When I returned home, the familiar scent of gardenia greeted me.

Cassidy was here.

“Brother-in-law, I really wish the four of us could live together like a real family. But... Sister will be upset, won’t she? I don’t want her to be angry...”

Her voice was soft, sweet, and just fragile enough to stir a man’s desire to protect.

Of course, Joaquin fell right into it. He pulled her into his arms, his tall frame enveloping her as she sobbed delicately against his chest.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone hurt our children,” he murmured, looking down at her tenderly. “That includes you. If anyone tries to hurt you two, I’ll make them suffer even more.”

I pushed the door open and rolled inside.

“So throwing a woman with fractured legs into a bullfighting ring wasn’t enough punishment?”

Joaquin clearly hadn’t expected me to come back. His gaze flicked toward the wheelchair I was in, a fleeting look of guilt crossing his face.

I ignored both of them and started wheeling myself toward my room.

“Sis...” Cassidy called timidly, but I didn’t spare her a glance.

That was when Joaquin grabbed my arm.

“Allison, don’t you want to know how they got here?”

I met his eyes—eyes burning with blame—and answered flatly, “It has nothing to do with me.”

Just then, the twins started crying. They squirmed out of the housekeeper’s arms, visibly frightened.

Joaquin sighed, as if he had finally made a difficult decision.

“It’s because of you. Every time it gets dark, they cry themselves to sleep in fear. Cassidy’s claustrophobia has also relapsed.”

I looked up at him, my tone was calm and cold.

“So?”

His thick brows furrowed deeper. “You’re being too selfish. You need to apologize to them.”

Before I could even respond, Cassidy stepped between us.

“Brother-in-law, please don’t fight because of me and the kids. I’ll talk to my sister. Go check on the children first.”

The moment he disappeared down the hallway with the twins, Cassidy’s expression twisted. Her sweet face contorted into something venomous.

“Dear sister, I suggest you step aside soon. Otherwise, a broken leg might just be the least of your problems.”

I narrowed my eyes. “It was you, wasn’t it?”

She feigned shock, covering her mouth dramatically. “Sis, what are you saying? I don’t understand.”

I turned away, unwilling to waste another word on her.

That’s when she suddenly let out a scream—and threw herself at me.

I instinctively shielded my injured leg. She missed me and crashed heavily to the floor on her own.

“Sister, please don’t be like this... I’m scared. I really love Joaquin, and he loves me...”

Her pitiful cries echoed through the house, just as Joaquin rushed back in.

With no hesitation, he kicked my wheelchair.

I fell hard on the floor.

Fresh blood seeped through my bandages as the stitches on my wound burst open again.

Joaquin didn’t care. He simply picked Cassidy up in his arms, glaring down at me with hatred.

“You really haven’t learned your lesson.”

Cassidy clung to his neck and sniffled.

“Brother-in-law... I just wanted the emerald necklace. I thought it might help purify the kids’ energy field. I didn’t think she’d get so upset."

"Maybe she still loves you too much. I remember... that necklace, you made it for her yourself, didn’t you?”

Joaquin’s gaze shifted to the green gemstone around my neck. His jaw clenched.

“If I made it with my own hands, I can take it back with my own hands.”

He yanked it off me. The delicate lace thread snapped under the force, leaving it misshapen and torn.

I clutched my chest, struggling to breathe through the pain that struck like lightning through my heart.

That emerald had cost him eighty million at a royal auction. It was my birthstone—my so-called “guardian stone.” And the lace cord that held it? He had spent 88 hours weaving it by hand.

But none of that matters now.

Cassidy fell beside me, deliberately pressing the full weight of her body onto my injured leg.

Her tone was soft as she pleaded, “Sis, I'm begging you... just one energy cleansing for the kids. They’ve been so traumatized by what happened the other day...”

Her words were gentle—but her eyes glittered with cruelty.

Then, without warning, she drove her elbow straight into the exact spot where my bone was fractured.

I tried to push her away despite the searing pain, but the moment my hand touched her, Cassidy flung herself dramatically to the floor like a feather in the wind.

She collapsed at Joaquin’s feet, whimpering softly.

Joaquin instantly scooped her up into his arms and barked at me, “Was throwing you into the bullfighting ring not enough? You’re still this vicious?”

“It’s okay, Brother-in-law,” Cassidy whispered tearfully, “Maybe Sis is just jealous that we have children of our own.”

Children.

That word shattered what little restraint I had left.

“Joaquin,” I said, my voice cold, “Do you even know the truth about those children?”

“Sister!” Cassidy interrupted, feigning heartbreak. “No matter what, the children are innocent! How can you be so cruel to those poor little ones?”

Before I could say another word, she pounced again—this time driving both her hands down hard onto my wounded leg.

Pain exploded through me. I was soaked in cold sweat, unable to even form a sound.

As she sobbed and dramatized her performance, the twins started crying too.

Joaquin's expression flickered with conflict—but in the end, he gathered all three of them into his arms, gently rocking them while whispering words of comfort.

“Waaaah! Bad Auntie! Bad Auntie!”

“Teacher said bad people must be punished!”

Joaquin waved his hand.

Two bodyguards stepped forward.

“Take the Madam to the kangaroo farm. Let her box with them.”

The guards moved like emotionless machines. Their hands were iron claws clamping down on my ankles. I was dragged out like a sack of meat and thrown straight into the reeking pen.

The stench of feces hit me instantly.

A mother kangaroo glared at me, bristling with hostility at the intruder.

I couldn’t even stand. My leg injuries were too severe. All I could do was crawl and dodge, barely avoiding her strikes.

But the blows came—hard and fast.

I lost consciousness before the pain could take everything.

—

When I woke up in the hospital, for a split second, I thought I had already died.

But pain—burning, suffocating pain—dragged me back to reality.

Unfortunately, I was still alive.

My entire body felt like it had been crushed, my ribs were shattered. Even breathing was excruciating.

I slowly turned my head—and saw Joaquin sitting next to my bed, typing on his laptop.

Sensing my movement, he looked up with what almost seemed like relief.

“Allison, you’re awake.”

“The doctor said you should drink more water.”

He carefully scooped a spoonful of water and brought it toward my lips.

I smelled gardenia on his skin—and the faint, unmistakable scent of fresh lipstick kisses on his neck.

I turned my face away.

He froze mid-motion.

Then, without warning, he slammed the water cup and spoon down on the bedside table. Boiling water splashed across my face, burning my skin.

“Allison,” he growled, “Have I been too kind to you? Is that why you think you can get away with everything?”

“After everything you’ve done, I’ve been nothing but tolerant!”

I didn’t respond. I simply stared at the ceiling.

Four more days.

Then someone would come to take me away.

Seeing my indifference, he exploded.

“Cassidy even said she’s planning to return the emerald to you tomorrow. But someone like you—this venomous, remorseless woman—you’re no longer worthy of something so pure!”

I still said nothing.

My silence only fueled his fury. He grabbed my chin tightly, forcing my face toward him.

“What is this? Another one of your games? Playing hard to get? Or maybe you still don’t realize what unforgivable sins you’ve committed!”

Still, I said nothing.

That’s when his phone lit up on the nightstand. I tilted my gaze toward it.

He picked it up.

The moment he answered, his voice softened, his tone completely changing.

It was Cassidy.

I watched his back as he walked away, and all I felt was bitter irony.

He was the one who cheated.

He was the one who betrayed me, who broke me again and again—and yet he had the audacity to talk about my sins?

What a joke.

Was this truly how the world works? That having a sincere heart only leads to betrayal and pain?"

Three years ago, even a twisted ankle would have him rushing over to carry me like I was made of glass.

And now—with both my legs broken—he tossed me to the beasts, humiliated me, and not even flinch.

Even if I died right in front of him, I doubt it would matter as much as a frown from Cassidy.

...

Two days later, I was discharged from the hospital.

I began packing my things.

The gifts he'd given me, now faded and dusty, I stuffed silently into black garbage bags.

Then I found my handwritten letters.

All 999 love letters he had written for me, one for each day he claimed to love me. I had kept them all, treated them as sacred proof of our love.

But now?

They meant nothing.

I pulled out the Zippo lighter he had custom-engraved for me.

[Allison & Joaquin — Forever Together.]

I struck the flame and set everything ablaze.

The front gate swung open.

Joaquin walked in, carrying the twins and smiling as if nothing had happened.

Then he saw the roaring fire.

“Allison! What are you burning?!”

I tossed the last love letter into the flames and watched as the fire devoured the final word. Only then did I speak, voice light and indifferent.

“Nothing important—just some useless things.”

He stared at the burning papers, watching familiar handwriting curls and blacken in the heat. Something about it felt wrong to him, and he opened his mouth to ask.

But Cassidy tugged on his sleeve first. “Brother-in-law, the children are getting sleepy.”

Joaquin cleared his throat awkwardly, his voice a little strained. “I plan to have the children stay in the nursery downstairs.”

“That nursery was for my baby!” The words burst from me before I could stop them—sharp and louder than I ever expected.

I looked down and saw my hand resting on my now-flat stomach.

Of course. That nursery was meant for my child.

“They are my children,” Joaquin said firmly, unmoved.

I scoffed and said nothing more. After tonight, none of this would have anything to do with me anyway.

He sighed and crouched beside me, lowering his voice. “Allison, if you’re willing, they can be your children too.”

Scoffing, I spat coldly, “I don’t want anything that comes with that kind of price.”

Behind us, Cassidy let out a soft, pitiful sob—just loud enough for the twins to start crying too. Joaquin immediately turned and rushed to comfort them.

I didn’t bother stopping him.

As soon as I closed my bedroom door, my phone buzzed with dozens of videos and photos—courtesy of Cassidy.

Every one of them was a record of her intimacy with Joaquin.

I scrolled through three years’ worth of passionate embraces, stolen kisses, hotel bookings. I thought I’d feel something—rage, heartbreak, nausea.

But no.

It was like watching a stranger’s drama unfold. Detached, numb, almost analytical.

I could even sense the fake joy Cassidy tried to display at times.

Then the barrage of text messages came next. She detailed every luxury Joaquin had spent on her.

The private ski chalet in Switzerland.

The penthouse apartment in Paris.

The seaside resort in Hawaii.

[Sis, did you like the perfume I sent? It’s been a while since someone gave you a gift, hasn’t it? That was a freebie from when your husband bought me new jewelry. I figured you’d appreciate it.]

[You thought marrying Joaquin made you better than me? I’m the mother of his children. To the world, you’re just the pathetic secretary who kept throwing herself at him.]

I turned off my screen and climbed into bed. Soon, none of this would matter anymore.

The room was dark when Joaquin returned.

He sat on the edge of the bed, watching me.

“Allison, you’ve crossed the line lately. That’s why I had to punish you a little. But if you just apologize to Cassidy and the kids, we can move on from this.”

He paused, then added, “Besides, isn’t your father’s company still waiting on funding from Davies Group?”

I let out a tired sigh. “What’s between us has nothing to do with business.”

In truth, that company was built by my mother—her blood, sweat, and tears. I couldn’t let her life’s work be threatened.

His eyes lit up at my words. He eagerly grabbed my hand.

“As long as you apologize, our two families can continue working together.”

Before I could answer, his phone lit up.

A new message from Cassidy.

I glanced at the screen.

It was a sultry video of her dressed in a tiny uniform skirt, performing a provocative pole dance.

I saw his body tense immediately.

He stood up in a rush, his voice husky with desire. “I’ve got something to handle. Think things over while I’m gone.”

And with that, he turned and left.