###Chapter 2

After scheduling the abortion, I went straight to Arthur’s parents’ house.

I didn’t beat around the bush, and spat, “I’m leaving Arthur.”

In the living room, the television was plastered with endless trending news about his new marriage.

#NBA Supernova Arthur’s Pregnant Bride

#Arthur Got Married Early, Million Girls Heartbroken

Someone had even bought an opening ad spot. As soon as the TV turned on, it was all about Arthur and Jennica kissing at the poolside.

He looked tall and powerful, while the bride clinging to his waist was delicate and sweet—together, they were the picture of a perfect match.

Mrs. Sullivan hurriedly turned off the TV and pulled me down onto the sofa with a forced smile.

“These two kids are just being silly. Don’t worry, they’re like siblings—they’re just messing around. It won’t affect your relationship with Arthur.”

I stared at her coldly and said nothing.

Whether they were true siblings or secret lovers, didn’t they know better than anyone?

Seeing how indifferent I was, her face fell. She crossed her arms and said stiffly, “Faith, when your family fell apart at fourteen, we took you in. Haven’t we treated you well all these years? Now you want to break off the engagement—what will people think of us? The Sullivan family still has a reputation to uphold in this city.”

I let out a faint smile, more mockery than warmth. “I remember everything you’ve done for me, and I’ll repay it—every bit of it.”

“But your son already has a bride. What exactly am I supposed to be?”

Mrs. Sullivan’s face twisted with displeasure. “You’ve misunderstood. Jennica has cancer. She only wanted a sweet wedding before the end. Arthur was just trying to fulfill her final wish.”

So getting her pregnant was part of fulfilling her dying wish too?

And as for why they wouldn’t let me leave Arthur—I already knew. I just didn’t feel like exposing them.

I stood up to leave, but Mrs. Sullivan grabbed my hand tightly. With just a glance from her, Mr. Sullivan made a call.

“Stop your training and get home now. Faith is at our place. How could you leave her unattended, knowing full well she’s pregnant?”

Mrs. Sullivan shoved me back onto the sofa, while Mr. Sullivan stood blocking the door.

Soon, Arthur came rushing in.

He dropped to his knees before me, opened an elegant Chanel box, and took out a necklace.

“I’m sorry, Faith. I was called away for urgent training last night—that’s why I couldn’t go to the hospital with you. I promise I’ll go with you for your next check-up. Please, forgive me this once, okay?”

The necklace sparkled in front of my eyes, but I didn’t feel touched.

Only bitter amusement.

Because that necklace was just a freebie—an accessory that came with the million-dollar jewelry he bought for Jennica.

Moreover, she had tossed it in the trash last night.

Mrs. Sullivan snatched it and forced it into my hands.

“See how much Arthur loves you? He got you such an expensive necklace! Now, make up already.”

Then she pushed me into Arthur’s arms.

“Sweetheart, let’s go home.”

Without giving me a chance to resist, Arthur scooped me up and carefully placed me in the passenger seat of his car.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

It was an email from Hendrix, packed with wedding themes and dress designs.

[Pick your favorite. Take your time.]

I stared, wide-eyed in disbelief.

He had researched all my favorite brands and even reached out to the most elite wedding dress designers.

I've been dating Arthur for six years, yet he still doesn't know what I like

The ring that nearly crushed my finger, the heels that hurt so badly I cried—only in the past two days did I realize they were all Jennica’s exact size.

My eyes stung with tears, my heart churning with a storm of bittersweet emotions.

Then Hendrix ended his message, firm and unapologetic.

[I told you when we got our marriage license—I'm not the kind of man who returns or exchanges. Be ready to be my bride for life.]

I instinctively pushed down the sour ache in my chest and smiled faintly.

“What are you smiling at?”

Arthur turned his head slightly, confused—and perhaps a little uneasy.

“Nothing. I just saw something funny in the news,” I said, turning my head away.

But as I looked down, something under the seat caught my eye.

A pair of pink lace panties.

Stained with fresh... white residue.

My stomach churned.

Had they just been here—right in this car?

Disgust flooded me. I rolled down the window and started gagging uncontrollably.

“Faith! Are you having morning sickness?”

Panicked, Arthur pulled over and wrapped his arms around me, his large hand gently rubbing my back.

“Baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you suffer...”

He lowered his head and kissed the tears at the corner of my eyes.

Once, I found comfort in his tenderness.

Now, all I could smell was the sickly sweet perfume left by Jennica on his neck—and it made me want to retch again.

I turned my head, dodging the kiss that was about to land on my lips.

His body froze.

After a long silence, he simply kissed my hair and said softly, “Let’s go home and rest.”

'This was the 86th time, Arthur. And I swear—I’ll give you exactly what you want. Once and for all.'

###Chapter 3

I woke up from a nap, and Arthur said he wanted to make it up to me by taking me to a movie.

Conveniently, the movie would end just in time for my scheduled hospital appointment.

When we arrived at the cinema, I was stunned to see Jennica there as well.

She jabbed me aside with her elbow and clung to Arthur’s arm flirtatiously.

“Oops, there’s one ticket for a solo seat, but I’m scared of the dark. Big brother, will you sit with me?”

Before Arthur could say anything, I took the solo ticket from her hand.

“Faith, if you get scared, just call me,” he said softly.

Arthur pulled me into an apologetic hug, his warm breath brushing against my neck.

“Mm, you stay with her then,” I replied, gently pushing him away.

He paused, clearly stunned. But I ignored it and sat behind them.

The screen began to flicker. Out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly widened my gaze—Jennica’s hand was sliding toward Arthur’s lap.

A muffled, husky grunt escaped him, as if trying hard to suppress something.

He glanced nervously back at me.

I kept my eyes fixed on the screen.

Jennica then yanked open his collar, revealing his well-defined chest. Arthur, like he was disciplining her, slid his large hand under her miniskirt.

My presence only seemed to turn them on more. Arthur’s movements quickened, and in the dim light, Jennica let out a barely suppressed moan.

“Jennica, what’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable again?” he suddenly asked in a fake concerned voice.

I had known about their betrayal for a long time, but witnessing it with my own eyes still felt like a knife to the heart.

Tears silently streamed down my cheeks in the dark.

Jennica turned around and gave me a triumphant, provocative smirk.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion shook the theater. A foul smell spread through the air.

Panicked screams erupted all around.

I covered my nose and mouth, trying to find an exit. Just as I took a step, someone shoved me violently from behind.

I fell hard amid the stampede. My abdomen slammed against the edge of the stairs, and a sharp, gut-wrenching pain burst through me.

A sickening crack sounded from my ankle.

The pain shot through my entire body. In terror, I screamed out, “Arthur...!”

“It hurts so much... Arthur, where are you?!”

Then I heard Jennica’s voice behind me, faking distress.

“Ahh, my ankle... it hurts!”

I turned back through the pain—she was lying there perfectly fine, casting me a smug glance while pretending to clutch her uninjured ankle.

She was the one who pushed me!

Arthur, who had just arrived nearby, immediately looked toward her, pulling his hand back.

Jennica burst into fake tears.

“I tried to help sister-in-law, but she pushed me down instead! Someone stepped on my foot... it hurts so bad!”

“I didn’t... Arthur, please... help me...”

I felt something wet soaking through my dress—blood. My whole body was trembling as I reached toward him.

But Arthur didn’t see anything—he only believed his girl had been wronged.

He shot me a glare, took off his shirt, wrapped it around Jennica, and carried her in his arms.

As she stood up, she kicked my stomach hard.

I watched their backs as they ran toward the emergency exit.

Silent, I swallowed the searing pain in my body.

I didn’t cry out again.

'This was the 87th time, Arthur. And it will be the last time I ever forgive you.'

###Chapter 4

Because of that fall, I had a miscarriage.

Even though I had already decided not to keep the child, my hand instinctively rubbed over my abdomen. The tears I had been holding back finally fell in heavy drops.

The first call that came was from Hendrix.

“Faith, we’ll have a child of our own one day. I promise. Don’t cry, sweetheart.”

It was an open secret that Hendrix was infertile.

That’s why, even at thirty-two, he was still single. Some women didn’t want to marry him, but more often than not, it was he who rejected them with that very reason.

“Hendrix... come pick me up,” I sniffled, trying to sound obedient and calm for him, even though my nose was sore and stuffy from crying.

Just then, Arthur’s parents arrived at the hospital—and caught me on the phone.

“Who are you talking to?” they asked warily.

I wiped away my tears and looked up indifferently. “Hendrix. I’m already married to him.”

They were both stunned. But Arthur's mother quickly composed herself and snapped, “Impossible! How could the head of the Jordan family marry someone like you, a woman my son has already slept with?!”

“Give them the phone, sweetheart,” Hendrix’s voice was calm on the other end of the line, but filled with the kind of pressure that precedes a storm.

So, I handed the phone to Arthur's mother.

Mr. Sullivan leaned in to listen. I didn't know what Hendrix said to them, but they didn’t dare utter another word.

“Y-Yes, of course, Sir. Don’t worry, we’ll treat Faith with absolute respect. We wouldn’t dream of troubling her.”

The Jordan family was one of the most powerful old-money clans. Even the Sullivan family wasn’t qualified to kiss the dirt beneath their shoes.

Back then, I had delayed the wedding because I found out Arthur had betrayed me. But I accidentally got pregnant—and finally, Arthur's parents had a bargaining chip to force me into marriage.

They wanted the wedding not because they cared about me, but because they could get their hands on half of my parents’ massive inheritance.

That was the real reason they were so eager for Arthur to marry me.

What a joke. I was lucky their son ran away and left me behind that day.

Now, I was finally free—released from the shackles of so-called “gratitude” and debt.

After hanging up the phone, Mr. Sullivan, though still reluctant, tugged Arthur's mother away.

Before leaving, she shot me a bitter glare.

“Everyone knows that Hendrix is infertile. I don’t care how rich he is—he’s no match for our Arthur, who’s young, strong, and virile.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.” I smiled faintly. “There are more ways to have a child than you could ever imagine.”

I got discharged early and limped home to pack my things.

But the moment I opened the door, I saw Jennica sprawled on top of Arthur on the sofa. Her curvy waist moved in rhythm with his frantic thrusts.

He hadn’t expected me back so soon. He shoved Jennica aside, pulled up his pants, and ran over to me, sweat beading on his forehead.

“Faith, it’s not what it looks like! Jennica wasn’t feeling well—I was just massaging her injury.”

What kind of injury required him to take his pants off?

“I saw the firefighters yesterday. I knew you’d be rescued, so I helped Jennica first. She has lung cancer, and she inhaled a lot of smoke. I was afraid she’d get an infection... Wait, your foot—are you okay?”

I lowered my eyes, unwilling to see the false concern in his expression, and walked toward the bedroom.

“It’s all my fault. Because I’m sick, Arthur had to leave you behind... Please don’t be mad at him,” Jennica said softly, approaching me.

But in her eyes, a flash of malice flickered.

I instinctively stepped back, forgetting my injured foot. Pain shot through my ankle and I stumbled.

Jennica screamed and fell down with me.

Her elbow slammed hard into my stomach, and her foot struck my injured ankle with a brutal kick.

The pain was blinding. My vision went dark as my body crashed to the floor like shattered glass.

Clutching her chest, Jennica started crying.

“I already apologized! Why did you hit me again?! You know I have lung cancer!”

Arthur rushed over and, without hesitation, scooped her into his arms.

“What did Jennica do wrong? Why do you always treat her this way?” he growled at me.

Then he saw me trembling in agony, and for a second, he hesitated. But in the end, he still turned and walked away with the weeping Jennica in his arms.

Just like the 87 times before—he always chose her, never me.

But this time, my heart felt nothing. No sadness. No tears.

I lay on the ground for a long while. Once the pain subsided, I wiped the sweat from my brow and got up.

Then, I gathered every gift Arthur had ever given me and threw them all into a metal bin. I lit a match and set them ablaze.

Every single one of those gifts had been chosen by him—but not one matched my taste.

Now I finally understood. The skirts were always pink because that was Jennica's favorite color.

The jewelry, always flashy and sparkly, because that was her style. Even the “maternity” toys he once gave me were because she was pregnant and she wanted them.

The fire roared, consuming everything. But none of it mattered anymore.

An hour later, a line of luxury cars pulled up outside.

A tall, handsome man in a sleek suit carried me into one of them.

At the same time, headlines exploded online.

[Heiress of the Henderson Family Marries into the Jordan Clan azoospermia rich.]

When Arthur heard the news, he was feeding Jennica ice cream. The bowl slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.

He went completely insane, racing to the airport in his car.

Through the window of the private jet, I saw him—eyes red, running faster than he ever had in his life, shouting my name at the top of his lungs.

But it was too late.

The plane left the runway. Its deafening roar drowned out all love and hate.

I deleted all his contact information without hesitation. From now on he is nothing. Never see you again, Arthur.