Listening to Anne's choked question, Connor found himself momentarily speechless.

Felicia, noticing he was still on the phone, walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. "Are you done? I'm hungry."

He instinctively ended the call with Anne.

Staring at the darkened screen of his phone, Connor hesitated for only a moment before pulling down Felicia's hands to hold them. "I'm done," he said.

The dishes he prepared were all Felicia's favorites. Connor watched her eat with a smile, glancing at the clock out of the corner of his eye.

It was nearly ten o'clock at night.

The entrance remained quiet.

At that moment, Anne's car had pulled into the neighborhood, but she sat there, unmoving.

Even though she was Connor's wife, she felt like a thief spying on someone else's happiness.

When she was abroad, she did not actively seek out news about Connor, yet friends would still update her.

Connor had brought Felicia into their social circle. Because of Anne's presence, no one had been willing to interact with Felicia at their first meeting. It was said that Connor smashed a wine bottle in front of everyone to defend her.

Anne had smiled bitterly when she heard this. Connor had always been like that. When he loved someone, he wanted the whole world to know.

In high school, dating was forbidden, so Connor and Anne never officially got together.

There were always admirers confessing to Anne. Once, a boy accidentally brushed her hand, and Connor, upon seeing it, broke that boy's hand.

When he was forced to publicly apologize in front of the entire school, he was utterly defiant. "Anne is mine. We'll be together after we get into university. Anyone who dares to confess to her again will get the same treatment."

Later, Connor's parents had to visit the school and make a donation to avoid him being disciplined.

The two had agreed to go abroad together, but when Connor failed his tests, he backed out and asked Anne to stay for him.

However, going abroad had always been Anne's dream. She was firm in her decision, refusing to change her mind no matter what Connor said.

On the day of Anne's coming-of-age celebration, Connor cornered her in her room.

It was both of their first kisses, yet it was rough and biting. Connor even broke the skin on her lips, his eyes red as he questioned, "You won't even let me touch you, Anne. Did you never plan to be with me in the first place?"

She furiously responded with a slap. Her hands trembled from the force.

Connor stared at her for a long time before turning and leaving with a cold expression.

Anne cried alone for a long time before fixing her dress and going downstairs.

Her mother noticed the mark on her lip, hesitated to speak, and finally just patted her head. "Anne, no matter what you do, your dad and I will always support you."

Years later, the Biddle family faced financial trouble.

Connor called Anne after years of no contact. At first, neither of them spoke.

"Do you need something?" Anne finally broke the silence.

Connor's voice was hoarse. "Anne, if you're going to marry for convenience, would you consider me?"

"You broke up?" blurted Anne.

"Mm." It was a long time before she received Connor's soft reply.

After the wedding, Anne learned the truth.

Connor had taken Felicia on a sea voyage. As the boat neared the shore, she had fallen overboard. Connor immediately jumped in to save her.

The crew, worried for Connor's safety, followed him into the water. He was rescued, but Felicia was never found. Not even her body.

For three years, everyone assumed she had died.

She was finally back, with her memory frozen three years in the past.

Anne sat in the car for a long time, staring at the brightly lit villa from a distance.

She and Connor both preferred dim lighting. The one who liked brightness was Felicia.

Connor had brought her back to their home.

Pain spread through Anne's heart like tiny needles. Just as she was about to get out of the car, the phone in the passenger seat started ringing.

"Where are you?"

Anne did not respond, and the cool breeze poured in through the slightly open car door.

Even such a small sound was caught by Connor. His voice, laced with certainty, asked, "Did you go home?"

He immediately added, "Don't come in, wait outside for me."

Just through the phone, Anne could even tell that Connor was putting on his coat. His footsteps were hurried, but it seemed he was trying to stop her from entering, afraid that Anne would frighten Felicia.

Connor left the villa, and only when he reached the corner did he spot Anne's car.

Hearing the footsteps, Anne looked over at him. Her gaze was filled with disappointment, but more than that, it was calm.

Connor's temples throbbed painfully twice. That look in her eyes was exactly the same as the one she had given him the night he forcefully kissed her after her coming-of-age ceremony.

"I'll take her away tomorrow," said Connor, pulling open the car door. In a tone that suggested negotiation, he asked, "Can you stay somewhere else tonight?"

Anne gripped her phone tightly. "When are you going to tell her that you're already married?"

Connor instinctively wanted to avoid answering, but he bent down and single-handedly moved Anne into the passenger seat, then took the driver's seat himself.

"I'll stay somewhere else with you."

The car drove all the way to the hotel.

Anne stared out the window, silent.

However, just before getting out of the car, she suddenly turned her head and spoke each word clearly, "Connor, if you won't say it, we'll divorce."

At the sound of the word 'divorce', Connor froze for a moment.

"Are you serious?"

Anne did not answer. Connor's vague attitude hurt her, and she feared that if she spoke, her tears would spill uncontrollably.

She got out of the car and ignored Connor behind her, only thinking of getting as far away from him as possible.

However, Connor quickly caught up and grabbed her hand. "Anne, in a while, when Felicia... When Felicia's condition stabilizes, I'll tell her."

Anne looked at the man in the elevator mirror. In his rush, he had not fastened the buttons on his shirt, leaving four or five undone and exposing a small patch of his body.

After three years of marriage, Connor had always kept his shirt buttons fully fastened in front of her. It was Anne who always initiated their once-a-week moment of intimacy.

She clenched her palm tightly. When the elevator doors opened, she jerked her hand out of Connor's grasp. "In a while, huh? If your girlfriend wants to kiss you and sleep with you, you wouldn't refuse, would you?"

Connor silently followed Anne.

The phone kept ringing incessantly, making the quiet room feel tense.

Connor listened to the sound of water running from the bathroom, took a long drag from his cigarette, and eventually answered the call.

"Connor, aren't you coming back tonight?"

"I'll bring you breakfast tomorrow morning," he replied.

The indirect rejection made Felicia feel a bit wronged, and she cautiously said, "But I'm scared alone."

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

Connor tightened his grip on the phone, hesitated for a moment, and then reassured Felicia, "Be good. If you're scared, go to sleep early."

He then hung up the phone and threw it onto the bed. He knew that if he hesitated for another second, he would not be able to stop himself from walking away.

When Anne came out, Connor proactively went to help her dry her hair.

As he gazed at her face, he felt a bit dazed. It seemed like it had been a long time since they had been intimate.

He slowly bent down, but Anne dodged him. The kiss landed on the corner of her lips instead.

Connor froze, not expecting Anne to reject him. After all, it had always been her who initiated before.

Anne pushed Connor away, not even giving him a glance. She climbed into bed, turning her back to him.

She could feel the intense gaze on her from behind. She knew that Connor was just avoiding the question she had asked earlier.

Felicia had just returned, and Connor had brought her home.

Anne did not want to think about what they would do in the coming days. She was not that generous, watching her husband with the woman he could not forget, entwined together.

"Anne." Connor got into bed and hugged her from behind.

A wave of heat spread between them as Connor kissed her neck, his actions expressing his desire.

Anne pressed his hand down, her voice cold. "Don't touch me, Connor."

"Why?" Connor bit her ear, not believing that Anne did not understand that this was his way of making peace.

"I think you're disgusting." Anne sneered sarcastically as she was pressed under him.

The words completely killed Connor's interest.

He rolled over to the side. In the silence, the only sound was his heavy breathing, mixed with anger.

After a long wait, Anne turned her back to him again without saying another word.

"I didn't touch her."

Connor moved closer again, burying his head into her shoulder and rubbing against it.

"You never know," said Anne.

Connor's patience wore thin.

Outside, it started to rain lightly. Thinking about how Felicia was afraid of thunder, he got up and put on his clothes.

When he left, he slammed the door loudly.

The loud 'bang' made Anne flinch. She opened her eyes, and tears slid down the corners of her eyes to the pillow.

The pillow had already been soaked.

Connor had forgotten that Anne, too, was afraid of thunder.

When their families were neighbors, every time there was thunder, Connor would quietly climb over the wall and run to her room, making a makeshift bed beside her.

He would smell her fragrance, and even when desire rose, he would only kiss the back of her hand with restraint.

The girl he once held in his hands was left alone in a hotel.

The rain grew heavier, and a flash of lightning split the darkness, illuminating Anne's pale face.

She seemed to lose all her strength. She picked up her phone and sent a message to Walter Lindor.

It was just a few words, but it took her half an hour.

"Help me draft a divorce agreement."