“What did you just say?”

Joanna’s father sounded shocked, unable to hide his suspicion. “Weren’t you the one with so much pride? Three years ago, for the so-called ‘true love,’ you cut ties with the Spencer Family, swearing never to contact us again. You were crying and begging just to marry that man!”

“I heard that after you married someone else, the man from the Lowell Family… even made a public vow never to marry in his lifetime. Well then, if you finally realize your mistake, come back and proceed with the arranged marriage. I’ll see you in Larkhaven on the eighth of January!”

Countdown: 99 days until her departure.

The Grive Family hosted a charity auction.

Joanna arrived in a black evening gown, her face bare of makeup, her expression calm and composed.

Zaylee smiled sweetly. “Joanna, you're still pregnant. You really didn’t need to come. The Grive Family has me!”

“Drake, even if I asked for the stars and the moon, you’d still bring them down for me, wouldn’t you?”

The man fondly pinched her nose. “Of course. You’re my precious, obedient wife. Loving my wife brings prosperity. Whatever you want tonight, just say the word.”

The two of them flaunted their affection publicly, glued to each other, instantly stirring envy among the guests.

“Has no one noticed how Drake looks exactly like the late Darren? Even the way he dotes on his wife is so similar!”

“Oh my gosh! Zaylee is so lucky! They’re the perfect match—a talented man and beautiful woman!”

“Compared to Joanna, she looks so haggard since her husband died… It’s true that women really do need love to flourish!”

As the auction began, no matter what Zaylee coquettishly asked for, Joanna didn’t even lift her head.

Until the final item appeared…

It was an extraordinarily rare and priceless treasure named ‘Remembrance of Joan’.

The entire crown had an intricate design, adorned with rare pink diamonds, sparkling brilliantly under the lights.

Joanna froze like she’d been struck by lightning, staring unblinking as tears welled up and streamed down her face.

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

“What exquisite craftsmanship!”

“But why is it such a strange name, Remembrance of Joan?”

“You don’t know? This is the only surviving piece left by designer Camille Quarles before she passed away! She spent over ten years pouring her heart and soul into creating this crown. It’s truly a masterpiece!”

“Remembrance of Joan, Remembrance of Joan… I heard it was made to commemorate the birth of her beloved daughter.”

Upon hearing this, Zaylee’s eyes sparkled. “Such a romantic story! Drake, I really love it…”

When Darren’s gaze landed on the exhibit, he froze. They’d been married three years and Joanna had whispered about this jewelry to him countless times. Now, it was right in front of him.

The starting price was a million dollars. Zaylee raised her paddle and Joanna bit her lip, fiercely bidding back several times.

Just when things got awkwardly intense, Darren stood up and loudly announced, “Unlimited bidding!”

The entire room instantly erupted in excitement. Joanna’s tears were about to fall as she lowered her voice and looked at Darren.

“This exhibit is a relic left by my late mother. Please, Drake, endure the pain and let it go. I'm begging you.”

Hearing this, Zaylee’s interest grew even more. “Oh dear! What should we do now? I really like it too! Drake, do you remember what you said just now? You won’t disappoint me, right?”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Darren spoke, “Since Zaylee likes it, I’m determined to win the bid, no matter how much the other party offers!”

That dazzling crown was placed by Darren himself atop Zaylee’s head and the woman couldn’t hide her triumphant expression.

In the blink of an eye, Joanna had composed herself and nodded calmly. "Then congratulations to you and your wife."

"Of course. From now on, I will love Zaylee just like the designer loved her daughter. This crown is proof of my love for her," Darren said.

As he spoke, Joanna suddenly recalled how, back when they were dating, the man treated her with such care and caution. He hid his identity, endured everything, handed out flyers under the blazing sun just to buy her the only gold ring in the world, endured pain to donate blood so she could wear her beloved dress and even fought with his family just to marry her.

But now, the love that once belonged to her had been transferred to another woman.

Joanna paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "Seeing that your relationship is so good, I can finally be at ease. Drake, I wish you and your wife happiness. May you two have a noble child soon and grow old together.”

Darren frowned slightly, his eyes quietly studying the woman before him, whose gaze seemed nothing but coldness. A wave of unease swept over him as if something vital in his life was slipping gradually out of his control.

By the second month of their living together, Zaylee had successfully become pregnant.

The Grive Family was very traditional and feudal. Even pregnancy couldn’t exempt Joanna from constant orders and strict rules. Battling morning sickness, she endured endless nagging from Garcia and had already become visibly worn out after three months.

Meanwhile, Zaylee only needed a single word from Darren to avoid any effort or hardship.

“From now on, Zaylee will be the Grive Family’s lucky star! You all must take good care of her!”

Though Joanna had long prepared herself mentally, the joy shining in Darren’s eyes as a new father still stabbed painfully at her heart.

During the pregnancy, Zaylee was very delicate. Darren stayed up sleepless out of concern for her morning sickness, personally cooked nourishing meals for her and the baby’s health and even, despite his cleanliness obsession, didn’t hesitate to catch her vomit by hand.

Zaylee carried his precious treasure in her womb.

So what exactly was the child that Joanna, five months pregnant, was carrying?

Back in the bedroom, Joanna stared at the wedding photo on the bedside table, suddenly feeling a sharp sting in her heart.

Once, Darren had pursued her actively. After they married, they even had two months of warmth and closeness. She had eagerly looked forward to carrying the fruit of their love and had imagined how the man would be after she became pregnant.

But now, things had changed, people were gone and all was lost. Before she could speak, tears flowed first.

After tidying up the couple’s pajamas, photo booth stickers and love albums, Joanna personally packed them all up and threw them away.

Behind her, Darren appeared without her noticing. When he saw the wedding photo, his eyes sharply flickered with surprise.

Then Darren grabbed Joanna’s wrist tightly, pressing her with a harsh tone.

“Joanna, what are you doing?”

“Drake,” Joanna sneered coldly at him, “Whatever I do is none of your business!”

Darren gritted his teeth, his dark pupils filled with menace.

“If my late brother knew, I wonder what he’d think from above. Joanna, you’re truly heartless!”

Joanna found it amusing. She instinctively pried each of Darren’s fingers apart, then turned and walked away.

“No need for you to worry about this, Drake.”

In the stairway, Zaylee was being supported by a servant. When she saw Joanna, she waved her hand dismissively, sending the servant away.

The woman curled her lips into a smug smile, her true nature completely revealed beneath her surface charm.

“Joanna, what are you pretending for? You’ve known the truth all along, haven’t you? How does it feel to watch the man you loved abandon you and be with me? Or maybe you still don’t know. Darren and I are each other’s first loves. Our feelings reignited long after you two got married. Even Drake’s car accident was a scheme we planned together!”

Joanna’s eyes widened in disbelief as she took a step back. “What did you say? You two disgusting lovers are utterly heartless! That was a living, breathing person!”

Zaylee stepped forward, pressing closer, smiling cruelly. “So what? He stood in my way! Even if it were two lives, what does that matter? If that bastard child in your belly stands in my son’s way...”

Joanna’s instincts screamed that something was wrong. She saw Zaylee suddenly change her expression, grab Joanna’s hand, then raise it. And with Joanna’s shocked eyes fixed on her, Zaylee slapped her own face twice, without using any force.

“Ah!”

The next moment, Zaylee fell like a falling butterfly, straight down from the second floor to the first.

Joanna was still stunned in place when Darren rushed over, furious. He glanced at the woman lying on the floor, then pushed Joanna forcefully.

Joanna, clutching her belly, slammed hard into the shelf behind her. The sharp metal blades cut open her forehead.

“Who allowed you to lay hands on Zaylee? No matter how jealous you are, you cannot harm an innocent child!”

Zaylee watched, tears streaming down her face, her voice rising in panic, “It hurts so much! Drake, will our baby be okay?”

Darren immediately scooped her up horizontally, holding her close and soothing her gently, but his eyes shot daggers at Joanna, as if wanting to kill her on the spot.

“Wicked woman! Despicable bitch! If anything happens to Zaylee and the child in her womb, I’ll make you and that bastard pay with blood!”

Joanna lay in a pool of blood from her forehead and the fresh flow beneath her didn’t stop.

Zaylee leaned softly against the man’s chest, flashing Joanna a provocative smile.

What a pathetic act.

Unfortunately, Darren left, not even sparing her a single glance.

When she opened her eyes, the sharp scent of hospital disinfectant filled her nose.

Nearby, a young nurse whispered to her colleague, "Both are women, but really, everyone has their own fate!"

"The second daughter-in-law of the Grive Family in the next ward only had a little fright, but the head of the family has been worried sick, guarding her room day and night, not even taking off his clothes to rest. He’s been so devoted, you can really ship a couple like that!"

"Unlike this one... I heard it was the servants who couldn't bear to watch and feared she’d die right there, so they called emergency services."

When Darren arrived, there was a hint of apology in his expression and he was carrying bags of nourishing supplements.

“Joanna, about what happened earlier... I was just so anxious that I acted irrationally. These tonics are my way of making it up to you. But you're allergic to peanuts, so be sure to check the ingredients carefully."

"Are you… and the baby okay?"

It was like a slap followed by a sweet date. What a clever trick. But Joanna wasn't buying it.

She forced herself to sit up and looked him straight in the eye. "Drake, how did you know I'm allergic to peanuts?"

Darren was stunned for a moment, his eyes evasive. "Mom told me, of course. When it comes to food, one has to be extra careful with pregnant women."

Full of holes! Garcia hated Joanna so much. How could she possibly remember her preferences and allergies?

Joanna quietly withdrew her gaze and looked out the window, her face filled with sorrow.

"When I heard the news of your eldest brother's death, I wanted to leave this world too, to follow him. When I swallowed a large number of sleeping pills, where was he? When I slit my wrists in the bathtub and blood flowed all over the bathroom, where was he? When I stood atop an eighteen-story building, the freezing wind cutting through me, where was he then?"

Darren's pupils trembled and he guiltily looked away. "I actually…"

Just a few seconds away from speaking, Darren’s words caught in his throat as a young nurse rushed in, flustered.

"Mr. Grive! Something’s happened to your wife! She found out you weren’t there and is threatening to slit her wrists!"

Darren still left. When Joanna’s close friend arrived, she was furious.

"Joanna, how did you end up like this? You’re not quite human, not quite a ghost!"

"How could the Grive Family treat you like this? You're the widow of their eldest son, after all! Once you give birth, just leave. In the meantime, I’ll keep an eye out for some outstanding young men. Worst case, we find you someone new and you remarry!"

That night, when Joanna went out to fetch water, she overheard Darren and Zaylee talking in the room next door.

"Honey, the informant I planted said Joanna plans to leave after giving birth. She's even planning blind dates to remarry! A fickle woman like her really can't be trusted. She has no sense of virtue as a widow!" Zaylee said indignantly.

But unlike her righteous anger, Darren's expression was complicated and especially dim. He shook his head.

"Impossible! Joanna loves me so much. There's no way she'd be willing to leave me. Blind dates? Who else does she think she can marry besides me? Even if I die, she should remain a widow for me forever."

"Just in case!" Zaylee's eyes rolled craftily. "How about this… We knock her out and get someone to take compromising photos of her. If she ever thinks about remarrying, we can use those photos to threaten her. That way, she’ll never escape the Grive Family for the rest of her life."

Just one wall away, Joanna returned to her room, closed the door and slowly slid to the floor.

This time, Darren didn’t even pretend to care about any bond they once shared as husband and wife.

That very night, a nurse sneaked into her room and slipped something into her water cup. Joanna pretended to take a sip, then turned around and vomited everything out in the washroom.

In the dead of night, someone quietly slipped into the room, climbed into bed, wrapped an arm around her waist and began planting heated kisses on her.

Joanna’s eyes flew open. Without hesitation, she reached beneath her pillow, pulled out the fruit knife she had long prepared and stabbed without a word.

"Who…"

A muffled groan rang out as the drunken man staggered to his feet, bleeding from his abdomen and barely able to stand.

Joanna turned on the light, only to realize it wasn’t someone sent by Zaylee to take indecent photos.

It was Darren.

He had bribed the young nurse to drug her, crept into her bed to touch her, force a kiss on her and even attempt to violate her.

At this moment, his drunkenness outweighed the pain. Darren was still out of it.

“Joanna, don’t go on blind dates with anyone else, I’m begging you… You’re still carrying my child, how could you possibly marry someone else?”

Under the light, the man's eyes were filled with nothing but longing.