Edward Gravemont was caught in a mudslide.Liora dug through the rubble with her bare hands for three days and three nights,sobbing uncontrollably.

When she finally found his body,battered,broken and full of wounds,she slit her wrists,determined to die beside him,to be buried in eternal sleep together.

It was the child growing inside her that gave her the will to live.

Wiping her tears,Liora got up,ready to share the news.However,just as she approached the study,she overheard a conversation between Edward’s older brother and his assistant.

"Mr.Gravemont,your brother is the one who died in the mudslide.Are you really planning to keep using his identity and let your wife live in a lie forever?"

Liora’s hand froze mid-knock.

Her face,already pale,went completely still.

Then came the familiar low voice from behind the door.

"Callista is fragile and now pregnant.I can’t leave her alone right now."

"As for Liora,I’ll stay with her for now as her brother-in-law."

Callista Ravenshade was the wife of Edward’s older brother,Edmund Gravemont.

The assistant hesitated a hint of guilt in his voice."But to win your wife,you staged a kidnapping just to play the hero."

"And to keep her tied to you,you got her pregnant and brought her back into the family."

"She lost her child once.If you abandon her now,she might break down again...she could try something dangerous."

"You said it yourself,that was in the beginning."

The man’s tone turned lazy,even cold.Not a trace of emotion.

"It’s been five years.Liora is no longer young."

"But Callista is different.She’s vibrant,clever,soft but cunning.The moment I laid eyes on her,all the inspiration I’d lost as a painter came flooding back.I knew she was the muse I’d been searching for."

"But don’t worry.My faked death is only temporary.Once this international art competition ends,I’ll bring Edward Gravemont back to life."

"By then,Liora will just be glad I’m still alive.She’ll never know Edward and Edmund were both me.She won’t know about Callista and me...not ever."

A searing blow hit her heart.

Liora hunched over,clutching her chest as her breath grew ragged.Tears streamed silently down her cheeks.

It felt like thousands of blades were slicing through her chest,so painful it robbed her even of the strength to breathe.

In a daze,her mind drifted back five years.

Back then,he was a world-renowned painter and she was the youngest prima ballerina in a century.

He pursued her for three full years.He never missed a single performance,always sitting front and center in the first row.

Extravagant gifts,endless love letters,bouquets beyond counting...all offered to her with the sincerity of a devout believer.

However,what moved Liora Wrenford the most was the day she was kidnapped.

Edward shielded her in his arms without hesitation,taking a blade for her and,later,giving her almost all the blood in his own body to save her life.

It was at that moment that Liora had completely given her heart to this man.

Five years into their marriage,he had done everything he promised,showering her with love and spoiling her beyond reason.

But now,the truth was echoing in her ears like a cruel joke.

The kidnapping.The sudden pregnancy.All of it had been orchestrated by Edward himself.

All those heartfelt declarations that she was his muse,his love at first sight,the woman he would cherish forever,he could say the exact same things to someone else.

He even planned to"bring Edward Gravemont back to life"later,to keep both women in his life like trophies,expecting her to keep orbiting around him like nothing had happened.

Why?

Liora collapsed to the floor,helpless,her tears spilling out uncontrollably.

The heart she had once offered him so completely was now crushed into dust.The pain was so intense that she nearly blacked out.

Suddenly,footsteps echoed down the hall.

Panicked,Liora stumbled to her feet and darted into the nearest room.

But before she could make sense of what had just happened,she realized where she was.That room was Edward’s private studio.

What she saw made her freeze in place.

Dozens upon dozens of explicit photographs were plastered across the walls.Edward and Callista were together in bed,in every possible pose.There were 520 photos in total.

The largest one hung in the center.Edward was kissing Callista’s pregnant belly.

Scrawled beside it,in bold handwriting,were the words,[Mother and baby are healthy.]

So,the child in Callista’s womb…it was Edward's.

Ha.Haha.

Liora tried to laugh,but her emotions were all gone.

Her eyes stared blankly and her breathing turned sharp and shallow.Every scream trapped inside her chest scraped her lungs like broken glass,but no sound came out.

After what felt like forever,she turned on her phone and booked an abortion appointment.

Then,with a hoarse voice,she made another call.

"Mrs.Gravemont,canceling personal accounts with death certificate takes about two weeks.Are you sure you want to proceed with this for your deceased husband?"

"Yes."

‘Edward Gravemont…you once told me that if you ever betrayed me,you would rather die.’

‘So now,I’m giving you what you asked for.’

In two weeks,the legal accounts of Liora’s husband,Edward Gravemont,would be officially erased.

And there would be no tie,no name,no bond left between them.

Two hours later.

Liora came downstairs.

Edward leaned in slightly,pulled out a chair for her with a gentle smile and handed her a cup of coffee with three sugars,just the way she liked it.

"Liora,Edward is gone now,but I know my brother would want you to keep living well."

"As his only brother,I’ll make sure to take good care of you."

He played the part so perfectly.

There was a time when Edward remembered every one of her quirks and little habits and Liora truly believed she was the happiest woman alive.

But now,it all felt like a bitter joke.

She did not say a word.Instead,her eyes drifted to the wall in the living room.

The spot where her wedding photo with Edward once hung had been replaced with pictures of him and Callista.

Callista curled affectionately in Edward’s arms and noticed her gaze.Her body tensed and her eyes turned red with guilt.

"Liora,Sister,I was just afraid you’d feel too sad looking at the wedding photo.That’s why I thought I should take it down.I…"

"Don’t call me that.I don’t have a sister."

Liora’s voice cut through the air coldly.

The smile on Edward’s face immediately faltered.

"Liora,Callista only changed the photo for your sake.I know you’re not in a good place after my brother’s accident,but you can’t take it out on her."

His voice,once low and calm,grew icy and edged with threat.

That tone was a clear sign of Edward's fury.

Liora had never heard him speak to her like that before.

She pressed her fingernails deep into her palms,trying to keep the surge of pain in her chest from overtaking her.

Her eyes swept across the room,landing on the new decorations,the unfamiliar tea set and even the vase of lilies she was severely allergic to.She spoke,her lips curling into a bitter smile.

"All of this…All of this was also changed for me?"

Every corner of this house had been chosen by her and Edward over the course of five years.

As soon as Callista arrived,Edward replaced nearly everything in the house with things she preferred.

It was beyond absurd.

When she heard Liora’s words,a flicker of jealousy and bitterness flashed across Callista’s eyes.

But a second later,pitiful tears welled up in them.

"Liora,if it bothers you,I’ll put everything back the way it was…Ouch!"

She stood on tiptoe,reaching up to remove the wedding portrait of her and Edward.But before she could manage it,she let out a sharp cry of pain.

"Callista,are you all right?"

In the blink of an eye,Edward rushed over,panic in his expression as he clutched Callista’s hand with trembling concern.

Liora looked at Callista’s perfectly fine hand,then at Edward’s frantic face and once again felt the sting of betrayal like a knife twisting deep in her chest.

Well,it would not matter.In just two more weeks,she would no longer be tied to this man in any way.

Thinking of that,she turned and instructed the housekeeper to burn the wedding portrait along with everything else.

Out in the courtyard,the paintings Edward once made for her,the keepsakes he gifted and the custom dresses he designed were fed to the flames,one after another,until nothing but ashes remained.

"Wrenford,no matter how hard you try,Edward isn’t coming back."

"Even if he loved you once,so what?He still made another choice."

At some point,Callista appeared again.

But now,there was no more fragility in her voice.Her expression was smug,radiant with triumph.

Liora cast her a cold glance.

"So,you’re saying Edward who is now pretending to be Edmund chose you?"

Callista’s face twitched.She had not expected Liora to know.

So,why was Liora still so calm?

That composed face made Callista’s smile twist with irritation.

"Listen,Wrenford,it doesn’t matter if it’s Edward or Edmund,they both love me.If you know what’s good for you,leave this place right now."

"Otherwise…ah!"

She had not even finished her threat when she spotted a figure approaching from a distance.

Immediately,she put on a show of distress,let out a dramatic cry and stumbled directly into the fire pit.

Liora flinched in shock.

Before she could react,a powerful force slammed into her from behind.

She barely managed to regain her balance before a strong hand clamped tightly around her neck.

"Liora!How dare you hurt Callista?Have I spoiled you too much?"

Edward’s eyes were sharp and cold,colder than frost in midwinter.

Liora’s face turned red as she struggled to breathe.Her wounded hands clutched his wrists and her scabbed skin split open again,blood trickling out.

At last,Edward released her.

Thud!

Liora crumpled to the ground like discarded trash,her body slamming against a jagged stone.

Pain radiated through her limbs and she curled up instinctively,her forehead quickly damp with sweat.

"Don’t let there be a next time."

With that,Edward scooped up Callista and walked away without a glance back.

Liora stared after him,teeth sinking into her lower lip,refusing to let out a single sound of pain.

But no matter how strong she tried to be,the tears still fell,tracing silently down her cheeks.

She shut her eyes tight,trying to tear the image of that man,the one who used to trim his nails before touching her hands or feet,afraid even a scratch might hurt her completely out of her heart.

She kept telling herself.

Liora,this is the last time you’ll cry for Edward.

What she did not expect was for Edward…to return so soon.

With a dark expression,he dragged Liora to the hospital,forcing her down and pressing her head against the rail of Callista’s hospital bed.

"Liora,what else did you do to Callista?You scared her so badly she nearly had a miscarriage.Apologize to her now!"

Her forehead slammed hard against the bed rail again and again and her pale face twisted in pain.

Still,she gritted her teeth and refused to bow her head.

"I didn’t do anything.Callista jumped into the fire of her own free will.What does that have to do with me?"

Edward’s anger flared even more.Always the composed one,he lost control and tightened his grip violently.The veins on the back of his hands bulged.Then,without hesitation,his polished leather shoe struck Liora hard in the knee.

"You’re still making excuses?Why would my brother ever marry someone so cruel?"

Cruel?

The word made Liora let out a bitter laugh.

She slowly straightened up on trembling legs,locking eyes with the man in front of her.Her black pupils were calm and piercing,unaffected by the blood trailing from her forehead and clouding her vision.

"If you want to talk about cruelty,then you should be saying that to Edward."

She had married him,carried his child,given up her career and all of it.And in return,he faked his death,betrayed her and slept with his so-called sister-in-law,pretending to be his own brother.

And now he had the nerve to call her cruel?

"What are you talking about?"

Edward froze,his lips pressing into a thin,tight line.

Right then,Liora appeared calmer than he had ever seen her.

Not just calm but cold and detached.Her eyes held nothing but clarity…and deep,bitter hatred.

The sorrow was gone.

It was only now that he noticed that Liora,the woman who was once so well cared for,was now bruised and battered,her entire body a mess of injuries.

A wave of panic hit him and he immediately let go,reaching out instinctively to call for a doctor.

But just then,Callista was awake in her hospital bed and suddenly screamed and cowered beneath the covers,shaking violently.

"Liora,I know I was wrong.I shouldn’t have touched your things.I shouldn’t have stayed in your home.I’ll pack my things and leave right away,just please let me go."

Instantly,Edward’s expression changed.

He shoved Liora back with all his strength,fury flaring in his eyes like a storm about to break.

"Liora!You hurt Callista just to drive her out?"

"As your brother-in-law,I have a duty to teach you what family means for my brother’s sake!"

After that,he barked an order for the housekeeper to bring the family paddle.

Liora resisted stubbornly,catching the descending blow with her bare hands.

Instantly,her already wounded palms split open further,blood trailing down her arms and dripping steadily onto the floor.

She gritted her teeth,enduring the searing pain,but then let out a wild,mocking laugh.

"Brother-in-law,huh?Are you really Edmund?"

The moment she said it,she clearly saw Edward hesitate.

But only for a beat.His expression quickly darkened again.

The next blow that landed on her was even more brutal.

Before long,Liora’s vision blurred into blackness and she passed out.

When she came to,she was jolted awake by a splash of cold water.

Edward stood over her,chest heaving,eyes bloodshot.He gripped her arm tightly and yanked her from the bed.

"Liora,where did you send Callista?"

That was when Liora learned Callista had gone missing from the hospital.

And Edward,without question,believed she was behind it.

She had no intention of getting involved,but in the end,she was forced,escorted by his bodyguards,to help search for Callista.

Under a relentless drizzle that only grew heavier,Liora was made to comb the area for five full hours.Her legs had long gone numb.

By the time she reached home,she nearly collapsed at the door.

However,the door did not open.The fingerprint scanner rejected her and her calls went unanswered.

Just as she was about to hang up,the call finally connected.

Breathless moans,the rustling of fabric and low gasps filled the line.

Then came Callista’s soft,seductive voice.

"Ed,it’s pouring out there…isn’t it a bit much to leave Liora locked outside?"

Edward’s voice was flat and cold.

"It’s the perfect time to teach her a lesson.Let her learn who is in control."

In control?

Funny.The deed to this house was in her name.Liora Wrenford.

She scoffed,wiped the rain from her face and called a locksmith.

As soon as they arrived,she stepped aside to let them in,completely unfazed by the fact that Callista and Edward were half-dressed and in disarray inside.