Zia wiped away her tears. If Brian had betrayed their marriage and killed her father, she swore she would make him pay.

Zia drove back to the city and went straight home. Upon arriving, she immediately opened her safe, searching for the prenuptial agreement Brian had drawn up ten years ago.

She still remembered that before their marriage ten years ago, the Ridge family was nearly bankrupt. The previous CEO, William Ridge, had embezzled company funds for gambling.

Her father, George, had sold his rice fields and acres of orange groves to a buyer for a staggering sum: $500 million.

From that amount, he lent $200 million to the Ridge family to pay off debts, cover losses, and mitigate the consequences of William Ridge’s actions. He gave the remaining 300 million to Zia to keep.

Zia was very careful with the money her father gave her. It was the result of her father’s lifelong hard work. She had set up an anonymous account in her name, Zia Storm, to buy shares in the Ridge Group, eventually becoming a 50% shareholder without the Ridge family’s knowledge.

That investment had saved the Ridge company. However, the Ridge family never expressed their gratitude; in fact, they still looked down on the Storm family as “farmers from the countryside.”

Not only had the loan not been repaid, but her mother-in-law actually considered it a condition for Zia’s acceptance into the Ridge family.

Her father accepted it with grace, hoping Zia would be valued within the Ridge family.

Thinking about all that made Zia want to cry; her heart was filled with guilt.

Brian reassured her father by agreeing to give Zia his personal assets and the signed deed of transfer for his company shares, as well as to end the marriage if he ever cheated on her.

Zia would use that prenuptial agreement to make Brian lose everything.

Zia gathered all the documents, files, and evidence, then contacted the best lawyer in the country.

“Mr. Finch, I need your help. I want to file for divorce and transfer my husband’s personal assets and shares to my name using the prenuptial agreement he’s already signed. I want this done discreetly without my husband’s knowledge. I’ll send the files to you; please process them as quickly as possible.”

“Alright, Miss Storm, leave it all to me. I’ll process it as quickly as possible and contact you right away.”

“Yes, thank you, Mr. Finch,” Zia whispered weakly, slumping to the floor of her room, feeling all her energy drained away.

She clutched her father’s urn tightly. Her tears had stopped flowing. She swore she would never shed another tear for Brian.

“Dad, forgive me… I swear I’ll make Brian pay for what he did to you.”

Zia would reclaim every penny her father had given to the Ridge family.

When she woke up the next morning, Zia found herself lying in bed with Brian’s warm breath on the back of her neck.

When did he come home?

Zia glanced at the clock, which read eight in the morning. She rubbed her forehead, resisting the urge to push Brian away.

She slipped out of Brian’s embrace around her waist and sat up. Zia blinked for a moment, realizing her father’s urn wasn’t in her hands. She remembered falling asleep on the floor while hugging her father’s urn.

Zia frantically looked around. Her movements woke the man beside her.

Brian blinked sleepily. “Honey, what are you looking for?”

“My father’s urn!”

“Your father’s urn? I put it in the cabinet because you fell asleep on the floor hugging that urn.”

Zia ignored him and got out of bed to look for her father’s urn. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her father’s urn neatly stored in the cabinet.

Brian appeared in front of her with an annoyed expression, crossing his arms over his chest. “What’s with your attitude? Do you think I did something bad to your father’s urn?”

Zia looked down at the floor beneath her. How could she trust someone who had killed her father?

However, she kept her emotions to herself and forced a smile for Brian.

“Sorry, I was rude. I didn’t sleep well and I’m feeling irritable this morning. When did you get back?”

“Last night.”

“Oh, that was fast. Was your business trip so unpleasant that you came back early?” Zia asked with a meaningful tone.

Brian furrowed his brow, sensing something off about Zia’s demeanor. For some reason, a sense of unease suddenly gripped his chest.

He rubbed the back of his head, avoiding Zia’s gaze. “I finished work early because of an important meeting today and so I could get home quickly to see you and the kids.”

To calm his wife, who seemed sensitive, he gently wrapped his arms around her waist. “You look terrible—you fell asleep on the floor and didn’t sleep well. Were the kids especially naughty yesterday?”

He was about to kiss her lips, but Zia turned away and broke free from his embrace.

“Yeah, I’m really tired. The kids are being their usual selves.”

“I told you to hand that task over to their nanny. You just need to take care of yourself.”

“Okay.” She walked away from Brian.

Brian watched her back, truly feeling the change in his wife—she had become cold and indifferent toward him.

He shook his head and walked into the bathroom.

Zia took a deep breath and patted her cheek. She had to maintain the harmony of her household until the divorce proceedings and the transfer of Brian’s shares were finalized.

“Good morning.”

Rachel appeared at her house, dressed in a white doctor’s coat. She wore a low-cut blouse and a very short skirt.

“Why are you here?”

“It’s routine check-up day. I’ve finished examining the kids,” she said as if it were obvious, then glanced behind Zia. A faint smile curved her lips.

“I haven’t done Brian’s physical yet. Are we going to do it here today or at my office?” Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

Brian coughed, avoiding her gaze and looking at his wife as if Zia were more interesting, to give the impression of a husband who loved only his wife.

“I don’t need an exam today. I’m almost late for work.”

He then left without giving Rachel a second glance.

Zia gave Rachel a cold stare and scolded her.

“Miss Vane, this is my house. Be polite; ask for permission when visiting someone else’s home. Don’t act like a thief breaking in.”

Rachel glanced at her and smiled mockingly. “Your house? That won’t last long. I’m leaving, bye!”

She turned away haughtily, leaving the living room quickly as if chasing after Brian.

Zia watched her back coldly.

Shortly after, she received a message from Rachel’s number.

Rachel flaunted an intimate photo of herself with Brian inside the car parked in their garage.

[Zia, your husband is already head over heels for me. You’re just waiting to be kicked out.]

Zia clenched her fists so tightly her fingernails dug into her palms. Brian said he was almost late for the office, yet he made time to be with another woman.

She wouldn’t let Rachel’s provocation get to her.

She simply saved the video and photos to send back to Mr. Finch along with the documents she had prepared.

A few days later, the brokerage firm sent her a notice that Brian’s shares had been transferred to her.

Zia used a stockbroker to sell the shares anonymously.

They met at a café. A waiter walked in front of her, leading her to a private room. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Rachel and a man coming out of the VIP area.

Zia quickly hid behind one of the rooms, watching as Rachel and the man stopped to argue.

“Stop this lie, Rachel. You can’t pretend to be pregnant. You’re hurting that man’s wife with your fake pregnancy!”

“What business is it of yours? Please, just go!” Rachel shoved the man roughly and turned to leave, but he held her back.

“This time I won’t give up. I saw those children—Hendry dan Alec Ridge. They’re my children, aren’t they? They’re old enough now. It’s time for me to take those children.”

Zia covered her mouth in shock.

“Stop talking nonsense! They’re Brian’s children!” Rachel snapped, her patience finally worn thin.

“That’s not nonsense. Eight years ago, you borrowed my sperm to replace Brian Ridge’s, who suffered from non-obstructive azoospermia. You tried ten times, and all of them failed. You eventually used mine. Thanks to me, your children were born and raised in the prestigious Ridge family!“

”How much do you want? I’ll give it to you as long as you keep your mouth shut! Five million dollars—is that enough?“

”How am I supposed to believe you have that much money?"

Rachel lifted her chin haughtily. “My lover is Brian Ridge; he’s the CEO of the Ridge Group. Once I’ve made him divorce his wife, I’ll be Mrs. Ridge! Five million dollars is no problem. I’ll give you twenty million dollars if you get out of this country.”

“Hahaha, fine, if that’s what you say. Send me ten million dollars to keep my mouth shut, ‘Mrs. Ridge’.” The man replied mockingly.

“You greedy bastard!” Rachel growled, but she transferred the money to him anyway.

Zia took a breath, the corners of her lips curving upward.

Rachel, you’re wrong, because my husband won’t have anything left to give you, she muttered to herself.

After Rachel and the man left, Zia calmly contacted her friend.

“Hi, Rina. I need your help—please perform a DNA test on my twins and Brian. I’ll send their samples to you.”

[“Okay.”]

Zia then met with a broker to sell Brian’s shares, which were now hers. The broker promised to contact the clients and secure the best price for Zia. He would get back to her in a few days.

In a week, Zia would leave and walk away from it all. Before that, she would bankrupt the Ridghe Group so that Brian would have nothing left, and his mistress would panic without any money from Brian.

Zia felt utterly exhausted when she returned home. Her face darkened the moment she found Brian and Rachel in the living room, seemingly kissing.

They quickly pulled apart. Brian stood up, wiping his lips as if to erase the traces of another woman’s lips from his own. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes.

“You’re home. Why didn’t you call?”

Zia put on a fake smile and blinked innocently, as if she hadn’t seen her husband kissing another woman. “I didn’t have my phone with me all day.”

“Why didn't you get home until eleven at night? Could it be that you were seeing another man?” Rachel said mockingly.

Brian frowned sharply. “Zia… that’s not true, is it?”

Zia gave a fake smile. “You know that’s not true, right? Brian, we’ve been together for ten years. What are you doubting about me? I’ve only ever known you as the one and only man in my life.”

Back then, saying those words felt so sweet; now it felt like swallowing disgusting filth.

It still managed to calm Brian down. “Next time, let me know whenever you go out, okay?”

“Yes. But….” Zia pointed toward Rachel. “Why is Miss Vane at our house at this hour?”

“Ah, she… the kids wanted her to stay, and Rachel is our family’s personal doctor, so she’s staying for a bit for the kids’ routine check-up.”

“Wasn’t that done a few days ago?”

“That…” Brian furrowed his brow, and his eyes darted around, searching for an excuse.

“Brian, it’s already midnight. Take Miss Vane out of our house,” Zia tried to stay calm.

Rachel interrupted with a feigned soft voice, “Brian, it’s pouring rain outside… I’m scared….”

She pointed out the window, her expression worried. The sound of rain and thunder could be heard outside.

Brian’s expression changed instantly.

“Zia, Rachel is always afraid of the rain. Her parents died in an accident while it was raining. Rachel is traumatized. Let her stay at our house.” He decided firmly.

“Brian, you know I don't like having other people stay at our house….” Zia said, her voice breaking.

“Zia, don’t be selfish! It’s just one night!” Brian’s voice suddenly turned cold. “Rachel is deeply traumatized after her parents’ accident, and my family raised her. She’s practically family.”

Zia wanted to argue, but her voice caught in her throat. Suddenly, two boys ran past her and hugged Rachel.

“Aunt Rachel, just stay with us. Mom, let Aunt Rachel stay the night. I beg you….” Alec looked at her with pleading eyes. Hendry nodded, giving her the same look.

Zia bit her lower lip hard.

Rachel put on a pitiful expression.

“Zia, I’m really scared to drive in the rain. If you won’t let me, I’ll leave….” Her eyes welled up, then she stood up resignedly, ready to go.

Brian held her hand. “You’re staying here. That’s my decision. There are plenty of guest rooms; I’ll take your things.”

After saying that, Brian glared at Zia. Without waiting for her approval, he pulled Rachel toward the guest room. His children followed behind, just like chicks following their mother.

“Aunt Rachel, please read us a story.”

“Yes, Aunt Rachel. Please!”

“Okay, sweethearts. Aunt Rachel is going to read you a bedtime story.” Rachel ruffled their hair, while Brian smiled gently at her and stroked her hair as if he’d done it a thousand times before.

To Zia, they looked like a real little family. She rubbed her face and looked up at the ceiling, holding back her tears.

She had promised her father’s urn that she wouldn’t cry over someone like Brian anymore.

In her room, Zia changed into her pajamas and was brushing her hair when Brian appeared behind her.

He looked at Zia in the mirror. “Zia, there’s something I want to talk to you about. I know Rachel was really mean to you in the past. That was decades ago, and you’re both adults now. Forget the past animosity; treat Rachel well from now on.”

Zia clenched her fists, but in front of Brian, she smiled. “Why bring up Rachel all of a sudden?”

“Rachel is pregnant.”

Zia blinked, trying to keep her expression neutral.

“Oh.”

“Don’t be mean to her; she needs to avoid stress and will be staying at our house. My mother asked me to take care of her from now on.”

“Where’s her husband? Shouldn’t her husband be the one taking care of her?”

Brian avoided her gaze. “Her husband cheated on her and left her.”

“Oh, really? I’ve always wondered who her husband was. Rachel’s always been part of the Ridge family. She almost never showed who her husband was.”

“Why are you so full of questions today? That’s Rachel’s personal life. Never bring it up in front of her. I’m tired; I’m going to sleep.”

Brian clicked his tongue, turned his back on her, climbed into bed, and turned off the light.

The lights were turned off, and Zia’s expression was hidden in the darkness. After a moment, she took a deep breath and climbed into bed.

Brian was sleeping with his back turned to her, showing a distant demeanor for the first time in their ten years of marriage. Zia closed her eyes, holding back the pain in her chest.

Half an hour later, she felt movement beside her as Brian woke up. Zia’s eyes remained closed as Brian walked out of their room.

Her hands were clenched tightly beneath the covers. Without needing to follow, she knew where Brian was going.

A few hours later, Brian returned to bed at four in the morning, carrying the scent of Rachel’s body and sex.

Zia’s eyes opened, staring blankly at the ceiling. The feeling in her chest had gone numb and cold.

The next day, Zia acted as usual and covered the dark circles under her eyelids. She woke up early and prepared breakfast for herself.

Zia stopped in the dining room and found Rachel preparing a breakfast of bread and milk for four people.

Zia’s attention was drawn to the ring on Rachel’s ring finger.

“What are you wearing on your hand?”

Rachel glanced at her, her lips curving into a mocking smile as she raised her ring finger.

The wedding ring that Zia had taken off last night at her vanity table—which she’d thought was lost—was actually slipped onto Rachel’s finger.

“You mean this ring? Brian gave it to me because I asked him for it last night. I was craving a wedding ring just for fun. Brian promised he’d buy me a new one.” Rachel rubbed her stomach with a provocative gesture. “Did Brian tell you I’m pregnant?”

Zia sneered coldly to herself. Rachel couldn’t provoke her with her fake pregnancy.

But she wouldn’t tolerate Rachel taking her wedding ring.

A wedding ring is sacred. She remembered Brian proposing to her with that ring ten years ago, when dandelions were floating around them.

Even if Zia wanted to throw the ring away, she wouldn’t let Rachel wear it.

Zia stepped forward quickly and grabbed her hand. “Take it off. It’s not yours.”

Rachel just smiled mockingly. “Okay.”

She slipped the ring off and tossed it into the trash. “Go ahead, pick up that trash, hahaha…”

Zia didn’t move to retrieve it. Her hands were clenched tightly, while Rachel continued her provocation.

“Besides, you’ll be kicked out of this house soon enough. You know, even though he knew I was pregnant, Brian didn’t hold back and made love to me. He was so gentle and attentive to our baby in my womb. Meanwhile, when you were pregnant, he wouldn’t even touch you and came to my bed because you were ugly and looked like a dead fish…”

Zia swung her hand, slapping Rachel’s face hard enough to send the woman staggering backward.

“Does being a whore make you proud? Don’t forget that I’m still Brian’s lawful wife. If I expose this to the media, everyone will point to you as the whore who seduced a married man, and all the reputation you’ve built will be destroyed.”

“You….” Rachel clenched her fists, wanting to strike back, but quickly lowered her hands when she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of Brian walking toward them.

Her eyes flashed with cunning. She suddenly dropped to the floor.

“Arrgggh… It hurts, Zia! I know you hate me, but I’m pregnant. Please don’t hurt my baby.” She clutched her stomach, moving away from Zia as if she were a monster.

“What kind of game are you playing….”

Before Zia could finish her sentence, Brian grabbed her by the shoulder and slapped her face hard. “Zia, you’ve gone too far!”

Zia rubbed her stinging cheek. Her eyes reddened as she glared at Brian. “You hit me without knowing the truth?”

Brian’s gaze was as cold as ice. There was no warmth or love in his eyes like there used to be.

“I’ve seen everything clearly! Zia, you’re so cruel. Even though you’ve been a mother yourself! How could you push Rachel, who’s pregnant?”

“I didn’t push her….”

Zia didn’t finish her sentence because Brian coldly ignored her, roughly shoving her aside to grab Rachel.

Zia’s body was roughly shoved backward, and her head slammed into the table.

Zia groaned in pain. She touched her head, feeling blood trickling down the side of her temple.

Brian paid her no mind and hurried away anxiously, carrying Rachel in his arms.

Rachel looked down at her from over Brian’s shoulder with a triumphant smile.

Zia clenched her teeth.

Brian, you don’t know that the woman you’re defending is faking her pregnancy.

She got up, enduring the pain in her head, and grabbed the first-aid kit to treat her wound, then began packing her belongings into a suitcase.

All the wedding photos and pictures of her little family were thrown into the trash.

She continued packing the remaining items, then contacted a moving company to dispose of them.

Suddenly, a commotion could be heard outside her room.

“Where is that slut!”

Her bedroom door was flung open roughly. Her mother-in-law, followed by her bodyguards, entered the room.

Zia stood facing her mother-in-law. “Mom, what are you doing here?”

Emily pointed at her face in anger.

“You’re still asking after what you did to Rachel? She had a miscarriage because of you! Grab this wretched woman! Ever since the day you married my son, you’ve always brought bad luck. Today I’ll teach you a lesson you deserve!”

The bodyguards rushed to grab Zia’s hands and dragged her out of the room.

They forced her to kneel in the living room.

Zia struggled, but Emily’s bodyguards were strong enough to hold her down, so she remained on her knees.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brian standing at the door with Rachel and their children. He wanted to step inside, but stopped when Rachel clung tightly to his arm. The children just stared at Zia but made no move to protect their mother.

Emily swung the whip mercilessly at Zia’s body.

Zia flinched as a sharp pain tore through her skin.

She felt blood running down her back.

On the fifth lash, Brian finally moved and snatched the whip from his mother’s hand.

“Mom, that’s enough.”

“Brian, it’s not over yet! She killed the child in Rachel’s womb, a descendant of the Ridge family! Your child….”

“Mom, that’s enough!” Brian’s voice was loud, cutting off Emily’s words.

Emily glared at him, clearly dissatisfied. “You’ve been too soft on her all this time. She even apologized after what she did to Rachel.”

Brian shifted his gaze to Zia and whispered in a low voice.

“Zia, you have to apologize to Rachel. Only with an apology will she forgive you and this punishment will stop.”

Zia shook her head stubbornly. Her lips trembled with pain. “I don’t believe that woman was pregnant, let alone that I caused her miscarriage. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Rachel approached her and said in a hurt voice. “Zia, I’ve lost my baby. Why are you hurting me with that painful slander?”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. She covered her face and began to cry.

Hendry shouted. “Mom, apologize to Aunt Rachel. Don’t make Aunt Rachel sad.”

Alec nodded. “If Mom doesn’t apologize to Aunt Rachel, we won’t acknowledge you as our mother.”

Zia’s eyes reddened as she stared at the children. When she was punished by Emily, they just stayed silent. But when Rachel started crying, they forced her to apologize and even threatened not to acknowledge her as their mother.

Zia kept her mouth shut and shook her head, refusing to apologize.

Brian’s expression hardened.

“Zia, apologize to Rachel!”

Zia pressed her lips together stubbornly.

“You’ve really made me so angry!” Brian’s gaze turned icy.

He gave an order to the maid.

“Bring that urn of ashes here.”

Zia’s eyes widened; she tried to stand, but the bodyguard behind her held her down, forcing her to remain on her knees.

“What are you doing to my father’s urn!”

Brian didn’t answer. Shortly after, the maid arrived with the urn and handed it to Brian.

“Brian, what on earth are you doing! Give my father’s urn back!” Zia screamed.

The bodyguards held her down so she remained on her knees.

Brian’s expression was cold as he held the urn in his hands.

“If you don’t apologize, I’ll smash your father’s urn right in front of you.”

Zia’s eyes turned red with rage and pain.

“Why are you doing this to me? What did my father ever do to you! Have you forgotten that my father saved the Ridge Group from bankruptcy! You ungrateful bastard,” Zia screamed like a child, thrashing to break free from the bodyguards behind her.

“Zia!” Brian’s face hardened as he heard his wife call him an ungrateful bastard in front of everyone and the maids who were watching.

“Apologize to Rachel! Now! I won’t repeat myself!” Brian was about to drop the urn.

“Fine! Fine! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Zia cupped her hands in supplication before Brian and Rachel. Tears streamed down her face.

“Please give me back that urn, I beg you... it’s the only thing left of my father.”

Brian exhaled. “You should have said that earlier.”

He then turned his gaze to Rachel. “Zia has apologized to you, can you forgive her?”

Rachel nodded with a feigned, weak smile. A cold gleam flashed in her eyes as she stared at the urn of ashes in Brian’s hands. She clutched her head, and her body swayed.

“Brian, my head is spinning....”

“Rachel!”

As Brian embraced her, Rachel pretended to accidentally knock the urn out of Brian’s hands. It shattered into a thousand pieces, the sound echoing loudly through the room. Ash flew everywhere.

Everyone fell silent.

“No!”

Zia’s eyes turned red, her body trembling. She crawled to gather the ashes from the shattered urn, heedless of the shards cutting her hands. She pressed them to her chest. Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision.

“No, Dad... no…”

“Zia, I’m sorry.... I didn’t mean to....” Rachel’s eyes widened, looking remorseful as she clung tightly to Brian’s arm. “Brian, I really didn’t mean to....”

Zia glared at Rachel until the woman hid behind Brian, terrified.

She stood up and lunged at the woman. Brian shielded Rachel and held Zia back. “Zia… I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I’m the one who dropped the vase… blame me. I’ll replace your father’s vase with a new one.”

Zia paid him no mind, raging and striking Brian until Emily’s bodyguards pulled her away.

Zia began to tire; her chest felt tight until she couldn’t breathe. Her consciousness slowly faded.

Before she lost consciousness, she faintly saw Brian shouting with a panicked expression.

“Zia!”