After the news of the car accident became a trending topic, Emilie's fans went into a frenzy, denouncing the driver responsible and even threatening to find them and make them pay with their blood.

After much consideration, Lisa decided to go to the hospital.

Half an hour later, she arrived at the VIP ward area of a private hospital. After a brief inquiry, Lisa quickly located Emilie’s room. It was said that only a select few could afford the SVIP private rooms on the top floor. The Jackson family held shares in the hospital, and Adam had secured two adjacent wards for Emilie’s rest and recovery.

When Lisa entered the room, she saw Adam gently wiping the corner of Song Weiwei’s lips. His touch was so tender, as though he were caring for the most priceless treasure in the world.

Her heart ached painfully at the sight.

Just last year, Lisa had been hospitalized for pneumonia. The hospital was overcrowded, and there were no available beds. Adam had used his connections, but instead of arranging a proper bed, he had her sleep on an extra mattress in the hallway.

During the week she was hospitalized, Adam claimed to be too busy with his work as a lawyer to visit her. At the time, Lisa reassured herself, believing that his career was more important and that he was simply too swamped to find time for her.

But now, she realized that being "busy" had only been an excuse. Whenever he wanted to, he could spend an entire night with Emilie, taking care of her. He even broke his own rules, spending a significant amount of money to secure an adjacent ward for her to rest in.

Adam put down the bowl, and as he turned around, his gaze landed on Lisa. His expression instantly darkened.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded. "Don't you think you've caused Emilie enough harm?"

"Lisa, I thought you were just jealous, but now I see you're truly vicious."

He forcefully shoved Lisa out of the room, quickly releasing his grip on her arm as if she were something filthy.

"Adam, I swear it wasn’t me. There’s been some kind of misunderstanding. Once the traffic police release their findings, everything will be cleared up," Lisa pleaded, trying to explain.

Lisa had loved Adam so humbly and patiently, sacrificing her own dignity. Even when Emilie relentlessly sent provocative messages for four years, stirring up all kinds of hatred and attempting to undermine their relationship, Lisa chose to ignore it. She truly believed that her sincerity would earn Adam's love in return.

"What’s the point of arguing?" Adam's voice was cold.

"Lisa, the wedding is canceled. I won’t marry a woman with such a vicious heart!" His tone was final.

Those words hit Lisa like a hammer, shattering her heart. She stood motionless, staring at the man in front of her, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Just the day before his business trip, Adam had held her in his arms. They were incredibly affectionate, and he kissed her cheek with tenderness, calling her the kindest and most gentle wife. He promised that in just one month, she would be the happiest and most beautiful bride in the world.

After the wedding, they were supposed to travel—first to Norway to see the Aurora, then to Africa to witness the great migration, and later to Fiji for diving. He had even handed her his bank card and the key to his safe, telling her she would be the queen of their home.

But everything changed the moment he returned.

Lisa stepped forward desperately, grabbing his arm, her voice barely above a whisper, pleading, "Adam, what can I do to make you believe me again?"

"I will never trust you again," Adam said coldly, shaking off her grip.

Although the car accident hadn’t been life-threatening, Emilie’s leg was badly injured. Even if she recovered, she would never be able to perform on stage again.

She had started dancing at five, living her entire life for ballet. If she could no longer perform on stage, it would feel like losing everything.

Lisa’s shoulders trembled, her voice caught in her throat as she fought back tears. No... not her. What could she possibly do to make Adam believe her?

Suddenly, a harsh, female voice cut through the air. "It was this bitch who broke Emilie's leg!"

Before Lisa could react, a forceful shove sent her stumbling away from Adam, and she was slapped across the face. The blow was so strong that she lost her balance, crashing to the ground and hitting her head on the trash can. Stars danced in her vision.

Emilie's mother, Marry Grant pointed at Lisa, her voice venomous. "You stole Emilie's boyfriend and ran her over with a car! A wicked, malicious woman like you deserves to rot in hell!"

Lisa’s ears rang. "I didn’t hit Emilie with my car! Stop spreading lies about me!"

"The evidence is clear, and you still deny it? You shameless bitch!" Marry’s rage turned her into a madwoman. "Let’s see how you escape this!"

Like a wild animal, she lunged at Lisa, grabbing her by the hair and yanking her forward. "Come on, everyone! Look at this woman! She destroyed my daughter's future—she’ll never dance again. Let’s expose her for what she really is!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, reporters flooded the scene.

"That's her! The woman who was behind the hit-and-run!"

"She's the one who ruined Emilie's career and kept her from ever performing again!"

"Someone call the police! Arrest her now!"

...

"Adam, help me!"

Lisa turned desperately to Adam, but he stood silently by, his face devoid of emotion, as if he were a stranger.

The insults rained down, and reporters closed in on Lisa, their cameras flashing relentlessly. Each word felt like a slap, the pressure mounting as she struggled to hold herself together.

The world around her began to blur. Blood rushed to her head, and her vision darkened. In that moment, everything went black, and she fainted.

The day after Emilie's car accident, Lisa’s heart shattered.

She collapsed at the ward's door, overwhelmed by both hypoglycemia and the crushing weight of betrayal. But Adam, cold and unforgiving, dismissed her collapse as an act—an attempt to avoid responsibility. He had her unceremoniously thrown into a hospital utility room, where medical waste was stored.

A compassionate nurse, passing by, noticed Lisa and used her phone to contact her family. They were the ones who picked her up.

Back at home, Lisa fell ill.

The controversy surrounding Emilie’s car accident continued to rage, and soon Lisa was being hunted online. Her name was plastered across social media, inundated with hate and vitriol from Emilie’s fans. The comment sections of her posts were soon flooded with curses, forcing them to be shut down altogether.

Some of Emilie's most extreme fans went so far as to send Lisa dead mice and shrouds in the mail.

Unable to return to her normal life, Lisa took leave from work and retreated to the Hale family home to escape the media frenzy.

Meanwhile, Adam made a public announcement that their engagement was over, and had his assistant collect all the betrothal gifts the Jackson family had previously given to the Hale's.

The large flat in Clear Water Bay, a wedding gift from the Jacksons, had been intended as the couple's new home. Lisa had moved in and lived there for two months, only to be told by Adam to pack her things and leave within a few days.

Lisa was in the yard, sunbathing weakly, when she received the call. Since falling ill, she'd lost her appetite and couldn't keep food down, causing her to lose weight rapidly.

During this time, the police came to the Hale house, taking Lisa in for questioning.

While the surveillance video showed Lisa's car at the scene, the driver’s face wasn’t clearly visible, and there were no other witnesses. It was only confirmed that Lisa’s car had struck Emilie, but there was no solid evidence to prove she was the one behind the wheel. After the investigation, Lisa was granted bail and released.

"Lisa, your brother has arranged for the driver to move your things out of the Clearwater Bay apartment. Once you're feeling better, I'll take you abroad to relax for a while," said Leslie Hale, Lisa's mother's voice, full of concern as she looked at her daughter, who was now looking frail and thin. She tried to hide her discomfort, but it was clear how deeply troubled she was by the situation.

Lisa gathered herself and said, "I should go alone."

Returning to the wedding apartment once again, it felt as though a century had passed in just two weeks.

As soon as she opened the door, an unpleasant, rancid smell hit her, and her stomach churned. Unable to bear it any longer, she rushed into the bathroom and vomited up her breakfast.

"Second Miss, are you okay?" the driver asked, his voice full of concern.

Lisa shook her head, turned on the faucet, and rinsed her mouth. Stepping out of the bathroom, she immediately noticed the moldy snacks and white porridge sitting on the dining table. She quickly covered her nose.

It was the day of the accident when she had returned to eat the leftovers. Now, after sitting out for so long, the food had gone rancid, causing the smell to linger in the apartment. She guessed that Adam hadn’t been home during this time.

Perhaps as long as Emilie was still in the picture, Lisa would never be Adam’s first choice.

Lisa and Adam had been university sweethearts. They had dreamed of this moment—starting from school uniforms to wedding dresses, believing they would be each other's forever.

But now, in the wake of a car accident, she found herself accused of being the murderer, a label pinned on her based on rumors and baseless claims.

Her tears had dried up, leaving her heart numb. As she looked around the apartment, the traces of their life together seemed to mock her, reminders of a love that had been shattered.

From the appliances and furniture to the smallest refrigerator magnets, she had carefully chosen each item. Now, all that remained was endless pain and unbearable memories.

People around her often said that Adam would always hold Emilie in his heart. They believed that if Emilie hadn’t left without a word to chase her career, Lisa would never have stood a chance.

At first, Lisa didn’t let these words bother her. She was certain that even the hardest stone could eventually be warmed.

After graduation, Lisa turned down an offer from a prestigious top-three investment bank to work in a financial company, determined to be the woman who supported Adam’s success.

Adam once said he didn’t like takeout, so Lisa spent hours perfecting her cooking skills.

Adam preferred women with slim figures, so Lisa meticulously controlled her weight, cutting out carbs after dinner.

Though Adam’s demanding job often kept him away for days or even weeks, Lisa never complained, patiently waiting for him to return.

Even Mrs. Jackson, who came from a wealthy family and had a discerning eye, praised Lisa for being well-behaved, graceful, and cultured.

But what good was it to be sensible?

Whenever something happened to Emilie, Adam would rush back to her without a second thought. He didn’t believe Lisa, nor did he believe that the woman who had loved him for five years, lying next to him every night, could be innocent.

Lisa swallowed her heartache and instructed the driver to pack up all her belongings. She even tore the wedding photo on the wall in half—ripping her own portion into pieces and flushing them down the toilet.

Once it was done, Lisa called Adam, intending to return the valuables in person. But he kept insisting he couldn’t be reached. After pondering for a long while, she decided to go to the hospital, determined to end everything herself.

Just as Lisa had suspected, Adam had taken a long leave and was staying at the hospital with Emilie.

How ironic.

In the five years they’d been together, Adam, a workaholic, had never taken a single day off, even when he was sick. Yet now, he had abandoned everything to be by Emilie’s side.

In the rehabilitation room, Adam gently supported Emilie’s shoulders, speaking to her softly, his face full of the compassion and concern Lisa had never once received.

When Emilie asked for water, Adam, ever attentive, brought it to her lips after the wind had cooled it.