My husband sponsored a poor female college student.

While I was being dragged into an alley by a criminal, he was helping her pick out lingerie. While I was hospitalized with serious injuries, he used the money my mother left me to buy her a limited-edition handbag.

I confronted him in a heated argument, but he accused me of being unreasonable.

"I thought your injuries were so serious, but look—you didn’t even die! Besides, your money is my money. I’ll spend it however I want!"

Sera’s P.O.V

When being trailed by the murderer, I called Mark Simpson.

He answered impatiently, “I already told you I’m working late tonight. What do you want now?”

The person behind me continued to follow relentlessly, forcing me into a dead end.

My heart pounded like a drum, and my voice trembled. “Help me, I’m being followed by a murderer. He’s holding a knife…”

“There’s no murderer. Stop imagining things!” Mark’s tone was annoyed. “You always call me at night. Can’t you just let me work in peace? Will this ever end?”

I humbly tried to explain, “It’s true. I’m not lying…”

Suddenly, a sweet, flirtatious female voice came through the receiver. “Marky-boo, does this lingerie look good on me?”

Hearing Angela Bright’s voice, I froze. Before I could question anything, Mark immediately hung up the phone.

My heart sank, and the murderer’s footsteps grew closer. The instinct to survive overcame my fear. I clenched my fists tightly and then threw my phone at him with all my strength, forcing him to take a step back.

The murderer let out a pained yell and lunged at me with the knife. “I’m gonna kill you!”

The knife plunged into my belly, and unbearable pain engulfed my entire body. I curled up on the ground, cold sweat soaking me. Seeing me down, the man turned to leave.

Suddenly, sirens wailed, and police officers rushed in. The serial killer was finally caught.

During my days in the hospital, Mark never once came to visit.

When he finally called, his tone was indifferent.

“Sera, are you done with your drama yet? I told you I’ve been busy lately. Stop making up excuses to get me to come see you. I have work to do! All this nonsense about murderers and critical injuries… If you really met a killer, would you still be alive?”

I quietly watched as moments from Angela’s social media played out. He said he was busy—busy taking Angela to the aquarium, busy attending concerts with her.

Angela’s frequent updates filled my feed with captions such as “No matter what I want to do, you’re always by my side. Mark spoils me so much!”

I forced a bitter smile as my heart sank further.

On the day I was discharged, Mark suddenly came to pick me up. His face was emotionless, but faint marks on his neck revealed what he had been up to. I took a deep breath, pretending not to see.

His voice was cold and hard. “I thought you were seriously hurt, but you’re still alive, aren’t you?”

Somewhere along the line, Mark had grown this heartless toward me.

“I thought you were joking about the murderer. I just saw the news.” He seemed slightly apologetic. “But the injury shouldn’t be too bad, right?”

What a joke.

It had been two weeks since the incident. When I lay on the hospital bed, paralyzed and helpless, he hadn’t even spared me a glance. Now, this sudden display of concern only disgusted me.

“Alright, it’s nothing serious. Why are you still upset?” He tried to hold my hand, but I pulled away.

As I got into the car, I noticed a piece of lingerie on the passenger seat and froze.

Mark reflexively blocked my view and explained awkwardly, “Angela must’ve left it here by accident.” He spoke dismissively, as though it didn’t matter.

Nonetheless, I had no intention of questioning him. Silently, I sat in the back seat.

Halfway through the drive, he received a call. His expression changed instantly. “Angela, what happened? Don’t cry… Alright, I’m coming right now!”

Mark looked anxious. “Angela sprained her ankle riding her bike. I need to go check on her.”

“So?” I replied.

“You can take a cab home yourself. I can’t drive you.”

I laughed bitterly. “Mark, have you forgotten that I’m your wife? Shouldn’t you and Angela keep some distance?”

He frowned at me. “Sera, can you stop being so unreasonable? Angela’s just a young girl. Why are you so jealous? She’s lying on the roadside, hurt. Do you expect me to ignore her? I’m not as cold-blooded as you!”

He kicked me out of the car without the slightest care. My phone was broken, so calling a cab wasn’t even an option.

The rainstorm came fast and furious, trapping me at a tiny bus stop. The wound began to ache sharply as a chill rose in my heart. I never thought that, in this lifetime, I would cry over two dollars.

Humbled and drenched, I had no choice but to accept a stranger’s charity to make it home.

By the time I reached the house, the rain had stopped, but my heart had completely turned cold.

Mark returned the next day, and he brought Angela with him. She was nestled carefully in his arms, her voice coy. “Put me down, Mark, or Sera will misunderstand again!”

Angela glanced in my direction as though her words were meant just for me. However, Mark ignored my reaction entirely and carried her straight to the sofa.

“Angela’s leg is injured, and it’s inconvenient for her to stay at her dorm. She’ll stay here for a few days. You don’t mind, do you?” It sounded like he was asking for my opinion, but it was clearly just an announcement.

“Do whatever you want.”

In the past, I would have fought with Mark over something like this.

But now?

I suddenly realized I didn’t care that much anymore. Even when Mark carried Angela into the bathroom, I merely glanced over faintly.

“Should I leave the room?” I asked sarcastically.

Mark’s face turned red with anger. “Sera, don’t be disgusting. Stop thinking there’s something improper between Angela and me! She’s hurt. I’m just helping her.” He was so attentive and thoughtful that it almost moved me.

Unfortunately, all his tenderness was reserved for Angela. He never once asked me if my wound still hurt.

One day, after work, I came home to find Angela trying on my jewelry.

“What are you doing?” I demanded.

She looked at me innocently as she twirled the sapphire bracelet on her wrist, showing off. “Mark said I could try them on for fun… He said this bracelet really suits me. Sera, what do you think? Isn’t it pretty?”

I smiled slightly, but my gaze was sharp as it landed on the bracelet. “Who gave you permission to touch my things?”

Startled by my reaction, Angela hurriedly took off the bracelet. “Fine, I’ll give it back. It’s not like I care…”

She tossed the bracelet at me carelessly. I reached out in a panic, accidentally bumping her as I tried to catch it, but it slipped through my fingers and shattered on the floor.

Pain gripped my heart, and my fingers went pale from clenching so hard.

Angela stumbled from the accidental push just as Mark walked in.

“Sera! It’s just a bracelet. Do you have to be so petty about it?” Mark scolded, his tone sharp.

“Angela’s still injured. Why would you push her? What’s wrong with you?”

I stood up slowly, cradling the broken bracelet in my hands. “Mark, you knew this bracelet was the only thing my mother left me. Why did you let her touch it?”

Mark glanced at the shattered pieces dismissively. “It’s just a bracelet. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Angela’s our guest. What’s wrong with letting her wear it?”

My body trembled as I fought back tears. “This is the only keepsake my mother left me. Now it’s broken. What do you want me to do?!”

Mark sneered coldly. “Your mom’s dead. What’s the point of getting worked up over something from a dead person?”

The moment those words left his mouth, I felt as though I’d been plunged into an icy abyss. The man who once stood at my mother’s hospital bed and promised to love me for a lifetime… How did he become so heartless and cruel?