I dropped to my knees, my forehead hitting the ground hard in front of Julia.

“To think I actually believed you were being kind for once. Turns out it was just another trick." Owen sneered then continued, "What did you do to the lingerie?”

“She’s hurt because of you! Aren’t you going to apologize?”

Blood had already soaked through her evening gown. Julia shivered uncontrollably in the cold wind.

I shifted numbly, positioning my forehead directly in front of hers, then bowed again with force.

“I’m sorry.”

It wasn’t the first time I’d apologized.

I had to apologize for not delivering lingerie fast enough to Owen’s mistresses.

I had to apologize for not handing him a condom in time.

I had to apologize for using the wrong brand of body wash on his lover.

Any shred of dignity I once had had been shattered over these past eight years.

The guests around us laughed louder.

“No wonder Mr. Carter is who he is. He’s tamed the Myers family heiress like a dog.”

“With how gracious Sheryl is, she could’ve been a proper wife in ancient times. She's really magnanimous.”

I slowly rose to my feet. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Owen’s clenched fists.

“Is that enough?” I asked quietly. “I’ll go run the bath for Ms. Julia now.”

Just as I turned to leave, Owen stepped forward, grabbed my chin, and forced me to look up.

“Sheryl, how many times do I have to tell you? Playing the victim doesn’t work on me!”

“There’s no audience here for your act. No one’s going to pity you. Save it and crawl back home!”

“Kneel for five days. You’re not allowed to eat or drink anything unless I say so!”

I closed my eyes in despair, my voice barely audible. “Owen... In the past, I knelt because I didn’t want a divorce. But this time, I do.”

“Let me go, and let yourself go.”

He laughed coldly, as if I’d just told the most absurd joke. “Divorce me? You think I’ll believe that?”

“Don’t forget—you threatened me into marriage with your family’s investments. The Myers family’s entire fortune is tied up in my company. Divorce me and the Myers will go bankrupt.”

His eyes gleamed with a sliver of hope. He was so sure I was acting out of jealousy again.

But I just nodded calmly. “Then let them go bankrupt. I just want the divorce. Return my half of the assets to the Myers family—that’s more than enough.”

His expression darkened, anger flashing across his face.

He spat the word “Fine” three times, each one colder than the last.

“Keep pretending. I want to see how long you can keep this act up.”

“Get out. Go wash Julia up!”

I bowed slightly and turned to leave.

The dead have no more tears left to cry.

There was once love between us—but that was eight years ago.

I didn't belong to this world. My soul was only sent here with one goal: to win Owen’s heart.

We were childhood sweethearts. The affection built up quickly. My strategy was working—until the Carter family suddenly ran out of funds and faced ruin.

I remembered the day he said he would marry me—that he wanted a future together. So I took out everything the Myers family had and offered it to him, in exchange for a single marriage contract.

But the story that reached his ears... was twisted.

Uncle Andrew, desperate and drowning in debt, died in a car crash.

Aunt Yvonnne, unable to bear the pain, followed him in death.

Owen blamed me for both lives.

He was convinced it was my threat that had killed his parents.

From then on, whatever love he had for me turned to ashes—leaving only hatred behind.

In the eight years that followed, he brought home ninety-nine lovers.

And when Julia appeared, I knew my mission had utterly failed.

Three days ago, the system erased me.

This time I’m living on borrowed time—granted only because I begged for it.

I pleaded for one last chance to say goodbye—one last chance to divorce Owen, and to finally free my soul.

By the time Owen led Julia into the bathroom, I had already filled the tub with warm water for her.

The water was laced with his favorite ebony-scented bath gel. The air itself was thick with it—Owen's signature indulgence.

However, my obedience didn’t earn me a kind word, only the full weight of his fury.

As soon as Julia entered the bathroom, Owen yanked me onto the bed with force, his body pressing me down.

“Sheryl,” he sneered, “do you really enjoy serving my mistresses that much?”

“If you just say you love me, beg me to send her away, I might actually grant your wish.”

“After all, you’re the woman I liked since childhood. No one else’s body ever pleased me as much as yours.”

He stared at me intently, eyes searching—desperate to find the slightest trace of jealousy, heartbreak, or longing.

But what he saw only disappointed him.

My gaze was dead—emptied of hope, feeling, or life.

“Sheryl, don’t go too far! I gave you a chance—all I asked was for you to lower your head. Was that so difficult?”

“You killed my parents. And I still didn’t divorce you. What more do you want from me?!”

So that was all it would take—just one word from me to end it all.

But it was already too late.

I closed my eyes, a hollow ache spreading in my chest as I whispered, “If I ask you to divorce me now, will you say yes?”

The lust in his eyes vanished. He shoved me off him without warning.

I hit the floor hard, my bones rattling from the impact.

“Don’t think I won’t divorce you. I’m just waiting for you to crawl back on your knees like always!”

“If you love watching me with other women so much, then I’ll make sure you get a front-row seat!”

I didn’t respond. Just calmly got up and opened the drawer by the bed.

“Which brand do you want tonight? Okamoto again? Is three enough?”

Hearing my words, he suddenly kicked the drawer shut, sending boxes scattering across the floor.

“No need! We won’t use anything tonight!”

Even as he barked, my expression remained tranquil—unshaken.

Cursing under his breath, Owen turned, locked the bedroom door behind him, and stormed into the bathroom.

I didn’t know what he was angry about.

Scenes like this had played out countless times over the past eight years.

The sound of the bathroom door slamming echoed through the room.

But moments later, it opened again.

He came back with handcuffs and shackled me to the doorframe.

This time, he didn’t look back.

Soon, the sound of rushing water filled the air.

Julia’s voice rang out, laced with embarrassment and disbelief.

“Mr. Carter, Ms. Sheryl is still outside. This isn’t—”

Before she could finish, whatever protest she had was swallowed by him.

Her bathrobe landed in a heap outside the door.

Owen had left the bathroom door wide open on purpose.

Through the foggy glass, their silhouettes moved together in a rhythm I’d long since grown numb to.

From shame... to grief... to nothingness.

The thunder outside the window rumbled.

Rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows.

In a trance, I remembered a time when we were in love.

No matter where Owen was, he would rush home at the first sound of thunder, just to hold me through the night.

He knew how much I feared storms.

He’d wrap his arms around me and never let go. His hand would gently stroke my back until I fell asleep.

He did love me once.

And he truly hates me now.

My knees were so bruised I could no longer feel them. My legs were swollen and discolored.

Finally, he emerged—carrying Julia in his arms like a victor claiming his prize.

Without a word, he unlocked the cuffs from my wrists.

“Change Julia’s clothes. And don’t you dare close your eyes.”

On the bed, Julia lay completely bare, cheeks flushed pink.

“Sorry to trouble you, Ms. Sheryl ,” she said sweetly, feigning innocence.

Owen chuckled coldly. “How could it be trouble? She loves watching. It’s her favorite thing.”

“She can’t sleep unless she hears me with another woman. Tsk. She's born a slut.”

I lowered my eyes, opened a new box labeled Cat Maid, and began dressing Julia.

The little cat ears twitched playfully as I adjusted the outfit.

It looked... adorable.

Owen forbade me from closing my eyes, so I had no choice but to take in every lingering mark on Julia’s body—evidence of their night together.

When I helped her into the last piece of black lace, Owen finally snapped.

He grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward him, his expression was twisted with disgust.

“You enjoy watching my woman that much?”

“Or is it that you want to wear this kind of thing yourself?”

“Sheryl, stop with your filthy thoughts. Even if you stood naked in front of me, I wouldn’t spare you a single glance!”

He flung me aside violently, then tossed a towel over Julia’s body.

“Get out! Kneel at the door. That’s your punishment for looking at her.”

I obeyed, quietly stepping out and closing the door behind me.

Inside, Julia’s voice rang out in a sultry tone. “Mr. Carter, you’re so fierce... you scared me.”

“Ms. Sheryl was just helping me change, wasn’t that a little too harsh?”

Owen let out a cold laugh. “My woman is for my eyes only. She’s nothing.”

“If she dares look, she pays the price. Kneeling all night is letting her off easy. Don’t waste your sympathy—she deserves this.”

Plop.

A drop of liquid fell onto the divorce agreement I was holding.

I wiped my nose.

It was blood.

The system had warned me—this body could only last three days. It seemed like I already reached my limit.

I knelt outside the door all night. By morning, my limbs were completely numb. My mind was a haze.

Inside, the sounds finally ceased.

Just before I passed out, I vaguely heard Owen on the phone.

“Get everything ready for the auction today. I’m taking Julia to pick out some jewelry.”

Then the world went dark.

I didn’t know how much time had passed before angry shouts reached my ears.

“What do you mean you can’t find the cause? What kind of hospital is this? Are you all useless? Can’t even treat a coma? What’s the point of your machines if they can’t detect anything?!”

The doctor’s voice trembled in response.

“Mr. Carter, I’m not lying! We’ve used every instrument available, but her condition... it’s completely unexplainable.”

“Not just the coma—none of the machines can even detect any vital signs. It’s like... she’s not alive, but not dead either. We’ve never encountered anything like it.”

“These devices have worked perfectly for two years. Please, give us a little more time. I’ll figure something out!”

A loud crash followed—Owen had thrown a cup across the room.

“Get out! If you can’t find the cause, don’t bother coming back!”

Julia rushed to his side, stroking his chest soothingly.

“Mr. Carter, please calm down. The doctor said she isn’t sick. Maybe she just found a way to trick the machines...”

“Maybe she’s just angry at you. I was the one who pushed too far last night. I shouldn’t have pulled you into my nonsense...”

Owen’s fury gradually settled into icy laughter.

“Fine. Sheryl, I’ll wait and see how long you plan to keep this act going.”

A pack of cigarettes hit my face.

I slowly opened my eyes and met his burning gaze.

“What? Not pretending anymore?” he sneered. “I really underestimated you.”

My throat was dry and raw—I couldn’t speak.

He tossed one last line over his shoulder before leaving the room with Julia in his arms.

“Since you’re awake, come with us to the auction. Help pick out something nice for Julia.”

I didn’t hesitate. I forced myself to stand and followed them.

Back then, in order to save the Carter family from financial ruin, I had sold off the Myers family’s heirloom jade bracelet.

Now that I was leaving, it was time to take it back and return it to its rightful place.

I owed that much to the Myers family.

At the auction, Owen and Julia sat in the front row.

I stood beside them, quietly serving tea.