While my husband was chatting with his friend at the dining table, his friend suddenly spoke in Italian. “You married Lyra to write a pardon letter for River. You’ve been showing more concern toward Lyra, but you’re still lying to her and saying that the contraceptives are antidepressants. Don’t you think Lyra will break down if she learns the truth?”

My husband wore a complicated expression as he chuckled bitterly and said, “Why let a child be born if I don’t want it? As for Lyra, so long as she doesn’t interfere with River’s happiness, I’ll keep my promise and protect her for life.”

No one knew that I had already learned Italian to keep up with my husband.

I stood in the living room with fresh hickeys on my neck. In my hand, I held the “antidepressants” and felt a chill run down my spine.

So, my husband’s love for me had been fake?

My salvation had actually been a meticulously planned lie?

In that case, I would help them fulfill their wishes.

I no longer hesitated and took the contraceptives. It was far more bitter than any other time I took them.

Meanwhile, those two men continued talking. Mark Green, my husband’s friend, felt the knowledge of this weighing heavily on his conscience.

“Let’s set aside the fact that you gave her contraceptives for now and talk about River jumping in the river three years ago to take her own life. Lyra’s mother did her best to save her, but she thrashed around and stepped on Lyra’s mother until she drowned. Dale, anyone who saw that video knows she did it on purpose. It’s only logical for Lyra to sue her.

“But you became Lyra’s legal guardian so that River wouldn’t go to jail. You even signed the pardon letter behind Lyra’s back. Yeah, River is fine, but Lyra has severe depression. She keeps blaming herself. If she discovers the truth one day, she’ll lose her mind.”

Dale Quinn, my husband, looked irritated. But he remained cold and firmly said, “River didn’t do it on purpose. She was drowning, and she did all those things subconsciously. She regrets that Lyra’s mother died because of her too.

“I also kept that pardon letter well-hidden. Lyra will never know the truth. Besides, I treat her well, and I’ll make it up to her for the rest of her life by giving her a home. She’ll forget about her pain and get better.”

Mark sighed. “Calm down. I just pity Lyra. You showed up during her darkest hour, and she began to love you, but the one you truly love is River… Forget it. I hope that you can continue hiding this and you won’t regret it.”

Dale drank his wine and firmly said, “I won’t.”

Those two words made me lose my composure. I fled from the house that I had treated as my sanctuary like a loser.

New Year’s Eve was going to arrive in two days, and a celebratory air filled the streets.

This morning, Dale made love to me. During the throes of passion, he kept saying that he loved me.

However, his declaration had turned into the sharpest blade. It stabbed me in my heart and left me bleeding all over.

I ran to the park and slumped down. Tears spilled from my eyes.

The memories I had pushed to the back of my mind resurfaced just as I became disillusioned with love.

The day I was engaged to my ex, Lucius Lane, River could not accept it because she loved Lucius. She left behind a will and jumped into the river.

She was actually a good swimmer. Even so, my mother still jumped into the river to save her, although she was my father’s illegitimate daughter.

Many people took videos of it, and I saw my mother pull River up. However, River pushed down on my mother’s shoulders and stepped on her head to drive her into the water.

Just like that, my mother drowned.

When I rushed over, River was wailing at me, “I was just incredibly upset and afraid. Don’t blame me, River. When Mom saved me, she wanted me to keep living.”

I broke down and demanded why she made my mother drown, even though she knew how to swim. She just kept crying and saying that she did not do it on purpose.

Nevertheless, I sued her for premeditated murder.

Then, Lucius canceled his engagement with me to marry her.

Lucius said, “I won’t let you hurt River.”

Conspiracy theories popped up everywhere online. They said that I used my mother’s death to earn sympathy points and earn money.

They said I was such a virtue signaler that I got jealous of my own sister. That was why my fiance canceled our engagement.

The insanely negative public opinion hit me so harshly that I could not breathe, and I broke down. I was then diagnosed with severe depression.

Even so, I did not give up on trying to seek justice for my mother.

My mother had taken care of me and protected me for twenty-three years. How could I give up on seeking justice for her?

At this time, Dale started trying to win my heart.

He took care of me attentively and protected me in every aspect.

I treated him as my salvation and said yes to his proposal.

After our wedding, the court found River not guilty.

I tried my hardest to put it behind me and get better. I wanted to have a child with Dale and wanted our family to be happy.

To think that my “salvation” was actually proof of Dale’s deep love for River.

Dale held an umbrella and arrived before me at some point in time.

When he saw me, his scowl disappeared, and pity appeared in his eyes.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going out? I was worried.

“It’s been getting colder too. The company’s also busy at the end of the year. If you get sick, I can’t take care of you.”

I was not surprised that Dale had come after me; he had turned on the location setting on my phone.

He claimed that he was worried that I would have a depressive episode. Apparently, he wanted to protect me at all times.

I believed him.

However, I finally knew that he wanted to keep an eye on me for fear that I would cause River trouble.

I simply blinked. My tears had already run dry as I stared absentmindedly at the snow falling from the sky.

“I heard that making wishes at the first snowfall works, so I came out to make my wishes.”

My first wish was this: I hoped that my divorce with Dale would go smoothly.

My second wish was this: I hoped that I would never meet him again after our divorce.

My third wish was this: I hoped that Mom would not hate me.

I hoped that she would not hate me for falling in love with the accomplice who protected her murderer and even wanting to give birth to his children.

Dale put his coat over my shoulders and flicked my nose affectionately. “You should’ve worn more layers, then. Look at your hands. They’re so cold.

“What wishes did you make?”

I numbly watched him continue with his loving act.

“About us and my mom.”

Dale froze and gave me a meaningful look. “River’s your half-sister. She’s your family, no matter what. She’s sad that your mother died too, and you only have each other left for family. It’s been three years. Why don’t you…”

I knew what he was implying. “I know. I won’t kick up a fuss anymore.”

I had already sued her, and she had not been punished for it.

Back then, I never made an appeal.

Besides, even if I revoked the pardon letter, things would not change.

Dale appeared relieved. His expression did not change, save for the slight curl of his lips. Even so, he still seemed to be in a much better mood.

“I’m glad that you’ve put this behind you, honey. It’s a new year and a new beginning. Let’s spend the rest of our lives together. We’ll definitely be happy.”

I just listened to him quietly.

Soon after, Dale brought me home.

Mark had already left, and Dale said that he was going to work in his study.

I sat in a daze. Countless emotions wreaked havoc in me until I printed out the divorce papers.

I signed them without hesitation and went straight to the study. But I found that the door was only partially shut, and there was no one inside.

This was my first time entering Dale’s study, and it was clean and tidy.

On the desk was River’s photo.

Next to one of the table legs was a piece of paper filled with her name.

Every stroke was filled with a boy’s love.

I thought that I could calmly accept the truth of being betrayed.

However, I could not. It felt as if my heart was being squeezed tightly, and it hurt so much that I was suffocating.

There was a beautiful gift box on the table. In it was an equally beautiful sapphire necklace.

It was the type that was priceless and could not be bought even with money.

I loved sapphires for their reserved and regal beauty.

Yet, Dale would always give me gold accessories.

He would say, “Preserving the value of accessories is more important. Besides, you’re beautiful. No matter what you wear, you still look like a noble.”

I believed his sweet words.

Back in the present, I took out the sapphire necklace from the jewelry box. It was beautiful. The sapphire was about the size of a quail egg. Tiny crystals were added beside it as decoration. As it swayed, the gemstones shone brilliantly.

I saw a water droplet carved behind the necklace.

Water. River.

My breath stilled as my heart shattered, but I finally came to a full realization. Tears spilled from my eyes as I laughed. In the end, as I endured the soul-crushing pain, I fled from the loving cage Dale had built for me.

I had had enough.

It was time for me to leave.

I contacted a fake death company and had everything prepared.

All I needed to do was wait for the police to find the pardon letter Dale had hidden from me for three years.

Dale did not return that night.

When he came back the next day, he smiled and said to me, “Lyra, River’s celebrating her birthday tomorrow. It’ll also be New Year’s Eve. Let’s celebrate together.

“I’ve already invited River over for dinner on your behalf. You’ve been estranged for a long time, and it’s time to resolve that conflict. Do it for me, please?”

I looked at Dale.

He was cajoling me so meekly, and his eyes were filled with love and sincerity.

For some reason, I suddenly remembered those dark days. He would look at me like that as well and take away the knife from my hands to stop me from killing myself.

“Okay, I’ll go.”

Since he wanted it, I would fulfill his wish.

I would do it to return his favor of saving me when I had my depressive episodes.

New Year’s Eve arrived, and Dale booked a restaurant.

There, River walked over in a white dress.

Without any hesitation, Dale let go of my hand and went up to her.

“Happy birthday, River. This is my gift to you.”

I took a look at it. It was that same box and that same sapphire necklace.

Of course, it was for her.

As if he had just realized that I was around, Dale smiled awkwardly and added, “I prepared it with your sister.”

River raised her eyebrows in amusement. “Thank you. I love it.”

When Dale went off to order our food, her smile instantly faded, and she approached me.

“It hasn’t been easy for you to still remember your pitiful sister, has it, Mrs. Quinn?

“But your husband’s just a backup I didn’t want. I’m sure you knew that, didn’t you?”

I gave her a sidelong look and sat down.

“Is that all you’re trying to do? Boast about that?”

River was stunned when she saw that I was not sad. But she immediately broke into a malicious grin.

“Of course not. Since you’ve given me a present, I’ll give you one too.”

She took out a green agate bracelet and threw it in front of me like she was throwing away trash.

I was shocked when I saw it.

That was the bracelet I had put into my mother’s urn.

Why was it with River?

I grabbed her arm. “How did you get that bracelet?! Answer me!”

River gave me a provocative smile. “I dug it out from that witch’s ashes, duh. Look at me. I’m so nice. I even remembered to give it to you.

“Lyra, if your mother hadn’t refused to file for a divorce, my mother wouldn’t have died from depression in the hospital! It’s all your mother’s fault! She deserved to die!

“Even though she’s dead, she’s not worthy of having her grave visited. So, I desecrated her grave and threw her ashes into the drain. It’s what she deserves!”

Rage engulfed me, and my eyes became bloodshot as I grabbed her neck.

“I knew it. You really did kill my mother on purpose, River! I’ll kill you!”