During the week I spent in the hospital, Lucian called to say he was on a business trip in Olceria and couldn't visit me.

However, I saw their every move on Jennifer's social media.

On the first day, he said he was struggling with jet lag. In truth, he was out drinking and partying with Jennifer and friends.

On the second day, he complained that he had to deal with a difficult client. But really, he was in an apron, cooking for Jennifer.

When Jennifer found the food unsatisfactory, he threw it away and cooked something again.

Lucian and I had been together for six years, and I never knew he could cook.

Not even when I had a miscarriage had he ever made me a single cup of tea. All he did was tell me to get the nurse to care for me.

The difference between there being love and the lack thereof was clear as day.

On the seventh day, I liked a video of Lucian kneeling as he helped Jennifer into her wedding shoes.

The next day, Lucian returned home and offered to take me to an auction to lift my spirits. However, Jennifer was with him when he arrived to pick me up.

Lucian said he invited her along after he ran into her at the airport, and she mentioned wanting to join the auction.

I quietly nodded in response.

As Lucian politely opened the car door, Jennifer slid into the passenger seat before me and looked at me provocatively.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just so used to sitting in the passenger seat. I'll move and let you have the seat," Jennifer said despite making no effort to get up.

I walked around to the back seat. "No need."

My indifference made Lucian glance at me in the rearview mirror several times.

"Summer, aren't you going to ask me anything?" he asked glumly.

"No. I trust you."

Hearing that, Lucian pressed his tongue against his cheek. "Alright."

At the auction, Jennifer and I each sat on Lucian's side.

Every time I lifted my hand or tucked my hair behind my ear, Jennifer would immediately jump in, engaging Lucian in conversation, her laughter constantly ringing out.

People around us cast odd glances our way.

Everyone in this circle knew about our love triangle.

"Just tell me if you want anything. I'll bid for you, sweetheart," Lucian whispered to me when he had a spare moment.

As my stomach wasn't feeling well, I wasn't very enthusiastic during the auction. When the final item, a set of ruby jewelry, was up for bidding, I casually raised my paddle.

The moment Jennifer saw this, she immediately grabbed Lucian's sleeve and whined, "I love this set too, Luce! Bid on it for me, please."

"Sure."

The starting price for the jewelry was already high. In the end, Lucian won it for 80 million.

Jennifer was so thrilled that she planted several kisses on Lucian's face.

Lucian chuckled, rubbing his cheek, then belatedly turned to me with an awkward explanation. "Rubies don't suit you. I'll get you something next time. Since the Slutter family is our business partner, Jenny—"

Hah, next time.

When we had just been together, we also attended an auction. I had my eye on a 20-million-dollar painting, but Lucian said it was useless and that buying a house would be a more practical investment.

Yet, to this day, he hadn't bought me the promised house.

He didn't even blink when he spent 80 million on jewelry for Jennifer.

He wasn't stingy. No, he just didn't think I was worth 20 million.

I was about to say something when I felt a sudden warm rush between my legs.

Jennifer covered her mouth dramatically and shrieked, pointing at me. "Oh my goodness, you peed yourself! Do you have some kind of illness that makes you lose control of your bladder?"

"That's so disgusting…"

"I didn't expect this from Mrs. Jacobe. No wonder the Jacobe family refuses to acknowledge her. How embarrassing."

The whispers, the judgmental stares—each one felt like a dagger to my chest.

Panicking, I quickly used my hands to shield the front of my dress, trying to explain.

"No, it's not urine. It's lochia from my miscarriage—"

Any woman who had given birth would understand. Just like menstruation, this wasn't something anyone could control.

But before I could finish, Lucian grimly yanked off his coat and threw it over my head.

"How is she my wife when there is no marriage certificate to speak of?"

"Summer, don't you feel ashamed? Get out of here!"

With a self-mocking smirk, I grabbed the coat and rushed to the restroom.

Back in high school, there was a time when Jennifer's period leaked through her white pants during gym class, causing an uproar of laughter among the boys.

Lucian had been furious then. He took on more than ten guys in a fight, earning his reputation as a reckless fighter in school.

Everyone knew that the one person in school no one could afford to offend wasn't Lucian—it was Jennifer.

If Jennifer had been the one embarrassed today, he certainly would have stepped up to defend her.

As I reminisced, I let out a bitter laugh and ordered a delivery of sanitary supplies.

I must have waited for some time before Jennifer walked into the restroom, touching up her makeup while chatting on the phone.

"Jenny, since you're dating Mr. Jacobe, did he ever notice your genital warts? Who was the doctor who treated you? Introduce us sometime!"

Jennifer boasted, "That idiot is completely fooled by me. How would he ever find out? I'll send you the doctor's contact information later.

"I'm glad I gave birth to Nyles back then. My body is already wrecked from my active sex life. I can't have any more children. But Lucian thinks it's just an aftereffect from giving birth to Nyles. He feels so guilty that he deposits five million into my account every month—"

I muted the call with the delivery person and silently recorded Jennifer's conversation.

I now knew exactly what gift to get them on their wedding day a week later.

…

Since I was about to leave for good, I took the time to sort through my belongings.

I didn't own many bags or pieces of jewelry. And even if I did, I bought most of them myself.

That said, the real estate and office buildings were another story. Though there were quite a few, they were all under Nyles' name. None of them had anything to do with me.

The money Lucian refused to spend on me and our lost children was generously given to Jennifer and her son.

At first, I wanted to pack everything and take them with me. But after a second thought, I realized that these things weren't worth much. As it would be a hassle to bring them with me, I decided to leave them all behind.

Lucian finally came home two days later. We both tacitly avoided mentioning the "accident" at the auction.

He briefly asked about my health before excitedly sharing some news.

"Nyles won first place in the national children's piano competition. My parents are hosting a banquet for him. Let's go celebrate together."

I didn't refuse. Since things hadn't completely fallen apart yet, and I was still Nyles' mother in name, I was expected to attend.

What I didn't expect was that Jennifer would be there too.

She performed a duet with Nyles, winning thunderous applause. The admiration in Nyles' eyes as he looked at her was dazzling. But the moment he saw me, his expression dimmed.

"Mom," he called out reluctantly.

Hearing him call me "Mom" made my nose sting. My own children never even had the chance to speak. They never even got to see this world.

"I have something to say to you in private," Jennifer said.

With Nyles following leisurely behind us, Jennifer weaved through the crowd and led me upstairs.

"You liked Luce's post, didn't you?" Jennifer asked. "Since you've seen them, you must know by now that Nyles is my son. Lucian deliberately got you drunk on your wedding night.

"While you were passed out, we did it four times on your bed. Your body, your face, and even your wedding dress—you were covered in our fluids. Who knows, you might have even swallowed some."

I thought I was already numb to their cruelty, but hearing this made my stomach churn violently.

I braced myself against the wall, dry-heaving.

Disgusting. This was absolutely disgusting.

Jennifer crossed her arms and gloated, "Let's cut to the chase. Lucian loves me and wants to marry me. But he never dared to confront you and kick you out. Men always want to have their cake and eat it too. But I refuse to share. So tell me—who do you think he values more? You, or me and my son?"

I didn't care what Lucian thought. I was leaving them for good soon anyway.

I turned to go, but before I could take a step, Lucian and a group of people slowly walked up the stairs.

Before I could react, Jennifer and Nyles suddenly screamed, pulling me down the stairs with them.

"Ahh! Mom, don't do it!"

As I tumbled to the bottom, pain shot through every inch of my body. It felt as if my bones had shattered on impact. I tried to get up, but before I could, Lucian kicked me in the stomach while he rushed forward to scoop Jennifer into his arms without a second glance at me.

"Are you okay?" he urged.

"I... I'm so scared. Summer was jealous that Nyles likes me, and she actually pushed the child. I tried to pull Nyles back, but I couldn't hold on..."

Nyles had already fainted. His grandparents were frantic, urgently calling for the driver to come in. Seeing the commotion, the guests quickly dispersed.

Lucian was holding Jennifer, while the two elders held Nyles.

I lay on the cold floor, clutching my stomach, grabbing onto Lucian's pant leg.

"Lucian, I'm bleeding too. My stomach hurts so much... Can you take me with you?"

Lucian's mother shot me a look of disgust. "Where's the blood? You're such an actress. And you dare to harm my grandson! What kind of mother are you? Any random woman would be better than you. Why don't you just die?"

In Lucian's arms, Jennifer let out a soft whimper of discomfort.

Lucian, filled with distress, kissed the small, fingernail-sized wound on her forehead. Then, he coldly ordered, "Lock Mrs. Jacobe in the freezer. She should calm down and reflect on herself. Do not let her out without my permission."

"Lucian, no! I'm not acting! I might actually die if you lock me in the freezer..."

As I was born prematurely, I had been weak since birth, and my body was sensitive to the cold. Even though my family had pampered me, no amount of nourishment ever seemed to help.

I had already risked my life giving birth to one child and had to undergo an induced abortion for another. If I was thrown into the freezer now, I wouldn't survive.

But Lucian only held Jennifer, who looked pleased with herself, and rushed outside, completely ignoring my pleas.

After I was left in the freezer, my teeth chattered from the cold. The blood flowing from me grew colder and colder, until my stomach became so numb I could no longer feel the pain.

I could no longer bear it. Trembling, I crawled to the door and shakily picked up the intercom.

"Tell Lucian I know I was wrong... Please, tell him to let me out first… It's so cold... I can't hold on much longer..."

The housekeeper hesitated before saying he would contact Lucian. However, he didn't let me out when he returned.

"Mrs. Jacobe, Mr. Jacobe said you've only been in there for two hours. That's not enough to calm Ms. Slutter down. You'll be let out tomorrow."

Tomorrow, huh?

Leaning against the wall, I slid down weakly to the floor. I could feel life slipping away from me at an alarming rate.

I didn't think I would make it until tomorrow.