“Hope you won’t regret this later!” My father threw those words at me before storming off.

Many guests who had been trying to curry favor with him quickly followed suit and left.

Aunt Sheila sneered sarcastically, her tone dripping with mockery. “Denver, this marriage of yours is doomed from the start. If you come to your senses and still plan to marry my daughter, then maybe I’ll accept you as my son-in-law.”

I didn’t respond to any of them. I simply held Melissa’s hand and steadily walked up the stage.

Without hesitation, I told the master of ceremonies, “The wedding can begin.”

Most of the guests friendly with the Crawford and Porter families had left the venue.

Only a handful of close friends remained. Still, I smiled with quiet satisfaction as Melissa and I completed the last ceremony.

“From now on, I am your husband.”

“Melissa, through sickness and health, riches and poverty, we are one.”

Melissa smiled and hugged me tightly. She looked at me deeply and, with utmost sincerity, said one word. “Good.”

After the wedding, Melissa asked me to move into a river-view villa registered in her name.

To register our marriage officially, I still had to go back to the Crawford family to get my ID card.

As soon as I arrived at the Crawford residence, a red sports car suddenly sped straight toward me.

Before I could dodge, Regina grabbed my arm and pushed me harshly to the ground.

“Are you blind?”

Regina glared coldly, a mocking smirk curling at her lips. “I thought you cut ties with the Crawford family? What are you doing here?”

I replied calmly, “I’m here to get my ID card for the marriage registration.”

Her expression immediately froze, disbelief written all over her face.

“You’re serious?” she whispered. “The rumors outside are true? You’re really going to marry that spoiled rich girl?”

Before I could answer, Sean, dressed in a flashy red suit, jogged down from the sports car.

“Oh, sorry, bro! I didn’t see you there just now—almost hit you...”

“Dad just bought me this new car, I got too excited and lost control. You don’t mind, right?”

Sean’s tone was full of bragging.

I glanced at the red Porsche and smiled faintly. “No, I don’t mind.”

After all, living in the Crawford household all these years felt like I was just a guest.

I was long used to my father and stepmother’s undivided attention on Sean.

When I wanted a practical car for my internship, my father refused.

But the moment Sean asked for a sports car, one after another was handed over without hesitation.

At that moment, I understood the truth—once there’s a stepmother, even your biological father becomes a stepfather.

"I just came back to grab something," I said, turning to leave.

But before I could take more than a few steps, a bucket of icy water crashed down over my head.

Regina burst into laughter.

Sean covered his mouth, chuckling with feigned innocence.

“Brother,” he said mockingly, “they’re all saying you want to marry Melissa—that promiscuous woman. Didn’t you know she has AIDS? She’s probably infected. Don’t bring her into our house. I might have to disinfect you first.”

Reading the full provocation in his eyes, I stared coldly at Sean.

Yet it seemed he wasn’t satisfied. Step by step, he advanced toward me.

“Honestly, brother, I don’t get what you’re thinking.”

“Regina chose me firmly—even if she fled the wedding, you shouldn’t just pick any woman to save face. Melissa’s lifestyle is so wild, you don’t even know half of it.”

“Marrying and sharing a bed with her, knowing she’s been involved with so many men before—doesn’t that disgust you?”

I couldn’t help but sneer coldly.

“Why don’t you worry about your own woman instead?”

Melissa deliberately ruined her own reputation to keep away unwanted suitors.

She only had a bad name, but never once touched another man.

But Regina was different.

In my previous life, we seemed to have been married for sixty years, but after having our twins, we lived separately.

She never let go of Sean, her first love.

Every few days, she brought home young guys who looked just like him, spending the night with them.

She even flaunted it to me on purpose.

To me, no one was dirtier than Regina.

A mischievous idea struck me. I lowered my voice and leaned close to Sean.

“Sean, all the women around you? They’re just the ones I got tired of playing with.”

“If you don’t believe me, check the red birthmark on the right side of her thigh—I’ve seen it countless times.”

“A woman I’ve already played out, and you treat her like a treasure? Isn’t that disgusting?”

After saying that, I turned and walked away coldly.

Sean’s face suddenly turned pale as he started arguing with Regina.

“Regina, are you lying to me? How does my brother know about the birthmark on your thigh?”

“Have you already been with him behind my back?”

Regina’s face darkened. She was flustered, trying to explain.

“No, that was in a past life... You probably won’t believe me if I say that.”

“Sean, trust me, I definitely never touched him...”

Their shouting grew louder and almost turned into a fight. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Who told you to badmouth Melissa?

Serves you right!

Luckily, my dad wasn’t home. After getting my ID, I slipped out quickly.

Before leaving, I didn’t forget to grab a bucket of cold water and splash it on Sean.

Seeing him drenched like a drowned rat, I smiled. “Good brother, now I forgive you.”

“Stop right there!”

Regina chased after me with a face as dark as thunder.

For the first time, she left Sean behind and ran after me instead.

“Denver, are you sure you’ve thought this through?”

“Don’t think your little game of hot and cold will make me change my mind about you.”

"I’ve decided—in this life, the only person I want to marry is Sean. No one can replace him.”

I smiled faintly and turned to give her my blessing.

“Then I wish you a happy marriage and a long life together.”

“Go back to your husband. Stop following me.”

Regina’s expression darkened, but she kept staring. “Denver, I’ve told you, stop playing these games. Sean is pure and kind—he doesn’t have your scheming mind. I'm warning you, don’t hurt him.”

“In our last life, we were married for decades, but you know I never loved you. So I advise you—”

“Got it.” I cut her off impatiently, waving my hand. “If you’re worried, I’ll leave New Jersey with Melissa. You’ll never see me again.”

A heavy silence fell behind me. I couldn’t be bothered to argue further.

My mind was full of images of going to register the marriage with Melissa. The thought made my steps lighter.

Just as I left the Crawford residence, I heard two quick honks behind me.

The car window rolled down, and sure enough, it was Melissa, who came here to pick me up.

“Husband, get in,” she called with a bright smile.

I slid into the passenger seat, smiling back. “Why did you come? I thought things at your company weren’t settled yet.”

Melissa reached over and fastened my seatbelt for me, her tone was light as she spoke. “I took two months off. Our honeymoon comes first—work can wait.”

Although the company was technically hers, there were still formalities to go through.

“Of course, the first thing is to rush to the civil affairs bureau. I’m afraid if I wait any longer, someone might steal my husband away.” Melissa grinned.

Her gaze was lazy as she looked out the window.

I turned to glance outside too.

Regina stood at the entrance with a dark, stormy expression, fists clenched tightly, staring coldly at us.

Right in front of her, I deliberately bent down and kissed Melissa on the lips.

“Wife, let’s go.”

Melissa’s cheeks flushed instantly. She smiled and nodded. Nervous, she even forgot to release the handbrake as she pressed the accelerator.

Regina’s figure quickly disappeared into the distance.

Sitting in the car, I was bored, so I played with my phone. Suddenly, a news alert popped up.

[Chairman of Crawford Group severs ties with eldest son Denver.]

I glanced at it indifferently, then set the phone down.

“Melissa, I’m no longer part of the Crawford family. Do you still want me?”

She was momentarily stunned, then smiled and ruffled my hair. “Of course I do.”

She said we could live a different life together—even if it meant working odd jobs or wandering the world.

And she promised she wouldn’t let me suffer.

I looked calmly into Melissa’s face, feeling my heart fill with warmth and contentment.

She had ruined her own reputation to block unwanted suitors, and there were even rumors she had AIDS.

But I knew the truth.

She had never been in a relationship or touched any other man her entire life.

She was always the one saving me.

I thought it was just luck many times—until after Melissa passed away, when Aunt Patricia tearfully told me, “Denver, my daughter has liked you since she was little. All these years, she decided never to marry anyone else—for you.”

“Have you ever thought that there’s no such thing as endless good luck in this world?"

"What seems easy is just someone quietly bearing the weight behind the scenes.”

'Melissa, this time I will love you properly,' I promised myself.

Our married life was simple and happy.

Every time Melissa came home from work, she brought me my favorite strawberry cakes.

She was always worried I’d get bored at home, so she’d take me on road trips to nearby cities every now and then.

But half a month later, after a shower, lying in bed getting ready to sleep, I glanced at the clock and saw it was almost 11 PM, and Melissa still hadn’t returned.

Suddenly, a short video popped up on my feed.

[Suspected Affair: Gardner family’s infamous heiress allegedly caught cheating at a hotel. Police dispatched in full force to crack down on illicit activity.]

My heart suddenly tightened. I clicked into the comments.

They were full of pointed fingers and curses.

[Rich people’s world is beyond us. Didn’t she just marry the Crawford family’s eldest son? Their wedding even trended online, and now she’s out playing around.]

[Dogs never change their nature. Even if she marries a handsome guy, wild men on the side are always more tempting.]

One username caught my eye—called “Gina.”

They even tagged me in the comments.

[Look at the woman you chose. Bet you don’t even have a place to cry.]

Hesitating only briefly, I quickly changed clothes and took a taxi to the hotel.

Everyone was saying my wife had cheated.

Outside, the police had cordoned off the area. The scene looked serious.

I pushed through the crowd without care, and found Melissa inside the hotel, wearing pajamas, lying in bed with a man.

To my shock, Regina was there too.

“What are you doing here?”

“Just passing by.” Regina smirked as she crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the drama. “Regretting not marrying me now, Denver?”

“Your taste in women is truly awful.”

“You’ve barely been married for a few days, and she’s already cheating on you. Imagine the kind of humiliation you’ll suffer in the future.”

“I’m honestly curious—what kind of man could make Ms. Gardner sneaks out in the middle of the night?”

Her gaze fell with ill intent on the bulge under the blanket beside the bed.

Soft groans and muffled whimpers came from underneath.

There was no doubt—someone was hidden under there.

My face paled slightly, but I ignored her.

I stepped forward and grabbed Melissa’s hand.

“Tell me the truth. What’s going on here?”

Melissa looked straight into my eyes. “Denver, do you believe me?”

Without hesitation, I nodded.

She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

In the next second, she pulled the blanket back.