Ariel Walker marries Jayson Larkin to save her adoptive brother. For three years, their marriage is kept a loveless, passionless secret.

On the day she's diagnosed with a terminal illness, her husband sets off fireworks with his mistress to celebrate. When her adoptive brother is released from prison, he announces that the woman in his arms is the love of his life!

Ariel decides to stop waiting when she sees the usually cold, stoic men boldly declare their love for other women. She gets a divorce, quits her job, and severs ties with her family…

She picks up the pieces of her dream and goes from being a scorned housewife to a technological expert!

One day, her secret identity and terminal illness are exposed.

Her unruly adoptive brother comes to her with red-rimmed eyes. "Ari, can you call me your brother again?"

The usually cold, ruthless Jasyon goes insane. "I'll give you my life to make up for what I've done, honey! Don't leave me…"

Their love is too little, too late. Ariel has long since stopped caring…

"I'm sorry, Ms. Walker. You've missed the best window for surgery."

Ariel Walker stood frozen, holding the lab report confirming her endometrial cancer. It took her a long time to gather herself before dialing Colton Zeller, her husband Jayson Larkin's secretary.

The phone rang for ages before Colton finally picked up. His tone was as lazy as ever. "Yes, Mrs. Larkin?"

Ariel curled her stiff fingers into a fist. "Where's Jayson? I need to talk to him."

"Mr. Larkin is unavailable."

"Can you at least pass him the phone?"

Before Colton could answer, a soft voice came through the receiver. "Jayson, what's with all the secrecy? What's the big surprise?"

"Look up."

Ariel heard the familiar, deep voice that held a tenderness she would never receive.

The next moment, Colton hung up the phone.

At the same time, a thunderous explosion echoed across the harbor. Ariel lifted her head, her face drained of color.

Beautiful fireworks burst into the night sky, painting the darkness with dazzling streaks of color, just like in fairy tales.

Outside the hospital, a crowd had gathered.

"Did you hear? The CEO of Bluum Corp, Mr. Larkin, spent over 20 million dollars on this firework show for his girlfriend's birthday!"

"It's Nancy Stanton we're talking about! An Arcadia Tech PhD! Every top company in the country is fighting to hire her. She's smart, gorgeous, comes from an elite family, and her boyfriend is rich and ridiculously hot!"

"No wonder Mr. Larkin adores her. A woman like that is a status symbol."

Ariel stared at the brilliant fireworks for a long time before her fingers slowly loosened. The lab report slipped from her grasp, fluttering to the ground.

She turned and walked away.

…

Jayson returned home in the early hours to find Ariel sitting alone in the dark living room.

He flipped on the light, frowning. "Why aren't you asleep?"

She looked up at him. His jacket was draped over his arm. His cold eyes met hers, as impassive as ever.

For years, Ariel had convinced herself that he was simply distant by nature. But tonight, she finally understood. The man she shared a bed with was ice, but in another woman's world, he burned like fire.

"I couldn't sleep," she said quietly. "By the way, I went to the hospital today."

Jayson tossed his jacket onto the couch and asked casually, "What did the doctor say?"

Ariel had been complaining about stomach pain for weeks. He had promised to take her to get it checked out but kept postponing it.

Whether it was a multi-million-dollar contract or tricky project issues, something always came up.

Just yesterday, Jayson had told her he'd go to the hospital with her. But Nancy actually hid her birthday from him?

He had rushed straight to Nancy's side, barely making it in time to set off the fireworks.

Ariel, as it turned out, hadn't even crossed his mind.

"Nothing serious. I'll be fine." Ariel lowered her gaze. "What about you? What brings you home tonight?"

Jayson hesitated for a second, then stepped closer.

He pulled her into his arms, his breath warm against her neck. His voice was low and husky as he said, "It's your ovulation window.

"You were the one who agreed to sleep with me on these nights every month to give my family an heir. Have you forgotten?"

The scent of women's perfume on Jayson was so thick that it shattered the last shreds of Ariel's dignity like a bullet.

Jayson was right. In the three years they'd been married, he had never wanted her. The only reason he even came home and slept with her was because of his grandmother, Betty Stewart, who constantly nagged about carrying on the Larkin bloodline.

She was lost in thought for a moment. Having a baby seemed impossible now.

Ariel had always been submissive. But tonight, something inside her snapped.

"Aren't you worried your girlfriend will be jealous?"

Her eyes gleamed in the dim light like a caged animal's might before it bared its teeth.

Jayson looked at her and noticed the seriousness in her expression as her gaze grew colder.

After a long silence, he let out a cold laugh.

"Why should I be worried? We're in a secret marriage. You're the one hiding in the shadows. You chose to be the side character. So why are you acting like the main one?"

Ariel's chest tightened painfully, and her face turned even paler.

The air conditioning had kept the temperature constant all year round, but now, she felt as though she were standing in an ice cave.

Noticing her silence, Jayson finally shifted his gaze from her face after a few long seconds. "Nancy's mother's health is getting worse. Her only wish is to see Nancy taken care of. Nancy needs me by her side. Just stay in your place as Mrs. Larkin and don't cause trouble. I won't bother you."

The way he spoke about his affair was almost righteous.

He wouldn't bother her?

Ariel froze for a long moment, then suddenly laughed. Suppressing the ache in her chest, she said, "If she needs you, then you really shouldn't be here with me."

Without another word, she turned and climbed the stairs, slamming the door behind her without a second glance.

A few minutes later, the sound of a car engine roared from downstairs. Jayson was leaving—no doubt heading straight to Nancy.

Exhausted, Ariel dragged herself to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. The chill sharpened her senses.

She turned on her laptop and contacted Aaron Foster, a lawyer she had known three years ago. She asked him to help her draft a divorce agreement.

Aaron replied, "Ms. Walker, do you have any specific requests? For example, regarding the house, the car, or how to divide assets?"

Ariel paused, then calmly responded, "I don't want anything."

She didn't even want Jayson, so why would she want any of that stuff?

Besides, she had read online that if she didn't ask for anything, the process would be faster. She wouldn't have to drag her already weakening body through endless negotiations with him.

Aaron quickly sent her the completed agreement.

Ariel printed it out. She gripped a pen so tightly her knuckles turned white, but she didn't hesitate. Suppressing her trembling, she signed her name.

Then, she endured the pain and hurriedly packed her belongings.

As she stood at the door, she took one last, long look at the home she had cared for over the past three years.

Without another word, she walked away.

The next day, Ariel took a leave of absence from work and arranged for a same-day delivery service to drop off the printed divorce papers at Bluum Corp's front desk.

For something as small as a package, Jayson never bothered to do it himself, so she had filled in Colton as the recipient.

Since marrying Jayson, she had worked at Bluum Corp.

He refused to make their marriage public and forbade her from approaching him at the company, so she was relegated to the PR department. Her job was to manage the company's public image.

Over the years, Ariel had risen to the position of PR manager through sheer skill.

In all three years, she had never once taken a sick day or gone absent.

She was good at what she did not because she enjoyed it but because she had always aimed for perfection. It had nothing to do with her profession either.

Now that she had made up her mind to divorce, she had no intention of staying at Bluum Corp.

Once the courier had left, Ariel glanced at the clock. It was almost 10:00 am.

She clenched her fists. She had something more important to do.

…

Ariel arrived at Eastgate Prison in Eldoria.

Her palms were sweating as she gripped the steering wheel. It had been three years. The thought of facing Lucas Sanderson again made her nervous.

Today, he was finally being released.

She had made a reservation for a private room in a restaurant a month in advance to welcome him back.

Lucas was a child adopted by her father. They had grown up together. In the ruthless Sanderson family, Lucas had always been the one to treat her kindly.

For over a decade, he had protected her, never once speaking harshly to her. He had always vowed that while others might disappoint her, he never would.

She looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was pale from illness, so she dabbed on a bit of blush to look healthier. To keep him from worrying, she took a painkiller and added sunglasses and a hat to her outfit.

The gates ahead slowly opened.

Without thinking, she got out of the car. Her limbs moved almost of their own accord.

A tall man in black, holding an old backpack, walked out with confident strides. His short hair was neatly trimmed. His calm, piercing gaze swept over the crowd as if looking at her.

Ariel's heart nearly stopped at that moment.

Her throat went dry, and her eyes burned. Before she realized it, she was already walking toward him. "Lucas…"

"Lucas!"

A woman's excited voice shattered Ariel's thoughts.

Before she could react, the woman brushed past her and threw herself straight into Lucas' broad chest. He caught her out of habit, letting her cling to him without resistance.

"Do you know how long I've been waiting for you? If you weren't released soon, my dad was going to force me into an arranged marriage!"

Lucas studied the woman's face while responding to her eager kiss. A smirk played at his lips. "Are you that desperate? Tell your driver to step out for a moment. I'll give your dad a grand gift."

The woman pouted playfully but clung to him. "Don't be naughty! My dad wants me to bring you home. He said he wants to meet you. He even planned a welcome-back dinner."

Ariel felt like her feet were nailed to the ground. She stared blankly at the scene before her.

The delayed sting of embarrassment and helplessness set in.

The Lucas she had known—the one who had always been gentle and thoughtful and who had centered his world around her—felt like nothing more than a dream from the past ten years.

A dull pain began to stir in her stomach.

It was as if a knife from the past had traveled through time and struck her all over again.

"Ari, I don't want to be a Sanderson. I don't want to be your brother. Will you marry me when you grow up?"

His warm voice echoed in her mind, making Ariel momentarily dizzy.

"Watch out!"

A sharp voice jolted Ariel back to reality. She turned in time to see a motorcycle speeding toward Lucas and that woman.

Without hesitation, Lucas pulled the woman into his arms, shielding her completely.

Meanwhile, Ariel stumbled back, covering her face in a panic. In her haste, she twisted her ankle.

"Are you…" Lucas turned to look at her. His deep gaze flickered with scrutiny and a hint of panic.

"I'm fine." Before the tears could fall, Ariel turned and ran.

The woman tilted her head curiously. "Who was that?"

Lucas hesitated for a moment before pinching her chin and kissing her lightly. "Looked like someone I used to know."

Someone he used to know…

The person he grew up with for over a decade and the one he once promised to marry was just someone he used to know.

Ariel hurried back to her car. Clutching her aching stomach, she leaned against the steering wheel and gasped for breath. Cold sweat broke out in layers across her skin.

She couldn't tell if the pain in her chest was worse or the illness that was eating away at her.

Her thoughts were cut off by the sudden ringing of her phone.

She glanced at the screen. It was Colton.

…

At Bluum Corp, Colton frowned as he received the document Ariel had sent.

They worked in the same building. What was she trying to pull? Was this her way of getting Jayson's attention, since she wasn't allowed near the CEO's office?

How childish.

Annoyed, Colton marched straight to the PR department only to be told that Ariel wasn't in today.

The day was already hectic. He frowned deeper and called Ariel. "Ms. Walker, I don't know what game you're playing, but get back to the office immediately."

Ariel's eyes darkened.

This must be about Jayson. Had he already seen the divorce papers and wanted to talk?

That was the only possibility she could think of.

Without hesitation, she turned the car around and headed straight for Bluum Corp.

When Colton saw Ariel rushing in, his suspicions were confirmed. She hadn't changed—still seeking special attention from Jayson. Colton could barely hide the mockery on his face.

"Where is he?" Ariel's face was pale.

She still needed to pick up her medication from the hospital. She was still considering her treatment. Once she started chemotherapy, it would be hard to hide from her grandmother, Katie Taylor, and uncle, Leonard Walker.

"This is Bluum Corp, Ms. Walker. You expect Mr. Larkin to come down personally just to see you?" Colton's tone was all business. "He has something for you to handle."

"Is it about the div—"

"There was some negative press surrounding Ms. Stanton's birthday celebration last night. People are questioning whether she stole someone else's man. Ms. Stanton isn't just anyone. She's about to become the face of Bluum Corp's key project. We can't afford any scandals tarnishing her image.

"Mr. Larkin requested that you handle it. Make sure Ms. Stanton's name is cleared and shut down the rumors."