I was anonymously reported for fraudulent credit card use and arrested. The victim turned out to be my own husband.

I pulled out my phone to show them our marriage certificate to prove my innocence, but the police officer frowned as he looked at me.

"Ma'am, the Lucas Richardson on this certificate is not your husband. You're still unmarried."

I could not believe it and asked the officer to check again immediately. He looked at me with sympathy, but quickly spoke again, "Our records show that Lucas Richardson's spouse is Vivian Clarke and that they have a three-year-old child together. Ma'am, if you cannot prove your relationship with him, you will face criminal detention."

I felt like I had been struck by lightning.

Six years ago, Lucas had a secretary named Vivian who was obsessively in love with him.

On the day Lucas and I got married, she caused a scene and threatened suicide. In the end, he had to personally handle the situation for three days before coming home.

It turned out that his solution was to marry Vivian instead.

After using my husband's credit card, I was anonymously reported for fraud. I showed them our marriage certificate to prove my innocence, only to be told that my marital status was still single.

Looking at the marriage certificate in my hands, I felt dizzy under the harsh interrogation room lights.

I clearly remembered that on the day Vivian Clarke threatened suicide, Lucas Richardson absolutely refused to go and comfort her, insisting on going through with our wedding ceremony.

I still remember his ice-cold tone at the time. "If she dies, she dies. What is she to me? Does she think she's worth abandoning you for?"

No matter how many people came to persuade him, he would not budge. It was only when I said I did not want someone dying on our wedding day that he reluctantly agreed to go.

Lucas was gone for three days, and I actually believed he was dealing with the suicide attempt. Now, the glaring family photo of three on the computer screen showed me just how foolish I had been.

His protective embrace when we were in that car accident, his red-rimmed eyes when I miscarried...

Were all of those fake too?

…

Eventually, I was released on bail with help from family and friends. I left the station in a daze, accompanied by the sympathetic gazes of the police officers.

I refused to believe that the husband I had lived with for six years had married someone else, not unless he admitted it to me himself.

The car picking me up stopped at the Richardson family residence. Tonight was Lucas' grandfather's 70th birthday, and I was there as planned.

As soon as I entered the hall, a thumbtack flew past my cheek. Ignoring the burning pain I felt on my face, I looked toward the source of the sound.

A little boy I had never seen before was brandishing a toy gun at me triumphantly. "You bad lady! I'm going to get rid of you for my mommy!"

He aimed the gun at me again, but I was too eager to find Lucas and get to the truth to pay him any mind. After scanning the living room but not seeing anyone, I pushed ahead to search inside the mansion.

As I passed a second-floor bedroom, I heard Lucas' sister, Jennifer Richardson's, voice from inside.

"Lucas, do you really plan to keep Nanette as your mistress forever?"

I froze, unconsciously holding my breath as I pressed my ear to the door. The response from inside made my nails dig deep into my palms.

"In Nanette's eyes, I'll never be more important than her work."

Lucas' voice carried a sense of self-mockery. "But Vivian is different. She suffered from depression because of me, and she even tried to kill herself for me.”

"Jennifer, I can't let down a woman who’s carried my child for nine months. She's not cold and tough like Nanette. Without me, she'll have nothing."

The voice that once whispered sweet comforting words to me at night had now become a blade that pierced through me.

"Nanette was beaten so badly by your enemies that she miscarried while trying to protect you. How can you betray her like this? You actually went to be with Vivian during her delivery!"

So this was it. My miscarriage had simply given him more time to spend with Vivian. I forced back my tears and forced myself to keep listening.

Jennifer's voice rose sharply in angry accusation. "If she hadn't used that bloody photo of Nanette to trick Nanette's mother, Emilia Jensen, into thinking Nanette was dead, how could her mother possibly have..."

Before she could finish, Lucas interrupted her. His tone was impatient, dismissive of my mother's death.

"How many times do I have to say this? Vivian has never experienced a mother's love. She just thought that if Nanette was gone, Emilia would treat her like a daughter.

"I gave her the cold shoulder for two months because of it, which made her depression even worse. Isn't that enough? Do you want to drive Vivian to her death?"

I instantly lost all strength and collapsed where I stood.

I had always thought that my mother's death was due to my negligence. During that time, my research project was about to yield results, and I spent almost all my time in the laboratory.

I had lived in guilt for four whole years, while for those same four years, the man beside me had simply watched me suffer. He had even secretly had a child with the killer who caused my mother's death.

I wandered out of the Richardson family residence like a walking corpse.

After my mother's death, Lucas stayed with me day and night in the funeral hall, gradually helping me emerge from the grief of losing her. When I said I did not want children, he did not even blink before getting a vasectomy.

Despite all this, it seemed that our six years of marriage had been nothing but an elaborate charade that left me completely fooled!

What exactly did he take me for?

The successive mental blows made my vision blur, and I could barely see the road ahead. Sharp braking sounds pierced the air, and I suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar license plate.

I struggled to see clearly, but ultimately could not fight off the drowsiness and lost consciousness.

...

When I opened my eyes again, Lucas’ haggard face filled my vision. Seeing that I was awake, his eyes lit up with relief and joy.

He held me tightly in his arms, murmuring in a muffled voice, "I almost lost you."

My shoulder felt damp. This man who was always strategizing in the business world was actually crying, which moved my heart.

Perhaps everything I had heard before was just a nightmare?

That was why I did not refuse when he fed me soup. However, soon, a phone call completely shattered the final vestiges of my fantasy.

An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen as Lucas answered the phone.

"Mr. Richardson, Ms. Clarke woke up and didn't see you. She was crying and wanted to come find you, but now she's gone missing! Our people have already searched the entire facility, but we still haven't found her."

Lucas shot up from his seat, his face turning ashen. "There's something happening at the company. I need to go handle it."

He only gave me a perfunctory excuse, grabbed his coat from the hospital bed, and then rushed off to leave. At the same time, the coat knocked over the scalding hot soup, spilling it all over my hands.

The burning pain made me cry out involuntarily, but though his departing footsteps paused, he ultimately disappeared through the doorway.

The tender moments we had just shared seemed like nothing more than a foolish delusion. The physical pain could not compare to the pain in my heart, and I wearily closed my eyes.

"You've got blisters. Where's your family?" The nurse who came to change my dressing quickly helped me clean my hospital gown, and then applied medication.

I thanked them gratefully, then called my secretary, Anna Hanson.

"Help me prepare the paperwork for a legal name change. I want to completely change my identity."

The person on the other end was silent for a few seconds, then responded hesitantly, "Ms. Newman, changing your legal identity is a complex process that's very difficult to reverse. Are you sure about this?"

I laughed bitterly. "Of course I'm sure."

I was not just changing my name. I was going to completely reinvent myself so he could never find me.

Shortly after hanging up, Anna sent me a message. "The process will take about a week."

I did not reply. After changing into my own clothes, I went downstairs to discharge myself.

...

Just a few steps after settling the bill, I saw Lucas in the hospital garden. I was about to go over and ask him to take me home when I saw him suddenly open his arms.

Only then did I notice a girl in the distance, fluttering toward Lucas like a light butterfly and diving into his embrace. The smile on his face radiated a happiness I had never seen when he was with me.

Even though the force of their collision sent them both tumbling into the grass, he was not angry. Instead, he cupped Vivian's chin and began kissing her in the secluded corner.

"Lucas, I love you. Don't abandon me."

"I won't," Lucas said tenderly as he helped her up. "I'll always love you."

Vivian broke into a smile through her tears and threw her arms around him, her gaze seemingly sweeping over where I was hiding. "Then can you promise to love only me?"

His tightened embrace was her answer. "I promise I'll love only you."

My heart clenched painfully, and I trembled as I stepped back.

It was fine, I consoled myself. After this week was over, I would no longer have to see such disgusting scenes.

As soon as I got home, I started packing my luggage. The wedding ring, jewelry and clothes Lucas had given me were all listed on secondhand platforms for sale.

On Saturday, I attended the city's charity gala. As the host read the opening remarks, I spotted Lucas, who had not come home the night before. He was now holding Vivian close, and the expensive watch on his wrist had been replaced with a bracelet she had made him.

I had once lovingly knitted a watch band for Lucas, only to have him reject it for being "childish" and "too girly". However, he was now proudly showing off that crooked woven piece to others, his face radiating pride.

Vivian was nestled contentedly in his arms, carrying herself like the lady of the house.

Someone nearby remarked, "Mrs. Richardson's haute couture dress is stunning. I couldn't get an appointment even a month in advance. He must have traveled to several countries to get that for her."

My friend glanced at me strangely. "Netty, isn't that your husband?"

At charity galas, companions were typically assumed to be family members or spouses. Everyone naturally took Vivian and Lucas for a married couple.

I took a deep breath and forced a liberated smile. "We've been divorced for a long time."

"What!" The person who had just spoken turned around in shock. The commotion attracted several people's attention.

"Nanette?"

Seeing me, Lucas' face flashed with panic. However, before he could say anything, Vivian interjected, "Nanette, it's been so long. What are you planning to donate for tonight's charity auction?"

She pulled out an exquisite jewelry box from her purse and slowly opened it. "I'm planning to donate this piece of jewelry that Ms. Jensen gave me. After all, she always loved charity work when she was alive.

"Now that she's gone, she'd surely want her belongings to continue making a difference in the world, right?"

Her tone was matter-of-fact, as if she were my mother's biological daughter.

Seeing the familiar ring in Vivian's hands, something that had been tightly wound in my mind finally snapped. That ring was part of my mother's dowry for me.

She had hoped that I would keep this ring safe after her death and nurture a happy marriage. It seemed I had failed at both.

"How do you have my mother's belongings?" I reached out to grab it, but a strong hand stopped me.

I looked up, and upon seeing Lucas' face clearly, my eyes immediately reddened. "Did you give it to her? You were the only one who helped me sort through her things! Say something!"

Lucas loosened his grip slightly. "Nanette, stop making a scene. I'll explain everything when we get home."

He reached out, seemingly wanting to wipe away my tears. At precisely that moment, Vivian timidly peeked out from behind Lucas, speaking as if she had my mother's best interests at heart.

"Nanette, surely you don't want to go against her will?"

Just as I was about to explode, Vivian's friends rushed over. Seeing my raised hand, they immediately shielded Vivian.

"Mr. Richardson adores Vivian the most. No matter how much you throw yourself at him, it's useless! If you dare hit her today, believe me, Mr. Richardson will make sure you can't survive in this city!"

Seeing their stance, I understood everything perfectly.

I laughed coldly and shook my head. "Thanks for the warning. Those two disgusting cheaters aren't worth dirtying my hands over."

Hearing my sarcastic words, Lucas' expression changed. He pulled me away from the scene, looking at me urgently.

"Nanette, you've misunderstood..."

Before he could finish, his phone suddenly rang. Seeing "Vivian" displayed on the screen, he hung up repeatedly, but she kept calling back. Finally, he gave me an apologetic look and answered the call.

"Lucas, save me!"

Vivian's terrified crying came through the phone. "Someone took me away! They're taking off my clothes!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Lucas' expression changed dramatically. His previously guilty expression vanished completely as he gripped my hand so tightly it felt like he would crush my bones.

"You actually tried to get someone to assault Vivian?"