When my husband accompanies his childhood sweetheart to the vet to treat her pet fish, my son accidentally spills his drink on her.

My husband watches as his childhood sweetheart's eyes redden. Then, he slaps my son hard and throws a stack of cash at him. "This is your chance to make up for your mistakes. Buy Wendy a dress—make sure it's white!"

My son dries his tears while holding onto the money. He roams the streets, searching for a white dress in the middle of the night. When he finally finds one, he ends up getting beaten to death by some drunk hooligans. Even in death, he clutches the bloodied skirt tightly.

I burst into tears of despair as I hold onto his body and call my husband over a dozen times. However, he's too busy with his childhood sweetheart's fish. He blocks my number.

When he finally calls me back, he sounds icy and angry. "Wendy is still waiting for that dress! Where has the little brat gone to? Can't he even handle such a simple task?"

I had just finished handling my son Zane Graham's funeral arrangements when the number I had dialed dozens of times without an answer finally called back.

My husband, Louis Graham, said irritably, "Where's Zane? That idiot can't even handle something as simple as buying a darn dress."

A wave of absurd despair surged inside me. I muttered, "He's dead."

There was a rare pause on the other end before the mocking tone came crashing down. "Nora Harrison, what's gotten into you? You're really saying all sorts of nonsense now, huh?

"Why don't you go ahead and say you're dead too? Enough with the nonsense. Did he get the dress or not? Make him deliver it himself as an apology."

Before I could respond, the line went dead.

I stared blankly at the small box beside me. I picked up the bloodstained dress from the floor and hailed a cab to Louis' office.

His employees whispered when they saw me. I overheard someone mention how pathetic it must be for a wife to end up like me.

I sneered and pushed open the door to Louis' office.

The couple, who had been tangled up together in the room, quickly separated. Louis pretended to straighten his clothes nonchalantly.

"Where's Zane? I told you to have him bring it himself."

I glared at his shameless face and threw the dress in my hand straight at him. "That's his blood on it."

The dress slid down his face. He quickly grabbed it up and shook it out. "This is for Wendy. How can you—"

He suddenly stopped talking because his eyes landed on the glaring blood on the dress. The blood had already dried and darkened, much like Zane.

The thought of his gruesome death made my blood run cold.

But Louis just chuckled derisively and sneered at me. "Where'd you get this blood? From a chicken or a cow?"

Wendy Lane, who had been silently watching, spoke up sweetly, "Louis, maybe Nora was just upset. Don't take it to heart. It's not good for your health to get worked up."

She made it sound like she was defending me, but her words only highlighted her grace compared to my ruthless nature.

Louis grasped her hand tenderly, then turned to me, furious. "See the difference? You're always so aggressive. You'll never be gentle like Wendy."

I looked at Wendy. Ever since Louis had made money, she'd made sure to cross paths with him whenever she could.

Wendy was the woman Louis had once adored in his youth. He saw her as an innocent fairy.

But back then, Wendy had abandoned him simply because he was poor. Well, I would make sure they got what they wanted now.

I nodded, then threw the divorce papers on his desk. "Let's get a divorce."

Louis was taken aback. He lifted his cold, piercing eyes to meet mine and said through gritted teeth, "Is this what a mother would do? Zane messed up, and now you want a divorce?"

It had been two full days since Zane's funeral, and I hadn't slept a wink. My head throbbed, and my eyes were bloodshot.

I glanced at the goldfish on the table. Louis noticed my gaze and sneered. "Wendy's a caring person. Someone like you wouldn't understand."

His words suddenly made me remember something from two years ago, when I wanted a puppy to keep me company.

His response was anything but kind. He'd clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Zane already has a bunny. Why do you need a dog? It has too much hair. It's too much trouble."

Having a dog was too much trouble, but keeping a fish was called caring.

I forced a bitter smile. I thought I had forgotten all this by now, but the memories came flooding back in a rush.

Wendy walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder. Her expression was full of concern as she asked, "Are you okay, Nora?"

I couldn't listen to her words, but my eyes immediately fell on the emerald necklace around her neck.

My pupils constricted, and my forehead started to throb. That was the only thing my mom, Regina Yates, had ever left me.

I reached out to snatch it off her neck, but Wendy screamed in shock.

Louis immediately grabbed my arm and yanked me away, barking, "Nora Harrison! Don't lose your mind!"

I slowly looked up and slapped him hard across the face.

His expression darkened an instant, and he stared at me with a look of pure rage. Wendy, acting like a protective hen, immediately shielded him behind her.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she held her hands over Louis' reddened face. "Just take it out on me! Why must you slap him?"

I fought to hold back my tears. Pointing at the necklace, I demanded, "Take it off. Now."

Wendy hesitated. Her hand lingered on the necklace, as she looked at Louis with a pitiful gaze.

Louis swatted my hand away. "Why on earth should she give it to you?"

I didn't waste time arguing with him. I lunged at Wendy, trying to tear the necklace off, but she clung to it desperately.

Louis shoved me aside. In that instant, I crashed into the small fish tank on the table.

The sound of glass shattering echoed in the cramped room. I collapsed onto the broken pieces, and my blood stained the shards of glass crimson.

I lay on the cold, cluttered floor like that goldfish, struggling to breathe just as desperately.

The next second, Louis picked up the fish with exaggerated care.

Wendy gazed at it through tears. Her expression was so sorrowful, it was as if someone had died. "My poor little fish."

Louis gently pulled her close and looked down at me with disgust. Then, he called for security.

Lying among the glass shards, I didn't even feel the pain. Instead, I let out a manic laugh.

I struggled to get up. Like a vengeful spirit, I sank my teeth into Wendy's hand.

She let out a shriek. In a fit of rage, Louis slapped me across the face.

I fell back to the ground, spitting blood. I couldn't tell whether it was mine or Wendy's.

Inside, I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. I was ultimately dragged out by the security that had arrived.

This whole relationship had been a mistake from the start. Louis was a student of my dad, Tyler Harrison.

Because Louis was poor, Dad always used white lies to bring him over for dinner at our house.

Gradually, I got to know him better.

Dad recognized Louis's potential and did everything he could, using both his connections and his wealth, to support him.

Louis didn't disappoint. Within three years, he managed to make a complete turnaround, rising to success.

But just as things were looking up, Dad and Mom got into a car accident.

Mom didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. I cried so hard I almost fainted.

In his final moments, Dad, with tears in his eyes, placed my hand in Louis', He no longer had the strength to speak.

Louis' tears welled up, and he whispered, "I know."

Then, Dad closed his eyes for the last time. During that period, my entire world lost its color.

The pain was unbearable. I felt like a lonely boat adrift on the open sea with no direction or support.

I clung to Louis' sleeve, like a drowning person gasping for air.

A year later, Louis proposed to me.

Looking back, I realize I must've been completely blinded by the idea of happiness. I couldn't see the flicker of resentment in his eyes.

That bomb finally exploded with the arrival of his childhood sweetheart, Wendy.

He started disappearing for hours and sometimes wouldn't even come home without any explanation.

I knew he was crossing a line, but when I looked at Zane's sleeping face, I couldn't bring myself to confront it.

Now that Zane was gone, I had no reason to keep that bastard around.

Louis came home the next evening. He stared at the cut on my lip in surprise. A hint of guilt appeared in his voice. "Why didn't you put on some ointment?"

I pulled my hand away from his attempt to touch me and said coldly, "Sign it."

He paused for a second, then glanced at the documents on the table. I could see the anger building on his face.

He closed his eyes for a second, then suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

"Are you done with this? I've tolerated you for so long, but you just keep pushing me. Where's Zane? I come home, and he doesn't even come and greet me?"

Wendy stepped forward and gently caressed his chest. Her tone was slightly reproachful as she said, "Don't get so worked up. I've told you, it's bad for your health."

Louis patted her hand affectionately. The two exchanged a glance that spoke volumes, like an old married couple.

Louis caught the look of disdain in my eyes. His anger faltered for a moment before he snapped, "Where's Zane? Does he still consider me his father?"

My nails dug into my palms, and I swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my throat.

I closed my eyes and replied softly, "He's dead."

A suffocating silence spread across the room. Louis suddenly yanked me by the collar. "Can you stop with the lies? Wendy's daughter saw him yesterday at school. That brat even slapped her twice!

"Are you covering for him so much that you'll even lie about him being dead? You two really are something."

He shoved me to the ground, towering over me as he sneered.

Seizing the perfect moment, Wendy handed him the necklace I had failed to grab yesterday.

Louis was furious. He flashed me a terrifying smile.