Everyone believed Ethan Cross loved Isabella Winters to his core, but nobody knew he'd already found an Isabella look-alike to keep him company through the lonely nights.

Even when Isabella recovered, he continued his affair.

Little did he know that Isabella's recovery was temporary—within two months, she would lose every memory she'd ever made.

After that, she would forget Ethan completely, and her love for him would be erased forever.

"Miss Winters, your brain tumor has deteriorated again. This time you won't fall into a prolonged coma like before, but it will affect your memory. In two months, you'll lose all your memories."

The doctor's voice carried a note of sympathy. "Have you told your husband about these test results?"

Isabella Winters’s head snapped up. "Please don't tell him."

The doctor was stunned. "Why not? Your husband is deeply devoted to you. During your five-year coma, he stayed by your bedside every day, caring for you personally... It's become quite the touching story here at our hospital."

Isabella didn't explain, simply insisting, "Just don't tell him about my test results."

Though puzzled, the doctor nodded.

As Isabella headed downstairs, Ethan Cross was just arriving at the hospital.

"Bella!" He hurried over, taking her hand. "Sorry I'm late—something came up at the company. Your checkup went fine, right?"

Isabella looked up, her gaze falling on the man's neck.

Fresh hickeys, clearly just made.

She looked away. "Everything's fine."

Ethan finally relaxed. "Good."

As Ethan led Isabella toward the hospital entrance, they discovered it was pouring rain.

The black Rolls-Royce sat under the covered area, but puddles dotted the ground everywhere.

Without hesitation, Ethan swept Isabella into his arms and carried her toward the car.

This gesture drew countless stares from people at the hospital entrance.

Several young women gasped in amazement.

"Wow! That man is so thoughtful—he's carrying her so she won't step in puddles!"

"And he's gorgeous too! Wait, isn't that Ethan Cross?"

"What? The AI professor from Avaloria National University? The one who just won the Distinguished Achievement Award?"

"Yes! And he owns multiple companies—he's on the young billionaires list!"

"Handsome, rich, and so devoted to his wife. She must have been a saint in her past life to land such an amazing husband!

Hearing these comments, Isabella lowered her eyes, her expression growing dim.

Once, she had also believed she was the luckiest woman alive to have found Ethan.

Seven years ago, when she was diagnosed with brain cancer and her body deteriorated, doctors declared she could never have children. Yet Ethan married her without hesitation.

Later, when her surgery failed and she fell into a coma for five years, Ethan never left her bedside.

After she awakened a month ago, he lavished attention on her as if she were made of glass, spoiling her beyond measure.

Until three days ago, when she went to Ethan's company and saw him pressing another woman against his office desk...

She knew that woman.

Sophie Shaw—a scholarship student she'd sponsored.

Sophie looked similar to her, which was why Isabella had chosen her from among many scholarship applicants and supported her through college.

Sophie had indeed excelled academically, earning admission to Avaloria National University's graduate program. Isabella had even arranged for Ethan to be her advisor.

But she never expected...

Isabella's lips curved in bitter irony.

The car soon arrived at their villa.

As Ethan helped Isabella out, they found someone already waiting by their front door.

Sophie stood under the eaves clutching a stack of papers, shivering in her white dress.

Isabella felt Ethan tense beside her.

"Sophie." His tone was stiff. "What are you doing here?"

Sophie gripped her papers tighter, her voice uncertain.

"Professor, I have some questions about my thesis that I wanted to ask you."

Ethan frowned. "You should ask me those questions at school, not come to my house. Go back—"

Seeing the torrential rain, he changed his mind.

"Never mind, it's pouring. Come inside."

He glanced at Isabella as if seeking her permission.

Isabella looked away indifferently, seeming to acquiesce.

Once inside, Isabella immediately went upstairs to rest.

But after tossing restlessly in bed, she couldn't resist creeping to Ethan's study door.

Inside, Ethan looked furious.

"Sophie, what the heck are you doing here? Are you trying to make sure Bella finds out about us?"

Sophie nearly burst into tears.

"I... I didn't... I know you only love Isabella..."

"I know I'm just a substitute. I've never wanted to come between you and her..."

Her utterly humble words instantly deflated Ethan's anger.

He rubbed his temples wearily. "So what exactly do you want?"

"I... I don't know..." Sophie bit her lip. "I just miss you so much... and my body feels strange."

"Strange?" Ethan frowned instinctively. "Are you sick?"

Sophie shook her head, eyes red.

"You used to be with me every day, but now that Isabella's suddenly awake, we only see each other every few days. I miss you, and my body..."

Sophie widened her innocent eyes, pulling his hand to her waist. "Don't you miss me too, Professor?"

Her naive words struck precisely at the man's most sensitive nerve.

Ethan's eyes darkened. Unable to restrain himself, he suddenly stood and pressed Sophie against the desk.

Crash!

Isabella heard papers scattering, followed by Sophie's gasp—

"Professor, Isabella's still upstairs."

Ethan's voice was already hoarse beyond recognition.

"Then keep quiet, you little harlot.”

Intimate sounds filtered through the door, soft and persistent.

Isabella finally couldn't take it anymore and ran to the bathroom, retching violently.

Though she'd known about their relationship.

Though this wasn't the first time she'd witnessed it.

She still felt sick to her core.

After what felt like forever, Isabella's phone buzzed.

She steadied herself and opened the message from her doctor—

[Miss Winters, we've discovered a new treatment that could preserve your memory, though it carries some risk. Would you like to consider it?]

Isabella replied almost without thinking.

[No. I accept forgetting everything forever.]

These nauseating memories...

Forgetting them would be perfect.

Isabella didn't know when Sophie had left.

She only noticed that the next day, Ethan was even more attentive to her, almost carrying her downstairs for everything.

That evening, he took the initiative, "Bella, I've cleared my schedule tonight. Let me take you to the charity auction."

Isabella was a professional photographer with quite a reputation in the industry.

Every year she donated several photographs to charity auctions and attended to show support.

This year, despite having just awakened, she'd received an invitation.

But as soon as she and Ethan arrived at the auction venue, they spotted a familiar figure.

"Professor! Isabella!" Sophie ran over cheerfully. "You're here too!"

Ethan frowned slightly. "What are you doing here?"

"I have photographs in the auction too!" Sophie ducked her head shyly. "To be honest, Isabella, your influence inspired me to take up photography, and I even won an award!"

She gazed at Isabella with starry eyes.

"Isabella, you're my idol! I want to become just like you!"

Become like her?

Or rather, replace her entirely?

Isabella's lips curved sardonically, but she said nothing.

The auction began shortly.

Isabella and Ethan sat in a VIP box on the second floor, while Sophie took a seat in the main floor seating area.

As the most renowned photographer at this auction, Isabella's work was featured first.

"Our opening piece tonight is a work by Miss Isabella Winters from seven years ago, titled 'Memory.'"

The large screen displayed the photograph, and Ethan's expression changed instantly.

"Bella!" He whipped around to face her. "Why did you put this photograph up for sale?"

The screen showed two hands clasped together on a beach, both wearing wedding rings on their ring fingers.

This was Ethan and Isabella's most treasured piece—taken on the day he proposed.

Isabella had once considered this work priceless; she'd refused offers of ten million dollars for it.

But now, she was selling it.

Isabella looked up at Ethan. "Ethan, do you remember the promise you made me that day?"

Ethan answered without hesitation, "Of course I remember. I promised to love only you for the rest of my life, never to betray you."

He felt a pang of guilt afterward.

Could it be... did Bella know something? Was that why she was selling this photograph?

As he panicked internally, he heard Isabella laugh.

"Exactly. Since you remember so well, it's just a photograph after all. No need to keep it—might as well sell it for charity."

What she didn't say aloud was: broken promises make photographs meaningless anyway.

Meanwhile, the bidding had begun below—

"Fifty thousand."

"One hundred thousand."

"One hundred fifty thousand!"

As a well-known photographer, the piece immediately drew enthusiastic bidding.

Then Ethan raised his paddle.

"One million!"

The bid—ten times higher than the previous offer—made everyone gasp.

Ethan looked at Isabella earnestly.

"You may say that, but since this represents my promise to you, I want to keep it forever."

Amid the applause, Ethan won the photograph.

Acquaintances in the crowd joked good-naturedly.

"Well, well! Turns out Mr. Cross just wanted to donate a million dollars while showing off for his wife—we're all just watching a love show!"

Everyone laughed, but Isabella's smile never reached her eyes.

The auction continued.

Since tonight's guests were all wealthy and influential, the organizers had set a rule: each guest could bid on only one photograph.

So Ethan lost interest in the other pieces, focusing instead on peeling grapes for Isabella and feeding them to her one by one.

Until the host announced—

"Our next piece is from emerging photographer Sophie Shaw, titled 'Dreams'!"

The screen lit up again amid applause, but the next second, someone cried out in shock.

"What the heck is that!"

The photograph on screen showed Sophie herself.

And a man. Sophie was kneeling in front of him, her eyes in daze—anyone could see what was happening.

The man's face wasn't visible, but Isabella still recognized him as Ethan.

The venue erupted.

"What the hell! She's auctioning off this kind of photo? Has she lost her mind?"

"If I'm not mistaken, that's the photographer Sophie Shaw herself in the picture. Is she trying to create a scandal for attention?"

"I mean, there are artistic nude works out there, but this... it's just vulgar!"

Amid the chaos of voices, Sophie's face went ashen as she shook her head frantically.

"No... this isn't the photo I submitted. I swear it's not this one..."

But no one was listening.

The auctioneer, maintaining professional composure, began the bidding.

"This photograph has a starting bid of one hundred thousand. Do I hear any higher offers?"

The room fell dead silent.

Only a few sleazy men's crude laughter broke the quiet.

"A hundred grand for this? It's just a sex photo—you can find thousands online for free!"

"Exactly. A hundred thousand for the photo is ridiculous, but this girl clearly knows how to please a man. If she'd recreate what's in the photo live, then maybe a hundred grand would be worth it."

"Hahaha!"

The humiliating comments kept coming. Sophie's last trace of color drained from her face as she swayed on her feet.

Until—

"I bid two hundred thousand!"

Ethan's cold voice cut through the room, instantly silencing everyone.

People stared at Ethan in disbelief, whispering among themselves.

"Does Mr. Cross know this Sophie Shaw?"

"Oh, I remember now—Sophie Shaw is one of Mr. Cross's students..."

The auctioneer was also stunned but politely reminded him.

"Mr. Cross, according to our auction rules, each person can only bid on one item. If you wish to change your bid, you'll need to forfeit your previous purchase and offer a higher amount."

Ethan instinctively looked at Isabella, who kept her head down in silence.

Sophie below was already sobbing audibly.

"Professor, you don't need to help me. I uploaded the wrong photo by mistake. Please don't worry about me..."

Her voice grew smaller and smaller until she was crying uncontrollably. Ethan felt his heart clench and blurted out, "Fine. I bid two million for this photograph."

The entire room gasped. The auctioneer confirmed, "So Mr. Cross, you're forfeiting Miss Winters's photograph?"

Ethan again looked instinctively at Isabella, but this time she had already stood and left.

"Bella!"

Only then did Ethan panic, rushing to follow her. But at that moment, someone below shouted, "Sophie Shaw has fainted!"

Ethan's steps froze.

The scene descended into chaos. As Isabella left the auction house, she could only hear the auctioneer's voice:

"Congratulations to Mr. Cross for winning Miss Sophie Shaw's 'Dreams' at two million dollars!"

Isabella closed her eyes as the tears she'd been holding back finally fell.

In the end, he had chosen her after all.

...

For the next several days, Isabella didn't speak to Ethan.

No matter how much jewelry and designer bags he bought, no matter what novelties he brought home, she wouldn't even look at him.

Until Isabella's birthday.

Ethan practically got on his knees begging before she finally agreed to go out with him.

After driving for what felt like hours, the car stopped. Ethan covered her eyes as they walked, and after a long journey, he finally spoke.

"Okay, Bella, you can open your eyes now."

Isabella looked up to find they were at a marina.

Before them sat an enormous yacht, brilliantly lit, with words painted on its hull— The Winters

Isabella's eyes flashed with surprise as she looked at Ethan. "This is..."

Ethan took her hand.

"This is a yacht I had custom-made for you, named after you."

He said softly, "Bella, I'm truly sorry about the auction. Sophie is my student and the girl you've been sponsoring. I really was just trying to help her out of an embarrassing situation—nothing more.

"I asked her about the photo too. She said someone jealous of her photoshopped it. Please believe me. Besides..."

He paused, then said gently, "Didn't you want to sell the 'Memory' photograph for charity anyway? An extra donation is a good thing, right?"

Isabella's eyelashes trembled slightly.

‘Since this represents my promise to you, I want to keep it forever.’ His words from that day seemed to echo in her ears, but now his story had completely changed.

Isabella lowered her head, hiding the irony in her eyes. "We don't need to explain so much to each other."

Because I... stopped believing you long ago. And soon I'll forget all these sordid details anyway.

But Ethan misinterpreted her words as forgiveness. Joy flashed in his eyes as he eagerly took her hand.

"Come on, let's go aboard!"

Once on the yacht, Isabella saw that nearly everyone she knew was there.

Ethan had ordered a massive three-meter-tall cake, and everyone was celebrating her.

The yacht set sail as fireworks lit up the sky—everything was so beautiful it felt like a dream.

Even Isabella felt momentarily dazed.

As if they were back in their happiest days, sweet and inseparable.

Until Ethan's phone buzzed and he looked down at it.

Isabella glanced over and realized he wasn't reading a message—he was checking social media.

Understanding dawned. She opened her own social media to find Sophie had just posted a photo.

The image showed Sophie sitting alone at a table in darkness with a cake and a single lonely candle. The caption read: "My 23rd birthday, spending it alone again."