Chapter 1

I had spent seven years with my fiancé, Zachary Terrell, but he was always in love with my stepsister, Maisy Doyle. To force me to break off our engagement, he had someone edit explicit photos of me and spread them all over the city.

That same day, my mother, Christine Baldwin, was so devastated that she got into a car accident and ended up in the hospital.

At my lowest point, my childhood friend, Bradley Sharp, rushed to my side. He frantically arranged the best doctors for Mom and stayed up all night watching over her.

But a week later, Mom still passed away.

After her funeral, Bradley pulled out a diamond ring and proposed. He promised to protect me for the rest of my life in Mom's place. Moved, I said yes.

Three years later, everyone said he adored me. We were happy, blissful even, and I was eight months pregnant.

One day, when I had just finished my prenatal checkup, I saw Bradley in a fistfight with Zachary.

"Zachary! What right do you have to stop me from seeing Maisy?

"Don't forget, when Maisy was dying of heart disease, I was the one who had Alice's mom run over. I was the one who made sure her heart was secretly transplanted into Maisy so she could survive.

"And I was the one who sacrificed my own happiness by marrying Alice so you and Maisy could finally be together!"

As he finished speaking, he swung another punch.

Zachary staggered back, wincing in pain, but still refused to back down. "Bradley, you are one sick bastard. You killed Christine just to save Maisy. I have to give it to you. You're truly insane.

"But Maisy is my wife now. She has a fever, and I'll be the one taking care of her. You have no business being here!"

The two of them went back and forth, locked in a heated argument, neither willing to back down. Neither of them noticed me standing just a few steps away, frozen in place.

I couldn't believe what I had just heard. So that was the truth?

My mind spun, and a crushing wave of despair surged from the depths of my heart. I felt like I was plummeting off a cliff in a nightmare.

Fragments of memories played out in my mind, one after another. I desperately searched for signs of Bradley's hidden love for Maisy that I overlooked.

Maybe it had always been there. Every year, no matter how busy he was, he insisted on taking me to Maisy's birthday party and always picked out the perfect gift for her.

Whenever she got sick, he panicked more than anyone else, even leaving me behind to take her to the hospital.

He loved my waist-length hair and white dresses, so I had never cut my hair and never changed my style. But I had failed to realize that Maisy had always been the one with that innocent, pure look.

I had never doubted his love for me. So I dismissed these little things, thinking he was simply too devoted to me, that he cared about Maisy only because she was my stepsister.

But now I knew—I had been nothing but a joke.

It turned out that Mom's car accident all those years ago had been his doing.

It turned out that the nights he spent by her hospital bed were just so he could make sure her heart would go to his beloved Maisy.

It turned out that his heartfelt proposal and his act of loving me was all just to keep me from standing in the way of Maisy's happiness!

We had grown up together, slept in the same bed for three years, and I was carrying his child.

He had been my safe haven. And yet, he had destroyed me with his own hands. The cruelest part was that I didn't even know when he had fallen in love with Maisy.

A sharp, unbearable pain spread through my chest, making it hard to breathe. My whole body trembled as a bone-deep coldness seeped into me.

A man like him didn't deserve to be my child's father.

I didn't know how long I stood there. But eventually, I wiped away my tears and staggered back toward the obstetrics department.

"Doctor, I want to terminate my pregnancy."

The doctor was stunned. After all, my baby was already eight months along, nearly full-term.

She tried to talk me out of it, but I was firm in my decision. In the end, she had no choice but to take me into surgery.

When I came out of the operating room, my face was deathly pale. Blood kept trickling down my legs, and pain wracked my entire body as if I had been torn apart.

The doctor advised me to stay in the hospital for observation. But I clenched my teeth and signed myself out.

As soon as I left, I went to a gift shop and bought a large, elegant gift box. Then, I carefully placed my blood-covered, fully-formed child inside.

After that, I bought a fake pregnancy belly and slipped it under my clothes.

That night, Bradley came home drunk. As always, he pulled me into his arms and pressed soft kisses against my forehead.

"I love you, Alice Campbell. I love you so much."

Then, he leaned down and rested his ear against my stomach to listen for our baby's heartbeat.

I wasn't sure if he was too drunk or if he simply wasn't paying attention, but even though there was no movement at all, he didn't seem to notice.

I gently pushed him away and asked, "Did something happen? You drank a lot."

His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were unfocused. "I'm just... happy."

Happy? I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. More like miserable—miserable that Maisy now belonged to another man and that he couldn't even visit her when she was sick.

But Bradley didn't seem to notice the shift in me. He simply stroked my belly. "Alice, just one more month until our baby arrives, right? I've prepared a special surprise for you both. You're going to love it."

I curled my lips into a faint smile, but my eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"Really? That's funny. Because I have a gift for you, too."

With that, I placed the beautifully wrapped gift box into his hands.

Chapter 2

Bradley reached for the gift box, ready to open it, but I stopped him. "Wait until the baby is born. Otherwise, it won't be a surprise."

He paused for a moment but didn't overthink it. He placed the gift box in the drawer, looking every bit like the devoted husband who always listened to his wife.

Then he loosened his tie, took off his suit jacket, and headed to the bathroom for a shower.

Maybe it was because he was drunk, but he didn't take his phone with him like he usually did. Instead, he left it sitting unguarded on the table.

I picked it up and typed in Maisy's birthday. Sure enough, it unlocked instantly.

The first thing I saw was her picture.

She was his wallpaper. No wonder his expression always softened whenever he checked his phone.

I opened his photo album. Inside, there were thousands of pictures of Maisy. Smiling, silent, lost in thought—every expression captured.

Next, I checked his notes. They were filled with meticulous details about her preferences.

"Maisy can't eat seafood. She's allergic."

"Maisy loves desserts. They always make her happy."

"Maisy's favorite color is white. She hates red. She has a sweet tooth but can't handle spicy food."

Then I opened his Telegram and found a secret account. He had been using it as a diary, pouring his heart out every single day.

"Maisy, I always watch you from afar, but I never dare to hope you'll look my way."

"Maisy, my birthday wish this year is the same. I just want you to be safe and happy."

"If I can't be with the one I love in this lifetime, then just seeing her happy is enough."

I scrolled back to two years ago—the time Mom died.

"There's no compatible heart donor for Maisy anywhere. The only match we found is Christine. What the hell am I supposed to do?

"I know this is unforgivable, but Maisy is my life. If she dies, I'd rather be dead too.

"Nothing matters more than Maisy. The driver and the surgeon are already arranged. Everything is in place. There's no turning back. Alice, I'll repay you in our next life."

He had laid out the plan to take Mom's heart with meticulous precision. I was in unbearable agony as I read through it.

Bradley, betrayers deserved nothing but endless suffering.

…

The next morning, when I woke up, Bradley was already gone.

He had made me breakfast and left a note with the same doting tone as always.

"Alice, remember to eat your breakfast. I have an important meeting today, so I'll be home late."

Without any expression, I dumped the food into the trash and shredded the note.

I didn't care if he came back or not. I had my own plans.

First, I called a lawyer and asked him to prepare divorce papers. Then, I applied for a passport. I was planning to leave the country.

Bradley once survived a plane crash, and ever since, he couldn't bring himself to fly. If I went abroad, we would be worlds apart. He'd never be able to reach me again.

But my ID was still at the Campbell residence. I had to go back there one last time.

…

Standing at the doorstep of my childhood home, I felt disoriented.

I used to believe my parents loved each other. Then my father, Daniel Campbell, met Maisy's mother, Keira Doyle, and everything changed.

He became obsessed, willing to throw away everything to be with her.

Mom cried herself to sleep every night. In the end, she had no choice but to sign the divorce papers. She lost the custody battle too. I was left behind with Dad while she moved to a damp, moldy apartment on the outskirts of town. It ruined her health.

Meanwhile, Maisy made my life a living hell.

I was Dad's real daughter, but he loved Keira, so he loved Maisy too.

Maisy used his favoritism to force me into the worst bedroom, steal my puppy, and even take my hard-earned graduate school placement. I kept giving in, over and over, until I had nothing left.

So, the people I despised most were Maisy and Keira. And yet, for some reason, every man around me adored Maisy.

Just as I was about to knock, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

I turned around, only to see Bradley holding Maisy by the waist as they stepped out of the car.

Chapter 3

The three of us stood there for a moment, staring at each other. When I looked at Bradley, my chest tightened with pain. "Didn't you say you had an important meeting today?"

He clearly hadn't expected to see me here. His expression flickered with panic before he quickly explained, "Don't misunderstand, Alice. Maisy was discharged today, but Zachary is out of town. She had no one to pick her up, so I went to get her."

Maisy leaned against him, smirking slightly. "Yeah, if Zac weren't busy, I wouldn't have troubled Brad. Brad is just too kind. I called him, and he was at the hospital in less than 15 minutes."

15 minutes? My chest tightened at those words. The drive from his office to the hospital took at least 40 minutes. Just how desperate was he to see the woman he truly loved?

Once inside, Dad and Keira fussed over Maisy, showering her with concern.

Me? Ever since Dad remarried, he had nothing but cold indifference for me.

"What are you doing here? And empty-handed, no less! Don't you know Maisy just got discharged from the hospital? You should've at least brought some supplements!"

I didn't respond. Ever since Mom passed, he was no longer my family.

Ignoring his reprimand, I went upstairs to retrieve my ID and was about to leave when Dad suddenly stopped me.

"Keira and I are going on a trip tomorrow. Maisy just got discharged, and Zac is still away, so she'll be staying at your place."

I let out a cold laugh and frowned. "Aren't there maids here? Why does she have to stay with me? I'm eight months pregnant. How am I supposed to take care of her?"

Dad's face darkened instantly. He couldn't stand being defied, especially in front of others, and he certainly wouldn't tolerate me mistreating Maisy.

"You ungrateful brat! It's just for a few days, and you're making such a fuss? She's your sister! I don't care if you refuse. This is not up for discussion!"

"Sister? My mom only gave birth to me. I don't have a sister!"

Before our argument could escalate, Bradley quickly stepped in, trying to smooth things over. "Alice, don't get mad. You're pregnant. You shouldn't be stressing yourself. It's no big deal if Maisy stays over. I'll just hire more maids to help out."

He acted like he was comforting me, but the truth was he just wanted Maisy to stay with us.

I didn't argue anymore. There was no point.

On the way home, I mentioned needing to run an errand. Maisy, however, claimed she was tired and wanted to go straight home.

Bradley hesitated for only a second before deciding to drop her off first.

His excuse was that she was a guest, after all. It wouldn't be right to have her go home alone.

Fine by me. This way, he wouldn't know that I was applying for my passport and leaving the country soon.

I walked into the office alone and submitted my documents. The staff told me the passport would be ready in two weeks.

I nodded. My eyes tinged red as I gazed at the sky outside.

Just two more weeks, and Bradley would never have the chance to see me again.

For the next few days, Bradley was completely preoccupied with Maisy. Ever since she moved in, his concern for her had been impossible to hide.

He started skipping work—something he never did before.

He claimed it was to spend more time with me before the baby came, but I knew better. He just wanted to be near Maisy.

Once, he planted an entire garden of roses for me. But when Maisy pricked her finger on a thorn, he had them ripped out overnight.

Later, he lied to me, saying the maid had accidentally burned them down. He even promised to plant something even more beautiful for me.

I watched as he loved Maisy while carefully hiding his feelings. But he was unaware that his eyes had already given him away.

One morning, as I was heading downstairs, I ran into Maisy coming out of her room.

When she saw me, she smirked and blocked my way. "Alice, you've known all along that Brad's in love with me, haven't you? It's so obvious that even I could feel it."

I didn't want to talk to her and moved to step past her, but she grabbed my wrist.

"Don't go, Alice. Is it because no one has ever truly loved you that you've become so cold and withdrawn? I haven't even told you the best part yet."

As she said that, she glanced at my stomach with a smile.

"You've had two miscarriages before, haven't you? You thought it was because of your health. But actually, Brad gave you abortion pills. He never loved you, so of course, he didn't want you to have his child.

"You must be wondering why this pregnancy has been fine, right? That's because I can't have kids. And I told him that I wanted a baby. So Brad plans to give this child you're carrying to me. Isn't that just hilarious, my dear sister?"

Chapter 4

I thought I was already numb to pain, but Maisy's words hit me like a bolt of lightning.

I stared at her in disbelief. A chill ran down my spine, making me feel sick to my core.

I couldn't hold back anymore. I shoved her away with all my strength.

But Maisy had planned this. The moment my hands touched her, she crushed the hidden blood pack in her pocket. Then, she tumbled backward, rolling down the stairs in a perfect performance.

"Brad! Help me!"

Her scream instantly alerted Bradley.

The moment he saw Maisy lying in a pool of blood, he completely lost it. He didn't even bother keeping up the act. He shoved me aside without hesitation and rushed straight to her.

"Alice Campbell, are you out of your damn mind?" he roared before scooping Maisy up and rushing out in a panic.

The force of his shove sent me stumbling against the table. My stomach slammed hard into the corner.

Suddenly, I started laughing. But as the laughter continued, tears began to fall.

Bradley, oh Bradley. They said when a person was in love, even if they tried to hide it, their eyes would always give them away.

How had I not noticed before? Every glance he gave Maisy was filled with a love so deep, hidden beneath a calm façade.

If I hadn't already gotten rid of this child, his shove just now might have cost me my baby's life.

That night, I barely slept. I knew this wasn't over.

Sure enough, Bradley's assistant Jacob Carr showed up at the house first thing in the morning. He wanted me to go to the hospital to see Maisy.

Jacob told me that Maisy had a miscarriage.

What a joke. She had told me herself that she was infertile. So how the hell could she have a miscarriage?

When I walked into her ward, I saw Maisy's smug expression and Bradley's helpless yet indulgent gaze. At that moment, I knew that she had staged the whole thing.

And as always, she did it just to make my life miserable.

Bradley knew she was acting, but he willingly went along with her act.

Not long after, Dad and Keira arrived, having rushed back from their trip after hearing the news.

The moment Dad walked in, he strode straight up to me and slapped me across the face. The slap came fast and hard. Instantly, the metallic taste of blood spread in my mouth.

As soon as Maisy saw them return, she immediately burst into tears and wailed, "Dad! Mom! My baby is gone!

"The doctor said I can never have kids again! It's all Alice's fault! I've forgiven her so many times for everything she's done to me, but this time, she took the most precious thing from me! She has to pay!"

Everyone knew my hands were my life. Without them, I couldn't paint.

She was suggesting to cripple my hand!

Sensing the danger, I immediately turned to leave, but Dad was faster. Before I could reach the door, he had already ordered the bodyguards to lock it shut.

"Go get some boiling water!"

I panicked and tried to break free, but their grip was too strong. I could only watch in horror as the bodyguard approached with a kettle of scalding water in hand.

"No! Stop! Please! Maisy was never pregnant to begin with! How could she have a miscarriage? She staged this whole thing herself!"

I screamed until my voice was hoarse, but Dad's expression remained cold and indifferent. He was really going to ruin his own daughter's hand for the sake of his stepdaughter.

Just as I was about to lose all hope, Bradley finally spoke.

But he only glanced at me with a frown. "Alice is pregnant. Just ruin her right hand."

At that moment, every last shred of hope I had shattered.

When Daniel Campbell—the man I once called my father—forced my hand into the boiling water, he ceased to be my father forever.

I screamed at the top of my lungs.

My face burned red as I bit down so hard on my lip that I tasted blood. Eventually, the agony became too much, and everything went dark.

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed.

Bradley was standing nearby, talking to the doctor. He seemed to be asking about my condition.

"Doctor, is the baby okay?"

The doctor's head snapped up, eyes wide with shock. "What baby? She has terminated her pregnancy."

Chapter 5

The moment the doctor mentioned that I had terminated my pregnancy, I immediately called out to Bradley.

"Bradley!"

He turned toward me, drawn by my voice. Just like that, he missed the last part of what the doctor had said.

I quickly shook my head at the doctor. He assumed we were just having a small lovers' quarrel, so he chose not to intervene.

He only gave Bradley a final reminder. "Mrs. Sharp's hand has suffered severe burns. It needs proper care. If an infection sets in, things could get serious. But even if it heals well, she'll never be able to paint again. What a shame."

Bradley's eyes flickered slightly. He turned back to me, gently helping me sit up before wrapping me in his arms. His voice was soft as he said, "I'm so sorry, Alice. I couldn't protect you.

"But you saw what happened. Maisy lost her baby because of you. Daniel was furious, and I couldn't go against him. Seeing you hurt kills me. I wish I could take the pain for you."

"But don't worry. Even if you can't paint anymore, I'll take care of you for the rest of your life. I'll cherish you and love you."

I watched as he played the role of the devoted husband, and all I felt was disgust.

If the one who got hurt had been Maisy, he wouldn't have hesitated for a second before shielding her with everything he had.

But I didn't expose him because there was no need.

For the next few days in the hospital, Bradley performed flawlessly as the perfect, doting husband.

Doctors and nurses kept flooding into my room, terrified that something might happen to me.

To lift my spirits, Bradley spent a fortune covering the entire hallway with pink roses.

Whatever I wanted to eat, all I had to do was say the word, and he would immediately get it and feed it to me himself.

He stayed by my bedside day and night, even moving his work into my ward so he wouldn't have to leave me.

To everyone in the hospital, he was the dream husband.

If I hadn't already known the truth, I might have been moved to tears. After all, this was how he had lured me into his trap before.

On the day I was discharged, Bradley threw a grand party in my honor, inviting countless friends from our circle.

The entire venue was decorated according to my preferences.

A massive portrait of the two of us was displayed at the center of the stage. In the photo, he gazed down at me with deep affection, while I looked up at him with equal devotion.

Back when we took that picture, I had given him my whole heart. But when he looked at me, the one on his mind was probably Maisy.

Looking at it again, I could only laugh at my own stupidity.

During the party, Bradley took the stage and presented me with an outrageously expensive necklace in front of everyone.

"This necklace is called 'True Love.' And today, before all of you, I offer my true love to my wife, Alice Campbell."

The crowd erupted into applause, swept away by his show of devotion.

Then, Bradley delivered the night's real bombshell.

With all eyes on him, he stepped toward me, took my hand, and placed it over his chest. His gaze at me was warm and affectionate.

"Tonight is not just a celebration of my wife's recovery. I have another announcement to make. Once our child is born, I will transfer all of Sharp Corporation's shares to my wife!"