Michael suddenly raised his foot and stepped hard on my hand. It really hurt my hand. Still, I couldn’t help but grit my teeth as I tried to stop myself from screaming.

"Evelyn, Regina is upset because of you. If you can’t make her happy, don’t even think about returning to the Purnell Family for the rest of your life!"

I froze, my body shaking without meaning to.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t leave Michael. I had stopped loving him a long time ago. But I knew him too well. I knew how cruel he could be.

Once, I refused to wash Regina’s underwear. I told him I couldn’t do it anymore. I had some pride left, even if just a little. Regina got angry and refused to speak to Michael. He was so frustrated that he snapped.

That night, Michael dragged me out, stripped me completely and locked me on the balcony in the middle of winter. I shivered out there all night until I passed out from a high fever.

When I woke up, he didn’t take me to the hospital. He didn’t even ask if I was okay. He forced me to clean up the bedroom, as if nothing had happened. As if I had done something wrong.

Remembering that, I lowered my head.

I bent at the waist, almost to the ground.

"I’m sorry. It’s all my fault."

But before I could finish my sentence, someone kicked me from behind.

I stumbled forward and hit the counter. A sharp pain hit my forehead and everything spun. I reached up and felt the swelling start to rise.

Tears blurred my vision, but I bit my lip to stop them from falling. I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction.

The only thing I could do was to lie there while my body was shaking. Michael gave me another kick, this time with the back of his foot.

"Hey, I barely touched you. Why are you pretending to be so weak?"

Then, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Forget it. I don’t want to waste time on you. Come to the family mansion with me tomorrow and say you want the ring back. But listen carefully, don’t say anything stupid. One word out of place and I’ll make you regret it."

With that, he turned and walked off with Regina, as if nothing had happened.

It took me a long time to sit up. My hands were bleeding. Little pieces of glass and gravel were stuck in my skin. I couldn’t even feel the pain anymore.

I dragged myself to the side of the road and tried to call for a taxi. I just wanted to get to the hospital and treat my wounds. After that, I heard the sound of a car speeding up.

Regina’s car came straight toward me. Before I could react, everything went black with a loud crash. When I regained a bit of awareness, I heard voices.

It was Michael and the doctor.

"Did Evelyn have a miscarriage?"

There was a short silence.

"Forget it," Michael said coldly.

"As long as the baby in Regina’s belly is fine, don’t worry about Evelyn. Move all the doctors and nurses to take care of Regina. I’ll handle Evelyn myself."

Not long after that, the door opened and Michael walked in. When our eyes met, he looked a little awkward. For a second, his usual arrogance faded.

"I didn’t know you were pregnant," he said as if it was nothing important.

"But a miscarriage isn’t a big deal. It’s not the first time, right?"

He chuckled like it was some kind of joke.

"Now that you’ve lost it, you can take care of Regina’s baby without distractions."

I didn’t reply. I couldn’t. I just stared at him and thought of the first baby I lost. Back then, Regina had just appeared in our lives. She cried and made a big scene, saying she didn’t want to ruin someone else’s marriage.

Michael, desperate to keep her, made me take abortion pills.

"Don’t think you can tie me down by getting pregnant," he said coldly.

"I hate kids. Especially ones from you."

I had to go through a painful, irregular abortion. The doctor said I might never have children again.

Right after the operation, I got a photo from Regina. She and Michael were lying in bed together.

While I was still bleeding, almost dying, they were celebrating in our wedding room. They stayed in bed for three days. Dozens of condoms filled the trash bin. One leg of the antique bed I brought as part of my dowry broke from how much they used it.

Michael took the handkerchief stained with Regina’s first blood and framed it. He even hung it on the wall where our wedding photo used to be. Since that day, I knew there was nothing left between us. I stayed in the marriage only because of the business between our families. I had nothing else.

I lowered my head again and didn’t say a word.

Michael handed me a bowl.

"I made chicken soup for you. Drink it while it’s hot."

I raised my arm, but a sharp pain shot through it. I gasped and looked at my bandages.

Michael turned his face away, guilt flashing across his expression for a second.

"Regina was hurt in the car accident. She’s afraid of scars ... so I had the doctor take skin from your arm. Just a small patch. You won’t even notice it."

I stared at him, not sure whether to laugh or cry. Even when I was hurt, even when I lost our baby, he still used my body to protect another woman. And he thought he was doing me a favor.

"What?" I was shocked.

Michael got angry out of nowhere.

"Don’t act like you’re the victim. If you hadn’t run into the street and scared Regina, she wouldn’t have gotten hurt! This is all your fault. You need to take responsibility!"

His voice was loud and sharp. He hit the table by accident and knocked over the chicken soup. The hot liquid spilled all over my thigh, burning it badly.

I gasped in pain, trying hard not to cry. My hand reached for the emergency bell, but Michael grabbed my wrist again.

"Regina doesn’t feel well after the surgery. She needs the doctor to stay with her. You’re used to pain, right? Just deal with it. Stop acting weak."

My arm started bleeding again. Before I could say anything, a doctor rushed in.

"Miss White is showing signs of a strong rejection. She needs another operation immediately."

Michael turned to me and grabbed my arm tightly.

"Come with me," he said, dragging me into the hallway.

When we entered the room, I saw Regina lying on the hospital bed. Her eyes were full of tears and her lips trembled slightly. Michael’s heart softened at the sight. I could see the pain in his eyes, but none of it was for me.

"Regina, don’t worry. Evelyn still has plenty of skin. If one surgery isn't enough, we’ll try again."

The doctor quickly stopped him and said grimly, "Mr. Purnell, that’s not possible. Doing another transplant could damage your wife’s arm permanently. She might never be able to use it normally again, let alone play the piano."

But Michael didn’t even hesitate. He pushed me forward.

"It’s fine if she can’t play anymore. Regina can take her place as the lead musician in the orchestra. Evelyn can just stay at home to wash clothes, cook and live comfortably. I’ll take care of her for the rest of her life."

I couldn’t speak. My whole body was shaking.

To make sure the surgery would be successful, Michael told the doctors not to use anesthesia on me. I felt every slice of the scalpel, every pull of the skin. The pain was so intense I nearly passed out.

As I was lying there sweating and in agony, Michael patted my shoulder like he was doing me a favor.

"I owe you for this. When everything calms down, I’ll come home more often to keep you company."

From behind him, Regina snorted unhappily.

Michael immediately turned around and hugged her tightly. He promised her a vacation to the Maldives, bought her new jewelry and transferred money into her account. All while I was still on the surgery bed, bleeding.

They acted like I wasn’t even there.

After that, my phone rang.

The sound cut through the cold silence in my heart. I saw the name on the screen and, for a brief second, the pain in my body seemed a little easier to bear.

I answered quickly, just to say I was safe. I didn't want anyone to worry.

But when I looked up, Michael was staring at me with suspicion.

"Who was that?"

"Someone from the Purnell Family."

Michael didn’t look surprised.

"Don’t tell them anything. I mean it."

He didn’t ask anything else after that. In his mind, I had no friends, no one who could help me. After we got married, Michael made me cut off all my social connections. No parties, no work, no friends. My world became smaller and smaller, until only he and his family remained in it.

I didn’t want to stay and watch the two of them flirt anymore. I picked up my phone and tried to leave the room. But as soon as I stood up, I felt dizzy. My vision blurred and before I could fall, Michael caught me from behind.

He looked down at me and for the first time, I saw a flicker of something close to concern.

"When you’re better, come with us to the Maldives. You need to relax."

"No need to," I said quietly.

He frowned, confused.

Some time ago, Michael had also promised me a honeymoon. But when we arrived, I learned Regina had come too. She didn’t like the food there, so I was forced to cook and clean for them. I was treated like a maid.

When I refused, Michael got angry and took away my phone and passport. He left me alone, in a foreign country where I didn’t speak the language. I had no money and no way to get home.

A stranger almost tricked me into going with him. If I hadn’t escaped, I might never have made it back. That trip left a scar in my heart that never healed.

This time, I would not be fooled again.

Michael noticed my cold expression and looked annoyed. He opened his mouth, probably wanting to scold me. But when he saw how pale I was, he held back.

He looked away and said, almost gently, "You should rest, Evelyn. I’ll bring you a gift when I return."

I didn’t reply. Instead, I watched as he walked back to Regina’s side and kissed her forehead. She smiled sweetly, like she had already won.

As I stood there, alone and hurting, I realized something very clearly.

Michael never loved me. I was just a body, something he could use when needed. And now, even my skin belonged to someone else.

Nevertheless, the phone call I had received might have meant something more. It seemed that I wasn’t as alone as he wanted me to believe. And perhaps … my time as a silent victim was finally coming to an end.

‘Would you bring me gifts that Regina doesn’t want?’

I laughed at myself and didn’t say anything. What was the point?

I went alone to get my medical report. Almost everyone in the hospital had been reassigned to care for Regina. I waited in the hallway for a long time. Finally, an intern walked in, looking a bit nervous and sorry.

"The car accident wasn’t too serious, just some scratches,” she said gently.

“But Miss Cooke, this was your second miscarriage. If you don’t take care of yourself properly, there could be long-term problems."

The intern looked like she wanted to say more. She might want to offer comfort to me. But before she could, someone called her to go do a prenatal checkup for Regina. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but the conversation wasn't quiet either.

“Why are you acting so kind in front of her?” someone said.

“Everyone knows she’s just Mrs. Purnell in name. Miss White is the real one in Mr. Purnell’s heart.”

“Now that Miss White is pregnant, that poor woman will be kicked out soon.”

My fingers tightened around the report. Their words didn’t even hurt anymore. I was too numb.

Everywhere I went, whether at the company or outside, if someone dared to speak up for me, Regina would find a way to fire them. I didn’t want anyone to get in trouble just because of me. So, I quietly left, holding the medical report close to my chest.

On the taxi ride home, fireworks lit up the night sky. Bright and loud, as if celebrating something amazing. The driver looked out the window and smiled.

“I heard the wife of the president of Purnell Co. is pregnant,” he said.

“They're setting off fireworks for a whole month. That’s how rich people show love, huh?”

His words felt like knives. I turned away and stared at my phone to distract myself. Unfortunately for me, the news was everywhere.

[Michael Purnell donates millions to churches for them to bless his pregnant wife.]

[Mr. Purnell clears out the entire city’s baby stores as he’s preparing for his baby with his wife.]

[The CEO of Purnell Co. builds hundreds of churches to pray for his wife and child’s safety.]

Michael was doing everything he could to show the world how much he cared about Regina and their baby. I couldn’t stop the bitterness from rising in my chest. When I lost my first child, I cried through the night, unable to sleep. I begged Michael to go with me to mourn for our baby.

However, he said I was bad luck. And then he said I ruined the mood he and Regina had just created. So, he left me alone on a cold and empty mountain.

It turned out that Michael didn’t hate children. He just didn’t want mine. To be exact, he just didn’t want me.

I swallowed the pain and walked into the mansion, dragging my tired body behind me. My steps were heavy. Everything hurt.

While I was packing my things, Michael walked in. He stared at the suitcase with confusion, like he couldn’t believe I was actually leaving.

“You don’t have to move out,” he said.

“I know you can’t bear to leave me. Just move into the guest room. Regina won’t mind, she’s kind.”

My injuries still ached. I stood up straight, holding the suitcase tightly.

“We’re already divorced. There’s no reason for me to stay here.”

“I don’t want anything else. Just give me back the shares from my dowry.”

Michael looked like he still wanted me to stay, but I didn’t care anymore.

“To avoid upsetting Regina,” I added.

“It’s better if none of my things are left behind.”

That finally got him moving. He went to the safe, unlocked it and began rummaging through it. After a while, he pulled out the contract. It was a crumpled and dirty paper from under the corner of the table.

He laughed awkwardly.

“Last time, Regina and I were playing in the study … I used it to stop the table from wobbling.”

I took the contract and slowly tried to flatten it. My hands were shaking.

Tears fell before I could stop them.

“Michael … you’ve gone too far.”

We were married. I gave everything for this marriage.

Even though the Cooke Family’s business wasn’t as big as the Purnell Family’s, it was still my parents’ life’s work. My mother gave me everything she had before she died, hoping it would make my future better in the Purnell Family.

But I had wasted it all for a man who didn’t care and a marriage that never loved me back.

I was indeed a fool for choosing this man.