The research team often claimed that Rocco Ferrari was utterly, hopelessly in love with me.

I had a rare condition; my body reacted harshly to direct contact, prone to allergies, and conceiving a child was almost impossible. To shield me from any pain, Rocco took every precaution. Whenever we were intimate, he insisted on double protection, refusing to risk my health.

He couldn’t stand the thought of me enduring the agony of IVF treatments, so he made a bold public statement, declaring himself infertile and indifferent to fatherhood. It was his way of protecting me from judgment and speculation.

Rocco had dreams and towering ambitions in research, but he lacked the funds to bring them to life. At the same time, I had my own mission: to gather data from this era.

So, I hid my true identity and became the silent benefactor of his entire team, funding every project and ensuring his vision never faltered.

One afternoon, while delivering lunch to Rocco, I stumbled upon a conversation that froze me in my tracks. His colleagues were laughing, their teasing words piercing the air.

“Rocco, did you lead last night’s virtual meeting while on Avery? Your voice even changed; was it that good?”

Rocco chuckled, giving his colleague a playful nudge, a smug grin spreading across his face.

“Don’t make things up. But, yeah, the feeling without it is incredible.”

Those words crushed me. My chest tightened as my heart crumbled to ash.

Later, with trembling hands, I reached out to my team in the future world.

“I want to go back.”

A familiar voice answered, calm and reassuring.

“Understood. The time-travel ship will await you at the base of Liora Cliff.”

“The scheduled departure is in five days.”

…

Rocco slid his hand beneath Avery’s shirt, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

“Cold hands? Let me take care of that.”

The office heating had been unreliable for days, leaving most of the staff clinging to their hot water bottles. Yet, Rocco seemed to have his own solution, which earned him more than a few envious glances.

“Lucky guy. I wish I had someone to warm my hands like that.”

Avery Conti let out a startled giggle, her cheeks flushing a deep red as she perched comfortably on his lap. She tilted her head back, surrendering to his touch, clearly reveling in the moment.

They were so wrapped up in each other that they failed to notice me standing just outside the window, frozen in place. The scene etched itself into my mind like a cruel work of art.

Passion consumed Rocco as he pressed Avery onto the cold lab table, his movements deliberate and intense. Avery looped her arms around his neck, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.

“Rocco, you’re freezing me. Do you warm your wife like this at home?”

Rocco’s expression darkened instantly, his voice sharp as ice.

“I’ve warned you before, don’t bring up Valerie when we’re doing this. Her name doesn’t belong here.”

“Valerie hates the cold. Do you think I could ever treat her this way?”

Avery pouted, but Rocco’s lips curled into a wicked smirk. His grip tightened, his tone now mocking.

“You, on the other hand, are big and hot, like a cow. But I wonder… do you have any milk?”

“Why don’t you try and find out?”

Others cheered beside him.

Rocco actually leaned in, a predatory gleam in his eyes.

My fingers trembled as I lifted my phone and recorded the scene unfolding before me. Every second felt like a stab to my chest, but I forced myself to dial Rocco on video.

He answered immediately, his upper body filling the screen as he straightened. The faint tremor of the camera betrayed his movements, his breaths barely audible but unmistakable.

One of his hands was pressed firmly over Avery’s mouth. Yet, his expression on the screen was warm, as if nothing was amiss.

“Hello, Valerie. What’s up?”

Could he not even bear to leave her for a moment? A wave of revulsion churned in my stomach, the urge to fling my phone almost overpowering.

“Nothing,” I said, forcing calm into my voice. “I just wanted to see what you were doing.”

His smile brightened, his happiness like a dagger twisting in my heart.

“Do you miss me? The office is freezing, so I’m doing a bit of exercise to warm up.”

His gaze sharpened as he noticed my background wasn’t familiar. His demeanor shifted, tension etching into his features.

“Valerie, you’re not home? Where are you?” His eyes flickered toward the door, his concern poorly masked by his usual charm.

I pressed my back against the cold, white wall, forcing a mask of indifference to settle over my face. My voice remained steady as I spoke into the phone.

“Didn’t you say you wanted braised pork last time? I’m at the supermarket fire exit—it’s too noisy inside.”

Rocco exhaled, relief softening his voice, and smiled like a carefree child.

“Valerie, your braised pork is the best. I’ll come home tonight.”

As the call ended, I watched him pat Avery, murmuring something about switching positions. My stomach churned as their laughter mingled with the others.

It was as if the years of love we had shared had turned into nothing more than a cruel joke. My heart felt like it had been shattered into countless pieces.

The others chuckled, moving aside to give them more space. I turned away before anyone noticed me, my legs carrying me out of sight. The lunchbox in my hand suddenly felt heavier than I could bear, and without a second thought, I hurled it into the nearest trash can.

Back home, the haunting image of Rocco pressing against Avery while video-calling me churned in my mind, sending waves of nausea surging through me.

Unable to contain the disgust, I hurled my phone into the toilet. My hands trembled as I scrubbed them under cold water, over and over, until the soap dispenser was empty. Yet, no amount of washing seemed to cleanse the taint.

Rocco’s puzzled voice snapped me out of my frenzy.

“Valerie?”

His gaze fell on my water-soaked, pale hands, and he rushed to my side with visible concern.

“Why are you washing your hands with cold water? Your period starts tomorrow. What if your stomach hurts? Do you want me to worry myself sick over you?”

I pulled my hands back; my voice was as flat as the air between us.

“My phone slipped into the toilet. I couldn’t save it.”

Without hesitation, Rocco hurried to prepare a hot water bottle, his movements quick yet tender. He returned with a basin of warm water steeped in ginger slices. Squatting before me, he gently took my feet in his hands, his tone laced with indulgent helplessness.

“If it’s dropped, so be it. It’s just an old, dirty phone. Is it really worth you fishing it out? I’ll buy you a new one tomorrow, the best money you can get.”

“Oh, and tomorrow is your big sister’s baby’s one-month celebration. Mom wants us to join them for dinner.”

His gentle and caring demeanor felt like a cruel irony. My thoughts screamed questions I didn’t dare voice aloud.

What about you?

You’re tainted. Should I still want you?

That night, I woke with a jolt, pulled from restless dreams. The bed beside me was cold and empty. Once, Rocco would hold me through the night, swearing he couldn’t sleep without me in his arms.

I found him on the balcony, his back turned, whispering into his phone. His voice carried softly in the stillness.

Coming from the future world, my body’s functions, including hearing, were superior to those of this era.

Avery’s voice rang through the quiet night, sultry and teasing.

“Brother Rocco, I absolutely love the color of the new bag! It’s even prettier than the five you gave me last month.”

“That pastel blue,” she added coyly, “matches the lingerie you tore apart yesterday.”

Rocco’s reply was sharp, his patience clearly thinning.

“Enough. If every night with me earns you tens of thousands in bags, you’re making a killing.”

Avery, both aggrieved and alluring, pouted.

“Brother Rocco, it’s not about the money. I just adore how handsome you are and your… skills.”

“I miss you,” she whispered sweetly. “Can we video call?”

Rocco’s tone turned cold, cutting through her suggestion like a blade.

“No. Valerie is sleeping. If you dare disturb her, I’ll throw you out of the team.”

Avery refused to back down, her voice turning sweeter, dripping with coquettish allure.

“I got new lingerie tonight, white lace. I’ll tear it just for you. Don’t you love that?”

Rocco’s silence hung heavy, the tension palpable. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, rough with barely contained desire.

“I’ll head to the bathroom.”

“Okay. Oh, Brother Rocco, I saw another bag today…”

“Got it. You’re relentless.”

I slipped back to the bed, my heart pounding. Moments later, the faint click of the bathroom door echoed, followed by muffled gasps filtering through the silence.

Before I came to this era, my organization had funded my research, ensuring steady payments to support my work. Most of that money had gone straight into Rocco’s team.

Rocco had always prided himself on his independence, unwilling to lean on anyone, especially a woman. I hid the truth that I was his employer, communicating with him through a secondary account and signing contracts in secret.

I supported his work without question, sparing him the need to beg for funding. The data I requested was simple, leaving him plenty of space to focus on his personal projects, even if they didn't bring in a profit.

But since last month, Rocco has been requesting funds more and more frequently. Thinking it was for his research, I transferred the money without hesitation, never imagining it was to win over another woman.

I curled deeper under the blanket, my body trembling, but no matter how tightly I wrapped myself, the coldness in my heart remained unyielding.

Suddenly, the crystal bracelet on my wrist flickered to life, and a colleague's face appeared in a projection.

It was a communication device designed to connect with my colleagues from the future. To keep Rocco from becoming suspicious, I had disguised it as a bracelet.

"Valerie, the time-travel spaceship has already left. It will reach the base of Liora Cliff at 00:00 in five days. Don’t be late."

I pulled myself into a tight embrace, finding comfort in the thought that in just five days, I could escape. I wouldn’t have to lay eyes on Rocco ever again.

The next day, Rocco took me to the mall to pick out a new phone. I couldn’t bring myself to care, ready to grab any phone at random, knowing I wouldn’t need it for much longer; after all, mobile phones were already obsolete in the future.

But he wouldn’t hear of it. Insisting on buying me the latest and most expensive model, he wouldn’t relent.

While replacing my SIM card, Rocco slipped away for a moment. When he returned, he was holding a luxury handbag, a new release worth tens of thousands.

“A colleague from my team asked me to pick up a gift for his girlfriend. Since I was already at the mall, I agreed to help,” Rocco explained with a smile. I already knew the truth but said nothing, nodding in silence.

I hadn’t wanted to visit Rocco’s family. Despite years of marriage, we had no children, and his family resented me for it. But as his wife, avoiding such a gathering would only stir up trouble with his mother. Skipping it seemed like inviting unnecessary drama.

Sure enough, as soon as we sat down, his mother, cradling a baby in her arms, began with her sharp words.

“Some people act like they own the house, yet they can’t even lay an egg. They even have their husbands claim they’re infertile; what’s their excuse?”

Rocco’s face tightened, his jaw clenched, ready to respond. But just as he opened his mouth, his phone buzzed with two new messages. Without a second thought, he unlocked it and glanced at the screen. From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the message content.

The screen displayed a photo of Avery, clad in lingerie, holding a positive pregnancy test, with a message beneath it. [If you don’t come see me, I’ll get rid of it.]

In the past, whenever Rocco’s family had tormented me, he’d been the first to stand up for me, fiercely protecting me from their cruelty. But now, as his mother and sister spent the last ten minutes belittling me, Rocco didn’t utter a single word. He simply sat there, silent.

Shielding the phone from my view, Rocco stared at the message for what felt like an eternity. When he finally looked at me, his eyes were filled with apology.

“Valerie, my boss just called. He needs me to present a report at the office.”

He had no idea that I was his boss, and he hadn’t submitted a report to me in ages.

“Go ahead,” I replied, my voice calm and steady. “Work is important.”

He stood up without a word, taking the handbag with him as he left.

The moment Rocco left, his mother and sister grew even bolder, their mocking laughter filling the room.

“See? Because you can’t have children, Rocco doesn’t even care about you anymore.”

“Do us all a favor and leave. If you can’t give him what he wants, don’t waste his time. There are plenty of women now, eager to have his children now that he’s caught the eye of a big boss.”

I didn’t respond to their taunts. Instead, I emptied my glass of wine in one long sip, stood up, and offered them a faint smile.

“Don’t worry. You’ll get exactly what you want.”

They wouldn’t have to wait long; someone had already stepped into the role.

I turned and left, retreating to my home to organize the years of data I had gathered, preparing to transfer it to the organization’s database. Only four days remained.

Meanwhile, Rocco’s mother and sister, mistaking his silence for indifference, believed he was tired of me. They wasted no time in calling him, pushing for a divorce, suggesting that my lack of resistance meant I, too, wanted to end the marriage.

But Rocco’s response was nothing like they expected. His fury erupted. He pushed Avery off his lap, hastily dressed, and stormed out in a blind rage.

When he reached his mother’s house, his anger tore through it. He wrecked everything in his path, smashing furniture and belongings. The chaos reached its peak when he came close to hurting his sister’s child, only halting when his mother knelt before him, pleading for mercy.