Tessa Morrison signed a betting agreement with Claire Henderson—her husband Marcus Caldwell's first love and his father's former mistress—tasking her with seducing Marcus into bed.

"You have 19 chances to seduce him. If you succeed even once, you win the bet.

"But if you fail all 19 times, you must give up your position as his wife and divorce him."

Tessa looked at Claire, who pushed a handwritten wager across to her.

For Tessa, who had just gotten married, being intimate with her own husband shouldn't be difficult at all.

She confidently signed the agreement. "Fine, I accept the bet."

But unfortunately, she failed in all 18 attempts.

On the 19th attempt, Tessa slipped a strong aphrodisiac into Marcus's food, but he violently kicked her off the bed and left to find Claire.

Her heart turned cold, and Tessa finally decided to divorce Marcus.

***

"If you dare drug my food again, don't blame me for not honoring our marriage."

Marcus's handsome face flushed red, his whole body trembling from the drug's effects, yet he still held his ground, refusing to sleep with Tessa.

She watched the man stumble out of bed, got in his car, and drove away from home.

Tessa knew exactly where he was going—to find someone who could help him with the antidote. And that person was Claire.

At this thought, Tessa laughed bitterly.

She sat on the cold bed in a daze all night, her mind filled with the promises Marcus had made when he proposed a secret marriage.

He said he would spend his whole life with her, but after marriage, he wouldn't even touch her.

He said he wouldn't let her suffer any grievances, but the one causing her pain was him.

The next morning at dawn, the man's jeep returned to the compound.

But the person who got out wasn't Marcus. It was Claire.

She walked up to Tessa with a radiant smile, handed over a divorce application, and said with a smile, "You failed all 19 times, didn't you? A year ago, you were so confident you would win. Did you think that just because he married you, he would be passionately entwined with you every night? Did you think that just because I was his father's woman, he could let me go?"

Tessa gritted her teeth hard. As Claire said, her one-year marriage with Marcus had been sexless and loveless.

No matter how she tried to seduce him, Marcus's eyes remained unmoved when he looked at her.

The one he loved was always Claire—his first love, the woman who had been with his father for fame and fortune.

Tessa finally lowered her head. "I lost. From now on, he's yours."

She let out a self-deprecating laugh as the scene of their first meeting flashed before her eyes.

She was 19 that year, and Marcus was 23.

The Morrison and Caldwell families had conflicting political views and a terrible relationship, having been bitter enemies for years.

But that day they were both attending the opening ceremony of a department store. Tessa spotted Marcus in his military uniform from afar in the crowd.

He was completely different from others—serious and unsmiling, cold and quiet. Everyone said he was a breath of fresh air in military academy circles.

He didn't chase women, didn't smoke, or drink, and wore a purple amethyst on his chest with a Jesus engraving. His eyes showed the same compassion as Jesus.

Just from that one glance, Tessa fell for him.

But when Claire appeared before everyone, clinging to Marcus's father's arm, a flicker of sadness crossed Marcus's face.

Later, her sister Miranda Morrison told her, "Claire is Marcus's stepmother in the name. She only got together with his father last year, but before that, she was Marcus's first girlfriend for a whole six years. People at the military academy say they still haven't completely broken up. That's why he wears that Jesus piece—out of guilt, afraid of divine punishment."

Tessa didn't believe it at first, but that afternoon, after the ceremony ended, she went to use the restroom. Passing by the warehouse, she heard Claire's moaning sounds from inside.

Tessa quietly cracked open the door to look. Marcus was holding Claire, moving intensely against an earthenware jar. Claire turned her face toward Tessa and smiled seductively.

From that day, Tessa understood that Marcus loved his first girlfriend, Claire.

But even so, she still tried every way possible to replace Claire's position.

She secretly approached Marcus behind her parents' backs, secretly confessed her love to him, tried to please him, loved him without any self-respect...

In the year they finished their rural volunteer work, she finally received Marcus's marriage proposal.

Due to the family feud, Tessa and Marcus could only have a secret marriage.

On the day they got their marriage certificate, the man promised to treat her well for life.

But on their wedding night, Marcus left her alone in the empty room.

From that day on, whenever Tessa wanted to be intimate with him as husband and wife, he always made various excuses to refuse, saying he didn't like promiscuous women and hoped Tessa would be more reserved.

It wasn't until the third month after their marriage, when Marcus's father died of a heart attack, that Claire stopped pretending once the mourning period passed.

She found Tessa for a showdown. "You saw what happened between Marcus and me years ago with your own eyes. Now that his father is dead, I'm free, and you shouldn't keep clinging to him.

"I'll give you 19 chances. If you can successfully sleep with him, I'll be the one to back out.

"On the other hand, if you fail, you should disappear forever."

Of course, Tessa wouldn't refuse this bet. If she won, Claire would no longer interfere with her relationship with Marcus.

But in those 19 attempts at seduction, what Tessa received was humiliation from Marcus again and again.

At first, she properly sat in his lap, and the next second, he would frown and leave the room.

In the next few attempts, Tessa applied the face cream she bought from a high-end shop and had Miranda help her get a sheer dress from overseas. She wore it to show Marcus, but he again left with an unchanged expression.

After that, Tessa became increasingly frantic. She gradually abandoned her shame, even drugging the man. On the 18th attempt, she actively straddled his thighs to seduce and sway him.

Marcus suddenly pressed her down on the bed.

Just when Tessa thought she was about to succeed, Marcus said to her, "Are you that desperate for a man's touch? You're as lewd as a slut, which only disgusts me."

His words were like a sharp blade, stabbing directly into Tessa's heart and piercing through all her hope and love.

She didn't understand what was shameful about seeking intimacy with her own husband.

Tessa suddenly remembered the scene she saw in the warehouse that year—Claire's legs wrapped around his waist as she moaned, while he held her, panting as he moved.

Everyone said Commander Caldwell was pure-hearted and celibate, avoiding women, but he had strong desires. He just used this persona to cover up his forbidden romance!

This marriage with her was nothing more than his shield.

Yet she had lied to her parents for Marcus until today. How ridiculous.

Tessa finally came to her senses. She accepted her loss and said to Claire, "I will leave Marcus. Besides the copy you brought, I've also signed the divorce approval from my workplace. I'll leave it for him when I go."

Claire didn't ask where she was going. She only reminded her, "You have ten days at most. Don't delay my being with Marcus."

Tessa nodded. Ten days would be enough for her to arrange her relocation to Maui.

She had originally stayed in San Francisco to marry Marcus, but this time, she decided to go to Maui to reunite with her parents and sister.

That evening, Marcus finally came home.

As usual, he went straight to his study to handle military affairs, but after working for a while, he noticed that Tessa hadn't come in.

She would normally use every trick in the book to seduce him into bed, but tonight she was unusually quiet.

Marcus frowned and got up to go to their shared bedroom. He pushed open the door, only to find that Tessa wasn't there.

He felt something was off. As he walked out of the bedroom, he heard Joanna, who worked in their house, calling from downstairs. "Tessa, you're back."

Tessa nodded and walked into the house, making eye contact with Marcus.

His voice was flat as he asked, "Where did you go?"

Tessa felt a mocking laugh rise in her heart. Where she went—did he really care?

"To mail something." She had already processed the divorce application through the mail. It would be delivered to Marcus's hands on the day she left. So, she said, "It's a surprise for you. You'll know in ten days."

Marcus said dismissively, "You're always doing things that make no sense. We see each other every day—is it really necessary to go through this whole mailing routine?" Finally, he coldly left the word "boring" behind and returned to his study.

Tessa thought to herself that soon he wouldn't have to see this boring person anymore.

He wouldn't have to see her every day.

In ten days, she would leave, and he would get his wish to reconcile with Claire.

With this thought, Tessa returned to the bedroom to pack her belongings.

Clothes, shoes—anything he had bought for her, Tessa didn't want any of it.

She even threw their only wedding photo into the cardboard box.

When Marcus walked into the bedroom and saw the empty room, he frowned. "What are you doing?"

"Getting rid of clutter," Tessa said, "Throwing out the old stuff and buying new things."

Marcus picked up the wedding photo frame from the cardboard box. The background was just a simple cloth, and he frowned. "How do you buy a new version of this?"

Tessa looked at him. "If I said I wanted us to take proper wedding photos again, would you be willing?"

Since their marriage was secret, their wedding had never been made public. But even this privately taken wedding photo had been shot according to Claire's requirements. She had insisted on interfering with everything, taking advantage of being Marcus's stepmother.

"You know the situation between our families—we can't take wedding photos publicly." Marcus threw the frame back into the cardboard box.

Tessa's eyes dimmed.

Marcus glanced at her and suddenly said, "If you want to go to another city for fun, I can make time to go with you."

These words made Tessa look up in disbelief. "Really?"

Marcus nodded. "I was busy with work during our honeymoon. This would be my way of making it up to you."

But before Tessa could say anything more, the house phone rang. He hurried to the living room to answer it, and Tessa heard Claire's voice coming through the receiver. "Marcus, the party has been moved up. Come over right now—I'm waiting for you."

"Got it, I'll be right there." Marcus hung up and said to Tessa, "Have dinner by yourself tonight. I need to go organize the military district party."

This time, Tessa didn't agree like she usually would. She said, "I want to go too. Let's go together."

"It's just a place for single men and women to have fun. What would a married person do there?"

But Tessa said, "Aren't you a married person too?"

"We have a secret marriage—no one knows I'm married. Besides, I'm one of the organizers."

"Since no one knows you're secretly married, no one will know I'm secretly married either. Besides, I can keep your stepmother company. She's always alone and needs companionship, right?"

Marcus's brow furrowed. "If you want to come, then come."

When they got into the military green jeep, Tessa saw a small pot of violets in Marcus's car—that was Claire's color.

Marcus noticed her expression and only said, "I just put it there randomly. I'll take it out some other day."

Tessa smiled and said nothing more.

When the two arrived at the party venue, Claire and the other single women were already seated.

Marcus walked over and sat beside her. The two chatted intimately under the guise of work, completely ignoring Tessa beside them.

During intermission, Claire was invited by several wealthy businessmen who had returned from overseas to sit in a private room.

Tessa went to send a telegram during the break—she had been processing her resignation lately.

As she passed by the private room, she heard Claire being teased by the men inside. "It must be lonely with your lover dead, right? You're still so young—can you stand being empty night after night? How about... all of us in this room keep you happy, since you like older men anyway."

The moment Claire let out a scream, Tessa saw Marcus's figure flash past her.

He rushed into the private room and grabbed the old man who had been harassing Claire.

"Well, well, if it isn't Commander Caldwell! Usually so calm and collected, but you get this fired up the moment you see your stepmother?" The old man was one of the wealthy investors in the military academy, and he saw right through everything with just a few words. "Now that you've inherited everything from the Caldwell family, you didn't inherit your stepmother too, did you?"

Everyone burst into laughter. Claire immediately pressed down Marcus's hand, helping him suppress his anger. After letting go of the old man, Marcus picked up his wine glass and took the initiative to defuse the situation. "You're all my elders. I was a bit out of line just now. I'll drink three glasses as punishment."

Tessa, watching from outside the door, felt her heart wrench in pain at this scene.

Everyone knew Marcus never touched alcohol, but today he drank three glasses for Claire!

The wealthy men insisted that Claire also drink three glasses before they'd let it go. Marcus stepped in front of Claire and spoke for her. "My stepmother isn't in good health and can't drink. I'll take her share."

"Commander Caldwell broke his no-drinking rule today, might as well have a few more!"

The wealthy men kept forcing glass after glass on him. Marcus drank more than ten glasses in a row. By the end, the bottles were empty, and the wealthy men were all impressed by Marcus's tolerance.

"I had a great time drinking with everyone today. From now on, don't give my stepmother any more trouble. Otherwise, don't blame me for turning hostile." Marcus left with those words, pulling Claire out of the private room.

He never saw Tessa outside the door. When he opened the door, he accidentally knocked her to the ground.

When Tessa fell, an antique crystal vase from the cabinet shattered and cut her head. Blood streamed down her cheek, covering her entire body.

The waitstaff was terrified and quickly called for help to take her to the hospital.

Tessa looked up, and through her blood-blurred vision, she saw Marcus leaving with Claire without looking back. He didn't even remember she was there.

This was the man she was willing to keep their marriage secret for, hiding everything from her parents, friends, and everyone else.

She knew the Caldwell family had once ruined the Morrison family and nearly sent her father to prison, yet she loved Marcus with complete devotion.

Tessa laughed at herself mockingly. She said in her heart, "Tessa, you really brought this on yourself."

Half an hour later, Tessa was taken to the hospital.

She handled her head injury alone and got ten stitches.

That night, she spent it alone in the hospital. When she woke up, it was already dawn. She quietly returned home, only to find Marcus wasn't there.

The bed in the bedroom hadn't been touched, meaning he never came home last night.

Just then, the phone in the living room rang. When Tessa answered, she heard Claire's giggles on the other end. Claire deliberately said, "Marcus, you spent the whole night with me. If Tessa finds out, she'll definitely be angry, right?"

Marcus's voice came through. "Even if she gets angry, I don't care. As long as you're happy."

These words filled Tessa with rage.

This was how Marcus and Claire had deceived her into this sexless marriage. She had given Marcus so much, worked hard to become what he liked, and even gave up her favorite red wine because he didn't like the taste of alcohol.

But in the end, he still chose to stay by Claire's side.

With this thought, Tessa hung up the phone. She caught her breath and calmed down for a moment, then finally dialed the police' number. She said, "I want to report something. General Caldwell's widow is currently at home fooling around with a man. You can go arrest them now."

The three-year bereavement period wasn't over yet. For a family with such a pristine reputation as the Caldwells, Claire's eagerness to be with Marcus was already a grave mistake.

But after waiting two hours, no related news came out.

Just as Tessa was feeling puzzled, the phone rang. It was actually Marcus calling.

He said coldly, "Come to Watchtower Café right now."​​​

An hour later, Tessa arrived at Watchtower Café.

As soon as she pushed open the door, she saw Claire sitting beside Marcus.

Claire was wrapped in a military coat and wearing a hat, bundling herself up tightly while dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief.

Although Marcus deliberately kept his distance from her, Tessa could still clearly see the concern for Claire in his eyes.

He didn't even notice that Tessa's head was wrapped in gauze. If she hadn't spoken first, he wouldn't have even noticed her walking in.

"What did you want to see me about?" Tessa asked in a low voice.

Marcus turned around and finally looked at her, immediately frowning. "Were you the one who called the police this morning?"

Tessa was stunned. She instinctively looked at Claire, who had already removed her hat, revealing a bruised left eye.

Seeing that Tessa didn't respond, Marcus said with even more disappointment, "I already had someone investigate the phone number that called the police. It was definitely from our house, and they also confirmed that a woman reported to them, which is why they showed up at the Caldwell family's door to arrest someone. Don't you know how excessive this was? One of the police even rushed in and injured her left eye."

Claire then said, "Forget it, Marcus. Maybe we misunderstood Tessa. How could she possibly report me and slander my reputation?"

Marcus stared coldly at Tessa. "Was it you or not?"

She had only told the police the facts. Was she wrong?

Tessa felt like laughing sarcastically. She had spent the entire night alone at the hospital, and the injury on her head was caused by Marcus. Had he shown concern for her even once?

He was sitting right in front of her now, yet he didn't care at all.

But Claire had only shed a tear, and he was already questioning her like this.

Tessa's heart was broken once more. She asked Marcus in return, "If you weren't at the Caldwell residence at that time, how would you know all these details so clearly?"

Marcus's expression darkened.

Tessa continued, "Since you also said it was slander, that means your stepmother is innocent. Or are you saying that deep down, you also think your stepmother had relations with other men during her bereavement period?"

Marcus's eyes dimmed. "Don't talk nonsense. She would never do such a foolish thing during her bereavement period."

Claire quickly added, "Tessa, don't misunderstand. The police don't know the real situation. Marcus is just worried about the Caldwell family's reputation. He's already used his connections to deal with the police, so no negative news will come out."

Tessa bit her lip tightly and said nothing.

Claire had already won the bet, yet she still wanted to flaunt Marcus's favoritism toward her in front of Tessa during these remaining ten days.

Tessa was truly grateful that she had already applied for divorce. Otherwise, she would have to endure this kind of torture every day in the future.

"Alright, let's just forget about today's incident," Claire said, then suddenly asked, "Tessa, what happened to your head?"

Tessa remained silent. Marcus glanced at her. "Did you bump into something?"

But Claire said, "It's already bleeding through. Let me have someone bring some gauze." With that, she went out first.

When only Tessa and Marcus were left, he sighed. "Regardless of whether you were the one who reported her, I hope you won't target Claire anymore, and don't suspect her either. She doesn't have a husband to support her now, so she's already quite pitiful."

Tessa clenched her hands tightly. What about her husband? Who was he supporting?

"No matter what, she's my stepmother. If you treat her well, I'll be grateful to you too." Marcus gently took Tessa's hand. "Tessa, as long as you treat her well, I will treat you better."

Tessa sneered in her heart. She couldn't help but ask, "Marcus, do you actually consider me your lover?"

"Of course you are."

"But is this how you let your lover suffer such grievances?"

Before Marcus could answer, someone outside suddenly shouted, "Oh no, there's a fire!"

Marcus was startled and immediately let go of Tessa's hand and rushed out.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Chaos erupted inside Watchtower Café as a fire broke out in the kitchen, sending thick smoke billowing everywhere. Marcus was desperately searching for Claire.

Meanwhile, just after stepping outside, Tessa was pushed back by fleeing guests, and the door slammed shut and locked behind her.

Panicked, she banged on the door, shouting, "Help! Open the door! Is there anyone there?"

But everyone was focused on escaping and didn't hear her cries.

Smoke seeped through the door cracks, choking Tessa as she coughed uncontrollably.

She quickly took off her coat to cover her mouth and nose, then ran to a glass window. As the flames reached inside, she mustered all her courage, broke the window with her body, and jumped out.

Watchtower Café was three stories high. She was in agony when she fell to the ground, unable to get up, feeling like her leg was broken.

Looking back at the crowd that had escaped, she saw Claire standing beside Marcus. He was lying on a stretcher, unconscious.

Tessa's eyes were filled with worry. She forced herself to get up just as paramedics arrived and put her into a jeep.

At the hospital, she ignored her own injuries and rushed to Marcus, who was being taken to the ER with severe burns on his legs, bleeding badly.

"Marcus!" she stumbled after the stretcher, her voice full of concern.

Marcus opened his eyes in a daze and asked, "Claire... where is she? Is she safe?"

Tessa froze.

Marcus weakly insisted, "Let me see her. I need to know if she's okay..."

Doctors hurriedly pushed him into the ER, but he kept calling Claire's name, refusing to calm down without seeing her.

Tessa sighed, "Marcus, listen to me. You need to focus on your injuries first. Your burns are serious. You can't delay treatment!"

But Marcus only cared about Claire's safety and ignored her.

"Claire... let me see Claire..."

His desperate calls made Tessa take a painful step back, tears welling in her eyes.

Marcus had risked everything, leaving her behind in the fire just to save Claire. Now, he ignored his own life just to know Claire was safe.

Did he even realize that his actions hurt Tessa more than killing her?

Just then, Claire finally rushed over and clasped Marcus's hand tightly beside the stretcher.

"Marcus, don't worry. I'm fine! You need to focus on your treatment. I'll wait for you," Claire said, and after just a few words, Marcus finally agreed to go into the ER.

At that moment, a doctor brought the consent form. "Where are Commander Caldwell's family members?"

Tessa instinctively stood up, but Claire snatched the papers away.

"I'm his legal guardian," she said to the doctor. "I have the authority to sign." She glanced at Tessa proudly.

Yeah, Tessa and Marcus were in a secret marriage.

She didn't even have the right to be publicly known as a family member.

But Claire, as his stepmother, took her place beside Marcus without question, using that status to claim her spot.

No one knew Tessa was Marcus's wife, not even Marcus himself, who often forgot.

Tessa stared blankly at the ground, heart aching, as she sat on the bench.

Claire walked over and said to Tessa, "You've seen the truth clearly now. My place in Marcus's heart can never be taken by anyone. He'd risk his life for me. Marrying you was just a cover for our relationship. I'm showing you this for your own good. You should give up and stop holding onto any hope."

Tessa closed her eyes, fighting back tears, and asked sadly, "Do you really enjoy treating him like a slave?"

"What do you know? We both love each other with everything we have."

"If you loved him, then why did you dump him to marry his father?"

"His dad had more power and money back then," Claire said with a smile. "I'd do anything for money. Now that he's a commander, of course, I'm holding on to him.

"You know how crazy he was during those six years we were together? Besides me, he never thought about any other woman. That's why no matter how you tried to seduce him, you never had a chance.

"He's always been loyal to me, so who are you to him? Last time he was on a business trip, he brought me an expensive bracelet. Has he ever done that for you?"

Claire's words cut into Tessa like a dull knife. Tessa shot back, "Are you just trying to prove you can win his love?"

"I don't need to prove anything, because he only loves me," Claire said with a smile. "Wait until he comes out of surgery. Let's bet on whose name he'll call first."

Tessa still clung to a faint, unrealistic hope.

Maybe Marcus still had a conscience. Maybe he'd think of her, even just once.

He should have at least worried if she'd escaped the fire. They'd been together seven years; you'd grow attached even to a pet.

But an hour later, Marcus was wheeled out of the ER. Even though the anesthesia hadn't fully worn off, the first word he said was, "Claire..."

Claire shot Tessa a mocking look. "So? Still want to compete?"

Watching Claire move to Marcus's side, Tessa's last bit of hope vanished.

In the days that followed, both stayed in the hospital.

Tessa saw Claire caring for Marcus, never leaving his side, giving Tessa no chance to get close.

The afternoon Tessa was going to be discharged from the hospital, Marcus showed up in her ward.

He brought her a nutritious meal and a delicate gift box. "Your birthday's in three days. Inside this box is a key. I left your gift in the guest room. Use the key to open the cabinet and you'll find it."

Three days later.

It was also the day Tessa would be leaving.

She quietly took the key and said, "Thank you." As she grabbed her bag to go through the discharge procedures, a travel approval to go to Maui slipped out.

Marcus picked it up, frowning. "What's this? You're going to Maui?"

Tessa took it back and lied. "A friend left it with me. I was just about to give it to her."

Marcus relaxed a bit. After a moment of silence, he studied Tessa's tired face and said in a deep voice, "I'll be discharged on your birthday. On that day, I'll celebrate with you. Tessa, wait for me to come home."

Tessa's heart skipped a beat as she opened her mouth to speak, but Claire's voice echoed down the hall, "Marcus, I made chicken soup for you..."

Hearing Claire's voice, Marcus immediately left Tessa's ward, their intimate conversation drifting into Tessa's ears.

Tessa sneered to herself and quietly packed her things to leave the hospital.

But just as she stepped out, someone dragged her into the hallway restroom.

Startled, she looked up to see Claire standing there, smirking. "Marcus just left your ward. Don't tell me you're trying to break our bet, losing but still planning to seduce him?"

Tessa glared at her angrily. "I'm not. I promised I'd leave him. I won't go back on that."

Claire's face darkened. "Then stay away from him. Stop showing up around him."

Tessa didn't want to argue. As she struggled to stand, she accidentally kicked Claire's leg.

Claire snapped, ordering the people holding Tessa, "Push her head into the urinal!"

They forced Tessa's head down toward the urinal.

Claire kept flushing over and over, and Tessa gritted her teeth to avoid swallowing the toilet water.

Each time Tessa caught her breath, they forced her head back down again.

In her mind, she counted—19 times. Claire had her head pushed into the urinal 19 times as if mocking how many times she'd failed to seduce Marcus.

Then the restroom door opened. Marcus frowned at the scene before him. "What are you doing?"

Claire immediately helped the soaking-wet Tessa up, pretending to wipe the dirt off her. She smiled and explained to Marcus, "Tessa's gold earring fell into the urinal. She insisted on going in to find it, no matter how I tried to stop her, right?"

The men Claire had bribed nodded repeatedly and quickly slipped away as soon as they got the chance.

Tessa gasped for air, shoving Claire away and accusing, "You were the one who shoved me into the urinal 19 times!"

Claire feigned innocence and slipped next to Marcus. "Marcus, I didn't. You have to believe me..."

Tessa looked at Marcus for help, wanting him to be fair.

But Marcus just said flatly, "Gold earrings can be bought again. The toilet water is too dirty, so stop looking for them."

Claire smirked triumphantly at Tessa, linking arms with Marcus as they left the restroom.

Tessa stood frozen. She was in disbelief.

Marcus actually believed Claire.

He even pretended not to see her soaked in dirty water.

The fact she'd been shoved 19 times meant less to him than Claire's lies.

She sneered, feeling like a pathetic fool. Closing her eyes, she clenched her fists in rage, tears of humiliation streaming down.

After being discharged and returning home, Tessa began sorting through everything before she left.

The boxes held years of memories.

She wrote 101 love letters to Marcus, but he only replied to three of them, which she treasured.

There was also the Jesus pendant he gave her. Since she liked the one he wore, he never gave it away but made her an identical one instead.

Though it was smaller, having a Jesus pendant just like he had once made Tessa happy.

But now she knew his Jesus was meant for Claire, so she didn't want it anymore.

"Are you going to throw away the Jesus pendant I gave you?"

Startled, Tessa looked up at Marcus's voice. He had come home without her noticing, frowning at the trash bin she was sorting through.

She simply said, "I don't want it anymore."

"Why?" Marcus's eyes showed a flicker of surprise as he stepped closer. "What's with this attitude?"

Tessa chuckled. He didn't even know why she was upset.

To him, there was only Claire. Tessa was just a shield he was used to hiding behind.

"Tessa, you're not a kid anymore. Don't get upset so easily." Marcus sat beside her. "You can't throw these away, they're gifts from me. Keep them well. If you don't like them, I can buy you new ones. Let's go pick something out now."

He'd always been like this, worried the shield he used might crack, so he'd show her some care to keep her close.

Tessa always enjoyed it, and even this time, she felt herself wavering.

Just then, Marcus's orderly burst in, shouting, "Commander Caldwell, bad news! Mrs. Claire's in trouble!"

Photos and a complaint letter about Claire at a private party had been posted on the military district's bulletin board.

In the pictures, she was disheveled, cozying up to a group of young men. She was even riding on the thigh of one of them, looking very wanton.

Marcus was shocked and angry when he saw the photo, but then Claire cried and said, "Marcus, don't trust the photos on the bulletin board. I was drugged. Someone's trying to frame me! I'm innocent!"

Just from those few words, Marcus chose to believe her.

She'd been drugged against her will, Marcus still had to help Claire clear her name.

But the photos and complaints were already posted, and many had seen them. After a moment's thought, Marcus said to Tessa, "I'm calling everyone who saw the bulletin. You'll take the blame for Claire. I'll say the woman in the photo is you, to clear Claire's name first."

Tessa froze.

She asked in disbelief, "Claire's innocence matters, but what about mine?"

Marcus frowned. "She's still in mourning. If this gets out, it'll hurt her and the Caldwell family's reputation. But you're different, you're not bound by status. A simple explanation will calm the public opinion."

"But I'm from the Morrison family! Doing this will bring shame to my parents!"

Marcus impatiently said, "Help me this once, and I'll compensate you. Believe me, I'll live well with you from now on." With that, he gave a nod to his subordinate.

The subordinate called others over, and they grabbed Tessa by the shoulders, forcing her toward the crowd.

All the military region family members were summoned at short notice. Tessa was forced in front of everyone, who whispered and stared at her. The police scrutinized her, too. One officer held up a photo and asked, "Commander Caldwell told us that the woman in the photo is Tessa Morrison.

"Just because the Morrison family and the Caldwell family are sworn enemies, you framed Mrs. Claire for being a homewrecker?

"Tessa, answer us, are you the woman in this photo?"

Tessa clenched her teeth, unable to bear the insult. Why should she take responsibility for Claire's reputation being ruined?

Why should she be the target of everyone's scorn?

Just because Marcus didn't love her, did that mean she could be trampled?

Tessa was unwilling to accept this and protested loudly, "It's not me!"

The crowd exchanged surprised looks.

She tried to explain more, but Marcus and Claire stepped into the crowd.

The police shifted their focus, pressing, "Commander Caldwell, Mrs. Claire, who is the woman in the photo?"

Marcus frowned silently, while Claire tearfully whispered, "It is Tessa. The Morrison family has always hated our family and is using my mourning period to attack my innocence..."

Tessa snapped, "You're lying! You're the one trying to frame me!"

At that moment, Claire looked at a young man standing nearby, who was in the photo.

"I can confirm it was Tessa that night," he told everyone. "She deliberately dressed like Mrs. Claire and invited eight single young men. We spent the whole night partying, and she said her goal was to disgrace Mrs. Claire during her mourning period."

The crowd erupted instantly, turning their accusations back on Tessa. They bombarded her with questions, "Tessa, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"With witnesses and evidence, are you still going to frame Mrs. Claire?"

"Aren't you afraid this will bring a bad reputation to your family?"

The onslaught overwhelmed Tessa. Trembling with fear and pain, she shook her head and kept repeating, "It's not me... The woman in the photo isn't me!"

But no one believed her.

Claire then stepped up, feigning sympathy. "Tessa, just admit your mistake. If you apologize, everyone will forgive you."

What mistake had she made? Why should she apologize?

Suddenly, a dark figure lunged forward and splashed liquid from a bottle on Tessa and Claire, yelling, "General Caldwell hasn't even been buried yet, and you, you tramp, are out having fun? I'll make sure your face gets ruined!"

The liquid in the bottle was sulfuric acid!

Tessa's eyes widened in terror. At the last second, she saw Marcus rushing toward her.

But as the acid was thrown, Marcus grabbed Claire, shielding her as they both fell to the side.

The acid splashed onto Tessa's left hand and arm, instantly burning a large area, almost to the point of flesh melting away.

People in the military region quickly grabbed the attacker. He was an old friend of Marcus's dad. Unable to bear seeing his friend publicly humiliated, he came in person to vent his anger.

Tessa knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face from the pain. When she looked up, she saw Marcus helping a shaken Claire to her feet.

He asked her with concern, "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

Claire shook her head softly. "I'm fine, but you, that was acid. Getting splashed with that could've killed you. How could you risk your life for me..."

But the only one truly hurt was Tessa.

She stared at Marcus standing next to Claire, filled with agony. At that moment, all her love for him finally died.

He didn't care about her reputation or her life. She swore she would never suffer for him again.

Tessa clenched her teeth tightly, tears streaming from her eyes. Her vision blurred, everything went dark, and she fainted.

Over the next two days, Tessa spent her time in the hospital.

Her left hand, which was severely burned, was wrapped in bandages, causing her great pain and preventing her from moving it too much.

During this time, Marcus was busy dealing with the aftermath of the small bulletin board. He was too busy to go to the hospital, so he sent someone to deliver a bouquet of wild chrysanthemums, which Tessa had liked since college.

In fact, she only started liking wildflowers because Marcus liked them. And Marcus liked them because Claire always used soap with that scent.

Looking at those bright flowers, Tessa felt that no matter how beautiful the flowers were, they did not belong to her, and it was better not to have them.

On the third day, it was her birthday and also the day when she successfully completed the procedures to go to Maui.

Tessa left the hospital and went back home to get her luggage.

Marcus was not home, Joanna said he had not come back home these days.

Tessa didn't care anymore. She took off her wedding ring and placed it on the bedside table in the bedroom, then dragged her suitcase out of the house.

As soon as I stepped out, I saw Claire getting out of the jeep. She smiled at Tessa and said, "I knew you were leaving today, so I came to see you one last time."

A hint of resentment flashed in Tessa's eyes as she walked towards Claire with a stern face. "Claire, you've won, and you've won beautifully. My divorce application will be sent to Marcus today, and once he signs it, my marriage with him will be over."

"From now on, no one could stop you from being together. He no longer needs to protect you for me, and you two will have no more worries."

"I also hope that you will not come to disturb me again. My marriage with him will always be kept hidden, and this past will be erased. The Morrison and Caldwell families will continue to be archenemies."

After saying this, Tessa chuckled mockingly, walked past Claire, and had no intention of staying any longer.

Claire said smugly behind her, "Thank you for graciously returning him to me."

Tessa hesitated for a moment, choking back tears as she bit her lip, then got into the Army Base vehicle and drove away.

At the moment when the car was moving forward, Marcus's jeep also happened to come back.

Two cars drove in opposite directions, Tessa looked at Marcus inside the car, but he did not notice her gaze, and quickly drove into the courtyard.

Tessa slowly turned her face back, and what flashed before her eyes was not the sweet memories of herself and Marcus, but the images of him chasing after Claire.

When Marcus's father, Kaleb, suspected that Claire had another man, Marcus pleaded for her, and he was whipped and knelt in the pouring rain all night for her.

Claire had an acute enteritis attack, and Marcus left Tessa, who was also having gallbladder polyp surgery in the hospital, to urgently go find Claire.

Even Tessa's birthday, he had been absent for a full 7 years. Every time that day came, he would leave because of a telegram from Claire.

Tessa laughed at herself.

And as she continued to smile, her tears uncontrollably streamed down her face.

She swore that this would be the last time she cried for him. This year, she would no longer expect Marcus to show up on her birthday. She chose to leave on her own initiative, no longer needing his patronizing company.

At this moment, as the car drove out of the Army Base Compound, the duty soldier noticed Tessa inside the car. He quickly caught up and handed her a telegram, saying, "Ms. Morrison, here is your telegram."

It was sent by Marcus to her.

"Today is your birthday, did you use the key I gave you to open the cabinet? There is a surprise for you."

Tessa sneered.

She wiped away her tears and tore up the telegram.

When the car stopped at the port, Tessa walked towards the ferry. She looked up at the blue sky and felt that the sunshine today was particularly bright.

She took a deep breath and enjoyed this rare freedom.

Goodbye, Marcus.

From now on, never to be seen again!