###Chapter 5

“Ah!”

Someone rushed past and bumped into me. I fell with a heavy bump to the ground. My palms burned with sharp pain where the skin was scraped.

Upon looking up, I saw Silvia weakly leaning against Robert's shoulder all the while sneaking me a winner’s smile. Robert then carefully carried his adopted sister into the car. He didn’t even look back at me.

Strangely, the pain in my chest suddenly went numb.

I stood up. Under the pointing and mocking looks of the people around me, I straightened my back and walked out of my family's estate. I took a taxi and went home.

Once I stepped into the living room, I took off the wedding ring I had worn for three years and threw it into the trash bin. I soon packed my stuff as fast as I could. Halfway through, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Silvia.

There were two pictures: an ultrasound and a pregnancy report. Her words were so proud they almost jumped off the screen:

[I’m carrying his baby. You don't have anything to compete with me.]

Looking at the pictures, the first thought in my mind was a loud question.

Was that child really Robert’s? Ha! This woman doesn’t know that her “good brother” has severe infertility.

It was almost impossible for him to make a woman pregnant. Even the doctors called my unborn child a miracle at work.

I smiled coldly and dialed a long-forgotten number. “Help me investigate Silvia Kleinn. I want everything, especially her relationships with men.”

“Oh? Who is this? Oh, my dear Ms. Kayla Wayne. Didn’t you say you’d never talk to me again? Why are you suddenly interested in your husband’s adopted sister?”

The man on the phone said lazily as he mocked. Strange though, I felt relieved instead.

Trevor Weiss. My childhood friend. We grew up together in the slums, depending on each other. He was an orphan. My mother died early because of the affairs my father kept having. Eventually he went bankrupt and became an alcoholic. When we were thirteen, several black luxury cars came into our broken street and took him away.

Well... Trevor wasn't exactly an orphan at all. He was the illegitimate son of a rich man overseas. We met again five years after the abduction of my father.

He crossed the ocean just to celebrate my eighteenth birthday. Unfortunately, that night ended badly. He beat Robert without mercy in the restaurant. I was so angry that I cut Trevor off completely.

Now, holding the phone tightly, I realized that Trev was right. I was the stupid one. Because back then, he said very clearly: Robert was not a loyal man and would never love me for life.

“You really have sharp eyes. You were right. I was wrong.” My voice became low.

“Wait… are you crying? Please, I’m scared of women crying. What happened?” Trevor said half jokingly.

My tears suddenly poured out because of his casualness. I told him everything about Robert’s betrayal.

“Fine. Now you can laugh at me,” I muttered.

But his voice became serious, yet gentle. “Don’t cry, Ayla. Leave it to me.”

“…Okay.”

After hanging up, I continued packing. In four days, I would leave Robert forever.

***

Robert didn’t come back home that night. He was probably busy taking care of his “woman and child,” and hiding it from his parents.

The next evening, after I finished showering, I was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace.

“I’m sorry, baby. Work has been crazy these days,” the voice said.

Robert lifted my left hand and put a silver ring back on my ring finger. It was the same wedding ring I had thrown away.

“I know you’re angry that I gave Silvy some of our company's shares, but this ring is our promise for life. Don’t ever take it off.” He kissed my fingertips, looking so sincere as if he hadn’t been trying hard to get another woman pregnant.

Promise for life? What a joke.

His kisses were hot, moving along my collarbone. His breathing became heavy. In the past, his actions would make me give in instantly. Now, it only made me feel sick.

“Baby, you should apologize to Silvy. Even if you don’t like her, you shouldn’t harass her,” he said softly.

I suddenly pushed his hands away.

“I won’t apologize,” I said confidently. “I did nothing. Robert, this is my bottom line.”

Seeing my red eyes, he wanted to reply, but finally sighed.

“Forget it.” He tried to hold me again. “My parents want you to go to the hospital tomorrow and do the abortion surgery. Then we can have another healthy baby.”

How ridiculous. I would never have his child again.

“I don’t want to, Robert.”

He kept persuading me, afraid I would change my mind and refuse to make room for his “sister’s” bastard child.

I finally lost control and pushed him away with all my strength. “The baby is already gone, Robert! It happened when you were busy taking care of your drunk ‘good little sister’!”

“I fell down the stairs. There was so much blood… I was in so much pain. When I needed you the most, you were with her the whole day!” I had never been so hysterical. “Are you satisfied now? Do you still want me to apologize?!”

Robert froze completely. His eyes widened in shock. It was like something had grabbed his throat. For several seconds, I saw he couldn’t even breathe.

###Chapter 6

“Oh my God…” Robert took two back steps, looking like a helpless child. He apologized in panic, “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t know you went through all that. Why didn’t you call me back then?”

He added, “But still.... This isn’t Silvy’s fault! You shouldn’t take your anger out on her.”

I almost laughed. Even now, Robert was trying his best to protect that woman.

When anger reached the extreme, only exhaustion remained. I didn’t want to say another word. More explanation would only show that I was pathetically desperate for him.

“Stay away from me!” I slapped Robert hard. While he was still stunned, I rushed into the guest room and slammed the door.

Outside, I saw Robert’s shadow stayed under the small gap of the door for a while. Then his phone rang, his footsteps hurried away.

The world became silent again. My tears quietly soaked the pillow. Suddenly, my stomach started to twist in familiar pain. It was an old problem from years of overworking for the Kleinn Corporations.

The pain was so strong that I curled up on the bed. Half-conscious, my fingers unconsciously dialed Robert’s number. It rang for a long time before he finally answered.

“Robert… my stomach hurts…” I whispered.

“I’m sorry, Ayla. I can’t leave right now. Silvy is having a panic attack. I have to stay with her.” His voice was hoarse and tired. “The medicine is in the left drawer of the bedside table.”

On the other side of the call, I could hear a girl’s weak crying. Then the call was cut off.

I held my phone, not even knowing what stupid thing I just did.

After suffering all night, I finally fell asleep near dawn. Soon I got woken up by violent shaking.

Robert sat by my bed, looking exhausted, his voice cold. “Because of the rumors you spread at the Kleinns, Silvy is being attacked online.”

He continued, “You need to do a livestream and explain everything. Say you were jealous of her and framed her on purpose.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Robert rushed back home, not to check up on me, but to save his precious girl’s reputation?

“I won’t do it!” I refused hoarsely.

“I knew you’d say that.” Robert’s face darkened. His tone turned threatening. “Look at this.”

He showed me his phone on video call. On the screen was Silvia. Around her neck was a light gray scarf. My mother made that scarf for me with her own hands before she died. It was the only thing she left me.

My voice trembled. “Do you really love her that much? So much that you have to hurt me like this?!”

Something hurtful and guilt flashed in his eyes, but soon it was replaced by cold determination. “I love you, Ayla. But I will never let Silvy suffer.”

I suddenly laughed. This bastard always knew exactly how to hit my weakest point.

My voice became frighteningly calm. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

Robert had already prepared everything. The livestream soon started.

In front of the camera, my face was pale as paper. I read his script word by word. “I was jealous of Silvia. I didn’t want to lose my position as Mrs. Kleinn, so I spread rumors to hurt her reputation. She did not seduce my husband, her brother…”

The comment section exploded instantly. Endless insults flooded the screen. Looking at those hateful words, I couldn’t even cry anymore.

When the livestream ended, I collapsed by the sink and vomited violently, as if I wanted to throw up all my organs.

Footsteps came from behind. I raised my head and looked at him in the mirror, my voice broken. “Now, are you and your precious girl satisfied?”

Robert froze.

I wiped my mouth and said clearly, “Let’s get a divorce.”

He immediately looked away. His voice was stiff. “Divorce? Impossible. I will never let you leave me.”

I didn’t understand. He kept hurting me, but refused to let me go. What kind of love was this?

“Brother… Kayla? Am I disturbing you?” Silvia’s weak voice came from the door.

I glared at her. Robert immediately said, “Silvy came to return your things. You two should talk.”

“I have nothing to say to her!”

Robert became impatient. “Silvy is sometimes spoiled, but she’s kind at heart. You’re her sister-in-law. You should be more mature.”

Then he went to the kitchen, saying he would cook lunch for us. In all these years, he had never cooked for me. But just because Silvia acted cute once, he learned how to cook for her.

After he left, I looked at the scarf on Silvia’s neck and said coldly, “Give it back to me.”

The girl smiled. The innocent look disappeared. Her eyes turned cruel. “You’re really stupid. Why haven’t you left? Sooner or later, I’ll be the real lady of this house.”

How ridiculous. I didn’t even want to fight her for it.

I slowly relaxed my fists. “Give me the scarf. I’ll leave soon and give you your ‘family of three.’ Then you won’t have to be a secret mistress anymore,” I said with a mocking smile.

Silvia got angry, but soon her smile became even more evil. “Oh, you still don’t know why I was adopted by the Kleinns, right? You should thank yourself.”

My breathing stopped. “What do you mean?”

She crossed her arms proudly. “A few years ago, didn’t you anonymously donate bone marrow? What a coincidence, I was at the same hospital that day. After you left, I paid someone to fake the donation record.”

“The bigger coincidence is... the rich man who needed the bone marrow was Robert’s father.”

My head went dizzy. I could barely stand. “So… you took my place…”

“Thanks to you, I became the Kleinns' precious daughter.” She stepped closer, her smile twisted. “But what I want is more than that.”

She touched her flat stomach. Her eyes turned vicious.

Suddenly, she grabbed my arm tightly and pulled me under her, then threw me violently toward the edge of the bathtub!

“Ah!”

Two screams rang out at the same time.

A tall figure rushed into the room.

“Silvy?!”

Seeing Silvia holding her stomach in pain, Robert’s eyes turned red instantly. He didn’t help me, even though my head hit the bathtub and blood was flowing.

Instead, he rushed to hold Silvia, asking her anxiously if she was okay, shouting for doctors.

“My stomach hurts, brother… Kayla, she… she said she wanted to die together with me!”

“I didn’t! It was her—” I tried to explain.

“Shut up, Kayla! Do you even have a heart?!” he interrupted angrily. “Apologize to Silvy!”

My heart sank to the bottom. I shook my head firmly. “Never.”

He wanted to be her “brother” in name, but her secret lover forever, treating her like a princess.

Then what was I? Just a cover, a tool to maintain his image as a perfect husband. Why should I pay the price for their shameful love?

Robert then picked up my scarf. “Apologize. Don’t make me say it the third time.”

His bodyguard appeared at the door and handed him a lighter.

My heart stopped for a second. Rage exploded in my chest. “Stop! That’s the only thing my mother left me!”

He had already taken the lighter. His thumb rested on the wheel. “If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being cruel.”

Cruel?

What a joke.

Ignoring the blood soaking my back, I screamed with all my strength, “Then when you slept with your adopted sister and betrayed your vows! Weren’t you the cruel one?!”

###Chapter 7

A burning slap landed on my face. I fell to the ground before I could react. My ears rang loudly. My words had clearly torn open Robert's darkest secret. He was both furious and ashamed.

For a moment, Robert’s pupils shrank when he saw the blood seeping from the back of my head. But very quickly, that panic was covered by cold hardness again.

Click.

He lit the lighter. The flame jumped up and moved closer to the scarf.

Even though my love was already gone, I never imagined he would torture me like this. I knew that if I didn’t give in, I would lose the last thing my mother left me.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened them again, there was nothing left inside my heart.

“I’m sorry.” My voice was completely calm. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have provoked you.”

I raised my head and looked at him and at the proud Silvia in his arms.

“I’m sorry I got pregnant and got in your way. I’m sorry I dreamed about loyalty and dirtied your great love. I wish you a happy ending Robert and Silvia, together forever,” I said.

“Enough!” Robert shouted, cutting me off. His chest rose and fell violently, his eyes red.

Robert stared at my lifeless face. Something inside his chest seemed to crash wildly. I wasn’t crying, but it was as if he could see that all my tears were already gone. For a second, he felt the urge to hug me like before, to wipe away all my wounds and tears.

“The doctor is here, boss!” The shout at the door pulled Robert back to reality.

His face hardened again. He threw the scarf at my feet. “Don’t think I wouldn’t burn it. If you're harming Silvy again, you'll get your consequences.”

Then he picked Silvia up and walked away without hesitation.

I leaned against the bathtub, hugged my knees and started laughing. My laughter was hoarse and broken. My whole body trembled.

After a few minutes, I heard a car engine outside. Mixed with Silvia’s cheerful laughter and the man’s gentle voice: “Of course, my little princess. You can have anything you want for your birthday.”

Her birthday was the day after tomorrow. It was also the day I planned to leave.

I held the bathtub and slowly stood up.

The woman in the mirror looked miserable. My face twisted from the pain in my head. But I knew the worst pain had already passed.

I cleaned myself carefully and waited for the night, then waited for the morning again. I picked up my suitcase and looked around one last time to the place once called “home.”

The curtains, the sofa, every plant, every tile, even every flower in the garden... Robert and I chose them all together. Passing the mirror in the hallway, the woman reflected on it looked pale, but I gave her a peaceful smile.

Passing the living room and on the sunniest sofa, I used to lie on Robert’s legs. The sound of him turning documents was my favorite lullaby.

Passing the garden... we once ran on the grass and kissed in the wind. He said he hoped that moment would last forever.

Sadly, nothing in this world lasts forever.

I walked toward the heavy black gate. Just then, the door opened from outside.

My heart tightened. Wasn’t Robert supposed to be at Silvia’s birthday party?

“Ayla, I’m here to take you.” The person standing there was someone I hadn’t seen in a long time.

A handsome face, walking toward me quickly, covered in travel dust.

I stared in shock. “Why are you here?”

“I was worried about you.” Trevor’s eyes darkened when he saw the bandage on my head. A storm rose in his black eyes. “Did that bastard do this to you?!”

At that moment, my phone vibrated. A message from my lawyer friend: [Ayla, everything is done. I’m waiting for you at the airport.]

Trevor gave me the investigation report about Silvia. After reading it, I finally smiled for real.

Then I handed it to the maid of our house. “Aunt Poppy, please give this to Robert.”

There was also a divorce agreement, my wedding ring, the bone marrow donation certificate and the 2000 love letters Robert wrote to me over eight years.

“Madam… are you really not coming back?” Aunt Poppy asked, her voice shaking.

I looked past her, at the wide sky. “I’m not your ‘Madam’ anymore. Take care.”

I got into the black sports car with Trevor. The engine roared and the car shot forward like an arrow.

The familiar scenery moved backward fast, then disappeared.

I let out a soft breath. I was really looking forward to it.

When Robert sees those documents, what kind of face will he make?

***

At the same time, at Silvia’s birthday party, Robert stood among the crowd but felt restless for reasons he couldn't name.

Suddenly remembered Kayla’s empty eyes. He remembered the blood on the back of her head. Kayla was afraid of pain. Even when her finger got stuck in a door, she would truly cry.

Damn it.... He shouldn’t have left her.

After calming down Silvia, he rushed out of the hall... all the while ignoring his little sister's plea for attention.

He had been too impulsive. No matter what wrong Ayla did… she must've done it because she loved him too much.

Robert stepped on the gas. The car reached a speed it had never reached before. He even crashed into several cars. Finally, he arrived at a familiar intersection.

At that moment, Robert saw a black sports car pass by his car at high speed.