Jackson's excellent upbringing was a model in their social circle.

Born from a rich family, he had been strict with himself since childhood and had never caused any trouble to his family. Unlike most young men his age who constantly played the field and changed girlfriends as if they were changing clothes or whose nightly routine included going to nightclubs, Jackson had never participated in these kinds of activities. He was self-disciplined and self-motivated and had only one girlfriend.

He was gentle, elegant, and responsible. Except for his cold personality, he was perfect.

Even if he was angry, he would only say a word of reproof or express his disapproval calmly, but he would never swear or shout.

Such indifference was the most hurtful. Anna felt like she was about to cry but held it in and tried to explain patiently. "I told you that it was a coincidence, I…."

… didn't mean to hurt you.

She pursed her lips tightly and didn't go on. She had already explained herself before, but he did not believe her. She didn't want to waste her time anymore.

She was a good girl from a good family. Her parents had carefully cultivated and educated her. She knew the importance of reputation and would not do anything to ruin hers so easily.

Did she drug him? She would never do that kind of thing to debase herself. It was an insult to her!

After more than half a year of marriage, Anna knew what he thought of her in his mind and had never cared.

But today, for some reason, all her suppressed emotions seemed to want to burst out. She almost couldn't hold them back.

She felt that if she stayed with Jackson any longer, she would rush to him and scratch his face. She picked up her coat and left without wearing her shoes.

When the door opened again, Sam and Gary saw her come out barefoot. It was obvious to the two that the conversation did not end well.

"I'll take you home, Anna." Sam offered, thinking she was pitiful.

She rejected him coldly and called for a driver instead.

The cold wind hit her face when she stepped out of the club. Her feet were warm when she had the foot bath earlier, but now she felt cold. She couldn't help shivering against the chilly air.

Looking at her bare feet, Anna remembered the time she saw Jackson at a banquet. She was so happy she couldn't even control herself.

She had chased his car, hoping he would get to know her and, maybe would… what? Like her?

The high-heeled shoes were uncomfortable. She slipped them off and ran barefoot in the rain as she chased after his car like some crazy woman. She was really stupid.

Anna stared down at her feet. They were delicate and beautiful. She had applied nail polish carefully.

In fact, once was already enough. She shouldn't have allowed the same people to hurt her again and again for the same reasons.

She put on her shoes and wrapped herself in her coat while waiting for the car.

Even if she had wrapped herself carefully, she still had a headache when she got home. The headache was severe and made her so sick to her stomach. She felt weak after throwing up a couple of times. She was feeling unwell and couldn't even stand up.

……

Anna woke up in the hospital the next day. Her throat was swollen and painful, which made breathing difficult.

A woman was sitting on the sofa, wearing jeans, a sweater, and a cap. Although her attire was simple and ordinary, they couldn't hide her beauty. She was worthy of being the national goddess and film queen. She was Gina Bill.

Seeing that Anna was already awake, Gina came over to her bed and asked her thoughtfully, "Do you want to drink some water?"

Anna glanced at her and took the glass she offered before asking faintly, "Why are you here?"

"Your brother called Jackson and said you fainted, but I answered the phone. Oh, and I didn't tell Jackson you were ill. He also didn't know that I had come here. We're rivals in love... Are you angry that I did this?"

"You did the right thing," Anna answered. Even after drinking all the water Gina gave her, and she was still thirsty. "Can you pour me another glass, please?"

"Okay," Gina agreed happily. She poured another water on her and then sat beside her. "Today, I came here to thank you for helping me in the club last time."

Anna stared at her. "Thank me?"

The mistress came to thank the wife.

What a funny joke!

Gina was full of self-confidence, even coming here to show her presence in front of her. If Anna didn't teach her a lesson, her rival would think she was a pushover. "Then how are you going to thank me?"

"I will tell you a secret between Jackson and me."

Anna stared at her exquisite and impeccable face and asked, "Is it something related to the bedroom?"

Gina's eyes narrowed slightly. "You knew about it. That thing wouldn't have happened last Wednesday if you didn't." She smiled meaningfully at Anna.

Anna didn't say anything. Her throat burned, and it was not only because she was sick. She didn't know what to say to Gina. Should she ask her some questions? What should she ask? What posture does my husband like to use when he's in your bed? Do you hug him as I do?

She leaned back against the headboard. Her eyes were hooded as she drank her water slowly.

Gina was watching her reaction closely. Anna didn't know what she was looking for in her expression.

But she was calm. She had always been confident about her appearance. Even if she was pale and sitting on a hospital bed, she didn't feel like she had lost out to Gina.

"Since you already know the first secret, I will tell you another one to make you happy," Gina said suddenly.

Anna glanced at Gina's beautiful face. Her expression was sincere, but Anna did not believe even for a minute that her motives were pure. She sighed and said, "Don't tell me you're going to take care of me here."

Gina's smiling face turned unhappy. "How do you know about everything?"

Anna put the empty glass down. She was smiling, but it did not reach her eyes. "Miss Gina, I know a lot more than you think. For example, whenever Jackson was in my bed every Wednesday night… What were you… busy about?"

Gina's expression changed. The corners of her lips pulled down; her eyes turned cold. However, in the blink of an eye, she smiled again as if nothing had happened. "I really don't want to take care of you here. You don't want to see me because I'm Jackson's beloved. But thanks are still necessary."

Anna frowned. Who cared about her gratitude?

Ignoring Gina, Anna got out of bed and went to the bathroom. When she came out, she found Gina playing with her mobile phone on the sofa.

Wasn't she going to leave?

Cathy Hill, Anna's friend, arrived later carrying breakfast for her. Her eyes widened when she saw Gina on the sofa. She immediately walked over to Anna and asked in a low voice, "What's going on? Why is she here?"

Anna shook her head. Who knew what Gina was trying to do? She didn't want to care about the reasons behind her actions.

She was hungry and hadn't had breakfast yet. She was glad for the food that Cathy had brought for her. Her throat hurt so much that even soup was difficult to swallow.

Anna was about to finish the last of her soup when the door opened again. She looked over and saw a well-dressed Jackson standing in the doorway. She paused slightly.

Maybe it was because he saw her wearing hospital clothes that there was panic in his eyes.

"Jackson, you're here…" Gina called out beside her.

Anna almost spat out the soup in her mouth. Gina's overly-sweet voice disgusted her so much!

"Are you okay, Anna? Be careful." Gina kindly handed a tissue to her and then walked up to Jackson. "Anna looked so pitiful. It hurts to see her that way. Would you mind taking care of her for me? You're helping me return her kindness when she helped me in the club."

Cathy couldn't take the sight before her any longer and was about to stand up, but Anna held her back and motioned her not to be impulsive.

"I'll take you home first," Jackson said.

Gina nodded, then turned back to Anna. "I got to go, Anna," She said and then winked at her as if to say, "Are you happy that I'm letting him take care of you?"

Cathay's temper exploded the minute the door closed behind the two. "I can't believe how vicious that woman is!"

Anna was silent, still feeling lost at the intimate way Gina had called Jackson's name.

Jackson came and went and barely even spared her a glance. It felt like he had inserted a knife straight into her heart.

"He doesn't care about me. You know that." Anna said, bowing her head as she continued to eat her soup.

"But he… he…." Cathy felt sorry for her. "I didn't expect her to be so shrewd!"

"It's a well-known fact that Jackson has given her a lot of resources so she could become the film queen at the age of 28, but it is also a fact that she earned all her achievements through her effort and hard work. She, a merely adopted daughter of the Bill family, could get to her position today because she did not let go of even a single opportunity to climb up. She will not be as innocent in such a cruel cycle as she shows the outside world."

"Then are you just going to let her bully you like this?" Cathy was furious.

Anna smiled. "Do I look like I'm her doormat?"

Cathy was amused. "Yes, you can hold yourself up even if the sky falls on you. You're resilient– That part of you is admirable. But what I can't understand is why you still love Jackson. How can you stand the way he treats you again and again?"

Anna sighed. "Probably because… I owe him?"

Cathy was still angry. "He will regret losing you."

Anna didn't reply. So what if he regretted it? They were still not meant to be.

When Jackson returned, Anna was alone in her hospital room and had an IV drip attached to her hand. The room was a little warm, so she did not cover herself with a blanket. She was half-lying on the bed with her legs crossed, her feet shaking rhythmically while reading a book. Her current image was far from the elegant lady she usually presented in front of him and the public.

This was the first time Jackson saw her in a far different light. Their interaction had been limited to their fixed Wednesday schedule and visits to his grandparents, where they had to maintain a loving appearance. He realized that he didn't know much about her at all.

Who would've thought she looked so lazy when she was relaxed?

Jackson's eyes stayed on her feet, still shaking idly in that unknown rhythm.

Anna heard the door open when someone entered. Thinking it was Cathy, she said, "The pear must be cut into rabbit shapes, or I won't eat it."

When there was no response, she raised her eyes only to meet Jackson's deep gaze. Anna stiffened in surprise and immediately dived under the blanket. She didn't expect him to come back and listen to Gina's words!

They did not become part on the best of terms yesterday, but today, he still had the nerve to be so lovey-dovey with Gina right in front of her and barely pay her any attention! She turned on her side so that her back was turned on him and then went back to reading while pretending he didn't exist.

Jackson sat on the sofa. Gary arrived a few minutes later with a fruit basket in his right hand and the documents Jackson needed on his left.

Gary noticed the weird atmosphere in the room the moment he stepped inside. He put the things in his hands and only said a few words of polite concern to Anna before leaving immediately. He even pulled Cathy away when he met her in the hallways, leaving the couple alone.

Anna was impatient for Cathy's return. She wanted to eat pears but didn't want to peel her own. Her throat felt dry and itchy, but no more water was left in the glass. The discomfort became too much to bear. She sat up and said, "I want some water."

Jackson was immersed in his work and ignored her.

She rolled her eyes. If he wanted to focus on his work, he should've gone straight to his company. His presence there was unneeded.

Anna had no idea what to do. She wanted to ring the bell to call for a nurse, but that would increase their workload unnecessarily when all she wanted was a glass of water. She gave up when no help was forthcoming and returned to reading again.

Only a few minutes passed when she suddenly started coughing uncontrollably. She felt her eyes water with tears, and dry, racking coughs that were so painful.

Jackson finally got up and poured water for her. He sat beside Anna and gently patted her back until the coughing ceased.

Her eyes were still red and watery when they looked at him.

Jackson was dazed for a second but caught himself immediately and said in a bad tone, "What are you looking at? Drink!"

Anna was confused. What was up with Jackson's temper? If he didn't want to stay, then he could leave! No one would stop him.

The water moistened her throat, easing the dryness slightly. She felt a little better and went back to ignoring him again. She heard him leave.

She didn't care where he went. She thought about what to do with the IV drip once it ran out. With Jackson gone, she didn't have anyone else she could ask for help.

A while later, Jackson returned with a small plate of cute rabbit-shaped pear slices, which he handed her. "Eat. I don't want others to think that I'm abusing you."

Anna was about to reach for one but paused when she remembered something. She looked at Jackson again. "I didn't wash my hands."

Jackson muttered, "So troublesome!" but still went to get a wet towel she could use to wipe her hands. She leaned against the pillow and bowed her head to eat. The pears were already cut into smaller bite-sized pieces, but Anna still didn't eat them in one bite but gnawed on them slowly like a little squirrel.

She looked cute. Jackson's mood improved as he watched her eat quietly. "Is that enough?"

"It's not enough. I want another one." The pear was moist, calm, and sweet. It made her throat more comfortable.

Jackson glanced at her. She still looked ill. Her pale and bloodless face had toned down her vibrant beauty, which made her seem delicate and a little pitiful.

He sat on the chair beside her bed, took the fruit knife, and started peeling another pear.

Anna watched him, and his head bowed on the task. His side profile was cold but still good-looking. Even his jawline was perfect, as if God carefully carved it.

This man's appearance was very attractive to women. Even she had been captivated by it.

Half a year of marriage was the first time they could get along so peacefully. And it was only because of Gina's charity. It was really pathetic.