Everyone said I’m lucky.

After all, I married Mike Rodger—the most conservative, upright man in the capital.

But only I know how often he’s not home.

The darling of the entertainment industry waved a pregnancy test in front of me, claiming she was carrying his child. I threatened her, begged her, even offered her resources just to convince her to get an abortion.

An innocent college girl cried, saying she gave her first time to Mike. I sent her abroad as hush money, pleading with her to stay silent.

Then came the young married woman who came right to my door, fluttering her lashes at me, asking if I wanted to “join them.”

I swallowed every bitter pill and tried to keep up appearances—for him.

The Rodger Family is noble, powerful and spotless. One scandal could destroy him. I was afraid his father, Mr. Rodger, would kill him if the truth ever came out.

But then Jinny Wellner knelt before me, her lips pale, clutching a boy in her arms.

“Ms. Meghan Scott,” she said, her voice trembling. “When you forced me to leave the Larkspire and stay away from Mike, I didn’t complain. But... my son, Liam, needs a rh-negative blood type. Please, let me have some of yours to save him.”

Mike's eyes—cold and calculating—landed on me, as if assessing the worth of a worn-out item.

That’s when I realized: the marriage everyone envied was a setup from the start.

Mike had done everything to keep this woman hidden—his first love, the one he sent abroad, the one he never let go.

And I—Mrs. Rodger—was nothing but a cover.

But I was done.

——

Flashback to thirty minutes ago.

The noise at the office entrance disrupted work. Curious, I stepped outside.

In the crowd stood a pale, fragile woman a thin ten-year-old boy clinging to her side.

Jinny.

The moment she saw me, her face went whiter, her eyes reddened and tears streamed down before she could speak.

“Ms. Meghan,” she choked, “I know you hate me for having Mike’s child. You ruined my job and threatened my family to keep me away.

But... the child is innocent. Please, I beg you—he has a rare blood disease. He needs a rh-negative blood type and you’re the only match.”

With that, Jinny dropped to her knees and clutched my skirt.

I looked down at her, stunned by how fragile her hands were.

Only two people had rh-negative blood type: me and the boy.

“I beg you,” she whispered. “Forget the past—help him. I’ll do anything you ask, as long as you save my child.”

Before I could respond, a flash of silver caught my eye.

Instinctively, I stepped back.

“Jinny!” I gasped.

She had pulled out a dagger and sliced her wrist open.

Blood splattered onto the floor, wrapping around the hem of my skirt like a serpent's tongue.

“Ms. Meghan,” she cried out, “what else can I give you? My blood? My life? Is that what it takes for you to help Liam?”

The boy wailed and tried to rush over. He pressed down on her bleeding wrist, his eyes blazing with a wolfish fury as he stared at me.

And Mike?

A flash of disgust crossed his cold, dark eyes.

“Meghan,” he spat. “When did you become so vile and shameless?”

The man who always obsessed over cleanliness brushed past me without hesitation, scooping Jinny into his arms. Blood soaked his sleeves.

She trembled in his embrace like she might fall apart.

“Don’t be scared,” he said, gentler than I’d ever heard him. “I’m here. It’s just rh-negative blood type. I’ll get it for you.”

Jinny tried to push him away. “No, don’t dirty your clothes…”

“It’s not good for Ms. Meghan to see us like this,” she added. “You shouldn’t blame her. After all, Liam and I owe her everything…”

Mike cut her off. “Jinny, if it’s you, nothing is dirty.”

Then he turned his icy gaze on me.

“Meghan, all the things you’ve done behind my back—I’ll deal with you when I return.”

He carried Jinny in his arms, holding Liam’s hand with his other, the three of them leaving like a picture-perfect family.

Not one of them looked back at me.

Outside, snow began to fall. The chill seeped into my bones.

Ten years of marriage—reduced to a passing cloud.

I heard the whispers from the onlookers.

“Wow, Ms. Meghan seemed so gentle, but she was trying to drive an innocent woman child to death…”

“No wonder Mr. Rodger doesn’t love her. Tsk.”

I tuned them out and walked back to my office.

As the warmth returned to my body, I came back to myself.

I picked up the phone and called Rachel Jenkins, my lawyer—and best friend.

“Rachel, I want a divorce.”

She didn’t ask questions. She moved quickly to prepare the papers. Then she paused.

“Meghan… do you still want to study law in Larkspire? I happen to have a spot for you.”

Larkspire had the best law school in the world.

I froze for a second, then remembered—

I wasn’t born Mrs. Rodger.

I didn’t begin as some washed-up socialite.

I was once an exceptional lawyer—admired, accomplished, unstoppable.

“Yes,” I said.

Relief warmed Rachel’s voice.

“I’ll book the tickets then. How does seven days from now sound?”

Seven days. Just enough time to settle things.

“Alright,” I said. “Let’s leave together.”

Early the next morning, I rummaged through the dusty boxes in the warehouse, pulling out old codices and notebooks.

The familiar handwriting stirred something deep in me—a glimpse of the woman I used to be.

When I looked up, Mike stood in the doorway, cold and aloof, watching me like a stranger.

I forced a polite smile.

Shouldn’t he be at the hospital with Jinny and her son right now?

“I told you,” he said, his tone dripping with disdain, “a wife of the Rodger Family has no need to read books like that.”

He walked in, commanding the room with his usual arrogance.

“I’ve already hired a caregiver,” he continued. “From today on, Jinny and Liam will live here. You’d better learn how to assist.”

It was only then that I noticed Jinny and Liam standing behind him.

Jinny kept her head down, fingers clinging timidly to the hem of his coat.

“I’m not learning,” I said calmly.

“I have no interest in taking care of another woman’s child.”

Liam’s face twisted with anger.

“We don’t need you!” he shouted. “You’re the bad woman who bullied my mom!”

Jinny’s eyes turned red as she held him back.

“Liam,” she said gently, “from now on, Miss Meghan is your mother. You must respect her, always put her first. I’m just your Auntie Jinny now, okay?”

“Don’t be rude to Mom Meghan.”

Mike’s brow furrowed deeply. The veins on his forehead pulsed.

“Meghan,” he snapped, glaring at me. “Jinny is speaking to you. Is this how the Scott Family raised you? No manners, no decency?”

Jinny clutched his arm and shook her head quickly, trying to calm him.

“Miss Meghan is probably just upset,” she said softly. “She didn’t mean anything by it. Don’t be mad at her. I’m not here to steal Mike away. As soon as Liam recovers, we’ll leave.”

She bit her lip, eyes shimmering with tears.

“You’ve been with Mike for ten years—I know I’m the outsider here. I’ve always been aware of my place.”

I glanced at their tightly clasped hands.

“The Scott Family did teach me manners,” I said lightly. “They also taught me righteousness, dignity and shame. But they never taught me how to be a mistress.”

The moment the words left my lips, Jinny’s eyes welled up and her frail body trembled.

“Meghan!”

Mike exploded with fury, his voice thundering through the room. Even the maid standing nearby flinched.

“But Jinny gave me a son,” he shouted. “A rightful heir to the Rodger Family. What have you given me?”

His tone was mocking as he stepped closer.

“From now on, they’re living in this house. And you—don’t get to make decisions here.”

Every word was a slap across my face.

Around us, the servants exchanged glances—mocking, condescending.

They were quick to switch sides, already gathering around Jinny and her son like moths to flame.

I didn’t want to stay and watch the farce any longer.

The Rodger Family had more than one estate.

I only needed peace and distance for seven days.

But when I opened my eyes again, the sharp scent of disinfectant stung my nose.

I was in a hospital room.

Startled, I tried to sit up—only to find my wrists cuffed to the bed.

“What the...?”

I called out, “Anyone there?”

A nurse peeked into the room, her expression nervous.

“Ms. Meghan... this was your husband’s arrangement…”

“What?” I stared, my voice hoarse with disbelief.

"This is Mr. Rodger's arrangement," the nurse said gently. "He requested to draw 500ml of your blood."

My pupils dilated. I stared at her, stunned, unable to believe what I was hearing.

She hesitated for a moment, then added with a sigh, “It’s not easy for that child… Please, just let them go.”

I turned to the mirror beside the hospital bed.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

Once again, I had become someone else's villain—the cruel stepmother people whispered about behind closed doors.

“I want to see Mike!” I demanded, struggling to sit up, needing an explanation—no, a confrontation.

As if summoned by my anger, the door suddenly opened.

Mike walked in, holding Liam in his arms. The boy turned his face away from me, arms clinging tightly to his father’s neck.

“From today on,” Mike said, “Liam is the heir of the Rodger Family. If you want to remain Mrs. Rodger, you’ll treat him well.”

His voice was calm, almost bored.

“If you don’t want to—there are plenty of women who would kill for your place.”

In the past, I might have responded with logic, with fire.

But now, I simply extended my arm.

The nurse moved quickly. When the blood draw was over, a wave of darkness washed over me.

I hadn’t eaten a proper meal or slept more than a few hours in days. The relentless work, followed by Jinny’s dramatic return, had drained everything from me.

When I returned to the house, I passed by the study—Mike’s private domain. The door, always firmly shut, was left ajar.

I reached out, intending to close it quietly for him. But I froze.

Inside, I heard Jinny’s soft, flustered voice.

“Mike…. Why are all my things here?”

I leaned slightly closer, holding my breath.

“This is my old school uniform—how did you get this back?”

Mike’s low chuckle followed.

“That was the day you got mad over something silly and left it in the classroom. And these—these are our photos. Look, this one…”

His voice was warm. Fond. Intimate.

“In all these years, I never forgot you. Even in bed… it was your face I pictured before I could continue.”

“My body and heart,” he murmured, “have always been yours.”

I heard the soft sound of a kiss. Then another, deeper one—breathless, urgent.

Jinny whimpered as he pushed her back.

“Mike, please…”

That was all I could take.

I shut my eyes, turned away and left.

Even as I walked down the hall, their sounds lingered, echoing behind me.

So it turned out, he wasn’t cold or indifferent.

He simply wasn’t in love—with me.

Ten years of marriage and I was done.

On the dining table, Rachel had left behind the finalized divorce papers.

I picked up a pen and signed my name without a second thought.

The space for Mike’s signature remained blank.

I waited. Not out of hesitation—but out of formality.

Once they had finished their performance in the study, I knocked.

“Come in.”

Perhaps he was in too good a mood to say no.

He let me enter the study.

Even with the windows open, the air inside was thick with a cloying scent.

Before I could speak, Mike glanced up lazily.

“Meghan, you’re a smart woman. As long as you obey, the position of Mrs. Rodger will always be yours.”

“Jinny and Liam are only staying temporarily. If you don’t want to see them, I’ll buy them a place outside.”

There was reassurance in his tone—gentle, even kind.

As if he truly believed I should be grateful.

I stared at him, the man I had once called husband.

The man I had endured humiliation after humiliation for.

I was the only one who had ever compromised in this marriage.

“…That’s disgusting,” I whispered.

He blinked.

“I used to think Mike was a decent man,” I said, my voice steady. “But I didn’t realize you were the type to keep a mistress tucked away in a golden cage.”