Seeing that I hadn't responded, Annie continued to smile happily. "You probably don't know this, but not only is my studio equipped with the best art supplies in the world, but also because I'm holding an art exhibition, Mr. Fulmer specially brought in experts from all over the world to support me."

"However, compared to all that, I envy you more, Miss Shelton. You occupy a position that no one else can steal."

I lowered my gaze, lifting the corners of my mouth in a self-mocking smile. "Is that so?"

It seemed that loving Ryan had long become something carved into my bones.

When I was little, I didn't understand anything; all I knew was chasing after him all day long. As I grew up, I even gave up my opportunity to study art abroad for him, even though he was naturally cold and indifferent to everyone.

Still, I never gave up. I believed that I could melt the ice and so I stayed by his side year after year.

Over the years of our marriage, I've been injured countless times. Yet no matter how deep the wound, Ryan never once cared about my pain. Even when my life hung by a thread, he showed not a trace of concern. Instead, he fawns over Annie's dog.

After marrying him, I wanted to continue my art studies, only to be mocked for dreaming.

Whenever this happened, I would always console myself, thinking he was a heartless, loveless person and treated everyone this way. But now, reality had slapped me hard in the face. I suddenly felt that my dream was far more important than my marriage.

By the end of her words, Annie lifted her innocent and adorable face as she smiled at me. "Do you think Mr. Fulmer really likes me?"

I snapped out of my reverie and politely agreed. At that same time, Ryan, in the driver's seat, glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

Once we arrived at the art exhibition, I immediately excused myself to use the restroom and called my mother. "Mom, please help me apply to study abroad."

My mother was somewhat surprised. "Honey, why do you suddenly want to study abroad?"

My nose stung with holdback tears.

Back then, giving up studying abroad to marry Ryan was the one thing my mother opposed the most. We'd even had a huge fight over it. That's why I drowned in regret.

I sniffed back tears. "It's just that I realize now you were absolutely right back then."

After exchanging a few more words, I returned to the event. Reporters swarmed around the couple, snapping photos frantically as flattering whispers filled the air.

"A business tycoon versus an innocent art muse, they look made for each other!"

"Mr. Fulmer has remained unmarried all this time, probably reserving the position of wife for Miss Whitmore!"

I forgot that no one knew that Ryan and I were married. The outside world simply assumed the head of the Fulmer Corporation had never taken a wife and that the position was being held in reserve for his true love, Annie Whitmore.

My heart slowly tightened and I forced myself not to shed tears. Even though I was telling myself to let go just a second ago, my chest was now filled with bitterness once more.

After Annie finished her interview, she handed me everything she was holding, rubbing her wrists. "These things are so heavy, could you please help me carry them? And remember to buy me a bottle of water too."

I took a deep breath, but when I turned back, my eyes accidentally caught one of Annie's paintings.

Although it was her work, I could tell the artistic approach was exactly the same as the mentor who taught me to paint years ago. Wasn't this plagiarism?

My heart raced and the water cup in my hand slipped, shattering on the floor. A staff member shoved me, saying, "How can an assistant like you do your job? What if you ruin Miss Whitmore's painting?"

"I'm sorry." I frantically gathered the shards when a startled gasp erupted nearby.

"Look! Annie's painting has been exposed online as plagiarism!"

As a commotion broke out among the crowd, I was jostled back and forth. Losing my balance, I ended up kneeling on the broken glass and tears streamed down my face from the pain.

Even then, Ryan only focused entirely on Annie, his brow furrowing as he gently patted her shoulder to comfort her. "It's okay. I'm here."

Sensing the shift in momentum, the reporters immediately turned their cameras toward them, closing in step by step.

Ryan wrapped his hands around Annie, then spoke with a resounding voice.

"I pledge the integrity of the Fulmer Corporation to guarantee Miss Whitmore's innocence. This incident is nothing but a fabrication and we will pursue legal action against those responsible for spreading these rumors."

I stared blankly at the wound on my knee.

There was a time when Ryan left important, confidential documents at home. Even though I had a high fever, I dragged myself out to deliver them to him, only to be drugged and knocked unconscious halfway there.

When I woke up, my clothes were disheveled and my body was covered in hickeys.

Because of this, Ryan flew into a rage and punished me by making me kneel on the tile floor for three days and three nights. Furthermore, he forced me to recall the details of the rape and even sent people to collect evidence from my body. Throughout the entire ordeal, he never once asked if I was afraid or in pain.

I had always thought he was simply cold-hearted and accustomed to being loveless, with only profit in his eyes. It never occurred to me that he, too, could feel heartache for someone.

The art exhibition ended abruptly and I was dragged back to the villa.

Before the wound on my knee could even begin to heal, Ryan had his men pin me to the ground again. The leftover glass shards dug deep into my flesh, causing me to scream in agony.

"Didn't I tell you not to interfere in my affairs?" he demanded.

"It wasn't me!"" I bit my lip and looked up, stubbornly glaring at him."

Ryan merely let out a cold scoff. Immediately, the bodyguard beside him took the cue and grabbed my head, slamming it against the ground.

"It doesn't matter if you don't apologize. I'll have someone apologize on your behalf."

Annie's eyes welled up with tears and she blinked her innocent eyes repeatedly. "Miss Shelton, just hurry up and admit it. I'll beg Mr. Fulmer for mercy and ask him to go easy on you!"

I felt the world spinning violently, as if my brain were about to be churned to pieces. Even so, I suppressed the nauseating turmoil in my stomach and shouted hoarsely, "I'll say it one more time. It wasn't me. I won't admit it!"

Annie's sobs grew heavier as she whimpered, "I'm begging you, Miss Shelton. Whatever grievance you have against me, I can apologize for it. I just hope you'll stop targeting me, alright?"

As she spoke, Annie dropped to her knees with a thud, yet her eyes shone with stubborn tears. She looked exactly like a picture of utter resilience.

At the same time, my nausea intensified and I finally vomited on the floor.

Almost instantly, Ryan pulled Annie into his embrace. He shielded her, while staring at me with utter disgust. "You're married into the Fulmers now. Can't you show some dignity?"

Annie cried, her face streaked with tears. "My dress … My mom sewed it for me herself."

Ryan hurriedly kissed her forehead, patiently coaxing her in a low voice. "It's alright, Annie, I'll buy you whatever you want later, okay?"

Soon, a spasm wracked my stomach and I collapsed uncontrollably to the floor.

My heart was filled with nothing but regret and sorrow. After loving Ryan for so many years, I had finally reached the point where I could no longer love him anymore.

Ryan's gaze was like daggers aimed at me.

Without warning, the bodyguard suddenly stepped on my finger.

That's when I finally showed fear. "Ryan, what are you doing!" I screamed.

"Apologize," Ryan repeated that word, his voice cold and threatening. "If you don't apologize in a minute, I'll break one of your fingers. Now, you have ten minutes."

My face turned pale and my lips trembled uncontrollably. He knew better than anyone how dazzling I was in the art world because of these hands. How could he destroy the very hands he used to be so proud of?

"Ryan, you're a lunatic!" I could no longer restrain myself and roared in fury.

If I had another chance, I would rather never have met him.

Then, the housekeeper walked over cautiously and said, "Mr. Fulmer, your father just called. They said to come over for dinner tonight."

Annie wrapped her arms around Ryan's neck and smiled sweetly. "Mr. Fulmer, since we're meeting the parents tonight, let's not pursue this matter further. I believe I'll be cleared of all suspicion in the end."

"You're still so kind-hearted." Ryan smiled as he carried her in bridal way and went upstairs.

Before leaving, he shot me a look. "Clean things up properly. Don't let my father notice anything."

I was left alone downstairs. Struggling to get up, I realized my heart didn't ache as much as I had imagined. It seemed that Ryan was fading from my memory.

Soon, after leaving this place, I could start a new life.

Arriving at the primary residence, Elliot Fulmer's voice was filled with anger upon seeing Annie. "How dare you! This is a family dinner. What is the meaning of bringing an outsider here?"

"Annie is pregnant, so she's hardly an outsider anymore," Ryan stated.

Seeing his father stunned into silence, he scoffed lightly. "If it weren't for Annie, I would never have had the desire to have children. You should thank her."

"You!" Elliot was so angry that he clutched his chest and stomped his feet. "What a disgrace!"

Not wanting to deal with the toxic atmosphere, I excused myself to take a walk and ended up by the swimming pool. I turned on my phone and found a video from an unknown contact.

The screen showed a black-and-white photo of my father strapped to a dog's head, the excited animal thrashing wildly before the camera. Not long after, Annie's smug voice came through.

"He dedicated his life to the country while alive and even after his death, he's still arranging his daughter's marriage. What a loyal dog!"

Her words grew more frenzied as she repeatedly slapped my father's face, laughing smugly with each strike. "If you were watching from heaven, why didn't you stand up for your daughter when she was being bullied to death? What a useless piece of trash you are!"

I gripped my phone tightly, my knuckles turning white.

My father's contribution to the country was not something Annie was allowed to insult! Furthermore, I have felt guilty for a lifetime because of what he did for me just before he died.

Was this the resilient little innocent in Ryan's eyes? I wonder what he would think if he knew he had fallen for such a monstrous woman.

"How about it? Do you like the gift I sent you?" Seeing my eyes turn crimson, Annie couldn't help but feel extremely pleased.

"You probably still don't know this, but the only time you were touched, it actually wasn't done by Ryan. It was simply because his brother wanted to taste what a virgin was like, so Ryan handed you over to him."

She ridiculed, "Otherwise, do you think he would care to touch you?"

Hearing this, I stumbled back two steps in disbelief, my body swaying unsteadily. My heart felt like it had been ripped open, the pain spreading through my entire body.

After that incident, I became pregnant and eagerly awaited my child's arrival. But I lost the baby because I shielded Ryan from a rival's knife.

No wonder when I cried my heart out at that time, that man didn't even frown. It turned out that the child was never his in the first place.

Seeing my pale face, Annie crossed her arms and threatened, "If you know what's good for you, get out of the Fulmers residence right now. Don't dirty my eyes. I am the only one who can be Mrs. Fulmer."

Even though I was leaving in three days, I had no intention of telling him. Instead, I stared intently into her eyes. "As long as I'm here, I will always be Mrs. Fulmer and you … you will only ever be trampled under my feet."

"Charlotte Shelton!" Annie shrieked.

She grabbed my hair and shoved my head into the pool, her face twisted with rage. "I've been lying low by Ryan's side for so long, just to become Mrs. Fulmer. What right do you, bitch, have to stop me?"

I choked on several mouthfuls of water, my nose and throat stinging painfully.

"You're asking for death!" she yelled.

Snapping back to my senses, my gaze turned fierce. I grabbed Annie's hair and yanked her into the pool.

"Ouch!"