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!"