On the night of my 27th birthday party, I received a call from my husband. His voice was low and shaken as he confessed to having hit someone with his car on the way to the venue—and begged me to take the blame.

After calming him down, I agreed without hesitation. I told him to stay where he was, grabbed my car keys, and prepared to leave.

Everyone at the party was stunned. Friends rushed to stop me.

"Ariella, are you crazy? That's a serious charge! You can't sacrifice yourself for Derek like this! Your child still needs a mother—and you're pregnant again!"

I gently cradled my baby bump and simply smiled.

The man involved was my husband, Derek. We had been married for seven years. For him, I was willing to give everything.

Without a backward glance, I sped through the streets and arrived at the scene. My parents were there, supporting each other as they approached me in tears, begging me not to take the fall. Derek stood nearby, his expression was solemn as he clutched my hand tightly.

But my mind was made up. Nothing would change it.

My mother collapsed to her knees in front of me. Overwhelmed, my father suffered a severe asthma attack and had to be rushed to the emergency room. Even then, I didn’t waver.

In the end, I confessed in place of Derek. When the police arrived, they arrested me on the spot.

In court, the judge ruled the accident was entirely my fault, and I was sentenced to ten years in prison. My parents fainted as the verdict echoed across the courtroom.

While being escorted out, wearing my prison uniform, Derek approached me with his childhood sweetheart, Jade. She rested her hand on her pregnant belly and sneered, tossing divorce papers in my face.

"You seduced Derek for all these years, and now you're a convicted murderer. You're not worthy to be part of the Ortiz family!"

"Sign these divorce papers and leave with nothing. Your son will have nothing to do with you in the future."

Our son, Cody, peeked out from behind Derek, his little face twisted in disgust.

"Daddy said you killed someone. You're a bad person. I don't want you—I want Aunt Jade to be my mommy!"

Mocked and humiliated, I said nothing. I struggled to control my trembling, handcuffed hands and signed the divorce papers without a word.

But as I was taken away, my heart remained calm. I had already made my plans.

Before being transferred to prison, I made one final call—after speaking briefly with my parents, I dialed a different number.

At that moment, fate shifted quietly.

In just one week, everything would change—for me, for Derek, and for everyone involved.

1

When I arrived at the scene, five months pregnant, I walked up to Derek, who stood dazed and bloody. The moment he saw me, tears welled up in his eyes.

"It's all my fault, Ariel... I'm so sorry," he choked out.

“It’s okay. I’ll handle it.” I gently stroked his hair and whispered comfort, promising to take care of everything.

Despite the pain, I climbed into the crushed driver’s seat of the wrecked car. Then I told him to call an ambulance and hide.

He slipped into the shadows just as the police and medics arrived.

The scene was a disaster. The victim’s identity was unclear, but a black birthmark on his arm caught everyone's attention. He was quickly taken to the emergency room.

I smeared myself with the blood on the car and feigned panic. When the police questioned me, I offered no explanations and took full responsibility. They soon contacted my parents, who arrived with our family lawyer, Leonel.

Before the officers could take me away, my trembling parents approached.

"Don't do this, Ariel!" my mother wept, clutching my hand. "You're our only child. If you go to prison, what will happen to us?"

I gently told her I had already arranged everything with my cousin, Mathias—he would look after them in my place.

My father's expression was grim, and he muttered bitterly, "So the one who did this just hides like a coward, letting his wife take the blame?"

Right then, Derek appeared, freshly changed into a sharp suit. The contrast between his polished appearance and my disheveled state was painfully obvious.

But he still kept up the act. With tears in his eyes, he held my hand and turned to my parents.

"You both know the Ortiz family business is about to go public. If this scandal breaks, it'll ruin everything. I'll never forget what Ariel has done for me. I'll take care of the baby—and take care of you, too."

His gentle gaze met mine with supposed sincerity. When I asked why he changed clothes, he claimed it was to look presentable for the upcoming trial. He was more anxious than I was, so I let it go.

Meanwhile, Attorney Leonel pulled Derek aside for a private word.

"Mr. Ortiz," he said, "this isn’t right. If Miss Ariel changes her mind, she could reverse her testimony. You should handle your own mess—"

Before he could finish, Derek cut him off.

"Don't worry. Ariel loves me deeply—she would never betray me. Just focus on getting her a lighter sentence."

He said it with total confidence, his gaze fixed on me.

My father, suspecting something, pulled me aside. "Did he threaten you?" he asked. "Don't worry, we'll stand up for you."

My mother clung to me, sobbing. "You're still carrying a child. When you had Cody, you nearly died from blood loss. If you go to prison, who'll take care of you?"

I didn't answer—just begged them to take care of themselves.

My father, furious with my devotion, suffered another asthma attack. My mother quickly gave him emergency medication before he was rushed off to the hospital.

The police were almost ready to take me away when my mother fell to her knees.

"Please, my baby girl. Just tell them the truth. Say you didn't do it—we'll figure something out."

Tears welled in my eyes, but I couldn't respond. Before I could comfort her, the officers pulled me away.

Derek stepped forward, and held my hand. “I’ll look after your parents. I promise.”

Only then did I allow myself to be led off.

...

At the detention center, I spent six hours giving a statement. I admitted to everything. Outside, Attorney Leonel paced in frustration.

Before he arrived, he'd gone to the restaurant where I had booked my birthday party—hoping to retrieve surveillance footage and reservation records to prove my alibi.

But he was told everything had been wiped due to a "system error."

While I gave my statement, the hospital delivered devastating news: the victim was still unconscious, and was in critical condition. After investigation, the police identified him—he was Gavin Reed, a senior executive at the Reed Corporation.

With solid evidence and my confession, the case went to trial the next day.

Despite Attorney Leonel's best efforts, I was sentenced to ten years.

My parents collapsed in the courtroom.

During the recess, I was ordered to change into a prison uniform.

My parents, ignoring the staff’s objections, insisted on seeing me. The officers reluctantly gave them thirty minutes.

"My child... how could you be so foolish? Ten years—do you know how many ten years a person gets in life?" My mother sobbed against my shoulder, her body trembling with grief.

Even after the trial ended, Attorney Leonel couldn't shake his doubts.

"Ariel," he asked, "you were celebrating your birthday at the restaurant that night, weren't you? Why is it that only that day's surveillance footage is missing?"

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. Just then, the sharp clack of high heels echoed from the doorway.

"So, you're Ariella?" A flirtatious, saccharine voice rang out.

It was Jade—Derek's childhood sweetheart. She wore a sultry red dress that hugged every curve, strutting in like she owned the place. Her hand was interlocked with Derek's, their eyes practically tangled in a lovers' gaze.

"You have the nerve to show your face here? Came to see Ariel's downfall, is that it?" My father frowned, voice heavy with contempt. He clearly disapproved of the woman Derek had brought.

I quickly tried to calm him, not wanting to stir any more conflict.

But Jade let out a shrill laugh, clearly enjoying herself.

"Ariel, you really are the gentle, selfless saint they all say you are. Willing to serve ten years in prison for Derek without a word of complaint. Don't worry—I'll take good care of him and the child from now on."

Her voice grated on my ears.

My mother, now trembling with anger, snapped at Derek.

"Ariel is still your wife! What do you think you're doing, holding hands with another woman in front of us?"

But Derek just smiled, calm and composed. "Mom, don't get the wrong idea. Jade and I grew up together—Ariel knows that. She gets nervous in crowds and her hands shake, so I just held her hand to comfort her."

Jade leaned deeper into his arms with a delicate expression, the perfect picture of innocence. My father's face turned crimson, my mother clenched her fists, but I urged them to stay calm.

Just then, the guards began preparing to escort me away. Jade seized the moment and "accidentally" flung a divorce agreement straight into my face. The corner hit hard, but I forced myself to open it.

"Better sign it while there's still time. You've monopolized Derek long enough. Now that you're a convicted murderer, it's time to get out of the Ortiz family."

I looked at Derek.

He said nothing. He only tightened his grip on Jade's hand—and even slid his arm around her waist.

My father stood there speechless, stunned into silence. I sighed and braced myself to sign the agreement.

That's when Cody—my son—finally spoke. He had been hiding behind Jade the whole time.

"Murderers don't deserve to be mothers. I want Aunt Jade to be my mommy."

My mother stepped forward, trying to pull him away, but he bit her hand and shoved her to the floor. Then he laughed and ran behind Jade again, giggling like nothing had happened.

My mother stared at him, utterly shocked. Just days ago, he was still the sweet, obedient little boy we knew.

The guards began urging me along. Derek looked impatient. My father subtly signaled me not to sign, but I turned away from them all. No one could see my expression or the motion of my hand. As I was being led away, I tossed the divorce papers aside.

Derek quickly released Jade's hand and rushed to retrieve the document, looking genuinely startled.

"Don't sign it, sweetheart... this is all my fault. I was the one who allowed you to marry that man!" My mother cried as she stumbled after me down the hallway.

Her sobs were so gut-wrenching that even the guard faltered. Though the rules were strict, he sighed and pretended to have a sudden "urge to use the restroom," discreetly granting us five minutes of private time.

"It's all your mother's fault," she whispered, gripping my hands tightly. "I'll go to Leonel—I'll tell him it was all Derek's doing! You were only covering for him!"

I gently patted her hands, urging her to stop talking about Derek.

Even though we stood at the far end of the corridor, I noticed Derek and Jade watching us intently. A small crowd had also gathered nearby, whispering and gawking like it was some kind of drama.

"Mom, don't worry. I'll take care of myself." I looked at her in the eye, my voice calm and heavy. "Before I came here, I told Leonel everything. We went to school together—he'll take care of you and Dad."

My tone carried a finality that made it feel like a farewell.

Leonel and I were university classmates—we both studied law. He was diligent, driven, and eventually passed the bar exam to become a licensed attorney. I passed too, but instead of pursuing a legal career, I chose to marry Derek and assist the Ortiz family with their legal affairs.

Both Leonel and I knew the stakes of taking the fall for someone else. Once the verdict was sealed, if there wasn't overwhelming evidence to overturn it, you're doomed to spend the rest of your life behind bars—unjustly and in silence.

Thinking about it now, I sighed. I had always known how difficult and dangerous this road would be. And yet... I still chose to listen to Derek.

I lowered my head, falling into silence.

My mother noticed the red-rimmed corners of my eyes and leaned closer, whispering in a trembling voice,

"Sweetheart, did Derek threaten you with something? Tell me—we'll stand up for you no matter what. Or... is it that you really love him that much? So much that you're willing to throw your life away for him?"

I gave her a faint smile and shook my head helplessly.

Derek and I had been married for seven years. We had known each other for almost ten. He had become a part of my life I couldn't imagine being without. After a long pause, I slowly nodded.

Seeing she couldn't change my mind, my mother gave up and instead began to remind me of all the little things.

"Don't get into fights in there, protect yourself and the baby. No matter what it takes—no matter if we lose everything—your father and I will get you out. Ariel, you must..."

Before she could finish, a staff member glanced at the digital clock on the wall and gave a few deliberate coughs, stepping forward to take me away.

As they pulled me along, my mother clung to my hand with all her strength. But the moment I was pulled from her grasp, she lost her footing and fell hard to the ground.

She wept silently on the cold floor.

Across the hall, Jade, who had been eavesdropping from around the corner, smugly retracted her head. She was beaming with satisfaction. In the end, I hadn't exposed Derek—not even once. That alone made her feel victorious.

My father stood rigidly before her, fists clenched, grinding his teeth in helpless fury.

Derek's brows twitched slightly as he watched me part with my mother, especially after he'd picked up the divorce papers I'd tossed aside earlier.

He hadn't expected me to actually sign.

In our seven years together, he'd always thought of me as the understanding, dutiful wife—never clingy, never overbearing, but always there when he needed me. In his mind, I had always been the thoughtful, devoted wife.

He never imagined that just a few words would be enough to make me agree to a divorce.

He said nothing, but inside, he was thrilled. Still, in front of so many people, he kept up appearances—head lowered, wearing a carefully crafted look of guilt.

But when he looked up, he met my father's glare.

My father stormed over and snatched the agreement from his hands. When he saw that I had really signed it, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"If you have even an ounce of decency left, then take care of Cody. From now on, don't you dare meddle in anything to do with Ariel again!"

He flung the signed agreement onto the floor and turned back to help my mother up.

Jade, unfazed by my father's fury, simply smiled sweetly. The matter was settled—nothing else mattered.

Looping her arm through Derek's, she said with delight, "That went even smoother than I expected. Come on, Derek—let's go. You can move all my things into Ortiz's house now."

My son, Cody, clung to Derek's leg, whining about wanting new toys. Too young to understand where he was or what had just happened, he only found the adults' conversation boring.

Jade bent down and stroked his hair dotingly.

"Of course, sweetheart. Whatever you want, Mommy will buy it for you."

Cody beamed and threw himself into her arms.

Derek tightened his hold on Jade's hand and prepared to leave with them—his "new" family.