Lucy walked into the mall, her long, dark hair cascading down her shoulders, and her red lips vivid against her elegant white coat.

Sebastian and Christian glanced up, their faces flashing briefly with surprise and delight. Christian's excitement nearly made him shout her name, but Sebastian quickly covered his mouth.

All eyes turned to Lucy as she calmly approached Bianca.

"What a lovely locket," Lucy remarked with admiration, staring at the golden Celestis Heart locket in Bianca's hands.

The employees exchanged puzzled glances. After all, Sebastian had specifically reserved the entire mall and strictly forbidden entry to anyone who wasn't invited. And yet, Lucy not only showed up, but she even had the nerve to speak to Bianca with that smug attitude.

Everyone held their breath, unsure how to react.

"You're so lucky, Mrs. Lowe," Lucy said sweetly. "This locket is incredibly rare. I heard Mr. Lowe spent billions to get it for you. He must truly love you."

Her words sounded complimentary, but Bianca heard the thinly veiled sarcasm. She remained expressionless, refusing to engage.

Lucy turned gracefully, her voice now inquisitive. "I heard Mr. Lowe upset you. Is that why you're unhappy?"

Sebastian's face darkened, but before he could speak, Lucy cut him off. "Mrs. Lowe, please don't stay mad. I'm here to apologize for Mr. Lowe. Actually, the night before, he was with me..."

She paused deliberately, letting her words hang in the air.

Gasps of disbelief rippled through the crowd, eyes wide with shock.

"...and several colleagues, working on a new project," Lucy finished, causing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course, Sebastian wouldn't betray his beloved wife.

Lucy laughed lightly. "Mrs. Lowe, don't be so petty. Give Mr. Lowe a bit of space."

All eyes shifted expectantly toward Bianca, awaiting her reaction.

In the corner, Sebastian's expression turned grim as Lucy quietly stepped closer to him while everyone's attention was on Bianca.

"What do you think you're doing here?" Sebastian hissed fiercely.

Lucy leaned seductively toward him, her voice low and enticing. "I was just worried that things might not be going well between you and Mrs. Lowe, so..."

As she spoke, Lucy discreetly slipped her hand into Sebastian's jacket.

Feeling his response, she smirked softly, boldly guiding his hand beneath her own coat, whispering provocatively, "...I came to cheer you up."

Sebastian's eyes darkened with desire. "You're playing with fire," he growled quietly.

He gripped her firmly, quickly glancing around before touching her more boldly. Lucy blushed, struggling to hold back the soft sounds escaping her lips.

Finally, Sebastian pulled his hand away and acted as if nothing had happened.

On stage, Bianca had seen every move. Her nails dug deep into her palm, unaware of the blood trickling down her fingers.

"Mr. Lowe, put the locket on Mrs. Lowe! We'd love to see how beautiful it looks on her," an employee called cheerfully, breaking the tension. Others echoed their approval.

Seizing the moment, Sebastian stepped forward, gently lifting the locket and gazing lovingly at Bianca. "Let me put this on you, honey."

Just as he moved to fasten the necklace, Bianca suddenly stepped back, visibly repulsed.

Confused whispers filled the audience. Never had they seen Bianca openly reject Sebastian like this. What exactly did Sebastian do to make her this angry?

In the awkward silence, Lucy's clear voice rang out again. "Mrs. Lowe, you're so difficult to please."

Sebastian froze.

With a soft laugh, Lucy continued, "Mrs. Lowe, if you don't want this beautiful locket, maybe you could pass it on to me. My fiance and I are getting married soon, and it would make such a lovely gift. Would you be willing to?"

Sebastian shot Lucy a dangerous look, warning her silently.

But Lucy ignored him, putting on a pitiful act. "My fiance can't openly show his love for certain reasons, but he gives me everything. So, Mr. and Mrs. Lowe, could you please give me this locket?"

Lucy suddenly took Bianca's hand, pleading dramatically. Bianca stared at her coldly, wary of whatever game Lucy was playing.

Sebastian finally snapped, his voice tense with anger, "Ms. Hart, this locket is my wife's birthday gift. Know your place and leave, now."

Lucy suddenly fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Bianca, please! Let me have it!"

The crowd murmured, shocked and confused. Some condemned Lucy's audacity, others criticized Bianca's arrogance.

Meanwhile, Bianca clearly heard Christian's inner thoughts. "I feel so bad for Lucy. How could Mommy be so petty over a locket? Why did she have to make Lucy beg like that? I hate Mommy."

Bianca stared in disbelief at Christian. He hated her just because she wouldn't give Lucy the locket. Was this really the boy who once cherished her above everything?

Sebastian stepped protectively in front of Bianca and snapped, "Lucy, who do you think you are? How dare you ask for something that belongs to my wife? Get out of here now!"

Stunned by Sebastian's fierce reaction, Lucy trembled, her eyes welling with tears. "Sebastian..."

"Get out!" Sebastian roared, cutting her off harshly.

Lucy stared at Sebastian in disbelief. She scrambled to her feet, sobbing as she ran from the scene.

Sebastian watched silently as Lucy disappeared, then turned gently toward Bianca, placing the locket in her hand. His voice softened as he said, "Honey, this is yours. No one else has the right to take it away from you."

Bianca responded coldly, "Understood."

Cheers erupted around them, streamers filling the air as everyone celebrated the apparent reconciliation, wishing Bianca a happy birthday.

However, Sebastian stood quietly in the corner, distracted.

As the celebration ended and people dispersed, Sebastian's phone buzzed nonstop. He ignored it, but seemed restless.

Just before they reached their car, Sebastian hesitated, quickly glanced at his phone, and said apologetically, "Honey, something urgent came up at work. I have to go."

Hearing that, Bianca remained silent.

Interpreting her silence as agreement, Sebastian quickly turned and left without looking back.

Halfway home, Bianca suddenly realized she'd left something behind at the mall and told the driver to turn around.

Just as the car stopped again at the entrance, her phone buzzed with a new message.

It was an explicit video. The main characters were unmistakably Sebastian and Lucy.

Lucy sat provocatively on the edge of the sink in the restroom, her reflection clearly visible in the large mirror as Sebastian stood in front of her, tangled passionately.

"Go easy... I can't take it," Lucy moaned breathlessly.

"You had no problem teasing me earlier, but now you can't handle it?"

The phone slipped from Bianca's trembling fingers, hitting the floor sharply.

The restroom in the video was from this mall.

Lucy, dressed in black lace lingerie, had her legs wrapped around Sebastian's waist. Their faces flushed, bodies damp with sweat.

Breathless with desire, Lucy whispered seductively, "Sebastian, who's better? Bianca or me?"

After a brief pause, Sebastian's voice, heavy with lust, replied, "You, of course. Bianca's too boring in bed. You're much more fun."

Lucy laughed triumphantly.

Once they finished, Sebastian reached behind Lucy and fastened a necklace around her neck.

Seeing this, Bianca's eyes widened in shock. It was the Celestis Heart locket he'd just gifted her moments earlier.

"This is for you," Sebastian murmured tenderly. "Next time, don't ask in front of everyone. If you want something, just tell me privately."

Lucy smiled in delight. "But how will you explain this to her?"

"I'll just give her a fake one," Sebastian replied casually.

Outside the restroom, Bianca clenched her fists so tightly that her fingertips turned white. She leaned against the wall and slid down slowly, her chest tightening so painfully she could barely breathe.

She stumbled forward aimlessly, only to find Christian standing nervously nearby.

He visibly panicked at the sight of her. "Mommy? Why are you here?"

Bianca stared at Christian and asked coldly, "Why are YOU here? Didn't you say you were going home?"

Christian stammered nervously, "I... I was using the restroom."

His obvious lie made Bianca's already crumbling heart grow even colder.

Then, clearly and painfully, Christian's inner thoughts reached her. "Daddy told me to guard the restroom door and make sure Mommy doesn't see him with Lucy."

Bianca felt her breath catch, her fingernails digging sharply into her palm. The boy she'd lovingly raised was now lying to her.

She recalled how Christian had once sworn passionately, "I'll never lie or make Mommy sad like the main character in the storybook. I love Mommy the most, and I'll always protect her."

Remembering this, Bianca's eyes turned red. Holding back her tears, she looked at Christian and said, "Christian, tell me honestly. Are you hiding anything from me?"

He froze for a split second, doubt flickering through his eyes as he wondered if Bianca had figured it out.

But then, he stubbornly answered, "Of course not. I told you, I'd never lie to you."

A shudder went through Bianca's body, and she turned away abruptly, walking home, numb and shattered.

She sat motionless in the empty house for an entire day and night. Then, she stood and lit a large fire in the living room, burning every gift and piece of clothing she'd ever lovingly made for Sebastian and Christian, along with every family photo hanging on the walls.

Flames danced brightly, consuming smiling faces.

Bianca remembered her birthday five years ago. Sebastian and Christian had both rushed to give her their gifts, nearly getting into a fight over it. In the end, Christian lost and burst into tears.

Four years ago, when Christian finally won a gold medal in the Math Olympiad, he and Sebastian gave Bianca a big surprise. She was so overwhelmed with joy that she burst into tears.

Those joyful moments were vivid, but now, they were meaningless ashes.

The fire roared, and thick smoke billowed through the air.

Finally, Bianca pulled the heaviest thing from the safe—seven thousand handwritten love letters Sebastian had written when pursuing her.

Back then, he wrote her a love letter every single day for six years, never missing a day.

Without hesitation, she threw them into the flames. Thick smoke filled the entire house.

Suddenly, the front door burst open.

"Honey?"

"Mommy!"

Sebastian and Christian rushed in, shocked.

"What are you doing?" Sebastian shouted.

Bianca raised her eyes slowly, answering calmly, "Nothing. I'm just burning some unwanted things."

Sebastian gently nudged Christian, subtly signaling him to act.

So, Christian stepped forward and said sweetly, "Mommy, here's your locket."

Bianca stared coldly at the imitation in silence.

At the same time, Christian's anxious thought pierced her mind clearly. "Did she realize it's fake?"

Bianca laughed bitterly, closing her eyes.

So, Christian had known the truth all along. They'd both been lying to her. She was the fool—the only one who'd been deceived.

She opened her eyes again, tears making them red. Turning to face them both, her voice broke as she spoke quietly. "What do you think happens to people who betray someone who truly loves them?"

Both Sebastian and Christian stood frozen, unable to answer.

Christian finally murmured timidly, "Mommy, what's wrong?"

Bianca gave a hollow laugh, not answering. She turned away, returned to her room, and slammed the door shut, locking it behind her.

Sebastian and Christian exchanged confused, anxious glances, sensing the growing distance between them and Bianca.

…

The next day, Bianca visited the fake death agency to finalize her arrangements. She chose a car accident explosion, leaving no remains. Her fake death was scheduled for tomorrow—her birthday.

After signing everything and paying the balance, she stepped out of the agency, only to hear two familiar voices calling to her.

"Honey?"

"Mommy?"

Bianca turned and saw Sebastian and Christian, confusion clear on their faces.

"This is a fake death agency. Why are you here?" Christian rushed over and grabbed her hand nervously.

Sebastian frowned and was about to go in and find out for himself, but Bianca stepped in front of him, blocking his way. "I was just passing by. It's nothing," she said nonchalantly.

Sensing something off, Sebastian wanted to question her more, but Lucy's gentle voice interrupted him from behind.

"Sebastian," Lucy said with a warm smile as she walked over, holding a cup of coffee. Then, she handed it to Sebastian and stood close to him.

Sebastian looked anxious and was about to explain, but Bianca cut him off sharply. "I'm heading home. Enjoy yourselves."

After all, she was leaving tomorrow, and there was still so much to do.

Bianca brushed off Christian's hand without a backward glance.

Sebastian tried to follow, but Lucy tightened her grip on his arm.

Watching Bianca walk away, Sebastian called after her instinctively, "Bianca, your birthday party is tomorrow at 8:00 am. Remember to come."

Bianca didn't respond.

She quietly returned home, sitting alone in silence for hours.

At 6:00 pm, she cooked herself a lavish dinner. By 10:00 pm, she packed up all her jewelry, gold, and cash into a suitcase.

At midnight, she carefully did her makeup, dressed elegantly in a sleek black gown, and called the fake death agency.

Her calm voice echoed softly in the night. "I'm waiting at Riverside Villa. Proceed with the fake death procedure now."

In the darkness, a black car slipped quietly through the Lowe residence's gates. Without hesitation, Bianca took her suitcase and stepped into the car.

The next morning, the news exploded online.

"Breaking News! Sebastian Lowe's wife was killed at 2:00 am in a fiery crash on East Bridge. No remains could be recovered."