Wendy did not go back to the hospital. She left and took a cab home.

By the time Miles pushed open the door that evening, Wendy had just finished packing her suitcase.

She did not look up. “Belinda broke three bowls again today. She said I’m not as thoughtful as Vivian.”

Miles loosened his tie. His voice was tinged with impatience. “She’s been bedridden for two years. Of course her temper’s foul. Just give her some space—what’s the big deal?”

“Space?” Wendy suddenly chuckled. She grabbed the dress stained with soup from earlier. “She did that on purpose this morning.”

“Enough!” Miles snatched the dress from her and tossed it onto the bed. “Wendy, you weren’t like this before!”

“Like what?” Wendy sprang to her feet. Her eyes burned with emotion. “Like getting up at five every morning to make breakfast for your mother? Or kneeling on the floor, scrubbing, while she called me a curse?”

Miles swallowed hard, turning his face away. “You know why my mother ended up bedridden.”

The room went silent.

Wendy’s fingers dug into her palms.

That phone call.

Two years ago that evening, barely moments after they had been together in bed, Miles’ mother called.

“Don’t answer it.” Wendy stood barefoot on the carpet, arms wrapped around his waist. “It’s our wedding anniversary tonight…”

Miles hesitated for a moment, then leaned down and kissed her. “Just for a minute.”

“You always say that!” snapped Wendy, grabbing the phone and throwing it to the floor. “How many times has she pretended to be sick? If you answer this call tonight, we’re done!”

She remembered the look in his eyes then. There was shock, helplessness, and finally, compromise.

He let out a sigh, picked up the phone, set it aside, and held her in his arms. “Okay. I won’t answer.”

However, the next day, they found out that Belinda had a sudden cerebral hemorrhage that night. No one answered her call, so the treatment was delayed, and she ended up paralyzed.

“Yes, I owe her,” Wendy admitted in a hoarse voice. “That’s why I’ve worked myself to the bone for the past two years. Do I deserve to have food thrown on me, and deserve to be treated like a servant by Vivian?”

Miles ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Vivian’s moving in tomorrow.”

“What?”

“My mom likes her.” Miles' tone softened, like he was coaxing a child. “Just for a few months, until her condition stabilizes, then Vivian will move out.”

Wendy interrupted in a soft voice, “Miles, I went to the civil affairs office today.”

His body stiffened.

“The staff told me we still have seven days left before our divorce is finalized.” She stared at his frozen expression. “The papers you had me sign a month ago were actually a divorce agreement?”

“So you know!” Miles grabbed her wrist. “But my mother forced me into it. I'm only doing it to keep her happy for now!”

“Without even telling me?” Wendy yanked her hand free. “Seven years together, and I didn’t even have the right to know?”

Miles flew into a rage. “Can you stop being so aggressive? Do you know how hard it is to be stuck in the middle?”

Wendy froze for a moment.

She remembered the first time he had brought her home to meet his family. His mother had thrown soup on her in front of him. “The Carter family’s daughter-in-law will only ever be Vivian.”

That night, Miles held her in his arms on the balcony and apologized. “My mom has a bad temper. Please bear with her. It’s hard for me to be in the middle.”

Later, when Belinda refused to attend the wedding, he held her hand and said, “She just can’t accept it yet. Let’s give her some time.”

When Belinda became paralyzed, he knelt and begged her to quit her job and take care of her. “Wendy, you’re the only one who can help me now.”

Each time, she gave in.

“Miles.” Wendy suddenly felt exhausted. “Do you still love me?”

Miles hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, “Of course I do!”

“Please don’t put me in a difficult position, Wendy.”

Wendy let out a sigh. Only seven days left anyway, she would just let it be.

She nodded silently.

“Vivian will sleep in the guest room,” Miles awkwardly changed the subject, “You should get some rest.”

Once the door was closed, Wendy sank onto the bed.

Moonlight streamed through the curtains, and she noticed the dusty photo frame on the nightstand.

In the photo, Miles was carrying her on the beach. Waves splashed her skirt as he turned and smiled, “Hold on tight, Mrs. Carter!”

Seven years of love were just like a bubble.

She pulled out her phone and sent a message: [Pick me up in seven days, as planned.]

No sooner had she pressed send than a deafening bang echoed from downstairs.

Wendy went downstairs and saw Belinda seated in a wheelchair as Vivian pushed her inside, followed by a whole group of people carrying boxes and luggage.

“Well, look who finally decided to come downstairs.” Belinda lifted her eyelids with a cold smirk. “I thought you were planning to hide in your room for the rest of your life.”

Vivian stood beside her, holding a cup of tea. She said gently, “Belinda has just finished rehab. The doctor said she needs to walk around more.”

“Rehab?” Wendy’s gaze dropped to her legs.

Belinda patted her knees smugly. “Surprised? The doctor says I’m recovering well. Give it a little more time and I’ll be fully healed.”

She pointed upstairs. “Vivian will be living here from today on. It’ll be more convenient for her to take care of me. Whether you agree or not doesn’t matter.”

Wendy said nothing. She put on a faint smile and looked toward Miles.

He pursed his lips and said in a low voice, “Wendy has already agreed.”

Belinda froze for a moment, then let out a snort. “She finally learned to behave.”

Vivian immediately smiled and looped her arm affectionately through his mother’s.

“Belinda, let me help move the luggage upstairs.”

Belinda patted her hand. “Go ahead. Pick whichever room you like.”

Vivian’s eyes lit up. She hurried upstairs, and before long, there was a loud crash from above.

Wendy looked up and saw Vivian directing the house staff to take down the decorative painting in the hallway.

That painting was something she and Miles had chosen together. It was a painting of the ocean from their very first date.

“This painting is way too tacky. It doesn’t match the current décor anymore.” Vivian smiled cheerfully, tossing it aside. Then, she pointed at the photos on the wall. “Take these down too. They’re an eyesore.”

One by one, the photos were removed. One of them was their wedding portrait.

Miles stood at the foot of the stairs. His brows were furrowed as though he wanted to say something. Eventually, he only looked at Wendy. “Let them mess around for now. We can hang them back up later.”

Wendy smiled but said nothing.

Vivian poked her head out from upstairs, speaking in a sweet and soft tone, “Miles, I’d like to have the main bedroom! It’s closer to Belinda’s room, so it’ll be easier to take care of her.”

Belinda immediately nodded. “Yes, yes, that’s very thoughtful of you.”

Miles instinctively looked at Wendy like he was waiting for her to object.

However, Wendy simply nodded calmly. “That’s fine. I’ll move to the guest room.”

She turned around to go upstairs. Miles grabbed her wrist. “Something’s wrong with you.”

Wendy turned back to him. “What’s wrong? Wasn’t this what all of you wanted?”

“But you…” Miles frowned deeply. “You wouldn't have acted like this before.”

“Before?” Wendy let out a soft chuckle. “Isn’t this exactly what you want?”

She shook his hand off and walked straight into the master bedroom, beginning to pack her things.

Miles followed her in and stood by the door, watching as she folded her clothes and placed them into the suitcase, one by one. Finally, he could not help asking,

“What’s going on with you?”

Wendy replied while looking up, “I'm making room for you.”

Miles swallowed hard. In the end, he said nothing.

At seven that evening, Wendy went downstairs for dinner.

In the dining room, Belinda, Vivian, and Miles were already seated. The table was filled with dishes.

Vivian picked up a piece of fish and placed it into Belinda’s bowl. Her eyes curved into happy slits. “Vivian’s the thoughtful one, as always.”

Miles looked up and saw Wendy. He waved to her. “Come on over and eat.”

Wendy walked over and sat down. Her gaze swept across the table and suddenly stopped.

Every dish on the table was something she could not eat.

There was seafood, mangoes, peanuts… Every single one was something she was allergic to.

She lifted her eyes and met Belinda’s smile that did not reach her eyes.

Miles seemed completely unaware. He picked up a shrimp and put it into Vivian’s plate. “Try this. It’s your favorite.”

Vivian gave him a sweet smile. “Thank you, Miles.”

He then ladled a bowl of soup for his mother. When he turned to Wendy and saw she had not touched anything, he frowned. “Stop sulking. You need to eat.”

Wendy was stunned for a moment.

He did not remember.

She had a seafood allergy. Once, just a single accidental bite of shrimp had sent her to the hospital in the middle of the night.

That night, Miles stayed by her bedside the entire time. His eyes were red, and he said, “I’ll make sure to pick out everything you’re allergic to from now on.”

Now, he was serving shrimp to Vivian, soup to his mother, yet he could not remember a single thing she could not eat.

She lowered her eyes, picked up her cutlery, and slowly chewed on some plain greens.

Suddenly, Belinda said, “Miles, Vivian’s been with you for all this time and never asked for a thing. She only wants a wedding. What do you think?”

Miles paused for a moment, instinctively glancing at Wendy.

Vivian immediately replied, sounding aggrieved, “Belinda, don’t make things hard for Miles. I-I’m fine, really.”

Belinda patted her hand. “That won’t do. I can’t let you stay with him with no status to your name.”

The dining table fell silent for a few seconds.

Miles hesitated, then said in a low voice, “I’ll talk it over with Wendy.”

“No need,” Wendy suddenly said.

Everyone looked at her.

She set down her cutlery and said calmly, “That’s fine. Go ahead and have the wedding.”

The entire room fell silent.

Belinda’s eyes widened. Miles snapped his head up. “What did you just say?”

Wendy rose to her feet. “I’m done eating. You guys go ahead.”

She turned around and walked upstairs, and behind her Belinda muttered, “What’s wrong with her?”

Just as she reached the staircase, Miles chased after her and grabbed her wrist.

“What did you mean by that?”

Wendy looked back at him. “Wasn’t this what you wanted? A wedding? I agreed.”

His brows furrowed. “That was just for show! My mom just got out of the hospital. I didn’t want to upset her.”

“Yeah.” She nodded lightly. “Just do whatever you want.”

Miles studied her eyes, as though he was trying to read something in them. Finally, he replied in a low voice, “Don’t worry. I’ll withdraw the divorce application before the process is finalized.”

Wendy smiled. “All right.”

He let out a sigh of relief and reached out to touch her hair. “Good.”

Wendy tilted her head, dodged his hand, and gave him a faint smirk before turning back upstairs.

Miles stood rooted to the spot, watching her from behind. A strange unease rose in his chest.

The following day, Miles had gone to the office, and only then did Wendy emerge from the guest room.

Downstairs, Belinda was already sitting at the dining table, impatiently drumming her fingers. When she saw Wendy come down, she immediately said in a cold voice, “What are you doing? Hurry up and help me wash up!”

Normally, Wendy would have immediately gone to pour warm water, grab a towel, kneel to wash her face, brush her hair, and even put on her shoes.

Today, she merely glanced at her mother-in-law, then walked straight to the kitchen, poured herself a glass of milk, and slowly toasted a slice of bread.

Belinda’s expression darkened instantly. “Are you deaf?”

Vivian quickly interjected with a gentle voice, “Belinda, let me take care of you.”

She knelt down, awkwardly wiping her face as a faint crease slightly formed between her brows.

Wendy sat at the dining table, watching coldly, and suddenly realized how foolish she had been.

She had served Belinda for two years. She poured tea, prepared meals, cleaned up for her even when she deliberately threw food on her. Yet she had to smile while tidying everything.

Now, Vivian’s expression had already shown a trace of impatience when she was only cleaning her face.

Yet Belinda remained blissfully unaware, patting Vivian’s hand fondly. “See? Vivian’s the thoughtful one.”

After breakfast, Belinda suddenly said she wanted to go outside and get some sun.

“Wendy, push the wheelchair,” instructed Belinda.

Wendy set down her cup and replied nonchalantly, “Isn’t Vivian good at taking care of you? Let her do it.”

Belinda’s face froze. Vivian was stunned for a moment too.

“You…” Belinda was about to snap, but Vivian quickly smiled apologetically. “Belinda, I’ll push you.”

Belinda let out a cold snort, reluctantly agreeing.

The three of them went outside. Vivian pushed the wheelchair while Wendy walked beside them.

As they reached a downhill corner, Vivian suddenly cried out and slipped, shoving Wendy hard.

Wendy was caught off guard, stumbling forward. Her elbow hit the wheelchair.

The wheelchair went out of control, hurtling down the slope!

“Mother!” Wendy’s pupils dilated. She lunged instinctively, trying to grab the handle.

However, at the exact moment she reached it, Belinda suddenly spun around and shoved her!

“Get away!”

Wendy stumbled backward and fell straight into the middle of the road.

Screeching brakes pierced the air. Her body was slammed violently, crashing hard onto the pavement.

In the last agonizing second, she saw Vivian standing on the roadside, supporting Belinda with a cold smirk on her face.