every time we argued. Have you realized how condescending you are? And you even forced me to drive Lena away, never thinking how she was supposed to make it out there alone. She got bullied and came back, only to be slapped by you twice. But she still pleaded for you in front of Mom for the sake of the family. And don't get me started on my mom! She just wanted to remind you to behave yourself, and she ended up in the ICU! You're seriously proposing a divorce? Josephine, you don't get to!" Josephine looked at him in a daze. He had single eyelids, a straight nose, and thin lips. She'd seen his face show affection, joy, even coldness, but never before had she seen it twist with such raw anger. An explicable dull pain in her heart struck her, leaving her suffocating. "Stop twisting the facts, Wilfred. You and I both know what the truth was over the years. Yes, you did cave, but you always caved unwillingly after I offered to patch things up with you. Remember everything I did to reconcile? I brought you sliced fruit, gave you shoulder massages, ironed your shirts, and so on... And I admit I have my pride, but I'm never condescending. I slapped Helena because she totally asked for it. Even if Yvonne dies, she totally had it coming. And the same goes for you, Wilfred. All of you-you deserve it!"

"You’re disgusting!" Priscilla’s husband slapped her across the face in front of the party guests. Her plea was desperate. "I’ve had a miscarriage… please, take me to the hospital." But her sister, Larissa, stepped forward, eyes glistening with false sorrow. "Stop lying, sister. You just can’t stand to see me happy, can you?" The crowd turned on Priscilla, their stares like knives. She was shoved to the ground, bleeding, and still-no one believed her. When the party was over, her husband finally came, impatient. "Come on. I’ll take you to the hospital." Priscilla pushed him away."Get out. You are no longer my husband." "I'll take everything from you-your family's love, your husband's loyalty... And you? You'll end up with nothing," Larissa Wilburn, Priscilla Wilburn's sister, declared confidently. And she did it. Priscilla became the sister her twin brother Claude Wilburn resented, and the wife Wesley Carlton despised. On the night of Larissa's birthday, Priscilla miscarried. Nobody noticed or simply cared. Priscilla stared blankly at the harsh white light above her head and the IV bag dripping clear fluid. The ward door creaked open, and a slightly tired male voice broke the silence. "Honey, what happened?" An hour ago, she was wheeled out of the OR. Under the nurse's pitying gaze, she borrowed a phone to text Wesley, asking him to come and cover her medical bills when available. Finally, he arrived-immaculate in a crisp white shirt, his handsome features marred only by faint traces of exhaustion. She turned her face away, the corners of her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Are you feeling unwell?" he asked as he sat down by her bedside, his expression as distant as ever. He rushed over as soon as he saw her text, clueless to the brutal suffering she had endured. All of a sudden, a sharp ache twisted in her chest. If she hadn't seen how gently he treated someone else, if she hadn't almost died on that rainy night, she might've believed he was born this cold. The smell of alcohol on him turned her stomach. "My phone broke. Could you please cover my medical bills?" she rasped, her voice raw from exhaustion. She planned to tell him the rest after the pain eased a bit. Wesley caught the faint thread of aversion in her tone. He arched an eyebrow, slightly displeased. "Today is Larissa's birthday. Where were you?" Priscilla's gaze remained fixed on the ceiling. Of course, she knew it was Larissa's birthday. She even knew they had thrown Larissa a lavish celebration. Her family and husband spent almost the entire evening celebrating for Larissa. So absorbed that Priscilla couldn't even reach them when she was in excruciating pain. "I had to deal with something," she said, her tone flat. Wesley knitted his brows, his tone irritated, "Seriously? Today of all days? What could possibly be more important?" His sharp words cut deeper than the pain in her body. He knew nothing. He didn't know she had been robbed, let alone that she had lost their baby. Her anger flared as she snapped, "Wesley, are you implying I got myself hospitalized on purpose?" The silence that followed stretched endlessly, thick and suffocating. Just one look into Wesley's deep, inscrutable eyes, she read the unspoken confirmation. Her heart sank to the bottom as she curved her lips self-mockingly. Three years of marriage, and this was how he saw her. Sensing the argument brewing, Wesley stood up. "I'll go pay the bills. Get some rest. Dr. Thompson is on her way here." Sarah Thompson was an obstetrician. Since becoming pregnant, Priscilla had been under her care. "Wesley, do you know..." Priscilla suddenly had the urge to tell him about the miscarriage. "Priscilla!" Just then, a delicate, sweet voice rang out together with the door opening, cutting her off. Larissa stood there in a pink gown, hair swept into an elegant chignon, a diamond crown glimmering under the light. She looked incredibly radiant, gentle, and adorable. "Priscilla, are you OK?" she said while walking over to the bed. Priscilla swallowed back her words. The sight of Larissa yanked her back into that freezing, rain-soaked night-countless unanswered calls, the slow creep of death, and the utter despair. A deep hatred immediately washed over her. "Yeah," she replied, her voice icy. Larissa's eyes reddened with guilt. "I'm sorry, Priscilla. I shouldn't have asked Wes to come to the party." Priscilla closed her eyes. Her body hurt, but it was nothing compared to the exhaustion gnawing at her soul. Chapter 2 "Larissa, this had nothing to do with you." Wesley frowned, annoyed by Priscilla's tone. He was certain Priscilla was being intentionally unreasonable. After all, she had never liked the Wilburns, and Larissa, who had just come back, had always been a thorn in her side. It had been only a month since Larissa's return, yet he and Priscilla had already argued several times because of her. Larissa continued, biting her lip, "Priscilla, don't be upset. You're pregnant, remember? That's what matters most. I'll ... keep my distance from Wes from now on." "Oh, so you do remember I'm pregnant?" Priscilla curved her lips into a mocking smile. For the past month, Larissa had summoned Wesley away with every excuse imaginable. At this, Larissa's doe eyes filled with tears. She pursed her lips, an injured look on her face. "Larissa, could you give us the room for a second? Let me talk to her," Wesley said gently, as if coaxing a child. Larissa bit her lip and reminded him softly, "Wes, don't be too hard on her, alright? She's pregnant with your baby." With that, she walked out reluctantly, glancing back a few times before closing the door. Priscilla looked up at Wesley, her gaze filled with desperation and sadness. Then she closed her eyes. As Wesley turned back to her, the gentleness he'd shown Larissa was already gone, replaced by coldness. "Priscilla, leave Larissa out of this. She's never done anything wrong." His protective tone cut deep into Priscilla's heart. Their marriage had started as a convenience, but somewhere along the way, she had fallen for him. She used to think he felt the same. Until Larissa's return burst her bubble. He saved all his tenderness for Larissa. It had taken Priscilla three years to finally understand-he had never loved her. "Wesley, let's get a divorce." She stared blankly at the IV bag. Though her tone was soft, her resolve was unshakable. In fact, she had thought about it the day Larissa came back, yet some stubborn part of her still clung to the last shred of hope. Wesley's stern expression softened a little as he thought of something. "I know it's just the anger talking. Larissa and I are just friends. Don't get the wrong idea." Priscilla tilted her head, tears slipping silently down her cheeks. As her hand moved to her lower abdomen, she murmured, "Wesley, the baby's gone." Wesley didn't hear Priscilla's murmurs. He stood up and walked away with his phone in hand. "Larissa's waiting for me outside. I'm going to her. Get some rest, Priscilla. I'll come back later to check on you." He couldn't be bothered to argue with an irrational woman. "Priscilla! You gave Larissa a hard time again?" Just then, an angry shout erupted as the door slammed against the wall, the crash particularly jarring. A tall, slender man stormed in, his face, strikingly similar to Priscilla's, twisted in anger. As his gaze fell upon her pale face, he was slightly stunned. But soon, his questioning voice rang out again, even sterner this time. "You know today's Larissa's birthday, and you got sick in the middle of the night? Gosh, Priscilla. You're such a cunning bitch." He glared at Larissa in bed, his gaze burning with rage. "What the fuck is your problem? Are you enjoying yourself, screwing with us? Do you ever see us as family?" He was so certain that Priscilla had pretended to be sick to ruin Larissa's birthday party. Priscilla clenched her fists. Here she was, lying in the hospital bed, enduring excruciating pain. Yet Claude, her brother, was hurling curses at her. Grief and despair consumed her. "Do you think I chose to fall sick today?" she retorted coldly, her hoarse voice laced with sarcasm. The disgust and impatience in Claude's eyes were undisguised. "Fine. Forget about your so-called illness. Answer me-Larissa was trying to be nice, coming here to check on you. Why did you make her cry?" Chapter 3 Before entering the ward, he saw Larissa in a corner, wiping away her tears. Who else could have made her cry but Priscilla? It was so typical of Priscilla. She always spewed venom, acting all bitter, as if everyone owed her. Hearing his words, Priscilla looked behind Claude and saw Larissa, who was crying pitifully. "Claude, don't blame Priscilla. It had nothing to do with her. I ... got something in my eye. That's all." Her explanation further enraged Claude. He furrowed his brows even more tightly. "Priscilla, enough with your dirty schemes. Hear me clearly-the Wilburn family doesn't owe you anything, especially not Larissa." "Claude, say no more. Priscilla's pregnant..." Larissa tugged at his arm. "Besides, it was my fault. I knew she was pregnant, yet I still insisted Wes celebrate my birthday. She's hospitalized because of me..." Saying this, she started to cry again. Trying her best not to snap, Priscilla clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. She didn't want to argue. It'd only piss her off even more. But Claude still wouldn't let go. "Yeah, she's pregnant. So what? That doesn't mean we have to put up with all her unreasonable demands." "That's enough." Wesley frowned. Though he agreed that Priscilla was being unreasonable, Claude's words were uncalled for. Claude's resentment toward Priscilla was undisguised. He scoffed, his voice dripping with malice, "Just wait and see. Faking an illness is just her first step. Next, she'll be using the baby as leverage. "She's such an unreasonable, scheming bitch. I weep for her baby." Priscilla had thought Wesley's distrust shattered her heart, but Claude's words plunged her even deeper into despair. Trembling in anger, she grabbed a pillow, hurled it at Claude with all her might, and snarled desperately, "Get out!" Tears streamed down her eyes, filled with devastation. She had never believed Claude could be a good brother, but still, he shouldn't have said this. Claude knocked the pillow aside. Blinded by fury, he bellowed, "Did I say anything wrong? You vicious bitch, using your baby to fake an illness before it's even born! Maybe you want it to die inside you!" His words were nothing but venomous. "I said, enough, Claude." Wesley frowned and glanced at Claude deeply. He was displeased by how unreasonable Priscilla was. But, at the end of the day, she was his wife. "Didn't you hear me? Get out!" Priscilla's eyes turned bloodshot. She scrambled off the bed, hurling everything within reach at Claude, glaring at him as if he were her sworn enemy. Wesley swiftly caught her wrist and yanked her toward him, his deep frown revealing his irritation. "Priscilla, enough of your nonsense." She went still at once. Tears rolled down her ghastly pale cheeks quietly, the chilling hatred in her crimson eyes enough to kill. "You, get out, too." Her light tone was dripping with sarcasm. "Priscilla." Wesley was genuinely angry, his tone sterner than ever. "Priscilla, calm down. Surely, you don't wanna hurt your baby." Larissa came over and tried to steady Priscilla, her charming eyes filled with worry. "Stay away from me." Priscilla pulled her wrist away from Wesley's grip and shoved Larissa away. She swung her hand too far, which accidentally landed on the back of Larissa's hand. Larissa let out a small cry, clutching her hand. "Priscilla!" Claude was seething with rage, looking as if he wanted to tear Priscilla into pieces. "Larissa just wanted to help. And you hit her? "Apologize to her. Now!" A searing pain made Priscilla's body tremble slightly, her forehead drenched in sweat. She bit her lip hard, stifling any sound of pain. "It wasn't Priscilla's fault. I ... should've been more careful," Larissa said pitifully, her doe-like eyes glistening with tears. "Wes? Aren't you gonna do something?" Claude's gaze swept from Priscilla's stubborn face to Wesley. Chapter 4 Priscilla turned to Wesley, too. Deep down, she knew he wouldn't take her side, but the great pain gave her an illusion, and for a moment, she let herself hope. All it took was one glance. If he cared to look at her, he'd surely realize something was wrong. "Priscilla, Larissa was just being nice. You're way out of line." Wesley looked down at her, his tone glacial. She straightened up with all her might. Her long, disheveled hair cascaded over her shoulders, her already gaunt face ghastly pale. Staring at Wesley without blinking, she said, her tone chilling to the bone, "Wesley, didn't you hear what Claude said? He cursed your baby to die." Wesley ignored her sickly pale face, thinking she was faking an illness. When Claude cursed her baby, he acted all indifferent. But as she accidentally patted Larissa's hand, it was "way out of line". Could he be any more biased? Priscilla had never felt this pathetic before. Her husband didn't love her, and her family didn't care about her. Her life was surrounded by endless suspicion and unremitting pain. Did Wesley really think of her as his wife? How could he despise her like this? "Claude didn't mean what he said," Larissa apologized on behalf of Claude. "He said that because he was too worried about me. Priscilla, I apologize to you on his behalf." Claude shot Larissa a grateful glance, his fondness for her growing deeper-and with it, his resentment toward Priscilla sharpened. "You may both step out," Wesley said slowly. Then he frowned at Priscilla. "Priscilla, cut it out already before you harm the baby." Priscilla clenched her teeth, but the pain in her lower abdomen kept intensifying. Her vision blurred, and she could no longer hold on. With a dull thud, she collapsed to the floor. "Spare me, Priscilla. Not again," Claude scoffed with contempt, looking down at Priscilla on the floor. "Bravo, Priscilla. Perfect timing for a faint-just as your lies were exposed. But you overlooked one thing. We're in a hospital. Do you really think the doctors can't see through your act?" Wesley bent down to scoop Priscilla into his arms. She was so light-he felt like holding a feather. He felt a strange sensation in his heart. He had seldom seen her lately and had no idea she had lost so much weight. "I'll go get a doctor." Claude strode out at once, eager to expose Priscilla's act. Before he could reach the door, a nurse pushed it open. Priscilla had a miscarriage and had no family by her side, so the nurse was particularly concerned about monitoring her IV drip. Now was about the time the last IV bag emptied. She walked over. Her expression changed drastically when she saw Priscilla's pale face and the blood on the back of her hand, and she immediately pressed the call button to summon a doctor. "Doctor, the patient in bed 29 is in a coma. She needs emergency treatment." Soon, hurried footsteps rang out in the hallway. The doctor rushed over with a couple of nurses. After a brief examination, Priscilla was wheeled into the ER. Wesley guarded outside the door, his heartbeat racing for some reason. Claude's indifferent voice rang out. "She's faking it. Save the trouble." The nurse rolled her eyes at him. "Since when does a layman know better than us?" Priscilla's bloodless face surfaced in Wesley's mind as he asked, "What exactly happened to her?" "She had a miscarriage," the nurse said before hurrying into the ER. Silence filled the hallway. Larissa murmured, "A miscarriage? How's that possible?" Wesley stood motionless in a daze, Priscilla's intense reaction after Claude's harsh words flashing across his mind. What had really happened to Priscilla? He grabbed his phone and texted his assistant, wanting to know everything that had happened tonight. Chapter 5 Claude also found it hard to believe. He muttered, "A miscarriage? No way. Maybe ... she wanted it to happen." Hearing this, Wesley immediately looked up and stared at him icily. Claude froze. Then he faltered, "I... I just... I mean, it didn't make sense..." Larissa tugged at his arm and whispered, "Enough, Claude." Wesley's expression was cold and stern, his towering figure exuding a commanding presence. "She's my wife. Claude, if you disrespect her again, there'll be consequences." Claude curled his lip, not saying anything anymore. About an hour later, Priscilla was wheeled out. Her condition had stabilized. A nurse asked, "Who's the patient's family?" Wesley stepped forward. "I'm her husband." She gave him a once-over, her eyes filled with disdain. Then she instructed, her voice cold, "The patient just had a miscarriage. She needs proper rest and a quiet environment. Fewer people in the ward is better for her recovery." *** When Priscilla opened her eyes, she found herself in a VIP ward of the Carlton Group's private hospital. Surely, it was Wesley's arrangement. "Priscilla, does it still hurt?" Wesley was sitting by the bedside, the indifference in his tone yesterday completely replaced by gentleness. She looked up when she heard his voice. The sight of his face still sent a lancing pain through her body. She tilted her head to look outside the window, trying not to get worked up. Wesley's deep voice echoed in the ward. "Priscilla, I'm sorry about what happened last night. If I had known, I..." He would have sent someone to pick her up. "Wesley, three years is almost up." Priscilla's voice was barely audible, her face indifferent. He stared at her side profile, the black shirt adding a touch of gloom to his appearance. After saying this, she slowly turned to look at him. Then she continued flatly, "According to the agreement, we have three months left. The divorce cooling-off period is one month." Neither she nor he wanted the marriage in the first place, so they had shaken hands on a three-year agreement. If they still didn't have feelings for each other after three years, they'd get a divorce. Now that she had brought this up, he knew she was proposing a divorce. "We'll always have other children. Stay strong, alright?" Wesley pursed his thin lips, lowering his gaze a little. Losing the baby hit him hard, too. But it was just an accident. "I will have children in the future, but you won't be the father," Priscilla blurted out what she was thinking. "Welsey, Larissa's back. If you wanna marry her, I can step aside." "There's nothing going on between Larissa and me." A trace of gentleness flashed across Wesley's eyes when he said Larissa's name. Priscilla couldn't be bothered to argue with him about this. It was the truth-he and Larissa had never done anything crossing the line, but he was her husband, and she'd never tolerate seeing him fixate on another woman. How could he be so indifferent after losing their baby? As a man, he could never truly grasp her bond with the baby-the feeling of having a life growing inside her was amazing and indescribable. And naturally, he couldn't feel the pain after losing it. It was like being flayed alive. That was why he could casually say, "We'll always have other children". "I'm not suggesting otherwise. I just mean that since she's the one you love, now that she's back, you should go back to be with her," she said, her tone calm. She had thought it through. Since he wanted to take care of Larissa, she wouldn't stand in their way. "I told you already. There's nothing going on between us," Wesley said, his gaze turning cold. After a pause, he added, "I know you're upset about losing the baby, but Larissa had nothing to do with it." Priscilla coughed, her eyes reddening. Chapter 6 Her chest tightened, suffocating her. "Priscilla..." "You knew I was pregnant," she interrupted him, the iciness and mockery in her eyes undisguised. "But you didn't want me to disturb you, so you ignored my calls and even muted your phone at last," she said word by word, laying out the things he had done. It was just her suspicion, but she was pretty confident about it. She hadn't wanted to expose him. But his relentless defense of Larissa's innocence finally wore out her patience. Wesley fell silent, pursing his lips. In fact, Priscilla was correct. When he saw her calling him, he figured she was making a scene again, so he muted his phone. He regretted it very much. "It's already happened. No point dwelling on it now." He wasn't interested in pointless arguments. Walking out, he said, "Get some rest. I gotta go back to deal with something." He closed the door. Silence prevailed. Priscilla tugged at her lips, yet her eyes were filled with sadness. Soon, someone brought over a new phone. Her original had been ruined during the downpour, and the new SIM card was already inserted. She turned it on, and it beeped with several new messages. Some expressed their concerns, and some texted to question her. She tossed the phone away, ignoring them all. After lying comatose for most of the day, she felt better when she woke up again. At 6:00 p.m., her phone rang. It was a call from her close friend, Corrine Morton. She answered, saying, "Hey, Corrine." Corrine's lowered voice rang out. "Priscilla, where are you? Why didn't you come to the perfume conference?" Hearing this, Priscilla instinctively sprang from the bed, grimacing in pain. After a few seconds, she smiled bitterly. Thinking of her current state, she said, "Something came up. I couldn't make it." What followed was a few seconds of silence. Then Corrine's voice came through again. "Wesley's here with Larissa. They act so intimate, holding hands and everything. Never mind, I'll send you some photos. See for yourself." Soon, Corrine sent over several photos. In the photos, Wesley was dressed in a tailored black suit, his breast pocket adorned with an exquisite silk square that elevated his refined presence. Larissa's fair wrist rested on the crook of his arm, her slender frame accentuated by an elegant silk gown. Her long hair was tied into a chignon, and she looked extremely gentle and charming. They looked perfect for each other. A stabbing pain shot through Priscilla's heart. She had just had a miscarriage and was still hospitalized, and there he was, accompanying Larissa to the perfume conference. And that gown... The gown was a pearly white. Under the chandelier, its sheen whispered luxury. Priscilla had reserved it for the perfume conference. Corrine had designed it personally, spending over half a month to perfect the final stitch. Corrine had told her the gown was ready a few days ago. If it weren't for the accident, she would have picked it up yesterday. And now, Larissa was wearing it. Of course, it was all "thanks to" Wesley. She gritted her teeth to get out of bed with difficulty and then texted Corrine, "I'll be right there. Send someone to deliver a gown to the hotel for me." Corrine immediately replied, "OK." Half an hour later, she arrived at the hotel where the perfume conference was held. Corrine had been waiting for her at the entrance. She was startled when she saw Priscilla. "Priscilla, you look terrible. What happened?" Priscilla told her everything, the miscarriage included. She was immediately seething with rage. "That shameless pair! How could they do this to you? Come. I'll make things right for you." Priscilla stopped her. As grateful as she was, she knew-there were certain things she had to fix on her own. "I'll go get changed first. Corrine, will you do my makeup?" Chapter 7 "You bet. Priscilla, no matter what happens, I'll always have your back." Accompanied by Corrine, Priscilla changed into the gown, applied some makeup, and tied her hair up. Making sure she looked fine, they entered the banquet hall, linking arms. The perfume conference was a major industry event held annually. As the Carlton Group's lead perfumer, Priscilla had received an invitation about a month ago. But over the past three years, she had seldom appeared in public, so not many people knew her. All along the way, she heard nothing but praise for Larissa. The guests lauded her, saying she truly deserved her title as the Carlton Group's lead perfumer. She was great at crafting top-notch fragrances, and her beauty was breathtaking. No wonder Wesley had always kept her away from the public eye... They all mistook Larissa for the Carlton Group's lead perfumer. Slipping an arm through Priscilla's, Corrine announced loudly and clearly, "Everyone, come and meet this gorgeous beauty next to me. This is Priscilla Wilburn, the Carlton Group's lead perfumer." The banquet hall fell silent at once. Priscilla walked toward Larissa and Wesley unhurriedly. Larissa immediately pulled her arm away from Wesley's and explained, "Priscilla, it's not what it looks like. You weren't feeling well, so I invited Wes to be my plus-one." A trace of surprise flashed across Wesley's handsome face. "Priscilla? What are you doing here?" Without sparing a glance at him, Priscilla stared at Larissa, her tone laced with mockery. "I didn't know the Wilburn family was doing so poorly. You actually wore someone else's gown for the conference? Couldn't you afford one?" Larissa's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at once, and she faltered, "Priscilla, I... My dress got stained, so Wes borrowed the gown from Ms. Morton." Corrine rolled her eyes and said bluntly, "Oh, please. I never agreed to that. Wesley practically snatched it away, OK? Besides, if I had known he was taking it for you, I would have never let him have it." Before the conference started, Corrine couldn't get a hold of Priscilla, so she came here with the gown. Wesley happened to see her and wanted to borrow it. She didn't agree, and he grabbed it away from her directly. Figuring it was for Priscilla anyway, she didn't go after him. Later on, however, she saw it on Larissa. Larissa bit her lip in embarrassment, her doe-like eyes brimming with tears. Wesley stood in front of her protectively. "It's just a gown." Priscilla looked into his eyes, saying calmly yet stubbornly, "The gown Corrine designed for me." It was the gown she had chosen for her grand return. After making up her mind on the divorce, she decided to expand her network. Attending today's perfume conference was her first step. It was just ... the accident sabotaged her plan. Wesley walked toward her, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and said, his deep voice laced with gentleness, "You're still recovering. Why didn't you stay in bed?" She looked at him, feeling disappointed. Once again, he changed the subject for Larissa's sake. It had been at least five minutes since her appearance, but he had never shown concern about her health at all. Instead, here he was, trying to distract her, so she would stop targeting Larissa. How disgusting. She brushed his arm away, still fixing her gaze on Larissa. Curving her lips coldly, she said, "Ms. Wilburn, you wore my gown without my permission. This is no different from stealing." Instantly, they were under a dozen prying gazes. Extremely embarrassed, Larissa instinctively leaned closer to Wesley. "Priscilla, why don't you give it to Larissa as a gift? I'll have the latest season's collection delivered to you tomorrow. Now, go back to the hospital to get some rest. You don't wanna see your condition worsen again, right?" Wesley said, his feigned patient tone filled with condescension. Chapter 8 "No," Priscilla smiled calmly, shaking her head. "From now on, what's mine is mine to control." It had dawned on her-her husband, her family, they had all truly belonged to Larissa, never to her. She wouldn't fight Larissa for them. But she wouldn't give up what was rightfully hers. Like this gown-she'd never let anyone else have it. "Priscilla, you weren't feeling well. That's why I attended the conference with Larissa." Wesley's expression darkened. He was certain Priscilla was simply jealous. She was so willful. Getting jealous at such an important occasion? When would she ever grow up? "I don't give a damn about that. Now, I want my gown back." His icy attitude meant nothing to Priscilla. She wasn't interested in winning Wesley back. She wanted the gown-plain and simple. Crossing her arms over her chest, Corrine sneered, "Mr. Carlton, you're so loaded. Why can't you have the latest season's collection delivered to your adorable plus-one? To think you snatched the gown away from me. That's just so humiliating, don't you think?" "Priscilla, could you stop making a scene?" Wesley ignored Corrine and looked at Priscilla. He didn't get it. Over the past three years, Priscilla had always been the perfect wife. What had gotten into her? "I just want my gown back," Priscilla emphasized again. Making a scene? That had never crossed her mind. She'd leave right away if Larissa took off the gown and gave it back to her. "I'll go get changed." Larissa lowered her head and tugged at Wesley's sleeve. "Wes, don't argue with Priscilla." Wesley frowned, his sharp eyes filled with disappointment toward Priscilla. Then he left while holding Larissa's hand. Priscilla lowered her head, her expression unreadable. Utterly furious, Corrine cursed, "That shameless pair!" "It's fine, Corrine." Priscilla had come to terms with it. Now that the baby was gone, she and Wesley were over. Clinging to the past would just be torturing herself. After half an hour, Larissa showed up again in a pink gown. She walked over to them, handed Priscilla a bag, and bit her lip, looking aggrieved. "There you go, Priscilla." Priscilla took the bag and gave it to a waitress passing by. "Could you toss this in the trash? Thanks." As the waitress quickly took the bag over, Priscilla added, "The gown inside costs about 200 thousand dollars. Though it's been worn and tainted, you'd still get around half that reselling it. Or feel free to bring it home if you want." The waitress was so thrilled that her eyes lit up. "Thank you so much." She clutched the bag tightly and strode away, worried that Priscilla might have a change of mind. For the waitress, she might have to work decades before earning 100 thousand dollars. This was like hitting the jackpot for her. Larissa widened her eyes, turning beet red. It seemed she might burst into tears at any second. She found it hard to believe what she had just heard. Tainted? What did Priscilla mean by that? So many people were watching them... She couldn't stand the humiliation anymore. Trying her best to hold back her tears, she lowered her head and ran outside. "Larissa..." Wesley shot Priscilla a cold glance before chasing after her. Expressionless, Priscilla watched their retreating figures as they vanished one after another into the crowd. "Priscilla..."Corrine held onto her arm, looking at her worriedly. Everyone in their circle would soon hear about what happened today. While it humiliated Larissa, Wesley chasing after her didn't leave Priscilla looking good either. "I'm fine. Let's go." Priscilla straightened her back and stepped out. At the hotel entrance, she apologized to Corrine. After all, Corrine designed and made the gown for her, and she gave it to someone else just like that. But she really couldn't take that gown back, not after it had been worn by Larissa. Chapter 9 "Don't say that, Cilla. If it weren't for your help back then, I might have been dead already." Tears welled up in Corrine's eyes. "Forget about the gown. I'll even die for you." "Hey, that's just nonsense." Priscilla held her hand tightly. "We have a long, happy life ahead of us. Alright?" Corrine insisted on taking Priscilla back to the hospital. But before they left, a black Bentley stopped at the entrance. Then someone gripped Priscilla by the wrist. She looked up in surprise, and Wesley's face came into her view. She couldn't help but frown. He had already left with Larissa, hadn't he? His expression was devoid of any emotion. "I'll take you back to the hospital." Meanwhile, Corrine grabbed Priscilla's other hand, refusing to let go. She said with a cold smile, "Leave that with me. Mr. Carlton, don't let us stand in your way chasing after someone else." Wesley glanced at her. Though he said nothing, his gaze was intimidating enough. But Corrine didn't flinch at all. She was about to step forward when Priscilla held her back. "Corrine, go home. I'll be fine," Priscilla comforted, her tone gentle. She hated to see Corrine have a fallout with Wesley because of her. Besides, there was someone that Corrine had wanted to see at the conference today. It'd be such a pity if she missed the chance. "Cilla..." Corrine was still worried about Priscilla. She glared at Wesley fiercely. Priscilla smiled reassuringly, "Chill, Corrine. We're still married. He won't harm me or anything." Before Corrine could say anything else, Priscilla broke free from her grip and smiled, "Go inside. I'll see you around." Corrine could only tell her to call if anything happened. After shooting Wesley another warning glance, she then entered the hotel. Priscilla shook Wesley's hand away and got into the car. Sitting next to her, Wesley closed the door. Soothing music filled the car, carrying away restlessness like a gentle stream. The car came to a stop at a red light. Half of Wesley's face was hidden in the dark. "Larissa and I are just friends. You know she has someone she loves." Priscilla knew his explanation was his way of compromising. It was the first time he had explained to her since Larissa's return. She turned to look outside the window, her eyes brimming with tears as a wave of bitterness washed over her. Deep down, she knew-he didn't want her to cause trouble and make Larissa look bad again. That was why he backed down reluctantly. She didn't say anything. "What happened tonight is your fault. You should apologize to her," he demanded. Every word was laced with his defense of Larissa and his criticism of Prescilla's petulance. She couldn't help but turn to look at him. She used to be so familiar with his face, but now, she could hardly recognize it anymore. "Wesley, what am I to you?" she asked softly. "Larissa has been my friend for years, and she's your sister. Now that she has come back after a breakup to rebuild her career, we ought to support her in every way we can." Wesley's tone was particularly harsh. He didn't get it. How come Prescilla was always so mean to Larissa? After a pause, he added, "If you're still bothered by the fact that I used to have feelings for her, you've got nothing to worry about. You're my wife now, and I'll never betray you. "You've misunderstood my relationship with her." A dull pain shot through Priscilla's lower abdomen. She clutched it with one hand, her chest tightening as she thought of her baby. She sneered, "Both you and her disgust me." He immediately gripped her wrist. Yanking her toward him with great force, he looked at her, his gaze filled with fierceness and rage. "Disgust?" They were married for three years. She actually claimed he disgusted her? Chapter 10 Priscilla lifted her chin and locked eyes with him, not flinching at all. "Or what? Do you expect me to clap for your devotion to her? Yeah, you surely are the paragon of simps." "Priscilla!" Wesley was furious. She continued, "When I got into the accident, you were celebrating Larissa's birthday for her. When I was hospitalized after the miscarriage, you attended the perfume conference as her plus-one. Wesley, exactly what am I to you? "A legal fuckbuddy? Or a breeding tool?" She pulled her wrist away from Wesley's grip. Though she did it slowly, her every movement screamed determination. Wesley's grip loosened for a bit before he grasped her wrist tightly again. His scorching touch burned through her skin and crept into her bones. She had been feeling unwell, and now, all her patience was worn out. She couldn't even be bothered to hide her disgust. "Wesley, I just lost your baby. If you have even a shred of conscience left, leave me alone." Wesley pursed his lips, neither speaking nor letting go. Furious, she felt her entire body aching. Soon, they arrived at the hospital. As Wesley loosened his grip, Priscilla immediately shoved his hand away and got out of the car. Before she could walk away, he picked her up. She spat, "Put me down." He glanced at her pale face. "Don't move." Biting her lip, she quieted down. She had been drenched from the downpour. Combined with the miscarriage and the trip to the perfume conference, she felt utterly drained. Therefore, she didn't struggle in his arms. Shortly after she went back to the ward and lay down, Sarah came over. After giving her a check-up, Sarah reminded her subtly, "Mrs. Carlton, your condition is still weak. You should make sure you have proper rest. Also, maintaining a positive emotional state matters." Obviously, Priscilla wasn't in a good mood. It wasn't good for her recovery. "Thank you, Dr. Thompson," Priscilla said politely. Of all people, Wesley, the one person who should have been the most intimate with her, didn't know she needed rest. Oh, wait. Maybe he did know. He just didn't care. Sarah soon left. Staring at the IV bag, Priscilla drifted to sleep before she realized it. When she woke up, she was surprised to see Wesley. He sat on the sofa not far away from the bed, frowning at a document in his hand. His pursed lips betrayed his bad mood. She propped herself up on her arms, trying to sit up. Hearing the rustling sound, he put down the document and walked over. Naturally putting his hands on her waist, he asked, his voice deep, "Are you feeling better?" "Yes," she lowered her gaze, responding softly. Wesley put a pillow behind Priscilla's back and rolled up his shirt sleeves, revealing his toned forearms. Then he unscrewed the lid of the thermos on the nightstand and poured some soup for her. The rich food aroma soon filled the air, and her stomach growled. She reached for the soup. He put it away from her and sat by the bed. "I'll feed you." He seemed so gentle, his expression softening. Staring at him, she almost had an illusion-perhaps they had never argued because of Larissa. "I can do it." She shook her head, turning him down. But he still unhurriedly placed the spoon next to her lips, as if he hadn't heard her at all. She frowned. Sometimes, she really couldn't fathom what he was thinking. On the way back, he had blamed her for embarrassing Larissa, demanding that she apologize to Larissa. And now, he acted like nothing had ever happened. Did her questioning in the car make him guilty? That was ... highly unlikely. Her gaze fell upon the soup as she said flatly, "If you have something to say, just say it." Chapter 11 Wesley's deep-set eyes were laced with tenderness. "I'm to blame for your miscarriage. I wanna make it up to you." He said this so seriously. Immediately, tears welled up in Priscilla's eyes, rage surging within her. He wanted to make it up to her? How? Even the soup sickened her. "I don't have an appetite. Put it away." "Don't throw a tantrum again." His expression darkened. She said, looking serious, "If you still love Larissa, I can back off. I mean it, Wesley. "Let's get a divorce. Then I won't stand in your way anymore." He put down the bowl, lowered his head, and leaned closer to her. Their eyes locked. He said, "We got married based on an agreement..." She interrupted him, "Yes, I know that. We shook hands on three years when we signed it. And there are only three months left." Her nose twitched, and her voice was hoarse. It was true-their marriage began as a deal, but she grew serious. To her, Wesley was her husband, her family, and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. But maybe some things and people were never hers to keep. She continued, "The divorce cooling-off period takes a month..." Suddenly, Wesley snapped, "Even if there's only a day left, until then, you're still my wife." He held the bowl in his hand again. "I'm your husband, and taking care of you is what I should do." Holding back her tears, she ate the soup. So, he was just fulfilling his duty as her husband. It had nothing to do with guilt or anything else. The atmosphere in the ward was suffocating by the time she finished the soup. She slowly lay back down on the bed and closed her eyes. Wesley tightened the thermos lid, his gaze falling upon her pale face. She was clearly frail, but she stubbornly acted so unreasonably and kept making scenes... He really didn't know what she was thinking. Early the next morning, Priscilla woke up. Wesley had already left, and a servant from home was in the ward. Right after the servant helped her with breakfast, a middle-aged woman in elegant attire stormed in. She barked, "What did you do to Larissa, Priscilla?" Leaning against the headboard, Priscilla indifferently looked at Tania Bradshaw, her biological mother. Tania never liked Priscilla. The indifference on Priscilla's face made her resent Priscilla even more, and her words were nothing but harsh. "Larissa just returned home. As her sister, you should have helped her in every way you could. But you didn't. Instead, you insulted her in front of so many people. What the heck were you up to? "You forced her to take off the gown, and after she did, you gave it to some waitress. Don't you know people were watching? How could you humiliate her like that?" Priscilla was already well-known for her exceptional perfumery skills and understated style. Besides, Wesley had been there yesterday, too. Therefore, word got out quickly, and everyone in the circle had learned about the incident. Larissa had become a laughingstock overnight, and she cried so hard that her eyes were swollen. Enduring the bitterness, Priscilla said flatly after Tania's questioning, "I'm hospitalized." Tania was stunned. Of course, she knew. Otherwise, she would have shown up here at all. She firmly believed it was another trick Priscilla had pulled. Priscilla grew up in a small town in the countryside and lacked proper manners. To fight with Larissa for Wesley's favor, she had pulled several stunts over the past month. "Larissa and Wes are childhood sweethearts. Stop throwing a tantrum, Priscilla," Tania frowned while lecturing Priscilla. A wave of powerlessness washed over Priscilla. Like Wesley, Tania believed she was just throwing a tantrum. They both presumed her goal was to win Wesley's favor. "I lost my baby.I won't forgive anyone." She looked up, her expression as indifferent as ever.

On her wedding day, right after Josephine kissed her husband, his adopted sister slapped her. No one stopped it—they told her to “deal with it.” Six years later, life seemed calm. A daughter, a home…, until Helena returned. She cooked for Wilfred, chose his clothes, even walked hand in hand with him like they were married. Then Josephine opened the bedroom door—Helena in a nightgown on top of him. “Fred, I’m sweeter than Josephine, right?” And he didn’t deny it. When love and family both betray you, that’s the deepest cut. Right after Josephine Copeland kissed her husband Wilfred Hayden at their wedding, his adopted sister Helena Pollard slapped her. Helena cried, demanding they split up. Wilfred and his family didn't stop her from making a scene. Instead, they told Josephine to put up with it. Josephine agreed for the sake of her marriage. Six years had passed since the wedding, and she gave birth to Belinda Hayden, her sweet little girl. She was pretty content with her life. But two months ago, Helena returned from abroad. Since then, she started to take care of Wilfred-handling both his work and personal life. Every day, she picked out his outfit, cooked for him, and even took a walk with him hand in hand. Josephine had been busy with the development of third-generation imaging chips in the past two months. So, she had barely come home. She'd never doubted Wilfred-until she saw Helena on top of him, wearing nothing but a nightgown. Wilfred's robe collar was half-open, his honey-toned chest peeking from under it. Helena slid her hands inside, her voice light and teasing. "Get up, you lazy bones. Belinda's left for the kindergarten already, and you're still in bed..." Wilfred gave a rare laugh. "That tickles. Stop it, Lena. I surrender, alright? I'm getting up now." "Fred, admit it-I'm way sweeter and more considerate than Josephine, right?" Josephine expected Wilfred to say no. After all, he had rather cut all ties with his family six years ago just to marry her. He even made a vow-"I'll burn in hell if I ever betray you, Josie." The pain of his betrayal was so suffocating that she could barely breathe. Helena buried her face in Wilfred's chest, looking upset. "Fred, if only I could stay by your side forever." Wilfred cooed, "What are you talking about, silly? This will always be your home." Helena's home? Josephine smiled bitterly. Had Wilfred forgotten that this manor belonged to her? In five years, she had earned her bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. in semiconductor materials, and chip companies worldwide were vying for her. Wilfred had built Rose Manor according to her liking, and she was so moved. Otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed in Vexford. A cold glint flashed in Josephine's eyes as she turned and walked downstairs. Zoey Dodson, the maid, greeted her, "Hello, Mrs. Hayden, you're back." "Hi." Josephine nodded but didn't slow her pace. She knew Helena and Wilfred were aware she was home. She'd be waiting for them in the living room. *** Josephine pulled up the surveillance footage, finally realizing Helena had been putting on an act. When she was at home, Helena played the part of the innocent, obedient sister. But once she was gone, Helena would drink from Wilfred's glass, hug him from behind, and even sleep with her head on his arm. Wilfred had never stopped her, showing no objection to her shameless oversteps. On top of that, Helena had affected Belinda. She kept encouraging Belinda to wear perfume and makeup, saying that was how a free, perfect childhood should be. Now, in Belinda's eyes, Helena was the best, and Josphine was nothing compared to her. "Josephine, let's go back to the room, and I'll explain everything to you, alright?" Wilfred's deep, slightly cold voice rang out above Josephine's head. She looked up and saw him in his bespoke suit. At thirty, he remained the same tall, lean frame of his youth. His deep-set features, coupled with his always-calm, detached expression, gave his demeanor a certain charm. Standing next to him, Helena seemed even more petite. Biting her lip, she looked at Josephine with her doe-like eyes, seemingly perfectly innocent. Knowing he was in the wrong, Wilfred explained patiently, "Lena is my sister, and you're my wife. Don't get the wrong idea, Josephine." "Fred's right, Josephine. We were just messing around." "While you were on top of him?" Josephine sneered. Chapter 2 Helena pouted, looking aggrieved. "Josephine..." "You don't get to say my name, you angelic bitch!" "Josephine!" Wilfred's expression darkened. "Don't go too far. Lena's family, and she's been through a lot. Don't you think we should be nice to her?" "Cut it out, Wilfred. You just wanna build a damn harem!" Josephine's jaw tightened. "Wilfred, this is my home. If you want this marriage to last, get her out of my sight for good." Wilfred had been responsible and loyal. Josephine would give him a chance if he could correct his mistakes in time. To her disappointment, Wilfred snapped, "Lena's just come back, and she's got no one but me. Besides, she's only twenty-three. Where else could she go?" Josephine spat, "A hotel, a shelter-anywhere! Better yet, she can get married and have her own home. Oh, if she can't survive out there, she might as well drop dead!" With that, she drove back to the R&D Center of Novo Tech without even glancing at the two. The logic and circuit diagrams for chip design needed software support. Since she had to handle some personal affairs in the following days, she handed off the task of buying the licensed software to someone else. At 4:30 p.m., Josephine went to the kindergarten to pick up Belinda. Belinda was about to turn five years old. Though Josephine had always been there for Belinda for the past few years, Belinda had never been close to her. The reason was simple-her parenting style was completely different from the Hayden family's. Wilfred put zero limits on Belinda's phone time. His parents, Korbin Hayden and Yvonne Jordan, never said no to her. Not to mention Helena. Everyone in the family vied for Belinda's affection with indulgence. Only Josephine enforced rules. And for that, Belinda resented her. Belinda was very disappointed that it wasn't Helena who picked her up. So she stayed quiet the whole ride. And when she found Helena wasn't home, she grew even more upset. She punched Josephine hard in the leg and screamed, "Mommy, you drove Auntie Helena away, didn't you? She doesn't even dare to raise her voice whenever you're around. Why? Why did you come back? I want Auntie Helena! I want her back!" Josephine's chest tightened painfully. Though Belinda had never been affectionate, she had never been violent before. How could she raise a hand against her own mother? She crouched down, trying to reason with Belinda. But Belinda wouldn't listen, even sinking her teeth into Josephine's arm. Wilfred strode into the room, scooped Belinda up, and carried her to her room to soothe her. Irritated, Josephine snapped a cigarette between her lips and lit it by the window. Wilfred saw her smoking as soon as he stepped out of Belinda's room. She was like a walking corpse, her lifeless eyes devoid of any emotions. For some reason, his heart twitched hard. Josephine had never smoked before. She had excellent academic performance, and combined with her pretty looks, she had always been the center of attention. But her parents' death devastated her. She couldn't get over it, so she started smoking to cope. He got it, but that didn't mean he could handle her turning so mean. Helena was his only sister. It had just been two months since her return, and Josephine already wanted her gone? She had become so unfeeling and heartless. Such a woman wasn't worthy of his pity at all. He looked away and stepped into the room coldly. Josphine saw the indifference on his face and smiled self-mockingly. He was always that perfect husband in others' eyes. Only she knew how stubborn he was-he always gave her the silent treatment when angry. Even when he did respond, it was because the "Josephine's always right" rule forced him to, and he'd always seem so reluctant. The night fell. Chapter 3 Wilfred had intended to ignore Josephine all night, but then Belinda's request flashed across his mind. So, he said to Josephine, his tone stern, "Birthdays should be celebrated on the actual day. Belinda said she doesn't wanna celebrate it in advance this year." Josephine was stunned. Belinda was born on a special date. According to her request, the celebration always came three days early. And Josephine would always try her best to fulfill Belinda's birthday wishes. On each of her birthdays, Belinda would give her those rare hugs and say with a sweet smile, "Thank you, Mommy. You're the best." Suddenly, Belinda wanted something else this year? Josephine said firmly, "Helena's behind this, right?" "How can you always pin everything on Lena?" Wilfred snapped. "I can't believe how unreasonable you are, Josephine. It's been five years since your parents passed away. Get over it already!" Josephine clenched her fists tightly, the tightest in her chest suffocating her... That night, she had a nightmare. In the dream, she went back to that earthquake in Marisbury five years ago. To shield her, who was in her late-stage pregnancy, her mother died in the falling debris. She woke up, sobbing. There was nobody in the bed next to her. Wilfred was on the phone, standing next to the floor-to-ceiling window. "What's wrong, Lena? Don't cry. Are you in danger? Talk to me. Lena, where are you?" Utterly worried, he rushed out, still dressed in his robe. He left so hastily, completely oblivious to the tears on Josephine's face. The sound of the door closing shattered the last shred of hope in Josephine's heart. She took off the wedding ring and tossed it into the trash bin. *** At dawn, Josephine went downstairs. Having been waiting for her for a long time, Helena approached her with an exquisite tray of fruit in her hands. "I'm sorry, Josephine. I know I shouldn't have come back, but I was ... just so worried about Fred and Belinda." Josephine eyed her with contempt. "Drop the act, Helena. We both know you're really here for the hostess." Since there was no one else around, Helena let the mask slip. "You caught me, Josephine. Good for you. Are you gonna let me?" Josephine's expression turned icy. "Come on, Josephine. Don't be mad. It's just a joke. I feel bad for calling Fred away last night, so I made some pastries to say sorry." Helena's hypocrisy disgusted Josephine. She turned to leave. Just then, Helena said, "It's rose macarons." Immediately, Josephine froze. Even her blood turned cold. Before the earthquake, her mother had held her close, pouting and pleading with her for her homemade rose macarons. But she had refused. Her father, ever indulgent, went out to buy some. Then the earthquake struck. Her mother shielded her from the falling debris, protecting her and her baby. Though her body lay broken, her mother still tried her best to smile at her. "Josephine, don't feel bad. I'll eat your rose macarons again in another lifetime..." Josephine's eyes were brimming with tears. From then on, she had never made any rose macarons. And the roses planted in the manor had never bloomed again. "Josephine, give it a go. See if you like the rose macarons I made," Helena smiled sweetly. Josephine knew for sure-Helena was doing this on purpose. It must have been Wilfred who told Helena about her deepest sorrow! She snapped, gritting her teeth, "Scram!" But Helena acted like she hadn't heard that. She continued, "Josephine, I know your parents' death anniversary is around the corner. If you want, you can take these macarons to your mother's grave. Maybe that will fulfill her last wish." Josephine was further enraged. She immediately turned around and slapped Helena across her face hard. Helena let out a sharp shriek. She fell to the floor, the tray crashing down with her, and her left cheek instantly turned red and swollen. Chapter 4 Covering her cheek, she grinned, her face glowing with smug satisfaction. Josephine glanced over. Then she saw jasmine macarons. Helena lied just to get under her skin. She quickly calmed down. "You wanna set me up? I'm afraid you're gonna have to pay a heavier price." Before Helena could figure out what she meant, she slapped Helena again-harder this time-the sharp smack ringing out. Helena felt her right cheek burning. Immediately, Josephine crouched down, picked up a jasmine macaron, and stuffed it into Helena's mouth. "Didn't Wilfred teach you to respect the deceased? You're gonna pay for what you did." Hearing the commotion, Wilfred strode downstairs while holding Belinda's hand. "Josephine!" His expression turned grim as he yanked Josephine back violently. Caught off guard, Josephine slammed into a glass cabinet, frowning at the great pain. "Fred..." Tears streamed down Helena's doe-like eyes, and she looked so aggrieved. Wilfred's hand hovered mid-air before touching her face. He didn't want to bring her any pain. He turned around and glared at Josephine sternly. "Apologize!" Enduring the pain, Josephine met his gaze, not flinching at all. He was so hopelessly stupid. How could he take Helena's side just like that without even hearing the full story? She said with a sneer, "Yeah, not gonna happen." Wilfred's expression turned glacial. "Josephine, no matter how much I love you, I'll never let you bully Lena like this." With that, he grabbed Helena's wrist in his left hand and raised it hard. A loud smack rang out. Five distinct finger marks immediately swelled on Josephine's right cheek. The entire manor fell into dead silence. At that precise moment, Josephine clearly heard the sound of her heart shattering. The last trace of her love for him was over for good. She let out a low chuckle, giving off a sharp, dangerous aura. Then she grabbed Wilfred's arm, stepped forward, and pivoted low. With an over-the-shoulder throw, she slammed him hard onto the floor. Terrified, Belinda burst into tears at once. "Bad Mommy! You hit Auntie Helena, and now Daddy? Go away! Leave! Get out of my home! I don't wanna see you again!" Josephine's chest heaved, her eyes bloodshot. She looked down at Wilfred at her feet. "Wilfred, let's get a divorce." Josephine asked Belinda, "Are you sure you wanna celebrate your birthday on the day we mourn Grandma and Grandpa?" Belinda said with hatred, "Yes. Blame yourself for giving birth to me on that day." "I see. Then I won't celebrate your birthday for you, Belinda. A week later, I'll be back from Marisbury, and I'll divorce Wilfred. Think carefully about who you want to stay with," Josephine said. Belinda blurted out, "I'll stay with Daddy! No way I'm gonna go with you. You're such a bad Mommy. I want Auntie Helena to be my mommy!" All color leached from Josephine's face. After quite a while, she said with difficulty, "Fine. It's up to you." Helena, who was standing on the second floor, curved her lips slightly. It turned out those slaps were worth it-Josephine wanted a divorce. She went to the bedroom to sound Wilfred out. Upon entering the door, she said in a sobbing voice, tears streaming down her red and swollen cheeks, "Fred, Josephine went to Marisbury." Wilfred's back was killing him, and he was still furious. "Good. She'd better not come back." Helena secretly beamed. Having been coddled and buttered up since birth, Wilfred had old-money arrogance clinging to him like a birthmark. Being thrown to the floor like that was definitely humiliating for him. "But, Fred, I'm worried. What if she wants to break up with you in the heat of the moment?" Hearing this, Wilfred arched an eyebrow, seeming surprised. But in the next second, he regained calmness. "Whatever. She wants a divorce? Fine by me." Belinda and he were Josephine's only family. Just hearing them cough would break her heart. Chapter 5 There was no way she'd want a divorce. *** Josephine had already arrived at the airport, but she still hadn't calmed down. She wanted to smoke but couldn't find any designated area. So, she bit the cigarette and took deep breaths. During her six-year marriage to Wilfred, she had developed two generations of imaging chips for Novo Tech. One of them-namely X2+ Chip-drove record-breaking sales of the flagship smartphones, and it also made them inseparable stakeholders. If she wanted a divorce, dividing shared assets would be a real headache. She pondered for a long time. Then she texted her assistant, "You have a week to find out Wilfred's debts, assets, and all his financial transactions with Helena." "Ma'am, you can't smoke here." Josephine felt someone tugging at the hem of her clothes. Lowering her head, she saw a neatly dressed little girl looking up at her. The girl's double eyelids framed her eyes, which weren't exactly large but were sparkling bright. Josephine frowned, plucked the unlit cigarette from her lips, and held it between her fingers. "Kiddo, meddling may get you trouble. Got it?" "Yeah, but that's OK. I'm not afraid." The girl's smile was dazzling. Then she took out a piece of candy and gave it to Josephine. "Daddy says I can only have one candy every day. Ma'am, you can have this one. After you eat it, your face will hurt less." Josephine was slightly stunned. Seeing the sincere look on the girl's face, she took it before realizing it. The sweet little girl and the piece of candy made her day. Perhaps today wasn't so bad after all. At Marisbury Cemetery. Wearing a mask, Josephine was between her parents' graves. It made her feel she was sitting between them. But she couldn't find her father's body. The ground had split open during the earthquake, swallowing many lives. Her father was one of the unlucky ones. Kneeling on the ground, she wiped their tombstones clean. The cemetery caretaker walked over. "Josie, why are you here alone? Mr. Hayden didn't come with you this year?" She said concisely, "He's busy." He was busy taking care of and soothing Helena, his cute, pitiful sister. Sister? More like his secret lover. He had raised Helena up and didn't want to see her with another man. Though he wanted to be with Helena, he struggled with his ethical boundaries. Even the thought of the despicable duo disgusted her. After saying bye to her parents, she walked toward the exit together with the cemetery caretaker. A large number of tombstones were opposite her. She stared at them, her eyes filled with unreadable emotions. "Dr. Harrington's family still hasn't shown up?" she asked the cemetery caretaker. The caretaker shook his head. "No. I've had someone keep an eye on it." Hearing this, Josephine nodded heavily. She had been barely alive when being carried out of the rubble. Claire Harrington, a doctor, had performed an emergency C-section and even donated blood to keep her alive. Sadly, Claire had lost her life during an aftershock while sending a dead mother's baby for rescue. Josephine had asked Wilfred to track down Claire's family, wanting to help in any way she could. After pulling strings, all Wilfred could find was that Claire was born in Vexford and that her husband was also a doctor. Straightening her clothes, Josephine bowed solemnly in front of Claire's grave, paying her respect. The anniversary of Josephine's parents' death arrived, but Belinda and Wilfred still couldn't reach her. Patricia Dorsey, a close friend of Josephine, sent her a couple of messages to cheer her up. At night, the Marisbury government organized a public memorial ceremony at the cemetery, and people honored the victims of the earthquake by lighting candles. The glow from candles illuminated the night sky, carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken griefs. Many people cried out loud. Chapter 6 Josephine's eyes turned red as she murmured, "Dad, Mom, I hope you live a long, happy life in another lifetime. And I hope I get to be your daughter again..." She lit up the candle in her hands, its flames trembling gently in the evening breeze. Just then, Helena sent her a video. It was recorded in a hotel under Novo Tech's name. Being surrounded by a large crowd, Belinda squealed happily, "It's great celebrating my birthday on the actual day! "I hope this will be the way it is every year from now on. Dad, Auntie Helena, I want both of you to be here with me." Helena and Wilfred gazed at each other and smiled, their fingers interlacing. The flickering lights caught the heat in their locked stares, and they looked no different from a couple in love. Josephine clutched the phone so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. She walked away from the crowd, took off her mask, and gulped for air. Suddenly, a little girl's voice crying for help rang out not far away from her. She immediately turned to look. Then she spotted a man in white, walking quickly with a girl tucked under his arm. Not sure if he was a kidnapper, Josephine didn't make a move at once. She said loudly, "Stop right there! And put the girl down!" Hearing her voice, the little girl looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "Ma'am, it's me! Me! From the airport!" It was the little girl who had given her the candy at the airport. No longer hesitating, Josephine clenched her fist and swung it at the back of the man's neck. Sensing a gust of wind, he dodged nimbly and struck back. His attack was quick and neat. Once being hit, Josephine would have no chance to fight back. She dodged barely in time and met his eyes. He was tall, lean, and composed. Under the streetlight, the silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose glinted coldly, sharpening his intimidating presence. But as he saw her, razor-edged demeanor was immediately replaced by gentleness. "You?" The man's word was baffling indeed, but Josephine didn't dwell on it. She looked at him seriously. "Put the girl down." But he didn't move. Trained in combat since childhood, Josephine had once defeated five combat champions consecutively. Not afraid of him at all, she tried to punch him again. But this time, he had become much more gentlemanly, only blocking her attack with one hand and not striking back. She spotted an opening and aimed a kick straight at his groin. Just then, the little girl shouted nervously, "Ma'am, he's my daddy." Hearing this, Josephine hastily pulled back her leg and stumbled a few steps before steadying herself. Footsteps rang out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a pair of premium-quality casual sneakers. Then the man said, his voice gentle and soothing, "Are you OK?" Instead of answering, Josephine looked at the little girl. "Is he really your daddy? Then why did you cry for help?" The little girl nodded, looking a bit embarrassed. "I wanna light a candle, but Daddy said no." Only then did Josephine turn to look at him. He seemed of her age, but there was something complicated in his aura. Though he struck with cruelty and swiftness, right now, the gentle smile touching his lips only accentuated his refined temperament. Adjusting his glasses elegantly, he explained unhurriedly, "There were so many people. I didn't want her to get lost." "I won't get lost, OK? Daddy, compared to me, you're the worrying one." The little girl leaned closer to Josephine. Then she lowered her voice and whispered, "Ma'am, my daddy seems like a badass, right? You know what? In fact, he's just hopeless with directions. He can't even read a GPS." Josephine was genuinely surprised. Could someone be this ... challenged? Chapter 7 The man glared at the little girl, seeming to want to protest. But when Josephine looked at him, he nodded calmly, showing no objection to being mocked at all. "Yes, I'm lost. Could you lead us out of the cemetery?" he said to Josephine. She nodded, not saying anything else. Skipping along in Josephine's shadow, the little girl introduced themselves with a grin, "Ma'am, my name is Natalia Maynard. "And my daddy is Zachery Maynard. You can call him Zachery." Josephine tilted her head and sized Zachery up. They were still in the cemetery, and she was still grieving, yet somehow, a word popped up in her mind-ascetic. The crisp white shirt accentuated his razor-sharp precision, whereas his black trousers added a touch of steadiness and calmness to his temperament. Together, they created perfect harmony. With his hands behind his back, he looked down at the ground, his expressionlessness reminded her of the word again. But she knew it wasn't true. How could any man who was ascetic have a daughter? Maybe her gaze was too blunt-Zachery sensed something and looked up at her. He said to her naturally, as if chatting with an old friend, "You've got great fighting skills. "I hope you don't mind me asking you this-what happened to your face?" She answered straightforwardly, "Isn't it obvious? Someone hit me." "Who?" he asked. Glancing at him, she said, "Now that's a question I indeed mind. "The exit is just ahead. Bye." After saying this, she walked into the darkness, not glancing back again. Therefore, she missed the complex emotions flashing in Zachery's gentle eyes. At Vexford Airport. Just as Josephine got off the plane, she received a call from her assistant, Matilda Tate. "Boss, I've emailed you the financial records of Mr. Hayden's assets and all his transaction history with Ms. Pollard over the past six years," Matilda reported. "Alright. Make sure you pay the PI well." After checking the documents Matilda had sent, Josephine called Wilfred, restraining her emotions. "Where are you?" "Home. Dad and Mom came back from Eophia," Wilfred said deadpan before hanging up. Opposite him, Helena was pleading with Korbin in the main seat pitifully. "Korbin, Josephine didn't mean to hurt me and Fred. Now that she has finally calmed down and wants to come back, please, just let this slide, alright? Don't hold this against her." Korbin slammed his teacup down heavily. "She's gone too far! How could she hit you both? She's such a disgrace to our family!" Saying this, he glared at Wilfred. "You've always spoiled her. This is all on you." "Why is Wilfred getting blamed for Josephine's fault?" Yvonne shielded Wilfred, pinning all the blame on Josephine. "She thinks she can act however she wants because Wilfred dotes on her too much. We'll make sure she learns her lesson when she gets back." Hearing their conversation, Belinda walked over to Wilfred. "Daddy, is Mommy coming back?" He ruffled her hair gently and asked Zoey to take her upstairs to play. Belinda pouted, extremely frustrated. She didn't want Josephine to come back at all-it'd only upset everyone. Besides, Josephine would go back to her old ways, not letting her do anything. Just thinking about it annoyed her a lot. Wilfred was irked, too. He had kept his distance from women after marrying Josephine, and Lena was the only one he cared about. After all, he was the only one Lena could lean on. Why did Josephine have to be jealous? Hadn't he given her enough sense of security? All his friends kept mistresses-more than one, actually. They all called him weird. They also warned him not to be too nice to Josephine, or she'd push her luck and end up walking all over him. He now realized they were right. *** Josephine soon came back to Rose Manor. Gazing at the exquisite building, she remembered-this was where Wilfred had proposed to her. Chapter 8 "Josephine, the day I first saw you at the campus recruitment, I swore to myself I'd marry you in the future. I'll love you forever." It had only been six years. Yet everything had changed after Helana came back. She had reasons to believe Helena had always been the love of Wilfred's life. But Helena was his sister in name only. She wasn't of age yet when he wanted to get married, so instead, he had used Josephine as a placeholder. Her eyes turned icy. She put her suitcase at the door before stepping in. Just then, someone hurled a teacup at her. She tilted her head and dodged in time. The teacup shattered on the floor, but the scalding water all splashed onto her arm, causing blisters right away. Wilfred seemed worried and frowned. He wanted to stand up, but then he thought of something and sat back down. Josephine's forehead was covered in cold sweat due to the great pain. She looked around, her gaze razor-sharp. Wilfred seemed indifferent, Korbin was sipping tea leisurely, Helena smiled complacently, and Yvonne let out a cold sneer. "Josephine, consider this a warning. We won't put up with your nonsense. Now, apologize to Lena and Fred..." Before Yvonne could finish speaking, Josephine had already bent down, picked up a shard of the broken teacup, and hurled it at Wilfred's head. Wilfred didn't see it coming at all. The shard sliced his forehead, drawing blood at once. Josephine said while looking at Yvonne, "Since you hurt me, Wilfred's gotta pay the price." No matter what, Wilfred was Josephine's husband, and the blood trickling down his forehead made her heart ache. But the fact remained-he and his family had hurt her first. Of course, she'd show them no mercy, not even to him, the man she once loved. "How dare you!" Korbin slammed the table while standing up. Before he could give Josephine a hard time, a dull thud rang out, and Yvonne slumped to the floor like a shot bird. The scene became chaotic at once. Wilfred stormed toward Josephine, gripped her by the neck, and pressed her against the wall. He used so much strength that even the veins were bulging on his arm. "Josephine, this is all because of you." Josephine had returned to discuss the divorce with Wilfred, not expecting to see Yvonne end up in a life-threatening situation. As Yvonne was overwhelmed by rage, her blood pressure rose in a short time. Her blood vessels hardened and ruptured, causing a cerebral hemorrhage. Due to extensive bleeding, chances were, she might become a vegetable after the surgery. Fearing the Hayden family's influence, the doctors were worried they might be blamed after doing everything they could, so they all refused to treat Yvonne. Hendrix Freeman, the director of Jovitas General Hospital, recommended Zachery to Wilfred. Hendrix said Zachery was a medical professor who'd recently returned from abroad, though he wouldn't officially start until tomorrow. He gave Wilfred Zachery's number so that Wilfred could reach out. Wilfred came back to the ward an hour later. The frustration on his face was a first. Zachery was indeed gentle, but he was also a peculiar one. Wilfred called him, telling him what the call was about and offering him huge rewards. But Zachery said flatly, "Sorry, Mr. Hayden. I'm afraid I can't help." Then Wilfred personally visited him using the address Hendrix provided. Staring at his wounded forehead for a while, Zachery asked, as if pondering something, "Who did this to you?" Why did Zachery care? This had nothing to do with Yvonne's surgery. Wilfred didn't answer, and then Zachery turned him down again. Watching the closed door, Wilfred had a feeling-Zachery was hostile toward him, though he didn't know why. Korbin said, leaving no room for discussion, "Dr. Maynard must be the one who performs this surgery." He then glanced over at Josephine, his gaze filled with menace. Chapter 9 "Get him to agree. I don't care what you do. If anything happens to Yvonne... Think about Good Samaritan Shelter in Marisbury." Wilfred and Josephine had built Good Samaritan Shelter under the name of Novo Tech. It was home to disabled people who required care after the earthquake. Since Korbin was Novo Tech's chairman, he had every right to deal with Good Samaritan Shelter as he wanted. Clenching her fists, Josephine was so furious, but there was nothing she could do. After saying this, Korbin left. Without shooting Josephine a glance, Wilfred turned around, intending to ask Hendrix to get another doctor to operate on Yvonne. He didn't believe for a second that Josephine could change Zachery's mind. After all, Zachery wasn't even slightly interested in those priceless collectibles he had brought. Clutching her scalded arm, Josephine called out to him as he walked toward Hendrix's office. He turned around, his face devoid of any warmth. She said, "I have one condition. If I can get Dr. Maynard to perform the surgery, you must agree to divorce. No delays, no excuses." Wilfred's jawline tightened obviously. "We'll talk after you get him here." She had gotten so carried away. He was the only man in the world who put up with all her nonsense. But that stopped now. From now on, he'd never put up with her again. *** Gazing at Zachery's number, Josephine sighed heavily. If she had known she'd ask for his help, she would have been nicer to him yesterday in Marisbury. But, at this point, regretting it was useless. She could only brace herself and give it a go. She dialed the number. While she was waiting for him to pick up, her heartbeat, which had been steady all these years, actually turned erratic. Zachery picked up just as the call was about to drop. His voice, as gentle as ever, seemed to be slightly trembling. "Zachery speaking. Who's this?" He was so polite. For a moment, Josephine actually didn't know what to say. "J-Josephine." Realizing he didn't know her name, she quickly added, "We met last night in Marisbury. "I guided you and Natalia out of the cemetery." "I remember," Zachery said. Josephine carefully chose her words. "I'm sorry to call you so abruptly. I ... have a favor to ask. My mother-in-law has a cerebral hemorrhage, and she's now hospitalized at Jovitas General Hospital..." "Be right there," Zachery interrupted her right away. "Huh?" She was stunned. Did she mishear? He explained, "I'll be there within fifteen minutes." "Yeah, well... OK..." She was still dazed after hanging up. Zachery agreed just like that? It must be because she had "saved" Natalia last night. Who knew? Kindness brought one surprise and good luck indeed. *** Since Josephine skipped lunch, her stomach was aching dully. Zachery's voice rang out above her head as she pressed a hand to it. "You got injured again?" She looked up slowly, only to see him stare at the blisters on her arm. He had chiseled, stunning features, exuding elegance and refinement. "Dr. Maynard." She stood up, about to tell him about Yvonne's condition. But he cut her off, saying, "I'll deal with your wounds first." His voice was as gentle as the spring breeze. "That won't be necessary. You've got a more critical patient waiting," she said, shaking her head. He mused, "First come, first served. This is how I work. I find it hard to treat someone else unless I deal with your wounds first." She arched an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "Alright." Then she nodded. They walked ahead, maintaining a careful distance. Around the corner, a male doctor greeted Zachery, "Hey, Zach. I thought you'd start tomorrow. Why are you here?" As his gaze fell upon Josephine, his eyes lit up with amazement. "Hey, isn't this..." Zachery immediately said, cutting him off, "Dr. Castro, I'm about to treat a patient. Don't let me keep you from your business." Chapter 10 Dalton Castro caught his drift and nodded meaningfully, drawling, "Oh... Sure." As Josephine sat down in the ER, she tucked her shoulder-length curls behind her ear, revealing her delicate earlobe. Smiling had never been her custom, least of all today. The frigid atmosphere in the room accentuated her distant, detached temperament. Yet Zachery was chatty. He struck up a conversation, chatted with her casually, as if they had been old friends, and even asked her if her injuries had something to do with her husband. Not comfortable sharing her private life with people she barely knew, she changed the subject. "Dr. Maynard, my mother-in-law has been suffering from unstable blood pressure for years. She got agitated, which triggered a cerebral hemorrhage. It'll be greatly appreciated if you could do your best to treat her. It's best if there are no aftereffects. It's very important to me." Zachery paused while applying ointment to her arm. "Are you close to your mother-in-law?" "No. It's quite the opposite. "Anyway... I'm counting on you." Zachery stared at her intently. Though her appearance hadn't changed much, the look in her eyes... She wasn't as gentle as she used to be. Had she been unhappy these years? He gripped her wrist. "Fancy a drink tonight?" After stepping out of Hendrix's office, Wilfred called Helena, who was at home. He knew her well-she was so timid. What had happened must have terrified her. Sure enough, she was still crying while answering. "Fred, how's Yvonne doing? Are you still bleeding? I'm worried sick. Is Josephine still there? I wanna go to the hospital so much, but I don't wanna upset her..." However, Wilfred didn't respond. He saw Zachery and Josephine in the ER. They were so close to each other. What were they talking about? "I've been busy these days. Next time, maybe," Josephine said, though she indeed fancied a drink. These days had been tormenting. Zachery shrugged, seeming disappointed. Then he looked at her, gently reminding her, "Use cling film to wrap your arm before taking a shower. And don't pop the blisters. Or there'll be scars." She nodded. As she stood up, her hair brushed against his chin. The scent of her hair wafted to her, mingling with the warm, sun-infused aroma of his clothes. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized they were too close to each other. She instinctively moved slightly aside. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed his fists clenching and unclenching by his sides. Maybe he was a bit flustered, too. Her heartbeat raced as he added, "Oh, and don't rub or press the wound. Get proper rest, and make sure you have a balanced diet, and load up on proteins and vitamins." She frowned. Noticing this, Zachery stopped talking at once. Did she find him nagging? Was he? But there was so much more he wanted to say... She smiled, "Dr. Maynard, do you usually spend so much time instructing your patients? If so, they're probably all gonna end up in the morgue." He answered truthfully, "I just wanna spend more time with you." "Maybe next time, Dr. Maynard. I'm off. See you..." Someone grabbed Josephine's right wrist before she could finish speaking. Wilfred forcibly dragged her out while glancing at Zachery, his gaze razor-sharp. Failing to break free, she turned her head around and said to Zachery, "Bye, Dr. Maynard." Once out of the ER, she shook Wilfred's hand away hard. Wilfred's expression was extremely grim. "What's Dr. Maynard doing here?" She didn't want to talk to him at all unless it was about the divorce. She turned to leave, but he dragged her back again furiously. "Didn't you hear my question?" "I don't wanna answer. Let go!" Her breathing became rapid. They had attracted some onlookers' attention, who even started taking photos and recording. Chapter 11 Realizing arguing with Wilfred now would drag Zachery into the mess, she explained, her tone lukewarm, "I met him at Marisbury Cemetery yesterday. I saved his daughter." Wilfred's expression softened slightly. Now he knew why Josephine could invite Zachery over. He had thought there was something going on between them. "Fred, what happened? Is Josephine there?" Just then, Helena's voice rang out. Josephine lowered her head to look at Wilfred's left hand. His phone screen was lit, the word "Lena" stinging her eyes. It turned out he had been on the phone with Helena all along. She sneered and left decisively, not disturbing the little moment of the so-called siblings. Wilfred placed the phone next to his ear, still a bit distracted as he stared at Josephine's back. She was heading toward the hospital's cafeteria. It suddenly occurred to him that she hated airplane food. So, she'd probably had nothing since morning. He had always prepared food she liked whenever he picked her up in the past. And she'd hug him before eating, saying the feeling of being cared about was so good. She must have been so upset, now that he had started to ignore her. "Don't worry. Mom and I are fine. After dinner, get with Belinda early." He said to Helena on the phone, sounding so gentle, as if coaxing a little girl. Meanwhile, his gaze was still fixed on the cafeteria. He decided to keep ignoring Josephine. Once she knew what it was like to be unloved, she'd be more understanding and accept Helena. At the cafeteria of Jovitas General Hospital. The dining area was quiet and soothing. Eating fish soup, Josephine was lost in thought. Claire's husband was born in Vexford, and he was a doctor... And she ran into Zachery last night at Marisbury Cemetery. Could it be ... Zachery was Claire's husband? She put down the spoon, wiped her mouth, and went to the operating room. Helena was here, talking to Wilfred with tears in her eyes. Cupping her face, Wilfred gazed at her, the affection and distress in his eyes undisguised. Wilfred, ever the cold, proud man, had said to Josephine when courting her back then, "Josephine, if I'm lucky enough to be with you, I swear I'll never get close to any other woman again." She still remembered how quickly her heart had raced back then. Yet now, seeing him caressing another woman's face, she actually felt nothing. She found a comfortable seat to sit down. Spotting her, Helena walked over. "Where were you, Josephine?" She said coldly, "Stay away from me, unless you're looking for a beating." "Don't be mad, Josephine. I just think it's a pity that you didn't get to see Yvonne before the surgery." "Why? It's not like she's gonna die on the operating table." "Josephine, how could you say this?" Helena's eyes turned bloodshot with anger. Wilfred strode over, glanced at Josephine in disgust, and sat far away from her while wrapping his arm around Helena's shoulders. Josephine shrugged. It was just what she wanted. The surgery stretched into what felt like ages. While waiting, Josephine texted Matilda, "Sell all the jewelry in my safe at Rose Manor. If my wedding ring is still in the trash bin in the bedroom, sell it, too. And list Rose Manor for 150 million dollars ASAP." Matilda was born in Marisbury, too. Her grandfather was her only family, who lived in Good Samaritan Shelter currently. Having been Josephine's right hand since graduation five years ago, Matilda was now her most trusted assistant. The operating room light flickered off, and Zachery, dressed in olive-green scrubs, stepped out first. Wilfred immediately walked forward, followed by Helena, "Dr. Maynard, how's my mom?" However, Zachery didn't look at them, much less respond. His calm eyes behind those silver-rimmed glasses rested on a figure in the distant corner. Josephine stood up, looking at him, inquiring silently. Chapter 12 He took off his surgical mask. "The surgery was successful. Since the patient was saved within the six-hour golden window, the risk of lasting effects is extremely low." After saying this, he joined the other surgeons exiting the OR, discussing procedural details as they walked away. Thrilled, Helena jumped up, wrapping her arms around Wilfred's neck. "I knew it, Fred! I knew Yvonne would be fine!" He smiled, holding her in his arms. "Yes, Lena. It's all thanks to you-you've been praying for her." Josephine's gaze upon them was filled with mockery. A jerk and an angelic bitch were indeed a perfect match. She genuinely wished they'd stick and rot together. She turned her head around to look at Zachery's retreating figure. He was so tall, his shadow stretching long on the white wall. After some thought, she still caught up to him. "Dr. Maynard." Zachery stopped in his tracks, and other surgeons stepped into the locker room. He tilted his body slightly, waiting for her to continue. She walked closer to him, asking curiously, "May I ask you something? You were from Vexford, right? So, what were you doing with Natalia at Marisbury Cemetery?" A bit surprised, Zachery adjusted his glasses, arching an eyebrow. "I thought you were gonna thank me." Josephine's cheeks heated in embarrassment as she pursed her lips. "I will. Later." If not for her request, Zachery could have had the day off. "Don't tell me you've got some fancy gifts for me." His gentle, deep voice was tinged with amusement. "We can't accept bribes. You're not trying to get me fired, are you?" "You're overthinking it," she said, tugging at her lips. She had wanted to give him money, actually. Compared to fancy gifts, cash was more direct and practical. Zachery keenly noticed the fleeting smile flashing across her eyes. With the bruises on her face gone, her slightly upturned eyes seemed brighter and even more charming. She said, "Let me know if there's anything I can help you with in the future, Dr. Maynard." He asked, "Can we exchange WhatsApp contacts?" "Sure." She nodded and took out her phone. Then she saw his WhatsApp name-"1107". It happened to be her birthday. Snapping out of it, she realized he hadn't answered her question. Just as she was about to ask him again, she saw Hendrix walking toward them. She nodded at Hendrix, greeting him. After her figure completely vanished from Zachery's sight, he lowered his head, his gaze falling upon her WhatsApp profile. Then he saved her contact as "Her". *** Josephine stopped by the R&D Center of Novo Tech before heading back to Rose Manor. The purchase of the licensed software went smoothly-well, mostly. Though the software could be used after paying, it was just the old version they bought, and only until it expired. In other words, they couldn't get any updates or technical support at all. Once again, she wanted to replace it with domestic software. She had brought this up to Wilfred more than once already. But he had always thought it was a waste of money, since domestic software wasn't as functional. She shifted her work direction, stopping designing X3 Chip entirely and started to upgrade X2+ Chip instead. It was already 9:00 p.m. when she came back to Rose Manor. Zoey was coaxing Belinda to sleep. Belinda pouted. "I wanna wait till Daddy and Auntie Helena get back." Upon seeing Josephine, Zoey said to her with a smile, "Mrs. Hayden's back. "Ms. Hayden, would you like her to tuck you in tonight?" Belinda immediately pulled a long face. "Mommy's divorcing Daddy. She won't be my mommy soon." Josephine hadn't seen Belinda in a week, and she missed Belinda. But Belinda's words chilled her to the core. She changed into her slippers and went to the study, not even glancing at Belinda. Chapter 13 Looking at Belinda, Zoey said with pity for Josephine, "Ms. Hayden, Mrs. Hayden nearly died delivering you. She was rescued in Marisbury for a month before finally pulling through." Admiring her own reflection in the mirror, Belinda adjusted the red wig and shrugged. "Blame the earthquake, not me. Of all days, why did she have to have me during the earthquake?" Zoey parted her lips but didn't know what to say. Belinda must have said this under Helena's influence. Josephine was Belinda's birth mother. Yet, Helena had poisoned Belinda's mind so badly that she didn't feel grateful to Josephine at all. How scheming and hateful Helena was! Soon, Helena and Wilfred came back. Helena went upstairs to draw a bath for him. Seeing Josephine's shoes in the doorway, Wilfred asked Zoey, "Where's Josephine?" "She's in the study," Zoey answered. At first, Wilfred wanted to ignore Josephine. But when he heard the sound of typing, he couldn't help but turn around. He had to admit she was indeed pretty. It wasn't about her outfit or makeup-it was that natural aura she carried. She could be either as bright and passionate as the sun or as cold and untouchable as the moon. Wherever she went, she always stood out effortlessly. Every time he took her to a banquet, Patricia was the only one who stood beside her. Because no one else wanted to be outshone. Spotting him at the door, Josephine pushed over a printed document. "You're back. Great. Take a look at this." Noticing her ring finger, he pulled a long face. "Where's your wedding ring?" he asked. "I threw it away. You may wanna do the same. We're getting a divorce anyway." Her tone was flat, as if she were commenting on something trivial like the weather. As he saw the words "Divorce Agreement", he tore the papers into pieces at once. He snapped, "You want a divorce? On what grounds?" Looking at him, she said calmly, "Dr. Maynard performed on Yvonne." "I didn't agree to it!" "Fine. Then let's take this to court. You want the subpoena sent to the front desk at Novo Edifice?" He raised his voice, getting all worked up. "I dare you! Josephine, I've been way too nice to you over the past six years, never saying no to you at all. You've always had your way, and I'm always the one who caved every time we argued. Have you realized how condescending you are? And you even forced me to drive Lena away, never thinking how she was supposed to make it out there alone. She got bullied and came back, only to be slapped by you twice. But she still pleaded for you in front of Mom for the sake of the family. And don't get me started on my mom! She just wanted to remind you to behave yourself, and she ended up in the ICU! You're seriously proposing a divorce? Josephine, you don't get to!" Josephine looked at him in a daze. He had single eyelids, a straight nose, and thin lips. She'd seen his face show affection, joy, even coldness, but never before had she seen it twist with such raw anger. An explicable dull pain in her heart struck her, leaving her suffocating. "Stop twisting the facts, Wilfred. You and I both know what the truth was over the years. Yes, you did cave, but you always caved unwillingly after I offered to patch things up with you. Remember everything I did to reconcile? I brought you sliced fruit, gave you shoulder massages, ironed your shirts, and so on... And I admit I have my pride, but I'm never condescending. I slapped Helena because she totally asked for it. Even if Yvonne dies, she totally had it coming. And the same goes for you, Wilfred. All of you-you deserve it!"

Chapter 1 "Send your wife to prison. She needs a lesson," said Nadine Lambert, Jericho Bowman's mistress. Driven by her manipulation, Jericho and his son, Kashton Bowman, had Romina Sandoval imprisoned, subjecting her to three years of brutal torture. On the day of Romina's release, Jericho and Kashton came to the prison to meet her. She looked up, her gaze landing on the two men standing in front of her. Jericho met her gaze. He was instantly stunned. What happened to Romina these past three years? She had lost so much weight. Gone was her radiant confidence. He found himself staring at a gaunt, trembling stranger. How could this be? He had pulled some strings to make sure she was well taken care of in prison... Was she ... faking it? As scenes from three years ago flashed across his mind, his expression turned indifferent again. So what if she had been tortured in there? She brought this all upon herself. His icy tone showed no guilt at all. "Get in the car. After three years, I suppose you've learned your lesson. You should know better than picking on Nadine from now on." Kashton was stunned, too. In his memory, Romina was so beautiful. She had been luminous and radiant, her smile breathtakingly gentle. Who ... was this woman? He could barely recognize her. A while later, he came back to his senses, putting on an icy expression. "Daddy's right. Nadi's nice, so she forgave you. But, Mommy, if you try to hurt her again, Daddy and I will never forgive you." "Forgive me?" Romina's expression stayed blank. After quite a while, she scoffed, a trace of pain and mockery flickering in her eyes, "Kashton, I'm your mother. You and your father sent me to jail. Who gave you the right to talk of forgiving me?" Before her stood the two men she'd once loved most in this world, the same ones who'd put her behind bars three years ago. Jericho had saved her life. From that very moment, she became obsessed with him. The Bowman family was nothing compared to the Sandoval family back then, yet she was set to marry him at any cost—defying her mother, abandoning her own family, and leaving with all the money and resources she had. After marrying him, she abandoned her career to play the perfect wife. Day after day, she buried herself in domestic drudgery, letting her gift for naturopathy wither away. With all the sacrifices she had made, she thought, at the very least, she deserved Jericho's respect. However, he remained perpetually cold and indifferent. His attitude toward her affected Kashton, who grew up showing her neither affection nor respect. His most repeated line was, "Mommy, you don't even have a job. You have no right to tell me what to do." She used to think Jericho and Kashton were born cold. Until Jericho's unforgettable love, Nadine, came back to the country. In front of her, his usual icy composure melted away. When he smiled, the outer corners of his eyes tilted upward, and the frost in his gaze was all gone. For the first time, she realized he could smile this gently. On their wedding anniversary, her postpartum complications flared up, and she felt the abdominal pain was tearing her in half. Unable to bear it anymore, she called Jericho for help, only to be rejected by him simply because he was celebrating Nadine's birthday... Later, she barely survived the operation, where critical condition notices were issued multiple times. However, Jericho and Kashton didn't even bother to show up. After she was discharged and returned home, what came into her view was a messy home, her sulking son, and her indifferent husband. Kashton even complained, "What kind of Mommy are you? You were gone for so long! Shouldn't you be at home, cleaning? Look around—see how messy it is? You're so irresponsible. Nadi is so much better than you." Chapter 2 Cleaning? She had almost died! Romina bit back her fury. Kashton was just a little boy and didn't mean what he said. Besides, Jericho was born indifferent. Perhaps she should make do. Compromise was essential in marriage. After all, they already had Kashton. She couldn't file for a divorce, could she? Later, Nadine fell from a high platform at a banquet and insisted Romina had pushed her. Jericho and Kashton vouched for Nadine, not even bothering to check the surveillance footage. Pressing a hand to her lower abdomen, Romina grabbed Jericho's sleeve, begging him to believe her till her voice cracked. But he only frowned expressionlessly, slowly wiping his sleeve with a handkerchief. He was disgusted by her touch. With a cold sneer, Kashton shoved her aside hard. "You mean bitch. You don't get to be my mommy! Why didn't you die on the operating table while giving birth to me? Then Nadi could've been my mommy instead." Collapsing to the floor, Romina burst into laughter in desperation. How could she be so stupid, wasting all those years on those two men who never deserved her sacrifice? Eventually, they had her imprisoned for intentional assault. She spent three years in prison. Those ruthless, brutal monsters turned her every day into pure torture. Jericho and Kashton never even called, let alone visited her. If not for ... she would have already died in there. Jericho said icily, "You're an ex-con now, but Kash and I are still here to take you home. You should be grateful. Get in. Nadine is at home. I don't wanna keep her waiting." Kashton echoed impatiently, "That's right. Mommy, don't be such a drama queen. Nadi promised to make me teddy bear cookies tonight. Let's head back before the ice cream cake I got her melts." Romina remained motionless as their words reached her ears. She couldn't help but want to laugh sarcastically. Teddy bear cookies? Kashton must have forgotten—those fussy little cookies had been her painstaking creation. Nadine stole the recipe. She and Nadine made the cookies with the exact same recipe, but Kashton insisted Nadine's cookies tasted better. Though Jericho and Kashton were here to take her home, they brought nothing—not even a word of concern. All they cared about was Nadine. They were her family, but they always sided with Nadine unconditionally. It was like she was the outsider! Looking up, she said numbly, "I'm not going back with you." A trace of impatience and disgust flickered in Jericho's cold eyes. "What? Romina, you're an ex-con now. Where could you possibly go? It seems three years haven't changed you at all. You're still so willful." She retorted, "I can go wherever I want. That's none of your business. I know Kashton and you want nothing to do with an ex-con. You know what? I have no interest in staying with both of you either—not after what you did to me." She had learned her lesson. Three years ago, she had loved Kashton and Jericho so much. Though they had always given her the cold shoulder, treating her unfairly while getting close to Nadine, she had always expected they'd come around one day. But not anymore. Three years of torment had burned her hope to ashes. It turned out her husband and son were never hers to keep. She didn't want them anymore. She said to Jericho, her tone indifferent, "Let's get a divorce." Kashton blurted out, "Mommy, you're already an ex-con. If you get a divorce, what will people think of you?" Even Jericho was stunned when he heard Romina's words. He had expected her to play the victim to ask for compensation. After all, money had been her sole purpose for marrying him. But a divorce? Three years ago, she had gone all out just to stay by Kashton and his side. And now, she had spent three years in prison. Chapter 3 Suddenly, he realized this was just her tactic to force them to coax her. At this, he said coldly, "Kash's right. Without us, what could you possibly do? Romina, cut it out already, or you'll only make a fool of yourself." Romina didn't even bother to respond. She hailed a cab, indifferent to the driver's uncomfortable gaze. Before getting in, she turned to look at Jericho and Kashton. "That's my business," she said. "I'll have the divorce papers dropped by soon. Congratulations—you may go home and share the good news with Nadine. From today on, she'll be the hostess of your little family." The indifference and coldness in her tone were undisguised. After saying this, she got into the cab decisively. As Jericho gazed at her thin figure, a wave of inexplicable irritation surged through him. His grandfather, Hayden Bowman, and Nadine had urged him to pick Romina up, and he did. But she actually wanted a divorce? The old Romina would have wept with gratitude at his mere presence. She was an ex-con now. Since she was so willful, fine—he might as well wait and see what stunts she could pull. *** In the cab. Quite coincidentally, the cab's miniature screen soon played an interview with Nadine. "Ms. Lambert, you're now the most sought-after Best Actress. Mind sharing with us your future plans for your personal life?" the reporter asked with a smile. Nadine blushed as her gaze landed on Jericho and Kashton in the audience. "I'm so content with everything I have now. After all, I had two remarkable men by my side in the past three years, which were the hardest times for me." Their gazes met, and the three of them looked just like a happy family. The driver, obviously familiar with the area, explained, "Ma'am, I suppose you don't know who this is, huh? It's Ms. Lambert, the Best Actress. That man she's looking at is Mr. Bowman, the CEO of the Bowman Group, and that's his son. On her birthday, Mr. Bowman set off fireworks all night. Ms. Lambert and Mr. Bowman are cut out for each other, don't you think?" Romina's oversized clothes only accentuated her gaunt frame. Hearing the driver's words, she looked at the three on the screen, remaining silent for a long time. After quite a while, she said, her voice slightly hoarse and indifferent, "You're quite right. After all, they're equally shameless." While she was in prison suffering, Jericho and Kashton were out there, enjoying fireworks with Nadine, showing her career full support. After enduring their indifference so often, she'd assumed she'd grown numb. Yet now, she still found it so ironic that she wanted to laugh. The driver instinctively parted his lips, wanting to ask for more. But thinking that he'd picked her up outside the prison, he glanced at her, who seemed so unbelievably fragile. Eventually, he said nothing. Soon, she closed her eyes for a quick rest. The cab stopped in front of a house under her name. She went inside to fetch some cash for the driver before going to the supermarket for basic necessities. Her assets had been frozen when she was sent to jail. Now that she was out, she could at least get by financially. Having been isolated for so long, she felt utterly uneasy when stepping into the supermarket. She'd even dodge instinctively when the cashier scanned the commodities. "Ma'am, are you alright?" the cashier asked with concern. Coming back to her senses, she nodded with a bitter smile. She was fine. She was just used to being beaten up in prison. After leaving the supermarket, Romina received a call from her bestie, Elliana Castro. Elliana was thrilled when she learned Romina had been released. "I was gonna come back to the country earlier, but I've been stuck because of the typhoon these days... Did you go back to the Bowman's mansion, or..." Chapter 4 "I went back to Breeze Vista," Romina interrupted. Elliana frowned. "Jericho didn't go pick you up? But he's your husband. He..." "Elly, I'm planning on divorcing him," clutching her phone, Romina said in a barely audible voice. Elliana had always been her best friend. Back then, Elliana had urged her to get a divorce quite a bunch of times, saying she shouldn't make Jericho and Kashton her entire world. But she had foolishly waited for Jericho to have a change of heart. "What happened..." Elliana blurted out, wanting to know what had happened to Romina in prison. But a wave of bitterness surged through her, and her words trailed off. In the first year of Romina's imprisonment, she had visited Romina a lot. But she was transferred abroad as a war correspondent later. After three years, Romina suddenly said she wanted a divorce? What exactly had happened? Romina said nothing, a hint of pain and numbness flashing across her face. Elliana changed the subject. "After you were imprisoned, Samantha took over Penningnell Mansion and turned it into a tourist spot. And Nadine... Anyway, Mimi, I'll be back soon. I'll fill you in when I see you." Romina said slowly, "Alright." Her father passed away the year after her marriage. Her mother cried practically every day after she was imprisoned and fell sick. While behind bars, she cried and begged Jericho to help her mother. Day after day, she waited in anguish, only to be met with the devastating news of her mother's passing. And to think that her uncle's wife, Samantha Johnson, actually took over her family property! Her gaze turned icy at once. Soon, she tried her best to calm down. Three years locked away was enough to change everything. She had been tortured brutally in prison. It took time to seize everything back. In the Bowman's mansion. By the time Kashton and Jericho went home, Nadine had already prepared a meal. Not seeing Romina, she sighed, looking dejected. "Jericho, does Ms. Sandoval still hate me for what happened three years ago? Is that why she doesn't wanna come back? But she's been to prison. Where could she possibly go?" "Who cares?" Jericho's tone turned cold. He couldn't help but frown when Romina's emaciated frame resurfaced in his mind. Romina had lost so much weight. On top of that, her past gentleness was gone. Her razor-sharp gaze was so unsettling. Did she really suffer a lot in prison? No way. He dismissed the idea almost instantly. Nadine had told him that female inmates were all friendly. Besides, he had pulled strings to ensure Romina was well taken care of. She hadn't lacked for anything. For her terrible crime, she got off with nothing but three years of confinement. But Nadine still seemed worried. "What if Sir Bowman asks about her? He asked you to take her home, right?" Romina had saved Hayden's life back then, and he adored her. He had forced Jericho to marry her, even offering her astronomical wedding gifts. She had always been the only granddaughter-in-law he wanted, which remained the same even after she was behind bars. Jericho shrugged. "Don't worry. Romina will come back shortly. She may be upset with me, but not with Kash. She knows his graduation is around the corner and will be back before that." Kashton was nine, but he had skipped three grades and was already graduating from elementary school. Everyone knew Romina loved him the most. Of course, she wouldn't miss his graduation for the world. Pouting, Kashton nestled into Nadine's arms. "But I want Nadi to be there for my graduation." Nadine tapped his nose playfully with a smile. "Sure. Get your mommy back, and I'll be there. After all, she's an ex-con now. It's best if she skips occasions like this." Kashton was slightly stunned. Get Romina back? How? By ... lying? Chapter 5 A trace of hesitation flickered in his eyes before vanishing completely. If word got out that he had an ex-con mother, no one would ever talk to him again. Since Jericho didn't voice any objections, he nodded obediently. Nadine smiled. But as her gaze fell upon the lavish feast, she couldn't help but sigh, "What a pity—I prepared all these for Ms. Sandoval." To Jericho's surprise, he didn't receive any call from Romina for the following two days. It was like she was indeed set to get a divorce and cut ties with him and Kashton. He frowned, finally deciding to call her. What he heard was a robotic voice, telling him her number was no longer in service. He couldn't help but be stunned. Only then did he realize—after three years locked away, her old number had been deactivated. She had even deleted her WhatsApp account. He couldn't reach her whatsoever. An inexplicable panic and irritation surged through him. He immediately ordered his secretary, "Find out where Romina lives now and get me her number. Now that she's out, who knows what she'll pull? I won't let her do anything to disgrace my family." *** Romina had been redecorating Breeze Vista for the past two days. She could get half of her shared assets with Jericho after the divorce. But she had to support herself before that. So, she decided to pick up her old hobby—carving quartz. Apparently, no one had set foot in here for the past three years. Every corner was covered in dust. While cleaning, she noticed the pair of lion statues that had stood by the entrance were gone. She called the property management. The manager explained, "Three years ago, Ms. Lambert was harassed by a hater and was injured. She liked the lion statues, so Mr. Jericho and Mr. Kashton had them moved to her villa, hoping they could keep her safe." Romina didn't feel surprised at all. The lion statues had been her painstaking gift for Jericho and Kashton. They were meant to ward off harm from the two men. But Jericho had laughed at her for being tacky and coldly returned them. And now, they stood as protection at Nadine's villa? After scorning her, Jericho regifted her heartfelt gift to another woman? She hung up and decisively called 911. Looking indifferent, she said flatly, "Hello? I'd like to report a crime. Someone has stolen from my home." Then she hung up. After giving her statement, she was already beat. She realized she was running a high fever after the police left. Mustering all her strength, she went to the hospital to get some medication. At the sight of her wounds, the doctor advised with a grave expression, "These chronic wounds never properly healed. With those injuries left by repeated beatings, sticks, and ... needles, Ma'am, I'm afraid your body has critically weakened. I suggest you stay hospitalized for proper recovery. Otherwise..." "That won't be necessary," Romina said calmly without a change in her expression. She excelled in naturopathy and knew her condition better than anyone. The inmates—all ruthless, cunning creatures—had left mostly hidden wounds to avoid the guards' notice. Without her medical knowledge, she'd have already died in there. Now that she survived the brutal torture, of course, the free air wouldn't kill her. The physical injuries had faded, but the deepest scars remained—delivered by the man she called husband and the child she bore. She'd never go back to the Bowman's mansion again. While the doctor was treating her wounds, Kashton, not far away, spotted her. He tugged at the hem of Jericho's clothes and pursed his lips. "Daddy, why is she here? Is she sick?" Only then did Jericho notice her. He furrowed his brows deeply, disgust flashing in his eyes. Three years had passed. And she was playing hard to get again? Couldn't she try something new? Chapter 6 She was sick? Yeah, right. Enough with the act! "What are you doing here?" Jericho's icy voice rang out in Romina's ears. She looked up, only to see him and Kashton accompanying Nadine for a follow-up appointment. The three of them looked every bit the picture of a happy, loving family. Putting on a surprised look, Nadine said, feigning helplessness, "Ms. Sandoval, is this pretense really necessary? If you wanted to see Jericho, you could have just come back. After all, you've just been released. Perhaps you should think about how your actions might reflect on the Bowman family..." Kashton's eyes lit up immediately. Was Romina here to wait for them? Did she regret not returning home with them? A flicker of joy passed through his heart. But then, he remembered what Romina had said before and pouted. "Mommy, you're such a hypocrite. You clearly can't live without Daddy and me and want to come home with us. Why pretend otherwise?" Jericho sneered, "I thought you actually had some backbone and would never come back. Yet you gave up so soon. Classic you, Romina." Just then, the doctor said, "Ms. Sandoval, here's your medication." He handed her the prescription. As his mind flashed to her wounds, he looked at Jericho and those two standing by his side, frowning with displeasure. "You're blocking my patient's way. Please step aside." Romina's gaze falling upon the three was utterly cold. She raised her hand, showing them the meds. "See? I'm here for my prescription. Get help if you need it." Jericho's expression darkened as he frowned slightly. Romina fell sick right after she was released? So, when she was imprisoned... Romina was about to leave when Kashton pursed his lips and grabbed her sleeve. "My graduation is around the corner. No matter how upset you are, you should come. After all, you're my ... mommy." The last word was barely audible. After saying this, he looked at Nadine embarrassedly, as if worried she'd be displeased. Romina didn't even glance at him. Pulling his hand away, she said icily, "You've got the wrong person. I'm not your mommy." With that, she turned to leave. Just then, Nadine said, "Ms. Sandoval, I get it—you're too ashamed to come back after being in prison. But, still, you're a mother. After being away for three years, are you still gonna ignore Kash? He's your son." Her voice wasn't exactly small. Many onlookers cast glances at Romina. Their attention was attracted by words like "in prison" and "ignore". They were whispering among themselves. Then a police officer walked toward Nadine. "Ms. Lambert, we've received a report claiming that two lion statues were stolen from their residence. Since these statues were featured in your home during a recent interview, I'm afraid you'll need to come down with me to the station for questioning." Everyone was instantly in an uproar. Jericho frowned. Romina was staying at Breeze Vista? Nadine was dumbfounded, her cheeks heating. Before she could utter a word, Romina coughed, the indifference on her pale face unmistakable. She turned to Kashton. "Kashton is nine—old enough to express his preference for who should be his mother. And I have the right to turn down that role." Paying child support was her legal obligation. But no law could force her to love him. Then she looked at Nadine. "Ms. Lambert, those lion statues are my personal property. Even my husband has no right to deal with them. If you don't return them, you'll soon know what prison feels like." Jericho suddenly caught her wrist. As his gaze landed on her face, he was momentarily stunned. Her wrist was shockingly slender and scorching. She was running a fever. But soon, he came back to his senses. "Are you done yet, Romina? You spent three years behind bars. So what? You actually called the cops? Seriously? I gifted the lion statues to Nadine!" Chapter 7 Kashton immediately nodded. "That's right. The only reason I ever called you 'Mommy' was because Great-grandpa and Nadi told me to be understanding. How could you do this to Nadi?" And Romina even refused to attend his graduation! Kashton's dissatisfaction grew deeper, while a faint trace of uneasiness surged through him. The old Romina would have never treated him so coldly. She'd have gone all out to please him just to be part of his graduation. She seemed like a different person now. Hearing their questioning, Romina wanted to let out a cold laugh. To them, her three years of excruciating suffering were nothing compared to Nadine's abrasions. Due to the high fever, she felt dizzy and could hardly stand steady. She shook Jericho's hand away and suddenly laughed while looking at him. "So what, you said? Mr. Bowman, you sicken me. If prison is no big deal to you, then why don't you try it?" Her words were so harsh. If it were three years ago, she would never have said something like this. Jericho was completely stunned. She turned to leave decisively. Wiping her hand where Jericho had touched her, she had only one thought in mind. She needed to divorce him as soon as possible. Every second stuck in this marriage was pure torture. Nadine spent all night in the police station, explaining to the cops. Yet Romina went straight to sleep after taking her pills. Waking up groggily, she saw Elliana, who had rushed back. Elliana said helplessly, "After getting out of prison, you're running a high fever? Your temperature was almost 104 degrees when I got back. I'm so relieved it's gone down now, or I'd have taken you to the hospital." Fetching her water and medicine, Elliana said with concern, "If you need my help, let me know." Romina had no intention of recounting those endured in darkness. Her chest was filled with warmth when she saw Elliana, who hadn't changed a bit from three years ago. Her husband and son weren't reliable. But at least she could always count on her friend. After taking the medicine, she said, lowering her gaze, "Could you draft a divorce agreement for me? Also, I want you to find someone for me." "You want me to find someone? Who?" Elliana seemed puzzled. "The daughter of a death row inmate," Romina explained. "She saved my life in prison, and I insisted on repaying her, so she asked me to look after her daughter after I was released." Elliana nodded. "Do you know the girl's name and age?" "Her name is Lina Shannon, and she's six." Romina's voice was gentle, her complexion slightly improved. "Alright. I'll draft the divorce agreement as soon as possible," Elliana tucked her in and said softly. "And I'll have someone look for her. Maybe it'll take some time, but I'll let you know as soon as I have a lead." "Thanks, Elly..." She forced a faint smile. At the sight of her pale face, Elliana seemed worried. Patting the back of her hand, Elliana said, "Focus on getting better now. The rest can wait—especially anything to do with Jericho and Kashton." The smile on Romina's lips vanished the second she heard their names. Noticing her silence, Elliana continued, "They testified for Nadine without bothering to check the surveillance footage back then. Otherwise, you'd never have been imprisoned—let alone be struggling like this now..." She didn't continue. Every word carried her unspoken sorrow for what Romina had endured in prison. Romina tugged at her lips without saying anything in response. She was grateful that she didn't die in there. Before seeing each of them, she had already made peace. Even if Jericho and Kashton had checked the surveillance footage, which proved her innocence, chances were, they would have pretended not to see it and found a scapegoat anyway. Perhaps she would have still ended up in prison.

I was aroused by the doctor during my pregnancy checkup! I fed my unemployed husband, but he gave me betrayal. To heal myself, I went to Vegas and had a wild night. And now… I’m carrying his baby, remember nothing but his grey eyes and tattoo. I should find my baby’s daddy, but my heart falls for my doctor. Every time I look into his eyes, I get the strangest feeling… Like I’ve met him before? Mrs. Pandora Preston hadn't had a moment to herself in almost a month. She had pulled a twelve-hour shift at work already and when she got home, she would have to clean the house, do shopping, make dinner, and take care of all the bills. By the end of the month, Pandora didn't know how much longer she could hold on. A jerk at work didn't think a petite five-foot-one and twenty-eight-year-old woman should be the creative director. Being the nice ‘gentleman' that he was, he had decided to let his opinion known… in front of all her coworkers and clients. His ideas were from the middle ages, but what bothered her was that nobody stood up for her in front of the smelly, balding man. To add on top of that, when she stood outside the restaurant for their weekly ‘date', she found that her husband had not arrived, and he wasn't even picking up his phone like he was supposed to. Pandora sighed, remembering that he had also not mowed the lawn like she had asked him to and the Karens in the neighborhood were going to knock on their doors soon. Now, you might be wondering why her husband Derrik was being shown in such a bad light, but you will be appalled to know that he was not working and never picking up his weight in the household. It had been six months since he was fired from his last job and he hadn't attended even one interview. Pandora was beginning to doubt that he was even looking for work. All Derrik did when she broached the subject of getting him into her company was that he would look like a fool and less of a man because his ‘little woman' would be his superior at work. Mind you, Derrik was six-foot-five inches and towered over everyone. He was the last person who should feel emasculated. The restaurant Derrik had chosen for their date was situated on top of someone's house. It overlooked a few apartments and Pandora wondered how Derrik had found such a cozy place. She was seated near the window and stared out after looking at her watch again. Her husband was fifteen minutes late. The blinds of the apartment she could see were wide open. Throw them, she could see directly into the kitchen and some woman was surely using her kitchen. She was awash with desire, oblivious to the eyes on her while a huge man stood in front of her, his body bared to the world as he thrust into her. Pandora was jealous for a quick second, remembering the lack of action in her marriage bed. Pandora's stomach dropped when the woman stared in horror through the window, realizing she had forgotten to close the blinds. Her lover followed her horrified gaze, looking over his shoulder. The first words Pandora uttered through half-formed thoughts were: “These douchebags.” A woman gasped and turned to her. “Miss, please watch your language. My son just heard you.” Pandora ignored them and cursed under her breath as she raised her phone and started taking pictures. She snapped photographs constantly, thanking god that she had invested in a phone with a camera that could pass off as a telescope. The woman and Pandora's husband scurried out of the kitchen, scrambling to dress. Her vision tunneled and she got out of her seat, ignoring the scandalized woman. She raced down the stairs and to the next building where she knew her husband and his mistress were. No guard was stopping her and Pandora grinned as she burst into the building. The elevator door opened, revealing the hastily dressed woman and her husband, stepping out. Pandora stopped short. “Caught you.” Pandora vaguely noticed the presence of a handful of people in the lobby leaving and entering the building, taking their mail. They stopped their mundane activities to watch. The woman froze, but Derrik took two steps towards her, palms up. “Pandora, calm down.” “You're a douchebag,” Pandora growled. “And you, do you know he has a wife and he is trying for a child with her? Me?” she addressed the other woman. “Pandora…” the woman said shakily. There were gaps around them as Pandora spoke, “So you did know he was married and still fucked him.” “This is my apartment building and you are embarrassing me,” the woman hissed. Pandora jerked back. “Oh, I am embarrassing you? You should have remembered that when you were screwing my husband with the windows open, making sure I saw you two… because you guys knew for sure that I was going to be there.” “Mackenna, please…” Derrik said. “Step back.” He sighed and turned to Pandora. “This is your own fault. You were a nag and I got sick of you.” Pandora swallowed the agonizing tightness in her throat, pushing back the sting in her eyes and the mortification his words caused her. She refused to cry in front of the cheating pair. “Is that so? Am I a nag because I asked you to contribute to the house?” she asked. “It's not a big deal,” Derrik started but Mackenna cut him off. “It wasn't a mistake. Why do you think you two stopped doing it? He doesn't want you! What's more, I know all about how you climbed to the top of your company. You have no talent and you can't even have children. Years of trying and you can't even give him a baby? Meanwhile, he and I have been together for three months, and I am two months—” “You should stop talking while I am still calm. The last thing you want is to be handed your pregnant by the woman you called barren. And that sick jerk you claim to love? He is going to be on the market and single very soon. I hope you enjoy having him.” With a final glare, Pandora turned and put the phone to her ear. “Do you know a lawyer who can help me get divorced?” Chapter2 Looking back at her marriage, Pandora could see that Derrik was always baiting her into arguing with him. He was searching for reasons to walk out on Pandora but had never gotten around to leaving her. Why? He saw her as his income provider, cleaning lady, and chef. Moreover, he got to bang her as a perk. There was no love there. It wasn't finding out that Derrik had cheated that made her realize how poorly he had treated her since they got married. It was a month after. Derrik came to her work with a bunch of flowers, wishing her a happy twenty-eighth birthday in a loud voice before slapping the signed divorce papers on her desk. He had then promptly turned and left with his head held high. It had been a year since then and the only thing remaining to be finalized was his last name which she was still using. “Let's get you lingerie for your Vegas tour,” Kiera sang as she pulled Pandora into a luxury underwear store. Pandora scoffed and reminded her friend, “I will be in and out of business meetings while I am there. What use do I have for fancy lingerie?” “Pandora, it's Vegas. Vegas! If you don't open your box, how is everything going to come out?” Kiera stated, wriggling her brow. Pandora rolled her eyes at her friend. “Such a witty comment.” “Listen to me. No one will know you in Vegas, so you can have as much fun as you want. Get laid with some hot guy on your birthday to make up for the birthdays in the last decade. It's the beginning of a new era… you have to celebrate it by getting railed politely!” “That sounds like an awful idea.” Keira slapped her arm and picked up a baby doll. “If you had listened to me and not married Derrik, you could have said my idea was awful. And you will look hot in this.” She put the baby doll in front of Pandora's body and gave her a little wink. “Well, I am thinking of changing my surname back to Leonard. Remove every trace of Derrik from my life,” she said. Keira went silent for a few minutes. “About time. Nice to have you back, Leonard!” She hugged Pandora tightly. “I won't be Leonard until after I come back home. Everything is booked under Preston for the trip.” “You best believe I will have it set up for you as a coming-home gift.” Then Kiera dragged her to the nearest salon and gave her a complete makeover. When she got home, she checked her mail. She only found a letter which must have been hand-delivered. She knew it was from Derrik the moment she saw the handwriting. Dealing with her ex-husband always made her groan. Derrik was unhappy with the division of property. Pandora had been awarded the house, its contents in the entirety, and their newest luxury car. All Derrik got was his meager belongings, the second older car they had brought right out of high school, and the bed that Pandora refused to touch even with a ten-foot pole. Derrik thought he deserved more and tried to blame Pandora for his mistress Mackenna lossing her baby. He even told the judges that he cheated because Pandora couldn't have a baby. She had to explain to the judge that she had been diagnosed with scar tissues in her ovary. The doctor had told her she had a chance to be pregnant, but that it would be a long try. But no matter how much they tried, she never became pregnant. It caused her a lot of pain, but she would never wish something to lose their child because of what they did to her. Pandora dropped the letter in the trash without even opening it. There could be nothing important in it that affected her life any longer. Maybe to Derrik and his mistress, it meant something, but to Pandora… it was trash. Pandora was so frustrated after a grueling day of business, that she showered off the grime and picked one of the outfits Keira had stuffed into her suitcase. She headed down to the bar and slid into a lone seat. “What can I get you, sugar?” the bartender asked. “A gin and tonic please,” she said coolly as she looked around the many couples and groups around her. The bartender placed her order down and charged the bill to her room. She walked into the casino and sat down at the poker table. Surprisingly, she met Milton once again there. They got into a conversation with Pandora spilling her guts about how upset she was her ex-husband wasn't as sweet as him. At that moment, the two of them decided Pandora should meet a stranger and finish her dry spell. Still, Pandora had yet to meet Milton's wife and family. Something about coming to Vegas being a yearly family holiday. The next few days were a constant struggle of trying to prove to chauvinistic men that she knew more about them about her specialty. She also knew how to pick her battles because she allowed a few jokes to slide. She couldn't die on every hill she felt uncomfortable on. “What are you doing today?” Kiera asked on the third night. “Having dinner in my room,” she sighed. “I sense some sadness in that sigh of yours. What's wrong?” Kiera asked. “Just that the guys I have met so far haven't made me want to spend time with them.” “As happy as I am that you want to pick up a man, I need to remind you that you are not picking a guy to date, Pandora! You just have to bang them once!” Pandora chuckled. “Stop sulking. I am not telling you to fall into bed with just anyone. Dang, you don't need to sleep with anyone. But have fun. Get some guy to buy you drinks and make you feel like the goddess that you are.” “Kiera, how will I find a guy who makes me feel like a goddess when you already do it for me?” Pandora joked. “Stay back, woman. As happy as my boyfriend would be to watch us together, I don't swing that way. And it's been a year. I think it is overdue for you to get out there.” Pandora didn't respond. “I will talk to you tomorrow. Now go out and have fun.” The words made Pandora smile. After hanging up, she looked at her watch. It was after six. The perfect time to walk into the night. “Let's do this!” she told herself and headed off to the bathroom to get ready. When she was done, she took a selfie and sent it to Kiera. [You're making me reconsider my previous words. Make me proud, girl] Chapter 3 Pandora shook her head in amusement and checked herself one last time before walking out. All the way down the lobby, men turned their heads and ogled her. It didn't take her long to find the club Milton had recommended to her. She entered the club and looked around, hoping she would see him. When she didn't see him, she headed to the bar and ordered again. After a few minutes, a guy approached her and smiled. “Would you like to dance?” he said. “Sorry, I'm not up for that.” The guy left, leaving her to her alcohol. Still, she was not drunk enough to bust out moves. “I need a shot,” she told the bartender. “Out for a good time?” the bartender asked. “I think so…” The bartender cocked his head and recommended a drink. “Ask for Royce if you want a drink. I'll take care of you.” “Thank you, Royce. Keep the drinks coming,” she said, tapping the bar. As Royce placed down Pandora's drink, she felt someone come up behind her. “Royce, can I have some Jack?” the guy said and Pandora found herself chuckling, she didn't know why. “Something funny?” the husky voice said into her ear. She could smell a hint of whiskey on his breath. “I'll have a Jack too,” she told the bartender and pushed her shot away. “Thought you were doing shots? You're cheating if you go down to Jack.” Pandora shrugged. “My friend here reminded me that I can change my mind.” She said, placing her hand on the man's arm. “Oh, am I your friend now?” the guy said. “I am not sure I like that. We don't even know each other's name.” “Dora,” Pandora said, not giving her full name. The guy cocked her head. “Fake names, is it? Call me Nemo then, because I am glad to be found by you.” The joke did so well with Pandora that she threw her head back in laughter. She calmed down and looked at the guy. Her breath caught in her throat and she hissed under her breath. “Touch me,” she blurted out as she got lost in his piercing grey eyes. “Do I hear an offer?” he asked, his eyes dancing over her body. “Maybe?” She couldn't see how nicely he was built because of how covered he was. “On what?” he asked deviously as he leaned in. “On what you look like under that leather jacket,” she answered. He frowned and looked down. “I suppose I won't be sad to see it go.” He slid it off, revealing an arm full of ink. It was so hot that she eyed the paintings hungrily. ‘Touch me,' she thought. “I am planning on it,” he replied to her thoughts. Pandora had always had a thing for ink but Derrik never got anything and forbade her from the same. “What do you say? Like what you see under the jacket?” “I just wanted to know if you are in good shape, but now I am fascinated.” The mystery man turned to the bar and yelled, “Royce! A bottle of Jack!” Finally, his eyes found hers. “Join me?” he asked and Pandora nodded numbly. “See you, Royce,” she said without looking at the bartender. She took the man's hand and followed him without another word. Pandora had already looked at his left hand to make sure there was no white line or a ring on there. As they spoke, she realized that they were from two opposite parts of the country. She felt her heart drop a little, knowing that this man was really a stranger and she would never see him again. He seemed to sense it. “Don't be sad, Dora. We have tonight.” Pandora chuckled before nodding. “I know just the thing to cheer you up.” In an hour's time, Pandora was straddling his lap and kissing him. The man kissed her back right away, pushing his tongue inside her mouth. “Dance with me,” he urged as he removed his lips from her. Without waiting for an answer, he wrapped an arm around her waist and led her to the dance floor. As their bodies moved together, she felt his other hand move to her side and his lips moved to her neck. He kissed her jaw, making her weak in the knee. “Please…” she said, her stomach burning with need. “Yes, ma'am,” he complied. He pushed her out of the dance floor and pressed her up against a wall, kissing her the whole time. She felt both his hands on her and at that moment, she suddenly remembered the bottle of Jack they should have had. She soon forgot all about it when he picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his body. She gasped when she felt him push his underwear to the side and stroke her inner leg. “Please take me,” she said yet again. Pandora had never felt this way before. This man could use his fingers. She had to say, they were doing God's work at this point. “Do you want me to?” he asked, pulling away a little from her. “Do what?” “Do you truly want me to take you?” She looked at him deeply and nodded. He went back to kissing her, slowly going to her neck and chest. He was surrounding her completely. She heard the sound of his zipper and her eyes popped open. She finally realized that they were still in the bar, but away from everyone. Her eyes landed on Milton who was with his wife, looking around. “Eyes on me, baby,” he said, entering her. Pandora gasped and clung to him. “Oh god,” she sighed and tugged at his hair. “Hold on tightly. This will be quick. But once we are done, we will go back to my room so that I can taste every bit of you.” Pandora nodded dumbly. “I want to taste you, too,” she told him, spurring him up. He swallowed her cries until it was time for him to grunt in release. “Come on, baby…” he said, rubbing her leg as he set her down. “We have time and I want you all to myself.” He wrapped his hand around her shoulder and guided her out of the back door. “I want your real name and I want you to say my name when you come all over me,” he said firmly. Pandora nodded, making him grin and kiss her. And then both of them stopped by for another drink. --- Pandora's mouth was as dry as the Sahara Desert. She was sure a migraine was a better option because of how badly her head hurt. She stopped the alarm and then fell asleep once again. Soon after, she heard her phone ringing and picked it up grumbling. “What?” she tried to respond normally, but it came out as a pained cry. “Are you still sleeping?” Keira asked, clearly perplexed. “I would be if you didn't wake me up so surely,” she grumbled. She wanted to hang up and go back to sleep. “Woman! You have to check out. Do you want to pay extra or be locked in?” Pandora bolted out of bed at the words. She looked at the clock and remembered that she also had to catch a plane. She could have missed the plane if she didn't have another important meeting to attend at the office the moment she touched down. “Oh god!” she yelled and stumbled out of bed. She hung up the call and started to walk. “Why am I so sore?” she groaned when her legs almost gave away. Her head was filled with a night of drinking, dancing, and a man kissing her. “Oh god…” Again, she got some flashes and unlike with Derrik, they made her tingle with desire. “I slept with with a stranger,” she whispered and plopped back on the bed. She rubbed her face, trying to remember the guy's face, but all she could think of were grey eyes and tattoos. She also remembered the name ‘Nemo,' but that was just a joke. She forgot to ask him his name! “No time for this!” she reminded herself and moved to the bathroom. She scared herself at the horrible condition of her face. Her makeup was running. She had to scrub herself to get the filth of the night before out of her pores. With it, the feel of the mystery man's warmth also washed away. Almost. She picked up a plastic ring placed right beside her phone and she shook her head. She threw it into her purse and frowned at the thought that she didn't know why she would have something like that with her. But she didn't have time to think too much about it. As she got into the cab, she saw Milton walking out of the hotel. His wife was talking to a man on the side. She shook her head, knowing she would miss her flight if she spoke to Milton. So, she slid into the cab and asked the driver to rush to the airport. Chapter 4 It was almost nine at night when she arrived home and Pandora felt like she would die from exhaustion. She let herself into the house and dumped the bags near the door. She kicked off her shoes and dropped them down to the floor beside her luggage. She was just about crawl to the stairs when she heard a knock on the front door. “I'll pretend I didn't hear that,” she muttered to herself and went towards the staircase. “Pandora!” She frowned when she heard Derrik yelling from outside the door. He began to pound on it, making her groan. “Nothing important, it seems. Just a lunatic knocking at an odd hour,” she said to herself and moved to the door, knowing Derrik wouldn't leave without seeing her face. She only managed to pry the door open when Derrik pushed it open and barged in. Pandora stumbled, shocked by the force he had used. “Finally came home, I see!” he yelled and crossed his arms over his chest. “You look like a shameless girl with that hair color. What? Are you trying to look good now? You're already divorced and nothing can help with that face of yours.” He snickered sarcastically. “What I have been doing or how I look is no longer your business. Cut the crap and tell me what you want.” Derrik glared at her before rolling his eyes. “Did you get the eviction notice I sent you? You need to move out immediately; I need the place.” Pandora pressed her fingers to her forehead, hoping the headache would lessen. She didn't have the energy to fight with him. “Not going to happen. This is my house… the court gave it to me. Go cry to someone else because I ain't complying with your void eviction notice,” she said firmly. She opened the door, needing him to get out of her house. If possible out of her life, too. “Still as stupid as ever,” Derrik spat out so harshly that Pandora was sure he had hated her for all the years they were married. “Don't you flaunt your money all the time? Use some of it to buy a place of your own. This is a family home where a couple who will have kids should live.” Pandora scratched her forehead, trying not to respond to him as she wished. But mincing words was not good for her health. She had wasted enough time on this man. “The doctor told me I could get pregnant if I tried. It seems part of the problem is also with you… and what mistress of yours? Take care…” She stopped with a grim look. “This is my house. Now leave.” Derrik laughed incredulously. “You're right. This house and you go together. I deserve a much better place where I can raise my children. How about we sell the house and go our separate ways.” He waved between the two of them. “We will never see each other ever again.” “Even if I sell the house, you won't get a dime from it. This is my house. That I bought with my money. The money I spent a lot of effort making… of course, you wouldn't know what that feels like, would you?” Derrik snorted. “Ah, if only you had put in as much effort into our marriage as you did your work and house… Maybe we could have actually lasted.” Pandora rolled her eyes. “If you actually loved me and not the money you are drooling after right now, we could have been happy,” she corrected quickly. “Wow. How did you expect me to like you when even your parents abandoned you? I'm not a saint, Pandora.” “Out,” she hissed through her gritted teeth. “Get out this second!” she yelled louder this time. “You'll do well handing the house over before I drag you back to court. Mackenna and I are trying for a baby and we need a house to raise our family,” Derrik responded angrily, knowing he was getting on her nerves. ‘Please leave. Why isn't he leaving?' she screamed internally. She was already drained from the trip, she couldn't handle a fight right then. “Then get a job like a normal man and pay for a house,” she sneered. “Well, I can't because I have to look after Mackenna. We need all the help so that the baby is safe.” He stopped talking and looked at her menacingly. “Oh, I understand now, you don't want me to have children because your broken body can't have any.” She shook her head, having enough of his nonsense. She pushed him against the chest and toward the door. “You are pathetic, you know that? You can go around telling your sob story to everyone, but at the end of the day, I will be getting this house. I promise you,” he said before storming away. Pandora slammed the door shut and locked it. She sank to the floor and tears started to drip down her face without her permission. It was strange how a year of her life could completely change how she felt about the man she thought was her soulmate. The love she had felt for Derrik had slowly morphed into hatred. A hatred so deep that the tears were short-lived and it gave her the energy to get off the floor, head upstairs and change for bed. “This house is mine. I gave him ten years of my life and I won't let him take away another moment of happiness from me.” With that mantra in place, she closed her eyes and dreamed. Her dreams were plagued with taunts from Derrik and Mackenna. She tried to push them away, but she tumbled instead. She waited for the fall to hurt but two strong arms wrapped around her protectively. “Hey, I've been looking for you,” the voice said. “Why did you leave me without saying goodbye?” Pandora turned to look at her face, but she couldn't see him. She recognized those piercing grey eyes of his. She looked down and saw a swirl of tattoos on his arms. “Wh—who are you?” she whispered. “Did you forget me? It's me, Dora… Nemo.” Even though she couldn't see his face, she could tell he was smiling. “Don't worry. I'll find you,” he promised before disappearing. Pandora awoke feeling rested and happier than she had when she went to bed. Chapter 5 “Spill,” Kiera said, wriggling her brows at Pandora the moment she sat down. “What?” she asked, looking between Keira and Sia, her friends from high school and college respectively. “Don't act coy. You get fcced. It's written all over your face,” Sia said smugly and Kiera nodded rapidly. Pandora's mouth dropped open in shock. Was it really written on her forehead? How tense had she looked before? “No, I didn't,” she answered stubbornly. “Yes, you did. I swear we will torture it out of you if you don't start speaking.” Pandora frowned at the two and motioned at the server. “I need some coffee before my lips open,” she announced. In no time, the coffee was in front of them and Pandora had taken her first sip. “You've had your coffee now. What did he look like?” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I don't remember.” When she opened them, she saw the look of worry on her friends' faces. “Did someone hurt you?” Sia asked urgently. “No.” She shook her head before placing her hand over Sia's. “We were both drunk… so drunk that I don't remember how he looked.” She stopped and remembered the bits that were still embedded in her mind. “I know he was tall, somewhat muscular, and had beautiful tattoos all over his arm.” She bit her lip when she remembered his smoldering grey eyes. “And his eyes were grey. Other than that, I don't remember exchanging names.” She gulped. “It was good. It was so good that I came a number of times. But that is all I remember.” Sia and Kiera shared a smile. “Were you safe?” Kiera asked and Pandora's eyes moved between the two of them. “I don't even remember what he looked like. You expect me to remember if I used protection?” She dropped her head in her hands when she realized how risky her move had been. “How was I so stupid?” “Pandora, you are fine. But still, you should get checked out, okay?” She was twenty-nine, had only been with two men in her life, and was going to get tested. “We'll get checked out right with you,” Kiera told her. “The nurse at the local clinic is so hot. I hope he is working.” She smiled with a dreamy look on her face. “Damnit, Kiera. You've got a boyfriend… do you remember Ron or not?” Sia yelled and slapped Kiera's shoulder. “So what? That doesn't mean I can't enjoy looking at a handsome man. I am not cheating on Ron. And he knows I find nurses hot.” She shrugged. Pandora snorted because if Kiera wasn't her childhood friend and she didn't know better, she wouldn't know if Kiera was in her right mind or not. Sia extended her hand to Pandora. “Come on. Let's go to the clinic and get this over with.” --- “Miss Leonard,” the nurse called. Pandora waved at her friends and walked into the room. She had decided that since she needed to get her routine check-up the next month, she would get it over with in one go. “I will be doing your exam today. If you can change into this ad lay on the table, I'll get my assistant and be back in a few minutes.” Pandora undressed after the door closed. Moments later, the nurse was back with someone in tow. As she set out to do the exam, she explained each step to Pandora. “Everything looks clear. We will have your results in a few days. Now, we just need to do your blood work.” Pandora nodded and the nurse helped her sit up. “As it has only been a few days, you will need to come back for a pregnancy test.” She gulped and shook her head. “There is no need for that.” The nurse stopped what she was doing and turned to Pandora. “I can't have kids.” “I'm so sorry,” she muttered, taking the needle out of Pandora's arm. “You will receive your results back in a few days but you do need to come back in three month time for another blood draw and test. It's just procedure.” “If anything unusual pops up, just come back. You can get dressed now; we're finished for the day.” Pandora sighed as the nurse walked away and slowly got dressed. She was surprised to find Sia and Kiera both waiting for her. “Come on. It's girls' night out!” Sia said, picking up on her horrible mood. As they munched on an extremely cheesy pizza and sipped on their wine, Kiera went back to the topic of the mysterious man. “Tell me more. How was it?” “I don't remember!” Pandora protested. “You remember some stuff. I can see it in your eyes. They glaze over when you think about him,” Kiera said, reminding her just how well her friends knew her. She licked her lips and took a moment to form the words. “His body was… firm. And I remember that he made me laugh and smile and feel good.” She shook her head and bit her lip. “I just knew he was more worried about making me feel good than getting off himself.” She shook her head a little. “I felt… wanted.” She didn't have any other words to explain what she had experienced. “I think we need to track this guy down.” Kiera's eyes sparkled with determination. Their eyes met and Pandora raised her brow to ask how. “Any man that makes you smile like that… I need to see him and I want him to be beside you and keep that smile on your face.” “It was a one-night stand with a stranger, Ki. Nothing more.” She didn't miss the sadness in her voice as she said that. Kiera frowned and opened her mouth to argue, but Pandora stopped her. “All I remember is the joking nickname we shared. I don't even know what his real name is. Of the millions of people in Vegas that day… how do you think I can find him?” She was unable to hide the pain of how true her words were. “Dora…” Sia whispered sadly. “It's fine. I'll be just fine.” “Enough moping around!” Kiera clapped her hands and jumped up. “You don't need a man. All you need is Sia, me, and your very 'personal' assistant.” Kiera produced a brand-new toy and handed it to Pandora. “This is your birthday gift. Belated happy birthday, witch,” she laughed. Even though Pandora rolled her eyes, she felt grateful that the toy was in a sealed box. “This is what every girl needs. Besides her two best friends, that is,” she commented, agreeing completely. Chapter 6 Pandora groaned, still feeling tired after ten hours of sleep. As she sat up, she felt a wave of dizziness overcome her. Before she could lay back down, her stomach turned. She jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom, hoping and praying she wouldn't puke on the floor. She hunched over the toilet and heaved. Nothing really came up. She didn't have time to be sick. And she willed her body to stop without much result. When the retching finally stopped, she dragged herself to the sink to clean up. Still, her stomach felt uncomfortable. As the day passed, she felt worse. Nothing seemed to help with the nausea she was feeling. She tried to force down the lunch before resting her head on the desk, hoping a short nap would make her feel better. Sleep made everything better, right? “They pay you to sleep at work?” she heard Derrik say. She jumped at the sound of his voice, but it was her stomach that made it worse. She covered her mouth and looked at him. “What?” he said irritably, staring her down. “I want to puke just looking at your face,” Pandora said bluntly. “Don't get cheeky with me just because you're having a terrible day.” Derrik's smug grin made her feel terrible. “Here,” he said, throwing a stack of papers on her desk. She looked through them angrily when she realized he was trying to force her into selling the house. “What is this? Derrik, don't you understand? You're not getting my house and I am not going to give you the money either!” Derrik's next words were loud enough for everyone in the office to hear. “You're a selfish piece of shit. Sitting here, all high and mighty, but you look ugly and all wrinkled. You make me sick. What did I see in you?” He paused for a second before resuming. “Now that you look exactly like you did while we were married, you're all ugly again. The fake extensions did make you look a little better. Why did I ever want a worthless and ugly woman like you?” “Get out,” Pandora gritted out. She felt her colleagues looking her way. “Because of you, my girl lost another baby,” Derrik said, this time his voice a whisper. She could hear the pain in his voice, but she didn't care about what Derrik felt. “That is none of my problem.” She picked up the papers and threw them in the trash. “Get out right now. And if I see you here again, I will get a restraining order against you. Did I make myself clear?” she challenged. Derrik narrowed her eyes but he didn't move a muscle, defying her. Pandora picked up the phone and dialed the security head. “Get this piece of shit out of my office. Make sure to let the other security detail know that he is no longer welcome here.” “We are not done here, Pandora!” Derrik hissed as he was pulled out of her office by security. Pandora had to cover her mouth and she slowly sat down on her chair. She tried her best to breathe through her nose, willing the nausea away. --- Pandora sleepily walked to the front door, knowing that Keira said she would take her to work. It had been three weeks since she woke up feeling sick and it was not getting any better. In fact, she felt worse than before. She almost got into an accident the night before because she felt woozy while driving. Opening the door, Pandora allowed Keira in before moving to her couch and lying down on it. “It has been three weeks. I think it is time you went to a doctor,” Keira said as she felt her head. “It's just a bug,” Pandora muttered weakly and then pressed her lips together when she saw her friend frowning down at her. “What did the clinic say about your tests?” Pandora blinked because she had no idea what the other was talking about. “Last month you got tested for STDs remember?” Pandora slowly sat up. “I never heard back from them. I must have missed their calls. Do you think he gave me something?” she yelped as her heart started racing. Keira looked worried but placed a fake smile on her face. “Let's go to the doctor's office and get you checked out, okay?” “I can't. I need to go to work,” she said, knowing if she didn't get on the road, she would be late to work… again. Keira shook her head. “I am calling your boss and taking you to the doctor.” Pandora groaned, deciding it was best not to fight in her condition. She curled up, and closed her eyes. Her eyes drifted close as she heard Keira speaking to someone on the phone. “Hey,” she said, pushing Pandora's hair back. “You need to get up and dressed. Your doctor's appointment is in an hour.” Pandora nodded and slowly sat up. Her eyes drifted to the clock and she found it was almost two in the afternoon. “Oh no!” she muttered. “It's fine. I called in for you. Now get dressed.” Pandora shook as she thought about how she had not taken a sick day in all the years she had been working. She went to her room and grabbed some loose clothes. Keira helped her into the car and drove slowly to the doctor's office, making sure she didn't feel sick again. Pandora was thankful that she didn't need to wait with other patients and was ushered into the doctor's office. “I checked your results and the tests came back clean. Do you think you could be pregnant?” the nurse asked. “I saw that you didn't do the follow-up.” Pandora shook her head at the nurse. “That's not possible. I have a history.” “Let's do the test, just to be clear.” “Stranger things have happened,” Keira said and the nurse just hummed. “Give me a urine sample and we can go from there?” the nurse prompted. And Pandora did just that. After a few minutes of wait and Pandora frowned as the nurse looked at the pregnancy stick with a smile. “Just as I thought. You're pregnant.” The nurse placed the test down on the table beside her to see. Pandora's eyes fell on the positive sign on it. “I can't be,” she said, her voice barely over a whisper. Her eyes flitted between her friend and the nurse, who both looked ecstatic. She closed her eyes and shook her head. She remembered a story where a woman got a false pregnancy test positive and ended up having cancer. “It must be cancer,” she sobbed out. She looked at the nurse who was shaking her head. “Ma'am. It's not cancer,” she replied. “The stories you hear online are about a man who had cancer and took a pregnancy test. It's not the same thing.” “Keira, you know I can't have a baby. Derrik and I tried for years!” “Pandora, just take a scan and you will know what is going on, right?” “The doctor isn't here today, but I am a licensed technician. I can sign you up and perform the scan for you.” She paused. “I want you to calm down so that we can take a look and see what is going on. Okay?” Pandora sighed before nodding. Soon, she was pulling her pants off and sitting on the table. The nurse prepped her and told her what to expect. Pandora gripped the bed as the scan proceeded. The nurse made humming noises before she stopped moving. “There you go,” she murmured and turned the screen for Pandora to see. “Do you see that?” she asked as she pointed at the screen. “Yes,” Pandora said, nodding. She frowned as she looked at the bean-shaped mass. “What is it? Is that the cancer?” she asked. The nurse frowned. “That's your baby,” she corrected. Pandora looked at her and then back to the screen, feeling a sob rip out of her mouth. Chapter 7 Keira helped her sit on her couch and walked away. Pandora knew she was still in the house because she could hear the other move around the house. She was speaking to someone, but Pandora had no idea who it was. “Here, have some tea,” she said, placing a cup in Pandora's hand. Her hands lingered. “You got it?” she asked and Pandora looked down before tightening her grip on the cup. “I'm going to have a baby?” she questioned, still thinking that the universe was playing a cruel joke on her. “You are,” Keira confirmed. “This is real, right? It's not a joke.” “No, it's not a joke.” Keira rubbed her shoulder. “I'm going to be a mom?” Keira squinted, reevaluating Pandora's sanity. “Derrik and I tried for years and nothing happened. I didn't even mistake myself to be pregnant. But I sleep with a random guy and I am immediately pregnant?” A stranger whom she didn't remember, whose face she had forgotten, let alone what his name was. “What's wrong, honey?” Keira asked, worried. “I don't know who my baby's daddy is. I am going to end up like those girls on reality television whom we laugh at to relieve stress.” “Stop, Pandora. It's going to be okay. What do you know, we could place an ad on Craiglist or Facebook and find the man,” Keira stated bluntly. Pandora's sobs stopped abruptly and she glared at her friend. “What are we going to write? A recently divorced woman went to Vegas for work. She wanted a good time and went out to club, got drunk, and slept with a stranger whose name she doesn't know. She does remember what his eyes and his body look like.” Pandora scoffed. “Give the date and ask him to call the divorced woman because she has some shocking news for him?” Keira frowned at her, but Pandora raised her head and stared at the ceiling. “How am I supposed to find him? I don't know how I could do it without feeling any cheaper than I already do. He should know, even if he runs away after hearing the news. He has a right to know that he has fathered a child, right?” Keira sighed and pulled Pandora into her arms. She didn't have any of the answers, so all she could do was comfort her pregnant and distraught friend. --- “I have an appointment with Dr. Parks?” Pandora said to the woman behind the desk of the hospital. “What's your name?” she asked without looking up. “Mrs. Pr—” She cut herself off and cleared her throat. “Leonard,” she said as the woman looked at Pandora over the rim of her glasses. “Well, Mrs. PrLeonard…” Pandora frowned at the snide sound of her voice, but because she felt terrible, she chose to let it go. “You will need to fill out these forms.” She shoved a clipboard into her hand and then looked back down at her screen. Pandora sat down and filled in her details. At the mention of her next of kin, she put down her father's name. Her father who had another family. She wrote and let out a small groan, knowing she would have to tell her father. She knew her father would support her, but the man was conservative. Marriage came before babies in his mind. “Mrs. PrLeonard?” a nurse called and then confusion overcame her. “Am I reading your name right?” she said. Pandora cast a disdainful look at the woman behind the desk. She clearly knew it was a slip of the tongue, but she still screwed with her pregnant patient. “My surname is Leonard,” Pandora said as she stood up. The nurse nodded before motioning for her to join her down the hall. Pandora followed her into the room. “Doctor Parks will be with you for a new patient consult. Please wait a few minutes.” The nurse walked back out and Pandora started looking around. Her usual doctor had retired and Dr. Parks had recently taken over her position. She didn't know the man but she did see a picture of him on the desk. She lifted it up unconsciously and ignored the pang of pain in her heart as she appraised the picture. It looked like the doctor's wedding photo. She doesn't look old enough to be married but the stunning man next to her looks at her with fondness. The man was definitely older by a few years. “Sorry I took so long,” a man says, making Pandora jump. She turned to see that she didn't have the woman in the photograph. Instead, the handsome man who looked fondly at the woman stood before her. “Hello,” Pandora stuttered and stood up quickly as he walked in her direction. “Hello, I'm Doctor Parks,” he said immediately, holding his hand out for her to take. She went to take it and groaned inside when she realized she was holding his photograph. “I'm so sorry,” she muttered before placing the frame down and then going back to shake his hand. “I'm Leonard… Uh… Pandora Leonard,” she cleared her throat. She pressed her eyes closed when she heard him laugh. He must have known about the little slip-up outside. “Please take a seat, Mrs. Leonard.” “Pandora,” she told him quietly. It had been almost a month since she had changed her name but it still sounded weird to be called by her maiden surname. Doctor Parks nodded and picked up her paperwork. He looked through it while Pandora appraised him. He didn't look much older than he did in the photograph, so it must have been taken a year or two prior. His head tilted up and she got the feeling that he was looking at her, but with his thick, tinted glasses, Pandora couldn't be sure. “All your paperwork is in order. I see a history of severe endometriosis, so we will need to keep a close eye on how your pregnancy proceeds. Today, I will look you over and check everything. I would also like to perform a scan and draw a blood sample. How does that sound to you?” His smooth voice made her feel dizzy and weak. “Sounds good,” she agreed quickly. With how good his voice sounded, she would agree to anything he asked her to do. “Please get changed in the small room there. Once you are done, go through the other door into the examination room,” he ordered while pointing to a door. Pandora got up quickly and changed into the ugly down. When she walked out, she saw him and the nurse already in the examination room. They charted her vitals and the nurse walked away momentarily. “Do you mind if I draw your blood myself?” Dr. Parks asked and she frowned at him. “Most people don't like doctors to draw their blood because we don't do it as often as nurses. I like to keep my skills up to par and do it once a day. One never knows when it will come to use.” “Carry on,” Pandora urged, feeling at ease with him. When he stuck the needle into her, she turned her head to the nurse. The woman was definitely swooning because the expression on her face was dreamy. “With that done, I can examine you and then we will perform the scan. Most doctors sent patients to a tech, but I like to do it myself for my higher-risk patients. Please lie down on the table,” he said, offering her a hand to help her lie down on the bed. She followed his words. Even the part where she had to put her legs up on the stirrups. She was well-groomed but that didn't mean she wanted to be stared at. “If you are ready, we can begin with the breast exam?” he asked but she got the feeling that he was staring at her. Pandora looked his way but his head was not positioned in a way that he could look at her. “I will be touching you now. My hands are warm.” “That's fine,” she said nervously. “It will be hard for you to do the exam without touching me.” His soft hands touched her breasts, sending tingles throughout her body. He took his time as he pressed and moved his fingers over her. Once he was finished, he covered her back up with the sheet provided. Of course, by this point, her nipples were hard and tenting the sheet in two spots.

After being away for two months on a secret job, I finally got some time off to go home. By the time Matteo Gabbett returned, I had already showered. Wearing a saxy nightgown, I pushed him against the hallway wall. Smelling that familiar sandalwood scent on him made me stand on my tiptoes. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and leaned in for a kiss. "Matteo, we haven't seen each other in two months. Did you miss me?" In the next moment, Matteo turned away from me with a cold look and pushed me off him. His voice was sharp as he warned, "Carolina Siapno, today's the third." I froze in place, unable to move. Matteo always went to church on the 1st and 15th of every month without fail. Since the church was a sacred place, he insisted on staying "pure" beforehand. That was why our intimate moments were strictly scheduled for the 8th and 24th—never any earlier or later. It felt like we were just following some boring routine. Because I loved him, I always respected his rules. But today was our fifth wedding anniversary. My heart felt heavy, and I clenched my fists silently. "Can't we just make one exception?" But Matteo just walked right past me, throwing out a cold comment. "Go to bed early." Then he went back to his room and shut the door. We slept in separate rooms on normal days. It was the middle of summer, but suddenly I felt this icy chill deep inside. Matteo and I grew up in the same neighborhood. He was disciplined, polite, and lived a pretty strict life—no drinking or sm0king for him. By 20 years old, he had taken over the family business and was running a whole business empire. I'd had a crush on him since childhood. But I was more impulsive and free-spirited—not at all like him. Eventually, I became a police officer, which only pulled us further apart. The only reason we ended up getting married was because our families arranged it. I definitely loved Matteo a lot. So after we got married, I tried to be calmer and more graceful, hoping it would win him over. But Matteo was like someone who just didn't have feelings—he always seemed so cold and distant. Even in bed, he was as stiff as a robot. I never thought that my efforts tonight would end in such a harsh rejection. I could feel my face burning with embarrassment. I felt like a joke. I went back to my room, took off the nightgown, and tossed it right into the trash can. I couldn't sleep at all that night. I simply waited until the next morning and headed straight to the kitchen to whip up breakfast for Matteo. In five years, I'd gone from clueless to a kitchen expert. The smell of garlic bread filled the air. When Matteo and I sat down together for breakfast, it felt really warm between us. Looking at the guy I really loved sitting next to me, I couldn't help but smile softly. "Matteo, I've got a five-day vacation this time. What do you think about...?" Before I could finish my sentence, the door to the villa suddenly swung open. A woman walked in wearing a sharp business suit. She gave me a polite nod. "Hi, Mrs. Gabbett. I'm Melisa Giblan, Mr. Gabbett's new secretary." Melisa's unexpected arrival totally caught me off guard. It took me a few seconds to get my head straight again. I frowned and asked, "New secretary?" Matteo usually went to church for his faith and kept things professional with women—so why would he hire a female secretary? I glanced over at Matteo with disbelief written all over my face. But Matteo just looked cold and indifferent without offering any explanation. A wave of unease washed over me. Melisa even knew the password to our house. This must definitely not have been her first time here. Where did this woman come from while I was gone for two months? I took a deep breath to stay calm and sat down. "Ms. Giblan, right? What brings you here?" Melisa kept smiling. "Mr. Gabbett is heading out on a business trip today, so I'm just here to help him pack." Then she headed upstairs after saying that. This time, I couldn't just sit there anymore. I got up and called out to her, "Ms. Giblan, Matteo's kind of a neat freak. You really don't have to worry about this. I can handle it." To my surprise, Matteo's cold voice came from behind me. "No need for that. She can take care of it." At the same moment, Melisa chimed in. "Mrs. Gabbett, no worries at all! While you were away these past two months... "I'm the one looking after Mr. Gabbett." Chapter 2 What kind of care? I stood there, frozen, watching Melisa head straight upstairs like she owned the place. My chest tightened, leaving me short of breath. Matteo had a serious case of mysophobia. He never let anyone touch his stuff. As his wife, it took me three years before I was finally allowed to handle his personal things. But here came a secretary who had only been around for two months, and suddenly all of Matteo's rules meant nothing. Was this normal? Were they just employer and employee? I turned to Matteo, my throat feeling tight. "Didn't you... say you wouldn't hire a female secretary?" Matteo got up, the prayer beads on his wrist clinking as he said flatly, "Melisa is different." Different. Those three little words hit me hard, making my head spin. I was dying to ask what made her so special and where that difference even came from. But while I was just standing there in a daze, Melisa came down from upstairs with the suitcase. She gave me a little smile, then turned and left with Matteo. It felt like she was showing off—staking her claim. I heard the loud "bang" when the door slammed shut, and my heart started racing. I had been really looking forward to our fifth wedding anniversary, which was why I took on that mission in the first place. I'd worked for two grueling months just to earn this short vacation. But Matteo hadn't said a word about his business trip; he even brought another woman along. A bitter taste rose up in my throat. I tried to look back at everything we went through together, going over it all again and again. But I still couldn't pinpoint when Matteo and I began to drift apart. I spent the whole day just zoning out on the couch, my mind completely blank. When evening rolled around, I shot a message to Matteo. "Have you landed? Are you okay?" But I waited and waited—so long that I actually dozed off on the couch—and my phone never buzzed. The next morning, shivering, I checked my phone—Matteo had replied with just one word. "Yeah." A tight knot formed in my chest again. I took a deep breath. But before I could shake it off, the police station called out of nowhere. As soon as I picked up, I heard the chief's sharp voice. "Carol, your vacation is canceled. There's an emergency mission right now. "We've spotted a suspect who's been on the run for eight years at Universal Studios. Get over here immediately!" "Yes, sir!" I said quickly, hung up the phone, and bolted out the door without wasting any time. By the time I got to Universal Studios, all of our police team from the station was already there waiting. I had been working with the team lead, Alexander Berkly for years, and we got along really well. As soon as we walked in, we pretended to be a couple so we could search for the target while the others kept an eye on the exits. Once we were inside Universal Studios, I heard my colleague's voice through my earpiece. "The suspect is David Miller, about 175 cm, and kind of skinny..." I linked my arm with Alexander's and started scanning the crowd. Next to me, Alexander whispered, "The suspect might head toward areas where there are lots of kids." Right away, I shifted my focus to spots filled with children. Just then, a young voice rang out nearby. "Daddy! Mommy..." I instinctively looked over and saw a little boy giggling as he ran toward a man in a suit. In that moment, I recognized the man's face and froze. It was Matteo and Melisa was right next to him. We had known each other for more than ten years, and in all that time, Matteo had always been put-together. His shirts were never wrinkled or anything like that. He never showed much emotion either. But in that moment, Matteo had taken off his suit jacket, with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and he was just beaming with a smile. I stood there watching as Matteo held the little boy in his arms while Melisa smiled and playfully tapped the kid's nose. The happy vibe from that family of three sent a chill down my spine. Whose kid was that? Just then, I heard Alexander call out to me from behind. "Carol!" I snapped back to reality but didn't have time to look away. Matteo turned at the sound, and our eyes locked. Chapter 3 The moment our eyes met, my heart felt like it was being squeezed with a painful ache. I wanted to step up and confront him, but Alexander's call snapped me back to reality. I was in the middle of a mission—nothing personal could get in the way. I took a deep breath, pushing down my doubts and pain, and forced myself to look away. Alexander hadn't seen Matteo. He signaled to me with his eyes and gave my arm a little tug. "Northwest direction—target David has shown up," he said. I quickly got serious, pressing my earpiece to inform the team. "Target locked! Get ready for arrest!" The whole team jumped on the chance, rushing forward to take down the suspect. I helped Alexander put handcuffs on him. When I turned around again, Matteo and Melisa were already gone. He didn't even stop to give me an explanation. A sharp bitterness hit me hard, but I couldn't break down crying in front of everyone. All I could do was hold it together and walk away. After the mission wrapped up, I followed my teammates back to the police station while my mind drifted elsewhere. Sitting in the office, I couldn't shake off the warm image of Matteo holding that kid at Universal Studios. Could that child really be his and Melisa's? The more I thought about it, the more flustered I got. My hands were clasped together and shaking with anxiety. For no reason at all, my throat tightened, and suddenly it was hard to breathe. Suddenly, a voice broke through my thoughts. "Carol? Are you okay?" I snapped back to reality and saw Alexander looking at me with concern. I took a deep breath to steady my racing heart and shook my head. "I'm fine." Not wanting to get into my personal life, I quickly changed the topic. "Did the suspect confess?" Alexander frowned. He could tell right away that I was in a bad mood. This suspect had been on the run for six months before they finally caught him. Normally, I would've jumped up and cheered by now. But instead of pushing me, he softened his voice. "There's really nothing more to do here. You should head home and get some rest. "You asked for a five-day vacation, didn't you? Isn't it better to spend time with your husband? Why don't you head home?" His words hit me right where it hurt the most. I thought, "Home... Did I even have one anymore?" My husband might already be living with someone else. Feeling bitter, I grabbed my bag and walked out in a daze. But when I stepped outside the police station, there was Matteo's car parked at the curb. The driver opened the door for me, and Matteo was sitting in the back seat. He'd never come to pick me up from work before—hardly anyone at the station even knew my husband was Matteo. Did he come today to explain what happened this afternoon? If he could just clear things up, maybe... I dug my nails into my palm to hold back the ache in my chest, then got into the car and looked over at Matteo. But Matteo kept flipping through his papers, refusing to even glance at me, let alone say anything. And then the car took off right away. This silence went on for quite a while as we drove. Even though I was sitting in this fancy leather seat, it felt like I was sitting on pins and needles. Could it be that Matteo was upset because Alexander and I were matching outfits? I pressed my lips together and said softly, "Matteo, today Alexander and I were actually just..." "No need to explain," Matteo interrupted me with a cold, indifferent tone. Only then did he finally put down the documents, turn his head to look at me, and say, "About that kid you saw today..." "His name is Leonard Giblan, and he's Melisa's child. It's tough for Melisa to raise him by herself, so I've decided to adopt Leo. "From now on, he'll have the Gabbett last name. He'll be our kid—yours and mine." It hit me like a ton of bricks. My heart felt like it had been punched hard. "Why?" But Matteo just looked away, picking up the papers again to read. The car was gliding along smoothly, and the warm spring breeze filled the cabin. Still, I felt cold sweat break out all over me, and my voice shook with that heavy suspicion. "Matteo... does this kid have your blood?" Matteo's eyes darkened, and his tone turned icy. "I would never cheat on this marriage." His answer didn't help calm my nerves. "Then why are you so set on adopting her child? "Have you ever thought about how I feel? What about... our future kids?" Matteo looked at me calmly and shot back. "Can you even have kids?" I was stunned. Then I heard his cold voice again. "For five years of marriage, I've done my part as a husband to keep our family line going. "But you... haven't finished that job." Every word hit me like a thousand needles in my heart. And just when I thought it couldn't get worse, Matteo delivered one last crushing blow. "Once this child is here, you won't need to come to my room on the 8th or 24th anymore. "Our marital duties end here." Chapter 4 In a flash, it felt like I'd been thrown into an ice cave, my face going completely pale. A sharp pain shot through my chest, like my heart was being ripped apart—so intense that it almost knocked me out. After all these years without a kid, I always felt guilty about him. Two years ago, while trying to catch a gangster, I got stabbed in the lower abd0men. I made it through that scare, but the doctor told me getting pregnaant would be really tough for me. Back then, Matteo didn't say anything when he found out. He even hired someone to take care of me and help with my recovery. I always thought that even if he didn't love me deeply, at least he had some feelings for me. So this was the truth... It was all just about keeping the family line going. Our intimate moments were just a chore for him. It turned out he had always been like someone who gave up on wanting anything—cold, distant, and completely lacking any affection. I felt like I was falling into a deep hole, my body just dropping down without stopping. I tried to grab onto something, but there was nothing around me to hold on to. The silence went on until the car finally came to a stop. It wasn't until Matteo was about to get out that I finally said, "I can deal with you adopting Leo, but Melisa has to go." Their relationship made me feel threatened and scared. Matteo paused for a moment, turned around, and looked at me coldly. "I'm not here to talk this over. I'm just letting you know." After saying that, he got out of the car and headed back into the villa. I sat in the car, my heart seeming to stop for a moment. Bitterness rose in my chest, followed by an overwhelming wave of sadness. This was the guy I'd been married to for five years... Before dinner that night, Leonard was brought over. At the dining table, Matteo held Leonard close in his arms, his eyes full of love and affection. Watching them together pierced my heart with sharp pain. He had just mentioned the adoption that afternoon, but by evening, he was already eager to have the child come over. Did he even care how I felt? Did he remember that I was his wife? All my feelings were tangled up like a mess of fishing nets around me. The more I fought against it, the tighter those nets got, leaving me struggling for breath. I slipped into the kitchen, downed a glass of water, and tried to swallow all those bitter feelings bubbling up inside me. I kept telling myself. Once Matteo made a decision, there was no changing it. Now that the kid was here, I had to deal with it no matter how upset I felt. I was supposed to be Matteo's wife and that meant stepping up as this child's mom too. When I stepped back out again, I'd managed to pull myself together. I went back to the table with a big smile on my face and picked some food for the kid, "Leo, give this a try." Maybe if I took good care of Leonard, it would help ease things between Matteo and me. But then Leonard surprised me—he acted like he'd been scared or something—hiding in Matteo's arms, clutching his shirt with timid, wide eyes. My smile froze in place and my hand hung there awkwardly in mid-air. For a moment, I was at a loss for what to do, and it felt like something in my heart had cracked open just a bit. Matteo first tried to calm Leonard down with some gentle words. He picked up food for Leonard and even fed him himself, showing such tenderness that he looked like a real dad. Before long, he had Leonard giggling away. Then Matteo glanced over at me and noticed I still had this forced smile plastered on my face. In a flat tone, he said, "Leo's still little and doesn't know you yet. It's totally normal for him to be scared. Don't take it out on the kid." I felt like I'd swallowed something really bitter that just wouldn't go down right. That awful taste bubbled up in my chest, gnawing at me inside. But all I could do was nod while shoving the food I'd picked up with my chopsticks into my mouth. I once daydreamed about life as a happy family of three. Now there were actually three of us sitting at this table, but I didn't have any appetite—the food tasted bland, and even swallowing felt tough. Honestly, I don't even remember how that dinner wrapped up. Lying in bed later on in my own room, my heart kept getting ripped apart again and again. My emotions were all over the place. I tossed and turned without being able to fall asleep. In the middle of the night, I suddenly heard Leonard crying from the next room. A wave of worry hit me again as I thought, "Leo's still so little, and Matteo's a guy. Can he really take care of him?" I wanted to go help out, but I was scared I'd make things awkward. I hesitated for over half an hour, listening to Leonard's cries drifting through the wall. In the end, my mom's instincts kicked in and won over my rational side. I got up from bed and headed to the next room. Matteo's door wasn't fully shut. There was a small crack. Without thinking much about it, I tiptoed closer, put my hand on the doorknob, and just as I was about to push it open, I called out softly, "Matteo..." Then I heard a soft sound—a woman's voice humming a lullaby. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are..." I froze completely; my heart felt like it dropped with a sharp pain. I pushed the door open wider and peeked inside. Melisa was holding Leonard while lying on Matteo's bed. Chapter 5 The door swung open, and the doorknob banged hard against the wall. I was totally stunned, like I'd just been hit by lightning—my hands and feet felt numb. That was when I noticed Matteo sitting nearby. He had been watching the mother and son this whole time. My heart seemed to stop, a hole tearing open in my chest as pain spread through me. What a happy, perfect family. What a cozy scene this was. So what was I in this picture? In the quiet, I stared at Matteo's face. After a while, I forced out a sarcastic smile. "Sorry for intruding. "I'll leave you be." Melisa jumped up. "Mrs. Gabbett, it's not..." Matteo shot her a look that stopped her right away, then stepped forward to lead me out of the room. He shut the door behind us and said flatly, "Leo just came over and isn't used to things yet, so I asked her to come by." Looking at his cold face, it felt like there was a heavy weight sitting in my chest, making it hard to breathe. His explanation was so weak. He never had to report anything to me before. This was his way of warning me to stay quiet. Tears started welling up in my eyes, and my voice shook uncontrollably. "Is it really okay for a single woman to show up at a married guy's house in the middle of the night?" Matteo's expression instantly turned icy. He let go of my wrist, his tone sharp. "Leo was crying her eyes out, and you did nothing. "Melisa rushed over as soon as she heard the kid wasn't feeling well, yet you're throwing around these nasty assumptions about her. "Carolina—innocent people are innocent. I have nothing to feel guilty about." I completely froze. The tears that were hanging on in my eyes were just seconds away from spilling over. My husband had brought another woman into our home late at night, and I was the one with a dirty mind? Was I not even allowed to feel upset? Shouldn't I be cheering them on instead? "You let her into your room and onto your bed... What's next—should I hand over the title of Mrs. Gabbett to her?" Matteo frowned even more and said, "Can you just stop being unreasonable?" I felt this sharp, gut-wrenching pain hit me. Before I could say anything else, Melisa suddenly opened the door and stepped out. Her nose was red, and her eyes were shiny with tears like she was about to cry. "Mr. Gabbett, Mrs. Gabbett, please don't fight. "You're willing to adopt Leo, and I really appreciate it... I can leave. I'll go right now." After saying that, she covered her face and walked out of the villa without looking back. There was a two-second pause. Matteo didn't chase after her. Instead, he shot me a cold stare. "Are you happy now?" Bang! The door slammed, and the gust from it stung my face like a slap. The tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over. One by one they fell, faster and harder. --- After that day, Matteo decided to hire a nanny to take care of Leonard at home full-time. I cut my vacation short and went back to work at the police station, not even going home for several days straight. Alexander asked me about it once. But when I gave him a half-hearted answer, he didn't push it any further. Then one day, Lillian, the nanny, called out of nowhere. She sounded very urgent—like she was on the verge of tears. "Mrs. Gabbett, my husband got into a car accident. I need to get to him right away. But Mr. Gabbett isn't picking up his phone, and Leo..." I paused for a moment before saying, "Just bring Leo here." "Okay! Thank you so much!" Lillian hung up and soon showed up with Leonard at the police station. As I walked in with Leonard, some colleagues immediately gathered around us asking questions. "Hey Carol, whose kid is this?" "He's such an adorable little guy—looks really well-behaved!" A dull ache hit me in my chest like someone had ripped out part of my heart. How could I ever explain that my husband had adopted his secretary's child? I didn't say anything. Instead, I took Leonard to the little office and said seriously, "Just hang out here and don't run around, okay? I'll take you home after work." Leonard nodded like a good kid. Then I got back to my tasks. Before I knew it, things got so hectic that it was already dark outside. When I returned from dropping off some papers, Matteo suddenly showed up out of nowhere and grabbed my wrist hard. He looked really angry, and his voice was icy. "Carolina, do you even think you're cut out to be a cop? "Tell me, where did you leave Leo?" Chapter 6 At his words, my mind went completely blank. I froze for a few seconds before glancing nervously toward the office. The office was small—just one look and I could see Leonard wasn't there. At that moment, it felt like someone had grabbed my heart and squeezed it tight, filling me with fear. "I just told Leo to stay in the office... he promised he wouldn't run off." Matteo's expression was dark, and he didn't say anything. But there was this strong vibe of authority coming from him—one that demanded respect even without any anger behind it. I could feel the color draining from my face. "You don't believe me?" Matteo looked at me coldly. "You don't like Leo. You sent the nanny away on purpose—wasn't that just to get rid of him?" His words hit me hard, like a sharp knife. Tears started welling up in my eyes right away. So this was how he saw me—as someone so cruel. He denied my character and even more so my professional beliefs. We'd known each other for years. We'd been through so much together. I bit down hard to hold back the tears. "I'd never dishonor this uniform!" For a moment, the air was still—nobody said a word. Then suddenly, a little figure zipped over and wrapped around Matteo's legs. "Daddy!" Alexander came in right after him, stepping through the door. "Don't run off like that again. "I just checked the cameras, he saw a puppy outside and took off." Leonard hugged Matteo tight and mumbled an apology, "Sorry, Daddy... I shouldn't have run away by myself." I let out a sigh of relief, but the feeling of being misunderstood hit me hard again. I looked at Matteo. Now that everything was cleared up, shouldn't he say something? After making sure Leonard was okay, Matteo bent down to pick him up. But his look at me was still icy and distant. "This shows you can't take care of a kid properly. Today Leo didn't go far. But if someone had taken him away, it would've been too late before you even noticed. "You don't need to worry about Leo anymore. Just focus on your work from now on." With that, he turned and walked away with Leonard in his arms. The police station went completely quiet, and everyone turned to stare at me with curious and weird looks. I felt like there were thorns poking into my back, and it was as if someone dumped a bucket of ice water over me—my whole body just froze. What was going on? What did he mean by that? Alexander sent his colleagues away and shut the office door behind us. Only then did he look at me, hesitating before saying, "That kid..." I kept my head down. Every breath cut through me like a knife. "He's adopted... because I can't have kids." I had never let anyone see my vulnerable side before. This was the first time I had opened up about my pain for everyone to see. I tried to smile, but tears spilled down instead. Quickly lowering my head to wipe them away, I didn't want anyone noticing how messed up I looked. "I'm fine, really... I'm okay." Alexander frowned deeply at that. He raised his hand as if he wanted to comfort me but stopped halfway and let it drop again. In the end, he turned around and left without bothering me any further. What could he say about someone else's marriage problems? He could only hope I'd get myself together soon. With a sigh, Alexander told the others not to come back into the office for now. --- After that day, I didn't go home for several days. I just didn't know how to face Matteo. Honestly, it felt like home wasn't even mine anymore. To keep my mind off Matteo, I threw myself into work, staying up day and night without really noticing if it was day or night. Soon, dark circles ringed my eyes, my cheeks went pale, and my lips lost their color. Alexander couldn't stand seeing me like this. He made me take a break. But as soon as I stood up, everything went black and I collapsed right on the floor. When I came to, I was already in the hospital. I blinked awake in a daze and saw Alexander standing next to my bed. My throat felt dry and scratchy. "What... what happened?" Alexander handed me a medical report and his eyes showed something I couldn't quite figure out. "You're pregnaant." Chapter 7 I froze, my mind going blank. "What?" After double-checking, the doctor confirmed that I was indeed pregnaant. The baby was already two months along—conceived during the last time Matteo and I were together, right before that mission of mine. Holding the report, I stared into space as I gently touched my lower belly, feeling like this was all just a dream. Alexander stood next to me and asked, "Aren't you going to tell Matteo?" Just a few days ago, I would have rushed to share the news with him, bursting with happiness. But now... there was Leonard in our home. I clenched my hands and replied unsteadily, "I will tell him." With that strange unease weighing on my heart, I said goodbye to Alexander after finishing up my IV drip. For the first time in over half a month, I headed back home. When I got there, Matteo was in the garden watching Leonard play. Maybe it was because he regularly goes to church to pray. He had always been pretty reserved and rarely smiled. But at that moment? There was this soft, genuine smile on his face. My heart felt a little shaky. It was like I could already picture the future—when their baby arrived, he'd be just as patient and caring, guiding them along just like he is now. "Matteo..." I stepped closer, my fingers gripping the pregnaancy test report in my pocket. Matteo glanced at me; his smile faded a bit, and he said flatly, "You're back. "Just tell the maid what you want to eat." He didn't ask why I hadn't been home these past few days—just like when I was away for two months before, he never bothered to check in on me with even a single message. My heart felt tight again. I took a deep breath and stood there with him for a while, watching Leonard play around. Then I decided to ask, "I haven't had a check-up since that night two months ago. "What if... I'm pregnnant?" Leonard came running toward Matteo. He squatted down, opened his arms, and said in a cold voice, "Then just have it aborrted. "The Gabbett family only needs one kid." It felt like my brain had exploded with a loud crash. I couldn't believe what I'd just heard. I froze for a few seconds before finally managing to ask, "What did you say?" Matteo picked up Leonard, his face completely emotionless. "If you heard me right, there's no need to repeat myself." My lips started trembling, and an indescribable bitterness clogged my throat. Still not ready to give up, I said, "But that's our own child..." Matteo's voice was icy. "As the saying goes, all beings are equal. "No matter whose kid it is, one is enough." With that, he walked straight into the villa. Watching him go felt like something inside me snapped. He treated someone else's child as if it were his own but denied our child the chance to be born. Was this his idea of "all beings are equal"? What nonsense! Standing out in the cold wind made me feel frozen all over. Tears were on the verge of spilling from my eyes. I covered my lower abd0men with one hand and clenched my fist tightly with the other. After a long time, I held back my tears and left with puffy red eyes. When I got back to the police station, I just stared blankly at the wedding photo of Matteo and me sitting on my desk. I couldn't help but think about our wedding day and how incredibly happy I was back then. I had landed my dream job and married the person I loved most in the world. Back then, I thought I was the luckiest woman alive. But when Matteo started being distant with me, I'd tell myself it was just his way of being. When he didn't pick up my calls or reply to my texts, I'd comfort myself by thinking he must be super busy. I kept making excuses for him—one after another—for five whole years. Only to finally rip off the mask of this marriage and face its harsh reality. Matteo didn't love me at all. He only married me because his family pushed him into it. He was close to me only because they wanted him to carry on their family name. I hunched over, burying my face in my arms as my heart shattered into pieces. That night, I didn't sleep a wink. By morning, I still couldn't decide whether to keep the baby or not. It broke my heart even thinking about giving up this child that took so much effort for us to conceive. But if this child grew up without love—wouldn't that be cruel? And it'd be even worse if they had to watch their dad show affection toward another kid. I took a deep breath. Out of nowhere, Alexander barged in with a pile of documents. "Carol! Let's start a meeting. Gapped-Tooth is back!" Gapped-Tooth. Just hearing that nickname made my back tense up right away. He was the guy who stabbed me in the lower abd0men two years ago and finally managed to escape. After two years, there's finally some news about him again. In the meeting, I didn't hold back. "I want to be part of the arrest!" Chapter 8 Alexander didn't say much during the meeting, but once it wrapped up, he pulled me aside. "Carol, this operation is really risky. You're pregnaant now. You can't go." I shook my head firmly. "He got away from me two years ago. I have to be the one to catch him and bring him to justice myself." At that moment, I also realized something. This baby was mine. I wasn't going to have an aborrtion, and no one else was going to make that choice for me. Alexander frowned at that, but in the end, he just stayed quiet. With thoughts of the baby in my belly swirling around in my mind, I decided it was time for a serious chat with Matteo. Today was the 15th—the day he always went to Lumenhill Church. I called a car and headed straight for the church. Matteo had a private prayer room there where he could sit quietly and reflect. After telling the priest who I was, I followed him over to the door of a room. I stood there in front of the door for what felt like forever before finally lifting my hand to push it open and step inside. But the room was filled with this calming sandalwood scent, all quiet and still. Matteo wasn't around. As I looked around, I noticed that under the serious statue, there were rows of lit candles lined up. Just by counting them, I'd say there were almost a hundred. My curiosity got the best of me, so I turned to the priest who brought me here and asked, "What are these for?" The priest replied, "These are prayer candles. A lot of people light them to ask for forgiveness for their sins." To seek forgiveness for sins? Could someone like Matteo even have sins he needed to make up for? And so many? I stepped closer and picked up one candle. There was a date carved into it, June 8th, 2018. The next one was dated June 24th. The 8th... the 24th... those were our special days every month when Matteo and I had sex as a married couple. Suddenly, my hands started shaking. I eagerly scanned the candles one by one, hoping to find something that would prove my doubts wrong. But I was let down. There were 120 candles—five years, sixty months, twice a month of intimacy between us. So, every time Matteo and I had sax, he'd come here to light one. To Matteo, I was the sin he had to confess. Suddenly, my heart sank like a stone, as if it had been thrown into an unbearable pain that left me gasping for breath. Something that should be normal for any married couple... To Matteo, it felt like a sin! I took a step back, feeling like someone had stabbed me in the chest and twisted the knife, breaking my heart into pieces. In this moment, everything became crystal clear. Matteo didn't love me. He even felt disgusted at the thought of being with me. Just then, my phone buzzed. I checked out the text and it was from Matteo. "Come back to Gabbett's manor tonight. I'll pick you up at 6:00 p.m." So he hadn't even bothered to pray today. He lived such a strict life. What could have made him break a habit he'd stuck to for years? I held my phone tightly. It buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Alexander. "You really need to think this through. Gapped-Tooth is super dangerous. Think about your baby and your family, you don't want to put your life on the line for this." My baby? My family? A mix of feelings hit me hard in the chest. My husband didn't want our baby, and he didn't love me at all. It felt like I had everything, but honestly, I was completely alone. I walked out of the church feeling dazed. When I got home, I just stood there in the hallway. Looking at the house where I'd spent five years with Matteo made my heart ache sharply. As I thought back over those five years, I tried to find even one little sign that Matteo cared about me at all. But the more I thought about it, the clearer his indifference became. The blank look on his face every time we shared a bed, the awkward silence whenever we ate together. This faint, lingering pain stuck around until the sun went down. Only when I heard a car engine outside did I snap out of it. I stepped outside. A black Maybach was parked quietly by the side of the road, but I couldn't see much inside through the glass—just like my marriage. It looked fancy on the outside, but underneath it was a total mess. I took a deep breath. The cold air rushed down my throat and spread through my whole body. Suddenly, that heavy feeling in my chest disappeared. All those jumbled thoughts in my head cleared up in an instant. I walked over to the car and opened the door, but I didn't get in. Instead, I looked straight at Matteo and said, "Let's get a divorce."

Chapter 1 "Send your wife to prison. She needs a lesson," said Nadine Lambert, Jericho Bowman's mistress. Driven by her manipulation, Jericho and his son, Kashton Bowman, had Romina Sandoval imprisoned, subjecting her to three years of brutal torture. On the day of Romina's release, Jericho and Kashton came to the prison to meet her. She looked up, her gaze landing on the two men standing in front of her. Jericho met her gaze. He was instantly stunned. What happened to Romina these past three years? She had lost so much weight. Gone was her radiant confidence. He found himself staring at a gaunt, trembling stranger. How could this be? He had pulled some strings to make sure she was well taken care of in prison... Was she ... faking it? As scenes from three years ago flashed across his mind, his expression turned indifferent again. So what if she had been tortured in there? She brought this all upon herself. His icy tone showed no guilt at all. "Get in the car. After three years, I suppose you've learned your lesson. You should know better than picking on Nadine from now on." Kashton was stunned, too. In his memory, Romina was so beautiful. She had been luminous and radiant, her smile breathtakingly gentle. Who ... was this woman? He could barely recognize her. A while later, he came back to his senses, putting on an icy expression. "Daddy's right. Nadi's nice, so she forgave you. But, Mommy, if you try to hurt her again, Daddy and I will never forgive you." "Forgive me?" Romina's expression stayed blank. After quite a while, she scoffed, a trace of pain and mockery flickering in her eyes, "Kashton, I'm your mother. You and your father sent me to jail. Who gave you the right to talk of forgiving me?" Before her stood the two men she'd once loved most in this world, the same ones who'd put her behind bars three years ago. Jericho had saved her life. From that very moment, she became obsessed with him. The Bowman family was nothing compared to the Sandoval family back then, yet she was set to marry him at any cost—defying her mother, abandoning her own family, and leaving with all the money and resources she had. After marrying him, she abandoned her career to play the perfect wife. Day after day, she buried herself in domestic drudgery, letting her gift for naturopathy wither away. With all the sacrifices she had made, she thought, at the very least, she deserved Jericho's respect. However, he remained perpetually cold and indifferent. His attitude toward her affected Kashton, who grew up showing her neither affection nor respect. His most repeated line was, "Mommy, you don't even have a job. You have no right to tell me what to do." She used to think Jericho and Kashton were born cold. Until Jericho's unforgettable love, Nadine, came back to the country. In front of her, his usual icy composure melted away. When he smiled, the outer corners of his eyes tilted upward, and the frost in his gaze was all gone. For the first time, she realized he could smile this gently. On their wedding anniversary, her postpartum complications flared up, and she felt the abdominal pain was tearing her in half. Unable to bear it anymore, she called Jericho for help, only to be rejected by him simply because he was celebrating Nadine's birthday... Later, she barely survived the operation, where critical condition notices were issued multiple times. However, Jericho and Kashton didn't even bother to show up. After she was discharged and returned home, what came into her view was a messy home, her sulking son, and her indifferent husband. Kashton even complained, "What kind of Mommy are you? You were gone for so long! Shouldn't you be at home, cleaning? Look around—see how messy it is? You're so irresponsible. Nadi is so much better than you." Chapter 2 Cleaning? She had almost died! Romina bit back her fury. Kashton was just a little boy and didn't mean what he said. Besides, Jericho was born indifferent. Perhaps she should make do. Compromise was essential in marriage. After all, they already had Kashton. She couldn't file for a divorce, could she? Later, Nadine fell from a high platform at a banquet and insisted Romina had pushed her. Jericho and Kashton vouched for Nadine, not even bothering to check the surveillance footage. Pressing a hand to her lower abdomen, Romina grabbed Jericho's sleeve, begging him to believe her till her voice cracked. But he only frowned expressionlessly, slowly wiping his sleeve with a handkerchief. He was disgusted by her touch. With a cold sneer, Kashton shoved her aside hard. "You mean bitch. You don't get to be my mommy! Why didn't you die on the operating table while giving birth to me? Then Nadi could've been my mommy instead." Collapsing to the floor, Romina burst into laughter in desperation. How could she be so stupid, wasting all those years on those two men who never deserved her sacrifice? Eventually, they had her imprisoned for intentional assault. She spent three years in prison. Those ruthless, brutal monsters turned her every day into pure torture. Jericho and Kashton never even called, let alone visited her. If not for ... she would have already died in there. Jericho said icily, "You're an ex-con now, but Kash and I are still here to take you home. You should be grateful. Get in. Nadine is at home. I don't wanna keep her waiting." Kashton echoed impatiently, "That's right. Mommy, don't be such a drama queen. Nadi promised to make me teddy bear cookies tonight. Let's head back before the ice cream cake I got her melts." Romina remained motionless as their words reached her ears. She couldn't help but want to laugh sarcastically. Teddy bear cookies? Kashton must have forgotten—those fussy little cookies had been her painstaking creation. Nadine stole the recipe. She and Nadine made the cookies with the exact same recipe, but Kashton insisted Nadine's cookies tasted better. Though Jericho and Kashton were here to take her home, they brought nothing—not even a word of concern. All they cared about was Nadine. They were her family, but they always sided with Nadine unconditionally. It was like she was the outsider! Looking up, she said numbly, "I'm not going back with you." A trace of impatience and disgust flickered in Jericho's cold eyes. "What? Romina, you're an ex-con now. Where could you possibly go? It seems three years haven't changed you at all. You're still so willful." She retorted, "I can go wherever I want. That's none of your business. I know Kashton and you want nothing to do with an ex-con. You know what? I have no interest in staying with both of you either—not after what you did to me." She had learned her lesson. Three years ago, she had loved Kashton and Jericho so much. Though they had always given her the cold shoulder, treating her unfairly while getting close to Nadine, she had always expected they'd come around one day. But not anymore. Three years of torment had burned her hope to ashes. It turned out her husband and son were never hers to keep. She didn't want them anymore. She said to Jericho, her tone indifferent, "Let's get a divorce." Kashton blurted out, "Mommy, you're already an ex-con. If you get a divorce, what will people think of you?" Even Jericho was stunned when he heard Romina's words. He had expected her to play the victim to ask for compensation. After all, money had been her sole purpose for marrying him. But a divorce? Three years ago, she had gone all out just to stay by Kashton and his side. And now, she had spent three years in prison. Chapter 3 Suddenly, he realized this was just her tactic to force them to coax her. At this, he said coldly, "Kash's right. Without us, what could you possibly do? Romina, cut it out already, or you'll only make a fool of yourself." Romina didn't even bother to respond. She hailed a cab, indifferent to the driver's uncomfortable gaze. Before getting in, she turned to look at Jericho and Kashton. "That's my business," she said. "I'll have the divorce papers dropped by soon. Congratulations—you may go home and share the good news with Nadine. From today on, she'll be the hostess of your little family." The indifference and coldness in her tone were undisguised. After saying this, she got into the cab decisively. As Jericho gazed at her thin figure, a wave of inexplicable irritation surged through him. His grandfather, Hayden Bowman, and Nadine had urged him to pick Romina up, and he did. But she actually wanted a divorce? The old Romina would have wept with gratitude at his mere presence. She was an ex-con now. Since she was so willful, fine—he might as well wait and see what stunts she could pull. *** In the cab. Quite coincidentally, the cab's miniature screen soon played an interview with Nadine. "Ms. Lambert, you're now the most sought-after Best Actress. Mind sharing with us your future plans for your personal life?" the reporter asked with a smile. Nadine blushed as her gaze landed on Jericho and Kashton in the audience. "I'm so content with everything I have now. After all, I had two remarkable men by my side in the past three years, which were the hardest times for me." Their gazes met, and the three of them looked just like a happy family. The driver, obviously familiar with the area, explained, "Ma'am, I suppose you don't know who this is, huh? It's Ms. Lambert, the Best Actress. That man she's looking at is Mr. Bowman, the CEO of the Bowman Group, and that's his son. On her birthday, Mr. Bowman set off fireworks all night. Ms. Lambert and Mr. Bowman are cut out for each other, don't you think?" Romina's oversized clothes only accentuated her gaunt frame. Hearing the driver's words, she looked at the three on the screen, remaining silent for a long time. After quite a while, she said, her voice slightly hoarse and indifferent, "You're quite right. After all, they're equally shameless." While she was in prison suffering, Jericho and Kashton were out there, enjoying fireworks with Nadine, showing her career full support. After enduring their indifference so often, she'd assumed she'd grown numb. Yet now, she still found it so ironic that she wanted to laugh. The driver instinctively parted his lips, wanting to ask for more. But thinking that he'd picked her up outside the prison, he glanced at her, who seemed so unbelievably fragile. Eventually, he said nothing. Soon, she closed her eyes for a quick rest. The cab stopped in front of a house under her name. She went inside to fetch some cash for the driver before going to the supermarket for basic necessities. Her assets had been frozen when she was sent to jail. Now that she was out, she could at least get by financially. Having been isolated for so long, she felt utterly uneasy when stepping into the supermarket. She'd even dodge instinctively when the cashier scanned the commodities. "Ma'am, are you alright?" the cashier asked with concern. Coming back to her senses, she nodded with a bitter smile. She was fine. She was just used to being beaten up in prison. After leaving the supermarket, Romina received a call from her bestie, Elliana Castro. Elliana was thrilled when she learned Romina had been released. "I was gonna come back to the country earlier, but I've been stuck because of the typhoon these days... Did you go back to the Bowman's mansion, or..." Chapter 4 "I went back to Breeze Vista," Romina interrupted. Elliana frowned. "Jericho didn't go pick you up? But he's your husband. He..." "Elly, I'm planning on divorcing him," clutching her phone, Romina said in a barely audible voice. Elliana had always been her best friend. Back then, Elliana had urged her to get a divorce quite a bunch of times, saying she shouldn't make Jericho and Kashton her entire world. But she had foolishly waited for Jericho to have a change of heart. "What happened..." Elliana blurted out, wanting to know what had happened to Romina in prison. But a wave of bitterness surged through her, and her words trailed off. In the first year of Romina's imprisonment, she had visited Romina a lot. But she was transferred abroad as a war correspondent later. After three years, Romina suddenly said she wanted a divorce? What exactly had happened? Romina said nothing, a hint of pain and numbness flashing across her face. Elliana changed the subject. "After you were imprisoned, Samantha took over Penningnell Mansion and turned it into a tourist spot. And Nadine... Anyway, Mimi, I'll be back soon. I'll fill you in when I see you." Romina said slowly, "Alright." Her father passed away the year after her marriage. Her mother cried practically every day after she was imprisoned and fell sick. While behind bars, she cried and begged Jericho to help her mother. Day after day, she waited in anguish, only to be met with the devastating news of her mother's passing. And to think that her uncle's wife, Samantha Johnson, actually took over her family property! Her gaze turned icy at once. Soon, she tried her best to calm down. Three years locked away was enough to change everything. She had been tortured brutally in prison. It took time to seize everything back. In the Bowman's mansion. By the time Kashton and Jericho went home, Nadine had already prepared a meal. Not seeing Romina, she sighed, looking dejected. "Jericho, does Ms. Sandoval still hate me for what happened three years ago? Is that why she doesn't wanna come back? But she's been to prison. Where could she possibly go?" "Who cares?" Jericho's tone turned cold. He couldn't help but frown when Romina's emaciated frame resurfaced in his mind. Romina had lost so much weight. On top of that, her past gentleness was gone. Her razor-sharp gaze was so unsettling. Did she really suffer a lot in prison? No way. He dismissed the idea almost instantly. Nadine had told him that female inmates were all friendly. Besides, he had pulled strings to ensure Romina was well taken care of. She hadn't lacked for anything. For her terrible crime, she got off with nothing but three years of confinement. But Nadine still seemed worried. "What if Sir Bowman asks about her? He asked you to take her home, right?" Romina had saved Hayden's life back then, and he adored her. He had forced Jericho to marry her, even offering her astronomical wedding gifts. She had always been the only granddaughter-in-law he wanted, which remained the same even after she was behind bars. Jericho shrugged. "Don't worry. Romina will come back shortly. She may be upset with me, but not with Kash. She knows his graduation is around the corner and will be back before that." Kashton was nine, but he had skipped three grades and was already graduating from elementary school. Everyone knew Romina loved him the most. Of course, she wouldn't miss his graduation for the world. Pouting, Kashton nestled into Nadine's arms. "But I want Nadi to be there for my graduation." Nadine tapped his nose playfully with a smile. "Sure. Get your mommy back, and I'll be there. After all, she's an ex-con now. It's best if she skips occasions like this." Kashton was slightly stunned. Get Romina back? How? By ... lying? Chapter 5 A trace of hesitation flickered in his eyes before vanishing completely. If word got out that he had an ex-con mother, no one would ever talk to him again. Since Jericho didn't voice any objections, he nodded obediently. Nadine smiled. But as her gaze fell upon the lavish feast, she couldn't help but sigh, "What a pity—I prepared all these for Ms. Sandoval." To Jericho's surprise, he didn't receive any call from Romina for the following two days. It was like she was indeed set to get a divorce and cut ties with him and Kashton. He frowned, finally deciding to call her. What he heard was a robotic voice, telling him her number was no longer in service. He couldn't help but be stunned. Only then did he realize—after three years locked away, her old number had been deactivated. She had even deleted her WhatsApp account. He couldn't reach her whatsoever. An inexplicable panic and irritation surged through him. He immediately ordered his secretary, "Find out where Romina lives now and get me her number. Now that she's out, who knows what she'll pull? I won't let her do anything to disgrace my family." *** Romina had been redecorating Breeze Vista for the past two days. She could get half of her shared assets with Jericho after the divorce. But she had to support herself before that. So, she decided to pick up her old hobby—carving quartz. Apparently, no one had set foot in here for the past three years. Every corner was covered in dust. While cleaning, she noticed the pair of lion statues that had stood by the entrance were gone. She called the property management. The manager explained, "Three years ago, Ms. Lambert was harassed by a hater and was injured. She liked the lion statues, so Mr. Jericho and Mr. Kashton had them moved to her villa, hoping they could keep her safe." Romina didn't feel surprised at all. The lion statues had been her painstaking gift for Jericho and Kashton. They were meant to ward off harm from the two men. But Jericho had laughed at her for being tacky and coldly returned them. And now, they stood as protection at Nadine's villa? After scorning her, Jericho regifted her heartfelt gift to another woman? She hung up and decisively called 911. Looking indifferent, she said flatly, "Hello? I'd like to report a crime. Someone has stolen from my home." Then she hung up. After giving her statement, she was already beat. She realized she was running a high fever after the police left. Mustering all her strength, she went to the hospital to get some medication. At the sight of her wounds, the doctor advised with a grave expression, "These chronic wounds never properly healed. With those injuries left by repeated beatings, sticks, and ... needles, Ma'am, I'm afraid your body has critically weakened. I suggest you stay hospitalized for proper recovery. Otherwise..." "That won't be necessary," Romina said calmly without a change in her expression. She excelled in naturopathy and knew her condition better than anyone. The inmates—all ruthless, cunning creatures—had left mostly hidden wounds to avoid the guards' notice. Without her medical knowledge, she'd have already died in there. Now that she survived the brutal torture, of course, the free air wouldn't kill her. The physical injuries had faded, but the deepest scars remained—delivered by the man she called husband and the child she bore. She'd never go back to the Bowman's mansion again. While the doctor was treating her wounds, Kashton, not far away, spotted her. He tugged at the hem of Jericho's clothes and pursed his lips. "Daddy, why is she here? Is she sick?" Only then did Jericho notice her. He furrowed his brows deeply, disgust flashing in his eyes. Three years had passed. And she was playing hard to get again? Couldn't she try something new? Chapter 6 She was sick? Yeah, right. Enough with the act! "What are you doing here?" Jericho's icy voice rang out in Romina's ears. She looked up, only to see him and Kashton accompanying Nadine for a follow-up appointment. The three of them looked every bit the picture of a happy, loving family. Putting on a surprised look, Nadine said, feigning helplessness, "Ms. Sandoval, is this pretense really necessary? If you wanted to see Jericho, you could have just come back. After all, you've just been released. Perhaps you should think about how your actions might reflect on the Bowman family..." Kashton's eyes lit up immediately. Was Romina here to wait for them? Did she regret not returning home with them? A flicker of joy passed through his heart. But then, he remembered what Romina had said before and pouted. "Mommy, you're such a hypocrite. You clearly can't live without Daddy and me and want to come home with us. Why pretend otherwise?" Jericho sneered, "I thought you actually had some backbone and would never come back. Yet you gave up so soon. Classic you, Romina." Just then, the doctor said, "Ms. Sandoval, here's your medication." He handed her the prescription. As his mind flashed to her wounds, he looked at Jericho and those two standing by his side, frowning with displeasure. "You're blocking my patient's way. Please step aside." Romina's gaze falling upon the three was utterly cold. She raised her hand, showing them the meds. "See? I'm here for my prescription. Get help if you need it." Jericho's expression darkened as he frowned slightly. Romina fell sick right after she was released? So, when she was imprisoned... Romina was about to leave when Kashton pursed his lips and grabbed her sleeve. "My graduation is around the corner. No matter how upset you are, you should come. After all, you're my ... mommy." The last word was barely audible. After saying this, he looked at Nadine embarrassedly, as if worried she'd be displeased. Romina didn't even glance at him. Pulling his hand away, she said icily, "You've got the wrong person. I'm not your mommy." With that, she turned to leave. Just then, Nadine said, "Ms. Sandoval, I get it—you're too ashamed to come back after being in prison. But, still, you're a mother. After being away for three years, are you still gonna ignore Kash? He's your son." Her voice wasn't exactly small. Many onlookers cast glances at Romina. Their attention was attracted by words like "in prison" and "ignore". They were whispering among themselves. Then a police officer walked toward Nadine. "Ms. Lambert, we've received a report claiming that two lion statues were stolen from their residence. Since these statues were featured in your home during a recent interview, I'm afraid you'll need to come down with me to the station for questioning." Everyone was instantly in an uproar. Jericho frowned. Romina was staying at Breeze Vista? Nadine was dumbfounded, her cheeks heating. Before she could utter a word, Romina coughed, the indifference on her pale face unmistakable. She turned to Kashton. "Kashton is nine—old enough to express his preference for who should be his mother. And I have the right to turn down that role." Paying child support was her legal obligation. But no law could force her to love him. Then she looked at Nadine. "Ms. Lambert, those lion statues are my personal property. Even my husband has no right to deal with them. If you don't return them, you'll soon know what prison feels like." Jericho suddenly caught her wrist. As his gaze landed on her face, he was momentarily stunned. Her wrist was shockingly slender and scorching. She was running a fever. But soon, he came back to his senses. "Are you done yet, Romina? You spent three years behind bars. So what? You actually called the cops? Seriously? I gifted the lion statues to Nadine!" Chapter 7 Kashton immediately nodded. "That's right. The only reason I ever called you 'Mommy' was because Great-grandpa and Nadi told me to be understanding. How could you do this to Nadi?" And Romina even refused to attend his graduation! Kashton's dissatisfaction grew deeper, while a faint trace of uneasiness surged through him. The old Romina would have never treated him so coldly. She'd have gone all out to please him just to be part of his graduation. She seemed like a different person now. Hearing their questioning, Romina wanted to let out a cold laugh. To them, her three years of excruciating suffering were nothing compared to Nadine's abrasions. Due to the high fever, she felt dizzy and could hardly stand steady. She shook Jericho's hand away and suddenly laughed while looking at him. "So what, you said? Mr. Bowman, you sicken me. If prison is no big deal to you, then why don't you try it?" Her words were so harsh. If it were three years ago, she would never have said something like this. Jericho was completely stunned. She turned to leave decisively. Wiping her hand where Jericho had touched her, she had only one thought in mind. She needed to divorce him as soon as possible. Every second stuck in this marriage was pure torture. Nadine spent all night in the police station, explaining to the cops. Yet Romina went straight to sleep after taking her pills. Waking up groggily, she saw Elliana, who had rushed back. Elliana said helplessly, "After getting out of prison, you're running a high fever? Your temperature was almost 104 degrees when I got back. I'm so relieved it's gone down now, or I'd have taken you to the hospital." Fetching her water and medicine, Elliana said with concern, "If you need my help, let me know." Romina had no intention of recounting those endured in darkness. Her chest was filled with warmth when she saw Elliana, who hadn't changed a bit from three years ago. Her husband and son weren't reliable. But at least she could always count on her friend. After taking the medicine, she said, lowering her gaze, "Could you draft a divorce agreement for me? Also, I want you to find someone for me." "You want me to find someone? Who?" Elliana seemed puzzled. "The daughter of a death row inmate," Romina explained. "She saved my life in prison, and I insisted on repaying her, so she asked me to look after her daughter after I was released." Elliana nodded. "Do you know the girl's name and age?" "Her name is Lina Shannon, and she's six." Romina's voice was gentle, her complexion slightly improved. "Alright. I'll draft the divorce agreement as soon as possible," Elliana tucked her in and said softly. "And I'll have someone look for her. Maybe it'll take some time, but I'll let you know as soon as I have a lead." "Thanks, Elly..." She forced a faint smile. At the sight of her pale face, Elliana seemed worried. Patting the back of her hand, Elliana said, "Focus on getting better now. The rest can wait—especially anything to do with Jericho and Kashton." The smile on Romina's lips vanished the second she heard their names. Noticing her silence, Elliana continued, "They testified for Nadine without bothering to check the surveillance footage back then. Otherwise, you'd never have been imprisoned—let alone be struggling like this now..." She didn't continue. Every word carried her unspoken sorrow for what Romina had endured in prison. Romina tugged at her lips without saying anything in response. She was grateful that she didn't die in there. Before seeing each of them, she had already made peace. Even if Jericho and Kashton had checked the surveillance footage, which proved her innocence, chances were, they would have pretended not to see it and found a scapegoat anyway. Perhaps she would have still ended up in prison.

Samantha's POV Standing in the corner, I watched my stepsister Mia at the center of the crowd. My father, the Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack, was crowning his beloved daughter Mia as his successor, marking her as the precious heiress in front of the gathered werewolves. Mia was stunningly beautiful, completely different from me. With her golden hair, long legs, delicate face, and a figure that could drive men crazy, she seemed to have it all. I should have been happy for her, but honestly, it was nearly impossible. "Samantha, wipe that dirty, greedy look off your face," my stepmother Evelyn sneered as she placed a cup on my tray. "You shouldn't even dream of standing in that position. You, poor thing, without a wolf." Her voice, sharp and influenced by alcohol, drew laughter from those around us. It felt as though my heart had been shoved into a meat grinder, torn to pieces. Being crowned as the heiress of Alpha? Evelyn was wrong. Never had I fantasized about this; it should have been the simplest reality. But fate had dealt me a cruel hand. As the eldest daughter of my father, born after my mother's tragic demise during childbirth, I never knew the warmth or love of a mother for a single day. While my father's hasty remarriage wasn't the worst part of it, my situation only deteriorated as Mia grew older, reaching its peak on that day. I couldn't connect with my wolf, but the young Mia could. My father didn't want to see me anymore, and the bitterness of his disdain and resentment was a relentless torment I was forced to endure. The woman the Alpha loved gave her life, yet all she bore was a useless daughter without a wolf. I understand how such a devastating tragedy is truly hard to accept. I lost my room on the fourth floor of the pack house and was forced to move down to the basement. I was reduced to the status of a maid, being treated like an Omega. "Mom, come here! Let's take some photos!" Mia's cheerful voice pulled me back from my painful memories and into reality. Evelyn walked over to Mia and my father. Mia sat in the center, with my stepmother and father's hands resting lightly on her shoulders—what a perfect family portrait! I wanted to escape. I wanted to look away. But I just couldn't. My gaze was locked on them; no matter how hard I tried to avert my eyes, they felt magnetically drawn to the scene. When our eyes met, I saw the emptiness in my father's gaze, not even a hint of disgust. He ignored me as if I were a stranger. A sharp pang of pain hit my chest, and I bent over, clutching my clothes. Perhaps I should have realized earlier that my father had long since given up on hating me; his indifference was his greatest punishment. I had been completely cast aside by him. Compared to living in hel, it was even harder to accept that I had once been so close to heaven. The only reason I hadn't left the pack was Daniel, who was the son of a Beta. Daniel was undoubtedly one of those rare individuals who established a connection with his wolf early on—he was truly exceptional. At first, I thought he was just feeling pity for me, always coming to my aid whenever I was bullied. But there was no sympathy in Daniel's gaze. He told me he didn't care whether I had a wolf; he had one, and that was enough. Though I couldn't identify my mate, I believed Daniel knew deep down that we were meant to be together, which was why we fell in love in high school. On my eighteenth birthday, Daniel promised me that he would choose me as his mate and give me a new home in the Dark Moon Pack. The pain in my chest still lingered, but as long as I thought of Daniel's embrace, a smile would spread across my face. He was my sole hope. Lately, I had been too busy preparing for Mia's coronation ceremony to meet Daniel. He should be here today. Lifting my head, I tried to spot Daniel in the crowd, but before I could spot him, I was yanked aside. The rough shove sent a jolt of pain through my arm, and I felt the freshly bandaged wound tear open again, blood seeping out. "Stop slacking off, Samantha!" Omega Elsie snapped as she released her grip, shooting me an irritated look. "You should be grateful Alpha Eric is letting you work as a maid. Otherwise, you'd have been kicked out of the pack a long time ago." I gritted my teeth and, once Elsie was gone, took a quick glance at the wound hidden beneath my long sleeves. This was a secret I couldn't share with anyone, and it was the very reason my father and stepmother hadn't driven me out. They used me as Mia's personal blood bank. As the heir, Mia's only flaw was her weak constitution. The pack doctor had suggested a treatment involving regular blood donations from me. I suspected my frequent chest pains and shortness of breath were side effects of the significant blood loss. But I had no choice; as long as I stayed in the pack, I had to give every last drop of blood I had to Mia. I bit back the pain and continued my work. After serving most of the guests, a sudden commotion erupted in the crowd. Mia's big brown eyes widened in disbelief. "It can't be you!" she retorted. "My mate could never be a lowly Omega!" "I can sense it. Your smell..." Mia cut him off. "Stop lying! You're making this up!" Frowning, I looked at the man standing before Mia and found he looked familiar—it was Omega Theo. Jesus. Was he Mia's mate? Four months ago, I met Omega Theo at the edge of our pack. I begged my father to take him in. We hadn't crossed paths since, but I had heard that he joined the pack's patrol team. As if sensing my gaze, Theo turned his head, and our eyes met. His look made my heart tighten inexplicably. To be honest, I almost forgot his appearance—cold and handsome, as if he would never show any emotion. Even until now, as Mia denied him as her mate, Theo showed no sign of sadness. Our brief eye contact was abruptly broken when Mia's hateful gaze fixed on me, as cold and venomous as a snake. The only thing I could do was to lower my head and leave swiftly. After the commotion, the party soon came to an end. I couldn't find Daniel and was so exhausted that I could barely move. All I wanted was to return to the basement and get some rest. Omega Elsie suddenly called out to me, "Samantha, Alpha Eric wants to see you in the study." I was a bit surprised. Today wasn't the blood transfusion day for Mia, so why did my father summon me? Worn out, I made my way up to the fourth floor of the Packhouse and headed to the study at the end of the hallway on the right.—it was the Alpha's study. I had spent time reading there as a child, keeping my father company while he worked. Those memories now seemed like they belonged to another lifetime. I sniffed and knocked on the door. "Come in," my father called out. I opened the door and was surprised to see not only my father but also Mia and my stepmother in the room. An uneasy premonition spread through me. Was this the day they were finally going to cast me out of the pack? Maybe this was the release I had been anticipating, but what about Daniel? He's my mate—would he be willing to leave with me? Trembling, I approached them. My father, usually stern, looked at me with unusual warmth. His warm hand rested on my shoulder, but the words he spoke were as cold as ice. "Samantha, as you see, Mia's mate has appeared. He was Omega Theo from the patrol team. But Mia is my only heir, and she absolutely cannot have an Omega mate." I was confused about what this had to do with me. Then, my father continued, "So, you must switch mates with Mia." ###Chapter 2 Samantha's POV The moment I understood my father's command, the tension within me snapped like a broken string. My vision blurred with tears, and my lips trembled as I pleaded, "Father, please, I can't lose Daniel." He was my only source of love and warmth. If even he were taken away by Mia, what would be the point of my existence? "Samantha," my father said, his voice carrying a hint of reluctance. I wiped away my tears, feeling a glimmer of hope ignited within me. Perhaps deep down, there was still some love for me as his daughter? "Eric, I told you it wouldn't do," my stepmother Evelyn sighed. "Mia will accept her fate. We shouldn't sacrifice Samantha's happiness for the sake of family honor. It's too cruel for her." Mia stepped forward and earnestly took my father's hand. "Mom is right. As the future Alpha, I should learn to face ridicule and doubt. If anyone questions my Alpha's authority because I have an Omega mate, then even if it costs me my life, I will fight for the honor of being the Alpha!" I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Their pretense of defending me while subtly implying that I didn't care about family honor was a tactic they mastered! As expected, before I could even speak in my defense, the hesitation and reluctance in my father's eyes disappeared completely. He said coldly, "Samantha, don't act like a selfish child! I'm not discussing this with you. Instead, I'm giving you an Alpha directive." Tears surged uncontrollably as I pleaded, "Don't take my mate away. Dad, please!" Father's voice grew stern. "Don't let me down. You have three days to sever your bond with Daniel!" Evelyn linked her arm with Father's, a triumphant smile on her lips. Without giving me another glance, they left the study together. I sank to the floor in helpless despair. What should I do? Oh right, I have Daniel! He's the son of the Beta and the bravest warrior in the pack. Surely, Daniel will defy the Alpha's directive for my sake! Wiping my tears, I got up and rushed out of the study. "You really think Daniel will help you?" Mia's mocking voice came from behind. I froze and turned to face her. "What do you mean?" Mia smiled sweetly, twirling a strand of her beautiful blonde hair around her fingers. "I'm quite pleased with how hard your mate works in bed." My whole body stiffened, and I felt a wave of suffocation. "You're lying!" There's no way Daniel would betray me. Mia must be lying! Ignoring her, I tried to walk away, but just a few steps later, a sharp pain pierced my neck as Mia's claws tightened around it from behind. She snarled in my ear, "I didn't give you permission to leave." Her cold, glistening fingertips dug into my skin, and warm blood began to ooze. Trembling, I said, "Just kilI me." I was long tired of being her blood bank. I'd rather die if it meant believing Daniel had betrayed me and messed around with Mia! "Not that fast. Your pathetic life is still valuable," Mia said, releasing her grip and wiping her bloodied fingers on my clothes. "It's okay if you don't believe me. Anyways, Daniel comes to me every night. Just come and see tonight." Mia's words lingered like a malicious curse in my mind. I tried to connect with Daniel through mind-link, but there was no response. This had happened several times before, and the anxiety gripped my heart like a vice As the leader of the patrol team, Daniel had his training duties, during which any other connections were prohibited. So I couldn't disturb him. I thought of Daniel's smile and his warm embrace—things Mia could never experience. That's why she resorted to such lies to undermine our bond. Motivating myself, I forced myself to focus on dinner preparation. Cooking for the entire pack was a massive task. For the past three years, Evelyn had insisted that I do it alone, not allowing any Omega maid to assist. Thankfully, I had become quite skilled at it by now. Just as I was finishing up with the meal prep, a sharp pain surged in my chest again. Dam it, it was happening again. What the hel was going on? The pain was growing more and more intense, and I could hardly bear it. I tried to mind-link Daniel but there was still no response. Mia's words flashed through my mind, and panic began to set in. I kept telling myself that Daniel wouldn't possibly betray me. I needed to see for myself—just a quick glance would expose Mia's clumsy lies. I slipped out of the kitchen and raced straight to the fourth floor of the Packhouse. My heart pounded violently. I had never run so fast, and the nervousness made me feel like I might throw up at any moment. I held my breath as I neared Mia's room, each step feeling heavier. Through the slightly ajar door, I could hear Mia's sultry breaths and a man's moans drifting out. My heart skipped a beat. The man's seductive voice gave me goosebumps. With trembling hands, I pulled the door open. My presence went unnoticed as the man was deeply engrossed with Mia. She had her legs spread wide, resting on his shoulders, while his rough hands kneaded her breests and he penetrated her relentlessly. The man had short, wavy brown hair and a muscular body that glistened with a light sheen of sweat. I recognized his handsome profile all too well—it was Daniel. ###Chapter 3 Samantha's POV Shock and pain had tightened my throat, rendering me speechless. Mia clearly noticed me as her provocative gaze met mine, but I didn't look away—I just stood there, frozen. The pain in my chest was almost kilIing me, but I couldn't do anything. Mia's cheeks were flushed, and her moans grew louder and more urgent. "Daniel, harder. Tell me you love me." Daniel's thrusts quickened, "I love you, Mia. you've completely captivated me." He paused momentarily, letting out a deep, rumbling sigh. "Daniel, if you had to choose between me and Samantha as your mate, who would you pick?" Without hesitation, Daniel replied, "Of course you, Mia." Still deep inside Mia, Daniel kissed her neck and taunted, "You can't imagine how boring Samantha is. She must have some issues. She won't even let me kiss her! I just feel a bit pity for her, but I'll definitely go crazy at the thought of spending my whole life with her." I couldn't believe what I was hearing—was Daniel really thinking of me like this? The overwhelming absurdity even made me forget the pain in my chest. Mia chuckled, wrapping her arms around Daniel's neck. "Don't worry, you'll soon be rid of that good-for-nothing. Father has arranged for us to swap mates." Daniel's movements came to a halt as if he was stunned or pleasantly surprised. After a brief silence, he said, "Mia, I'm so glad we're going to be together." Daniel's words shattered my last shred of hope, and tears filled my eyes. The final thing I saw clearly was Mia's smirk, which was eerily similar to the victorious smile of my stepmother Evelyn. Then she let out a feigned scream. "Oh my God! Samantha, what are you doing here?" Panicking, she pulled away from Daniel and grabbed a blanket from the bed to cover herself. "Samantha, I didn't expect you to be here. I... I didn't mean to hurt you." Mia's clumsy performance made me sick. I wiped away my tears and fixed my gaze on Daniel. The moment he saw me, his body stiffened for a moment. But he quickly regained his composure, casually grabbing his bathrobe from the floor and putting it on. "Daniel, we need to talk." I struggled to keep my anger in check. The situation was painfully clear, but I still wanted an explanation from him. Maybe Mia had seduced or even threatened him? I might be losing my mind, but I desperately needed an answer. "No need." Daniel's gaze was colder than ever. "You've seen everything, haven't you? Don't waste our time, Samantha." His coldness shocked me as if the Daniel I knew had vanished completely. I broke down in tears, the shock almost making me collapse. "Daniel, if you never loved me, why did you give me false hope? You could have rejected me outright!" Daniel avoided my painful gaze, reaching out to try to support me. But Mia was quicker, taking my arm. She was fully dressed now, her eyes red. "Samantha, I'm sorry, but I couldn't control my feelings and I fell for Daniel first. However, Father has arranged for us to swap mates now, so perhaps this is just our fate." I simply couldn't bear her touch, and I pushed her away. She staggered backward as if I had struck her with all my strength. Daniel, concerned, steadied Mia and frowned at me. "Samantha, you shouldn't speak to the Alpha's heiress like that." Mia shook her head, silencing Daniel. With tears welling in her eyes, she looked at me. "Samantha, you will always be my sister. You'll forgive me and give your blessing to Daniel and me, won't you?" "Blessing?" I repeated, trembling with anger at the absurd request. I turned to Daniel. "You also want my blessing?" Daniel fell silent, his face unreadable. We stared at each other for a long moment, memories of our past flashing through my mind. Just say something, Daniel! I stared intently at his lips, desperately hoping for words that might pull me from my despair. "Daniel, reject Samantha. Don't torment her any longer," Mia broke the silence, her feigned concern for me barely concealing her panic over Daniel's silence. Mia, tears streaming down her face, pleaded, "Don't let Samantha face more punishment for defying the Alpha's orders." Daniel's gaze flickered between me and Mia before finally settling on me. "No! Don't! Daniel, please don't do this to me," I begged helplessly. Don't reject me, Daniel. If you abandoned me too, there would be no place for me in the pack. "Samantha, I'm sorry," Daniel whispered. Then, raising his voice, he declared, "I, Daniel, son of the Dark Moon Pack's Beta, reject you, Samantha, to be my mate." As he finished the last word, a searing pain pierced my heart, spreading through my limbs and engulfing my entire body. I collapsed to the ground, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. I looked up at them. Daniel was expressionless, while Mia, cradled in his arms, smiled at me. She had succeeded. Even without the Alpha's order, she had taken my mate from me. Clenching my teeth and grimacing against the agony of the breaking of the mate bond, I said, "Under the witness of the Moon Goddess, Daniel, I accept your rejection. We are no longer mates." Daniel's emotionless expression instantly changed, as if he were also experiencing the same intense pain. Mia clung to him, murmuring, "It will pass soon, Daniel. I'm here with you." This pain was the final link between Daniel and me. I no longer wanted to give them the satisfaction of seeing my tears, so I turned and left Mia's room. Supporting myself against the wall, I made my way with great effort. It felt as if my soul was being seared on a stove. I had never realized how long the distance from the fourth floor of the Packhouse to the basement could feel—it seemed like I had spent an entire night, or even a century. The only constant thing was the relentless pain. I couldn't understand why the Moon Goddess had chosen to treat me this way. I was the Alpha's eldest daughter, yet I didn't even possess my own wolf. Moreover, the mate I once believed to be the best in the world turned out to be nothing more than a cowardly jerk. The disdain from my father, the cold glares from my clan, and all the other cruelties... I've had enough. Returning to the cold, damp basement, I sat there, my frustration pouring out in tears until there were none left. I was totally at a loss. Is there anything left in this world worth clinging to? I found no answers. Everything seemed meaningless. I was tired of being the abandoned, pitiful one. I dragged out the wooden box hidden under the bed, filled with vials of poison. Maybe I could find some form of redemption in these poisons—perhaps I should try them all. The Dark Moon Pack was renowned for its expertise in poison-making, yet my blood was reputed to be a universal antidote, inherited from my mother's family. My special blood had also made me Mia's personal blood bank. Regular transfusions were believed to improve her physical condition, or at least that was what the pack doctors thought. I was done serving Mia. Now, I intended to end my wretched life. I opened a vial and began pouring the pills haphazardly into my mouth. Bang! The door was suddenly kicked open. "How dare you!" Mia's scream was almost deafening. She lunged at me so quickly that I didn't even have time to swallow the pills. "You can't die without my permission!" Mia gripped my jaw tightly, forcing me to spit out the pills that I hadn't swallowed yet. The bitterness filled my mouth as I glared at her furiously. "What exactly do you want?" "Samantha, don't be hasty. I will make you die one day." Mia said with a shrewd smile as if she were looking at a trapped prey. "But now, you have to complete one last task!" She then yanked me off the bed and dragged me out of the room forcefully. ###Chapter 4 Samantha's POV I was pushed into the conference room by Mia and stumbled to the floor. Exhaustion and pain had my vision blurred. I looked up and vaguely saw Eric's cold face. Evelyn was standing beside him. As soon as Mia entered the conference room, she let go of me and ran toward Daniel. As she wrapped her arms around his arm intimately, they gazed lovingly at each other. Seemed no one could separate the lovebirds at all. I tried my best to look away. In the next second, however, I looked into the eyes of someone familiar. Theo was here, too, the Omega I accidentally saved but turned to be Mia's destined mate. His calm eyes were the only thing that made me feel that I was still alive and breathing and wasn't in hel. I managed to stand up by holding on to the wall. I had a rough idea of why I was taken here. Eric wanted me to be marked by Theo so as to rule out the possibility of Mia becoming an Omega's mate. Eric's commanding voice rang out. "Let's get started." "I, Mia, the daughter of the Dark Moon Pack's Alpha, formally reject you, Theo, to be my mate." Mia's voice reached my ears. I couldn't help closing my eyes, not wanting to witness the same pain and tragedy as I had. But the wailing I was expecting didn't ring out. Instead, there was a brief, eerie silence in the conference room. I opened my eyes, only to see Theo's handsome, expressionless face. "I accept your rejection," Theo said calmly, without a trace of pain. I couldn't help but admire Theo. I should be as tough as he was, holding back all the pain and not showing the slightest vulnerability in front of these bestards. Sure enough, the relaxed and triumphant look on Mia's face was shattered by Theo's calmness right away. She clenched her fists and let out a growl. As far as Mia was concerned, everyone was bound to love her. So, of course, she couldn't handle it when a man acted like nothing had ever happened after being rejected by her. I shouldn't give a dam about Mia's feelings, but I was still surprised that she didn't seem to be in any pain at all. The pain of my broken mate bond still lingered on me. How come neither Mia nor Theo was affected at all? "Daniel, the brave warrior of the pack, the son of the most loyal Beta, I allow you to mark my beloved little daughter, the future heiress of the pack." Eric's command calmed Mia's anger. He then showed Daniel a fatherly smile and patted Daniel on the shoulder. He seemed content that Mia, his heiress, would have such a mate, who had what it took to bear the so-called Alpha honor. Evelyn took Mia's hand and led her to Daniel. "Kids, you'll have my blessing as the Luna. You may start." Mia smiled shyly, "I'm ready, Daniel." Daniel solemnly took her hand and wrapped her in his arms. If I hadn't bumped into them and seen how pasionate they were in bed, maybe I really would have thought they were a couple in love. But they had already slept behind my back so many times, and seeing them putting on an act like this simply made me wanna puke. Daniel buried his head in Mia's neck. As he bit her, he suddenly looked up at me. I followed Theo's example and looked Daniel in the eye without flinching. I tried not to show any emotion and just looked back at him quietly. The pain in my chest gradually faded away. I didn't know why he looked at me when he marked Mia, but I simply didn't care anymore. We were over for good from the moment I found out he was cheating on me. After he was done marking her, both Eric and Evelyn seemed overjoyed. Eric gave them his sincerest blessing, saying, "The future of the Dark Moon Pack is in your hands from now on. Don't let me down." Evelyn hugged Mia excitedly. "The Moon Goddess will bless you." Mia hugged Eric and Evelyn back. "I love you, Mom, Dad." Everyone was happy, except me. Seemed none of them remembered that I was also part of the family. Until Eric remembered one last important thing. "Alright then. Theo, it's now your turn to mark Samantha. She isn't my heiress, but she's still my daughter. Mark her, and I'll guarantee your life here." I froze. Then I looked at Theo. He didn't disobey Eric's order and walked slowly towards me. His face was half in light, half in shadow. He exuded such a strong aura that made me a bit suffocated. Seemed his aura was even a bit more powerful than Eric's. And with such an aura, Theo was just an Omega? How could it be? I didn't have a clue. A chill ran down my spine, forcing me to look away. Theo deserved a mate as strong as he was, instead of me. I was certain he would never fall for a weakling like me. "Samantha, I'm sorry. This might hurt a little." Theo's deep voice was surprisingly pleasant. Seemed he didn't hate me. Was it my illusion? A strong hand held my head, and in the next second, Theo pulled me into his beefy arms. He leaned his head against my shoulder. I couldn't see his expression, but the warm touch of his tongue made me realize he was licking my neck. My cheeks burned, and my heart was beating violently. He was the first man who did this to me. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain. Theo's sharp fang pierced my skin. I closed my eyes and endured, but to my surprise, the sting didn't last long. Something strange had entered my body from the wound on my neck and flowed into my blood. The pain I felt was replaced by an indescribable sense of satisfaction, and my sense of smell became extraordinarily acute in an instant. I detected the scent of dry ebony burning in the winter—it was Theo's scent. Surrounded by his warm, fresh scent, I felt more at ease than ever before. Soon, he finished marking me. I felt my shoulders loosen, and the brief embrace with Theo came to an end. I opened my eyes and realized Theo was staring at me this whole time. His eyes were stained dark, with something I failed to grasp. "Good. All done," Eric said. Everyone got what they wanted, except me. I thought I had already accepted the inevitable, but what happened tonight was still too much for me. I turned to leave the conference room, but my legs felt weak, and I nearly fell. Theo held me. "I'll take you back." "No. Leave me alone." I pushed him away and ran away hastily. The night never seemed to end. I ran desperately through the forest until I exhausted my last strength and fell to the ground. Why? Why couldn't I feel my wolf? I called her again and again, but in the vast forest, I heard nothing but the wind whistling mingled with my crying. My wolf abandoned me like everyone else. I curled up and buried my head between my knees in pain. "Samantha, you're not abandoned. I'm with you." A deep voice rang out in my mind. It didn't belong to my wolf, but I had heard it before. It was Theo. He was now my mate and could mind-link me. The smell of burning ebony wafted toward me. I looked up and saw Theo in front of me on one knee. He looked at me quietly and then spread his arms. I was stunned for a second. He was here for me. Upon realizing that, I could no longer hold back my grievances. I threw myself into his arms and cried my eyes out, venting all the hurt and resentment I had suffered over the years. My tears wet the clothes across his chest, but he said nothing. He patted me on the back and soothed me in silence. The whistling wind stopped, and the whole world seemed to become quiet. Now all I could hear was Theo's steady breathing and heartbeat. I gradually collected myself and looked up while still in his arms. "I lost my cool. Sorry," I said in a hoarse voice, and my eyes were swollen to the point that I could barely open them. "It's OK," he said. "Feeling better?" I wiped the tears away. "I'm fine. You didn't have to come to me. You know. We were just forced to be mates." "No, Samantha. I came to you because I had an obligation to protect you. I wasn't forced to be your mate," Theo said. He looked at me, and his eyes turned dark and obscure again, just like he finished marking me. He helped me up and plucked the leaves from my hair. "You are my best choice." I was surprised to hear that. Theo's expression was so earnest that his words sounded less like sweet nothings and more like an undeniable truth. And that confused me even more. "Theo, did you agree to mark me because I had saved you?" That was the only reason I could think of. Theo was no fool. He could tell everyone in the pack hated me, and of course, there was no way he'd have feelings for me. Theo fell silent. Fine. I guessed that was kind of an answer. I already knew it, didn't I? No one would ever like me. I sighed, "Let's go back." When I turned to leave, Theo stopped me. "Wait, Samantha." There was something magical about the way he called my name. His voice was so magnetic that I couldn't say no to him whatsoever. I couldn't say for sure if I was feeling this way because he had marked me. I slowly turned around. "Yeah?" Theo's eyes were no longer cold. Instead, they were filled with tenderness and sincerity. "I swear to the Moon Goddess that I will always be faithful to you and always protect you," he said. The first ray of morning light broke through the dark clouds, shining down on Theo and me in the forest. Something new began to grow in my heart. ###Chapter 5 Samantha's POV If someone else said that, I'd suspect it was a lie. But Theo's solemnity and seriousness left me no room for doubt. My heart started to beat faster uncontrollably. No man had ever said that to me. I said to myself inwardly, "Calm down, Samantha. You've gotta calm down." Theo didn't answer my question directly, which meant he didn't have feelings for me. He was a nice guy, so perhaps he simply didn't wanna hurt me. "Theo, you don't have to do this." I lowered my head, clutching at the corner of my coat nervously. "I won't force you to be with me. If you have someone you love, you can terminate..." "You want me to terminate our mate bond?" Theo somewhat became furious. I looked up and met his eyes which had become cold. His aura struck me again as he frowned and repeated oppressively, "Do you want to reject me, Samantha?" I explained tentatively, "What I'm saying is, if you wanna go find the one you truly love, I won't stand in your way." "So, is that a no? You don't wanna reject me?" Theo asked. He didn't seem to understand my meaning. I could only nod. "I won't reject you. But if you need to reject me..." "I won't," he interrupted me at once. Then he continued without hesitation, "We'll always be together." Always be together? Like ... forever? Slack-jawed, I widened my eyes. "You don't even know me, Theo! Though I am Alpha Eric's eldest daughter, I have no rank at all. I don't even have a wolf. I'm just a loser..." He stopped me, "Samantha, don't call yourself that." He didn't sound pleased. Meanwhile, his powerful, chilling aura made me shudder again. I bowed my head. Self-deprecation wouldn't do me any good, but I just couldn't stop because it was, in a way, the whole truth of my life. Theo sighed, "So, let me get to know you. Samantha, I wanna know." "Really? Are you curious?" I smiled bitterly. Theo sat down under the tree and patted the spot next to him. After a moment of hesitation, I went over and sat down. I hadn't been this talkative since I was ten. I told Theo everything about me, including how I moved from the fourth floor of the Packhouse to the basement, became a maid and even Mia's private blood bank. I kicked the stones beside my feet, still enveloped by the bitter mood. "Boring, right? Daniel said I was boring compared to Mia. But I'm afraid I can't do anything about it." "Forget what he said. He's a fool," Theo suddenly said. "Samantha, you're great just the way you are." I turned my head and glanced at Theo's face. He had sexy thin lips, a straight nose, and deep eyes that intoxicated me. Gee! Why didn't I realize he was so good-looking until now? "You deserve a better mate, Theo," I said earnestly. Mia wasn't good enough for him. His soul was as beautiful as his appearance. He smiled, "You're right. That's why the Moon Goddess led me to you, Samantha. You are my destined mate." Surprised, I said, "I'm your ... mate?" I had no wolf and couldn't sense the presence of my mate. Back then, it was Daniel who chose me. But Theo recognized Mia as his mate at the ceremony. How come he was claiming that I was his mate now? The scene where Mia rejected Theo in the conference room snapped back to me. I couldn't help but ask, "Theo, you didn't feel any pain when Mia rejected you, right?" Theo replied, "No." I whispered to myself, "Weird. Something doesn't add up." I was lost in thought, and then an idea struck me. "My blood! Is it because I give Mia blood frequently?" Theo nodded. "Mia had your blood in her, so we got it wrong. But when I saw you again, I understood everything. Mia isn't my mate, and I don't have to explain anything to her." So, he accepted Mia's rejection so flatly. On the contrary, he and I were mates to begin with! He wasn't forced to choose me to be his mate! My shock was gradually replaced by joy. I guessed I wasn't that unlucky after all. I meant, at least the Moon Goddess left me Theo. Could he be my new hope? "Take these." Theo handed me two bottles of ointment. "The red one will help with your chest tightness, and the black one will get rid of the scars on your hands." A warm feeling enveloped me. He was the only one who cared about my pain. I whispered, "Theo, I think my chest is tight because my mate cheated on me." He immediately took back the red bottle. "Then you will never need this." I smiled, took the black bottle, took the lid off, and gave it a go. "Where did you get this, Theo? The ingredients are expensive, aren't they?" I was surprised. The Dark Moon Pack was good at producing drugs, and although I was no expert in pharmaceuticals, I knew one thing or two about drugs and meds. This was definitely not something that an Omega could afford. Theo replied casually, "Is that so? It's from a friend." I knew that might not be true, but I stopped asking. I didn't mind if Theo kept some of his secrets. It wasn't like I was some kind of sick control freak. "It's dawn. Let's go back, shall we?" Theo said. We walked out of the forest. I grabbed his hand before returning to the pack. I took a deep breath. "Theo, I don't want anything else. All I ask is one thing. Never lie to me." After Daniel's betrayal, I couldn't take any more. Theo's lips moved. Just as he was about to answer me, I heard a voice from behind. "So, here you are, Samantha." It was Mia. I turned around and saw Mia and Daniel walking this way. Mia stared at the clasped hands of Theo and me. I knew that expression on her face all too well. How ridiculous! She was jealous! I didn't wanna talk to them. I just wanted to leave with Theo. Yet she blocked my way. "Samantha, you betrayed Daniel long ago, didn't you? We looked for you all night, and Daniel was worried sick about you. And you actually spent the whole night in the forest with Theo!" Betrayed? She was shameless enough to say that word to my face! She and Daniel betrayed me! Before I could talk back, she grabbed my wounded arm so violently that I shivered with pain. "Let go of her." Theo's deep growl intimidated everyone while he exuded an aura as powerful as that of a monster. Mia subconsciously loosened her grip with a shocked expression on her face. Even Daniel was shaking. "No way..." she mumbled. "You're just an Omega." I pulled away from her and grabbed Theo. "I'm OK, Theo. Calm down." It wasn't the first time I had felt Theo's powerful aura. They wouldn't spare Theo. They might even suspect him of being a spy from another pack. If Mia decided to make a big deal out of this to target Theo, I was certain Eric wouldn't let him off. I wouldn't put him in danger. Fortunately, three days had passed since the marking, and nothing dangerous had happened. Things were going really well with Theo and me. Even at work, I couldn't stop thinking about him. "Let's meet in the forest after I finish cooking for the pack. I'll bring you something to eat. It's very tasty," I told Theo through mind-link. "I'll wait for you." He said before cutting the link. I cooked dinner as quickly as I could, took off my maid's overalls, and put on a new dress. The dinner for Theo was in the bag I was holding, and it smelt so good. As I passed through the corridor, two Omega maids were whispering. They glanced at me with disdain, and then they raised their voices a bit. "Her mate is suffering in the dungeon. And she's wandering around? How could she?" One of them rolled her eyes. I stopped in front of them. "What did you say?" "Alpha Eric is interrogating your mate Theo," answered the other maid. Eric was interrogating Theo? What the heck was going on? ###Chapter 6 My mind went blank. How could this be? Eric had promised Theo that if he marked me, his life here would be guaranteed. Why did Eric back out? What happened? "Where's Theo?" I asked one of the Omega maids. "Why should I tell you? If I do, Alpha Eric will punish me." She rolled her eyes at me. "Maybe it's you." Then she turned to leave, but I caught hold of her and roared angrily, "Tell me!" I had no idea why I had so much strength all of a sudden. Seemed a sleeping beast inside me was waking up. The maid was pale with fear, and the other one pointed in the direction. "He's ... in the dungeon." I let go and ran as fast as I could toward the dungeon. When I arrived at the dungeon door, Eric's majestic, commanding voice came from inside. "In the name of the Dark Moon Pack's Alpha, I am now banishing Theo, the shameless traitor!" Trembling, I shouted and rushed in. "Dad! Don't do this to Theo!" The eyes of all the guards in the dungeon were on me, but my attention was solely attracted by Theo kneeling on the ground. His neck and limbs were bound with silver chains, his clothes were tattered, and his bare skin was red from scalding silverware. I tried to get to him but was stopped by the guards. A pungent smell wafted over. I noticed that Theo's lips were blue, and there were terrifying black markings on the sides of his neck. As he looked up, I saw that his eyes were no longer that pretty, but a dead, dark brown. Theo was poisoned! What happened? I struggled, pleading with the guards to let me near my mate. "Samantha, don't go anywhere near him!" Eric sounded particularly furious. I couldn't breathe. I had to try my best to suppress my anger before managing to ask, "Why are you banishing Theo? What did he do?" "He broke into the restricted area where we made poison. We have reason to suspect that he is a traitor who came here to steal our poison," Mia said. "And your proof is?" I questioned her. Mia took out a bottle. "We found this on him. But he refused to tell us who his accomplice was, and that riled Dad." I knew where she was getting at. She was implying that I was Theo's accomplice. but I couldn't care less. Theo raised his head slightly and then smiled at Mia with extreme contemptuousness as if he didn't bother to explain to her at all. Mia was enraged. She smashed the bottle on Theo's head, and instantly, blood ran down his forehead. I broke away from the guards at once, lunged at Theo, and hugged him. Trying my best to hold back my tears, I asked him, "Theo, you didn't do it, right?" Theo froze, his poisoned body a little cold. After a short silence, I heard his cold answer. "Samantha, don't worry about me. Just go." "Enough! Take Samantha and banish Theo now!" Eric ordered. The guards tugged at my arms with great force and pulled me away from Theo's embrace. Mia took my hand, her face full of sympathy. "Samantha, I know your mate being a traitor is a lot for you to take. But I saw it with my own eyes. He stole the poison." Instantly, I understood everything. Mia would never come down to the filthy dungeon herself just because of this, unless she'd planned it all. I shouted, "It's you, Mia! You smeared Theo!" I tried to grab her, but Eric stood in front of her. "Samantha, are you really questioning the future Alpha for a traitor? Mia didn't have to do that at all!" Then he urged, "Guards! Get this traitor outta here!" The guards pulled the badly wounded Theo from the ground. The silver chains scratched the ground, making ear-piercing sounds, and tears stung my eyes. Theo was my mate, the only one in the pack who cared about me. If he was gone, what was the point of me staying here? "Dad, if you insist on banishing Theo, then banish me, too!" I fell on my knees. Everyone, including Mia, was stunned as if I'd made the worst decision in the world. Eric couldn't believe his ears. "Samantha, are you seriously going to give up on your family and the pack for a traitor?" "You gave up on me first." I looked up at my Alpha father. He had only one heiress, Mia, who, in his eyes, was also his only daughter. "Do you really think I'm gonna let you become a rogue and ruin my reputation out there? How stvpid!" Eric sneered. "Samantha, you can never leave the Dark Moon Pack." I was astonished and confused. Why? He wouldn't even give me my freedom? Eric winked at the guards, who then continued to drag Theo out of the dungeon. I lunged at them. I had to do whatever it took to keep Theo, even if it meant fighting the guards. The silver chains I clutched in a flurry burned my hands, and one of the guards pushed me away. I fell back uncontrollably. The back side of my head hit the ground hard, and everything went pitch-dark. Theo's roar rang through the dungeon. I heard the sounds of silver chains breaking, the cry of fright, and messy footsteps, and then Theo's scent enveloped me. His body, cold from the poisoning, pressed against me, but I still felt the warmth. I slowly opened my eyes. Theo's sweat, mixed with the smell of blood, fell on my face. The scene was total chaos. The silver chains broke into pieces, and two guards fell to the ground. Mia hid behind Eric, and everyone looked at Theo and me in fear. Theo asked softly, "Samantha, you OK?" I nodded and tearfully pleaded, "Take me away, Theo, anywhere." He sensed the sincerity of my request and picked me up. None of the guards dared to stop us, but as we stepped out of the dungeon, Eric's voice came from behind us. "Theo, you may be able to take Samantha to leave the Dark Moon Pack now. But once you step outta here, are you sure you can protect her from countless rogues?" Theo froze, as he wavered. I tugged at his shirt. "I don't care." The markings on the sides of his neck spread, while his breathing was becoming more rapid. I knew that these were both signs showing a deepening of his poisoning symptoms. But I just wanted to go away with him, even if I died out there tomorrow. I just didn't wanna be alone again. Yet Eric continued, and his words were as vicious as a curse, "Theo, you are seriously poisoned. Once you leave the Dark Moon Pack, you'll only be dragging Samantha down with you." Theo took a deep breath and put me down. He looked at Eric. Wounded as he was, he was still domineering and intimidating compared to Eric, the Alpha of the pack. "Samantha will stay. But if she gets hurt again, I swear. Your whole pack is gonna pay." Eric smiled contemptuously, "Better worry about yourself." Theo wiped the tears from my face and pecked my forehead. "I'll come back for you, Samantha. Wait for me," he promised solemnly. I kept shaking my head at him, almost pleading, "Don't leave me." Theo glanced at me deeply, and then he turned around and followed the guards away. I wanted to chase after him, but the guards pinned me to the ground, and I couldn't move whatsoever. I could only watch Theo disappear behind the door. I fell to the ground and sobbed non-stop. Why wouldn't Eric banish me? I'd rather wander together with Theo. "You poor thing. You must be wondering why Dad won't set you free, right?" Mia slowly held me up while saying mockingly. I glared at her, my heart filled with hatred. Instead of further explaining, she pretended to be in pain, frowned, and covered her chest. "Dad, it hurts." Her voice was weak. She got everyone's attention, and Eric pushed me away at once. He picked Mia up and walked quickly to the door. I was stunned and stood in situ, feeling cold all over. Suddenly, Eric remembered something. He turned around and looked at me, his eyes utterly cold. "Samantha, you have to come with us." In his arms, Mia showed that signature victory smile at me again. I knew all too well what would happen next. Mia fell sick again, and she needed my blood. My heart was completely broken. Was this the only reason Eric didn't banish me? I was Mia's exclusive blood bank, so I could never get to call the shots on my fate. Whether I lived, died, stayed, or left, it was all up to Eric. ###Chapter 7 Theo didn't come back. But the mark on my body was still there, so I figured Theo was at least alive. It was the only good news for me which kept me going. I refused to let them take my blood, so I was imprisoned in the room. A guard would come in and cut my arm for blood every four days. I felt pain at first, but now I was already numb. As Theo left, my last trace of hope was gone with him. I had been on hunger strike since the day before yesterday. I couldn't care less if this would piss Eric off. If he was pissed off enough to punish or even kilI me, that would be great. Because my shitty life could finally be over. The door was pushed open, and I smelled cereal, but I felt sick because I hadn't eaten for so long. "Samantha, come on. You should eat something." It was actually Daniel. He put the cereal on the table and walked over to my bed. With great difficulty, I got up from the bed. "You're here to take my blood?" I didn't get it. Why him instead of the guards? Daniel didn't answer me. He lowered his eyes, looking a bit guilty. "At least eat something." Suddenly, I realized something. I asked sarcastically, "Mia sent you here, right? She asked you to show her your loyalty by taking my blood yourself." Daniel looked up at me. I was amused by the guilt and intolerance he tried so hard to hide. "Mia cares about you, so she wants me to check on you," he explained. I was so amused that I chuckled. "Yeah, right. Daniel, there's no one else here. Stop lying to yourself let alone me." The guard brought in a bowl and a knife, and I knew it was time. Daniel took a deep breath and picked up the knife. "Samantha, I'm sorry." I didn't have the strength to resist, but a second before he grabbed my arm, I suddenly felt unwilling. Why should I be Daniel's tool to prove his loyalty to Mia? Even if someone was gonna take my blood, I didn't want it to be Daniel! I dodged away, and Daniel missed my arm. I met his surprised eyes. "No need to apologize to me, Daniel, because you aren't sincere in earning my forgiveness." He frowned. The guilt on his face deepened, his outstretched hand hanging in midair. "Daniel? What took you so long?" Eric's disapproving rebuke rang out as he walked into the room. Daniel put down the knife and stood up. "Alpha Eric, I'm sorry." Eric turned to look at me majestically and asked, "Samantha, did you refuse to give your blood?" Contending with Daniel had practically exhausted me. I leaned against the cold wall, feeling dizzy. Eric never came to see me again after that day in the dungeon. I knew very well that he was here for the same reason as Daniel. They wanted my blood. In the past, I willingly cut my arm and let the blood flow out till it filled the bowl. Then the maid would send it to Mia. But not today. "I don't want Daniel to do this. Dad, if you must take my blood, I want you to do it." I picked up the knife and respectfully handed it to Eric. He looked at me, puzzled. Yet after a while, he still walked to the bed. I rolled up my sleeve, and those countless scars under it were exposed in the air. I didn't have a wolf, which resulted in my poor self-healing ability. They had taken my blood over the years, so the wounds on my arm never went away. My whole arm was covered in ugly scars. Eric's eyes widened. It occurred to me that this was the first time he saw my scars. For the first time, I saw unease on his face and the same guilt that Daniel had tried to hide. Instead of taking the knife, he tilted his head and commanded Daniel, "Do it, Daniel. Do it fast." Daniel stiffened. He hesitated and didn't take the knife from my hand either. As I watched the two men who had been the most important to me in my life hesitate to come near me, I suddenly felt a strange thrill. I asked abruptly, "Dad, why have you to be so cruel to me?" Eric clenched his fists, and for the first time, he bowed his head and fell silent in front of me. "Samantha, the pack has always been Alpha Eric's priority. We need Mia, the strong, healthy heiress to lead our pack. He has no choice." Daniel tried to brush me off with that hypocritical theory again. I simply ignored him, continued to stare at Eric, and said, "I'm OK with not being your heiress, but I'm your daughter, too, right? Have you ever thought of me as your daughter and loved me? Even just for a day?" The room was filled with dead silence for so long that I was almost about to laugh. Guessed that was a kind of answer as well. I was a tool used to keep Mia alive. Why would anyone love a tool? I closed my eyes. "Do it, Dad. You wanna protect your heiress, don't you? Then you shouldn't be afraid to see my blood." No one moved at once, but eventually, I felt a tingling on my arm. The knife cut my skin. Then my arm was placed to the bedside, and blood dripped down my wrist into the bowl. I took a deep breath. The waiting was more painful than the pain itself. I slowly opened my eyes and saw the tip of the knife dripping with blood. It was Eric, with the knife in his hand. "I'll have someone bring you something to make your scars disappear," he said, his back turned to me the entire time. Was it my dizziness? Somehow, I felt that he looked a bit older. I shivered, feeling cold from the loss of blood. I said word by word with difficulty, "No need." Even if my scars could be removed, the harm they caused me would always be there. I wasn't obliged to ease their guilt. My blood finally filled the bowl. Daniel picked it up, and Eric glanced at it and nodded. They walked out together. Before stepping out of the door, Daniel looked back at me, but I turned my head a second before our eyes met. It wasn't until I heard the door close completely that I got back into bed. I thought my tears had dried up long ago, but when I felt the cold pillow, I found that I was still crying. Why wouldn't I give up? Why would I still want even just a little bit of love from Eric? I was so pathetic! I cried aloud in the room where I was left alone. I had no idea how long I had cried, and all I knew was that my eyes were so swollen. I couldn't tell the time. The room was pitch dark, and as I looked out the window, I saw the moon. I couldn't continue living like this. There was no reason for me to stay any longer. I once thought Theo was a gift from the Moon Goddess and my last hope, but he had given up on me too. I couldn't rely on anyone anymore. I had to save myself! I got out of bed and ate the food, which was already cold. Freedom was now my only desire I decided to escape the Dark Moon Pack at all costs.