The higher-ups had made it clear Benedict must be treated first, and his status as the sole heir to the Evander family fortune made him a priority. But Benedict, ever the man of integrity, sacrificed his golden opportunity for treatment, insisting on saving a child he didn’t even know.

At that moment, Odette directed her colleagues to tend to the child. At the same time, she took on the daunting task of performing surgery on Benedict herself. That operation, on the brink of life and death, was the thread that wove their fates together.

From that day forward, Benedict never let go of Odette. But just yesterday, on a day when women across the city envied her life, she found herself rear-ended on her way home. The woman who hit her flashed a bright smile and casually suggested that she check the dashcam footage.

As soon as Odette pressed play, the voice that filled the car was unmistakably Benedict’s.

“Baby, you’re so hot.”

“How do you manage to be so irresistible? Hmm? Tell me, where did you get that doctor’s coat?”

His voice, rough and full of desire, sent a wave of heat through her. But instead of warmth, Odette felt as if she’d been thrust into a freezing, endless void.

Benedict pulled her into his arms, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, “Odette, I missed you.”

Her body stiffened in his embrace, and her eyes involuntarily shifted to the back seat, where something wedged awkwardly between the seats caught her eye, a discarded condom still open.

Benedict’s eyes flickered to the discarded condom. Without a hint of emotion, he reached down, picked it up, and turned to the driver, his voice cold and steady.

“Didn’t I make it clear? When lending the car, you’re supposed to tell people not to mess around in it. Odette and I, ” he paused, his gaze briefly lingering on her, “we’re both clean freaks.”

The driver’s face drained of color, a nervous sweat breaking out on his forehead. He stammered, “Y-yes, Mr. Evander.”

Odette couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. “‘Odette and I are both clean freaks.’”

He knew full well about her cleanliness obsession, yet he had indulged in some cheap thrill with another woman in this very car.

Was this what he called deep love?

Odette’s eyes burned into Benedict, wondering when his so-called devotion had begun to feel like nothing more than a carefully crafted lie.

But Odette couldn’t quite place it.

Despite Benedict always being close by, something felt off.

Outside, the rain began to fall once more, tapping softly against the windows. Benedict leaned in, his lips pressing against hers with fiery passion.

Yet, she remained unmoved.

Every time Benedict came near, the memory of the voice on the dashcam resurfaced, sharp, grating, and revolting.

Unable to stop herself, Odette let out a dry heave, her body recoiling.

Benedict frowned, his displeasure evident, but his concern for her well-being surfaced quickly. He reached out with a teasing touch, his fingers brushing her stomach as he joked, “Could it be that there’s already a little prince or princess growing in here?”

Odette’s mind turned cold as she thought to herself: No matter how many times Benedict joked about it, there would never be a prince or princess.

Because of Benedict, Odette had already lost her womb, a painful reminder of the cost of loving him.

The moment Benedict chose to betray her, he became nothing but filth in her eyes.

When she had agreed to date him, Odette had made one thing clear: she would never stay with a man tainted by another.

Benedict had promised, time and again that having her was enough, that he didn’t want children or anything else. His words had been so convincing, so full of love.

But now, she couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal.

Just yesterday, while performing surgeries, she had still been wrapped in the warmth of a love she thought was unbreakable.

At twelve, Odette had lost her parents, two noble doctors with Doctors Without Borders, who had died in a far-off land.

Having lost them so young, Odette had poured all her heart and soul into her medical career, believing it would be enough to fill the void.

She had once thought she would never fall in love with any man, that marriage would be a distant dream, not meant for her.

Instead, Odette had planned to travel to every corner of the world where she was needed, pouring herself into her work as a compassionate and skilled doctor.

But that surgery on Benedict had changed everything.

After the earlier tension, silence settled between them.

In that heavy stillness, Odette couldn't help but remember the surgery that had forever altered the course of her life.

Before entering the operating room, Odette looked at Benedict and said, “Your condition is critical. If we can't save your eyes, you'll be permanently blind. You can wait for a more experienced doctor if you'd prefer...”

Benedict cut her off, his voice unwavering. “You perform the surgery. Whatever the outcome, I'll accept it.”

Without hesitation, Odette skipped the formalities and started the operation immediately.

A moment of crisis came during the surgery, but Odette met it with calm precision.

As Odette stumbled out of the operating room, her body barely holding up from exhaustion, Benedict’s mother slapped her across the face, the sound echoing through the room.

“How dare you, with your status, perform surgery on my son without permission?” she demanded, her voice seething with fury.

Odette didn’t explain, not a single word. With calm determination, she pushed her aside. She walked straight back into the chaos of saving lives, where every second mattered.

The surgery was a success.

When Benedict woke up and discovered his mother had slapped Odette, guilt weighed heavily on him.

For Odette, Benedict had been her very first surgery patient, and she had taken that responsibility to heart. Whenever she found a moment, she stayed by his side, checking for any discomfort and tending to him with care and precision.

Before the bandages were removed, Benedict had imagined Odette’s appearance countless times, picturing her through nothing but the sound of her voice.

But none of those fleeting images could compare to the instant his sight was restored.

The moment he opened his eyes, he was struck by a love so immediate, so deep, it felt as though he had been waiting a lifetime for it.

Benedict promised Odette the best of everything, swearing to give her his perfect, unwavering love.

During yesterday’s global economic interview, Benedict didn’t hesitate for a moment to publicly declare his love for Odette.

“My wife is a brilliant doctor who saves lives. She pulled me from the darkness and gave me back my sight,” he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

“She is my eyes. Without her, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

The host, with exaggerated enthusiasm, remarked, “Wow, Mr. Evander really is a hopeless romantic, truly a role model for men everywhere!”

The cheerful host winked at Benedict, and he returned the gesture with a loving smile.

But as Odette watched the interview, her heart felt like it was being torn in two.

So it was that obvious, wasn’t it?

Benedict’s phone buzzed, and a message from a woman named Millicent Ravensdale appeared on the screen, saved in his contacts as “Secretary Ravensdale.”

Odette glanced at it casually, never having paid much attention to his secretary’s surname until now. Only then did she realize that he had just one secretary and that secretary was a man who didn’t share that surname.

The message oozed with a flirtatious tone, Millicent lamenting the damage to her car after an accident.

Benedict responded with calm reassurance, even promising her a riverside villa in the newly opened development.

Such generosity.

A villa worth tens of millions is offered as if it were a simple gift.

The same villa complex that Benedict had named Odette Haven, a gesture to win her heart. Everyone knew it had been purchased as a symbol of his affection for her.

And yet, Benedict so casually handed it over to another woman as if it were nothing more than a trinket.

They say a man’s money follows his heart.

Odette felt her heart plummet.

It was easy for her to pull up Millicent’s WhatsApp profile and click through to her Instagram feed.

Sure enough, Millicent’s latest post read: [Had a little fender-bender yesterday. No biggie, just a scare. I’m such a clutz. Can’t even drive without making my big brother worry about me.]

Attached to the caption was a collage of nine pictures, each more meticulously staged than the last.

At the center was one image with the words: [The love from someone who truly loves you is always worth flaunting.]

The location tag beneath it read: No. 1, Odette Haven Riverside Villas, North City Road.

Millicent, sensing that Odette might miss her post, intentionally tagged her.

Odette responded with a soft, indifferent smile, liking Millicent’s post without a second thought.

The day before, they’d exchanged WhatsApp contacts during the negotiation for the fender-bender compensation, but Odette had used her work account.

Benedict didn’t have her work account saved.

When they arrived at the French restaurant, Millicent sent Odette a message. [Do you believe I can make him come running to me with just one phone call?]

Odette casually remarked, “This car is surprisingly sturdy. I got into a small collision yesterday after work.”

Benedict’s gaze snapped up, concerned about flooding his eyes. “Are you okay? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“It’s nothing. Just a scratch on the car,” Odette reassured him, shaking her head lightly.

"Who dared lay a hand on you? If anything had happened, I wouldn’t let them get away with it!" Benedict said coldly, his voice sharp.

Watching the man who still seemed to care for her as much as ever, Odette felt a cold shiver crawl down her spine.

How could he deceive her so effortlessly, all while tangled up with another woman?

While she spent her time in operating rooms, saving lives, was Benedict out there, indulging in pleasures and distractions elsewhere?

"It's nothing. Can we just go home? The crabapple flowers..."

But before she could finish, Benedict’s phone buzzed. His expression darkened as he took the call. "Alright, I’ll be there right away.”

"Odette, one of the shareholders, pulled out. I need to go back to the company immediately. If you're not hungry anymore, I'll have the driver take you home first, okay?"

His coaxing was filled with anxiety, and Odette gave a weak nod.

After he left, Odette opened the location-tracking app on her phone.

The map showed that Benedict hadn’t gone to the company at all.

He had gone to one of the hotels he often frequented.

“Madam, would you still like to dine at the French restaurant?” the driver asked.

“Yes,” Odette replied, her voice steady as she stepped out of the car and entered the restaurant.

The waiter presented the dishes Benedict had ordered in advance, but the first bite left a bitter taste in her mouth.

She placed her spoon down, the meal suddenly unappetizing, and picked up the phone.

“Hello, may I ask if VIP Suite 888 is occupied tonight?” she asked the hotel’s front desk.

“Of course! That’s Mr. Evander’s exclusive suite. He even sometimes brings his wife here,” the receptionist responded, her tone laced with excitement.

“What does his wife look like?” Odette asked, her voice deceptively calm.

Each question she asked felt like a knife twisting deeper into her heart.

It felt like a slow, relentless death, each word a sharp cut, each moment an agonizing reminder of her helplessness.

Odette had spent her life-saving others, performing surgeries with the precision of a seasoned surgeon. But now, for the first time, she felt like a helpless fish, laid bare and vulnerable, at the mercy of Benedict’s quiet, cutting gaze.

“She must be incredibly beautiful. I’ve heard she’s a doctor, and everyone knows she’s his favorite. But we've never had the pleasure of seeing her face up close,” the receptionist sighed, almost wistfully.

Odette’s mind involuntarily drifted to Millicent, radiant, youthful, and undeniably stunning.

She had always known the whispers. The envy and admiration from others who saw her as the woman who had won Benedict’s heart.

But the darker whispers followed, too, cruel words behind her back, branding her as an old hag, a woman who had used their child as a means to trap Benedict in her web.

It wasn’t just the hotel, the roses, or the jewelry; it was everything. All of it belonged to Millicent.

Odette could barely stomach the words the receptionist spoke. The mention of “big brother” and how Benedict had showered Millicent with gifts was the final straw.

“I often hear Mr. Evander’s wife calling him ‘big brother.’ Honestly, it’s quite a skill; imagine being six years older and still managing to call him that,” the receptionist mused.

“Mr. Evander never forgets her, always red roses, sparkling jewelry, and other gifts. It’s truly enviable...”

Odette’s heart twisted with the weight of the words. She couldn’t listen anymore. With one sharp motion, she hung up.

She had never set foot in that hotel. Not once.

And everything she had believed, every gesture of love she had been part of, now felt like a cruel mirage. The hotel, the flowers, the jewels, they were all Millicent’s.

The receptionist, still confused, muttered to a nearby colleague, “Some random person called, asking about Mr. Evander’s visits. Then, I just hung up. What a jealous type.”