Joey clung to Nathan, her voice soft and coy. "Honey, I'm sorry. Back then, I kept things from you because I wanted to heal properly abroad. But now, seeing you with Rose, taking care of Leo so well, I'm happy for you. I wonder... when I was overseas, you promised that if I ever changed my mind, you'd still be here waiting for me. Is that still true?"

Nathan didn't move, but my hand shook uncontrollably. The cake I was holding slipped from my fingers and hit the ground.

Joey, noticing me, immediately acted like nothing had happened and reluctantly pulled away from Nathan. She rushed over to me, gently taking my hand.

"Rose Wilson," she said softly, her fingers gripping mine tightly. "I came back after so many years of healing. I was just catching up with Nathan, nothing like you might think." Her touch made my stomach churn, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't pull away.

At that moment, Nathan turned around. His once gentle gaze on Joey turned cold when it met mine.

Hearing Joey call him "honey" again made me remember the times I used to call Nathan that. Back then, it only earned me a disgusted sneer.

Nathan yanked Joey to his side, standing protectively in front of her. "You said we were celebrating Leo's birthday today. Why are you back so soon?"

I watched as their hands intertwined. Just two hours ago, he'd held my hand the same way—though there was no warmth in his eyes, it had been the closest thing to affection in years, aside from those fleeting moments in bed.

When our eyes met, Nathan immediately released my hand, like he had been burned.

"Joey's back now. She’s finally reunited with Leo. Can you not look at her like that? As if she owes you something?" he snapped, his voice tight with irritation.

Joey shot me a mocking look, her eyes filled with the same intensity she used to have when fighting me for something. It made my chest tighten painfully.

Suddenly, I was shoved from behind, and Leo's cheerful voice called out, "Mom!"

He ran up to me, but in his excitement, he stepped on the cake, smashing the picture of the happy family. He wanted Joey to pick him up, calling her "mom" while reaching for her.

To them, they looked like a perfect little family. But when Leo finally noticed me, his face flickered with hesitation before he reluctantly called out, "Aunt Rose."

My breath caught in my throat. The year I had gotten pregnant, Nathan had been forced to marry me.

After ten long months of carrying my child, I had given birth to a stillborn baby. I had been completely alone, with no one to turn to.

When Nathan brought Leo into my life, he had just learned to walk, but he called me "mom," filling the empty space in my heart, a bittersweet substitute for the child I would never have.

Every meal Leo ate was something I had carefully prepared. Every piece of clothing he wore had been ironed by my hands. And every word he learned had come from me.

Now, it was as if he didn't recognize me at all.

Leo’s foot had destroyed the picture on the cake—an image I had drawn of the three of us, filled with hopes of a happy future together. I bent down, picked up the ruined cake, and began eating it in large bites, tears streaming down my face.

"Rose," Joey said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "Leo didn’t mean it. You can't seriously hold a grudge against a little kid, can you?"

I ignored her, but Nathan immediately grabbed my arm, pulling me up.

"Rose, it's just a cake. We can make another one. Today’s Leo’s birthday, and Joey’s here. There’s no need to ruin the mood."

Nathan’s eyes lingered on my tear-streaked face, his expression faltering for a moment, before his grip on my arm loosened.

Joey tugged at my sleeve. "Rose, let's go out and celebrate Leo’s birthday. I also want to thank you for taking care of him all these years."

I pulled away from her, and she stumbled back, but Nathan caught her.

"Rose, I know you’ve never liked me," Joey continued, her voice turning sharp. "If you don't want to see me, I'll take Leo and leave. We won’t come around again, not in front of you and Nathan."

Nathan’s voice lost its earlier patience as he spoke again. "Rose, from the moment you drugged me, I’ve put up with you for far too long. Since you’re not grateful, let's just go celebrate Leo's birthday."

With Leo in his arms and Joey holding onto his side, Nathan walked away.

The wind hit me like a cold slap to the face, leaving my heart frozen.

That evening, Joey sent me a video of the three of them celebrating Leo's birthday.

Leo was blowing out the candles, Nathan gazing at him and Joey with tenderness.

“Leo, what did you wish for?” Nathan asked softly.

Leo excitedly grabbed both his and Joey’s hands.

“I wish for Mommy and Daddy to always be together. Daddy, can you stop being with Aunt Rose? You’ve always liked Mommy, haven’t you?”

The moment I heard Nathan whisper a quiet "Okay," tears began to fall uncontrollably, splashing onto my phone.

The memories flooded back. I had secretly loved Nathan for years. When he saw me as his remedy, I was secretly elated. But I never imagined that after Nathan woke up, I would end up living in hell.

At our wedding, he wasn’t there. I had to face the malicious stares alone as I went through the ceremony.

Later, when William and Joey went overseas, he abandoned me, leaving me to endure the rumors alone. Even when I hemorrhaged after a difficult labor and the doctors told me the baby had died, I called him with everything I had, only to be met with silence.

I thought he was just busy. When I finally told him, he responded with a blank expression, not a single word of concern.

Now Joey told me that during that time, Nathan had quietly stayed by her side, watching her and William happily setting off fireworks.

I still remember how he harshly said to me, “If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been with Joey by now. Rose, your tricks make me think you’re worthless.”

He returned to the country, and I dedicated myself to taking care of Leo. Only then did he start smiling at me—rare, but still enough to make me happy.

I thought that finally, he had accepted me, but Joey’s supposed death and return made me realize that all my efforts were in vain.

She easily regained Nathan’s affection.

At that moment, I felt a sense of relief. I dialed Ulric Slater’s number.

“Ulric, you mentioned the research institute needed one more person. Is there still space for me?”

“Sure, you’ve finally figured it out. I’ll come get you in two weeks.”

Later that night, I was groggily sleeping when a hand reached out to me. I woke up to find Nathan’s eyes filled with desire.

I immediately pushed him off me, but he pulled me back into his arms.

“Rose, if this is about what happened today and you're throwing a tantrum, then it’s really unnecessary.”

The scent of his cologne reminded me of him hugging Joey, and I instantly felt sick to my stomach.

“Nathan, let’s get a divorce.” I struggled out of his grasp.

Nathan was furious. “You’re throwing a tantrum like this now? If you think divorcing me will get your anger out, I’m telling you right now, it’s not happening. Leo is still young, and he’s used to your care.”

“Joey already explained everything today. What else do you want?”

“You can consider this me throwing a tantrum.”

Nathan, I’ve had enough of these years.

I turned away, tears streaming down my face, ignoring his words.

It was as if he realized this was the first time I was truly angry with him. He fell silent, losing interest. After getting dressed, he slammed the door as he left.

The next day, my foster mother, Sophia Redding, and Joey came to find me. Before I could react, Sophia slapped me hard.

Her tone was aggressive. “Rose, the Wilson family has treated you well, hasn’t it? We’ve raised you for so long, and now that William is dead, Joey is no longer Mrs. Rook. You still get to be Mrs. Rook, for how much longer? Isn’t that unfair to Joey?”

“If you still want me to acknowledge you, then give Nathan to Joey. After all, you’ve never truly been part of the Wilson family. Being able to live like a phoenix for so long, that was us being merciful.”

I let out a bitter laugh. Not long after Sophia adopted me all those years ago, she found her long-lost daughter, Joey.

I had thought I finally had a home. But the moment Joey returned, my adoptive parents began lashing out at me relentlessly, punishing me for every crime she pinned on me.

Whenever I misbehaved, they’d lock me in the basement to "reflect." Only after I confessed and starved would they toss me a bowl of cold, bland porridge.

Those twenty years were nothing but darkness.

It was only after I married into the Rook family that they finally restrained themselves—thanks to Nathan.

Now, Sophia was using her so-called "kindness" as leverage, pressuring me to give up my place as Mrs. Rook to Joey.

Seeing me laugh, Sophia raised her hand to slap me—but Nathan caught her wrist mid-air.

His gaze landed on my face and paused, visibly shaken.

"You hit her?" His voice held disbelief as he addressed Sophia.

Seeing him like this, I was reminded of the boy he used to be.

Back then, Joey, basking in her "real daughter" status, surrounded herself with a gang of sycophants. After school, they’d often ambush and beat me.

It was Nathan who stepped in—shielding me from the blows, putting an end to the bullying. After that, no one dared touch me again.

"Nathan, Rose just lost her mind," Sophia said cautiously. "She scratched Joey’s arm. I was only trying to discipline her—she bullies Joey constantly."

Joey, playing the pitiful victim, showed Nathan the faint red marks on her arm.

She hadn’t dared to hurt herself too badly—just enough to leave a little redness.

Nathan immediately let go of Sophia's hand. When he looked at me again, his eyes were ice-cold.

"Rose. Apologize," he ordered, no room for argument.

My heart dropped like a stone.

"I didn’t do it. Why the hell should I apologize?!"

Joey smiled sweetly and ran to Nathan, wrapping herself around his arm.

"Nathan, don’t be mad at Rose. I must’ve accidentally bumped into her. It’s no surprise she won’t apologize. She’s never liked me… and my faking my death must’ve really upset her."

"You don’t have to blame yourself, Joey," Nathan said softly, stroking her hair. "This isn’t your fault."

Then he glanced back at me. Seeing I still hadn’t spoken, he added coldly, "For Joey’s sake, I’ll let it go. You don’t have to apologize, Rose—"

I turned and walked away before he could finish. His voice grew more distant behind me.

But I hadn’t gotten far before someone grabbed my arm.

It was Joey.

"Quit pretending, Rose! You only became Mrs. Rook because I drugged Nathan that night. If it weren’t for me, you’d have never even touched him. Now I just want to take back what’s mine—why the hell should you stop me?!"

I let out a cold laugh, remembering how sweet she used to be with William. Now she was crawling back to Nathan for the title of Mrs. Rook.

"You're right," I said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Thanks for drugging Nathan that night and blabbing to the Rook family that I was pregnant. That really made it easier for me to settle into this role. As for Nathan? If you want him, go talk to him yourself. Don’t drag me into your twisted love triangle!"

The moment I found out I was pregnant, I’d gone straight to the hospital to schedule an abortion. I never expected to run into Joey there.

She told the Rook family everything, and the elders forced Nathan to marry me.

I never planned to trap him with a baby. No matter how I tried to explain, he never believed me.

Now, I felt more exhausted than ever before.

Joey, unwilling to give up, still clung to me.

I sneered. "Judging by your desperation, I guess Nathan didn’t agree to marry you, did he? Doesn’t seem like he’s all that into you after all."

Joey's face twisted with fury. I shook her off, and behind me, she was still screaming:

"Rose, don’t get cocky just yet!"