Chapter 1

Kaelis Windryn and Garrick Ironvale were childhood sweethearts.

He had pursued her relentlessly for ten years through elementary school and university, using every trick he knew. Everyone said he was hopelessly in love with her.

Yet, he fell for Lyra Fenvale, a lady who resembled Kaelis in her youth, when they were only three years into marriage.

The first time Kaelis caught him cheating, he knelt before her and pleaded for her forgiveness. "Kae, it was just a fling."

He clung to her like a madman and refused to let her go when she caught him the second time. "Kae, this will be the last time I sleep with her. I swear."

She reached her limit and sent Lyra abroad when it happened the third time. He stopped pleading with her this time and smashed up the entire house instead.

Shards of glass cut into her arm. He rubbed the center of his brows and said tiredly, "Kae, you can always find a man of your own if you feel that it's unfair. We can have an open marriage and come home once we've had fun. Stop targeting Lyra over and over again."

He grew indifferent toward Kaelis after bringing Lyra back. He was confident she would never be with someone else, so he spoiled Lyra without restraint.

He was with Lyra on their wedding anniversary. He left kiss marks on Lyra's neck and even kissed her right before Kaelis.

Kaelis endured him repeatedly, as she was deeply in love with him.

This continued until she found an amnesiac young man who claimed to remember nothing but his name, Theron Nightbriar.

She settled him in another villa and visited him whenever Garrick broke her heart.

He would prepare her hangover soup and listen quietly as she cried, then gently pull a blanket over her when she fell asleep.

She slept with him after drinking too much one night.

Once became twice, then a third time.

She used Theron to numb herself, pretending this could erase the pain Garrick had given her.

Then one day, he kissed her neck and murmured, "Kae, give me a name."

He cupped her face. "Leave your miserable marriage and look at me."

Kaelis looked at Theron in a daze. His face was no less handsome than Garrick's, perhaps even gentler.

However, she panicked and fled the villa in a hurry.

She saw Lyra's social media post the moment she unlocked her phone.

The photo grid was filled with nine of her nude photos! There was no blurring or censoring. Every detail was laid bare for the world to see.

Her entire body trembled, her fingers icy, and her knees nearly buckled.

The comments were piling up beneath the post.

"Wow! This is Kae? Mr. Ironvale's wild!"

"Didn't know Kae had such a figure!"

"Bold move, Mr. Ironvale!"

Her heart felt as if it had been crushed in a merciless grip. It was so painful that she felt suffocated.

Lyra's message came in at that moment. "Sorry, Ms. Windryn. I lost a game. I had to post and pin daring pictures for a day. I'm too shy to post mine, so I asked Garrick for yours. You wouldn't be mad over such a trivial matter, right?"

She stared at the message, and her eyes darkened.

How could Garrick give Lyra her nude photos and let her post them online for everyone to see?

Another message came. It was from Garrick. "It's just a game. Lyra's still young—don't take it seriously."

Kaelis stared at the screen and suddenly laughed until tears streamed down her face.

Was this his idea of an open marriage?

He could have his fun and return home whenever he wanted. But what about her?

Were her dignity and privacy nothing more than a toy to amuse Lyra?

She took in a deep breath and called a friend. "Help me find out where Garrick is right now."

Half an hour later, she was outside a private room in an upscale club.

She pushed the door open and saw Garrick lowering his head to kiss away a drop of milk from the corner of Lyra's mouth.

Lyra was dressed in a white dress. Her long, straight hair fell over her shoulders. She looked pure and innocent, like a university student untouched by the world.

She looked exactly like how Kaelis had been years ago.

Kaelis' chest tightened painfully, but she forced herself forward and extended her hand toward Lyra. "Give me your phone. Delete the photos."

Lyra blinked innocently and looked at Garrick in feigned aggrievance. "Garrick, the time's not up yet. I'll lose the game if I delete them now."

Only then did he lift his gaze to look at Kaelis and say faintly, "She can delete them, but Lyra will lose the game. You'll have to take the punishment for her."

He pointed to a table full of hard liquor. "Drink all of these, and I'll have her delete them."

Kaelis froze. He knew she couldn't drink.

He had rushed her to the hospital for a gastric lavage once after she accidentally had a sip.

Yet, he wanted her to drink all of it now?

She looked at him as if he were a stranger.

"Fine." She chuckled and picked up a bottle without hesitation before downing it.

The liquor burned her throat and scorched her stomach.

However, she didn't stop. She finished every bottle until the last drop. She suppressed the metallic taste rising in her throat and asked in a raspy voice, "Are you satisfied?"

Garrick frowned and was surprised that she had finished them. Nevertheless, he handed her both their phones. "Go ahead and delete the photos."

Kaelis took the phones. She deleted all the photos on Lyra's social media before combing through Garrick's gallery and erasing every picture of herself.

Garrick clicked his tongue. "So petty? Fine, I'll take more of them next time."

She gave a bitter smile. "There won't be next time."

She turned around and left the private room. She couldn't hold back the metallic taste the moment she rounded the hallway's corner.

Blood gushed from her mouth. Her vision went dark, and she collapsed to the ground.

"Someone's hurt! She's coughing blood!" a waiter shouted in a panic.

Garrick shot to his feet at the commotion from the private room. But Lyra let out a soft cry and clutched her ankle before he could step outside. "Garrick, I sprained my ankle. It hurts…"

He stopped in his tracks and eventually turned back to her. "Let me see."

Kaelis lay on the floor. She saw him through her fading vision and realized he wasn't even glancing her way.

Her hope died completely in that moment.

…

She was lying in an unfamiliar room when she regained her consciousness.

"Are you awake?" A low male voice sounded.

She turned to see Theron sitting by the bed. He was holding a cup of warm water.

"With how he treats you, is there any point in holding onto that marriage?"

Her body trembled as she opened her eyes and looked out the window.

The sun was bright, and the trees were swaying gently. Memories from all these years flashed before her eyes.

18-year-old Garrick had climbed over the school wall to bring her breakfast. He grinned when he was caught by the principal. "I'm courting Kae."

22-year-old Garrick proposed to her in front of everyone at the graduation. "Kae, I'll never marry anyone else but you."

25-year-old Garrick held her in his arms in a drunken state. "Dear, let's have a baby."

And yet, 29-year-old Garrick had thrown her into hell for Lyra.

"Kae." Theron took her hand. "Will you give me a chance?"

His hand was warm. It reminded her of a time when someone had promised to treat her well for the rest of her life.

She glanced over at Theron.

He was strikingly handsome. He had well-defined brows, a straight nose, and a sharp jawline.

There was a depth of care in his eyes she had never once found in Garrick's.

Theron had quietly stood by her side whenever Garrick broke her heart. He had wiped her tears, held her trembling body, and given her the gentlest comfort when she was drunk.

A moment of silence filled the ward.

He didn't press her further and just waited in silence.

The plane tree leaves rustled in the breeze outside. One of them drifted down onto the windowsill.

She felt that it was time to let go. "Alright."

Her voice was soft but resolute. "I'll divorce Garrick immediately."

Chapter 2

A flicker of joy crossed Theron's eyes. He immediately held Kaelis' hand. "I'll handle the divorce arrangements."

She shook her head. "No. I don't want him to come after you. I can handle it. In the meantime, stay in the villa and wait for me."

He frowned and was about to argue, but her resolve was unshakable. In the end, he could only compromise and leave.

After a day of rest, Kaelis was discharged from the hospital. She then headed to a law firm.

"Mrs. Ironvale, the breakdown of your marriage is clear based on the evidence provided. The hearing will be in a month, and the likelihood of divorce being granted is very high," the lawyer said, adjusting his glasses.

Kaelis nodded gratefully and walked out of the law firm. The sunlight was so bright that it stung her eyes.

Her footsteps faltered at the scene before her when she returned home and opened the door.

Garrick and Lyra were having a candlelit dinner.

The table was filled with Lyra's favourite dishes. He was peeling shrimps for her, and every movement of his was as tender as if handling a priceless treasure.

He fed the shrimp to her himself after dipping it in sauce before gently wiping the oil from the corners of her lips with a napkin.

Kaelis hadn't seen that tenderness in a very long time.

"You're back?" Garrick didn't even look up at her. "Feeling better?"

"Yeah." She walked straight to the kitchen and couldn't look at the scene any longer.

She made a pot of broth and brought it out. Lyra suddenly got up. "Ms. Windryn, isn't that hot? Let me help you."

She had already snatched the pot before Kaelis could react. "Ah!"

Scalding broth splashed all over Kaelis, and a searing pain instantly shot through her arm and chest.

Lyra caught only a few drops, yet her eyes immediately brimmed with tears. "It hurts…"

Garrick shot to his feet and shoved Kaelis. "Kaelis, what are you doing?"

She stumbled backward, slamming her lower back into the table corner and hitting her forehead against the cabinet.

Warm blood trickled down her cheeks, mixing with the broth and leaving her in a wretched state.

"Open your eyes and look." Kaelis' voice trembled. "She's the one who spilled it on me…"

"That's enough!" Garrick cut her off coldly. "Lyra's kind and innocent. She would never do such a thing!"

He looked down to check Lyra's hand. His voice was unbelievably gentle. "Does it hurt? I'll take you to the hospital."

Lyra leaned into his arms with teary eyes. "Garrick, will it leave a scar?"

"No, it won't," he reassured gently, sweeping her up in his arms. "We'll find the best doctor for you."

He shot Kaelis an icy look before leaving. "Find a man of your own if you can't stand Lyra. There's no need to play these petty tricks at home."

Kaelis collapsed onto the floor the moment the door was shut.

The burns on her skin throbbed with pain, and blood from her forehead dripped onto the floor.

She recalled a time when Garrick used to be so worried when she had only nicked her finger. He had even insisted on taking her to the hospital for a bandage.

Now, she was injured, yet he walked away with another woman in his arms without glancing back.

She returned to her room and gritted her teeth as she tended to her injuries.

The cotton swab was soaked in liquid medicine, and she felt unbearable pain each time it touched her skin.

…

Garrick never returned for several days in a row.

Lyra's social media posts were like blades, stabbing straight through her heart every day.

"It's 4:00 am. He drove me to the beach to watch the sunrise." Attached was a photo of Garrick's silhouette.

"I offhandedly said I wanted a cake from West City, so he drove two hours to get it for me." Attached was a photo of a delicate strawberry cake.

Kaelis scrolled through them numbly and quietly packed her luggage.

One day, she saw a pair of rings in an auction catalog.

The design was minimalist and elegant, with vines engraved along the inner band. It was like her and Theron, saving each other in the darkness.

Since she had promised to give him a name, there should be a token.

Therefore, Kaelis picked up her car keys and drove to the auction. The moment she sat down, she saw Garrick and Lyra walk in.

Lyra wrapped her hands around Garrick's arms and whispered something to him. The corners of his lips curved into a smile, and his eyes carried a hint of tenderness.

Once the auction began, Garrick bought every piece of jewelry that Lyra fancied without hesitation.

"Mr. Ironvale, you and your wife must have a wonderful relationship. You still love her as much as ever after all these years," someone gushed.

Garrick didn't deny it. Instead, he wrapped an arm around Lyra's waist. "Yes, I love her very much."

Chapter 3

Garrick's voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for Kaelis to hear it.

Her grip tightened around the auction catalog. She felt like a bunch of needles were pricking at her heart before swiftly regaining her composure.

That was when that pair of couples' rings appeared on the display stage.

"Ocean's Heart diamond couple rings, starting bid at five million dollars!"

Kaelis raised her paddle without hesitation. "Ten million!"

"15 million!"

"20 million!"

…

The bidding price increased rapidly.

Kaelis raised the price continuously until the auctioneer announced in shock, "Sold! Congratulations, Ms. Windryn!"

The room erupted in commotion.

Garrick finally raised his head to glance at her. He frowned slightly.

He hadn't expected her to be willing to pay so much for those rings. But soon enough, he looked away and whispered something to Lyra.

Lyra's eyes lit up instantly when the attendant brought over the rings. "Garrick, these rings are perfect for us!"

She tugged at his sleeve and said sweetly, "I want them…"

Kaelis watched from her seat at the side. Garrick didn't even glance at the rings and bluntly told her, "Kae, give Lyra the rings."

"No." Kaelis slipped them into her bag. "They're a gift to someone."

"A gift to someone?" Lyra's eyes widened in feigned surprise. "Those are couples' rings. Ms. Windryn, do you have another man out there?"

Garrick chuckled and reached out to ruffle Lyra's hair before Kaelis could respond. "Another man? How could that be possible? She's deeply in love with me. She must be giving them to me."

Kaelis looked at his expression filled with certainty and felt like a piece of her chest had been carved out.

Yes, she had indeed loved him very much.

She had loved him so much that she would cry alone at night rather than accept his so-called open marriage.

She had loved him so much that she excused his betrayal repeatedly.

She had loved him so much that she gave up her pride, all so that he could spare her a glance.

Yet, how had he repaid her?

He had thrown her love onto the ground and trampled it in the cruelest way.

He had crushed her dignity in front of everyone and turned her into a laughingstock, yet he expected her to accept it with a smile.

He didn't want her love, but someone else did.

"This mass-produced piece doesn't suit you." Garrick lowered his head to comfort Lyra. His voice was unbelievably gentle. "I'll take you to customize one, alright?"

Lyra cast Kaelis a triumphant glance and said sweetly, "Alright…"

Her look seemed to say that this man was hers now.

Kaelis closed her eyes briefly and had had enough of their sickening display, so she got up to leave.

The lower ground parking garage was damp and cold. She walked briskly toward her car.

She saw out of the corner of her eye that Garrick and Lyra had also come down. He was talking on the phone from a short distance away.

Lyra suddenly got into the driver's seat. The engine roared before Kaelis could react.

The car shot forward and slammed into her. She was thrown into the air with her back smashing to the ground. She could hear the crack of her ribs breaking.

"Kae!" Garrick's panicked voice came from afar.

Lyra's expression shifted instantly. She cried as she stumbled out of the car. "Garrick, I didn't mean to! The car just moved on its own…"

With that, she closed her eyes and fainted as if overcome by fright.

Garrick stopped in his tracks and glanced hesitantly at Kaelis lying in a pool of blood.

That glance reminded Kaelis of a rainy night years ago.

She was burning with fever back then, and he had carried her on his back through the storm to the hospital.

She had cried from the pain, and he comforted her repeatedly. "Kae, don't be afraid. I'm here."

And now, he only hesitated for three seconds before turning his back on her to scoop Lyra into his arms.

Kaelis lay in a pool of blood as she watched him get into the car and disappear into the distance.

Tears and blood blurred her vision, but she had lost all strength to cry.

The man who had once cared for nothing but her was gone.

…

A sharp sting of antiseptic filled her senses and made her temples throb when she regained consciousness.

Garrick sat at the bedside. The first words he said when he saw her awake were, "Lyra didn't do it on purpose. She was so shocked that she fainted. She knows it was her fault, so don't blame her."

A searing pain suddenly ripped through her chest as if someone was carving into her heart with a dull knife. She felt as if her throat was gripped by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe.

"You—" She tried to speak, but only a broken rasp escaped.

Her ribs were fractured, and her body was covered in injuries. Every small movement in bed sent pain down her spine and cold sweat down her face. Yet, the first thing he did was defend the woman who had just run her down!

Chapter 4

Garrick set his phone aside. He extended his hand and was about to steady her, but the painful look on Kaelis' face made him pause.

He frowned slightly and asked, his voice carrying a perfunctory trace of concern, "Does it hurt? I'll get the doctor."

Kaelis looked away, not wanting him to see the tears in her eyes. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the glow of his phone screen. It showed an open chat with another woman. The last message was sent just ten minutes ago. "Don't be afraid. I'll be back soon to be with you."

It turned out that the tender smile on his face earlier by her bedside was never meant for her.

Although he stayed in the ward for the next few hours, his heart was elsewhere. His phone buzzed every few minutes, and the corners of his lips would subconsciously curl into a smile.

"You don't need to be here." She finally broke the silence. Her voice was hoarse. "Go to her."

He raised his brows and suddenly laughed. "Are you jealous?"

He set down his phone and held her hand. His tone sounded more like condescension than comfort. "Fine. I'll stop looking at my phone today. I'll be with you."

His attitude hit her like a splash of ice water, chilling her to the bones. She remembered he would stay up all night by her bedside whenever she had a fever. He would be running to get a doctor at a faint frown from her.

However, she was expected to be grateful for his undivided attention now, even though it was only for a day.

He wheeled her out to the garden that afternoon to get some air.

The sun was warm, gently wrapping her in its glow.

She looked at their long shadows stretching across the ground and was suddenly brought back to the past.

He had also wheeled her around like this when she sprained her ankle.

She had insisted he carry her, so he crouched down to carry her on his back for what felt like miles without complaint.

The sun back then had been just as warm. She looked at his broad back and believed she could lean on him forever.

"Garrick, I fell. It hurts…" Lyra's tearful voice suddenly rang out from his phone, shattering Kaelis's memory.

He immediately let go of the wheelchair, his face instantly turning anxious. "Lyra's hurt. I need to check on her."

"Garrick!" Kaelis called after him. Her voice trembled without her realizing it. "How am I supposed to get back like this?"

"Figure it out yourself." He ran off without looking back, showing his determination to leave.

The sky gradually darkened and was weighed down by heavy clouds.

Kaelis struggled to maneuver the wheelchair, but it suddenly spun out of control on the slope.

She instinctively braced herself with her hands the moment the wheelchair overturned, but the motion tore at her injured ribs.

The agonizing pain blinded her and nearly knocked her out.

It started raining, chilling her to the bones. She lay sprawled on the muddy ground and tried desperately to push herself up, but her injuries left her too weak to move.

The rain mixed with dirt seeped into her collar, and the wound on her back burned with pain.

"Help…" Her voice was drowned by thunder, just like how all her years of grievance and sorrow were never heard by Garrick.

Kaelis didn't know how much time had passed before the pain finally dragged her into unconsciousness.

…

The ward was quiet when she regained consciousness. She could only hear the beeping sound of the heart monitor.

Her phone vibrated. It was Theron.

"Kae, what happened yesterday?" His voice carried with an uncontrollable sense of worry. "Why didn't you answer my calls?"

She forced herself to stay calm. "Nothing happened. I fell asleep and missed your calls."

"Really?" His voice sank. "Did Garrick upset you again?"

"No." She turned her gaze to the sunlight spilling through the window. She suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of weightlessness. "Don't worry. This marriage will be over soon. He'll never be able to hurt me again."