Married life turned out to be unexpectedly uneventful. There were no power struggles like those found in soap operas about wealthy families, and Jack's father had long since retired to Clarida.

Strangely, this place gave me the freedom I never had in the Montgomery household.

I kept my habit of studying. As such, the study was filled with journals and papers that the Northbridge Institute of Technology continued to send. Even though I had taken a leave of absence, my advisor continued to email me about my research progress. I had never given up on my academic dreams.

In the first few months, Jack was like a ghost. He left early, came back late, and more often than not, didn't come back at all.

We lived under the same roof, yet we were like strangers sharing an apartment. That all changed on a stormy night. He came home drunk, helped through the door by the driver. His suit was wrinkled, and sweat glistened on his brow.

"My leg… hurts…" he muttered.

I helped him to bed, watching as his face contorted from the pain. That night, I sat by his bedside, pressing a warm towel to his leg until dawn.

When he woke the next morning and noticed me sleeping by the bed, a conflicted look crossed his face.

From then on, he started coming home right after work. He'd even let me know when he had business dinners, texting, "Home before ten."

I began obsessively studying sports medicine. I learned from Grandspire's best physical therapists, bought a pile of books on medicine, and even audited courses at Paverly School of Medicine.

"You're going to help with my rehab?" When I first brought it up, he nearly spilled his whiskey. "Claire, your field of expertise is in food science."

"I can learn everything I need to know." I pulled out the materials I'd prepared. "Professor Keller in Helvetia developed an innovative method. I've already contacted him."

"Why would you do this?" Jack stared at me.

"Because I'm your wife."

That answer left him silent for a long time.

Every night at 9:00 pm, without fail, I would help him with his rehab. At first, his whole body was stiff, and I had to explain the theory of every movement repeatedly.

"Relax." I bore down on his calf. "Take a deep breath."

"You're pretty strong," Jack uttered through his gritted teeth.

Gradually, he stopped resisting. He started changing into workout clothes on his own, even buying specialized equipment.

Three months in, he could already walk without crutches. By six months, he could jog.

The doctor exclaimed during a check-up, "This is nothing short of a miracle!"

"Thank you, Claire." That night, he thanked me for the first time.

Life with him began to feel warm. He'd bring me warm milk when I stayed up late reading papers, and I'd make him homemade lunch boxes.

Though we didn't talk much, a sense of mutual understanding began to form between us.

Change came the day I went to the Harrison Group building to deliver some documents. In the elevator, a woman in black-rimmed glasses kept staring at me. "Are you a Northbridge Institute of Technology student?"

"I used to be."

"Perfect!" She pulled out a business card. "I'm a casting director for Streamora. We're looking for someone to play a genius from the Northbridge Institute of Technology. Are you interested?"

I was going to turn her down, but she enthusiastically said, "The script's fantastic. It's about young prodigies changing the world."

On impulse, I took her card.

When Jack found out, he merely shrugged. "Go ahead. Just don't use the Harrison name."

Thus, I became Claire Montgomery, a rookie actress. The show "Mindspire Alliance" became an unexpected hit. Even as a supporting character, I gained fans. They started calling me "The Brilliant Belle".

My agent, Maria Ponce, began booking me for intellectual roles such as a scientist in a space agency, a successful entrepreneur, and a professor from a top college.

At night, I'd read fan comments to Jack while he reviewed financial reports. Occasionally, one of the remarks would make him smile faintly.

"Listen to this," I said with a smile. "Claire is the perfect blend of beauty and brains. Where do I find a girlfriend like that?"

Without even looking up, he said, "Tell them you're married and to stay away. "

That night, as I read out the comments while helping him massage his leg, my fingers accidentally slid to the inside of his thigh. He instantly tensed up.

"I'm so sorry!" I quickly removed my hand.

The next second, the world spun, and I was pinned beneath him.

His kiss was gentle yet desperate. Gone was the roughness of our wedding night. We truly became one that night.

The moment he was inside, a moan of satisfaction escaped our lips.

The days that followed were nice. He would bring me my favorite raspberry macarons, visit me on set, and hold my hand on strolls through Elms Park.

"Can't you cut back on acting?" Jack once complained. "You've only been home for ten days this month."

"You're one to talk. You had to fly to three different countries last week!" I shot back.

We were like any regular couple that would fight and make up. I thought things would stay that way. That was until the third spring of our marriage, when Sophia came back.

The Montgomery couple threw a lavish banquet for her. In a custom designer gown, she shrieked and threw herself in Jack's arms the moment she saw him.

"Jack! Oh my gosh!" She clung to him, tears streaming down her face. "It's been three years! Do you know how much I missed you?"

Jack stood frozen, his hands suspended in midair. Guests whispered all around us, and a few of them pulled out their phones.

It took her a full 30 seconds to notice me. "Oh, Claire! I guess you're married to Jack now."

Jack's expression darkened. Grabbing my hand, he said, "Let's go inside."

That night was pure torture. My parents went on and on about Sophia's "achievements", and not a single person spoke to me.

Sophia sat next to Jack, constantly brushing against his arm. From that day on, she began haunting our lives like a vengeful spirit.

When she wanted to enter the entertainment industry, she signed with Harrison Media the next day. When she strutted in and out of the Harrison Group building, the receptionist would respectfully tell her she could go wait in the CEO's office.

As for when I went to deliver documents, the receptionist would refuse me entry without an appointment.

In an interview, Sophia coyly said, "Jack and I grew up together. He's always looked out for me."

The next day, tabloid headlines screamed, "Harrison Group's CEO's Suspected Romance Exposed!"

Worse yet, my opportunities started getting snatched away.

"Chanel pulled their endorsement." Maria was fuming. "The Dior campaign's gone too. As for that supporting role in that film, the director changed his mind at the last minute."

A week later, Sophia's face was on the Chanel billboard.

With Jack turning a blind eye to all of it, our relationship deteriorated fast. He started going on constant business trips again, and then came the yacht party. The charity event was held on the Ashbourne River. Sophia wore a red dress, looking like a rose.

As she floated through the crowd with champagne in hand, Jack's gaze followed her wherever she went.

Someone remarked, "Your wife is beautiful."

They were referring to Sophia, yet Jack didn't correct them.

I stood alone on the deck, letting the wind brush my face. Just then, Matthew Anderson walked over. "Are you here alone?"

He took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders. A second later, we heard a scream. Somehow, Sophia had tumbled over the railing. Instinct took over, and I plunged in after her.

The ice-cold water chilled me to my bones. Panicked, Sophia clung to me desperately, causing both of us to sink.

Jack jumped in right then. Without hesitation, he pushed me away and pulled Sophia into his arms.

"Sophia! Hold on!"

I had never seen him so frantic. He swam back to the yacht with her in his arms. People rushed over with towels and called for doctors.

After lifting her onto the deck, he wrapped her tightly in his arms, kissing her on the forehead. "You're okay now. You're okay."

And I was still in the water, struggling to breathe.

Through my blurred, teary vision, I saw Jack carrying Sophia to a waiting car. Never once did he look back at me.

Suddenly, a wave crashed over my head. I thrashed in the water, the sea flooding my nose and throat.

Everyone on deck was focused on the direction Jack and Sophia had gone. Not a single person noticed I was still in the water.

"Where's Claire?" Someone finally remembered me. "Oh my God! She's still in the water!"

"Quick! Somebody help her!"

By the time I was rushed to the hospital, I was barely conscious.

When I woke up, the only one by my bed was Maria. Her makeup was ruined; she had clearly been crying.

"Thank God, you're finally awake!" She gripped my hand. "The doctor said so much seawater went into your lungs that you almost developed a serious lung infection."

I tried moving my body. Aside from a burning throat, I felt mostly fine.

"I'm okay, Maria." My voice came out raspy, like sandpaper on skin.

"Okay? Do you even realize how close it was last night?" She stomped her foot out of anger. "That bastard Jack grabbed Sophia and ran off! Everyone forgot you were still in the water! If Matthew hadn't realized as quickly as he did—"

"That's enough," I cut her off, closing my eyes.

I thought I'd feel rage, that I'd break down. But I was strangely calm on the inside. So, this was what it felt like to completely give up on someone—there was nothing left but numbness.

That afternoon, while handling my discharge paperwork, I saw them in the hospital lobby. Jack was pushing a wheelchair. In it was Sophia, wrapped in a blanket and looking frail.

My parents were behind them. At the moment, Mom was gently tucking the corners of the blanket around Sophia.

"Slow down. Don't catch a cold." I had never heard Mom's voice that gentle.

Dad's hands were full of bags. "Sophia, what would you like to eat? I'll go get it for you."

They were chatting happily like a real family, whereas I stood 30 feet away, like an outsider. Not one of them noticed me.

Pulling out my phone, I called my lawyer. "I want a divorce. The sooner it happens, the better."