The atmosphere in the car suddenly turned awkward.

Gabriel was about to say something when the driver stopped the car. "Mr. Fulton, we've arrived at the restaurant."

As the group entered the private room, Gabriel was worried Andrea might get cold sitting under the air conditioner, so he switched her seat, poured her hot tea, and even warmed her hands. He indeed seemed like the perfect husband until the restaurant manager suddenly walked in respectfully with a gift.

The manager pushed the door open and stood respectfully in front of Gabriel, Hannah, and Anthony.

"Mr. Fulton, Mrs. Fulton, and Mr. Anthony, this is your 99th visit to our restaurant. You celebrated your wedding anniversary here last year today. This year, we've prepared an anniversary gift and a celebration cake to wish your family a happy life for years to come." The manager then handed the gift over, but no one took it, and a deadly sense of silence filled the room.

While the manager was puzzled, Andrea suddenly burst out laughing. It was this laugh that brought Gabriel back to his senses.

He furiously pushed the manager's gift away, pointed at Andrea, and said coldly, "What nonsense are you spouting? She's just my secretary. This one is my wife. And what do you mean by 99th visit? Is your memory faulty? This is the first time my family has come to this restaurant!"

The restaurant manager looked back and forth between Andrea and Hannah in disbelief. "But I..."

"Enough! Get out!" Gabriel's expression was filled with warning and impatience this time.

The manager came to his senses and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry. It was my mistake.”

After the manager left, Gabriel immediately grabbed Andrea's hand, his eyes full of panic. "Andrea, don't overthink it. It's really my first time at this restaurant." He then looked toward Anthony.

"Yeah, Mom." Anthony also sat beside Andrea and nervously clung to her arm. "It's really the first time Dad has brought me here. If I’m lying, my pants will start burning!"

Hannah watched Gabriel and Anthony anxiously try to appease Andrea, and jealousy flickered in her eyes. She dug her nails into her palm, but soon let go.

Hannah forced a smile. "Yeah, Mrs. Fulton. Please don't let the manager's statement drive a wedge between you and Mr. Fulton. This is a high-end restaurant. How could I have come here with him?"

Looking at the trio before her, Andrea's gaze was full of sarcasm.

When they had just entered the restaurant, a waiter promptly greeted them and led them to their usual private room, and served their usual dishes without them saying anything. No one would believe it was their first time here after everything that had happened.

However, Andrea did not expose them. She only said flatly, "Got it. Let's eat first."

She did not want to dwell on it, but she realized there was not a single dish on the table she could eat when she stretched out her cutlery. Everything was spicy, which she could not handle. However, it happened to be Hannah's favorite.

Seeing that Andrea had not eaten anything, Gabriel quickly looked at her before following her gaze to the dishes on the table. His face turned pale instantly. Perhaps he finally remembered her preferences—he raised his hand to call the waiter over to change the dishes.

"It's not necessary." Andrea shook her head.

The meal eventually ended hastily, and the group got into the extended Rolls Royce. On the way home, Gabriel and Anthony sat beside her, constantly cheering her up and making her smile—perhaps noticing her bad mood.

Even Hannah could not help but feel envious, and her tone had a subtle hint of jealousy.

"Mr. Fulton, your family has such a good relationship. Mrs. Fulton, I admire you. If only I had such a wonderful husband and son."

Andrea looked up at her with a fake smile. "Don't worry. You'll have the same someday." After all, Andrea had already decided to give Gabriel and Anthony to Hannah.

As soon as Andrea finished speaking, a dazzling high beam suddenly shone in her direction. Andrea instinctively raised her hand to cover her eyes. She was about to ask what had happened when she heard the screeching of brakes.

The next moment, an out-of-control truck from the opposite side slammed into them!

Bang!

"Hannah, watch out!" Gabriel shouted.

"Ms. Jennings, watch out!" Anthony yelled.

While everything happened in the blink of an eye, Andrea watched Gabriel and Anthony leap past her and tightly shield Hannah in their arms.

When Andrea opened her eyes again, the first thing she saw was a white ceiling, and she smelled the pungent scent of disinfectant.

A nurse pushed a cart into the room to change her bandages. The nurse quickly came over when she saw that Andrea had woken up. "Mrs. Fulton, you're finally awake! You don't know how worried Mr. Fulton and Mr. Anthony were while you were in a coma.

"They not only stayed by your side day and night without sleeping or resting, but they also brought in all the best doctors in the city for consultations. They even went to the Evergreen Church outside the city to pray for your recovery. There are 999 steps. They climbed every single one to the top. It even made the trending list!"

The nurse finished speaking and handed Andrea her phone. In the video, Gabriel and Anthony were climbing the steps toward the mountaintop church.

The Evergreen Church was renowned for answered prayers, so many people often climbed the steps to pray. However, it was unprecedented for a father and son like Gabriel and Anthony to do it together. That was why many people filmed them with their phones.

In the video, they could be heard choking on their words as they prayed for Andrea to wake up. However, Andrea's heart was only filled with mockery as she watched the video.

If Gabriel and Anthony loved her that much, they would not have abandoned her during the car crash to protect Hannah.

The news of Andrea's awakening soon reached Gabriel and Anthony. Without even tending to their injuries, they drove back to the hospital overnight and rushed into her hospital ward, pulling her into their arms.

Andrea witnessed Gabriel losing control once again, but Anthony joined him this time.

Looking at Gabriel and Anthony's red-rimmed eyes and shaking bodies, she was indifferent—all she felt was numbness. She wondered, 'Wouldn't it be great if I had died? They could have had their wish and become a family with Hannah. Wouldn't that be great? Why bother acting in front of me now?'

Gabriel and Anthony cried for a long time and said many things, but she remained unresponsive. When they finally let her go, the calmness on her face and the sarcasm in her eyes stunned them.

Perhaps recalling what happened during the car crash, Gabriel hurriedly explained to her.

The reason they had protected Hannah first was that Andrea and Hannah were dressed similarly that day. It was why they had instinctively mistaken Hannah for her. Gabriel added, "Andrea, I'm sorry. We mistook her for you. It won't happen again."

Anthony chimed in, "Yeah, Mom. I promise I won't mistake Ms. Jennings for you again. Will you forgive us?"

Both Gabriel and Anthony quickly raised their hands and swore.

Andrea only felt exhausted at that instance. They had lied so many times that they believed their lies. She wearily closed her eyes, refusing to listen to any more of their lies. Her outfit and Hannah's that day were two different styles.

More importantly, they called Hannah's name when the truck crashed into them. Andrea thought, 'Gabriel and Anthony, at least try to lie better if you want to trick me. Why can't you even lie properly?'

She said nothing and turned her back to them as she cried.

Gabriel and Anthony assumed she was tired and quietly left the room without continuing on the subject.

Over the next few days, Gabriel and Anthony stayed by her side—perhaps out of guilt or fear. Gabriel did not pick up any of Hannah's calls. The prolonged neglect made Hannah panic, and she began to target Andrea.

Photo after photo was sent to Andrea's phone, and a video was eventually included. Even though Andrea had long known that Gabriel, Anthony, and Hannah had formed their own family, the photos of them together still stung her eyes.

The first photo showed Gabriel lovingly holding Hannah in his arms by a floor-to-ceiling window as fireworks exploded outside, Hannah's neck was covered with hickies.

The second photo was of Anthony sleeping soundly in Hannah's embrace. He gripped the hem of her clothes tightly as if afraid she would leave.

The third photo was a photo of Gabriel, Anthony, and Hannah together at a restaurant. The three of them sat together and were intimate like a family.

The fourth photo showed the three having a snowball fight and building a snowman. All their faces radiated happiness.

...

In the last video. Gabriel and Anthony kissed Hannah on the cheek at a birthday party.

Gabriel said, "Happy birthday, Darling."

Anthony said, "Happy birthday, Mom."

Tears fell one by one onto the phone screen. Andrea touched her face to realize her face was already covered with tears at some point. She had told herself not to be sad since she would be leaving soon. However, these offensive images still pricked her heart, suffocating her with pain.

Outsiders knew Gabriel and Anthony doted on her, but she had also been sincere to them.

Gabriel was wealthy yet lonely. She had always been there when he needed her—celebrating his birthdays, sending him an umbrella on rainy days, waiting for him to come home every night. Every time he felt lonely, she would be there.

Then there was Anthony, who she had endured a difficult labor to bring into this world. She accompanied him to grow up and taught him how to navigate the world. All her love was given to Gabriel and Anthony, but she did not receive the same sincerity in return. Instead, all she received was betrayal.

Andrea could not bear to see the photos and video anymore, so she turned off her phone.

Perhaps because Andrea did not respond for a long time, the impatient Hannah called again. This time, she no longer sounded humble or respectful—all that she said was full of gloating and ridicule.

"Mrs. Fulton, I know you've seen those photos. Over the past year, Mr. Fulton and Mr. Anthony have spent far more time with me than with you. Don't think they still love you. If they did, I wouldn't exist. If you know what's best for you, you should step aside immediately!"

Andrea thought, 'Yeah, if Gabriel and Anthony still loved me, Hannah wouldn't exist.'

Instead of saying anything, Andrea only quietly recorded the call before hanging up.

When Gabriel came in, he found her lying on the bed, her eyes slightly red. He could tell she had been crying. His heart tensed as he rushed over to her and cupped her face to examine it. "Andrea, why are you crying? Did something happen?"

Andrea looked at him silently for a long time. She never realized how good Gabriel's acting skills were. Taking a deep breath, she replied, "Nothing. I just saw some photos and videos that made me feel touched."

Gabriel breathed a sigh of relief and tapped her nose. "What kind of photos and videos could make you cry?"

She picked up her phone and handed it to him. "Do you want to see?"

Gabriel smiled and agreed. He was about to take the phone from her, but the phone in his arms vibrated suddenly. He glanced down at the screen before hesitantly looking up at her. "Andrea, something came up at work. I..."

Andrea pretended not to see Hannah's name on his phone screen. She silently withdrew her phone. "It's okay. Go take care of it. I was about to go to bed anyway."

On the day Andrea was discharged from the hospital, the sky had no clouds, and a gentle breeze blew as sunlight shone through tree leaves. The colorful light spots made it seem like a scene straight from a gorgeous painting.

Anthony held her hand as he bounced down the steps. "Mom, you're finally out of the hospital! You have no idea that I didn't even have time to go to kindergarten these days. I was so worried about you!"

After they got into the car, Gabriel quickly spread a blanket over her legs. "Andrea, it's a bit windy today. Don't catch a cold."

Anthony also mimicked his father, putting a cushion behind her back.

Perhaps noticing her bad mood, Gabriel and Anthony remained unusually quiet during the ride.

Suddenly, Anthony seemed to remember something and tugged on Gabriel's sleeve. He whispered, "Dad, aren't we supposed to go to the Evergreen Church today to fulfill our vow?"

Gabriel took out his phone and glanced at the calendar. "It's today."

Anthony added, "Let's send Mom home first..."

Andrea said, "I'll go fulfill your vow with you."

Andrea, who had been pretending to nap, suddenly opened her eyes and interrupted their conversation.

Gabriel and Anthony immediately rejected her in unison. "No!"

Anthony hugged her. "Mom, you've just recovered. The church is high up on the mountain. I'll worry about you if you come along. Just let me and Dad do it."

Anthony was just a child after all. The sight of her bloodied figure during the car crash had scared him.

Gabriel was also against it. "Anthony is right. You've just recovered. How could you go somewhere so far?"

However, Andrea was unusually insistent. "You prayed for me, so I should also join you in fulfilling the vow."

Unable to dissuade her, Gabriel and Anthony brought her to the Evergreen Church.

The church was far from the bustling city, nestled on top of a mountain. The surroundings were quiet, filled with the faint sound of chanting friars and bells.

A huge cross hung majestically inside the nave, seeming overlooking after all beings.

Andrea sat reverently on a bench, inwardly making her wish. 'Have mercy on me. I wish to never meet Gabriel and Anthony in this life or any other!'

Gabriel and Anthony sat beside her, wishing for the safety and unity of their family.

After the prayers, the family of three walked over to draw lots.

The priest first examined the lots Gabriel and Anthony had drawn and shook his head. However, he only said, "Good luck."

Then, he looked at Andrea's lot and looked meaningfully at her. "You'll get what you want."