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.

Around us, whispers spread like wildfire.

Businessmen exchanged knowing glances, their eyes full of disdain and mockery.

A wife lower than a mistress—what a joke.

Yet Owen remained unfazed. With no regard for me, he lavished Julia with affection.

“You must be tired after last night,” he said softly. “Buy whatever you like today. Think of it as my way of making it up to you.”

“Good girls get rewarded. That’s what I love about you.”

Every piece of jewelry that came up for auction was claimed by him without hesitation. His bids lit up the room, one after another.

I no longer had a heartbeat, but I could still feel my body trembling with tension.

Julia, who had started off feigning shyness, quickly grew bold and smug.

Anything she liked, she took.

Owen gave her that confidence—his indulgence was her armor.

He spent over a hundred million without blinking.

Yet his gaze kept drifting to me. Each glance grew darker, more annoyed.

I didn’t look back. I didn’t want to see his face, nor did I care about his mood.

Until the final item was revealed—and for the first time, light returned to my eyes.

“Our last item: a white jade bangle with emerald inlay. Starting bid—five million!”

Without a second’s hesitation, I raised my paddle.

“Ten million.”

A flicker of jealousy flashed in Julia’s eyes. She clung to Owen’s arm, her tone syrupy sweet.

“Mr. Carter, I want that bracelet too. We could pass it down to our future child.”

“I heard jade is good for the body. I’ve never owned a real bangle before.”

Owen’s expression faltered for a moment.

He clearly recognized it—it was the Myers family’s heirloom. But he had no idea how it ended up here.

He couldn’t be bothered to figure it out. He simply lifted his paddle for her.

“Twenty million.”

“Thirty million,” I countered, my voice steady, but my palms drenched in cold sweat.

This was the Myers family’s last legacy.

'Please... don’t take this from me too.'

But Owen couldn’t hear the silent pleading in my heart. All he cared about now was punishing me.

“Light the sky lantern,” he ordered, then turned to me. “Sheryl, do you even have that kind of money? Don’t overestimate yourself.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

I’d already given him every last bit of the Myers family’s fortune.

The thirty million I bid included what I could claim in the divorce settlement.

Gasps rippled through the room.

A public bidding war between husband and wife—it was pure entertainment for the crowd.

“That’s Owen’s hundredth mistress, huh? No wonder he doesn’t even bother with his wife.”

“Wife? Please. She’s worse than a maid. Have you ever seen a wife pouring tea for the other woman? She’s a disgrace to women everywhere.”

“She knows Owen hates her, but still clings like a fool. Tsk. Serves her right. She ruined her entire family chasing after love—no wonder the Myers family went bankrupt. With a daughter like that, no wonder they were cursed.”

My body swayed, and I could barely stand.

The final gavel fell. The bangle was sold. It was over.

As the crowd dispersed, I tugged at Owen’s sleeve.

“Please... can you give me the bracelet back?”

He chuckled coldly and lifted my chin. “You want the bracelet? But it’s something Julia likes. I already promised it to her.”

Seeing the devastation in my eyes, he paused, then added, “Though... I might reconsider.”

“If you kneel right here, in front of everyone, and bow to Julia—if she agrees—I won’t stop you.”

Before his words even finished echoing, my knees hit the floor.

The skin on my bruised forehead split open as it struck the cold marble.

Blood trickled down my face.

“Ms. Julia,” I whispered hoarsely, “please... have mercy. Let me have the bracelet.”

Owen’s fists clenched in fury.

“All this... for a bracelet?” he hissed. “You’re really willing to throw away your dignity for something like this?”