Chapter 1

"Gabby, as long as you stay, I'll give you a billion dollars. No, make that two billion!"

At Palmer Manor, Theodore Palmer pleaded with the young woman before him.

However, Gabriella Robinson simply shook her head and pushed the check back across the table.

She replied, "Grandpa, I'm sorry. We agreed on six years, and now that time is up. My debt is repaid. It's time for me to go."

Her voice was soft yet unwavering.

Seeing that Gabriella had made up her mind, Theodore sighed heavily and said, "You've had a hard time these past six years. Before you leave, just say the word if there's anything you want."

Gabriella fell silent for a long moment.

"I want your blessing for Alex and Melody to be together. You asked me to get close to Alex so he'd move on from her, but six years have passed. You've seen it yourself. Maybe love just can't be broken."

Theodore sighed again, the exhaustion and helplessness in his eyes deepening.

"Fine, fine. I'm too old for this. I shall let the younger generation do as they please. As for the divorce, you'll have to talk to Alex yourself."

Gabriella nodded, curtsied respectfully, then turned and left.

Once inside the car, she cast one last glance at Palmer Manor.

The first time she had come to this estate had been to repay a debt of gratitude.

Gabriella had grown up in an orphanage. Like most other kids, she should've dropped out of school early. But luck had been on her side. Theodore had chosen to sponsor her education, giving her opportunities she never would have had otherwise.

She had the talent and the drive, which led her to skip grades until, at just 22 years old, she earned a doctorate from Hanbridge College.

The year Gabriella graduated, she'd made a special trip to Palmer Manor to thank Theodore in person. Unexpectedly, the weary old man had made his request.

"Gabby, my family doesn't need money. If you truly want to repay me, do me a favor. Starting today, for the next six years, I want you to get close to my grandson. Marry him. Have his child. Make him forget… his sister."

It was only then that Gabriella learned that Alex Palmer, heir to Palmer Group, had fallen in love with his adoptive sister, Melody Palmer. He was willing to give up everything, even his inheritance, to be with her.

The Palmer family had been in chaos because of that.

Alex had been the perfect successor—brilliant, disciplined, and groomed for leadership since birth. Yet for the sake of a woman, he had defied them all.

Desperate to put an end to it, his family had sent Melody overseas.

But that only caused Alex to spiral. He drowned himself in alcohol, wasting away.

So, out of gratitude toward Theodore, Gabriella had agreed to his request.

She'd spent years chasing Alex, playing the role of an infatuated woman hopelessly in love. Eventually, she'd succeeded in getting him to marry her. She'd even had his child.

For six long years, she had done everything she was supposed to. However, the moment Melody returned, all those feelings Alex had buried came rushing back.

Even their son, whom she had carried and raised, had started to distance himself from her.

Alex took him to see Melody so often that the boy had grown attached to her instead, and he'd begun showing open resentment toward his own mother.

It turned out that although he'd never mentioned his true love, he'd never forgotten her.

Well, none of that mattered to Gabriella anymore.

Her contract with the Palmers was over, and she had birthed Alex's child as promised. Now, she was finally free to leave.

Gabriella pulled herself out of her thoughts and withdrew her gaze from the manor.

The very next second, a truck that had lost control came hurtling toward her car.

A deafening crash rang out, and the world lurched. Gabriella's forehead slammed into the seat in front of her. The pain caused her vision to blur, then everything went black.

When Gabriella regained consciousness, the stark white ceiling and the sharp scent of disinfectant immediately told her where she was.

A nurse making her rounds noticed she was awake and asked a few routine questions before sighing in relief.

"You're incredibly lucky, you know. You only have a mild concussion. Out of the dozen patients brought in from that multi-car pileup, you're the only survivor."

After checking her condition once more, the nurse relaxed and added, "You're fine to leave once a family member signs the discharge papers."

Gabriella struggled to sit up, still shaken by the realization of how close she had come to death. It took her a moment to gather herself before she reached for her phone and dialed Alex's number.

The dial tone rang endlessly as no one answered.

Eventually, he outright declined the call as if annoyed.

Gabriella called over a dozen times, but each attempt was met with silence.

Lowering her gaze, she tapped on her son, Lucas Palmer's contact number.

As minutes passed, all of her calls were ignored. At last, a text popped up on her screen.

"Can you stop bothering me? I'm busy right now. Also, make some chicken soup for me."

Judging from the impatience and condescending tone, no one would believe that the person behind this message was her child whom she had carried for ten months.

Outside the ward, a couple of nurses walked by, and their conversation drifted in from the hallway.

"Mr. Palmer is really spoiling his wife. It was only a tiny burn from hot water, and the burn would've healed on its own. But he still booked an entire floor just for her. Their son is such a well-behaved kid, too. He's running around to take care of her."

"You got it wrong. That's not Mr. Palmer's wife but his adoptive sister, Melody."

The first nurse quickly refuted in a low voice, "You're new to Tramont, so you probably don't know. Mr. Palmer was in love with her. He was even willing to give up his inheritance for her, which caused a huge scandal. It was only after Ms. Palmer was sent abroad that he ended up marrying his current wife."

At that moment, Gabriella finally understood what Alex and Lucas had been so busy with.

She let out a soft chuckle as she wondered that if she had actually died in that car accident, would there even have been anyone left to claim her body?

Looking up at the nurse, Gabriella asked quietly, "I'm sorry, but I don't have any family. Can I sign the papers myself?"

Perhaps taken aback by the unusual request, the nurse cast her a look of sympathy before nodding and making an exception by handing over the discharge forms.

After Gabriella completed the paperwork on her own, she went to pick up her medication. On the way, she happened to pass by a hospital room and heard familiar voices.

Instinctively, she stopped in her tracks and glanced inside.

There, beside Melody's hospital bed, sat Alex and Lucas. Both of them were gazing at Melody with warmth and tenderness—expressions Gabriella had never once seen directed at her.

She watched silently, unfazed as though those weren't her husband and son.

After a while, she looked away and walked off.

Back home, Gabriella opened a drawer and pulled out a set of divorce papers. The last page bore Alex's signature.

For a split second, the memory of the day he had first signed his name resurfaced in her mind. She could vividly recall his detached gaze when he had looked at her.

"Gabriella, I know you're madly in love with me, but my heart belongs to someone else. I only married you because my family pressured me into it. If you ever want to leave, just sign your name here, and you're free to go anytime."

Without the slightest hesitation, Gabriella picked up a pen and signed her name.

Chapter 2

The final stroke of her pen fell into place just as the door swung open.

Gabriella turned and saw Alex standing in the doorway, holding Lucas' hand.

Dressed in matching black tailored suits, the two were the picture of elegance. Their sharp features and refined demeanor were so strikingly alike as though they had been carved from the same mold.

"Why did you call so many times? Where's the soup? Don't tell me it's still not ready. You're home all day doing nothing but housework, and you can't even handle this?"

Although Lucas' face was full of impatience, Gabriella didn't bother addressing his tone and simply replied calmly, "It's ready in the kitchen."

Lucas immediately let go of Alex's hand and dashed toward the kitchen.

Alex stepped forward and said curtly, "Lucas is still young. I'll teach him to be more respectful."

Gabriella didn't take his words to heart.

Lucas was, after all, the child she had nearly died giving birth to. Even though he had always been somewhat distant toward her, at least he used to call her "Mom".

But ever since Melody returned, something had changed. Gabriella had no idea what Alex had told Lucas, but the latter was now convinced she was the villain who had torn his family apart.

His attitude toward her had plummeted, and now, he wouldn't even look at her, let alone speak to her with any kindness.

"That won't be necessary," Gabriella said with a shake of her head.

After a pause, she looked up at Alex and added calmly, "Alex, I've already signed the divorce papers. I don't want custody or money. As soon as the mandatory waiting period is over, I'll be gone."

She'd barely finished her sentence when Lucas came running back while clutching a thermos with excitement. His eager voice drowned out the rest of her words.

"Dad, let's hurry! Aunt Mel is all alone in the hospital. She must be so scared!"

It was only then that Alex seemed to snap back to reality. His gaze shifted back to Gabriella, and he asked nonchalantly, "What did you just say? I couldn't hear you."

Of course, he hadn't been listening.

Gabriella studied him as her mind replayed the distant, unfocused look in his eyes just moments ago.

Even though he was physically here, his thoughts were somewhere else—back in that hospital room, with Melody. That explained it.

Gabriella didn't bother repeating herself. Instead, she shook her head and said quietly, "It's nothing."

He wouldn't care, anyway. It didn't matter if he knew about her plan to leave.

After that, Gabriella silently watched as Alex and Lucas disappeared through the doorway.

They would be gone for days, which gave her plenty of spare time. While they were away, Gabriella submitted her application to the National Research Institute.

She was a prodigy who was awarded a doctorate at just 22. If she hadn't chosen marriage out of gratitude back then, she would've undoubtedly become the nation's pillar.

Many of her former peers had already gone on to win the prestigious Novelle Prizes.

Now, she had repaid her debt and had no family left to hold her back. All she wanted to do was to finally pursue the future she had once given up.

A few days after submitting her application, Gabriella received a call from an unknown number. When she answered it, the voice on the other end was thick with excitement and disbelief.

She recognized it instantly—it was an old classmate.

"Gabriella! Are you really coming back? Everyone is talking about it. You were the most gifted among us, and then you just vanished! Our professors never stopped lamenting what a loss it was.

"But now you're coming back, they're over the moon! We're equally happy for you as well. Honestly, this might shake up the entire academic field."

Catching the teasing tone, Gabriella smiled faintly.

It had been a long time since she had smiled like that.

"Don't worry. From now on, I'll dedicate myself entirely to contributing to academia. As for everything else… I don't want any of them anymore."

Just then, the door suddenly swung open, followed by Alex and Lucas' voices.

"What don't you want?"

Chapter 3

Gabriella's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected them to come back so suddenly and just in time to hear her on the phone.

Instinctively, she ended the call and turned to face them. She quickly masked the surprise in her eyes and kept her expression composed.

"Nothing. I was just clearing out some things from my room which I don't use anymore. I'll be throwing them out in a couple of days."

Alex seemed unconvinced. His gaze bore into her as if trying to see right through her.

Nonetheless, she didn't flinch nor waver. There wasn't a trace of guilt in her demeanor.

After a moment, he dropped his gaze as he thought he was overthinking it.

Seeing their suspicions ease, Gabriella subtly steered the conversation elsewhere and remarked, "You guys are back earlier than I expected."

Speaking of which, Lucas made himself comfortable and immediately started giving orders. He complained, "Duh. I was sick of the food and the place. Go make dinner. I want pasta."

Gabriella frowned slightly and subconsciously turned to Alex, but he stood there and remained silent. From the way he was looking at her, she could tell he wanted the same thing as Lucas.

Pressing her lips together, she turned and headed into the kitchen.

Suddenly, Gabriella found herself laughing at the absurdity of it all.

For years, she had been both a wife and a nanny. She'd personally taken care of them and made sure everything was to their standard to keep them happy.

In the end, that was all she had become in their eyes. A nanny.

There was no respect or gratitude, only expectations.

Gabriella spent a long time preparing dinner before setting each dish on the table.

The two of them naturally took their seats together. She sat across from them and, out of nowhere, suggested, "We should bring the maids back."

When she and Alex first moved into this house, there had been plenty of maids. But none of them ever cooked to his liking or took care of him as well as she did.

And since Alex didn't like too many people around, he had sent them all to Palmer Manor.

Alex frowned. This was the first time she had ever made a request.

"Why?"

"When I'm gone, no one will look after you two. You should get used to not having me around."

His frown deepened at her casual tone.

"When you're gone? Where are you going?"

Lucas finally put down his fork and gave her an unimpressed look. "Are you upset because we've been busy taking care of Aunt Mel? Is that what this is about? Even if you do leave, where can you go?"

Alex studied her intently.

He thought that Gabriella had never worked a day in her life. She had no background, no education qualifications, and no career. Without the Palmer family, without him, where could she possibly go?

She wouldn't leave. She never would.

Neither of them took her words seriously. Gabriella didn't explain, only letting out a quiet sigh.

Dinner ended without another word on the matter.

Late at night, Gabriella and Alex lay in the same bed, both wide awake.

Gabriella had long grown used to this kind of life—sharing a bed yet worlds apart. She kept her distance, eyes closed and breathing steady.

Then, the mattress shifted as Alex moved closer. Heat radiated from his body as his arm naturally wrapped around her waist, his breath warm against her neck.

Sensing what he wanted, Gabriella was about to push him away when she heard it.

"Mel…"

His hoarse voice was thick with intense emotion and longing.

In that instant, memories came rushing back to Gabriella's mind. Every time they had been intimate, he had always called out Melody's name.

A wave of irritation surged within her, and she shoved him away hard.

Snapping out of his trance, Alex felt confused about why she'd done that.

Was it because he called Melody's name?

But It wasn't like this was the first time. He had told her from the very beginning where his heart belonged. So, why was she making a fuss now?

Gabriella could see exactly what he was thinking. Without another word, she threw back the covers, grabbed a blanket, and walked straight to the door.

"I'll sleep in the guest room."

Chapter 4

Unable to find the words to stop Gabriella, Alex sat on the bed and watched helplessly as she left the room. A rare flicker of frustration crossed his usually composed face.

Neither of them backed down in the days that followed, and their relationship remained at a stalemate.

Then came Lucas' birthday. Alex threw him a lavish party, inviting a large crowd.

Among the crowd was Melody.

Seated in a quiet corner, Gabriella watched as Alex and Lucas hovered around Melody and tended to her every need with warmth and attentiveness.

The three of them were perfectly in sync, looking more like a family than she ever had with them.

"Mr. Palmer, Mrs. Palmer, Mr. Lucas."

Several guests approached with glasses in hand, greeting them very naturally before striking up a conversation.

Alex paused for a moment at the address.

That was the 56th time that night someone had mistaken Melody for his wife.

Instinctively, he glanced toward Gabriella, only to see her lower her head slightly, hiding any trace of emotion.

Something in him softened. For the first time, he took the initiative to clarify.

"Mel isn't my wife. She's my… sister."

The guests quickly caught on and apologized.

Once they walked away and were out of earshot, murmurs began.

"I assumed that woman named Mel was Mrs. Palmer since Mr. Palmer barely left her side. If she's not, then where's his actual wife?"

A more informed guest gestured toward Gabriella. "Over there."

"That's brutal. It's her son's birthday, and both her husband and kid are doting on another woman…"

Gabriella pretended not to hear, keeping her expression neutral.

It wasn't until the gift-giving segment that she rose from her seat and walked up to Lucas. She handed him a key and said, "I kept your present in the safe. Open it, and you'll find it inside."

Inside that safe were birthday gifts she had carefully prepared for Lucas for the decades to come. Because once she and Alex finalized their divorce, she wouldn't be around to give them in person.

However, Lucas barely looked at the key before tossing it aside.

"Like I have time for that," he said with a disdainful scoff.

"Don't talk to your mother like that," Alex scolded him with a small frown. Then, he turned to Gabriella and said, "He's just a kid. Don't take it to heart."

Gabriella forced a smile.

Yes, he was a child. But that didn't excuse the way he treated his mother.

How little did Alex think of her to always brush it off with that excuse?

Before she could say more, Lucas had already run over to Melody, his eyes shining with anticipation.

"Aunt Mel, what did you get me?"

Melody pulled out a simple storybook. It was unwrapped and clearly bought last minute.

Yet Lucas beamed, clutching it as if it were the most precious thing in the world. He exclaimed gleefully, "Thank you, Aunt Mel! I love it! I'll take really good care of it!"

After that, it was time for him to make his birthday wish.

Standing before the extravagant cake, Lucas closed his eyes and clasped his hands together. Then, he spoke loudly in his bright voice, "I wish Aunt Mel could be my mom and stay with Dad forever!"

The room fell into a stunned silence before hushed whispers erupted.

Even Alex stiffened, his brows furrowing.

"Lucas, don't say things like that."

But Lucas wasn't deterred. He simply blinked up at Alex and pouted.

"Why not? Don't you want to be with Aunt Mel? I saw everything! Your study drawer is full of love letters to her. You kept all her pictures. And those books on your shelf? Every page is covered with her name! Gabriella's just a nanny. Why can't you be with Aunt Mel instead?"

As the words landed, Melody's head snapped toward Alex. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears and became red-rimmed.

"Alex… So, all these years, you never forgot me?"

He averted his gaze uneasily and said nothing.

However, Melody wasn't letting it go. She pressed on, "I just need an answer, Alex…"

As her tears fell, something in Alex finally cracked. His feelings, long-buried and suppressed, spilled over, and at last, the words he had kept locked away broke free.

"Yes. I never forgot about you, not for a single moment."

Chapter 5

As Alex's words fell, the entire room plunged into silence.

Suddenly, the sharp crash of shattering glass echoed through the banquet hall. Instinctively, everyone turned toward the noise, only to see that someone had accidentally knocked over the champagne tower.

And unfortunately, Melody was standing directly in its path.

"Mel!"

"Aunt Mel!"

Alex and Lucas cried out at the same time. Gabriella watched as the two of them frantically rushed toward Melody, who was too stunned to move.

Gabriella was standing in their way, and she became nothing more than an obstacle—one they shoved aside without hesitation.

She lost her balance instantly, stumbling backward. The next second, a cascade of champagne, along with broken shards and intact glasses, came crashing down on her.

The cold liquid soaked Gabriella, and her drenched gown clung to her body. Sharp pain flared in her arms and legs, where deep, jagged cuts bleeding profusely.

The stinging pain burned her skin, but the sheer humiliation cut even deeper.

As blood flowed freely from her wounds, Gabriella's vision blurred for a moment. Her head spun, and she stared blankly ahead.

Across from her, Alex and Lucas were focused on Melody, their faces tense with worry.

"Aunt Mel, your hand is bleeding!"

"Mel, I'm taking you to the hospital!"

Without a second thought, Alex scooped Melody into his arms and hurried toward the exit. Lucas struggled to keep up with his short legs but didn't complain.

Melody wrapped her arms around Alex's neck. On her arm, there was only a tiny cut. Yet, to them, it seemed as if she had suffered some catastrophic injury.

As they rushed past Gabriella, Alex glanced at her. It was only then, upon seeing the gashes covering her body, that he vaguely remembered pushing someone aside earlier.

He hesitated for a brief moment before saying to her in a tone utterly devoid of guilt, "I need to take Mel to the hospital first. Call yourself a cab and get your injuries checked out."

Gabriella parted her lips, but before she could utter a word, Alex and the others had already disappeared through the doors.

Left behind, she lay in a pool of her blood, weakly pulling out her phone and dialing 911.

The ambulance arrived swiftly. When she was being wheeled toward the operating room, Alex and Lucas came rushing in, their faces filled with urgency.

"Mel has a bleeding disorder. The doctors can't stop the bleeding, and she's already passed out. The blood bank is running low, but I remember you have her blood type. Come with me to donate now!"

Without waiting for a response, Alex reached out to pull Gabriella up.

The doctor quickly stepped in to stop him, looking troubled.

"Mr. Palmer, Mrs. Palmer's injuries are far more severe. She's too weak to donate blood right now—"

But Alex barely seemed to hear him. His brows were furrowed, and his movements unfazed.

Even Lucas pursed his lips and stated, "It's just a little blood. She's nothing compared to Aunt Mel!"

A chill ran through Gabriella's body, freezing her to the core. She turned her head, trembling as she met their gazes. Neither of them looked the least bit ashamed.

She had long grown used to their indifference, but hearing those words was still painful.

For six years, she had poured everything into taking care of them. She had never expected them to love her the way they loved Melody, but how could they say something like that?

Dragged off the stretcher, Gabriella stumbled her way to the blood donation room. The needle pierced her vein, but no physical pain could compare to the ache in her chest.

As more and more blood was drawn, dizziness overtook her as her lips turned pale. When she finally reached her limit, she struggled to sit up and leave.

However, a shadow loomed over her, and a strong grip pinned her arms in place.

She turned to see Alex on one side and Lucas on the other, both pressing down on her arms.

"Just a little more just in case Mel needs it."

Alex's words had barely fallen when Lucas immediately echoed him.

"Take more! As much as needed! Aunt Mel has to be okay!"