Jaxxon got his late wife's twin sister pregnant.

Just one month into our marriage, he tossed a divorce agreement onto the table, his brows tightly furrowed.

"The child was conceived through IVF," he said flatly. "When Rhea died during childbirth, I carried the weight of her death for years—I still owe the Graham family an explanation. So I've decided to register my marriage with Bethany and give the child the rightful title of the Hamilton family heir."

"You have to understand, a marriage certificate is just a piece of paper. What matters is the bond between us."

I didn't argue, and quietly signed my name.

Relieved, his tone softened. "Once the baby is officially registered, we'll remarry."

I kept my head down. "No rush. The baby comes first."

He finally smiled and rushed off to call his lawyer to start the divorce process.

Through tear-blurred eyes, I quickly sent a message.

[I'm divorced. Interested in marrying me?]

The reply came instantly. [That sudden? No emotional buildup? Megan, be honest—have you just been lusting after my body this whole time?]

——

When Jaxxon returned, I was packing my things.

He looked relieved, even walked over to neatly fold the clothes I had messily stuffed into my suitcase. He added a few warm coats.

"Moving to the hillside villa is a good idea. Bethany doesn't know we're faking the divorce," he said calmly. "Right now, everything has to revolve around her. You know I can't let her end up like her sister."

As he spoke, he lifted my suitcase and headed for the door. "It's late. Let me drive you."

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

It was one in the morning, but he seemed all too eager to kick me out.

I stood still, and replied hoarsely, "No need to fake it anymore. Let's just make the divorce real."

He froze, then let out an irritated scoff. "Didn't we just agree? It's only been a few minutes and you're already backing out? Megan, are you really that hung up on a stupid piece of paper? Can't you see how good I've been to you?"

I lowered my head, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill.

"Yes. I care about that stupid piece of paper."

Because without it, what am I?

We dated all four years of college. But right after graduation, he suddenly announced he was going to marry Rhea.

When I confronted him, he looked helpless.

"I fought back too," he said. "My father broke three of my ribs. That's fine, but when he threatened to ruin your future... I couldn't let that happen."

Heartbroken, I left the country to further my studies.

A year later, he called me in tears.

"Megan... Rhea died during labor. The baby didn't make it either. Please… save me. I can't go on without you."

I gave up a prestigious offer to stay and teach overseas and rushed back to him. I stayed by his side for two years.

Three months ago, he proposed.

He told me a corner of his heart would always belong to Rhea and the baby. I didn't argue. That seemed understandable.

But now I understand.

That corner wasn't just for the dead—it also had room for the living.

For Bethany.

And me? I was expendable. A placeholder, and easy to discard.

Seeing me silent, Jaxxon sighed deeply and pulled me into his arms. "I promise we'll remarry soon—within a year at most, alright?"

"Megan, this is my bottom line. Stop making a scene."

I shoved him away. "Enough, Jaxxon! If you and Bethany were already trying for a child through IVF, why didn't you just marry her in the first place? Why lie to me?"

"We've only been married for a month, and now you want a divorce. You're letting me play the fool in your twisted game—does that make you feel powerful?"

I turned on my heel to leave.

"Megan!"

He blocked my way in an instant, veins bulging along his arm.

"I only found out today that Bethany is pregnant too!"

I let out a cold laugh and met his eyes without flinching. "IVF doesn't require months of preparation in advance?"

"You—!"

He glared at me, his expression darkening before a sneer curled across his lips.

"Fine! You just won't let the baby go, huh? What's next—are you going to force me to make her get an abortion?"

"Dream on. If we're getting a divorce, so be it. You think I, Jaxxon Hamilton, can't live without you, Megan?"

Just as the words left his mouth, the doorbell rang.

He gave me a frosty glance before turning to answer it.

A drenched Bethany threw herself into his arms, sobbing softly. "Jax... I dreamt of my sister again. She said she's coming back as our baby. The three of us can finally be together..."

She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes—but the smile tugging at her lips was anything but sorrowful.

That enchanting dimple was identical to her twin sister Rhea's.

Jaxxon was visibly dazed for a moment, then his eyes reddened with pity. "Bethany, don't ever get caught in the rain again, okay?"

Out of habit, I turned to get the hairdryer.

But as I approached the bedroom door, I saw Bethany changing clothes. Jaxxon stood behind her, smoothly zipping up her dress like he'd done it a hundred times.

The moment he noticed me standing there, his face darkened.

He snatched the hairdryer from my hand, his voice like a blade of ice. "Get out."

He then gently blow-dried her hair, his touch as soft as if he were handling fine silk.

Suddenly, Bethany wrapped her arms around his waist, turning her head to shoot me a provocative look.

"Jax always takes care of me best."

"I promised your sister I'd look after you for the rest of your life," he replied in a syrupy tone that grated against my nerves. His fingers brushed affectionately through her hair.

"If I don't take care of you, who else should I take care of?"

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I stumbled backward, nearly losing my balance.

I knew what I was expected to do now—quietly retreat to the study.

—

Rainy night. Late hour.

This was when Rhea had died in childbirth. The night her baby died too.

It was also the night Jaxxon and Bethany were at their most vulnerable.

She would come to him, crying for comfort. And he always welcomed her with open arms.

As for me? I was the wicked woman who had taken Rhea's place. I wasn't even allowed to be seen.

Wiping my tears away, I dragged my suitcase toward the front door without looking back.

Suddenly, a sharp scream pierced the air.

I turned and saw Bethany staggering out of the room, clutching a shattered photo frame. She tripped and collapsed to the floor, sobbing hysterically.

"Megan! My sister is already gone! Why can't you even leave her photo alone?!"

The glass had shattered, and the photo inside—Rhea's maternity portrait—was torn to pieces.

I instinctively took a step back. "I didn't do it."

Bethany glared at me, her entire body trembling as her sobs turned to dry heaves.

Jaxxon's face was like thunder as he helped her up.

Then, without warning, he grabbed my shoulders and slammed me hard against the wall.

He laughed—but the sound was so low, so cold that it sent a chill crawling up my spine.

"Megan, you can't even tolerate the dead?"

Pain shot through my shoulder blades. I struggled, but he only pinned me harder.

Trembling, I pleaded, "Jaxxon... it really wasn't me..."

Smack!

A searing slap landed across my face. The sting spread instantly.

His voice turned to frost. "Who else could've done it? You think Bethany and I would destroy that photo?!"

I held my cheek and shook my head, voice cracking. "I swear, I didn't—"

"Megan!" he roared, cutting me off. "You don't even have the guts to admit what you did. And you call yourself a teacher?!"

I couldn't take it anymore—not the baseless accusations, and definitely not the way he used my profession to humiliate me.

I was trembling all over, but I stubbornly lifted my head.

"It wasn't me. Why should I admit to something I didn't do? Just because Bethany said it was me, that's enough for you to convict me?"

He let out a cold laugh. "Bethany is Rhea's biological sister. If I can't trust her, should I trust you, an outsider?"

It felt like my heart was being pierced by a thousand tiny needles. I could barely breathe through the pain.

Tears slipped uncontrollably from my eyes, falling directly onto the back of his hand.

He immediately flinched and shook me off like I was something filthy.

"All you know how to do is cry once you're caught! Just fix the photo, and this ends here."

But just as he finished speaking, Bethany raised her tear-stained face, her voice trembling. "Brother-in-law... are you siding with her again?"

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Of course. She's the one who's the mistress of this house now. My sister and I... we were always just extras."

Then she staggered back into the room and began packing away Rhea's belongings.

"From the time I was little, my sister was the only one who truly loved me..." she sobbed. "But now she's gone, and even you don't want me anymore..."

Suddenly, she placed a trembling hand on her belly and gave a heart-wrenching smile.

"Maybe I should just go be with my sister... the baby and I... so we won't be in your way anymore."

"Bethany!" Jaxxon rushed to her side and pulled her into his arms, his voice shaking. "Don't say things like that! I've already divorced Megan. She's nothing now!"

He gently cupped Bethany's face in both hands. "Once the cooling-off period is over, we'll get our marriage certificate. I won't let our child suffer, I promise."

Bethany, teary-eyed, shook her head. "Brother-in-law... I never wanted to marry you. I just... I just wanted to fulfill my sister's wishes."

"Bethany!" Jaxxon suddenly lost control and kissed her hard, voice hoarse with emotion. "This time, you're not getting away. I will marry you!"

I turned stiffly and stumbled out of the room, blindly charging toward the stairwell.

The elevator didn't come fast enough, so I grabbed my suitcase and ran down the stairs.

Forty-five floors.

But I didn't stop once.

By the time I reached the lobby, my legs gave out and I collapsed to my knees.

Tears poured down in thick, hot streams—no matter how I wiped, I couldn't stop them.

At that moment, my phone buzzed.

A message popped up from Bethany.[Megan, are you still trying to compete with me?]

I let out a dry, broken laugh and started coughing.

Compete?

What did I have to compete with?

I wasn't even worthy of being compared to a photo of Rhea—much less to the living, breathing Bethany, who looked exactly like her.

I remembered the day before our wedding.

I had been trying on my gown when Bethany watched me, with red-rimmed eyes.

"Brother-in-law... my sister never got to wear a wedding dress. I'm sure she would've loved to."

Right in front of me, Jaxxon grabbed a pair of scissors and shredded my wedding gown to pieces.

The next day, he canceled the ceremony and notified all the guests.

When I tearfully asked him why, he said coldly, "It's a second marriage. What's the point? It's embarrassing."

He had forgotten—it was my first marriage.

He'd also forgotten—I was his first love.

Four years of dating. Three years of waiting. And in the end, even giving me a proper wedding was something he saw as disgraceful.

Dazed and exhausted, I pulled myself up and started heading home to the Rhodes family.

But just then, the elevator doors slid open.

Jaxxon stepped out, carrying a bag in his hand. When he saw I hadn't left, a visible wave of relief washed over him.

Without saying a word, he dragged me to a sofa in the lobby and gently pressed an ice pack to my swollen cheek.

He spoke in a low voice, "Does it hurt?"

My nose stung. "Jaxxon... do you love me?"

His hands froze, then he frowned.

"Why are you asking that again? After all these years, aren't you tired of repeating the same question? Can't you feel how much I love you?"