Chapter 1

Natalie Schmidt was about to perform a kidney transplant on her own son, Matthew Fletcher.

This surgery was complicated because she was the kidney donor.

In less than three days, she would have to operate on Matthew personally. After 24 grueling hours, the operating room lights finally went out, indicating a successful surgery.

Just as she was about to share the good news with her husband, Oliver Fletcher, who was waiting in the room next door, she caught sight of him through the door crack. He was holding one of her interns in a close, intimate embrace.

"Oliver, what if something goes wrong with the surgery? What if something happens to our son? I wish I could give my kidney instead. At least his life wouldn't be in someone else's hands."

Natalie froze. What did her intern mean by their son?

She was about to storm in and confront him. However, in the next moment, she saw him cradling her intern—whose name was Linda Sawyer—gently.

His voice was full of concern as he said, "Don't worry. Ever since Natalie had that accident and lost her memory, she's treated Matthew as her own child without hesitation. She'll give her all in the surgery.

"Besides, you gave up a kidney to save me back then, and I compromised to marry her so she could trade a kidney for our child. It's only fair."

Natalie couldn't bear to watch any longer.

She clutched her mouth, retreated into the hallway, and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her and collapsing in tears.

Outside, the voices of her colleagues celebrating the successful surgery drifted in, but she felt utterly helpless as she crouched on the cold floor.

She hadn't slept properly for five days because of the surgery, and the emptiness inside her made her feel as if she were being hollowed out.

Yet, she had endured for her child and her family.

And now, she realized that it had all been a lie—her marriage was a lie, and her child wasn't even hers.

Five years into their marriage, she discovered Oliver had deceived her the entire time. He had promised to protect her for life.

Natalie and Oliver had met by accident. That day, on her way home from work, she saw him attempting to take his own life after a heartbreak on a pedestrian bridge.

Without hesitation, she jumped in. The river was swift and fierce, but she fought with all her strength to drag him to shore. She rushed him to the hospital, only to be told that his kidney had been filled with fluid, causing blockage, and he needed an immediate transplant.

Born into a family of medical professionals, Natalie could not stand by and do nothing, so she donated one of her kidneys and saved his life.

However, three days after the operation, he had already been discharged when she woke again.

They met again at a class reunion, and she discovered that he had been in the same year as her, though he studied finance.

Natalie was drawn to his strong posture and striking features, so she pursued him relentlessly.

In the end, her efforts paid off, and they ended up together.

Oliver had been the perfect boyfriend. He would thoughtfully make her ginger tea and prepare a heated waist belt whenever she had her period.

He would run more than six miles to get her favorite cake for her birthday, and use the first profits from his startup to buy her an expensive necklace.

Everyone said Natalie was lucky, and she believed it. So, they married and had a child.

She had never doubted that Oliver was a perfect husband and a devoted father. If it weren't for what she saw today, she wouldn't have found out that the past ten years had been a lie.

As a top surgeon, she had given her kidney to save the child of her enemy.

And now, she had nothing left.

"Oliver, how cruel can you be? Did you ever truly love me in the past ten years?" she murmured.

She sacrificed her youth for this family. Now, this false dream had come to an end.

After picking up her phone, she dialed a number. "Dr. Berger, I've decided to take the exchange program to Aclor."

On the other end, Dominic Berger sounded surprised. "Weren't you planning to settle down here? You even gave up the perks of studying abroad—tuition waived, a car, a house—just to stay in that rental. Why the sudden change?"

Everyone at the hospital knew Natalie as a family-oriented woman. She had passed up on countless opportunities abroad for Oliver and Matthew.

Back then, when people mocked her for being blinded by marriage, she would always smile and say, "Home is where my husband and son are."

Now, thinking back, it was laughable.

"Dr. Berger, I've thought it through. I was too naive before. Now I know that realizing my own value is what truly matters in life."

Dominic nodded in agreement. "As long as you've made up your mind. I honestly thought your family line would end with you. Alright then. Since you're set on this, once the application goes through in five days, you'll go abroad with me!"

"I have one more request," Natalie mentioned, gripping the phone. "I haven't told anyone about going abroad. Please keep it confidential within the hospital."

"No problem."

After hanging up, she took a deep breath and looked at her haggard reflection in the mirror. "From now on, Natalie, you will live for yourself," she told herself.

Chapter 2

Natalie came out of the bathroom and ran straight into Linda.

In a fluster, Linda grabbed her wrist. "Natalie, how's Matthew? Is he okay?"

Natalie glared coldly at the apprentice she had personally mentored for three years.

She never imagined that Linda would claim credit for a kidney donation while secretly getting involved with Oliver. On top of that, Linda even had a child with him.

The accident Natalie suffered on her way to work, which caused partial memory loss and made her forget certain things, had given them the perfect opportunity to take advantage of her.

Snapping back to reality, she pulled her hand free. "Matthew is my son. Why are you worrying about him? Do you think I would ever harm my own child?"

Linda froze. She did not expect the usually gentle Natalie to embarrass her in public. "I-I didn't mean it like that, Natalie…"

Just then, Oliver walked over, glanced at Linda, and noticed the corners of her eyes getting red.

"Honey, Linda's just concerned about Matthew. Why are you being so harsh?"

Watching him rush to defend Linda, Natalie felt her chest tighten painfully. Even though she already knew about their secret past, it still hurt.

After all, they had been together for ten years. Ten years that translated into countless days and nights side by side. How could she possibly let go so easily?

Her hands clenched slightly. "As an intern, she has her duties. If she wastes more time here, don't expect me to go easy during the evaluations."

Natalie worked at the top hospital in Hestonia.

Evaluations were strict, and Linda had worked hard to get in.

Hearing Natalie's cold tone, Oliver was also taken aback. Wasn't she on pretty good terms with Linda?

"Natalie, even if you look down on my status, you don't have to single me out! Yes, I was brought in through special recruitment. My family isn't as wealthy as yours, but I'm trying my best. What right do you have to dismiss me like this?"

Linda bit her lip, feeling deeply humiliated.

Clearly, Natalie had only meant to offer a friendly reminder. To Linda, however, it looked like Natalie deliberately set a trip.

Before Natalie could respond, a nurse came out of the ward. "Matthew's awake!"

Matthew, eight years old, had been raised solely by Natalie. She hurried into the room, only to see him leap straight into Linda's arms.

"Linda, I missed you so much!"

Natalie paled, her hands frozen midair.

Matthew then pushed her away with disdain. "You! Get me something to eat. I'm starving!"

Oliver frowned. "Why are you talking to your mother like that?"

Matthew didn't care. He replied, "I haven't had proper meals for days. What if I starve?"

Oliver was always busy at work, so Natalie was the only one taking care of Matthew. After performing delicate surgeries all day, she still had to cook for the whole family.

Even with all her love for this home, what did it matter? The father and son clearly didn't love her back.

Matthew probably knew all along. Since blood was thicker than water, no matter what she did from the very beginning, he never liked it.

The cake she painstakingly made for his birthday would end up thrown in the trash.

The clothes she bought? He would shred them into pieces with scissors.

She had thought it was because Matthew was still young and that he didn't know any better. Even when she finally learned the truth, she still clung to the belief that he was innocent. After all, she couldn't bear to give up on the child she had raised.

She wanted to take Matthew and leave. However, in reality, it was the three of them making a mockery of her. The three of them were wearing matching family outfits. She was just too exhausted to notice until now.

Only now did she realize how ridiculous it was.

Natalie felt a sharp pang of self-pity. She straightened up. "Since you like Linda so much, let her cook for you."

It was the first time she had ever refused Matthew. Why should she slave for someone else's child?

Her outburst caused no reaction. Oliver frowned, displeased. "Why are you sulking at Matthew? He's just a child. Plus, he hasn't eaten for days. Can't you cook for your own son?"

He continued, "Make extra portions for Linda, too. She hasn't eaten. Remember, no scallions for her."

Natalie laughed bitterly, her fingers trembling. "You mean I should go home and cook for Matthew and Linda?"

She had just finished surgery, was physically exhausted, and the hospital was more than six miles away. Not only was she expected to cook for someone else's child, but she also had to cater to the mistress' preferences—down to what the person could and couldn't eat.

Was it because he thought she loved this family too much that she was willing to give everything without hesitation?

How disgusting!

Oliver had no idea how absurd this demand was and even thought it was entirely justified. "It's not a big deal. You're her mentor. It's not like you're going to be calculative over a single meal, right?"

Linda quickly waved her hands. "It's fine. I'm not hungry. You all go ahead and eat. Natalie, don't be mad."

"It's nothing. She just gave you a bit of an attitude, so cooking a single meal isn't a big deal..."

Natalie shouted, cutting him off. "Not a big deal? Oliver, do you even have a heart? I just finished surgery, and you expect me to cook for them?

"Dream on! Eat whatever you want! I don't care!"

With that, she slammed the door and stormed out.

Chapter 3

Natalie returned home alone. When she looked at the carefully arranged home she had created, the happiness she once felt upon stepping through the door was gone.

As she was tidying the closet, she suddenly found a property deed hidden in a secret compartment.

She froze for a moment, then flipped it open.

The listed owners were none other than Oliver and Linda.

The taut string inside Natalie suddenly snapped.

Back when they got married, Oliver had nothing. She was estranged from her family just to be with him, and all these years, she had never once asked him to spend money on her.

A doctor's salary was fixed, and apart from helping out her family, she had never bought herself a single decent piece of clothing.

As his career grew, he did not return her money. He claimed it was all startup capital that had to be invested wisely.

"Honey, I know you're so frugal and supportive. With you behind me, I can boldly pursue my ambitions."

Because of that, even when they were running low on basic living expenses, Natalie never complained. She had been so considerate of him.

And yet, with all the money he had earned, he had bought Linda a house worth 800 thousand dollars.

When they had married, they hadn't even had a proper wedding. They only rented an 80-dollar tricycle for the ceremony.

Natalie suddenly felt her world collapse. Staring at the property deed felt like a cruel slap from a jester, mocking her naivety and foolishness.

After what felt like an eternity, she got up from the floor and pulled out the only card Oliver had ever given her. It held 200 thousand dollars.

He had given it to her in the second year of his career, saying it was the family savings and should not be touched unless necessary. He had entrusted it to her because he knew she would save the money.

And indeed, she had.

However, Natalie had a change of mind. She took the money and bought herself pastries from that little shop on the outskirts—the kind she hadn't tasted in years.

Then, she walked into a luxury boutique and picked out the latest purse.

The 200 thousand dollars vanished in no time. Once upon a time, even spending one dollar on an apple had felt like a painful indulgence.

Now, spending 200 thousand dollars in a single day felt liberating.

What was 200 thousand dollars compared to the house Oliver had bought for Linda?

Feeling triumphant, Natalie returned home—only to find Oliver and Linda sitting in the living room, faces stormy.

He slammed his phone onto the table, the screen full of her shopping receipts. "Explain this!"

He had always been gentle and humble in front of her. Yet, the familiar handsome features she once adored were twisted with something almost feral today.

He was pissed off over just 200 thousand dollars?

Natalie calmly changed her shoes. "It's nothing. I just bought a few things."

"A few things cost 200 thousand dollars? Natalie, are you crazy?"

Oliver's hysterical roar made her feel as if she were no longer his wife, but an enemy.

Linda chimed in, "Oliver is right. Natalie, 200 thousand dollars isn't a small sum. How could you be so wasteful?"

She had barely finished her sentence when Natalie raised her hand and slapped her hard. "You have no right to speak here."

The crisp slap echoed through the house. Linda nearly fell to the floor, and Oliver rushed to steady her. He shouted at Natalie, "What do you think you're doing?"

Natalie met his dark, intense gaze and sneered. "What am I doing? I just spent 200 thousand dollars. You spent 800 thousand dollars buying Linda a house—that's the real crazy thing! Oliver, how come I never knew you were so charitable?

"Or am I worth less than her to you?"

Oliver's expression changed. "You went through my things?"

His first thought wasn't to explain himself, but to accuse her of touching his stuff without permission.

Natalie's last thread of hope vanished. "You didn't hide it."

He was confident she loved him and, therefore, felt entitled to do anything. In his eyes, only Linda mattered.

"That's just a house. Linda has nowhere to live. What? Do you expect me to let her sleep on the street? She's all alone out there, with no one to rely on. How can you, as her mentor, be so petty about it?"

"You already said it. I'm her mentor, not her mother! Since when is her loneliness my fault? She's the one who turned her back on her parents, who refused to study, or better herself—"

Before Natalie could finish, Oliver raised his hand and struck her hard across the face.

Chapter 4

Natalie's pale skin flushed instantly. She stared at Oliver in disbelief. "I can't believe you slapped me. Oliver, have you forgotten what you said at our wedding?"

She remembered it clearly. He kneeled on one knee, his eyes red as he proclaimed, "Natalie, from this day forward, I will love you, respect you, and protect you every single day. I will never let you be hurt."

And now, he had slapped her and shattered that vow completely.

She had been naive, thinking that she might still hold a small place in his heart after ten years.

Or maybe Natalie had just been fooled by his carefully staged tenderness, and the man standing before her now was the real him—a heartless, cold-blooded man.

Oliver's expression shifted, finally settling into a cold, stern glare. "You exposed Linda's scar, so you should face the consequences.

"This 200 thousand dollars will count as Matthew's medical expenses. That's it. If you continue to be wasteful like this, I'll have to reconsider our marriage seriously."

"There's no need to reconsider." She shot him down in her heart. "I'm leaving anyway."

Then, she went into her room.

From outside came bursts of laughter and cheerful voices.

Natalie called her friend, who happened to be a lawyer. "Please draft a divorce agreement for me as soon as possible. I've already sent you all the documents."

After she hung up, the bedroom door suddenly opened.

Oliver appeared behind her. "Honey, let me see your face."

He looked nothing like the enraged man earlier. It was as if everything that had just happened was a dream. He was once again the perfect husband she had known.

However, Natalie knew better that it was all a lie, so she dodged his touch.

His hand froze in midair. "I'm sorry that I lost my temper earlier. I shouldn't have hit you. Please don't be angry, okay?"

They had argued before, and she had always forgiven him when he lowered his head and spoke softly.

It was different this time.

Natalie answered instead, "Don't touch me."

Oliver pressed his lips together. He was a little surprised that she was acting unusually off tonight. "Fine. Take the night to cool down on your own, then."

His patience had run out. He set down a glass of milk and walked away.

It was part of her nightly routine.

For a fleeting moment, Natalie felt a pang of doubt—maybe Oliver did care for her, even just a little. However, almost against her own instincts, she didn't drink the milk this time.

…

In the early hours of the morning, she clearly heard Oliver, who shared a separate bedroom, open his door.

The walls weren't well insulated. She could clearly hear the two of them outside, kissing each other with desperate urgency.

"Oliver, you're still so impatient, even after eight years," Linda whispered.

Oliver replied, "It's all because of you. Lucky for us, though. This sleeping pill worked so well that she never noticed anything. Come on. Let's go to the bedroom."

All night, Natalie listened to Linda's coquettish murmurs and his soft, tender whispers.

…

Dawn came, and she had not slept a wink. She looked at the glass of milk on the bedside table. Numbly, she got up and poured it into a flowerpot.

At that moment, the last trace of love vanished completely.

Natalie made breakfast. Just as she was finishing, Linda emerged from the guest room with a lace nightgown, the passionate red marks on her shoulders openly visible.

She sat down in front of Natalie with a smug look. "You didn't drink that milk last night, did you?"

Chapter 5

Natalie didn't want to engage with Linda. She stood to leave, but Linda grabbed her wrist. "What's the point of living like this? Oliver doesn't love you. If I were you, I would've divorced him long ago."

Linda's provocation would have shattered her in the past, but now, Natalie's heart was already dead.

It didn't faze her at all.

It did, however, rile up Linda.

"Really? If he doesn't love me, why hasn't he asked for a divorce? Or are you scared? Are you afraid he will stay by my side?" Natalie asked with a smile.

Linda's face reddened with anger. "Why you!"

"Don't think too highly of yourself. If he loved you, he would have divorced me long ago. Why would he keep lying to me?"

Then, Natalie tapped Linda's shoulder lightly, her tone oddly pointed. "By the way, was it really you who donated the kidney for Oliver back then?"

Linda's face went pale. She stared at Natalie, panic flashing in her eyes. "What?" she thought. "Does Natalie know something?"

A flash of cruelty passed through Linda's eyes. She caught sight of the doorway and suddenly screamed before slamming herself against the wall.

Natalie turned, looking at her in confusion. She still hadn't figured out what Linda was really after.

Before she could react, a small figure suddenly shoved her hard.

"Get away from Linda, you witch!" Matthew suddenly appeared, standing protectively in front of Linda.

Oliver quickly followed, and when he saw blood on Linda's forehead, fury consumed him. "Natalie!"

"Oliver, don't blame Natalie! It's my fault for showing up and making her angry. She pushed me, and I deserved it. I... My head hurts so much…"

Natalie frowned. "You hit yourself."

"That's enough! Natalie, how can you be so cruel? You're a doctor! Aren't you afraid of retribution?"

"I told you, it wasn't me!" she insisted.

"I saw it all! You're a wicked woman and a bad mother! You don't deserve to be my mom!"

Matthew suddenly rushed over and stomped on Natalie's foot. Caught off guard, she stumbled back and slammed into the dining table behind her.

A sharp pain shot through her abdomen. In an instant, cold sweat broke out all over her body.

Clutching her stomach, Natalie groaned, "It… It hurts… Call 911, quick!"

The surgical wound had torn.

As Oliver turned to look at her, Linda screamed again. "My head! Oliver, look! There's so much blood! I'm so scared!"

"Don't be afraid. I'm here! I'll take you to the hospital right now!" he said.

He ignored Natalie entirely, scooped Linda into his arms, and headed for the door.

Natalie's vision went black as she called out his name with all her strength. "Save me..."

However, all she got in return was his cold rebuke. "You're a doctor, aren't you? Deal with your own wound!"

With a bang, the door shut.

Natalie collapsed.

…

When she woke up, she was in a ward. The beeping of medical monitors made her head spin.

"Dr. Schmidt, you're awake. Your kidney function has failed. You need immediate surgery, but have a rest first."

After the doctor left, her phone rang.

The person on the other end said, "Natalie, your divorce agreement has been drafted."

At that moment, the hospital door opened. Oliver entered, his face dark. "Divorce agreement? Natalie, you want to divorce me?"