Late at night, Karen was in the kitchen, preparing a feast for Nathan's return. But as the clock ticked past twelve, he still hadn't arrived. She became worried.

After all, everyone knew that this marriage was something she had begged for-Nathan didn't love her-if anything, he despised her. In the past, she wouldn't have dared to hope for anything more.

But now...

Her hand gently rested on her slightly rounded belly, and a smile crept onto her face. Surely, for the sake of their child, he would treat her a little better, right? Just then, she heard the soft click of the front door, and her heart leaped. She hurried to greet him.

"Nathan, you're back!"

Nathan Winston stepped inside, wearing a dark cashmere coat that accentuated his tall, elegant figure against the winter night.

The moment he laid eyes on Karen, he said, "Karen, we need to talk."

Karen paused, sensing something was off about him. But then she remembered the pregnancy test in her bag, and a smile returned to her lips.

"Sure, I have something to tell you too. We-"

"Rachael is pregnant. Let's get a divorce!"

The words hit her like a heavy blow, leaving her standing there in disbelief.

The man continued, "It's been five months. I promised Chad that I would take good care of her and not go back on my word, so you need to step aside."

Chad was Rachael's brother and Nathan's best friend. He had died three years ago in a ghastly car accident.

Karen was well aware of this, which is why she had taken such good care of Rachael over the past three years, even to the point of being at her beck and call. 

Rachael was her best friend from childhood and she did everything to make her happy.

But how could she... how could she covet her husband and even be pregnant with his child?

Karen's mind was in turmoil, but she forced herself to stay calm.

"Nathan, I actually went to the hospital today, and the doctor said..."

Just then, a phone rang, cutting her off mid-sentence. Nathan answered the call, and immediately, his expression changed dramatically.

"What did you say? Rachael is what?! Take her to the hospital first. I'll be there right away!"

He hung up the phone in a hurry, and Karen's heart raced as she quickly grabbed his arm.

"Where are you going? It's so late, and you still want to go after Rachael? You can't go!"

Nathan impatiently shook her off.

"Rachael is in trouble! Are you really going to let her suffer when I can help? Karen, don't be so heartless!"

With that, he pushed the door open and walked out.

Karen felt a lump in her throat, as years of suppressed grievances surged up inside her. She rushed out and shouted, "How am I supposed to be reasonable? I'm your wife! Are you expecting me to just stand by and watch you chase after my own bestfriend?"

Nathan stopped, but his words struck her like a blow, sending her spiraling down.

"Don't you know how you got that title of 'wife'? If it weren't for you, Chad wouldn't have died, and Rachael wouldn't be in this situation!"

"I've put up with you for three years. The only reason I haven't sent you to prison is out of respect for the Winston and Carter families. What more do you want?!"

Karen's face turned ghostly pale as the memories crashed into her like a nightmare she could never escape.

Three years ago, just days before her wedding into the powerful Winston family, shocking news shook the entire city-Nathan had been involved in a horrific car accident, and Chad died at the scene.

But before the blood on the wreckage could even dry, a far darker story spread like wildfire.

Anonymous photos and fabricated messages suddenly surfaced online, claiming Karen had been having a secret affair with Chad behind Nathan's back. The tabloids tore her apart, calling her a gold-digger willing to do anything to become Mrs. Winston.

Then came the most horrifying accusation of all.

Rumors claimed Chad had threatened to expose their relationship before the wedding, and Karen, desperate to protect her marriage to Nathan and secure her place in the Winston family, had secretly paid someone to tamper with Chad's car brakes to silence him forever.

Overnight, she became the woman the entire city despised-a cold-hearted murderer accused of killing her own lover just to marry another man.

She had explained herself to him countless times, and eventually, due to lack of evidence, the prosecution didn't file charges against her.

She thought that proved her innocence, but it turned out... he had never believed her at all?

Karen's heart sank deeper.

"Chad's death wasn't my fault. I've explained this to you countless times," she insisted, her voice trembling with frustration. "And you know how much I love you. How could I possibly cheat on you and kill him? Don't you think that's absurd?"

Nathan looked at her with a mocking smile.

"It is absurd. Just like how absurd it is that I followed through with our engagement and married you. But do you know what I really think?"

Logic told her not to ask, but she couldn't help herself.

"What do you think?"

"I'm thinking about when you will die! Do you have any idea how disgusting it has been for me to see you over the past three years? Every time I look at you, I remember all those images and how Chad died. I wish you would just go to hell and join your lover in the grave!"

The words hit Karen like a thunderclap, causing her to stagger back in disbelief. Suddenly, memories flooded her mind-every cold glance and every moment of disdain from him over the years. She had never understood why, but in this moment, everything clicked into place.

"So... this is how you really feel? You think I'm a murderer and a cheat? Everything I've explained to you over the past three years was just a lie to you?"

"Yes!"

He answered without hesitation, his gaze cold as he looked at her, as if she were a stranger.

"In my eyes, you're nothing but a clown. You make me feel so disgusted that I can't even bring myself to hate you! Because that would make my hatred feel cheap and filthy!"

Karen trembled violently, her body collapsing completely. After three years of marriage, she had always known that something was weighing heavily on Nathan's heart. She had thought that with her efforts, she could touch him, that even if he couldn't love her, they could at least maintain a respectful relationship.

But the reality was... not only did he want her dead, but he also found her disgusting?

Karen suddenly found it all quite amusing. She laughed, but as the laughter continued, tears began to pour down her cheeks.

"I get it now! So in your eyes, this is who I am... Nathan Winston, it seems that all these years, it wasn't you who misjudged me, but I who misjudged you."

Tears streamed down her face, and the pain in her heart made her body tremble uncontrollably.

Nathan's expression tightened for a moment, and for a brief second, his heart seemed to soften. But the next second, his phone rang again.

"Mr. Winston, when are you coming? Rachael is bleeding heavily. We might not be able to save the baby!"

Nathan's eyes tightened, "Do everything you can to protect my child. I'll be there soon!"

With no time to think further, he hung up the phone and shoved the divorce papers into Karen's hands.

"Just sign it and leave it at home. I'll send someone to pick it up later!"

After saying that, he hurriedly got into his car and drove off.

Karen held the divorce papers, watching the car disappear into the distance, feeling her heart turn to ashes. Five years of unrequited love and three years of marriage-she thought she had given everything, only to be undone by a casual phone call. Was there really no need to salvage this marriage anymore?

She didn't even look at the contents of the papers.

Once back in her room, she grabbed a pen and hastily signed it, then quickly packed a few of her clothes and headed downstairs.

The maid, Felicia, was surprised to see her carrying a large suitcase.

"Ma'am, where are you going at this hour?"

Karen remembered Nathan's earlier words and smirked sarcastically.

"Don't call me 'ma'am' anymore. Just call me Karen."

He didn't want her as his wife, so she wouldn't be one anymore. Felicia was left speechless. Although she didn't know exactly what had happened between them, she had faintly heard the argument earlier and didn't dare to say another word.

Karen suddenly remembered something and took off a bracelet from her wrist.

"Felicia, I know your daughter has been sick, and I haven't been able to help much. This bracelet is made of icy jade and is worth at least five hundred thousand. Take it and use it for your daughter's medical expenses," Karen said, her voice firm.

Felicia was stunned. "I can't accept something so valuable..."

"It's fine," Karen insisted, shoving the bracelet into Felicia's hands.

This bracelet had been a wedding gift from Nathan, a token of his affection that felt rather poor for a man worth billions. It also reflected his mockery of her as his wife. Yet, she had treasured it and wore it every day. Now that her marriage was over, she felt no need to keep it any longer.

Karen didn't say anything more and walked away, dragging her suitcase behind her. Half an hour later, she met her brother Oliver, who had come to pick her up.

Oliver was her brother in every way that mattered, though they are not blood-related. He had always treated her with kindness.

Karen was not the biological daughter of the Carter family, and she had never expected them to take her in as a "divorced woman." That's why she had turned to Oliver for help.

Seeing her standing on the roadside in just a thin jacket, Oliver's eyes filled with anger.

"Why are you out here dressed like that? Where's Nathan? I'll go confront him!"

Karen pulled him back. "Oliver, it's okay! I'm a bit cold. Can you take me home first?"

Seeing this, Oliver quickly took off his jacket and draped it over her.

"Alright, I'll take you home first. We can talk about everything later."

They arrived at Oliver's small apartment, and after hearing the whole story, he was furious. "This is outrageous! How could he treat you like this? Doesn't he know you're pregnant?"

"I don't think he does."

Oliver was momentarily speechless. Then Karen continued, "I've come to realize that a marriage without love is meaningless, even if it's tied together by a child."

"I used to be so naive, thinking that even a block of ice could be melted slowly. But now I know he's not ice. He's cold iron, and cold iron can't be melted. So, I don't want to force it anymore. Please don't push it either. Just let him go and let me go too."

After eight years, she had built a dream for herself. Now that the dream was over, it was time to let go. Oliver felt a deep ache in his heart, but after the pain, a complex emotion began to stir within him.

"Don't worry! If Nathan doesn't want you, I'm here for you. Once the baby is born, I'll help you raise it."

Karen smiled, appreciating his kindness.

"What are you planning to do next?"

"I want to go abroad."

Karen was studying business administration at the university and had been with Nathan for three years. While she didn't have much, she did have some money on her card. She planned to use that money to study abroad and, at the same time, give birth to her child.

Oliver had no objections-in his eyes, going abroad was a good idea. It meant getting far away from Nathan, which would prevent any further harm from him. So, they agreed to book tickets to leave the next day.

That night, Karen decided to spend one last night at his apartment. However, in the middle of the night, she was suddenly jolted awake by a loud crash.

Then came Oliver's furious shout, "Who are you? What do you want...?"

Karen quickly jumped out of bed and rushed into the living room, only to see five masked figures standing there.

She screamed in fright and subconsciously tried to run away, but in the next moment, a cloth was pressed over her mouth from behind. She caught a whiff of a strange scent, and then everything went black.

Karen and Oliver were dragged onto a cruise ship. The group first stripped them of their clothes and took several intimate photos of them together.

After sending the photo, one of them called and asked, "Ma'am Rachael, how should we deal with these two?"

Rachael let out a cold laugh.

"Useless people! Throw them into the sea to feed the fish! But it has to look like an accident, just like before. Understood?"

"Got it, we'll take care of it right away!"

After the cruise ship had been sailing for a while, it suddenly crashed into a massive rock. Immediately, water began to pour in through the huge gash in the ship's hull.

Karen was jolted awake by the salty water splashing over her. She looked around in terror as the sea engulfed everything, quickly shaking Oliver awake.

Spotting a nearby speedboat, she waved frantically. "Hey! Help! Save us!"

But what greeted her was the wild laughter of men. "Foolish woman, this is a gift from Mr. Winston. No need to thank us..."

Karen felt a chill run down her spine! Was this from Nathan? The cruel words echoed in her ears once more.

"Karen, I wonder when you'll die! I can't wait for you to go to hell and join Chad!"

"Ha ha ha ha..." Suddenly, she burst into laughter, shaking uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. "Nathan, oh Nathan Winston, so you wanted me dead from the very beginning and never intended to let me go, did you? All for some baseless accusation, you want me to pay with my life to satisfy your so-called friendship?!"

But even so, it would have been fine if it were just her, so why did Oliver-her brother have to get dragged into this too?

"Karen, stop wasting time with them! These bastards clearly want to kill us! Do you see over there? There's a huge rock! If we swim hard enough, we'll definitely be rescued!"

Karen followed his finger and, through the dim night, spotted a dark shape jutting out of the water. Realizing what he meant, she quickly nodded. Together, they began to swim toward it with all their might. The cold sea felt like a thousand sharp knives slicing against their skin, each cut more painful than the last.

Fortunately, the distance wasn't too far, and they soon reached the rock. However, Karen was exhausted and had no strength left to climb up. Seeing this, Oliver gritted his teeth and dove back into the water, lifting her onto his shoulder.

"Karen, step on my shoulders and climb up! Grab onto the rock and don't let go."

Karen panicked, "No! What will you do if I go up?"

"Don't worry, I still have strength left. I can get up myself."

Karen wasn't sure if he was telling the truth, but seeing that he wouldn't let go, she gritted her teeth and desperately began to climb. After what felt like an eternity, she finally found her footing and quickly reached out her hand.

"Oliver, come up! I'll pull you!"

But Oliver could only manage a weak smile. The icy seawater had turned his lips and cheeks a dark shade of blue, and his teeth chattered as he spoke.

"Karen... I don't have the strength to climb up. You can't pull me up either.... We'll both end up drowning... This area of the sea isn't too remote...there might be boats passing by."

"Listen to me, conserve your strength, and wait for rescue." he continued. "I... I can only escort you this far."

As he spoke in broken sentences, his body sank deeper into the water.

Karen's eyes widened in disbelief as she watched Oliver being slowly consumed by the waves, feeling as if a boulder had exploded in his chest, leaving him in heart-wrenching agony.

"Oliver, don't go! Please... Don't leave me!"