With trembling hands and tears burning my eyes, I folded the half-burned diary page and held it carefully in my palm.

[Yoanne, you should know your place. In Heinry’s heart, I’m worth more than you. You’re just like this useless diary. And you dared to push me? Think carefully about how you’ll beg for my forgiveness later.]

After that, Wanda sent me another message with a photo.

In it, my husband's eyes were soft and gentle, just exactly the same way he once looked at Helena. His gaze was fixed only on the woman in front of him, leaving no space for anyone else.

[You’re nothing but a bar girl, Wanda. What right do you have to flaunt yourself in front of me? Heinry only uses you as a replacement of his past lover. You know better than anyone whose face he’s really seeing when he looks at you.]

Her reply came quickly.

[So what? I don’t care who he sees through me.]

[What matters is that he gives me one hundred and fifty thousand dollars every month, a villa on the mountain, endless designer bags and even your father’s gold watch. That’s enough for me.]

[Look at yourself. What do you have, Yoanne Wilson? He won’t even spend money on you. Haven’t you heard? A man’s money shows where his heart really is.]

Her words cut deep and I had no way to fight back. My hand shook around the phone. I closed my eyes, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

All these years of marriage, I gave Heinry everything I had. But when I thought about it, aside from the wedding dress he once made me, there was almost nothing he had truly given me.

Even paying for our daughter’s tuition, I had to beg him.

The hatred in my heart swelled stronger than ever. I had never regretted marrying Heinry Lorrimer as much as I did at that moment.

I hated him for being so heartless. But more than that, I hated myself for being so submissive.

"Yoanne, the divorce papers will be ready in less than a week. Didn’t Heinry realize he already signed them?"

It was my mother calling, her voice full of worry.

"No. Wanda tricked him into signing. He doesn’t suspect anything. Thanks to her face, it looks so much like Helena’s."

My mother let out a long sigh of relief and reminded me of the deal we had made.

"You promised me that after divorcing him, you’d come to Hazelbourne to find me. You know well that Matthew from the Spencer Family has loved you for so many years. Without his financial help, my company wouldn’t have made it through this crisis so quickly."

"I won’t break my promise, don't worry. But you must keep your promise to me too."

"Don’t worry. Naomi’s transfer papers will be ready soon."

Hearing her reassurance, I finally felt the heavy weight in my chest begin to ease.

Not long after I ended the call, Wanda and Heinry came back. They acted as if I wasn’t even there, not a single glance in my direction.

After carrying her into the bedroom, he walked over to me, his face dark and cold.

Then, he threw a bank card at me.

"Wanda wants some fresh tomatoes from an old farmer. It takes about two days to make the trip. Go to this address and buy them. I’ll forget what happened today."

"Also, the company’s going-public celebration is in a week. Go buy yourself a decent dress. Don’t embarrass me."

With that, he shoved the card against my face. My eyes burned red as I looked back at him.

My chest was full of anger and despair, my voice breaking as I spoke.

"Your lover burned my father’s diary and now you expect me to apologize to her? Heinry, you only saw the scratch on her leg, but did you even notice my burned hand?"

I raised my right hand, the skin raw and blistered, my words sharp with bitterness.

"I know you hate me, hate my father, but what did he ever do wrong? He was kind enough to donate his bone marrow to Helena. Don't forget, I begged my mother on my knees for three days and nights just for you. And just because you wanted a child, I risked my own life giving birth to our daughter."

"I gave everything I had. Didn’t you see that? All those words of love and gratitude… You lied. Now that Helena is gone, you put all the blame on me and my father. Tell me, what exactly did we do wrong?"

My voice cracked as I shouted, the despair spilling out of me.

For a moment, something flickered in Heinry’s eyes. He looked at me with such a complicated, unreadable gaze.

Just then, Wanda’s soft voice broke the silence.

"It’s my fault, Heinry. I shouldn’t have insisted on those old farmer’s tomatoes. You ended up arguing with Yoanne because of me. Sorry, I was too selfish."

Her voice trembled and tears slipped down her face.

Seeing her cry, his expression shifted at once, panic flashing in his eyes. "Helena, don’t cry…"

"No, it’s Wanda."

Heinry froze for a moment. Then his face turned cold and his voice turned sharp. "I’ll call you what I want. Since when do you get to correct me?"

Wanda was stunned but quickly masked it with a sweet, playful smile.

"My mistake. I just felt bad for your pain and I’m not like some people who keep digging up old wounds. Helena is already gone, but Yoanne is still talking with such disrespect. The doctor clearly said it was due to poor bone marrow quality and rejection. How can her father not be at fault?"

Her words poured oil on the fire. Heinry’s temper snapped. He turned to me, his eyes cold as ice.

"You’re not even worthy to say Helena’s name, Yoanne. Go buy the tomatoes for Wanda. Don’t make me repeat myself."

I forced a bitter smile, then turned and walked away.

The tomatoes Wanda wanted were far away. To be exact, it needed a two hours drive on dangerous mountain roads, where cliffs and landslides were always a threat.

My burned hand was wrapped in thick gauze as I gripped the steering wheel. In such a situation, all I hoped was to reach the town and find a hotel before nightfall.

But just as I arrived, dark clouds gathered and rain poured down like a waterfall.

Heinry had only given me two days. Even in the middle of the storm, he sent another cold message reminding me to be back on time.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. My own husband knew it was raining hard and the mountain roads were dangerous, that I could lose my life out there and yet he didn’t care at all.

The next day, I pushed deeper into the mountains, forcing the car over broken, muddy roads. Rocks and dirt slid down the slopes every so often.

By some stroke of luck, I finally reached the old farmer. I took photos and videos as proof.

Heinry saw them and was satisfied. After that, he didn’t say another word.

I packed my things and got ready to head back. However, just as I reached the most dangerous stretch of road, he called.

"Go back and buy some wild sour meat. Wanda is pregnant and she craves it."

My hands shook on the steering wheel as I froze.

Wanda was pregnant and my husband told me like it was nothing.

"Heinry, don't you think it's cruel enough to ask me to fetch food for your mistress carrying your child? I’m your wife. What do you take me for?"

"You’re my wife, yes. But the child in Wanda’s belly is mine too. What’s the point of fighting about it? I have to protect this child. Don’t worry, I won’t divorce you. I’ll just let you live in misery for the rest of your life to atone for Helena’s death."

My voice trembled, pain tearing through my chest as the mountain road blurred before my eyes.

"My father was never guilty. I am never guilty. It's you, Heinry! You’re the one at fault. You failed to save Helena and now you put all the blame on us. You’re nothing but a coward!"

"Ah!"

The moment the words left my mouth, a landslide came roaring down the mountain, leaving me no time to react.

A massive boulder slammed into my car. My head hit the glass, dizziness overtook me and then the car was swallowed by mud and darkness.

I thought that was the end.

I had no idea how long I was out. When I finally opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a hospital bed.

It was a small county hospital near the mountains. The rescue team had brought me there and they had notified my husband about what had happened.

The doctor said the car was completely destroyed. If not for a thick tree branch breaking the impact, I would have died right on the spot.

Thanks to that, I got away with only a mild concussion and a few scratches.

Heinry rushed in with Wanda by his side, yet not a single word of concern left his mouth.

"This happened because you were so reckless! I just got my car and you’ve already wrecked it! Were you trying to take out your anger? Couldn’t you even see the road? There was a mudslide and you didn’t even try to dodge it?"

I looked at him with a painful gaze, my eyes stinging red, pointing to the bandage on my forehead.

"I went through all this for you and Wanda. You forced me to make the trip in just two days. Don’t you know how dangerous mountain roads are after heavy rain? Heinry, in your eyes, is my life worth less than a bug?"

Heinry’s expression darkened. He gripped Wanda’s hand, his brow tightening.

"You were careless behind the wheel, so you can’t blame anyone else. Now the car’s ruined and Wanda can’t even eat the tomatoes she wanted. I know you did it on purpose."

"Yes, Heinry, she must have known I was pregnant with your child. That’s why she crashed the car on purpose. Who knows what she was thinking? After all, she’s already had a miscarriage once."

Wanda lightly touched her flat stomach, her voice soft and pitiful, deliberately adding fuel to the flames.

"Next time, don’t let me catch you playing cheap tricks. And remember, the company’s going-public celebration is in three days. Don’t embarrass me there."

With that, he pulled Wanda toward the door. Before leaving, he turned back and added coldly, "There’s no room for you in the car. Find your own way home."

I watched Heinry walk away, my body trembling with rage. My head throbbed with sharp, stabbing pain. Tilting my head back, I forced myself not to cry.

Three more days. Just three more days and I could finally leave Heinry Lorrimer behind and end this humiliation he called a debt.

I stayed in the unfamiliar hospital for two days. The quiet there felt like a release, free from trouble and from those hateful people.

When Heinry texted me, telling me to get my outfit ready for tomorrow’s banquet. I just looked at the message once and ignored it.

After leaving the hospital, I went straight to the station, found a private carpool and rushed home that afternoon.

Heinry wasn’t there. Wanda stood upstairs, peering down at me in her loose silk pajamas. I didn’t even need to guess how well she and my husband had enjoyed themselves while I was gone.

"Oh, you scared me! I thought it was a thief. Turns out it’s just our Yoanne. What made you think of coming back, hmm?"

I ignored her mocking tone and headed upstairs, intending to go straight to my daughter’s room.

However, Wanda stretched out her leg and tripped me.

Startled, I grabbed the railing, glaring at her with burning fury.

"Wanda, stop your stupid games. I don’t have time to argue with you. You’re nothing more than a bar girl. If I fought with you over that scumbag, I’d only be lowering myself."

"Oh, Yoanne Wilson, how noble do you think you are? Aren’t you still being toyed with by a bar girl like me?"

I shot her a look of pure annoyance. I had no interest in wasting energy on her. All I wanted today was to pack my things and leave this place for good.

"Move. I don’t have time to waste on you."

I brushed past her, but suddenly she grabbed my hair and yanked me toward the stairs.

Instinctively, I seized her arm. In the struggle, neither of us realized the danger until it was too late. We both ended up tumbling down the stairs.

Ah! My stomach!"

Her scream cut through the air. I forced my eyes open, pain searing through my forehead and saw blood everywhere.

Then Heinry’s panicked voice roared from the doorway. "Wanda! What happened to you?"

He rushed to her side, staring in shock at the blood pooling beneath her.

"I only wanted to talk to Yoanne, but she pushed me down the stairs. There’s so much blood… is our baby gone, Heinry?"

Wanda sobbed in agony. Heinry turned on me, hatred blazing in his eyes. His steps were heavy and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey.

Then, with a loud crack—

His hand struck me hard across the face, slamming me to the ground.