“Mrs. Arnell, are you sure you want to divorce your husband now and give up all marital property?”

The lawyer paused, pen hovering above the agreement. “You just helped him secure a contract worth billions. And you’re pregnant with his child.”

The lawyer advised me to think carefully.

I only smiled and shook my head.

I just wanted the fastest way to take revenge on a life that had been completely destroyed.

No one knew that I once had a life plan book, a notebook filled with goals I had written for myself and followed step by step.

At eighteen, I fell during an international skiing competition and suffered a concussion. I clenched my teeth, switched to ice hockey and three months later earned a place at Harvard.

At twenty-two, I accepted Dustin Arnell’s pursuit and planned to marry him three years later.

At twenty-four, I founded my own company, became a rising star in the industry and Dustin even knelt beneath the northern lights to propose to me.

At twenty-five, I gave up my career to help Dustin save his nearly bankrupt company after he “lost his memory” in a car accident on our wedding day.

That accident was a lie.

At twenty-seven, I lost my only son, Noah Arnell and was tricked into signing a body donation agreement.

That, too, was a lie.

Three days ago, I finally learned the truth when I overheard a private conversation between Dustin and his first love, Giselle Norris.

“Dustin, you suffered for three years pretending to have amnesia. It was all my fault. I wanted ice cream that day, which caused the accident. And our son, Jonah… for him, you even created an accident so Noah could die and donate his heart. I made you lose your child with Faye. I’m sorry.”

“You are the meaning of my life, Giselle. My child can only be yours. As for Faye, I’ll arrange IVF for her, give her another child and send her to the old house to take care of my parents. That will be kind enough.”

So, the love I protected for years was nothing more than a cage. And my child had become a living organ bank.

When pain reaches its limit, even crying feels useless.

With trembling fingers, I wiped away the last tear at the corner of my eye.

“One week later, I will join the Frost Group. I’ll give you everything you want. Everything, including my heart.”

A soft laugh came from the other end of the phone.

“I can’t wait to hear Dustin call you Aunt Faye.”

***

On my way from the law firm to my son’s grave, an anonymous email arrived.

[Sorry, Perfect Queen. I’ve already booked the main role for your wedding anniversary.]

I opened it.

A video played. Dustin, Giselle and a little boy stood close together on a luxury yacht.

I thought my heart was already numb, but the sharp pain in my chest proved I was wrong.

“Faye, I’m sorry. I have an urgent meeting in Philadelphia. I need to go on a business trip. I’ll make it up to you when I’m back. Also, don’t forget to finish this quarter’s financial report tonight.”

I sneered. His so-called business trip… was it actually a champagne night on a yacht?

As I stepped into the cemetery, light rain began to fall, as if even heaven was mourning.

I hugged my son’s cold gravestone and remembered his small, pale face lying in a pool of blood.

That day was the first time Dustin suggested sending Noah to a full-day kindergarten.

Three hours after Noah arrived, the principal called me. They said he cried nonstop, ran out of the school by himself and was hit by a drunk driver.

When the doctors announced he couldn’t be saved, Dustin arrived late.

He said Noah would be willing to give his life to help others. Then, he signed the consent form and allowed the doctors to take the heart that was still weakly beating inside my son’s body.

In the video, a five-year-old boy laughed freely while riding a jet ski.

“Dustin, good thing we gave up the heart transplant and treated Jonah’s heart rhythm problem with medication. Otherwise, his childhood would’ve lost so much joy.”

Her words pierced my brain like steel needles.

For a common heart rhythm problem, they had taken my son’s heart.

To them, my child’s life was nothing more than a rejected medical option.

The next morning, I woke up surrounded by the heavy smell of Chanel No. 5, Giselle’s favorite perfume.

Dustin stood beside the bed, holding a bouquet of blue baby’s breath.

“Happy wedding anniversary, Faye.”

I glanced at the wilted flowers and said nothing. At the same time, my phone lit up with Giselle’s latest Instagram post.

[My world is small. It only holds what deserves to belong.]

The photo showed Juliet roses worth seven hundred thousand dollars and blue baby’s breath that was thrown carelessly onto the ground.

So, I only deserved what Giselle Norris didn’t want?

I looked up at Dustin. He wore the expression that always softened my heart, his slightly drooping eyes and shy smile.

From today on, I told myself, the only feeling I have left for you is hatred and revenge.

I then went to the company, the place that carried all my efforts of the past five years.

But the moment I stepped inside my office, I saw Giselle standing there. She was holding the only photo of me and Noah. She smiled sweetly, but her eyes were full of provocation.

The next second, she loosened her fingers on purpose. The frame shattered on the cold marble floor.

I raised my hand to slap her, but before my palm could touch her face, Dustin grabbed my wrist.

“Faye, Giselle didn’t do it on purpose.”

Giselle immediately lowered her head, wiping away tears that never fell. Her eyes turned red as she looked at Dustin. But her sharp high heels slowly ground over the thin photo on the floor again and again, tearing a hole through it.

I screamed and rushed forward, but Dustin pushed me back.

I fell hard into the broken glass and blood poured from my palms.

Trembling, I picked up the torn photo. The blood on my hands looked like two red tears streaking down Noah’s young face.

A trace of hesitation flashed in Dustin’s eyes when he met my gaze.

But the next second, Giselle clutched her chest.

“Dustin… my chest feels tight.”

He glanced at me. In the end, he still turned away and carried her into his arms.

I pressed Noah’s photo to my chest and whispered softly, “Sweetheart, Mom will take revenge for you.”

“Just seven more days. I will make everyone who hurt you pay the most painful price.”

After simply bandaging my wounds, I carefully placed my son’s photo into the drawer with trembling hands. I forced myself to calm down. There were still many things I needed to do.

I watched as all the business contacts and cooperation resources I had spent years building were packed into a single compressed file and saved in my private cloud space. I really wanted to see what Dustin’s face would look like when he had to deal with everything on his own.

Five years ago, after the car accident, Dustin said he had lost his memory and forgotten everything.

But he still remembered my birthday.

I once believed that meant he loved me deeply.

Later, I found out my birthday was the same as Giselle’s.

After that, every birthday gift I received was either a free item that came with the luxury goods he bought for her or something she no longer wanted.

At the time, I was still deeply moved by these small gestures. I poured all my heart and effort into helping Dustin rebuild his company.

Once a month, without fail, he would leave for what he called “recovery treatment for accident aftereffects.”

I never questioned it. Not until the day I saw a folder on his computer titled [Love of My Life, Soul Salvation.]

Inside were sweet photos of the two of them, taken in sixty-six different places around the world.

Only then did I understand how foolish I had been.

But now, all of that was over.

After returning home, I packed my luggage and booked a seven-day luxury cruise for myself.

What I didn’t expect was to meet Dustin and Giselle on that same cruise.

When Dustin saw me, a brief look of discomfort flashed across his face.

“Faye, I brought Giselle to meet some clients, so she can help you with work later.”

I raised my wine glass and took a small sip, saying nothing. I didn’t expose the lie.

The matching brooches on their chests were proof enough. Only guests who had spent money on this cruise line eighteen times within three years could receive that VIP symbol.

More importantly, the person who needed to work hard from now on was no longer me.

“Mom, the captain said the cheese ham we had last time isn’t available today. We agreed to come back next week.”

A clear, cheerful child’s voice reached my ears.

For a moment, I felt dazed. My Noah used to call me “Mom” too, but his voice was never this bright.

He always asked carefully, almost timidly, “Mom… Dad didn’t take me to the amusement park again this time. Does he hate me?”

Back then, I always made excuses for Dustin. I lied to myself, telling myself he was just busy.

Now I finally understood. He had also placed his hatred for me onto my innocent child.

Noah, dear, I owe you too much.

I turned to leave, but a pair of small hands suddenly wrapped around my legs. I looked down and saw a little boy who looked somewhat like Giselle.

Was this… Dustin and Giselle’s child?

Giselle quickly pulled the boy behind her. “Jonah, Mommy is here. Do you want to invite her to have dinner with us?”

I looked into the boy’s innocent eyes and nodded. Perhaps because he shared Dustin’s blood, I couldn’t help searching for Noah’s shadow in him.

But I soon realized I was wrong.

Once we sat down at the restaurant, Jonah loudly demanded a chocolate fountain. The waiter gently explained that the sea was rough and hot chocolate could be dangerous.

Jonah waved his small hand and tried to scratch the waiter’s face.

“Who do you think you are? You’re just a servant. My parents are rich. I can have whatever I want.”

That moment woke me completely. My Noah would never behave like this.

Just as I was about to stand up and leave, the boy suddenly screamed and rushed toward me. At the same time, the ship rocked violently with the waves. I lost my balance and hit my head against the railing.

Jonah crashed into my arms and pushed forward. From the angle of others watching, it looked as if I was about to push him into the sea.

Giselle rushed over like a madwoman and shoved me hard.

“I know you can’t swim. Now you can reunite in hell with your beloved son.”

As I fell, I saw Dustin reaching out. His fingertips barely missed my hand.

The next second, I lost consciousness in the cold seawater.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in an unfamiliar hospital room.

“Water…”

My throat burned with dryness and my voice came out weak and broken. I didn’t expect anyone to answer me in the dim light.

“Faye, you’re awake?”

It was Dustin. His voice was full of joy and excitement.

I frowned and quietly pulled my hand out of his grip. Before I learned about his affair with Giselle, before I knew what he had done to my Noah, I would have melted into that familiar warmth.

Now, every touch from him only made my stomach turn.

“Faye, you’re pregnant. Why didn’t you tell me? This is my fault. I’ve been too busy lately. I didn’t take good care of you.”

He gently touched my lower belly and looked at me with tender eyes.

But cold sweat instantly broke out across my body. I tried to sit up, to get away from him, but I had just woken up and had no strength at all.

“Giselle wants to apologize. You know Jonah is still just a child…”

I waved my hand to stop him. “I’m tired. I want to rest.”

I quietly turned my back to him. Three minutes later, I heard him talking to Giselle on the phone.

“Dustin, I really didn’t mean it. I was just scared when I saw Jonah fall. What mother wouldn’t protect her child? If Faye is angry, I’m willing to kneel and apologize, as long as she doesn’t blame Jonah.”

Her words tightened something in my chest.

Yes. What mother wouldn’t protect her child?

And I failed.

The image of Noah lying on the cremation table forced its way into my mind. His bright eyes would never open again. His once rosy cheeks had turned pale from massive blood loss.

And the hollow place in his chest after his heart was taken out…

Everything reminded me how unworthy I was to be a mother.

My hand slowly moved to my lower belly. There was a new life here now. This time, no matter what, I had to protect this child.

“I’ve already talked to Faye. She’ll forgive you. I won’t let anyone hurt you or Jonah. You’re the most important people in my world.”

“Then… will Faye still be willing to give stem cells from the baby in her belly to help Jonah’s immunity? You won’t stop caring about Jonah just because she’s pregnant, right?”

Her words slithered into my ears like poison. She still wanted to hurt the child inside me.

And Dustin’s answer made my heart sink into ice.

“No. You and Jonah will always come first. As for the stem cells, I’ll make Faye agree.”

I covered my mouth and tried hard not to cry. Dustin, who was deeply immersed in his sweet talk with Giselle, did not notice me at all. He hurried toward the underground parking lot where they had agreed to meet.

Half an hour later, Giselle appeared in front of my hospital bed.

“Faye, how should I thank you? You really are the lifesaver of me and my son.”

“If your unlucky son had not died, how could my Jonah become the only future heir of the Arnell Group?”

“You killed my child.” I looked at her with burning hatred in my eyes.

She didn’t care. She gently touched her chest.

“You really are impressive. You took a company on the edge of bankruptcy and brought it to the stock market. But unfortunately, you’re a failed wife. And an even worse mother.”

Every word pierced straight into the deepest wound in my heart. She knew exactly where to stab.

Before I realized what I was doing, I grabbed her by the neck and slammed her down onto the bed. Her face turned red from lack of air, yet there was still mockery in her eyes.

She lifted a thin finger and pressed hard against her chest.

“Here. This is your son’s heart. If I die, the last trace of him in this world disappears too.”

“Go on. Use more strength.”

I instantly pulled my hands back.

As I watched her walk out laughing wildly, I tremblingly sent a message to Javier Frost.

[The plan has changed. Help me investigate something.]