The celebration for my son's one-month-old banquet had just ended when my husband, Jacob Curtis, received a phone call from his childhood sweetheart, Natalia Sterling.

Her soft voice drifted through the receiver. "Jacob, I think I've had a bit too much to drink. Could you come pick me up?"

Hearing Natalia's voice, I grew tense and unconsciously clenched the hem of my clothes.

Jacob, who had been holding our baby, froze. Then, he hurriedly tossed the child back into my arms and eagerly agreed without hesitation. "I'll be right there. Wait for me."

After hanging up, a flicker of excitement and anticipation flashed in my husband's eyes. Yet he forced himself to sound calm as he said, "Natalia's drunk. It's unsafe for a girl to go home alone this late. I'll pick her up. You take our son home first."

My eyes reddened and I quickly tugged at his sleeve, unwilling to let him leave. "Don't go, Jacob. You promised me we'd live happily as a family of three."

Jacob impatiently shook off my hand, his tone growing irritable. "Stop acting like you're dying. I'm just taking her back to her place."

His force was too strong that it sent me tumbling to the floor. In a panic, I frantically shielded my son in my arms to protect him from the fall. As a result, my head struck the sharp corner of a table and blood began to gush.

My son seemed terrified by the sudden event and began to cry loudly.

Jacob watched the scene unfold, his expression darkening further as he snapped, "Don't try to pull this stunt. Take the kid home."

The next second, he walked out the door without looking back, not sparing another glance at me or our son.

The sight of his hurriedly departing figure pierced straight through my heart. At that moment, I finally understood that I had never truly made it into his heart.

When I was little, my mother worked as a maid in the Curtis Family, so I often went there to see her. That was the first time I met Jacob. He was the first person to smile at me and say he wanted to be my friend.

Later, we attended the same school.

During PE class, when boys deliberately threw balls at me, he shielded me and tossed the ball back. Sometimes, he'd bring snacks I'd never seen from home every other day, watching me eat with a smile before teasing me as a little glutton. He would also ride me home on his bicycle after school.

Those were the happiest days of my life and I fantasized about staying like this forever.

Well, good times don't last. His childhood sweetheart, Natalia, returned from abroad with her parents and transferred to our school. From then on, Jacob became her guardian angel. Wherever Natalia went, he followed.

Every day, I'd hide in a corner, silently watching him dote on Natalia while reminiscing about how kind he'd been to me. I told myself he was just being kind, that's why he treated me so well. As long as he was happy, I felt content.

Later, Natalia chased after a talented young man in another city and abandoned Jacob. Ever since she left, he drowned himself in alcohol night after night and I was the one who stayed by his side.

Until one night, his bloodshot eyes looked into mine and he asked in a hoarse voice, "Josephine, will you marry me?"

In that moment, I was both thrilled and stunned, but mostly, I couldn't believe it. After finally calming myself, I asked cautiously. "Jacob, have you had too much to drink?"

Jacob's large hand gripped my shoulder tightly as he spoke, one word at a time. "I'm perfectly sober."

Excited, I covered my mouth and nodded vigorously. "Yes, I'll marry you."

Back then, I truly believed Jacob must have at least some feelings for me to marry me.

After treating the wound on my forehead, I walked down the street with a deathly pale face, holding my son as night fell. While we passed by an alleyway, a disheveled homeless man suddenly dragged me and my son into the deserted lane.

The next moment, piercing screams and the cries of a child echoed from the alley—soon followed by an eerie silence.

I felt as though I was lost in a dense fog until a faint glimmer of light ahead helped me see my surroundings clearly.

Then, I saw Jacob had just walked through the door, but he didn't notice me. He just passed straight through my body. How could this be?

Startled, I looked up. The wall clock showed it was nine in the morning. So, it was already the next day.

I remembered now. Last night, that vagrant dragged my son and me into the alley, reaching for the necklace around my neck.

But this necklace was the very one Jacob gave me when he proposed. For three years of marriage, I had worn it every single day. I clung to it desperately, refusing to let go. After that, the vagrant stabbed me dozens of times before the final blow killed me.

My little boy instantly slipped from my arms and fell lifeless to the ground. Meanwhile, I lay in a pool of deep, glaring crimson, watching helplessly as the homeless man took the necklace, unable to utter a single word.

It turned out I was already dead and so was my son. Did Jacob know we were both dead?

I found myself automatically following Jacob. The moment he entered the door, he rushed toward the bedroom, calling out. "Josephine."

However, the empty room gave no response.

Jacob's expression gradually turned anxious, tinged with a barely perceptible panic. He dashed through several rooms, but couldn't find me or our son. It made his confusion and uneasiness grow more pronounced.

Just then, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Natalia. [Jacob, you spent last night taking me home. I hope Josephine wasn't upset with you because of that.]

Seeing Natalia's message, Jacob instantly forgot about me and our son. He sat down on the sofa and started chatting with her.

[No problem. She loves me to death and would never dare to upset me.]

[Josephine is so good to you. Jacob, do you really like her?]

Jacob visibly froze before quickly replying.

[She's been with me all these years. It's like keeping a pet—after so long, you develop feelings.]

[What about me?]

[You're different. You're the one I truly care about.]

I still floated in the air as I read every message Jacob sent. My heartless chest now felt no pain; only numbness remained. I should have known long ago that I couldn't compare to Natalia.

When she wasn't around, I was just Jacob's faithful pet, there to entertain him and keep him company. All he needed to do was give me a little attention and affection and I would convince myself that I was special to him.

During our first year of marriage, Jacob left early and returned late every single day. When I asked why, he always said the company was too busy and he had meetings.

Once, worried he might forget to eat amidst his work, I specially prepared his favorite dish and went to the company to find him. Just as I reached his office door, I heard a woman's soft moans and a man's passionate voice calling out, "Natalia."

I froze in place, my heart pounding with dread. When did Natalia return?

Their voices only grew louder. I bit my lip, shut my eyes and pushed the door open.

Jacob was shoving a disheveled woman down onto the desk. When he saw me standing in the doorway, he hurriedly straightened up, his face flushed with unease. "Josephine, I ..."

I looked at the woman. Her side profile was nearly identical to Natalia's.

Jacob tried to explain that he'd merely been momentarily blinded by her face, insisting I was the only one in his heart. Still, all I could think about was the scene of him with her just moments ago. In my panic, I rushed out of the office, only to be hit by a car.

As my eyes closed, I heard Jacob's heart-wrenching cries behind me. "Josephine."

Fortunately, I woke up quickly.

The driver wasn't going very fast, so I was just startled and had some scrapes on my limbs. But the moment I opened my eyes and saw Jacob, tears spilled uncontrollably down my cheeks.

Seeing me awake, Jacob looked tense. "Josephine, how are you? Anywhere hurting?" he asked.

I shook my head, but the tears wouldn't stop.

Jacob wiped my tears with a pained expression, his eyes filled with guilt and unease. He took my hand and pressed it tightly against his cheek. "Josephine, I was wrong. I promise to be completely devoted to you from now on. Please don't ever do something this foolish again, okay?"

I finally stopped crying and spoke through sobs. "Really?"

Jacob nodded, raised his palm and swore with utmost sincerity. "I promise to treat Josephine Nelson wholeheartedly from now on. If I break this vow, may I never see Josephine again."

From that day on, Jacob seemed like a different person, tending to me with the greatest care in the hospital every day.

I thought he had finally realized his true feelings and that he loved me, too. But when the truth was revealed, I realized how foolish I had been. It was all just wishful thinking on my part.

Jacob had never changed. In his heart, there had always been only one person: Natalia.

By the time I came to my senses, Jacob was already getting ready to leave.

He answered a call from a friend in the car and the person on the other end stammered for a long time.

Jacob grew impatient and raised his voice. "What is it?"

"Jacob, are you okay?"

Confused, he snapped back, "What's wrong? Of course, I'm fine."

The voice on the other end seemed stunned, pausing for several seconds before speaking. "We heard the news that Josephine and your son are gone. Jacob, we're so sorry for your loss!"

Jacob slammed on the brakes, a sudden wave of panic washing over him. His tone turned sharp. "What nonsense are you spouting? Josephine and my son weren't home. She must be upset because I went to pick up Natalia yesterday."

"When she gets back, I'll just cheer her up. Don't mess with me! If Josephine finds out, I'll make you pay."

Before the other person could respond, Jacob hung up.

The veins on the back of his hand bulged as he gripped the phone. With a heavy sigh, as if steeled in resolve, he dialed my number. Unfortunately, a mechanical female voice announced the phone was turned off.

He refused to accept it. However, I never turned my phone off, let alone ignored his calls. I must have been furious at that time.

Jacob thought that if he just bought me gifts like before and sweet-talked me, I'd calm down. I had always been obedient and compliant with him, no matter what.

He dialled the number repeatedly, but it remained switched off.

My son and I had disappeared, but where could we have gone?

Suddenly, his phone rang. His expression brightened as he hurriedly lifted it, but the smile on his face froze when he saw Natalia's name on the screen before he finally pressed the answer button.

"Jacob, there's thunder. I'm scared of being home alone. Can you come keep me company?"

Strangely, Jacob didn't feel his usual excitement after hearing Natalia's voice. Perhaps it was because he still hadn't found me and our son. Yet for the first time, he felt a hint of irritation toward Natalia, thinking she was being overly delicate.

After he married me, he had once asked me if I was afraid of thunder. At that time, I had looked at him with amusement and said, "What's there to be scared of? I'm not some fragile woman."

Suddenly, Jacob found himself missing me. It felt like ages since he'd seen my smile, heard me call him Jacob, or experienced my unique way of caring for him.