Dixie Chapman went through ninety-nine surgical vaginal reconstruction procedures before she succeeded.

That evening, she endured the ache and did it with Atticus Reid.

Suddenly, he stopped moving and spoke in a rough voice, “A little dry.”

After saying that, he rolled aside, left the bed, and headed toward the bathroom.

Hearing the sound of water running, leaving Dixie slightly disappointed, along with a feeling of blaming herself.

Once she placed an order for lubricant on eBay, she rose to shower, yet she unexpectedly heard Atticus on a call.

“I’ll come see you tomorrow night. Tonight I need to stay with her.”

Dixie’s hand on the door froze briefly. Could Atticus be cheating?

Impossible.

She quickly rejected the suspicion.

Even if the entire world turned away from her, Atticus would not.

He was her neighbor brother, two years older than her. They had grown up side by side since childhood.

When Dixie was only five, Atticus, two years older, brought her a stolen family heirloom.

“Mom told me this bracelet is for my future wife. Here, I’ll place it on your wrist.”

From that moment on, he became Dixie’s guardian, shielding her everywhere.

When Dixie turned thirteen, doctors declared she was a “stone girl,” and Mrs. Reid said sorrowfully, “A stone girl can’t have babies. What should we do now?”

Atticus showed no worry. “Then we’ll just live as a DINK couple! In this life, the only woman I’ll marry is Dixie!”

He stayed true to his promise and even hurt himself to show his firm decision to his family.

The Reid family ranked among the wealthiest families in Jefferson City and could not lack a successor.

After the engagement was confirmed, Dixie started undergoing artificial vaginal reconstruction procedures.

The operation involved serious danger, and healing afterward was extremely painful. Atticus had objected many times.

“Don’t go through with it, Dixie. If necessary, I’ll just ask my parents to have another child!”

Faced with the man who loved her wholeheartedly, Dixie began to cry. “But I want to bear a baby that belongs to both of us…”

Hearing those words, Atticus finally stopped resisting.

He stayed by her side through all ninety-nine surgeries.

The rushing water in the bathroom ended abruptly, pulling Dixie from her thoughts to the present moment.

Atticus came out of the bathroom, ignored her completely, and walked directly downstairs.

Dixie’s heart gave a sudden jump. It was so late, where was he going now?

Without bothering to wear shoes, she ran downstairs barefoot. “Atticus, where are you going?”

Atticus opened the door, took the paper bag from the deliveryman, and looked at her calmly, his tone unusually soft.

“It’s this late, where could I go? Your favorite cherriesyou love are in season, so I bought them for you.”

He moved to the island counter and carefully rinsed the cherries.

Watching the man’s tall, straight figure, Dixie quietly breathed in relief.

He loved her too much. It was impossible for him to be unfaithful.

Once Atticus was done washing the cherries, he realized Dixie wasn’t wearing any shoes.

With one arm, he picked her up and brought the cherries upstairs. “It is getting cooler. Walking barefoot will make you catch a cold.”

Catching the familiar cool woody smell from him, Dixie’s restless heart slowly settled.

As expected, she had been overthinking.

.…

Dixie rested in Atticus’s arms, eating the cherries he gave her and dropping the seeds into his hand.

He watched her without blinking, his eyes still full of warmth.

Dixie’s face turned red. After taking a deep breath, she softly said, “Atticus, how about… we try once more?”

She knew he had not been satisfied earlier.

Atticus paused for a second, then soon smiled and declined. “No. You only had surgery recently. Wait until you recover completely.”

Dixie’s breath caught, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.

He was obviously thinking about her, but somehow she still felt uneasy.

Seeing that she looked upset, Atticus leaned closer. “What’s wrong, not happy? Or did I fail to please you earlier?”

“Of course not.” Dixie hurried to say, “I only wanted to make you feel happier…”

Atticus laughed quietly and wrapped his arms around her. “Once you recover, we’ll have plenty of time.”

Dixie’s cheeks turned very red, and she softly replied, “Hmm.”

That night, they held each other and slept as usual.

When Dixie woke the next morning, Atticus was already gone from her side.

Thirty minutes later, she received a friend request from Jennifer Steinfeld.

[Did you fail to please Atticus last night? He just wanted me twice. My legs are still weak.]

Dixie’s eyes shook as she stared, unable to believe it.

Jennifer, the wealthy young lady, had always been one of Atticus’s admirers.

After failing to win his heart, she once aimed her anger at Dixie instead.

“You, a cold woman, not only can’t you have children, you can’t even satisfy him in bed. What right do you have to marry him?”

Jennifer had spoken many harsh words like that.

This time, it had to be another trick!

Dixie did her best to settle her emotions. Just as she planned to block the person, she accidentally agreed to the request.

The next moment, Jennifer sent over a video.

[Since you don’t have much experience, I’ll kindly show you some positions. Study well. Atticus enjoys it most when I do it this way.]

Dixie could not stop herself from opening the video. From the speaker came Atticus’s familiar voice.

“Baby, bend your waist a little more, press your legs together… yes, just like that.”

The girl in the video had long hair, a seductive body, and a blushing face. It was Jennifer.

As time moved forward second by second, all the color left Dixie’s face. She pressed her lips so tightly that they turned white.

If she had not witnessed it herself, she would never have accepted that Atticus had really betrayed her.

Her phone kept shaking with every video sent by Jennifer.

Dixie could not hold herself back and watched them one after another, seeing Atticus hold her closely and act warmly with her, as if she were hurting herself by watching.

[These training videos are my wedding gift for you. Wishing you a joyful marriage.]

Dixie felt as if knives were stabbing into her heart. Tears fell down like scattered pearls, dropping onto the diamond ring on her left ring finger. 

Atticus had placed this ring on her finger himself when he proposed to her half a month earlier.

Under the sunlight, the ten-carat pink diamond shone intensely, its light hurting Dixie’s eyes.

“Dixie, this will be the last surgery. Whether it works or not, you will still become my wife. I will never be unfaithful to you in this life!”

His voice still echoed in her ears, though now it only sounded like sarcasm.

She quickly pulled off the ring and slammed it onto the floor.

Tears streamed down as her body shook without control.

Atticus, since you broke your promise, there is no need for this wedding!

She pulled out her phone and sent Atticus a message on WhatsApp.

[I already know everything. Let’s cancel the engagement.]

As expected, Atticus did not answer.

Dixie didn’t pay it any attention. She gathered her documents and returned home.

Terrence Chapman and Brianna Chapman were watching television in the living room. Seeing her return, they were startled. “It’s already late. Why did you come back?”

“Dixie, did you have a fight with Atticus?”

Terrence had a heart condition and could not handle emotional shock. Dixie had already thought out what to say. “I missed you. It just happens that I’m free these days. I’m thinking of taking you out for a trip.”

Her plan was to leave Jefferson City first and later tell them about ending the engagement.

Just before sleeping, her phone buzzed again.

[Atticus came to me twice tonight. I can’t even get out of bed anymore. So annoying.]

Dixie bit down on her lip, holding back the tears.

The boy who once looked at no one but her had eventually become someone she barely recognized.

She told herself that at least everything was already finished.

To her surprise, when she woke the next day, Atticus was seated by the bedside, gazing at her gently.

“Wife, you’re finally awake. What happened last night was my fault. I shouldn’t have left you to go to the office. I promise it won’t happen again.”

Dixie coldly laughed. “Jennifer already told me everything about the two of you. Are you still planning to lie to me?”

“You believe her words, too?” Atticus’s face remained calm. With a helpless sigh, he said, “She’s been bothering me for a long time, but I have no interest in her. Last night, there truly was an urgent meeting at the company. If you don’t believe me, look.”

He unlocked his phone and opened a video.

On the screen was a brightly lit meeting room. He sat at the head of the table, discussing matters with several company executives.

The timestamp in the upper corner of the video showed a time shortly after he had gone out the night before.

“After the meeting ended and I saw your WhatsApp message, I realized you must have misunderstood something. But your phone wouldn’t connect, so I had no choice but to call your parents.”

“Good thing you were here, or I would have been extremely worried.”

“I’m sorry, wife. I’ll take care of Jennifer. I won’t let her trouble you again.”

Dixie laughed in anger, tears nearly forming in her eyes.

It was obvious Atticus had prepared everything beforehand, even the ‘evidence.’

If she hadn’t personally seen those videos earlier, she might truly have believed him now.

She pulled out her phone and was about to unlock it when the bedroom door gently opened.

Terrence and Brianna came inside together. Seeing the anger covering her face, Terrence frowned. “Dixie, why are you still creating a scene? Atticus is occupied with his job. If something urgent happened in the middle of the night and he went to the company to manage it, that is proper business. A man should place his career first. You must look at the whole situation.”

Brianna gently advised, “Okay, Dixie, do not behave like a spoiled child. Quickly return with Atticus! He worries about you so much. He came here late at night but did not have the heart to wake you.”

When she saw the open trust and praise her parents showed toward Atticus, Dixie hesitated.

For all these years, Atticus had always been the flawless and dependable future son-in-law in their hearts.

If she revealed it now, would they trust her?

And if they believed it, would her father’s heart be able to handle it?

Suddenly, everything around her spun, and Atticus lifted Dixie into his arms.

She reacted by struggling, but he held her tightly and did not let her go.

“Dad, Mom,” Atticus spoke suddenly. “This time the mistake is mine. Dixie has suffered unfair treatment. To show my honesty, and also to make Dixie feel calm, I want to move the wedding to two weeks from now. That day is a lucky day. I hope both of you elders can accept it.”

Terrence and Brianna clearly had not expected this sudden choice, yet their shock quickly turned into happiness.

Terrence revealed a relieved smile. “You care deeply for Dixie. Naturally, we have no disagreement.”

Brianna kept nodding, her eyes a little wet. “Yes, Atticus. Leaving Dixie with you makes us feel very assured. This child, Dixie, is wonderful in every way, but sometimes she clings to things too much. Please be more patient with her.”

Atticus lowered his head and looked at Dixie, his voice so soft it almost melted. “I will. Don’t worry. In this life, I will take good care of her.”

Without difficulty, he brought Dixie away.

The car door shut, and Dixie received another WhatsApp message from Jennifer.

[You lie on the bed like a dead fish. What right do you have to cancel the engagement with Atticus? If you want to win his heart, learn it properly. Don’t use those playing-hard-to-get tricks.]

[If you really can’t learn, I don’t mind giving you a live lesson with Atticus!]

Hidden between the words was a challenge and a proud attitude.

Dixie curved her lips in a sarcastic smile.

She had always considered Jennifer nothing more than a spoiled heiress, overbearing but not very scheming.

Now it seemed she had completely underestimated her.

Someone who could secretly take Atticus away and still generously share teaching videos, how could she be an ordinary person?

Dixie did not bother arguing with her. She handed the phone to the man next to her. “Is this how you say you handled it?”

Atticus lowered his gaze to the screen. The gentle expression on his face vanished, and his voice turned cold.

“If this matter gets exposed, it won’t benefit anyone. Our parents are elderly and can’t take such a shock.”

“On the fifth of next month, just behave and become my most beautiful bride. As for Jennifer, she won’t threaten your place as Mrs. Reid.”

Dixie laughed coldly. “Atticus, have you stopped pretending now?”

“Wife.” Atticus sighed softly and put on his familiar warm smile. “I stayed up the entire night. Can’t you at least pity me a little? Come on, stop making a scene. As long as you settle down, houses, cars, jewelry, whatever you want, just say it…”

Dixie coldly laughed. “I’m definitely calling off this engagement!”

Hearing that, Atticus’s expression turned cold, and his voice sharpened. “Everyone in Jefferson City knows you went through ninety-nine surgeries for me. If you cancel the engagement, are you sure anyone else will still marry you?”

“Dad is already old, and his heart is weak. Do not make him worry.”

“Atticus!” Dixie clenched her teeth in anger. “Are you using my father to threaten me?”

Atticus neither agreed nor refused. “If you stay quiet and behave well, I promise the old man remains healthy and unharmed.”

Dixie suddenly lost control of her feelings and raised her hand to slap him.

He had prepared for it and suddenly seized her wrist. His grip was so powerful that it felt as if her bones would be crushed.

The pain was so strong that Dixie’s features twisted, and tears quickly rose in her eyes.

Atticus quickly released her hand, his voice returning to the same gentle tone as before. “Sorry, wife. Do I hurt you?”

His fake expression made Dixie feel disgusted. She quickly drew her hand back.

She refused to look at him again and turned her face toward the window.

It was the twelfth month of the lunar year, bitterly cold, just like the feeling in her heart right then.

The car became completely quiet.

Atticus seemed not to mind her response and leaned back in the seat again.

As if he had already decided that Dixie had given in.

He drove Dixie back home and left after dropping one line. “Don’t go wandering, so our parents don’t worry.”

Dixie’s eyebrows pressed together tightly. Before ending the engagement, she had to think of a way to send her parents away.

That night, Atticus did not return.

Very late at night, the phone that had stayed silent for a long time shook again.

The picture Jennifer sent was Atticus’s sleeping side view.

The caption had only five words. [He’s so tired he falls asleep.]

Dixie had just taken a screenshot to keep it when Jennifer removed the picture and the message.

She mockingly laughed and put the phone onto the bedside table, accidentally spotting a picture of herself and Atticus.

Inside the picture were the two of them from ten years before, standing beneath the big school trees, smiling carefree.

At that time, Atticus would fight with others whenever she was bullied and would awkwardly wipe away her tears.

After returning to awareness, she tossed the picture frame into the trash and lay on the bed in a blank state.

The shapes on the ceiling seemed to bend and intertwine, just like the more than twenty years between her and Atticus, looking clean and lovely on the surface, yet actually long, full of breaks and schemes.

Dixie almost stayed awake the whole night and only slipped into a faint sleep when dawn arrived.

She did not know how much time had passed when sounds rose from downstairs.

Before long, Atticus pushed into the bedroom with a dark expression.

“Jennifer almost got raped. Was it you who arranged someone to do it?!”