I spent four years pretending to be obedient by West Graham’s side.

Four years ago, after the video of Nina Avery running over my younger sister was exposed, my boyfriend, Jake Smith, hired a top-tier defense attorney for her to clear her name.

When I was completely alone, with no one to rely on, it was Nina’s stepbrother, West, who stepped forward and chose justice over blood. He found a lawyer for me and gathered witness testimonies and physical evidence everywhere he could. In the end, he personally sent Nina to prison.

When everything finally settled, West proposed to me, and I said yes. However, in the fourth year of our marriage, I saw an email in West’s inbox.

It was a birthday message from Nina, and attached was a selfie of her smiling brightly at the beach. In the bottom-right corner of the photo was yesterday’s date.

[Happy birthday, West! It’s been four years since I received Erin’s sister’s heart. There haven’t been any complications at all. Thanks to you and Jake, I’m given a second chance in life.]

West replied. [To make you happy, I’ll do anything.]

After reading all of it, I smiled brighter than ever. It’s been four years, and their time to die has finally come.

I carefully preserved the recorded evidence of the conversation between West Graham and Nina Avery. Once everything was secured, I quickly left West’s study.

Unexpectedly, the moment I opened the door, I ran straight into him.

His brows furrowed almost instantly. “What were you doing in my study?”

In our four years of marriage, he had spoiled me endlessly. He even allowed me to work within the Graham family’s corporate group. Yet, there were only two places he never permitted me to get close to—his private study at home and his personal office at the company.

Before he could finish speaking, I panicked and threw myself into his arms, my voice breaking as I cried.

“West, I just had another nightmare,” I sobbed. “I dreamed about my sister again, about how she left, covered in blood. I was so scared. I couldn’t find you anywhere, not even in the study…”

The coldness around him vanished instantly. He wrapped an arm around my waist, his other hand patting my back gently in comfort.

“Hey, I’m here,” he murmured. “Don’t be afraid. I know Iris’s death has been hard on you, but now the culprit has been caught. We need to let go of the past and live in the present.”

I trembled in his embrace, but inside, there was nothing left but surging hatred.

West had no idea that I had long since discovered the truth. My sister’s death had everything to do with him, even if, on the surface, Nina was the only one held responsible. I also knew that his decision to marry me was nothing more than an act to deceive me and help the woman he truly loved—his stepsister, Nina—escape the full weight of the law.

At that thought, I swallowed the nausea rising in my throat and cried even harder in his arms. Out of guilt, West set aside all his work and patiently comforted me for a long time.

After I finally calmed down, he hesitated before speaking again. “Honey, there’s something I need to tell you. Nina has been released. She’ll be coming back tomorrow.”

Seeing me freeze, he quickly added, “I know I shouldn’t be telling you this now, but you know… she’s still family. No matter how serious her crimes were, she has to come home. I’m just afraid that you–”

This man, who was usually decisive and commanding, lowered his voice as he spoke, his tone cautious and probing. Asking the victim’s family to accept the return of the perpetrator was cruel enough, and I wasn’t just the victim’s sister—I was his wife.

Yet, I simply wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and smiled gently, without even frowning.

“I understand your concerns,” I said. “I’m fine.”

I lifted my hand and smoothed his brow. “You’ve done so much for me. You even chose righteousness over family. It’s time for me to let go, too.”

At my words, the hand on my back tightened abruptly. He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“Erin, I’ll love you for the rest of my life.”

I let out a light laugh and pushed him playfully. “Alright, alright. We’ve been married for years now. Why are you still so clingy?”

Then, I added casually, “Since Nina is coming back, we should hold a welcome party to clear away the bad luck. I’ll handle the arrangements.”

West finally let out a sigh of relief and pulled me into a tight embrace. However, the guilt in his eyes only deepened.

“Erin… my good Erin. You’re so kind. I’ll never let you go.”

I leaned against his shoulder, a mocking smile on my face.

Was that so? In that case, I’d show you just how “kind” I could be.

For the past four years, I had not only been the respected and well-liked Mrs. Graham. I was also a key contributor within the Graham Corp. Many of the projects that brought the company substantial growth were proposed by me, and a large portion of the employee benefits were secured through my efforts.

Two years ago, when West said the company was facing a development bottleneck and urgently needed to collaborate with Smith Group, I agreed without hesitation. Jake Smith was my ex-boyfriend and the man who abandoned me when I was seeking justice for my sister, only to turn around and hire a top-tier lawyer for Nina. Yet, for the sake of West’s company, I set aside all resentment and reconciled with Jake without batting an eye.

Now, once again for West, I had personally proposed hosting a welcome party for the woman who killed my sister. With devotion like that, how could he not be moved? And how could the friends and family who knew the inside story not admire someone like me?

The welcome party was grand. The city’s elites and influential figures gathered in full force. Nina entered gracefully in a luxurious red gown, her arm linked with Jake’s. She carried herself with confidence and arrogance.

Nothing about her looked like someone who had just been released from prison. If anything, she looked more like she had just returned from an overseas vacation. Of course, that wasn’t far from the truth. She had indeed just come back from abroad, and West himself had gone to the airport to pick her up.

The moment Nina spotted West standing beside me, her eyes lit up. She immediately jogged over and threw herself into his arms.

“West, I’ve missed you so much!” she cried. “I went to prison for four years for no reason at all, and now we can finally see each other again!”

As she spoke, her resentful gaze cut toward me like a blade. At the same time, she clung to him coquettishly, showing off.

“This welcome party is amazing. Did you plan all this for me, West? I love it!”

West smiled dotingly at her and rubbed her head.

“Erin organized everything,” he said. “Come, say hello to your sister-in-law.”

Nina’s smile froze instantly. Then, she turned her eyes to me and forced a fake smile, greeting me stiffly.

Once the party officially began, Nina moved through the crowd like a social butterfly. She was eloquent and lively, drawing waves of laughter wherever she went. However, I could feel her gaze—subtle yet tightly fixed on me.

Finally, when West went to the restroom, Nina approached. At the time, I was resting quietly in a corner of the hall. Without a word, she lifted a glass of red wine and splashed it straight onto my face.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry, Erin,” she said. “I wanted to toast you and thank you for preparing such a luxurious party for me. I just didn’t hold the glass steady. Are you alright? Do you want me to wipe it off for you?”

Despite her words, she didn’t move an inch. She simply stood there, smiling mockingly, with no intention of helping at all.

I took out a handkerchief and calmly wiped the wine from my face, a faint smile forming on my lips.

“It’s fine,” I said. “Go enjoy yourself. I’ll wash up later.”

My indifference instantly ignited Nina’s fury. She slammed the wine glass hard onto the table beside her, no longer bothering to hide her malice.

“Erin, what are you trying to do here?” she sneered. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting. Trying to play the pitiful wife so that West will feel sorry for you? You’re still too naive.”

Her gaze flicked past me. Then, she leaned in close to my ear and laughed softly.

“Do you think West would keep a woman who maliciously bullies his little sister to be his wife?”

After that, she suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself hard across the face. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

West rushed over at once and caught Nina as she swayed, pulling her into his arms.

“Nina, what happened?”

Nina shrank into his embrace, her lips trembling as tears fell. “I just wanted to come over and toast Erin, but she lectured me for being shameless. She slapped me, then snatched my wine and poured it all over her own face, trying to frame me for bullying her.”

West immediately looked at me. He saw the wine dripping down my face, soaking into my dress, staining it red.

“West,” Nina continued through tears, “I don’t understand why Erin would treat me like this. Is it still because of that car accident? But I really didn’t do it on purpose. I’ve spent four years in prison for it. Why won’t she forgive me–”

West’s expression darkened instantly, but not toward me. It was directed at Nina.

His brows knitted tightly as he immediately let go of Nina and snapped coldly, “No one is talking about what happened back then. Why are you overthinking it?”

Nina’s lips parted slightly as she stared at West in disbelief.

I stepped forward to smooth things over. “Forget it, West. Nina probably didn’t mean it. I’m fine. Today’s supposed to be a happy occasion. Let’s not ruin it over something so small.”

West’s expression remained dark. Without another word, he grabbed Nina’s arm and pulled her away. The onlookers gradually dispersed, and the party resumed as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, I quietly followed them upstairs.

In a secluded corner on the second floor, Nina finally shook off West’s hand and complained in a soft, aggrieved voice, “West, you hurt me. And why won’t you believe me? Why are you siding with an outsider instead?”

Seeing her pitiful expression, West let out a long sigh, his tone softening. “You and I both know the truth of what happened back then. Erin hasn’t had it easy either. You should get off her tail.”

Nina stared at him wide-eyed, as if she no longer recognized the man in front of her. “What are you talking about? West, don’t tell me you actually think of Erin as your real wife now. You only married her to help me get away with it! That matter ended years ago, and I had served my sentence—at least on the surface. It’s time for you to dump her!”

West shook his head. “We owe her far too much. I’ve made up my mind to spend the rest of my life making it up to her.”

Just as he turned to leave, Nina suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

“I don’t believe you!” she cried. “West, I’m the one you love, isn’t it? We’re not related by blood. I know you love me. Otherwise, why would you do so much for me?”

As if she had struck a nerve, West’s body stiffened, and his hands were trembling slightly. In the end, he gave in to his desire. He turned back, cupped Nina’s face, and kissed her fiercely.

I silently stopped the recording, saved the video, and turned to leave the second floor. By the time West came back downstairs with Nina, the party was nearing its end. He couldn’t find me anywhere. It wasn’t until he returned home that he discovered me hiding in the storage room, crying quietly.

Hearing the door open, I pretended not to notice and let my sobs grow even more broken.

“Erin!”

West hurried over and pulled me into his arms, frowning anxiously.

“I was wondering where you were. What happened? Why are you crying?”

I quickly turned my head away, wiping my tears in a fluster with my sleeve. Then I forced a smile and looked at him.

“I’m fine. I just twisted my ankle while tidying up earlier. I was afraid you’d laugh at me, so I hid here…”

However, he stared at me intently, his eyes full of pain and tenderness. “Erin, don’t you know? When you lie, your smile looks forced. Anyone can tell.”

“I…” I glanced away in panic.

He reached out and gently brushed away the tear that was about to fall. “Tell me. Why were you crying in here?”

I bit my lip and held it in for a moment. Then, in the next second, I wrapped my arms around his neck and finally let my sobs break free.

“At the party, Nina mentioned my sister. I just thought… if my sister were still alive, she’d probably be about the same age as Nina now, but I’ll never get to see her grow up.”

At the mention of my sister, a flash of panic crossed West’s eyes, quickly replaced by guilt.

The arm around my waist tightened as he blamed himself softly, “It’s my fault. I was too busy with the party and neglected your feelings. Tell me, honey, what can I do to make you feel better?”

I looked down and shook my head. “You don’t need to do anything. As long as I can see you more often, that’s enough. West, can I visit your office more often in the future? I’ve been having nightmares lately—dreaming that you leave me behind. If we could eat together, talk more… maybe it would get better.”

West frowned slightly, clearly hesitant. All this time, he had deliberately avoided letting me enter his office. After all, that place hid far too many secrets he didn’t want me to know.

I withdrew my hands and smiled as if it didn’t matter. “If you’re too busy, forget it. I was just asking.”

“You’re lying again,” he said with a gentle laugh, tapping my forehead lightly. “It’s such a small request. Of course, I can agree.”

My face lit up instantly. I leaned in and kissed his cheek. “You’re the best, hubby!”

The joy on his face didn’t seem fake at all, and a flicker of excitement burned in his eyes.

Laughing, West scooped me up into his arms, and I shyly buried my face against his neck. Just a little more, and the disgust in my eyes would have been impossible to hide.