Chapter 1

Quinley Clark's mother accidentally brushed against the custom-made gown of the richest heiress, and someone had her limbs broken before throwing her into the sea, leaving her to die.

On the day Quinley took the arrogant heiress to court, the other woman was declared not guilty.

This was because the lawyer defending her was Gary White, the founder of the most untouchable law firm in Juleern, who was also Quinley's husband.

At the end of the trial, the handsome and dignified man stepped down from the defendant's seat and placed a letter of "apology" in front of Quinley.

"Quinn, sign it. You wouldn't want to be sued for defamation and end up in prison, would you?"

His tone was gentle and persuasive, but the look behind his gold-rimmed glasses was sharp and icy.

With stubborn, tear-filled eyes, Quinley looked at him, her voice trembling. "Why, Gary?"

She couldn't understand.

Quinley was Gary's wife. She was the one he loved so much that even when he gave up his family fortune and was held captive by his family, he still insisted on marrying her, a mere maid.

But after her mother's death, Quinley pleaded with Gary through tears over and over again. Just this morning, for the 99th time, she dropped to her knees at his feet, threatening divorce if he wouldn't drop the case.

But what did he say? "Quinn, don't force me!"

Gary irritably loosened his tie. "Luna is different. She pursued me for ten years and even saved my life. I have to protect her, even if the enemy is my most beloved wife."

As he spoke, he opened the tablet in his hand and displayed a live stream for Quinley.

"You have two minutes to think, Quinn. Even if you don't think of yourself, think of Mom. Sign it, and I'll return her ashes to you."

On the screen, there was a scene at sea. Several bodyguards were holding a sandalwood urn.

If they let go…

Quinley's tears immediately fell. "What are you going to do?"

There was no change in expression on Gary's face at all. "Be good and don't waste time. Can you bear to let Mom stay in the sea forever?"

"Gary!" Quinley stared at the man in front of her, biting her lip almost to the point of bleeding. "I want a divorce."

But in the cruel confrontation, he remained utterly calm. "Quinn, you have only 30 seconds left."

At that moment, Quinley felt as if someone had pierced her heart with a needle.

How ironic. This man had once loved her as though she were life itself.

Eight years ago, he fell in love with her at first sight at the White estate. She used to be the caregiver of Noah White, Gary's grandfather.

Their statuses were worlds apart, yet he confessed to her a hundred times.

She only ever needed to glance at a bellflower, and Gary would have all the roses in the garden replaced overnight.

When she accidentally twisted her ankle, he would book an entire hospital floor just for her.

It was also during that time that she learned he had a pursuer. She was Luna Scott, Gary's childhood friend and the heiress of the wealthiest family. She had chased after him for years, loving him to the point of life and death.

But in Gary's eyes, there was no one else.

"Quinn, I only love you. So what if Luna and I are a perfect match on paper? I feel nothing but disgust for her!"

In order to force him to give up, the White family not only took back his shares but even pulled strings to have him sent away to a remote island abroad.

For 20 days, Gary went on a hunger strike to force the outside world to compromise. In doing so, he won Quinley's heart completely.

Just like that, they got married, and he truly did love her like his life, just as he had promised.

The turning point came six months ago, when Luna, who had been away for years, suddenly returned to the country. This time, Gary's attitude toward her changed abruptly.

He canceled international meetings to pick up Luna at the airport personally. He even stayed away from home for three days to organize a welcome-back banquet for Luna.

Facing Quinley's aggrieved gaze, Gary told the truth. "A year ago, when I was in Engrelle, I got into a car accident. Luna fell into a coma for a whole year trying to save me. Quinn, I still only love you. But she just woke up, and I have to repay this debt. Just give me one year, okay?"

At first, Quinley believed him.

But on the night of the banquet, her old illness suddenly flared up. Quinley was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, and no matter how many times she called Gary, he never picked up.

With no other option, her mother went to the luxurious yacht where the banquet was being held. However, she never came back.

Everyone insisted it was an accident and that her mother had died by suicide.

Even Gary, who happened to be away from the scene when it happened, believed that version of events.

That night, after Quinley was wheeled out of the emergency room, she received a phone call. On the other end, she heard chaos—Luna's scolding voice and Quinley's mother's agonizing screams.

Her mother hadn't fallen into the sea by accident. She had been forced.

For the past six months, Quinley had lived in anguish and guilt, crying herself to sleep every night. In her breakdown, she finally uncovered a clue from a waiter's lips.

She had begged Gary countless times to help her.

But in this criminal private prosecution trial, he stood firmly on the opposing side without the slightest hesitation.

He protected the one who had killed her mother, and in order to force her to admit fault, he even used her mother's ashes as leverage.

At this moment, as Quinley looked at Gary in front of her, she didn't recognize him. She felt as though he came from hell.

She gave up hope and accepted her fate. With trembling fingers, she signed crookedly on the letter.

"Happy now? Tell them to bring the ashes back."

Just as her hoarse voice fell, a sudden cry rang out behind her.

Luna suddenly clutched her head and collapsed on the defendant's bench. "Gary, help me! My head hurts again!"

Gary instantly panicked as he dropped the tablet, rushing toward Luna.

On the livestream, the countdown had already ended. Without receiving an order to stop, the bodyguards began opening the urn.

"No! I've signed the letter! Gary, tell them to stop!"

Quinley screamed like mad, but the bodyguards wouldn't listen to her commands.

She tried to lunge at Gary and grab him, but all he cared about was Luna.

As he carried Luna out, his elbow slammed into Quinley hard.

She fell heavily to the ground, her forehead hitting the edge of the table. Tears fell onto the tablet one after another.

It was all too late.

She saw the ashes being poured from the boat. Carried by the cold sea wind, they slowly vanished into the rising waves.

Heart-wrenching guilt tore through Quinley's heart.

Her mother had always feared the cold. She hated the ocean the most. Now, not only had she died there, but she would remain trapped in that sea forever.

Quinley broke down completely. "I'm sorry, Mom."

Suddenly, she regretted everything. She regretted falling in love with Gary and marrying him.

Endless remorse consumed her, making her feel dizzy. The world before her eyes blurred.

In the dimming frame of her vision, she could only hear Gary's anxious voice outside the courtroom.

"Luna, hang in there! As long as you're okay, I'll give you anything you want!"

Chapter 2

Quinley woke up in a hospital.

A young lawyer stood helplessly at her bedside. "Ms. Clark, the case has already been classified. You should try to let it go. Your health comes first."

Quinley came to, heart still aching. Ignoring the IV in her hand, she sat up abruptly and rummaged through her bag.

"Can you help me check if this is valid?" Her voice trembled as she handed over a divorce agreement.

"Ms. Clark, your husband has already signed this. Once you sign and submit it, you can get the divorce certificate in a month," replied the lawyer.

This morning, Quinley had knelt before Gary, holding that very document.

Maybe Gary had rushed out the door too quickly, or he simply didn't believe she would actually go through with it, because he was convinced the agreement was fake and didn't bother to look at it—he just signed it.

But he would never guess that everything she said was real.

Quinley didn't want to wait a second longer. She pulled out the needle and rushed to the county clerk's office to submit the paperwork.

After completing the process, she made one last stop at the seaside. In the chilly drizzle, she dropped to her knees. "Mom, from now on, I'll go wherever there's a sea. I'll stay with you forever."

However, the only response was the cold ocean wind.

She remained on her knees for a long time. Then, she wiped her tears and dialed a number.

"Hello, I'd like to schedule… a fake death rescue," she uttered determinedly, despite her broken voice.

"One month from now, the cause of death will be 'homicide.' I'll arrange the location. All you need to do is prepare a completely new identity and get me out once I'm rescued, then send me abroad."

Yes, she wasn't going to get a divorce.

A month from now, she was going to take back justice with her own hands and leave Gary with a surprise he'd never forget for the rest of his life.

By the time Quinley finished everything and returned home, night had already fallen.

The living room lights were on. Gary was feeding Luna spoonfuls of soup.

"Gary, I posted that apology letter online," Luna said as she tilted her head to rest on his shoulder. "Quinn's been slandering me this whole time. Getting attacked online will teach her a lesson. You're not allowed to interfere."

Gary's Adam's apple bobbed, but he still replied, "Alright. She made a mistake, so she should be punished."

Quinley remembered the hate received online. They said her mother deserved to die. They called her a filthy maid who was not even worthy of licking the soles of a rich woman's feet.

A sharp pain pierced her heart, but she walked into the living room without a trace of emotion on her face.

"Where were you?"

Seeing the pallor in her face, Gary froze for a second, his tone suddenly softening. "What happened to your forehead?"

Quinley ignored him.

Luna quickly changed the subject. "You're back, Quinn. Perfect timing. I brought you some gifts. Come take a look."

Gary cleared his throat lightly, looking hesitant. "Quinn, Luna's been in a coma for too long. She hasn't recovered fully yet, so she'll be staying here for now. I need you to be extra attentive. She's lactose intolerant, can't eat anything cold, and she needs to sleep in for her beauty rest until ten. Also, any fruit must be juiced for her."

Each word was like a knife stabbing into Quinley's heart.

She let out a cold laugh of disbelief. "What? You want me to take care of her?"

"Quinn, what's past is past. Let's not dig into it anymore. You used to work as a maid at the White estate, so I trust you with this—" Gary stopped himself from continuing.

On one side of the dining table, there were exactly 267 instructions written for taking care of Luna.

On the floor lay a mess of discarded luxury items—crumpled shopping bags, a Chanel clutch with scuffed hardware, a Hermes keychain that came as a free gift, and a pair of obviously worn Dior heels.

So, these so-called gifts were just a pile of trash tossed aside.

Quinley remembered years ago, when one of Gary's close friends had casually called her "a mere maid," Gary had flown into a rage. That same night, he pulled strings to shut down a billion-dollar project the man was working on.

"Quinn is my wife. Anyone who insults her is insulting me!"

And now, Gary was insulting himself for asking Quinley to be the personal maid of her mother's killer.

So much for deep love. So much for vows. Those were nothing but empty words.

Quinley would never believe it again.

She forced herself not to cry. She would endure it all for the last 30 days.

But the very night Luna moved in, she threw a tantrum over a nightmare.

She ran barefoot into the master bedroom just as Gary had finished showering.

"Gary, I can't sleep alone." Luna whimpered like a spoiled child, climbing straight into Gary's bare chest.

"The mattress in the guest room is too hard. I'm scared. I want you to sleep with me."

Gary's brows furrowed slightly.

Quinley knew he was feeling sorry for Luna again.

Even with Quinley still standing right there, he picked Luna up and settled her on his lap, wrapping his arms around her in comfort.

Then, he looked to the left side of the bed. "Quinn, Luna's never suffered a day in her life. Could you… Sleep in another room for now?"

In that moment, Quinley saw the flash of smugness on Luna's face.

She let out a mocking smile and picked up her pillow from the bed.

"Ms. Scott, if you like the bed, then it's yours."

Yes, it wasn't just the bed and the master bedroom.

She didn't want the man either.

Chapter 3

Over the next few days, with Gary accompanying her every night, Luna quickly regained her energy. When she got bored, she would even invite a few of her friends over.

"Luna, Gary must really have feelings for you. During that year you were in a coma, he was flying to Engrelle every few days. He even made a wish, saying if you woke up, he'd divorce his wife for you!"

Quinley happened to pass by just in time to hear this, and she felt as though a knife had stabbed her heart.

Since Gary wasn't around, Luna didn't bother pretending as she asked mockingly, "Quinn, what kind of coffee is this? It tastes like slop. Just looking at it makes me sick."

Expressionless, Quinley stepped forward and was about to take the coffee away when someone suddenly twisted her wrist.

At Luna's signal, one of her friends cursed harshly, "What the hell is this attitude? You're Luna's maid. You made her feel sick, so you should be kneeling and apologizing. Yet, you're here acting arrogant!"

Before Quinley could even react, the woman grabbed her hair and threw a hot cup of coffee on her.

But the next second, a man shouted, "Stop it!"

Gary had just walked in and saw everything. His face darkened as he rushed over and shielded Quinley behind him.

"Who gave you the right to bully her?"

The moment Luna heard Gary's voice, she suddenly welled up with tears when she had just been watching the scene smugly a second ago.

She swiftly clutched her stomach and cried out, "Gary, it's not like that! Don't blame my friend! She did it for me. Quinn added dairy to my coffee on purpose. My stomach hurts so bad."

Gary froze mid-motion. His gaze turned sharp as he looked at Quinley, his expression cold.

Dairy?

"Quinn, I told you Luna's lactose intolerant!"

How laughable. It took just one lie from Luna to make him go from shielding Quinley to flinging her aside.

"I didn't!" Coffee dripped from the ends of Quinley's hair as her eyes burned with tears. "She's faking it!"

But her explanation was drowned out by Luna's immaculate performance and her friends' exaggerated add-ons.

Finally losing his temper, Gary smashed the coffee cup on the table, then stormed forward and scooped Luna into his arms.

"Quinley, stay home and reflect on what you've done!"

However, Luna wasn't satisfied just yet. She cried even harder, looking pitiful and fragile. "I don't want to go to the hospital. No one's ever bullied me like this. I can't take it. Gary, just let me die from the pain."

Luna threw a tantrum and refused to go to the hospital until Gary finally hardened his heart and ordered his bodyguards coldly, "Take Mrs. White to the backyard and lock her up!"

Being locked up was a punishment set for the White family's bodyguards who committed serious offenses.

The 20-square-foot room was fully enclosed and dark. It also contained all kinds of bugs and insects.

Under the restraint of the bodyguards, Quinley trembled and struggled.

"No! I don't want to go!"

But no matter how she cried and screamed, the figure carrying Luna out of the house never looked back.

For a full 24 hours, Quinley curled up in the corner of the dark room, enduring the burning pain and itching on her skin.

The sensation of those insects crawling densely over her skin nearly drove her insane.

But no matter how she cried, the bodyguards assigned by Gary just stood outside, deaf to her pleas.

Until the moment she lost consciousness, she felt large patches of red scars on her skin. She was numb to the point of forgetting what pain was. Only a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

She closed her eyes and let despair drain away the last of her love.

"Quinn, wake up…"

That familiar voice pulled her back to consciousness. Quinley's eyes shot open.

The first thing she saw was the crystal chandelier in the guest room.

Gary, sitting at the bedside, finally let out a sigh of relief when he saw her awake. His tone softened unconsciously.

"I know you're upset, Quinn. But what you did was wrong. No matter what, you shouldn't have hurt Luna."

Quinley woke up only to face his accusations. She couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "You believe her so easily."

Gary frowned, suddenly showing signs of impatience. "Enough. I've already sent someone to the seaside to pay respects to your mom, so stop making trouble. Luna's condition is what really needs attention.

"She's been spoiled since she was little, and you scared her badly this time. She's been unable to sleep. The doctors can't figure out what's wrong. The spiritual advisor we brought in says the only way to protect her is to have the person who hurt her handcraft a thorn bracelet for her as a form of atonement."

Quinley froze.

So, the reason Gary was here with Quinley, waiting for her to wake up… was only for Luna?

Chapter 4

"Gary, can't you see what I look like now?" Quinley asked in a trembling voice.

She raised her arm, showing that it was covered in swollen, red welts. There wasn't a patch of intact skin, and the deep, bloody gashes were horrifying to look at.

But after a moment of silence, Gary still steeled himself and said, "Luna hasn't rested the whole day. The bracelet must be finished tonight."

"What if I say no? Are you going to lock me again and let those poisonous bugs bite me to death?" Quinley's eyes were red, but no more tears would fall.

Gary couldn't bring himself to look at her, holding back her tears as he shut his eyes with helpless frustration.

"Quinn, just bear with it. Once Luna recovers, and once I've repaid the debt for her saving my life, we'll go back to how we used to be."

One minute he was making a promise, then another minute he was breaking her heart again as his voice turned back to calm. "Remember, if you don't do it, the bodyguards will help you. They say the bracelet works best when it's stained with human blood."

The door to the guest room slammed shut.

The bodyguards stood dutifully beside the bed. "Mrs. White, don't waste time. Mr. White said the thorns must be plucked clean by your fingers, and every bead must be sanded down by hand."

That night, Quinley was dragged out of bed by the bodyguards and didn't close her eyes for a moment.

Her fingertips were pierced through, blood seeping out. Under the torture of the sandpaper, her fingers split open, each movement bringing searing pain.

Finally, at dawn, Luna's pleased voice echoed from the master bedroom. "Gary, this bracelet really works. I don't feel dizzy at all after putting it on."

"That's good. Now, go to sleep. I'm right here with you," Gary responded gently.

Quinley slowly curled up into a ball at the corner of the bed. She gripped her wounded fingers, watching blood drip onto the sheets. Her eyes stung so much that she almost laughed.

Once, when she pricked her finger on a rose thorn and bled a single drop, Gary would feel guilty and heartbroken for half the day. Now, he could take a bracelet dyed in her blood and use it to make another woman smile.

"And you dare say that we'll go back to how we used to be? Gary, things will never be the same. My love for you has been drained dry," Quinley thought.

Thanks to the bracelet, Luna had a good night's sleep. The next day, she cheerfully dragged Gary out for a stroll.

Quinley only found out through Luna's shared update online that they had gone to Grevia to watch the sunset.

The photo showed Soltherina's white walls with Gary's hand holding Luna's tightly. The caption was, "The tenth year of loving you. My wish is fulfilled."

Quinley stared at the photo, her heart so empty it felt as though the wind could pass right through. Strangely, though, she no longer felt any pain.

She took off the ring on her ring finger before going to the garden to uproot every bellflower from the flowerbed. Then, she cut them one by one and threw them into the trash.

Afterward, she opened her laptop to log into the account full of hate comments and scheduled a post to go live in a month.

She wrote, "By the time this letter is posted, I'll probably be gone…"

It was the "farewell letter" she had been planning for so long. When she finally typed the last period, she suddenly heard the sound of a car stopping in the yard.

Gary rushed into the house.

"Why did you destroy the bellflowers, Quinn? Weren't they your favorite? I planted those for you myself."

For some reason, he looked pale, and there were faint bloodstains on his sleeve.

Quinley glanced at him calmly, not questioning it as she shut her laptop with a loud snap. "The roots were rotten. Might as well plant something else in the future."

Hearing her mention "in the future," Gary suppressed the unease in his heart. "Alright. I'll plan new ones for you in the future."

Chapter 5

Gary came back that night, and there was a charity gala in their social circle that required Quinley's attendance.

That evening, before the Rolls-Royce headed to the venue, it first made a stop at a styling salon.

Gary personally got out to escort her. Luna was dressed in a private couture dress worth millions, holding a rare diamond-studded exotic leather bag, but she just stood there motionless.

The man awkwardly opened the backseat door. "Quinley, you—"

Before he could finish, Quinley silently got out of the car and went straight to sit in the passenger seat next to the driver.

The charity gala was held at a manor estate. In the banquet hall on the first floor, shadows and light danced under an enameled chandelier.

The moment Luna appeared arm-in-arm with Gary, she became the center of attention. A group of socialites instinctively gathered around her.

"Luna, Mr. White treats you so well! You're the first in the world to wear that dress!"

"Right? I heard he was abroad recently, and to snatch this dress from a tycoon, Mr. White made a bet to race him. He even injured his arm."

So, he got that injury from getting the couture dress for Luna.

As the conversation went on, Luna's eyes grew red with emotion. "Don't bring it up. I felt so awful because he bled so much. I only mentioned once that I liked it, and he just…"

"Haha, that's real love. He'd risk his life for you."

The flattery flowed from all directions. Someone even sneered while glancing at Quinley. "Some people wear a pile of trash from five seasons ago and think they're at the top of the world when they're not even fit to lick the shoes of an heiress!"

Quinley looked at the dress she was wearing—Gary had arranged for her to wear this.

Trying her best to endure it, Quinley clenched her fists.

Once the gala began, there was a charity auction in the middle of the evening. Though the items weren't to Luna's taste, Gary kept bidding generously to help maintain her reputation.

Except for one emerald ring. He was a step too late, as it had already been snatched up by another bidder the moment it hit the stage.

Of all the things, Luna just happened to like the ring.

She tugged on Gary's sleeve, pouting. "Gary, I really like that ring. If I don't get it, I won't be able to eat tonight."

With just that sentence from Luna, Gary personally approached the winning bidder after the auction. "Mr. Jackson, name your price. Whether it's ten or a hundred times more than the original price, I have no objection."

Charles Jackson just chuckled. "Mr. White, you know how I do things. I don't care about money. It's just that I haven't had much inspiration lately, and I happen to need a model. How about this…"

Quinley, on her way back from the restroom, accidentally overheard the conversation at a corner.

"I find your wife quite pleasing to the eye. If she agrees to pose for me as a model just once, I'll let you have the ring at the original price."

Gary's expression darkened. "I'll think about it."

At that moment, Quinley felt as if she had fallen into an icy pit because what did he mean by that?

Charles was infamous in their circle for being a playboy, with a known fetish—he loved photography but only a certain kind.

Quinley's body trembled slightly as she turned and walked away quickly.

But not long after, in a corner of the banquet hall, someone grabbed her.

"Quinley, I need to talk to you about something."

Gary paused, handing her a glass of fruit wine he had mixed himself. He was trying to please her. "You can see that Luna's doing much better lately. Once she recovers a bit more, she'll be able to move out. It's just… She really liked that ring.

"The buyer said if you're willing to pose for him as a photography model just once, he'll let it go. So, I was wondering if—"

"Absolutely not!" Quinley choked back her trembling voice and shoved him hard. "What do you take me for, Gary?"

A wave of bitterness surged through her. Quinley tried to suppress the turbulent emotions and downed the glass of fruit wine as if she were trying to vent her feelings.

But just as she stepped out of the banquet hall, her head suddenly spun, and she collapsed backward.

There was something wrong with that drink.

As her consciousness blurred, she vaguely felt Gary catch her in his arms.

"I'm sorry, Quinley. This will be the last time," he whispered into her ear, his voice filled with pain.