“What’s wrong?Did someone upset you?”Lucian immediately noticed her shift in expression and took her hand,his voice full of concern.

“Were you unhappy while shopping today?Don’t be sad,okay?”

He paused,then coaxed softly,“Olivia,I promise you,once the surgery is over and you’ve recovered,I’ll arrange a diet plan for you.I’ll help you lose the weight and get you back on the runway,shining like before.Okay?”

The reason Lucian first brought up weight loss after surgery was because she had struggled to fit into the clothes she was trying on.At the time,Olivia had laughed it off as a joke.

She had once thought he said it out of guilt,out of respect for her sacrifices.

But the truth was,he only cared about whether she was pleasing to the eye.

To him,she was nothing more than a tool for childbirth.Her body,her health,the strain of repeated weight fluctuations,none of it mattered.As long as she could conceive,that was enough.

A wave of nausea surged within her.Even sitting at the dinner table suddenly felt pointless.Tilting her head slightly,she withdrew her hand from his grasp.

“Oh?So I can return to work,right after the operation?Didn’t your parents say they were worried about your health?Didn’t they insist I should have a child as soon as possible to avoid any future regrets?”

Lucian’s expression froze for a split second,a rare moment of hesitation.

In the next breath,he smoothed it over as if it had never existed.“That won’t affect weight loss,Olivia.I know you don’t talk about it,but deep down,you still care.”

Olivia did not respond.She simply picked up her chopsticks.“Enough.Let’s eat.The food will get cold.”

That night,they shared the same bed,yet it felt as if a vast distance stretched between them.

By morning,the space beside her was empty.

Lucian was gone.No explanation,no arrangements left behind.

On the nightstand,a love note lay neatly pressed under a small trinket.In the kitchen,a pot of pork liver porridge that was carefully prepared was still warm.

Without hesitation,Olivia crumpled the note,tossing it straight into the trash along with the porridge.Then,she straightened her back,steadied her breath and set out to meet with her lawyer.

She had chosen Evander Vaughn,Hazelbourne’s top attorney,a man known not just for his legal prowess but also for his long-standing grudge against Lucian Rhodes.

Perhaps it was that very grudge that fueled his efficiency.Overnight,Evander had combed through every asset under Lucian’s name,meticulously identifying what rightfully belonged to her.By morning,a finalized divorce agreement lay before her,neatly detailing the division of property.

The amount was substantial.Enough for her to live comfortably,whether she chose to work or not,whether she ever remarried or not.

Somehow,with that,the bitterness in her heart felt a little lighter.

Smiling faintly,she signed the papers,already thinking of how best to coax Lucian into doing the same.

Suddenly,her phone rang.Lucian’s voice came through the receiver.

“Olivia,do you have time right now?Can you go to the hospital and stay with Cassie?Her mother has something urgent and I have a meeting,so I can’t step away.She gets scared when she’s alone.”

It was just liver cancer.It would not kill her overnight.And yet,he was asking his wife to keep his precious first love company.

A sharp,mocking smile curled on Olivia’s lips.“All right,”

Cassie had been back for quite some time now,lurking in the shadows under the guise of an old friend.

It was about time they met.Olivia wanted to see with her own eyes just how much effort had gone into weaving this grand lie.

With a cool detachment,she slipped the divorce agreement into a drawer,grabbed her car keys and headed to the hospital.

When she pushed open the door to the hospital room,the first thing she saw was Cassie lying on the bed with a pale face.

As expected of Cassie Winslet.The woman Lucian had longed for all these years,the one he refused to let go of even in the face of illness,was unsurprisingly breathtaking.

At first glance,her features bore a certain resemblance to Olivia’s,yet their temperaments were worlds apart.

Cassie was a woman born into wealth,cocooned in luxury,untouched by hardship.She had spent her life sheltered,unburdened by the struggles of ordinary people.

Olivia,on the other hand,was just a small-town girl who had fought her way up after making a name for herself in a modeling competition.Even after marrying into wealth,she never abandoned her career.

With no powerful connections or influential background,she carved out her place in the industry through sheer talent and relentless effort.

Strong and independent,Olivia had always stood tall until Lucian’s illness made her set aside her pride.She willingly put her career on hold,believing in a future where they could share both hardship and happiness.

But he trampled on her sincerity.

“Miss Winslet.”With a flawless smile,Olivia lifted her gaze,her long lashes fluttering as she spoke smoothly.“It’s been a month since your admission.Has the doctor mentioned how your recovery is going?Do you know when you’ll be discharged?”

Cassie was momentarily stunned before shaking her head.“In another half month,”she said.“The doctor said that by then,I should have recovered enough to be discharged.”

The liver transplant was scheduled for a week from now.

That meant she would rest for another week post-surgery,aligning her discharge date perfectly.No one would find anything suspicious.Her timing was impeccable.

Olivia’s smile deepened with sarcasm.“Since Miss Winslet will be discharged in half a month,that means you’ll have enough strength to cheer for Lucian and me during our liver transplant surgery.You’ll be outside the operating room,supporting us,right?”

If Cassie was standing outside,how could she possibly sneak into the operating room to take Olivia’s liver?

Cassie’s expression stiffened for a moment before she quickly composed herself,though a hint of displeasure flickered in her eyes."It depends on my condition at the time,”she said cautiously.“If my health allows,I’ll definitely be there.”

She could not even tolerate such a trivial inconvenience,yet she secretly coveted her liver.

Suppressing her disgust,Olivia reached out,gently taking Cassie’s hand and patting its back."Miss Winslet,don’t worry.With parents who adore you and Lucian,who treasures you so much,I’m sure you’ll recover quickly and be discharged from the hospital with us.”

She deliberately emphasized with us and Cassie Winslet deserved every bit of it.

Cassie’s jaw tightened.She wanted to pull her hand away,but Olivia seemed particularly persistent today,sticking close,showering her with affection and slipping in sharp-edged words masked with warmth.

Cassie was furious inside.

Suppressing her frustration,she finally turned to Lucian the moment he entered the room,pouting slightly as she spoke."Lucian,can you take me downstairs for a walk?I’m afraid I’ll tire Mrs.Rhodes.I haven’t dared to drink too much water all afternoon because I didn’t want to trouble her,even I avoided going to the restroom.”

Lucian adored Cassie,so how could he bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance?His expression darkened as he instinctively stepped in to shield her."What’s going on?I asked you to take care of Cassie,Olivia.Is this how you look after her?”

Olivia had long known that Lucian would never take her side,but witnessing his blatant favoritism firsthand still sent a sharp ache through her heart.

She lifted her reddened eyes to meet his gaze."Lucian,we are husband and wife.I’m even willing to donate my liver to you.Yet you can’t give me even the smallest bit of trust?Would you rather believe an outsider over me?Are you really going to pick a fight with me over someone else?"

"Cassie isn’t…"He almost blurted something out but stopped himself,drawing in a deep breath to compose his tone.

"Olivia,I know you love me,but no matter how much you do,you can’t act like this and cause unnecessary trouble.Do you want Cassie to laugh at you?She’s already unwell and people who are sick can’t handle distress.If you neglect her,it might worsen her condition.How am I supposed to explain that to her or to the Winslet Family?”

He had to answer to everyone.Everyone mattered except her.

Who told her to be so stubborn,so foolish?She knew perfectly well that the Rhodes Family had the means to find a more suitable liver match that would not cost them anything beyond money.Yet she had still volunteered,making herself the most convenient sacrifice.

"Believe what you want,but I did not neglect Miss Winslet."Tears welled in Olivia’s eyes,but her voice remained steady as she pointed toward the nurse’s station outside.“If you refuse to trust me,then ask the attending nurse.When she came to check the ward,I specifically asked Miss Winslet if she needed water or if she wanted to get up and move around."

Cassie’s expression shifted."Lucian…"

Olivia said nothing more.She just turned and walked away.

“Olivia,wait…”Lucian’s voice followed after her,carrying an uncharacteristic tremor of unease as if he had finally sensed something slipping beyond his grasp.

But before he could take a step toward her,a soft,delicate voice held him back.“Lucian,I’m hungry.Could you buy me some chicken soup from that old restaurant back then?Remember how we used to sneak out for it before we went abroad,skipping the food at home?It’s been so long and I really miss it.”

She strode into the elevator.

No hurried footsteps followed.No familiar voice called out to stop her.Lucian did not chase after her and Cassie’s soft,irresistible pleas did not echo in the corridor.Olivia’s seemingly unshakable heart gradually steadied,settling into a cold calm.

Of course.Cassie and Lucian were a perfect match,running toward each other without hesitation.

Then,she had no reason to feel guilty about leaving before the surgery.They would get exactly what they deserved.

This was the outcome she had planned for,the result she wanted.And yet…why?Why was there still that dull,uncontrollable ache buried deep in her chest?

Perhaps it was because everything had started so beautifully,only to crumble the moment they disagreed.Seven years of companionship and not even a trace of it remained in Lucian’s heart.He could remember sneaking out for chicken soup with Cassie when they were students,yet he never once noticed when Olivia skipped lunch waiting for him.

She allowed herself a brief moment of disappointment,but she had more important things to do and she would not let something so trivial wound her.

After locking the car door,she pulled the divorce agreement from her bag and gave it another look.Then,for the first time in a long while,she indulged herself.She went to a hot pot restaurant she had been craving for ages but never dared to eat too much at,savoring every bite.

Satisfied and full,she swiped the unlimited supplementary card Lucian had given her,buying luxury items with stable resale value and a new house.

By the time she returned home,Lucian was already there,sitting on the sofa,waiting for her.

The moment he heard her footsteps,he rushed to meet her.“Olivia,you’re back.”

Without sparing him a glance,Olivia turned away.

Lucian’s expression shifted slightly as he reached out and grabbed her arm,pulling her into his embrace.Without a word,he held her tightly,trapping her in his arms.“You’re still angry,Olivia.I called you so many times this afternoon,but you didn’t answer.I was worried…and scared.I thought you wouldn’t come back tonight,that you wouldn’t want to talk to me anymore.”

His deliberately softened tone carried a hint of grievance,but to Olivia,it was nothing short of laughable.

She struggled to break free,but his grip was firm.Placing her hands against his chest,she tried to put as much distance between them as possible.“Weren’t you full of confidence when you were putting me in my place?What are you so afraid of now?”

“What do you think I’m afraid of?”Lucian’s expression softened as he tightened his hold around her.

“You’re my wife,the woman I swore to spend my life with.I’m afraid of you being angry,of you being sad,of something happening to you while you’re out,of you no longer being happy,of you not being the joyful,carefree Mrs.Rhodes you used to be.”

Happiness?She had known it once.

Before today,she had been happy,so much so that she had swallowed even the things she did not want to stomach with joy.

However,the moment her words slipped and the truth came out,that happiness vanished like a fleeting dream,leaving nothing behind.

Olivia blinked,the corners of her lips curving into a mocking smile.“If you care about me so much,then why did you doubt me so easily?Why did you turn on me just because of Miss Winslet’s words?”

“I was wrong,I was wrong,I know I was wrong.”Lucian held her even tighter as if that could undo everything.“All right,my dear wife,you’ve bought so many things and you’ve scolded me.No matter how angry you were,it should be gone by now,right?”

“There’s still a little left.”Olivia pulled a contract from her bag and held it out to him.“Sign this,Lucian.I don’t want a future where,if I ever have a child,you turn against me for another woman,leaving me and the child with nowhere to go.”

“How could that ever happen?”Lucian muttered,yet he signed his name without hesitation.

She did not know if he was simply too eager to appease her or if he truly was that guilty.Either way,watching him sign without a second thought,Olivia could not tell if she was the foolish one or if he was.

In the end,he did not even bother to read it carefully.With a swift stroke of his pen,Lucian unknowingly signed the divorce agreement hidden within the house purchase contract.

Something she had merely contemplated during the day was now effortlessly set in motion.Olivia found herself in a surprisingly good mood.

She did not refuse the elaborate spread of liver-nourishing dishes prepared for dinner.Even when Lucian got the urge to initiate intimacy later that night,she politely declined him politely without making things too difficult for him.

She had been so clear-headed that she wanted nothing but money and had no interest in anyone else.Yet,somehow,that alone was enough to be an eyesore to Cassie.

Two days passed.

After breakfast,as usual,Olivia went back to bed for some extra rest.

Out of the blue,Cassie called.“Mrs.Rhodes,I’m at Silvercrest Sanctuary right now.I wanted to get a peace charm for you and Lucian as my apology,but my car broke down on the way and I’m stuck here.Could you come pick me up?”

Olivia had no intention of going.

She was not stupid.

When they left the hospital,she and Cassie had been at odds.How could she possibly risk being alone with a woman so full of deceit?

However,Cassie was persistent."I understand.There was a misunderstanding between us that day at the hospital.It’s only natural that you wouldn’t want to come pick me up,Mrs.Rhodes.If you really don’t want to,I can find someone else.How about I just send the peace charm to your house later myself?”

Just send it to her house?

The surgery date had not arrived yet and the divorce agreement remained unsigned for the time being.She had no desire to taint her final days with the presence of a woman who despised her.

Reluctantly,Olivia agreed."Send me your location.I’ll head over now."

When she arrived,she spotted Cassie sitting leisurely in a pavilion on the mountainside,enjoying the scenery with a relaxed,contented expression.

Seeing that Olivia had actually come,Cassie’s eyes gleamed and her tone dripped with mockery.“You must really love Lucian if you’re willing to treat his half-hearted gestures as something precious and hold onto them like a lifeline.”

Olivia feigned ignorance."Where’s the peace charm?Didn’t you say you were getting one for us?”

Cassie pulled out the charm but did not hand it over.Instead,she held it tightly in her palm."Drop the act,Olivia.You’ve known about my relationship with Lucian all along,haven’t you?You know I’m his first love,his first kiss,his first night.You were just a stand-in,a temporary distraction for him while I wasn’t around.Now that I’m back,he doesn’t need you anymore,does he?”

Olivia had already prepared herself for anything,so her expression barely wavered."Well,now I know."

“Still pretending,”Cassie sneered,then suddenly tore the peace charm to pieces,raising her voice.

“Since you’re so aware,do you also know that I’m the one with liver cancer?Your so-called kindness?It’s nothing more than him treating you as the perfect,willing donor.He’s only putting up with you for now.But once the surgery is done,he’ll discard you like a stray dog without the slightest bit of mercy.”

Olivia had imagined countless possibilities,but she had not expected Cassie to expose everything so bluntly without even waiting for the surgery in four days.

Olivia’s expression shifted."You…do you want to die?”

“You mean about your liver?”Cassie let out a cold laugh and suddenly lunged,grabbing hold of Olivia.

Sensing danger,Olivia instinctively stepped back.

But it was too late.

Cassie charged forward,dragging Olivia with her as they tumbled toward the pavilion’s guardrail,perched on the edge of the cliff.

Realizing Cassie’s intent,Olivia’s eyes widened in horror."You’re insane!"

"I’m not the crazy one.You are."Cassie’s smile twisted into something vicious as she shoved even harder.

A sharp crack split the air,the sound of splintering wood,followed by the sickening noise of a body crashing through the broken guardrail.

Her body struck jagged,uneven rocks,each impact tearing through her clothes,slicing into her delicate skin.Warm,sticky blood smeared across the sharp edges,leaving behind burning,stinging trails.

She had no sense of time.Seconds stretched into an eternity,the relentless pain making it impossible to grasp how long she had been falling.Then,finally,everything stopped.