Chapter 1 The Child

"Ms. Wright, your husband's frozen sperm was taken from the hospital five years ago and donated to Ms. Bailey. Didn't he tell you?"

The smile on Annabelle Wright's face instantly stiffened at the mention of that name.

"Is it possible there's been a mistake? My husband's name is Samuel Felton," Annabelle asked again, unwilling to believe what she had heard.

The doctor typed on the keyboard a few more times. After confirming the information, he said, "There's no mistake. When Ms. Bailey's child was born, Mr. Felton even sent the hospital a grand flower wreath in appreciation."

At the doctor's words, Annabelle's hands slipped weakly from the wheelchair's armrests as her mind buzzed with shock.

Five years ago, she and Samuel Felton had just gotten married.

Back then, Samuel had told her he didn't want her to suffer through pregnancy, so he had voluntarily undergone a vasectomy. Annabelle had been deeply moved by the gesture.

However, she was afraid he might regret it, so she persuaded him to freeze his sperm at the hospital before the vasectomy, just to keep a backup plan for the future.

Lately, Samuel had been talking more and more about having a child. Thinking he'd finally changed his mind, Annabelle went to the hospital without telling him, hoping to surprise him with the news once she got pregnant.

But to her shock, he surprised her first.

The name "Elise Bailey" hit her like a slap to the face.

Elise was once Samuel's next-door neighbor, whom he had secretly loved for 15 years. Before she left the country, he had prepared an elaborate confession, which she ultimately rejected.

It was during that low point in his life that Annabelle stayed by his side. With her warm personality, she helped him heal. Eventually, they got married.

Annabelle had truly believed that he had fallen in love with her and let go of Elise.

Only now did she realize that he had never let go of Elise. Annabelle was nothing more than a cruel joke in the story.

Seeing the color drain from her face, the doctor asked if she was okay. Forcing a smile, Annabelle said she was fine and quietly wheeled herself home.

She entered absentmindedly, thinking the house was empty, but then she heard the clinking of wine glasses coming from the balcony.

"Sam, are you really going through with the divorce? Belle's been with you for five years. Don't you care about her at all?"

Samuel's voice drifted in from the balcony.

"Back then, Elise needed me to get married so her relationship would appear stable. Now that she doesn't need that anymore, I don't want to keep stringing Belle along. I only married her out of guilt."

"Does she know that you and Elise have a child together? She loves you so much. She'd never agree to a divorce. If you actually go through with it, I'm sure she'll leave without a word. You won't even be able to find her after, and you'll regret it."

Samuel laughed like it didn't matter.

"She doesn't need to know about the kid. I told her the company's going through a crisis and we might need to stage a fake divorce. Once she's used to the idea, I'll tell her the truth. She'll understand. Besides, with her legs like that, where's she gonna go?"

Annabelle felt a ringing in her ears. Did he just mention a fake divorce?

She had believed him when he said the company was in trouble. She had even handed over her personal savings to help.

Annabelle felt a lump rise in her throat at this moment, and her chest ached like it was being pierced by countless tiny needles.

She had been planning a future with Samuel. She had thought about how to surprise him on their anniversary with the news of a baby.

However, he had already erased her from his life. He dismissed her ten years of unspoken love and five years of marriage with a single word—guilt.

She had truly believed she had finally gotten everything she ever wanted. But in the end, she was nothing more than a bystander in someone else's love story.

Looking down at her temporarily paralyzed legs and thinking about the pain she had endured to save Samuel, she realized just how foolish she had been.

Annabelle broke down, hitting her legs in a frenzy as tears fell uncontrollably onto her thighs.

The voices on the balcony suddenly fell silent. Annabelle froze, unsure of how to face them. After a brief pause, she quietly turned her wheelchair and headed toward the front door.

A moment later, Samuel came over. His expression was full of surprise, and his tone was so gentle that it felt overly eager.

"Belle, when did you get back? Why didn't you call me? I could've picked you up. What did the doctor say?"

Annabelle looked into his eyes, which were brimming with affection, and her own eyes turned red again.

Samuel immediately panicked and reached out to wipe away her tears. "What's wrong? It's okay. If you don't get better, I'll take care of you for the rest of your life."

Annabelle stared at him, trying to see if there was even a trace of genuine love in his eyes. But in the end, she didn't have the courage to look any deeper. She glanced away reluctantly.

She sniffled and asked casually as she turned her wheelchair, "Samuel, I've been thinking about having a baby with you. It's a good thing we froze your sperm back then. When will you have time to come with me to the hospital?"

Samuel's expression shifted immediately. He stayed silent for a moment, then brushed her off and changed the subject.

"Why are you suddenly bringing this up? I don't want you to go through that kind of pain. It would break my heart. Didn't we say we'd travel the world together? How would we do that with a child?"

Noticing the hint of discomfort on his face, Annabelle quietly closed her eyes. The answer was clear to her.

She told Samuel she was tired and asked him to carry her back to the bedroom.

Once he was gone, Annabelle picked up her phone.

"Aunt Lexi, I've made up my mind. I want to go to Elsington with you."

Lexi Wright's voice rang with delight on the other end, but the excitement didn't last long before she asked, "How long are you staying this time? Don't tell me you'll head back after two days just to be with your husband again."

Annabelle's chest tightened. She opened her mouth and replied softly, "Permanently."

Lexi paused for a moment, but she didn't press. Instead, she happily said she would start preparing the immigration paperwork right away.

After ending the call, Annabelle contacted her lawyer to begin discussing the divorce.

She had finally realized that no matter how warm or sincere her love was, it would never be enough to melt Samuel's heart.

If he truly wanted a divorce, then she would give him exactly what he wanted.

Chapter 2 Elise's Return

After deciding to leave him for good, Annabelle met with a lawyer the next day to go over their assets.

The cafe she had chosen was already in a remote area, and with the storm now raging outside, there were hardly any cars passing by.

Annabelle's anxiety was gradually soothed by the sound of rain. Standing under the eaves, she figured there was no harm in staying a while longer to watch the rain and wait for it to stop.

She declined the cafe owner's offer to help and watched as the woman locked the door and left.

However, the rain didn't let up. It continued into the evening, with no sign of easing.

Annabelle's legs began to ache faintly. With no other choice, she pulled out her phone and called Samuel.

"Samuel, can you come pick me up?"

The moment he realized she was stranded in the rain, Samuel grew anxious. Without saying much, he rushed out the door to get her himself.

Annabelle felt a warmth spread through her heart as she heard the urgency in his voice on the other end of the line.

Conflicting thoughts battled in her mind. Maybe he did care about her after all. Maybe she should give him another chance.

Just after Samuel ended the call, a text appeared on his phone.

"Sam, I'm back."

As he turned onto the main road, the message hit him like a thunderclap, and he immediately stopped the car.

Seconds later, he sent a message to his driver, turned the car around, and sped toward the airport.

Back in the rain, Annabelle was lost in thought, picturing how she would tell Samuel about her fears and everything she had been feeling.

She had no idea that as night fell and the downpour eased into a drizzle, while rainwater slowly rose to the base of her wheelchair, Samuel still hadn't shown up.

Her heart sank little by little until it hit rock bottom.

She tried calling him again, but no one picked up.

When the call finally connected, a woman's voice came through.

"Sam, do you really not love me anymore?"

There was a long silence on the other end before Samuel finally spoke.

"Elise, I'm married."

"But you still came for me, didn't you?" she replied. "Then tell me. Why did you leave your wife, who's only three miles away, to drive 20 miles just to see me?"

Hearing their conversation, Annabelle's breath caught in her throat, and a chill crept over her entire body.

She tried to speak several times but couldn't get a word out. Her throat felt tight and sore.

Panicked and unsure what to do, she reached to hang up, but her trembling finger hit the speakerphone by mistake.

Samuel's hoarse and weary voice came through.

"Yes. I still can't forget you. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Annabelle sat in stunned silence. It felt like a death sentence. Then came the sound of them kissing through the phone. Annabelle quickly hung up, and her grip on the phone loosened.

She snapped out of her daze and reached to pick up her fallen phone, forgetting that her legs were still weak. In an instant, she collapsed into the cold water.

Rain poured down on her like needles, beating against her skin. Her strength gradually drained away. She buried her face in her arms and broke into sobs.

Samuel had secretly loved Elise for 15 years, and she had followed behind him for all that time.

Their five-year marriage felt like a fragile bubble, and the moment it burst, it reminded her that it was time to wake from the dream.

"Why? Why..." Annabelle murmured over and over again.

Her heart felt colder than the autumn rain, freezing her as if she had fallen into an endless abyss.

She didn't know when she had passed out. When she woke up next, she found herself in a hospital.

She stared blankly for a long while before glancing at the clock. It was already noon the next day.

Her phone had dried overnight and was unharmed, yet it remained silent with no messages.

Just as she was about to get up and handle her discharge procedures, the door opened. She controlled herself and turned to look, but her eyes darkened at once.

"Mrs. Felton, Mr. Felton's car got stuck in floodwaters last night, so he asked me to pick you up. How are you feeling?"

The poor excuse made Annabelle's heart ache, but she didn't want to trouble the driver by exposing the lie.

"I'm fine now. Let's go home."

The driver quickly settled the discharge paperwork and brought her home.

After arriving home, Annabelle paused at the door for a long moment. She gathered herself and forced a faint, uneasy smile before pushing the door open.

The moment she opened the door, a woman's voice came from inside the house.

"Sam, look how much Lucas looks like you."

Chapter 3 Stole Her Husband

Annabelle's hand stiffened on the wheelchair's wheel. She froze near the entrance, unable to move forward.

Then, Samuel's voice broke the silence.

"Elise, I don't want to hear that kind of talk again, especially when Belle is here."

Elise's smile stiffened for a moment. She tucked her hair behind her ear and whispered, "Okay."

Annabelle stayed frozen in the doorway. She tried to turn away, but in her haste, she bumped into the shoe cabinet.

Inside the house, there was a sudden hush, followed by hurried footsteps. Samuel reappeared, carrying a small child in his arms.

Annabelle looked up and could not help but think that Elise was right. The child really did resemble Samuel.

Seeing Annabelle's reddened eyes, Samuel's heart skipped a beat. He quickly put Lucas down, kneeled in front of her, and took her hand.

"What's wrong, Belle? My car broke down last night, so I asked the driver to pick you up. Where did you go? Why did it take so long for you to get back? If he can't do his job properly, I'll just find someone else."

Though his words sounded caring, they stung Annabelle deeply. She forced a bitter smile, noting the fact that he didn't even check with the driver beforehand.

She had thought she had already accepted everything and would no longer feel pain, but her heart still ached.

She turned her head, wiped away her tears, and forced a smile. "It's nothing. I just went to see a friend."

Samuel finally relaxed. "Good, as long as you were with a friend. When did you get in? I didn't hear a thing."

At his words, Annabelle realized the truth. His concern had only been a pretense. He was just checking whether she had overheard anything she shouldn't have.

Her expression grew cold. She pulled her hand away calmly and said, "I just got in. I didn't hear anything."

Samuel's smile faltered. He gave her hand a weak squeeze but said no more.

Annabelle shifted her gaze behind him. Samuel quickly rose and offered an explanation.

"Belle, Elise just returned to the country and has nowhere to stay. She also happens to be my mother's attending physician. I thought it would be all right to let her stay here for now. Please don't misunderstand."

Annabelle saw the protective look on his face and felt any remaining hope she had faded away.

She looked down, clenched her fists, and tried to keep her composure. "Okay, I understand. I'm tired and want to rest."

Samuel was taken aback by her calmness. A strange feeling rose inside him, but he didn't press further. He assumed she was truly tired and began to push her wheelchair toward the master bedroom.

Annabelle interrupted, saying, "I would like to go to my own room."

Samuel froze on the spot.

As Annabelle wondered why he stopped, Elise walked forward while holding the child. She pointed to a door and said, "Do you mean that room? That used to be my room at the Felton residence. I'm used to sleeping there, so Sam just let me move in."

She kept calling him "Sam" with such intimacy that Annabelle could hear the subtle challenge hidden in her tone.

She turned to Samuel in a daze, hoping that he would say something to defend her, but he didn't.

"It's just a room," Samuel said flatly. "Elise wanted it, so I gave it to her. If you want, Belle, I'll have a guest room cleaned up for you."

Annabelle closed her eyes, trying to hold back the rush of hurt and disappointment that threatened to overwhelm her.

That room was a special gift from Samuel when they first got married. He had personally renovated and decorated it for her, knowing she had lost her parents early and had no family home to go back to.

He told her to think of it as her safe haven. Whenever he upset her without realizing it, all she needed to do was move into that room, and he would understand.

But now, he had long since forgotten. He didn't remember what it meant to her. To him, it had become just another room.

Annabelle pressed a hand to her chest, willing herself to stay composed through the ache. Lifting her chin, she said stubbornly, "No. I want that room."

Chapter 4 She Chose to Leave

As soon as the words left Annabelle's mouth, the air in the room grew heavier.

Samuel frowned. He couldn't understand why Annabelle was making such a fuss over a room. Just as he was about to say something, Lucas came running toward them.

He flailed his little arms and started hitting Annabelle's legs and face.

"You wicked woman! Don't bully my mommy! That's my mommy's room!" he shouted angrily.

Though Lucas' strength was limited, Annabelle's legs ached from his little punches. As she tried to push him away, he grabbed her hair. She winced in pain and grabbed his wrist in response.

Before she could do anything else, Lucas shrieked.

"Ouch! Mommy, my hand hurts! She hurt me! She's bullying me!" he wailed.

Annabelle's head throbbed with pain, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She instinctively looked toward Samuel, who was watching Lucas with concern.

She followed his gaze and froze. Blood was dripping from Lucas's wrist. Panic seized her.

Tears welled up in Elise's eyes as she held Lucas close. Annabelle stood frozen in shock when Samuel's harsh voice cut through the silence.

"Annabelle! Lucas is just a kid. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? I've told you that Elise is only staying temporarily. Can't you stop clinging to the past? It's just a room. Why are you deliberately going against her?"

His blatant favoritism silenced Annabelle even further. She swallowed her emotions and tried to speak.

"Samuel—"

Before she could finish, he cut her off sharply.

"That's enough! This house isn't yours to decide over. I already gave her that room. Even if you're upset, you shouldn't take it out on a child. You've really disappointed me. Take a good look at yourself and reflect."

With that, he carried Lucas out the door.

Samuel's face was filled with the tense concern of a caring father. Elise followed closely behind him.

As she passed Annabelle, Elise flashed her a smug smile. Annabelle saw it clearly. At that moment, everything clicked into place.

The sting from Lucas' punches still burned on her cheek, but as she watched the three of them leave like a happy little family, she realized she was the only outsider now.

Her tears fell uncontrollably. Even her breathing became ragged, and she struggled to catch her breath.

Annabelle didn't know how long she had cried, but the exhaustion eventually knocked her out. She only woke when her phone started ringing.

As soon as she answered the call, Lexi's voice came through the phone.

"Belle, the immigration papers should be ready in about a week. Are you serious this time? Don't you dare fool me. I haven't seen you in ages."

Annabelle offered a bitter smile.

"I mean it this time. I might end up being your burden for the rest of my life."

There was a pause on the other end before Lexi finally asked, "What about Samuel? Are you two divorced?"

Annabelle gave a soft, muffled hum in response. Lexi's heart ached, but she knew comforting words wouldn't help right now.

Instead, she said warmly, "You should go ahead and start packing. I'll come to pick you up in a week. You don't need to bring a thing. We've got everything you'll need in Elsington."

Annabelle could hear the kindness behind her words, and for the first time in a while, the numb ache in her chest eased just a little.

After hanging up, she looked around the house. There really was nothing worth taking.

If Elise wanted that room so badly, she could have it all—Samuel included.

That night, Annabelle simply found a clean guest room, curled up on the bed, and quickly fell asleep.

She didn't know how long she'd been out before a sharp crash of shattering glass startled her awake.

Following the sound, she realized it was coming from the master bedroom.

She frowned, wondering what glass could even be in there. But as she neared the door, a sudden wave of dread hit her, and she picked up her pace.

The moment she stepped into the room, her eyes widened in shock.

"What are you doing?"

Chapter 5 He Always Took Their Side

The room was scattered with broken glass, and the wedding photo that should have hung on the wall was now in ruins. Lucas was stomping happily on it, shouting crude words as he did.

Elise looked over with a defiant smile, clearly not taking Annabelle seriously. She turned to her son and said, "Lucas, do you still want Daddy? If you do, do what I just told you."

Lucas nodded obediently. Without hesitation, he flicked the lighter in his hand and brought the flame to the diary he was holding.

Annabelle's eyes widened in horror. "No!" she shouted.

She frantically spun her wheelchair to catch up with him, but Lucas just darted around the room as if toying with her.

Sweat poured down her forehead as she chased him. By the time she finally caught up, the diary had already been reduced to a pile of ashes.

Annabelle's hands trembled as she carefully picked up the only remaining corner of the burnt pages. She couldn't hold back her sobs.

That diary had been her parents' only keepsake. It recorded their short lives and held the precious words that had brought her comfort through all those lonely years.

She had caught glimpses of her parents' lives through the pages of that diary. In all those lonely years, their words had been her only comfort.

After marrying Samuel, she brought the diary with her to their home, intending to keep it locked safely in a cabinet. Samuel had assured her it wasn't necessary, insisting that no one would dare touch it as long as he was around.

However, his promise meant nothing. Now, he stood by while others barged into her space and destroyed the only thing she had left to remember her parents by.

She gripped the scrap of paper that was barely half the size of her palm and looked at Elise with bloodshot eyes.

"Elise! Is this how you raise your child? How could you let your child destroy someone else's belongings without permission? Have you ever taught him basic manners?"

Elise, who had looked so smug just moments ago, now had tears brimming in her eyes.

"Lucas never had a father growing up. I raised him all by myself. You can blame me, but he's just a kid. Isn't what you said a little too harsh? I'm sorry, alright? Isn't that enough?"

Annabelle frowned at her, but then suddenly sensed someone watching. She turned her head and saw Samuel walking over with a grim expression.

She froze for a moment as he walked up to her.

"Annabelle, he's just a kid. Why do you keep making a big deal out of everything? Elise already compromised and gave you the room. What more do you want? Do you have to drive them out completely before you're satisfied?" he asked.

The look of frustration on his face sent a sharp pain through her chest.

She held out the last remaining scrap of the diary, struggling to hold back her sobs.

"Samuel, do you even know what he just—"

Before she could finish, Samuel slapped the paper from her hand.

His eyes brimmed with irritation as he said, "It's just a burned notebook. Boys at his age are bound to be a little mischievous. Do you really have to blow this out of proportion? I'll buy you a hundred, or even a thousand if that's what you want."

Annabelle watched the paper flutter to the floor, where Elise's heel came down and crushed it underfoot.

At that moment, something inside her gave out.

She let out a bitter laugh and slumped back into her wheelchair. "That's enough. I'm sorry. It was my fault."

Samuel, who had still been seething, faltered. Her wounded expression pierced something deep in him.

Annabelle didn't even look at him. She just gazed quietly out the window. Yet somehow, he saw a glimpse of something broken in her lifeless eyes.

A pang of guilt struck his chest. Just as he was about to say something or offer a few words of comfort, Lucas interrupted, asking, "Sam, can I play with this?"

Lucas held a gift box in his hands. Samuel assumed it was empty and casually told him to go ahead.

However, Annabelle knew what was inside. She quickly spoke up. "No, not that one."