Just because I returned home five minutes late, Mason Dawson locked me in the car all night.

"Emily Young, you've pledged the commitment to buy me a cake and still showed up late on purpose! If Nova hadn't baked me one herself, my birthday would've been ruined because of you!”

I reached into my bag to pull out the ultrasound report, planning to surprise him. However, with Nova Allen nestled in his arms, Mason had not a shred of willingness to look at it.

On the day of my art exhibition, he livestreamed the whole thing to sabotage it, with Nova by his side.

"Emily, all you care about is this stupid exhibit. You don’t care about me. You’re not even a qualified wife at all!”

Even though I had apologized profusely, he shoved me roughly and ripped the diamond ring violently off my finger, then slipped it onto Nova’s hand.

The ring that was too big for my finger fit perfectly on Nova’s finger.

I stood there, frozen. I felt as if a thousand needles had pierced my chest. In my despair, a stream of comments suddenly flooded my vision:

[The male lead is so deeply in love! He just pushed the female lead and he regretted it so much his eyes turned red!]

[Stop being dramatic, Female lead! Just run up and kiss the male lead now … he’ll give you the ring back!]

[What are you standing there for, Female lead? Say sorry already!]

For years, those comments had pushed me to humble myself to Mason again and again, but this time, as I stared at the white dress soaked in blood, only one thought entered my mind. [I'm done with you, Mason.]

——

I had spent half a year preparing for this art exhibition. Mason, as my husband, attended the event. However, he came arm in arm with Nova, who was wearing a dress so revealing she was practically naked.

Everyone present cast mocking glances at me, like razor blades, stripping me of my dignity.

I furrowed my brows and said in a low voice to him, “Mason, today is really important to me. Don’t do this. Whatever it is, we can talk about it at home.”

Mason just sneered disdainfully, yanked the wedding ring off my ring finger violently and slipped it onto Nova's arm. He then said ruthlessly, "Emily, you can’t even keep a ring on your finger and yet … you want to host an art exhibition on your own?"

"Don’t kid yourself! You're not cut out for this!" He then added, "You’re better off being my lapdog.”

Mason brought up old wounds once more and my eyes went red with shame.

The comments on the screen in front of me were going wild.

[Though the male lead said something harsh to the female lead, his palm is bleeding now because he clenched it so hard. This is heartbreaking!]

[Female lead …. The male lead brought the female supporting character over to test you … he wants to know whether you care more about your career or him. Just apologize and he’ll forgive you right away]

We had known each other for a year and had been married for six years and every time Mason was upset, he’d retaliate with the cruelest tactics.

Just like last week, when Mason had his birthday. At that time, I stopped by the hospital to pick up a printout of the ultrasound report before heading home to surprise him.

However, because of a traffic jam, I arrived home five minutes later than the time he had set before.  

Mason threw the cake I had waited in line for hours to buy onto the ground and stomped it into a mess. "Emily," He roared. "If you don’t want to celebrate my birthday, then leave! No one is forcing you!”

When I pulled out the ultrasound report from my bag, trying to explain, Mason covered his ears and refused to listen. He then snatched my bag and tossed it straight into the trash.

“Your cheap little gifts? I don’t need them. I already knew I wouldn’t like it.” He continued, "Emily, if you really want to make me happy, go outside and wipe my car."

He continued, "Look at Nova! She didn’t forget to make me a cake even though she was on her period! And you … look at yourself! What do you even have to compete with her?”

Mason had severe OCD. Once, when I had a severe case of the flu and kept sneezing, even having a high fever, he forced me to take a taxi to the hospital alone for an IV drip, just to keep his car spotlessly clean.

However, when Nova's menstrual blood leaked onto his car, Mason did not complain at all. This made me feel uneasy.

After he locked me in the car, I scrubbed the front and back seats over and over with wet wipes. Only when I was completely exhausted did I realize the doors had been locked from the outside and there was no ventilation.

Just before I passed out from suffocation, the butler found me and rushed me to the hospital.

Because of that incident, I forgot to wish Mason a happy birthday. To retaliate, he gave me the cold shoulder for seven full days and the apology texts I sent him were all marked “read,” but he never replied.

At this moment, he was holding Nova as they attended my art exhibition, but he projected everything onto the screen and started a live stream.

"Mason, can we talk?” I asked. “I wasn’t intentionally late that day. Will you forgive me if I wear your favorite outfit for you?”

Just as I was about to make a name for myself through my artworks, Mason released my pleading texts to the public.

In a matter of seconds, I went from being praised as a genius artist by countless media outlets to being mocked online as nothing more than a sycophant, lovesick fool.

As the viewer count on his livestream kept on soaring, my heart was crushed by this.

I just closed my eyes wearily for a moment, wishing to escape this farce, when a harsh curse echoed from the entrance of the exhibition hall.

“Emily, you ungrateful traitor! What's the point of holding this worthless exhibition and making money, but you won't buy your brother a wedding house?”  

“I must’ve done something evil in my past life to give birth to you!” my mother wailed. "What a heartless daughter! I only asked a little! It's just seventy-five thousand dollars. Why won't you give it to me?”

My mother, Madeline Wood, her face twisted with malice, roared as she charged toward me. Then she raised her hand and slapped me.  

Since I was caught off guard, I was struck so hard that my vision went black. I instinctively grabbed the table beside me, but Nova yanked the table back in a flash.

Off balance, I lurched backward, stumbled and crashed into a champagne tower over two meters high behind me.

Dozens of glasses and champagne bottles came crashing down on me and soaked my white dress in alcohol. I was in a complete mess.

I lifted my eyes and glared at Nova.

She immediately pouted and looked dejected as she burrowed into Mason's embrace. She said pitifully, "Mason, she fell on her own! Why is she glaring at me…? Sob, sob… She’s so scary …. Mason. protect me, please…”

Mason wrapped his arms around Nova and looked at me with disgust.

Seeing this, pain pierced my heart. The moment I was about to speak … a flood of comments rolled across the screen.

[What are you waiting for, female lead? Just apologize to the male lead now and he'll handle the female supporting character and your mom for you!]

[Speak up, female lead, please! The male lead revealed your location on purpose so your mom could find you! Beg him, don't let him down!]

[Come on, this is the perfect moment. Female lead …. Please, say something!]

So, Mason was the one who brought my mother here, huh?

I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh as I read the comments.

Mason knew full well that I hated Madeline and every time I had nightmares about her, I would tremble uncontrollably and yet, he still brought her here just to hurt me.

Did he ever really love me?

Seeing that no one would protect me, Madeline picked up a shard of broken glass and jabbed it straight into my shoulder.

"Emily, give me the money now!" she shrieked. "If Caleb can’t find a wife and the Young Senior's family dies out, you can rot in hell!”  

Seeing blood kept pouring from my shoulder, Mason furrowed her brows slightly and raised his hand to stop her.

However, when Nova let out a soft whimper, Mason's attention immediately snapped back to her.

"Mason, she is so dirty …. I can’t stand the sight of blood… Can we go home, please?” she sobbed.

“Alright,” Mason did not say anything more after that. He simply scooped her up in his arms and walked away.

The comments reminded me.

[Female lead, stop the male lead! He's deliberately being affectionate with the female supporting character to provoke you. Can't you see that?]

[Female lead, all you have to do is beg him and he'll immediately dump Nova and comfort you! Hurry up and beg him!]

We’d known each other for seven years and every time we fought, I was always the one who apologized first. But this time … I was truly exhausted.

Since I refused to give Madeline any money, she spat a thick glob of phlegm on my face, ripped off my jade earrings and walked away.

As a result, my earlobe was torn open and my white dress was covered in blood.

Eventually, I managed to drag my exhausted body back home. But before I could even open the door, I heard wild laughter coming from inside.

"Mason, you embarrassed your wife in front of so many people today. Aren’t you afraid she’ll divorce you?”

Mason was leaning against the sofa, playing with his phone without saying a word. Meanwhile, Nova was leaning weakly in his arms. She said mockingly, "Emily had no friends and family. Without you, Mason, she’s like a stray dog with nowhere to go. Forget about divorce ... she doesn't have the guts to get mad."

Nova's words put Mason in a good mood and he smiled carelessly.

Amidst the crowd’s cheers, he sent me a message.  

[Emily, you missed my birthday and I ruined your exhibit, so we’re even now. Bring me my favorite wine in thirty minutes and I’ll let you stay as Mrs. Lawson.]

He slapped me with one hand and offered a sweet treat with the other.  Mason treated me like training a dog, alternating between hot and cold toward me.

I stared down at my phone and in my reflexes, I typed, [Okay.]

In that instant, a burst of laughter exploded from inside the house.

“Mason, you’re amazing! But just asking her to bring wine is too easy. How about making her wear black stockings to cheer you up?” Someone suggested with ill intention.

Mason hesitated for a moment before sending me a screenshot of a maid outfit and texted, [Emily, wear this outfit, or don't even think about coming into the house.]

Since I wanted to see how far he would go, while swallowing the bitterness in my mouth, I replied, [Okay].

As soon as the message was sent, the jeering sound in the room nearly shattered the ceiling.

Mason, who was surrounded by the crowd, was laughing triumphantly. At the height of the festive atmosphere, Nova casually spoke up, "Emily is so obedient …. Is it because Mason is the only man she’s ever had?”

“Maybe if she slept with someone else, we’d know whether she truly loves Mason or not," she added.

As soon as she said that, someone immediately chimed in, "Nova is right. Why don’t you ask Emily, Mason? Asks if she’s willing to spend a night with someone else for you, okay?”

The moment the words were spoken, all the men present gleamed with anticipation. They hoped that Mason would choose them next. The condition was beyond disgusting.

I was so sure Mason would reject it, but he did not even hesitate when he sent me a message.

[Emily, Leon Anders just broke up and can't bear being without a woman by his side. Spend the night with him, okay?]

***

My hand instinctively moved to my slightly rounded belly. After being utterly disappointed in Mason, the well-being of my child started to gnaw on my mind.

What kind of father could Mason be? He doesn't deserve to be a husband or a father!

I turned off my phone and turned to leave. However, Nova had already spotted me through the door. She walked over quickly and flung open the door.

“Mason, Emily seems not to have seen the message. Why don’t you tell her in person?” she asked.

When Mason saw the blood-drained look on my face, he froze for a split second, but he did not want to disappoint Nova. So, he grabbed my wrist and shoved me into Leo’s arms

"Emily," he said. "Leon wants you to spend the night with him. You’re not going to say no, are you?”