Those years when Madison Litton fell head over heels for Ronan Soper, she gave up the billion-dollar inheritance to follow him to Miami.

She was by Ronan's side from rags to riches. Everyone assumed she would be the future Mrs. Soper, and even Madison herself believed it, too.

On their fifth anniversary, Madison went to the company's listing party, ready to surprise Ronan with the pregnancy report and a proposal.

But before she could show him the report, Ronan's big hand had crept under her dress.

He knew all her sensitive spots, and his longing touch made her melt into his arms.

"No..."

Behind the thin partition, the guests moved in and out.

Ronan chuckled and whispered, "Babe, let's have a baby."

At the height of their passion, Madison bit down on her lip. Her breath came soft and heavy, a warm tide spilling over and soaking the pregnancy slip.

He made her come three times, leaving her legs weak. She stood beside Ronan as they rang the bell together.

Ronan's friends gazed at Madison and spoke to Ronan in Spanish.

"Ronan, congratulations on your upcoming wedding with Eloise Naylor. The Naylor family once scorned you as a poor boy and separated you from Eloise. But now, your wish has come true."

Madison froze.

Ronan was having a wedding, but the bride wasn't her.

Unbeknownst to everyone, Madison had mastered Spanish for Ronan, so she could understand every word they said.

"How are you going to deal with Madison?"

Ronan drew on the cigar. The smoke swirled and rose, obscuring his face.

He held Madison's hand, felt its chill, and draped his suit jacket over her shoulders.

"Madi is wonderful. She has been there for me through thick and thin. But Eloise is my first love, and I hope she will share in my happiness."

Someone said, "The rich and powerful Naylor family may not tolerate Madison."

"Eloise is not in good shape. She needs another woman to carry her baby."

Ronan held Madison by the waist, his fingers tracing over her belly.

"Our baby is already inside Madison's womb. I will make it up to Madison once the baby is born."

Madison used to find Ronan's voice deep and sexy, yet now, the very same voice pierced her heart like a knife, leaving her gasping for breath.

Suddenly, she remembered that three months ago, after sex, she passed out for two days for no reason. When she woke, a dull ache settled in her belly.

It turned out Ronan had drugged her and put Eloise's egg in her body.

Her love wasn't reciprocated all along.

After her parents passed away, everyone was coveting the billion-dollar inheritance.

Only Ronan was different. He was always quiet and hardworking, treating her with genuine devotion.

She was aware of Ronan's unforgettable love, but still went with him to Miami. They rented a basement and shared one hamburger during their trying times.

To secure a deal, Madison drank up a storm and was sexually harassed by a client.

Ronan took the bottle, smashed it over the client's head, and pulled Madison into the pouring rain.

In the mix of tears and rain, Ronan fell on one knee and proposed to Madison with the soda can tab.

"Madi, will you marry me? One day, I'll make a name for myself. I'll protect you, love you, and never let you suffer again."

Perhaps, Ronan did love her back then, but sadly, it was only those spur-of-the-moment promises.

The young Ronan pledged to love her for a lifetime, yet after he rose to fame, he calmly assessed the pros and cons and exploited her to the fullest.

Sensing her unusual reaction, Ronan held her in his arms and kissed her forehead.

"Babe, are you not feeling well? Forget the bell. Nothing matters more than you."

Madison felt the irony and pulled away from his kiss.

"I'm just a little tired. I want to go home and get some rest."

Ronan looked on edge. Maybe he was worried about the baby in her belly, so he ditched the party to drive her home.

His tenderness didn't seem fake.

Madison clenched her fists, her nails digging into her flesh. She was determined to find out the truth.

"Ronnie, I..."

Suddenly, the screech of the tires pierced the air.

Two cars crashed into one another, and the seat belt cut into Madison's belly.

Madison could feel the warm blood trickling down her thighs.

Lying among the shards of glass, her vision blurred, she saw a young woman break down in tears. "Ronnie, I just wanted to watch you ring the bell. I didn't know this could happen. I'm so scared."

Ronan hugged the woman, soothing her in Spanish.

"Don't be scared, Ellie."

Someone shrieked, "Blood! So much blood!"

Without hesitation, Ronan released Eloise and scooped Madison up.

"Doctor! You must save her! She's pregnant."

Madison was ushered into the operating room. She could hear the doctors' chatter loud and clear.

"Mr. Soper cares deeply for his fiancée. She only had a head scratch, but nearly the hospital's entire doctors went to her VIP ward."

"I hear their wedding is around the corner, and he bought her a million-dollar ring at the auction."

Tears streamed down Madison's cheeks. It appeared she was the only one left in the dark about their wedding.

She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain of her heart being ripped apart.

In that moment, her love for Ronan died.

She asked huskily, "Doctor, can you perform an abortion?"

Silence took over the operating room, disrupted only by the rhythmic beep of the monitor.

After a while, the doctor said, "Given your condition, if you choose abortion now, there's a high probability that you can't conceive again."

"I don't care."

The doctor's voice faltered. "I'm sorry, Ms. Litton. It's not up to us."

It was her body, yet she couldn't even decide for herself whether to keep the baby.

The surgery proceeded without anesthesia to protect the unborn child. Worried Madison might struggle, the doctors strapped her to the surgical bed.

She could feel the tools stir inside her, and the pain was excruciating.

After the surgery was done, the doctors didn't remove the straps, for fear that she might harm the baby.

She lay bound in the hospital room, forgotten by the world.

Without a phone at hand, she could only guess the hour by watching the shifting colors of the sky outside.

Three days had passed, and hunger and exhaustion weighed her down. Just as she thought she might pass out for good, the door creaked open.

Ronan walked in, taken aback by Madison's pasty complexion.

He, a neat freak, half-knelt by the bed, gently touching Madison's wound.

"I'm sorry, babe. Something urgent came up at work. I'm glad that your surgery went well. If anything happens to you, how could I bear to live?"

The air carried a strange, cloying scent of perfume that clearly belonged to another woman.

Madison stared into Ronan's eyes without giving any response.

All she saw there was affection. There was no trace of deception or betrayal.

His acting was flawless. While uttering sweet nothings to her, he was secretly planning a life with someone else.

Ronan caressed Madison's belly and said, "Babe, you're pregnant with our baby."

"Ronan, let's get married." Madison's voice was raspy and dry.

She wanted to give Ronan one last chance and give herself a reason to stay.

Ronan paused and said, "You won't look your best in a wedding dress while pregnant. After the baby is born, I'll hold a grand ceremony for you. How does that sound?"

The last flicker of hope faded in Madison's eyes as she let out a soft, cryptic "Uh-huh".

A rare smile settled on Ronan's face. "Let's go home."

When he was instructing his assistant, Madison picked up her phone and contacted Ronan's rival.

"Mr. Vane, I own 30% of the Soper Group's shares, worth 8 million dollars. Are you interested in buying?"

8 million dollars was the exact price of the wedding ring Ronan bought for Eloise.

The reply was almost immediate.

"Yes. The transfer must be done in one month."

"That won't be a problem, but I have a request. Take me back to Massachusetts once the transfer is complete."

One month.

There was one last month before she left Ronan for good.

"Babe, what are you doing?"

Ronan hugged Madison from behind, sneaking a glance at her phone.

Madison had already opened a different app, where a romantic proposal video was playing.

The man at the center of the story was Ronan.

With the bride's face blurred, he fell on one knee, presenting the Eternal Love wedding ring that Madison had designed.

He professed his love in Spanish. Amidst the cheers and applause, he lifted the veil and kissed the bride passionately.

Panic crept on Ronan's face, but he soon regained his composure.

"Jealousy? It's just a company promo for Eternal Love. Babe, you're not assuming that I'm cheating, are you?"

He took Madison's hand and placed it over his heart. "Dig out my heart and see if there's only you inside."

As the car slowly pulled up in front of the villa, Madison pulled her hand away.

"We're home."

Her unusual behavior earned a scowl on Ronan's face. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was escaping his control.

In mere three days, the villa was transformed. All of Madison's thoughtfully arranged furniture was gone, along with the wedding-themed art photos she insisted on taking with Ronan.

"Ronnie, you're back," a woman called out to him.

Eloise emerged from the master bedroom, gave Madison a look of scorn, and said in Spanish, "You wouldn't actually have fallen in love with her, would you? She lived with another man before getting married. Are you sure the child is ours?"

Ronan flashed his signature smile. "Every night, she drank a glass of milk laced with long-term contraceptives, which had taken a serious toll on her body. Without IVF, she would never have a child of her own."

Madison's face turned as white as a sheet.

Every day for five years, Ronan would bring her a glass of warm milk and watch her take every gulp.

"Milk helps you sleep better. I hope you dream of me tonight."

Her eyes were dry and tearless. For five years, she had taken pills and injections just to have a child.

Ronan looked at her like she was some kind of clown, seeing that everything she did was in vain.

"Babe," Ronan switched to English. "Eloise is the nutritionist I hired to take care of you. She wasn't easy to convince, so don't make things difficult for her, alright?"

Madison was never given a choice.

"Ms. Litton, please take all your things out of the master bedroom. I can't stand the mess."

Madison stepped forward. Ronan gripped her wrist tightly, and a bruise formed. He seemed afraid that Madison would give Eloise a hard time.

"Didn't she ask me to clear all my stuff?" Madison asked flatly.

Ronan loosened his grip, watching Madison walk into the bedroom.

All her clothes lay strewn across the floor like trash. The porcelain doll she made with Ronan was broken into pieces. And Madison's face had been cropped out of every single photo.

"You must've known, right?"

Without Ronan around, Eloise dropped all pretenses. She sized Madison up with sheer contempt.

"Ronan worked his way to the top in Miami's business world to show the Naylors that he's good enough for me. I hope someone will know her place."

"Have you given me any choice?"

Ronan confiscated all her documents. Without his permission, she couldn't even leave Miami.

Eloise snickered, fiddling with a talisman in her hand.

That was the only thing Madison's parents had left her.

Madison bellowed, "Give it back to me."

"A leopard can't change its spots. Just because you share a bond with Ronan, you think you're special. Today, I'm gonna prove to you who matters more to him."

Eloise fished out a lighter from her pocket.

With a click, the lighter flared, the flame consuming the talisman.

"Stop!"

Madison's eyes blazed with fury as she pushed Eloise aside and snatched back the half-burned talisman.

Ashes clung to her fingers. She felt as if her heart was torn apart.

Sparks fell on the carpet, igniting the bedroom in a split second.

The fire raged, and the room was engulfed in suffocating smoke.

"It's on fire!"

Ronan's eyes widened in shock as the wardrobe by the door collapsed, blocking the exit and trapping Madison and Eloise inside.

In the face of danger, Ronan charged at Madison.

Even knowing Ronan had betrayed her, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.

She extended her hand to Ronan, yet he didn't spare her a glance. He bypassed her and took Eloise's hand instead.

As they vanished from view, her hope crumbled. Her heart throbbed painfully as if crushed by a giant hand, and she couldn't catch a breath.

The fire scorched her soul, leaving her paralyzed and trapped.

She lay on the floor, bracing herself for death.

She reckoned that, perhaps, death would free her from the pain as well as the torment of being betrayed by a man.

"Madison!"

Someone shouted her name. A violent pull on her wrist snapped her back. She looked up and found that Ronan had dragged her several feet away.

The moment they fled the bedroom, the ceiling crashed down, exploding in a deafening sound.

Terrified, Eloise wrapped herself in a blanket and spoke in halting English, "Ms. Litton, you don't need to go this far to prove how much you mean to Ronnie."

She drew in a sharp breath and covered her hand.

Her fingers were reddened.

"Madison, what were you thinking?"

Ronan snarled at the servants, "Where is the goddamn family doctor?"

Soon, the doctor rushed in with a tube of cream for treating burns.

"Sir, this cream is one-of-a-kind, crafted by a renowned specialist, with only one tube left in all of America."

Ronan squeezed out most of the cream and smeared it across Eloise's fingers without hesitation.

Madison's calf was severely burned. When Ronan dragged her, the blisters had ruptured, mixing with the raw, bloody tissues.

Ronan glanced at Madison and demanded.

"Apologize."

"She burned my parents' talisman on purpose."

Aggrieved, Madison stared at the man who used to love her dearly.

She had once burned her fingers cooking soup for Ronan, so he tracked down a foreign master and begged him to make a jar of special burn cream.

He peered at Madison's burn mark and said with concern, "Never let yourself get hurt again. May this cream never be needed."

In the end, it wasn't used on Madison, just on another woman.

Madison's heart sank.

Ronan grew impatient and repeated, "Apologize."

Wallowing in sorrow, Madison turned oddly calm. She stubbornly locked eyes with Ronan and scoffed, "What if I don't?"

"Take her to the freezer."

Ronan knew all Madison's weaknesses. Having been kidnapped, she was scared of the dark, the cold, and water.

His love became a blade, stabbing at Madison's most vulnerable spots.

"Be careful," Ronan instructed the bodyguard in Spanish. "Don't hurt the baby."

Madison's resistance was useless. She was still shoved into the freezer.

The fan hummed. The icy air cut through her thin clothes, making her shudder and curl into a ball.

As the door closed, the last thing Madison saw was Ronan pinning Eloise against the wall, kissing her forcefully.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She couldn't stop retching, as if she wanted to purge every trace of Ronan from her body.

A wave of remorse washed over her.

She regretted falling in love with Ronan.

She rued the day that she came to Miami.

Darkness soon engulfed her. She felt a crushing weight on her chest, and she couldn't breathe. All she could do was scratch at the iron door desperately.

"Open the door, Ronan! You know I'm scared of the dark, please!

"You hurt me because I love you. What if I stop loving you? Will you let me go?"

Her nails cracked, leaving crimson trails on the door.

The camera above Madison watched her every move. Just as her spirit and body reached the breaking point, the iron door creaked open.

A crop of family doctors surrounded her, examined her body.

They gaslighted her at the same time.

"Ms. Litton, you've gone too far. Mr. Soper cares deeply for you, yet you let your jealousy get the better of you."

"Ms. Naylor is the daughter of an important client. Do you know how much trouble your action has caused Mr. Soper?"

"You're carrying Mr. Soper's child. You should behave as a loyal wife and a nurturing mother."

Madison turned a deaf ear to their relentless nagging and stared blankly at the ceiling.

She was brought to the guest room, next to the master bedroom. The intimate whispers of a man and woman drifted through the half-open door.

"Do you love me or Madison?"

Ronan muttered, "She's just a surrogate mother. She isn't worth your attention."

"After she gives birth, how will you handle her?"

"Make sure she serves her purpose. Mr. Harrell has a particular thing for married women."

Madison shuddered.

Mr. Harrell was the kinky man who sexually harassed her before.

He took pleasure in torturing women. Every woman he toyed with was left broken.

Madison could hardly believe how merciless Ronan was toward her.

In fact, he didn't need to have gone to such lengths.

In two weeks, she would leave him for good.

With her eyes closed, Madison was enveloped by a warm and sweaty body.

Ronan sounded guilty. "I'm sorry, babe. I have no other choice. Can you wait for me for seven months?"

He gently rubbed his nose against Madison's neck, as if he wasn't the one who ordered to lock her in the freezer.

Ronan arrived at midnight and left at dawn.

The next day, Madison woke to the laughter downstairs.

"Madi, to help you restore your strength, Ms. Naylor cooked for you."

Ronan pulled out a chair, gesturing for Madison to sit down.

The meal featured a wide variety of dishes, such as chowder, steamed sea bass, and Cioppino.

Madison felt queasy and covered her mouth.

Eloise teared up. "I went through so much trouble preparing this meal. Even if it's not to your taste, there's no need to humiliate me like that."

The moment Eloise shed a tear, Madison knew she had lost.

As expected, Ronan frowned at her. "Ms. Naylor means well. You will eat them!"

"I'm allergic to seafood."

Once, she ate seafood by accident and had a terrible allergic reaction. For this, Ronan flew into a rage and fired all the household staff. Since that day, Madison never saw seafood again.

When Ronan had second thoughts, Eloise spoke up.

"I've looked into it. Ms. Litton only has a mild allergy. As a matter of fact, consuming a small amount of seafood occasionally can help her build tolerance. It's also good for the baby."

Ronan fell silent for a moment. "That's very sweet of Ms. Naylor to think of the baby."

Madison recalled the scorched talisman in the safe.

A piece of paper was hidden inside the talisman. The word "will" was barely discernible. However, Ronan remained oblivious to all this.

Since love had abandoned Madison, she was determined to claim her parents' inheritance.

She took a deep breath and said, "Fine. I'll eat."

The chowder was hot, but Madison didn't care. She gulped them down.

Her throat quickly swelled, choking her. She subconsciously clawed at her neck, leaving red marks on her delicate skin.

"Where's the allergy drug?" Ronan roared.

Eloise stopped the servant from fetching the medicine. "The drug will affect the baby. Ms. Litton is having a mild allergic reaction. It won't endanger her life."

But it would make her suffer for a while.

"Besides." Eloise's finger hooked Ronan's belt. "Don't you want me?"

Ronan's breathing quickened. "Not today. Aren't you going to try on the wedding dresses?"

They lowered their voices, but Madison still heard everything clearly.

Staring at Ronan, who hadn't looked at her once, Madison felt her heart numb.

She slowly sank from the chair to the ground. Though she opened her mouth, not a single breath came.

Without Eloise's order, the servants didn't dare give her the medicine. They could only stand by the side and watch Madison suffer.

After a long time, a servant appeared before Madison.

"Ms. Litton, would you be so kind as to deliver these to Mr. Soper?"

The driver waited by the door when Madison arrived at the bridal shop with a bag in hand.

He extended one hand and asked, "Did you bring it?"

Madison quietly opened the bag, only to find a box of condoms.

The stunned Madison felt like she had just been struck by lightning. As Eloise extended her hand, the door of the fitting room was opened slightly. At the sight of the scene unfolding before her, Madison's blood seemed to curdle.

Ronan pressed Eloise against the mirror. His hand, which had caressed Madison countless times, was now holding Eloise by the waist. It was erotic.

Eloise glanced at Madison and moaned coquettishly, "Slow down, tiger? What's the rush? I'll be your wife soon."

The skirt of the wedding dress was wrapped around Eloise's waist. The fabulous rhinestones on it swayed as the two of them moved.

Madison felt a bitterness in her eyes, but she couldn't shed a single drop of tears.

Time ticked by. The fitting room door opened.

"Madi?" Ronan gaped. "What are you doing here?"

A second later, he regained his composure.

"Babe, don't get upset. You're pregnant."

He reached out to touch Madison's belly. She slapped his hand.

In a trembling voice, she snapped, "Ronan, you cheated on me. Weren't you afraid I'd leave you?"

Ronan chuckled, "Where can you go?"

Madison had accompanied him to Miami, where she was all alone with no friends or family. Ronan was the only one she could rely on.

"Go home."

Ronan solved the whole thing calmly. Afterward, he couldn't even be bothered to pretend anymore and prepared his wedding with Eloise openly.

Eloise smiled tenderly, "Ms. Litton, I hear that you've planned your wedding in your dreams 99 times. You must be good at wedding planning, so I'll let you plan my wedding with Ronnie."

That was diabolical.

But Madison didn't make a scene. She agreed to do it.

Under the pretext of going out for the wedding planning, she met with Ronan's business rival, Aziel Vane.

Tapping the top of the table, Aziel said, "You're Mr. Soper's girlfriend. Why are you selling your shares to me?"

"Love changes. I was bold to be with him when he built his own company from nothing. I was also free to leave him."

Aziel looked at her, amused, and extended his hand. "Glad to work with you."

Holding Madison's hand, he added, "Ronan gave the order. No one can get you out of Miami. I have an idea, though. Ms. Litton, will you marry me?"

Madison pressed her lips together and didn't respond.

"Kidding. The day Ronan gets married, another wedding car fleet will leave Miami. Congratulations on your freedom, Ms. Litton."

After the stock transfer contract was signed, Madison pretended as if nothing had happened. She went out early and came home late every morning to avoid Ronan.

This evening, she came home at midnight. When she opened the door to the villa, Ronan was watching her.

He emitted an oppressive aura as his tall figure approached her.

"Are you avoiding me?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Madison raised her head. The affection in Ronan's eyes was gone, replaced by coldness. "Mr. Soper, you're getting married. I don't want your fiancée to misunderstand."

"You're the woman I love, even if I get married. It's just a title. What's the big deal?"

Unbeknownst to him, Eloise was watching them upstairs at the corner of the staircase with malice in her eyes.

"Mr. Soper, I won't be a homewrecker. I don't care who you marry."

One of the words must've hit a nerve of his. Madison didn't know which, but Ronan's eyes darkened.

"Madi, be sensible."

The man who said he loved Madison got engaged to Eloise the next day. With his arm around Eloise's waist, he attended the wedding rehearsal.

The Naylor family attached great importance to the wedding. All of their relatives and friends attended the rehearsal.

"My wedding with Ronnie went well. We owe it to Ms. Litton."

Eloise introduced Madison to the guests gracefully. Intrigued and mocking gazes landed on Madison's baby bump.

The rumor went that Madison put aside her dignity to be with a man, and was even willing to be the surrogate of his fiancée's baby. It was all over Miami.

Everyone said how slutty Madison was, worse than prostitutes.

One of Eloise's friends commented intentionally in English, "Ellie, you're too kind. How could you let such a scheming woman prepare your wedding? She may steal your fiancé."

The guests roared with laughter. Standing there, Madison gripped her iPad tightly.

Ronan pressed his lips together as a tad of sadness appeared in his eyes.

"The rehearsal begins now."

He was obviously helping Madison out. Eloise knew it. She gritted her teeth with hatred. Nonetheless, when she spoke, she feigned a tender tone.

"Are you in love with Madison? You've never been so thoughtful to a woman before."

"She means nothing to me."

A fit of sadness and bitterness surged in Madison's heart, as if she'd just swallowed a whole bitter fruit.

Five years of her life. All for nothing.

She retreated to the side. The rehearsal began.

The screen lit up. The video should be about the love story of Eloise and Ronan. However, what was displayed were photos of Eloise moaning under different men.

Trembling, Eloise turned to Madison.

"Ms. Litton, I trusted you. How could you..."

Her father, Darren Naylor, roared, "Bodyguards, beat this woman to death!"

Several bodyguards rushed over. They twisted Madison's arms, exerted strength slightly, and made her kneel in the pebble path.

Her knees snapped as the bones broke. The pain made her face pale.

"Wait," Ronan said suddenly.

Darren stared at him coldly. "Are you protecting her?"

Cold sweat streamed down Madison's forehead. She raised her head, pasty-faced. Ronan exchanged a look with her and averted his eyes.

"She's carrying Ellie's baby."

Due to poor health, Eloise was infertile. She could never give birth to a child. Sure enough, Darren hesitated. But he was still vexed.

Ronan suggested, "Why not confine her to the swimming pool? She can't get out until Ellie is mollified."

Although she'd decided to get over Ronan, Madison's eyes reddened when she heard his words.

Even if it had been just a game for him, and it had nothing to do with love, she had been by his side for five years, after all. How could he not care about her at all?

The bodyguards escorted Madison toward the swimming pool. When she walked past Ronan, she asked in a low voice, "Ronan, do you have a heart of stone?"

Her whisper wafted in the breeze. Ronan thought he was being delusional.

Clenching his fists, he watched the bodyguards push Madison into the pool and set the safety cover slowly.

The cover was only about 10 cm from the water surface. Madison had to hold her head up all the time to breathe.

In the dark, the sound of water flapping was enhanced immensely. Holding on to the safety cover, which didn't have a single crack, Madison had a mental breakdown.

The laughter outside drowned the noise Madison made. In the dark, she struggled alone painfully.

She didn't know how long had passed. In the same position for too long, she was exhausted.

But if she relaxed at all, the water would get into her nostrils. She would be choked, and her respiratory tract would hurt as if it were burning up.

The water was freezing like the basement in Miami in winter.

Back then, Ronan had held her in his arms, rubbed her cold feet, and promised with red eyes, "Madison, I swear I'll be faithful to you forever."

Ronan's voice in her reverie overlapped with his voice in reality. It was the highlight of the rehearsal. People gathered by the swimming pool as Ronan made a vow to Eloise.

"I swear I'll take good care of Eloise, love her, spoil her, and never betray her..."

Madison's heart pounded.

"Ellie, will you marry me?"

The teenage Ronan had once said affectionately, "Madi, will you marry me?"

With a bitter smile, Madison murmured, "No, Ronan, I won't marry you."

It was quiet suddenly. Footsteps sounded above the cover.

A warm pair of hands picked Madison up. Carried in his arms, she opened her eyes with difficulty and saw Ronan's red eyes.

A drop of tears fell on her face.

The warmth dispelled the coldness she had felt in the pool.

Was Ronan crying?

She must be hallucinating.

He was resilient. He never cried even in those darkest days.

How could he possibly cry for her?

When Madison opened her eyes, she was lying on a hospital bed. Four or five doctors were examining her to check the baby.

"You're awake. The baby is fine. You caught a mild cold. But you'll be fine after a rest."

Her belly was warm. She could feel the movements of the baby.

Madison was locked up with no access to the Internet or her phone. The best caregiver made meals for her to supplement nourishment for her recovery.

The only thing she could keep in touch with the outside world with was an iPad. Eloise sent her sweet moments with Ronan to Madison every day.

To make Eloise happy, Ronan bought her a ring worth $1.5 million.

He paid a fortune to play the video of his proposal to Eloise on all the LED screens throughout the city.

He wrote the invitations, arranged the flowers, and accompanied her to try on the wedding dresses.

The whole city knew Ronan was marrying Eloise. They were deeply in love and made a perfect couple.

Madison was forced to watch the video of Ronan's affection for Eloise, what he'd done for her, and how happy they were together.

Madison placed her hand over her chest to feel her heartbeat.

Once, twice...

Her heart beat slowly and steadily. It wouldn't get excited for Ronan again.

She was done with him now.

Confined to a room of the villa, insensitive and obedient, Madison didn't move.

She spoke less and less. Her eyes had become increasingly glassy, and she hardly ate.

Ronan heard about it and was alarmed. He visited one night. When he opened the door to her room, he was horrified to see her, who was lying on the bed.

She was skinny like a movable skeleton with a baby bump.

"Madi." Ronan darted over and caressed her scrawny face. "Why don't you understand? I had to do what I did. Give me a month. That's all I ask.

"The wedding will happen tomorrow. You'll remain my beloved one even after I get married."

He pecked her cheek and left silently.

What he didn't know was that the second he left, Eloise opened the door, hideous-faced, with a syringe in her hand.

"Madison, you're gloating, aren't you? You wanna use the baby to stay with Ronan? I'm telling you, no way!"

With a formidable expression, she injected Madison with oxytocin and watched her struggle painfully with her hands on her belly.

"The day of the childbirth will be your funeral."

Eloise locked the door from the outside. No one could go in.

On the wedding day, in a pure white suit, Ronan looked at Eloise with a smile.

Out of the blue, he vaguely heard Madison screaming in an extremely painful voice.

"What's happening?"

He turned his head in the direction of the room Madison was locked in. With the windows sealed, he could see nothing but darkness.

Eloise wrapped her arms around his neck coquettishly. "You're my bridegroom today. You can only look at me today."

"Sure."

Ronan left, oblivious to the fact that Madison was tossing and turning painfully on the bed, as if her body were being ripped apart.

The door to her room was suddenly kicked open. Aziel rushed in.

"What are you gonna do with the baby?"

The baby cried like a meowing kitten, extending his hand to Madison, as if guided by some special connection with her.

After a glimpse at the baby, she withdrew her gaze nonchalantly.

"The plan continues."

***

Surprised, Eloise called out, "Another wedding car!"

She lowered the car window. "Should I exchange the bouquet with the other bride? I hear that it symbolizes the exchange of happiness."

The window of the other car was slowly lowered. A skinny hand reached out with a bouquet of white roses.

The window went up quickly when Ronan turned his head carelessly. Under the veil, the bride's eyes looked a lot like Madison's.

His heart skipped a beat. He fixed his eyes on the other car, which ran slowly and eventually left Miami.

Madison tossed Eloise's bouquet off the bridge, as if she were saying goodbye to her five years of love and youth.

"Ronan, I don't hate you. I'm over you.

"Goodbye. May we never meet again."

Ronan clutched at his chest, as if he'd just lost something of top importance.

Holding his arm, Eloise said sweetly, "Ronnie, we're finally married. Before, my parents thought you were too poor to make me happy. They wanted to form a marital alliance. I assumed I'd marry an old man and live the rest of my life in pain and despair.

"Against everyone's expectations, you became a rising business tycoon within five years and are giving me a grand wedding. Now, I'm with the man I love and have a child. It's like a dream come true.

"Ronnie, do you feel the same way? Are you happy?"

Eloise lowered her head, pretending to be coy, oblivious to the impatience and disgust in Ronan's eyes.

"Hmm," Ronan responded. He held Eloise and continued, "I'd been looking forward to this day."

Almost the whole upper class of Miami attended the wedding. They watched Ronan and Eloise enter the hall.

After the new couple exchanged vows, the minister smiled, "Now, you may kiss the bride."

Ronan looked at Eloise. Somehow, the face under the veil resembled Madison.

He had promised Madison countless times that he'd give her a grand wedding, but it never happened.

Disappointed, Madison had bought a veil for $3 at a street stall.

Standing at the entrance to a church, she had asked Ronan earnestly, "Ronan, do you take Eloise Naylor to be your wife? Do you promise to love her, be faithful to her, in the good and the bad, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?"

Ronan smiled, "Yes, I do."

Madison lifted her veil and kissed his lips on tiptoe.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You shall create and shape a bright future together."

Madison's smile must've been engraved in Ronan's heart. The minute he closed his eyes, her face appeared before him.

Eloise's eyes reddened when she sensed his absent-mindedness.

"Ronnie, something on your mind? Are you...thinking of Madison?"

Ronan regained his senses. He glanced at the Naylor family and forced an awkward smile.

"I was thinking, 'Am I really marrying this enchanting woman?' It's like a dream."

He bowed his head to kiss Eloise. The scene was captured by the camera. It was broadcast globally.

"Are we really married?"

Holding his hand, Eloise nodded shyly.

Darren laughed out loud. Patting Ronan on the shoulder, he said, "You'll have the Naylor family's support on condition that you cut ties with the things and people in the past."

Ronan lost both of his parents. His younger sister, who was his only family, died in an accident seven years ago. Darren knew all this after running a background check on him.

By the things and people in the past, he was referring to Madison.

"Your company went public within five years under your leadership. That proved that you're cut out for business. Join the Naylor Group when you come back from your honeymoon with Ellie."

"Dad," Eloise called shyly, "it's my wedding day. No work."

"OK, OK. No work. I don't wanna spoil your wedding night."

The guests laughed. As they hooted, Ronan gathered Eloise in his arms and took her to the Soper's mansion.

The house was decorated in a cheerful style. With her arms around Ronan's neck, Eloise pressed her lips against his.

"I'll be the mistress of this house from today on. There can't be another woman's stuff in my room."

A trace of iciness could be detected in Ronan's eyes through the reflection in the showcase. He smiled, "Sure. Anything you say."

Eloise grabbed a hammer and smashed everything Madison thoughtfully decorated. She wasn't satisfied until afterward.

"We travel the world today. My dad is a workaholic. You'll have to work hard for the rest of your life after the honeymoon."

Ronan looked in the direction of the room upstairs. "The baby..."

"It's not due yet. We can receive the new life when we get back."

Eloise grabbed Ronan's sleeve to stop him from going upstairs.

Two more steps further, he'd have seen the blood through under the door.

Sadly, he didn't look back.

During the travel, Eloise and Ronan visited places of interest in the daytime and made love in bed at night.

Today, Eloise put on a sexy nightgown specially and wrapped her arms around Ronan's neck.

"I tempted you several times before our wedding. You satisfied me with your hand. I couldn't help thinking if you couldn't perform."

The filmy nightgown accentuated her contour. No man could resist such a bewitching woman.

Ronan, however, was an exception. He removed her arms from his neck and said gently, "I'll shower first. Wait for me."

Eloise opened the bathroom door suddenly and saw Ronan taking a pill.

"What's that?" she asked in a shrill voice.

At a glance, she knew it was viagra.

"Ronan, are you impotent or just disinterested in me?"

Her voice was so shrill it hurt to hear it.

"You wouldn't sleep with me even when you were 18. Ronan, are you a man or not?"

Ronan's eyes darkened. "Right. You bullied me with other people when I was 18. You stripped me and made me fuck another woman like a dog."

"You-"

Eloise swallowed. This was a new side of Ronan she'd never seen before.

The teenage Ronan was a straight-A student well-known at school. Growing up in a poor family, he was good-looking and strong-willed.

The more aloof he was, the more his peers wanted to take him down. At least, that was what Eloise thought.

She came into Ronan's life in a malicious way. She asked her friends to bully and insult him. Afterward, she'd show up as his savior.

When she had had enough fun with him, she pretended to get hurt and dumped him.

What she didn't know was, Ronan was familiar with the rich's tricks to begin with.

Her face pasty, Eloise said, "Y-You knew?"

Ronan gently caressed her neck. "It's in the past. We're a married couple now. Husband and wife support each other, right?"

Despite his gentleness, Eloise shivered. Somehow, she felt Ronan would snap her neck if she shook her head.

Her tears fell on the back of his hand.

With a half smile, Ronan said, "No tears. Other people will laugh at us."

The honeymoon ended hastily, and they returned to the Soper's mansion.

Ronan went to the second floor without sparing Eloise a look.

"Open the door," he ordered.

The domestic workers hesitated, keeping stealing glances at him.

Eloise had bought them off. Recently, every time Ronan asked about Madison, they told him everything was OK with her.

"I said, 'Open the door!'"

Running out of patience, Ronan stared daggers at the domestic workers.

The look in his eyes was too terrifying. With trembling hands, a domestic worker had to try repeatedly before inserting the key into the lock.

The door opened with a click.

For the first time in the past month, Ronan smiled genuinely.

"Madi, I came to fulfil my promise-"

He stopped midsentence. The room reeked of blood. The sheet on the only bed was wrinkled, almost dyed red by blood.

The skinny woman, who had been lying on the bed, was nowhere to be seen.

Ronan's heart skipped a beat. The blood in his body rushed to his head all of a sudden. Everything around him quieted down and became bleary. The only thing he could hear was the sound of his blood flowing in the vessels.

After a while, he finally asked, "Where's Madi? Where's my wife?"

"The baby was born prematurely. He's in the incubator now. An adorable boy. He has your eyes and the face of M-"

Ronan growled, "I asked, 'Where's my Madison?'"

The domestic worker trembled with fright. She told Ronan as Eloise had instructed her.

"The childbirth caused a hemorrhage. Ms. Litton...died."

The next second, a loud bam came.

Ronan punched the wall and left a dent there.

Blood flowed down his knuckles. As if he were numb to the pain, he fixed his eyes on the domestic worker.

"What did you just say?"

"M-Ms. Litton died."

"Where's the body?"

"Delivered to a suburban crematorium."