"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.

Whispers from the onlookers rippled through the hall like wildfire.

"She's being forced into a divorce the moment she's sentenced? That poor woman..."

"That arrogant woman must be the mistress. She made the legal wife’s parents faint from rage—it's disgusting!"

"The wife is too soft. She let them walk all over her like that? If it were me, I'd make them regret it the moment I got out."

The murmurs grew louder and more accusatory.

My father noticed that my mother was sobbing too hard, her breathing became erratic, and she collapsed—suffering from acute hyperventilation and suspected cyanide poisoning. Paramedics rushed in and whisked her away in an ambulance.

Chaos erupted at the scene. The public's fury turned toward Derek and Jade.

Jade was quickly losing patience, but she couldn't care less about the gossip. She had already gotten everything she wanted.

She yanked Derek away with her, flashing a smug smile at Attorney Leonel as they left.

Derek, while somewhat moved by the sacrifice I'd made, was secretly thrilled to finally be able to be with his childhood sweetheart openly. In the car, he had already prepared flowers and gifts to celebrate her "homecoming."

Elated, Jade practically jumped into his arms. Their joy was a stark, jarring contrast to the mess of pain and tears they'd left behind in the hall.

—

When they returned to the house, Jade took it upon herself to pack up all Ariella's belongings and dump them in the musty basement.

The wedding photo in the center of the living room was an eyesore to her—it was the last symbol of the life Ariella once had. With a single glance from her, Derek silently gave his consent. Jade tore the frame off the wall and tossed it aside like trash.

Already five months pregnant, Jade's motherly warmth quickly vanished when she looked at Cody, who stood nearby clutching his toy.

With a cold voice, she declared, "We need to make space for the new baby. Cody's room will have to go."

Derek, busy helping her unpack, agreed without hesitation.

With his approval secured, Jade threw Cody's belongings and dragged him up to the attic.

She flung his things carelessly on the damp wooden floor and said sharply, "This is your room now. Don't bother me unless it's important."

Then she turned and walked away.

Cody looked around at the cramped, dark attic, still clutching his toy. A cold draft crept through the cracks in the walls. On the floor lay the shattered remains of the jade bracelet Ariella had crafted for him on his third birthday—Jade had smashed it earlier in a fit of irritation.

He froze, stunned, then accidentally stepped on a shard. With a cry of pain, he fell to the floor, holding his bleeding foot.

However, no one came.

In the past, whenever he got hurt, his mother was always there to treat his wounds. Now, he was left alone—his sobs echoing off the attic walls.

...

Meanwhile, downstairs, Jade basked in the satisfaction of finally having a place of her own in this house. She turned to Derek, giddy with excitement.

"She signed the divorce papers already. Let's get married in a few days, okay?"

She had been waiting for this moment for so long, and when Derek nodded in agreement, her heart finally settled.

Yet ever since returning, Derek's expression had been clouded. Though Ariella had appeared calm and compliant, a lingering fear gnawed at him—that she might one day reverse the verdict and expose the truth.

And just as that fear lingered in his heart.

—

In the hospital's intensive care unit, after a tense emergency rescue, Ariella's mother finally regained consciousness.

"You're finally awake!" Ariella's father cried from the bedside, tears streaming down his face. Fortunately, his wife, who had collapsed earlier, finally opened her eyes.

"Ariel..." was the first word from her lips. The moment she realized her daughter wasn't there, her heart sank again.

Leonel stepped in to comfort them both.

"I've already submitted the paperwork to the court for visitation rights. By tomorrow, you'll be able to visit her. Just one more day."

Even though it was only a prison visit, that sliver of hope was enough to lift their spirits.

Elsewhere, in another hospital wing... In the ICU, Gavin's fingers twitched slightly—then his eyes opened.

Despite the severe trauma to his body and brain, his mind was working fast. The doctor, noticing the change, let out a sigh of relief. After confirming his condition had stabilized, Gavin was moved to the general ward for further observation.