Chapter 1

Madeline Lockhart hires a lawyer to draft divorce papers the moment she was sure she was pregnant.

She asked the lawyer if she could sign on her husband's, Bradley Shaw, behalf since he would be too busy to show up. To prove his agreement, she called him.

"I told you, didn't I? Handle everything yourself," he said. "I don't have time for your nonsense."

The next moment, Louise Lowe's coy voice drifted through the phone.

"Bradley, you're peeling them too fast. I can't finish them all."

With that, the call ended with a sharp click.

Madeline smiled faintly at the lawyer and said, "See? I told you."

The lawyer frowned and hesitated, but he eventually gave in to her request.

Once the papers were signed, Madeline felt an invisible weight lifted from her chest. She returned home in unusually high spirits and retrieved a photo from her collection, polishing the frame with care.

A few housekeepers passed by and noticed her at it again. They leaned in close, exchanging hushed whispers.

"Mrs. Shaw really does love Mr. Shaw, doesn't she? She stares at his photo countless times a day and polishes that frame like it's sacred."

"What's the use?" the other replied. "Mr. Shaw doesn't care for her at all. He's always so cold to her."

"Exactly. He flew out to see Ms. Lowe constantly when she was overseas. Now that she's back, he's with her every day and barely comes back."

Their words were laced with sympathy, but Madeline paid them no mind. Because the man in the photograph wasn't Bradley, and the man she loved had never been him.

The only reason she married him was because of his face, one that mirrored Anthony Shaw's exactly.

Bradley and Anthony were identical twins.

Madeline and Anthony had fallen in love when they were at university. He had promised that once they graduated, he would take her home to meet his family and get married.

But life had other plans. Without warning, Anthony was gone—taken by an accident so sudden he left no final words. Just like that, she lost the love of her life.

After knowing a love as deep as Anthony's, Madeline knew her heart would never belong to anyone else again. All she wished for now was to have a child who looked like him, a living reminder to walk beside her through the years ahead.

Bradley, Anthony's twin brother, was the perfect candidate.

From that moment on, Madeline began drawing close to Bradley. She pursued him with relentless devotion and did everything in her power to win him over.

At the time, Bradley's crush, Louise, had just gone to study abroad. Frustrated by his family's constant pressure to marry, he agreed to Madeline's proposal with one condition.

She could have anything she wanted, except his love.

It was a humiliating demand. Yet Madeline accepted without hesitation.

Bradley assumed she was simply head over heels for him and didn't question it.

On their wedding day, Bradley didn't even show up. Louise had caught a cold, and that was enough for him to abandon Madeline at the altar.

After they were married, he flew abroad constantly to visit Louise and even made Madeline book his flights.

Their bedroom was lined with photos of Louise. His study overflowed with more of them. Even the garden behind their villa bloomed with her favorite flowers.

With each slight, Madeline became the laughingstock of their social circle.

But she never cared. She played the dutiful wife flawlessly, asking for only one thing. Every moment he was home, she ensured they shared a bed.

Bradley mistook it for desperate affection, believing she loved him just as hopelessly as he loved Louise.

His love for Louise ran deep. Despite his status, Bradley had never confessed as he was too terrified of losing her. Thus, in his silence, Louise ended up with someone else and left the country.

Madeline never corrected his assumptions. There was no point.

With her pregnancy confirmed, her purpose was fulfilled.

It was time to go.

Chapter 2

The next morning, Bradley, who hadn't been home in quite some time, suddenly showed up.

The moment he saw Madeline, he got straight to the point. "You make a good chicken soup, don't you?"

Before she could reply, he added, "Louise wants some. Make it and come with me to the hospital."

Madeline looked up, ready to refuse, but her eyes fell on the watch around his wrist. In that instant, she changed her mind.

"Fine. I'll make it just the way she likes. But I want your watch in return," she stated.

Bradley didn't hesitate. He slipped it off and placed it in front of her. "Take it."

Such transactions weren't unusual between them. Over the years, he'd often sent Madeline to run errands for Louise. It was either booking flights, queuing for her favorite pastries, or even helping to pick out gifts for her.

Madeline never refused. She simply asked for something in exchange, such as a pen he'd used for years, a watch, or a book. They were nothing valuable, but things he'd used for a long time.

She gently tucked the watch into a small box, treating it like a treasure.

Bradley couldn't help but ask, "Are you that in love with me? Collecting everything I've owned?"

Madeline paused. She knew he had misunderstood. Everything she had asked of him over the years had once belonged to Anthony.

After Anthony's death, Bradley kept his brother's belongings close as mementos. And Madeline, too, had wanted to hold on to those fragments of a life lost.

But she didn't explain. She simply smiled and muttered, "Yes, I really do love you…"

"Your brother," she thought, but never said aloud.

For reasons Bradley couldn't name, the warmth in Madeline's gaze rattled him for the first time. Memories of her quiet devotion over the years flickered through his mind, leaving him strangely off balance.

He frowned, shaking the thought away. Then, with his usual coldness, he said, "Hurry up with the soup."

Once it was ready, they left together for the hospital.

During the drive, Bradley suddenly remembered the call from the day before.

"You called me yesterday. What was it about?" he asked.

Madeline, holding the thermal jar in her arms, fixed her gaze on the car window.

"Nothing important. I've already dealt with it," she replied faintly.

He hummed in acknowledgment and said, "Louise is sick, and I'm looking after her in the hospital. Don't bother me with other things."

Madeline nodded obediently, her face calm and unbothered.

Bradley glanced at her, a question surfacing in his mind.

He wondered if Madeline really was so in love with him that she'd endured all this without a word, and if she loved him enough to watch the way he doted on another woman in her presence.

At the hospital, they stepped into Louise's hospital room together.

Louise's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Madeline. "I only mentioned it in passing. I can't believe you actually brought her!"

Madeline set down the thermal jar, opened it, and began to ladle soup into a bowl.

"He takes your words to heart," she said.

Bradley was startled to hear her defend him. But instead of feeling pleased, a strange discomfort settled in his chest.

He abruptly took the bowl from her hands. "You can leave now. I've got it from here."

Madeline said nothing. She picked up her bag and turned to go. As the door closed behind her, she caught one last glimpse of Bradley gently feeding Louise.

"Careful, it's hot," he said softly. "I brought your favorite brownies, too."

Louise beamed. "You went all the way across town for those?"

Madeline shut the door behind her and walked away without looking back.

Chapter 3

The days that followed unfolded exactly as Bradley had said. He never left the hospital, spending every moment at Louise's side.

Even when pressing matters at the company demanded his attention, his assistant would bring the documents and laptop straight to the hospital.

When Louise craved a specific fruit, Bradley would send a private jet to get it from abroad. It would arrive by air, washed and served to her.

To encourage her to eat, he even rewarded each bite with a gold bar.

Stories like these dominated headlines for days. Yet, Madeline remained unaffected. She only smiled faintly as she read them.

On the day of Jorvain University's centennial celebration, Madeline was invited to attend as an honored alumna. After signing in at the entrance, she spotted two familiar faces in the crowd.

Bradley and Louise had come.

They saw her too. With no way to avoid them, Madeline walked over.

Louise greeted her first. "You graduated from Jorvain University, too, Ms. Lockhart?

Madeline nodded in response.

Bradley furrowed his brow and asked, "Which year?"

"Class of 2017," she replied matter-of-factly.

Louise's eyes brightened. "You were in the same year as Bradley's brother! Did you know Anthony? I heard he had a girlfriend back then. He cherished her so much and was planning to introduce her to his family. It's such a shame…"

Her words trailed off abruptly.

Anthony's death was a forbidden subject in the Shaw family. It remained a raw wound no one dared to reopen. Realizing what she'd said, Louise quickly turned and apologized to Bradley, flustered.

Madeline stood frozen, trembling. Beneath her sleeve, her nails dug into her palm as a tightness seized her chest, stealing her breath.

Bradley's expression darkened, but for Louise's sake, he held back his anger.

"We've walked enough. Let's get lunch," he said, steering them away.

The three of them went to a nearby restaurant, where the entire meal was ordered and tailored to Louise's preferences.

Bradley doted on her the whole time. He peeled her shrimp, cut her steak, and even deboned her fish before gently placing it on her plate.

Halfway through dinner, Madeline excused herself to the restroom. Louise had happened to be on a call inside one of the stalls.

Madeline had no intention of eavesdropping and was about to knock to give a heads-up, until she heard Bradley's name.

Louise's voice echoed through the space. "Of course. If I don't play it this way, how would Bradley ever fall this hard for me?

"His wife? Please. Everyone knows how cold he's been to her all these years.

"Relax. I know what I'm doing. I've mastered the art of playing hard to get. The longer I pretend not to notice his feelings, the tighter he'll cling. He'll never leave me.

"Trust me. Men always want what they can't have."

So that was what Louise thought. Madeline couldn't help but smirk. It turned out Bradley's unforgettable lover wasn't as innocent as she seemed.

Just then, the stall door opened. Louise stepped out and froze the moment she saw Madeline adjusting her clothes at the sink. Her face paled.

Biting her lip, Louise asked stiffly, "How long have you been here? How much did you hear?"

Madeline said nothing.

"You'd better not run to Bradley. He won't believe you anyway," she added hastily.

Madeline wasn't impressed by her desperation to control the narrative. She dried her hands and turned to leave.

Just then, Louise grabbed her arm from behind. Before she could react, Louise flung herself against the wall, collapsed to the floor, and started to sob.

The commotion brought Bradley sprinting in.

He found Louise crumpled on the floor, her forehead bruised and tears streaking her face. Madeline, on the other hand, stood cold and silent.

Bradley rushed to Louise and gathered her into his arms. Then he turned to Madeline, his eyes sharp with accusation.

"Did you push her?"

Before Madeline could answer, Louise whimpered, "Bradley, my head hurts… Ms. Lockhart hates me…"

Seeing her in pain, Bradley was overwhelmed with concern. He lifted Louise in his arms and began to carry her out.

Madeline stepped forward to leave, only to be shoved aside by him. She was standing close to the staircase. Missing her steps, she stumbled and fell.

The world spun. Pain seared through her body, and her bones screamed as she crashed down the steps.

When she finally stopped, Madeline tried to sit up. Her hand pressed against the floor and came away slick with blood. The thought of her baby sent terror spiking in her chest.

Her voice cracked. "Bradley, don't go! Call 911! Please!"

At the top of the stairs, Bradley stood still. His gaze locked on her, cold and ruthless.

"Take this as your punishment for laying a hand on Louise," he said flatly.

Then, he turned without looking back and walked away with Louise in his arms.

Madeline stared at his retreating figure, and something inside her broke. She could endure any pain, but she couldn't afford to lose her child.

The pool of blood grew beneath her. The crimson stain seeped through her vision as panic gripped her in full. Despair swallowed her whole.

With trembling fingers, she fumbled for the phone in her pocket and dialed 911. She barely managed to gasp out the address before her strength gave out and darkness took her.

And in that darkness, she dreamed.

Anthony was beside her again, warm and gentle, just like he'd always been.

He reached out and touched her belly gently. With tenderness, he asked, "Do you think it's a boy or a girl, Maddy? Either way, I'll love them the same.

"Will they look more like me, or you?" he wondered aloud. "Yours, I hope. You're the beautiful one."

Anthony's figure was vivid under the golden light. It was as if he'd never left her.

Madeline reached for his cheek with a trembling hand. But her hand met only air.

When she woke again, she was lying in a hospital bed. Her wounds were already treated and bandaged.

A doctor was beside her, changing her dressing. Seeing her awake, he spoke urgently, concern etched across his face.

"You're pregnant. What were you doing falling down the stairs? You're lucky the baby survived. Now get your husband to fill out the paperwork."

Madeline stared at the ceiling, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't have a husband. The man I love is already gone."

Just then, the door burst open. Bradley stood in the doorway, his expression stormy.

"Who did you say is gone?"

Chapter 4

Assuming it was just a marital spat, the doctor intervened. "Let's not argue right now. Your wife's—"

Before he could finish, Madeline abruptly sat up and interjected, "Doctor, weren't you going to get my medication?"

The doctor was startled, but he said nothing more and left.

Bradley turned to Madeline, asking, "What did the doctor mean just now? What's wrong?"

Madeline brushed it off with a vague reply. "Nothing serious. He meant there were injuries around my abdomen, too."

Bradley's expression darkened, and his voice remained cold.

"You wouldn't have fallen down the stairs if you hadn't gone after Louise. You started this whole mess. Go apologize to her."

Madeline shook her head and protested, "I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize? There were cameras in the restaurant. You'll see what happened if you check the footage."

Bradley's expression hardened even more. "I don't need to check any footage. I believe Louise. You owe her an apology."

Madeline, drained by everything she had endured, was far too exhausted to argue further. She just wanted to focus on her recovery and the pregnancy.

"If I apologize, will you leave me alone?" she asked helplessly.

There was something in her resigned tone that made Bradley doubt. Something felt off, but he nodded anyway.

Without another word, Madeline got up and walked to Louise's hospital room.

"I'm sorry," she said flatly.

Then, she turned to Bradley. "Are we good now?"

She left without waiting for his response, leaving him standing there, unsettled.

…

During her hospital stay, Madeline couldn't stop hearing whispers from the nurses. They spoke of how gentle and attentive Bradley was to Louise.

He had arranged for the best doctors in the city despite Louise's minor injuries, personally fed her whatever she wanted, and even carried her to the bathroom.

Madeline tuned it all out, focusing only on her recovery.

On the day of her discharge, after completing all the check-ups, the doctor confirmed her baby was healthy.

She placed a hand over her belly, asking, "Would the children of twins look alike?"

The question was odd enough to make the doctor pause.

"That depends on the genes, but if the father's genetic traits are dominant, it's possible," he explained.

Madeline breathed a sigh of relief. After thanking the doctor, she turned to leave.

She had barely stepped outside the hospital when she ran into Louise, who was also being discharged that day, with Bradley by her side.

Louise smiled brightly the moment she saw Madeline, slipping back into that innocent facade she wore so well.

"Ms. Lockhart, let's put the past behind us. To celebrate my discharge, Bradley planned a little get-together. You should come with us!" she offered, beaming.

Before Madeline could refuse, Louise took her hand and pulled her toward the car.

Several of their mutual friends were already waiting when they arrived at the private lounge.

Throughout the entire gathering, Bradley doted on Louise. He peeled her fruits, shielded her from drinks, and draped his jacket over her lap. The tenderness in his every gesture drew admiring glances from the others.

Madeline, on the other hand, didn't look their way even once.

Later in the evening, someone suggested a party game. Whoever lost a round could choose between a truth-or-dare or a drink.

Eventually, Madeline lost.

When Louise lost earlier, Bradley had gallantly stepped in to drink for her each time.

However, she knew full well Bradley wouldn't come to her aid, not in front of everyone. Without hesitation, she chose truth.

A friend who knew the complicated tension between the three cast a glance at Louise, then smirked as he asked, "Is the person you like in this room right now?"

Madeline didn't even lift her head. She took a slow sip of the juice in front of her, then replied evenly,

"No."

Chapter 5

The room fell into stunned silence. No one had expected that to be Madeline's response.

Everyone in their social circle knew how devoted she had always been to Bradley. Since their marriage, she had trailed behind him like a shadow, giving endlessly and never asking anything in return.

Yet now, in front of everyone, she had claimed the man she loved wasn't present. It was a slap to Bradley's face.

Bradley's expression darkened. He downed his drink in one gulp, followed by a few more glasses.

As the games continued, Madeline's words echoed relentlessly in his mind. Distracted, he kept losing round after round.

Bradley's friends, sensing an opportunity to give him a push, requested to see his photo gallery and pinned chats on WhatsApp.

The revelations came as no surprise. His camera roll overflowed with images of Louise, her smiling, her quiet moments, and her retreating figure. She was the only one in his pinned chats.

Lost in thought, Bradley didn't realize he had, in effect, confessed his feelings for her in front of everyone.

Beside him, Louise's cheeks flushed a soft pink as she looked up at him shyly. "Bradley, I didn't know you felt that way about me…"

She trailed off, too bashful to finish. The others didn't press her further.

As the gathering wound down, Louise made her move.

"Bradley, there's been some suspicious activity around my place lately. Even with the security patrols, they haven't found anything. Do you think you could stay with me for a few days?"

The room buzzed with chatter, except for Madeline. She remained silent, calmly nibbling fruits on the plate with a fork.

If Louise wanted to put on a show, she was more than willing to watch.

But then, something unexpected happened. Bradley, who had pandered to Louise's every whim, turned her down for the very first time.

"Louise, I've got a few things to take care of. I'll come later, okay?"

And without waiting for a reply, he called for the driver to take Louise home. Then, he took Madeline's hand and led her into the car.

The ride home was cold and silent.

Stepping inside the villa, Bradley noticed a distinct scent filled the air.

Madeline had been taking supplements to support her pregnancy. Bradley'd never paid much attention before, but with his senses heightened now, the smell struck him immediately.

His eyes narrowed as he demanded, "What exactly are you taking three times a day?"

Madeline's heart skipped a beat. Steadying herself, she explained, "They're health supplements. I'll need to keep taking them for a while. Maybe you should stay with Ms. Lowe instead. That way, you won't have to put up with the smell. You'll be there to protect her, too."

The suggestion caught him off guard.

In all their years together, Madeline had never once voiced a complaint, nor shown resistance to his feelings for Louise. But this was the first time she had ever pushed him away willingly.

The realization should have pleased him. Instead, it settled like a weight in his chest.

Then, suddenly, it clicked.

"Are you jealous? You said that during the game because you were upset that I've been taking care of Louise and ignoring you, didn't you?"

His tone relaxed as he continued, "I told you that my heart already belongs to someone else when we got married. I could give you my last name, but never my love. Besides, what happened the other day was your fault. It's only right that I look after her.

"Stop making a fuss. You've been eyeing that sculpture in my study for years, haven't you? It's yours now."

Madeline opened her mouth to explain, but she changed her mind.

Anthony had carved the sculpture by hand and gifted it to Bradley for his birthday. She had asked Bradley for it many times, but he had always refused. Now, out of nowhere, he was giving it to her.

She nodded and responded gently, "Alright. I won't make a fuss anymore."

As her words fell, Bradley's lips curved in triumph as if everything had gone exactly the way he'd predicted.

Just then, Louise's call came through again. Without hesitation, he turned and left.