The first time my billionaire husband was drugged, I rushed over in a panic, only to run into a trembling female university student.

Before I could say a word, the man immediately dropped to his knees in front of me, pleading bitterly.

“Liora, it was my fault, I wronged you. The drug was just too strong, I couldn’t help myself, that’s the only reason I…”

“I swear it was just this once. I’ll never do it again. Please, don’t divorce me!”

After ten years of being in love, I believed him.

Two months later, my husband was drugged again. This time, I was right next door. As I walked over, I heard one of his companions teasing:

"Tavian, every time you come here, you take an aphrodisiac. Aren’t you afraid you’ll drop dead one day?"

The man's voice was hoarse, full of lust. "I'm not afraid. Even if I die on her, it's worth it."

With that, he leaned over the woman beside him.

I felt as if I had been struck by lightning, instinctively clutching the prenatal checkup report in my bag.

So, this so-called drug effect was just a lie to cover up his cheating.

If that's the case, then I might as well abort the child I finally conceived after five long years…

Without hesitation, I pulled out my phone and scheduled an abortion.

The next second, the phone rang. The caller sounded drunk, with a hint of a coquettish tone.

"How about divorcing him?"

"Okay."

——

The person on the other end of the line fell silent, stunned. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Really?"

Listening to the sounds of moaning coming from the private room, I nodded. "Really. If I'm lying, I'm done!"

After the call ended, I drove back to the seaside apartment Tavian had specially designed for me. I couldn't help but recall our past.

We had been together for ten years, married for seven. I had stood by Tavian through everything, from having nothing to becoming someone admired by all.

On countless nights, he would breathe heavily by my ear, gripping my hand tightly. "Liora, I swear I’ll never let you down for the rest of my life."

And I believed him.

I thought we would be different from others, but in the end, we still couldn’t escape the seven-year itch.

A sudden pain pierced my heart and tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over uncontrollably.

Tavian, in the end, you still betrayed me.

After a long while, I got up and went to the study. I printed a copy of the divorce agreement. One stroke at a time, I signed my name.

Just as the pen left the paper, Tavian called.

“Liora, hurry and drive to Green Hospital. Melia… suddenly started bleeding a lot down there…”

Tavian had always been calm and composed. In the seven years of our marriage, even when I drank myself into gastric bleeding to help his career, he had never once lost control like this.

Driven by a doctor’s instinct, I rushed to the hospital.

When I arrived at the emergency room, I saw Tavian cradling a young woman in his arms, whispering soothing words. “Don't be scared. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

The moment he saw me, he shouted desperately, “Liora, please save her! I’m begging you, save her!”

Swallowing the bitter ache in my chest, I pulled over a surgical stretcher and motioned for him to lay her down.

On the way to the operating room, Melia leaned weakly against Tavian, looking as if she could collapse at any moment.

"Tavian… am I going to die? I'm only 22… I haven't even gotten married yet..."

Tavian’s face was full of distress. “Nonsense, of course you won’t! We still have so much ahead of us!”

But the young girl was still unwilling to give up. “Then… can you say you love me? I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold on…”

Tavian hesitated for a few seconds. Before I could turn my head, I heard his deep voice.

“Melia, I love you! I’ve loved you for a long time! If it weren’t for that damned marriage certificate, I’d marry you this instant!”

In that moment, it felt as if my heart had been torn into pieces and every breath came with searing pain...

Tavian’s passionate vows only came to an end when we reached the doors of the operating room.

During the examination, because it was under local anesthesia, Melia remained conscious the entire time.

From the moment she was wheeled in, her once pitiful expression shifted into one of blatant provocation.

“Liora, do you know why I was bleeding? It’s because Tavian was too rough. He pressed me up against the sink and that’s what caused it.”

I ignored her, but Melia was relentless, continuing to describe all kinds of intimate details about her and Tavian’s bedroom affairs.

When the ultrasound probe revealed she was pregnant, my hand suddenly trembled.

Just then, the assistant walked in. Forcing myself to stay calm, I asked her to finish the suturing procedure and stepped out to wash my face.

The moment I opened the door, Tavian rushed over frantically.

“Liora, how is she? Is she okay?”

I kept my expression blank.

“Early pregnancy. The bleeding was caused by intense physical activity. She’ll need to stay overnight for observation. If there are no issues, she can be discharged tomorrow.”

Tavian stood there stunned, unable to suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

After a long pause, he finally noticed me, then dropped to his knees with a thud.

“Liora… I took her virginity and now she’s pregnant. I’m begging you, please let me keep this baby. Let me take responsibility for her… just this once!”

"I promise, everything between us will stay the same. And since you can’t get pregnant anyway, once the baby is born, I’ll bring it back for you to raise!"

My eyes instantly welled up. I lowered my gaze, not wanting him to see.

"Okay."

Tavian, I would give you my blessing and let you took full responsibility.

The next morning, I was woken by the noise of large bags being carried downstairs.

As I stepped down, I saw Tavian walking in with Melia in his arms, his hands full of this season’s latest luxury items.

When he saw me, a flicker of panic flashed across his eyes. He quickly tried to explain, "Liora, the hospital was too crowded, not ideal for her recovery. I thought the sea breeze and scenery might lift her mood, so I brought her back."

"Can she stay here for a while? Just until the baby’s born… Then I’ll have her move out."

Before I could say a word, Melia walked over with a face full of sincerity

“Liora, thank you so much for yesterday. If it weren’t for you, Tavian and I might have lost our baby.”

Then she stepped closer, leaning in to whisper so only the two of us could hear:

“Liora, I truly pity you. First, I got pregnant with your husband’s child. Then he brought me back to your home. Tell me, what’s next? Should I take your place and become Mrs. Mercer?”

Her face was full of smug provocation, but I simply smiled calmly. “Sure. You can have the title of Mrs. Mercer.”

Melia, however, suddenly grabbed my arm, her eyes turning red with emotion.

“Liora, you… you’ve misunderstood me. I’m not trying to take your place and I never wanted to steal Tavian for myself…”

With that, she dropped to her knees, despite her leg still being wrapped in gauze.

“Liora, I was wrong. It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have volunteered to be Mr. Mercer’s cure… and I never should’ve gotten pregnant with his baby!”

"But I really never meant to ruin your marriage with Tavian. I just… I truly want to give birth to this child. Please don’t worry… once the baby is born, I’ll leave far, far away. I promise I won’t ever be an eyesore to you again!"

Tears instantly welled up in Melia’s eyes, as if she had just suffered the greatest grievance in the world.

Tavian immediately pulled her into his arms from behind, then turned to look at me with a coldness I had never seen before.

“Liora, what’s the meaning of this? Didn’t you promise me you’d let her keep the baby? If you have any issues, take them out on me. Why are you making things hard for a young girl like her?”

Melia, pale-faced, curled up weakly in his arms and whispered, “No… it’s not her fault. It’s me. I’ve wronged her. I… I’ll go to the hospital now and have the baby aborted! I swear I won’t bother you two ever again!”

As she spoke, she tried to get up and leave, but Tavian frantically pulled her back into his arms.

“No, Melia, you did nothing wrong.”

Then he turned to me with a cold, cutting gaze. “Liora, apologize.”

I let out a short, mocking laugh. “And why should I?”

Tavian’s eyes were bloodshot. “Because you made things difficult for her!”

Seeing the situation escalate, Melia quickly grabbed my hand, her voice trembling. “Liora, please don’t be upset with Mr. Mercer. He only said that because he was worried. How could I possibly let you apologize to me? It’s all my fault.”

I suddenly flung her hand away. “Have you finished your little act?”

The words had barely left my mouth when Tavian, seething with rage, shoved me hard from behind.

My lower abdomen slammed into the sharp corner of the coffee table, sending a wave of pain that left me drenched in cold sweat.

“Liora, you’re truly beyond redemption. You dare lay a hand on her in front of me? I’ll say it one last time, apologize to her!”

I stared him straight in the eyes and enunciated each word clearly. “Not a chance. I will never apologize to her!”

Tavian’s gaze darkened instantly. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me into the kitchen.

Then he ordered the bodyguards to bring in a large basket full of mangoes.

“If you still refuse to repent… then you’d better learn what that costs.”

I looked up in disbelief and screamed, "Tavian, are you insane? Did you forget that I'm allergic to mangoes? Are you trying to kill me?"

His voice was ice-cold. "I know. But since you hurt Melia, you need to pay the price."

With that, he forcefully shoved a mango into my mouth, with its skin still on. I shook my head desperately, but several bodyguards, following orders, pinned down my shoulders tightly.

Chunks of mango flesh kept entering my throat. My whole body started itching and my breathing became labored.

In a daze, I recalled how, shortly after we got married, I accidentally ate a bite of mango-filled cake. Tavian had rushed me to the hospital, eyes red with panic and stayed by my side for three whole days and nights.

Since then, every servant in the house knew one unshakable rule that mangoes were strictly forbidden in our home.

But now, everything had changed...

Gradually, I couldn’t breathe anymore. Just before I lost consciousness, I heard Tavian’s cold, emotionless voice. "Force every last piece of mango into her. Don’t leave a single bite behind!"

When I opened my eyes again, Tavian was gently wiping the tears that had fallen in my sleep.

For a fleeting moment, I felt like nothing had changed.

But then, his next words brought me crashing back to reality.

“Do you admit you were wrong, Liora? Why are you always so stubborn!”

Yes... this wasn’t the first time I had been stubborn.

Back then, when my parents opposed my marriage to Tavian, I cut ties with them just to secure a piece of paper, that was our marriage certificate.

The last words my mother said to me before she passed were:

“Liora, one day, you’ll regret this.”