"But..." Alex started to say something else when Lily Lewis's video call came in. Ethan abruptly ended the call with his assistant and accepted Lily's video invitation.

On the other end, Lily was wearing a strappy nightgown, her face beaming as she pointed at the necklace around her neck. "Ethan, I absolutely love the gift you sent me! How did you know I’d like this necklace?"

Ethan was momentarily speechless.

It was no wonder he couldn’t respond; the necklace was actually a custom wedding anniversary gift he had designed for me based on my preferences just a while ago.

Unfortunately, our anniversary hadn’t even arrived yet and here we were, embroiled in a divorce. The irony stung as he passed such a meaningful gift on to Lily.

"I just thought... you know how girls are. You all like things like this," Ethan replied vaguely.

"But I remember this brand doesn’t have this style. Did you customize it just for me?"

"Uh... sort of," Ethan's tone shifted, revealing his discomfort.

"So... does Jenna have one too?"

At my name, Ethan showed a brief flicker of guilt, but quickly responded coldly, "Does she even deserve that?"

A glint of satisfaction flashed in Lily's eyes, but she feigned concern. "Ethan, let's just chalk up the dog incident to bad luck for me. Don't let it affect your marriage. You know I can't stand to see you troubled."

Ethan sighed. "You're just too kind. If Jenna had even half of your understanding, I’d be satisfied."

"I can't help it. A girl who’s been spoiled feels confident. As an orphan, I’ve learned to be cautious. Honestly, sometimes I really envy Jenna. She has a husband who loves her..."

Hearing that made me feel sick, but Ethan seemed to eat it up.

As expected, the next moment, he spoke with genuine concern. "You mustn't talk about yourself like that. You're not alone. If anything happens, don’t hesitate to reach out... Just call and I’ll be there. Do you understand?"

"Really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"Then... could you take me to your and Jenna’s secret hideout?"

A sharp pang of pain shot through my heart. Ethan had even shared that with her.

Ethan was an orphan, while I was the daughter of the Summers Family, a prominent name in the city. Our lives were like two parallel lines, with little chance of ever crossing.

Yet, fate had a different plan for us.

During our first year of high school, I went with my parents to my grandmother’s house in the countryside. One day, while we were out, I was suddenly chased by a wild dog that seemed to spring up from nowhere.

It was Ethan who showed up just in time to drive the dog away.

In gratitude, my parents decided to support his education and arranged for him to attend the same school as me.

From that moment on, we began to look out for each other at school and our friendship blossomed.

It wasn't until our sophomore year that a senior at school confessed his feelings for me and that’s when Ethan suddenly showed up, whisking me away to the countryside overnight—to the very spot where we first met.

“Jen, this is the secret hideout I’ve built for you. Sorry, it took me a long time.”

“I know I don’t deserve you right now, but can you wait for me? Just three to five years. I promise I’ll work hard to become someone worthy of you.”

As I gazed at the once overgrown wilderness transformed into a vibrant garden bursting with flowers, I was deeply moved and agreed to give him a chance right then and there.

For a long time afterward, we maintained a relationship that was “more than friends but not quite lovers.”

Then tragedy struck when my parents unexpectedly died in Africa. I was devastated, but Ethan was always by my side, encouraging me to find hope in life again. That’s when I officially agreed to date him and we quickly got married.

After our wedding, he took care of my family’s business and treated me with utmost care.

I thought I was the happiest woman in the world, but it wasn’t until Lily entered the picture that I realized everything had been an illusion.

Lily was Ethan's childhood friend from the orphanage and their relationship could easily be described as childhood sweethearts.

Ethan insisted he only saw her as a sister, yet every time I had a disagreement with Lily, he would unhesitatingly take her side.

"Just like me, Lily is an orphan who has faced a lot of hardships. Why do you have to pick on her?"

"Do you think you can bully her just because she has no one to support her? I promise, as long as I'm here, I won't let you mistreat her."

"How many times are you going to bring this up? What has Lily ever done to you that makes you keep going after her?"

Hearing this repeatedly wore me down and I began to seriously consider divorce.

To clear my head, I retreated to my grandmother’s house in the countryside, hoping to find some clarity. But I hadn’t been there long when Lily appeared, looking to provoke me.

"So what if you're a wealthy heiress? Ethan doesn’t even like you. Let me fill you in: he told me a long time ago that he only got close to you to secure the Summers family's support."

"Now that he’s made a name for himself in the business world, he’ll divorce you soon and marry me. If you’re smart, you’ll just get lost."

I was too exhausted to argue, so I grabbed a broom from the side and hurled it at her. "Get out!"

Lily sulked away, but just as she reached the door, she abruptly turned around and kicked the little dog that had been munching on some food nearby.

The dog yelped and sprang up, sinking its teeth into her calf.

I was about to rush over to intervene when I heard Lily scream, "Jenna, please let me go! I just wanted to help you reconcile with Ethan. Why are you letting the dog bite me? It hurts! Someone, help!"

Before I could process what was happening, Ethan's furious voice thundered from the entrance. "Jenna, what the hell are you doing? Stop it!"

I looked up just in time to see Ethan sprinting toward us, kicking my little dog aside and pulling Lily into his arms.

“Ethan, are you out of your mind? She kicked my dog first!” I quickly rushed over to pick up the startled pup and comfort it.

Before Ethan could say anything, Lily, snuggled in his embrace, began to cry dramatically. “Ethan, I thought I’d never see you again... I even prepared my last words!”

I couldn’t help but laugh; was it really that serious?

She’d just been bitten by a dog; it wasn’t like we were saying goodbye forever!

But Ethan believed her. He stormed over, grabbed my hair and dragged me to the car, taking me straight to the nearest circus.

“Do you have any idea that Youyou is terrified of dogs? How could you treat her like that?”

“I’m going to show you what happens when you bully someone weaker than you!”

He violently tossed me into a cage, locking me in with an aggressive lion. No matter how much I begged for mercy, he refused to let me go.

Now, as I faced death at the jaws of a raging lion, I couldn’t help but wonder if he would feel even a hint of regret when he learned of my death.

The next day, Ethan took Lily to their secret hideout.

“Wow, did you really grow all these flowers, Ethan?” Lily gazed at him with pure admiration.

Ethan nodded.

She quickly added, “Your sister-in-law truly doesn’t know how lucky she is. If someone went to this much trouble for me, I’d be completely devoted to him. I just don’t get why she’s never satisfied.”

At her words, Ethan’s demeanor turned icy. “Let’s not discuss any downer topics.”

Lily feigned innocence. “I’m sorry, Ethan! I just feel like… you deserve so much better.”

Ethan reached out and gently patted her head. “Silly girl, I’m not blaming you.”

“Then I’m relieved! This place is so beautiful. Can you take a few pictures of me?”

“Of course.”

Like an energetic rabbit, Lily danced through the flower beds, striking a variety of cute poses for Ethan to capture.

The next day, Ethan took Lily to their secret hideout.

“Wow, did you really grow all these flowers, Ethan?” Lily gazed at him with pure admiration.

Ethan nodded.

She quickly added, “Jenna truly doesn’t know how lucky she is. If someone went to this much trouble for me, I’d be completely devoted to him. I just don’t get why she’s never satisfied.”

At her words, Ethan’s demeanor turned icy. “Let’s not discuss any downer topics.”

Lily feigned innocence. “I’m sorry, Ethan! I just feel like… you deserve so much better.”

Ethan reached out and gently patted her head. “Silly girl, I’m not blaming you.”

“Then I’m relieved! This place is so beautiful. Can you take a few pictures of me?”

“Of course.”

Like an energetic rabbit, Lily danced through the flower beds, striking a variety of cute poses for Ethan to capture.

But I was already dead.

Ethan was sulking, while Lily was blissfully oblivious, happily lost in her own world. Several times, Ethan asked her if she wanted to leave, but she kept insisting they wait a little longer. It wasn’t until darkness fell and rain started to pour that she finally pouted, “Ethan, I’m scared of thunder and lightning. How about we stay at a nearby hotel tonight?”

Ethan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed. “Okay.”

“You’re so good to me, Ethan,” Lily said sweetly as she linked her arm with his.

Clearly, this had been her goal all along.

To my surprise, when they arrived at the hotel, Ethan booked two separate rooms.

Lily looked disappointed but didn’t voice her thoughts just yet.

Once inside their room, Ethan closed the door and called Alex. “What are you up to?”

Alex paused for a moment before replying, “Mr. Grant, your wife hasn’t called me either.”

Ethan snapped back, “I didn’t ask about that. What’s she doing?”

“...Mr. Grant, if that’s the case, do you have any instructions for me?”

Ethan was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he finally replied, “Go charge the phone in my office and set it to forward calls to this one.”

“Got it.”

After hanging up, Ethan seemed to lighten up a bit. He hummed a tune as he headed to the shower, occasionally glancing at his phone.

But instead of receiving a call, he was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Ethan wrapped a bathrobe around himself and opened the door to find Lily bursting in, wrapping her arms around his waist. With tears in her eyes, she said, “Ethan, the thunder outside is so loud and I’m really scared. Can I sleep here with you?”

Ethan frowned and, after a moment, gently pushed her away. “Lily, this isn’t appropriate. I’m a married man.”

Lily's face flushed red, but she quickly tried to justify her actions. “I’m sorry! I just remembered that stormy night when my mom left me at the orphanage… Ethan, you wouldn’t just abandon me like that, would you?”

“...Mr. Grant, if that’s the case, do you have any instructions for me?”

Ethan fell momentarily silent and after a long pause, he finally said, “Please charge the phone in my office and set it to forward calls to this one.”

“Understood.”

Once Ethan hung up, his mood seemed to lift a little. He hummed a tune as he headed to the shower, occasionally glancing at his phone.

However, instead of receiving a call, he was soon interrupted by a knock at the door.

Ethan wrapped a bathrobe around himself and opened the door to find Lily rushing in, her arms wrapping around his waist. With tears glistening in her eyes, she said, “Ethan, the thunder outside is so loud and I’m really scared. Can I sleep here with you?”

Ethan frowned and, after a moment's hesitation, gently pushed her away. “Lily, this isn’t appropriate. I’m a married man.”

Lily's face turned crimson, but she quickly tried to explain herself. “I’m sorry! I just remembered that stormy night when my mom left me at the orphanage… Ethan, you wouldn’t just abandon me like that, would you?”

“Come a little closer.”

Ethan shifted an inch.

Lily frowned and suddenly lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him from behind.

Ethan’s body tensed up.

Lily leaned in closer, her breath warm against his ear. “Ethan, do you hate me?”

Ethan quickly turned his head to the side. “Why would you ask that? Of course, I... don’t hate you.”

“Then do you like me?”

“...Yes, I like you.”

Lily's face lit up with joy as she tilted her head, trying to kiss his ear. But Ethan abruptly pushed her away. “Lily, when I say ‘like,’ I mean like a younger sister.”

“But I don’t want that kind of affection.” Lily’s voice quivered, thick with emotion.

“Lily...”

Before Ethan could finish his sentence, Lily lunged at him and pressed her lips against his.

Ethan’s entire body jolted at the unexpected contact. He instinctively tried to push her away, but when he caught sight of the tears glistening in Lily's eyes, he hesitated and let his hand rest gently on her waist instead.

A sly smile flickered across Lily's face as she suddenly pushed Ethan down, straddling his hips.

Just as she was about to unfasten his belt, Ethan's phone rang, cutting through the tension at the worst possible moment.

Startled by the ringtone, Ethan sprang up and shoved Lily away.

“Ah!” Lily gasped in surprise.

But Ethan didn’t have time to explain; he hurried out of the room to answer Alex’s call.

“Mr. Grant, there’s been an incident involving your wife…”