For simply brushing the haute couture gown of the wealthiest heiress, Aurora Collins's mother was brutally attacked. They broke her limbs and tossed her into the ocean to die.

When Aurora finally took the arrogant young woman to court, the defendant walked free.

Because the defense attorney was the founder of New York's most prestigious law firm—and Aurora's husband, Julian Williams.

When the trial ended, the handsome and distinguished man left the defendant's table and placed an "apology letter" in front of Aurora.

"Aurora, sign it. You don't want to be sued for defamation and end up in prison, do you?"

His tone was smooth and persuasive, but the gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses was razor-sharp and cold.

Aurora looked at him with stubborn, tear-filled eyes, her voice trembling: "Why, Julian?"

She just couldn't process it.

She was his wife, after all. He had loved her so much that he gave up his entire inheritance and endured family house arrest just to marry her—a mere caregiver.

But after her mother's death, she had begged him countless times, crying and pleading. Just this morning, she had knelt at his feet for the ninety-ninth time, threatening divorce and begging him to drop the case.

But what had he said?

—Aurora, don't push me!

Julian loosened his tie in frustration: "Chloe is different. She's pursued me for ten years, and she once saved my life."

"I have to protect her, even if the enemy is my most beloved wife."

As he spoke, he tapped open the tablet in his hand, displaying a live feed for Aurora.

"You have two minutes to think, Aurora. Even if you won't consider yourself, you should think about your mother. Sign it, and I'll return her ashes to you..."

The screen showed a scene at sea, where several bodyguards held a sandalwood urn. If they let go...

Tears streamed down Aurora's face instantly: "What are you doing?"

But he didn't even flinch: "Be good. Don't waste time. Can you bear to let your mother soak in the sea for eternity?"

"Julian!"

Aurora glared at the man before her, biting her lip so hard it nearly bled: "I want a divorce..."

But in the cruel standoff, he remained coldly unyielding.

"Aurora, you have thirty seconds left."

In that moment, a sharp pain pierced Aurora's heart.

How ironic. After all, this man had once loved her more than life itself.

Eight years ago, he had fallen in love with her at first sight at the Williams estate.

She was the caregiver for his grandfather, and their social statuses were worlds apart, yet he had confessed his love to her a hundred times over.

He would replace all the roses in the garden overnight just because she glanced at some white lilies.

And when she accidentally sprained her ankle, he would rent out an entire floor of the hospital for her.

It was also then that she learned of the admirer in his life—the daughter of the wealthiest man, his childhood friend, who had been chasing him for years, madly in love.

But he had eyes for no one else—

"Aurora, I only love you. So what if Chloe and I are a perfect match? I feel nothing but utter disgust for her!"

To force him to let her go, the Williams family not only revoked his shares but also used their influence to have him exiled to an island overseas.

For twenty whole days, Julian went on a hunger strike to force their hand, and in doing so, completely won Aurora's heart.

And so, they got married. And he did, just as he had promised, love his wife more than his own life.

The change happened half a year ago. Chloe, who had been away for years, suddenly returned, and this time, his attitude toward his childhood sweetheart had abruptly flipped.

He canceled an international conference just to pick her up from the airport himself, and even spent three full days away from home meticulously planning her welcome-home dinner.

Facing Aurora's hurt gaze, he told the truth: "A year ago, I went to the UK and got into a car accident. Chloe saved me and was in a coma for a whole year."

"Aurora, I only love you, but she just woke up. I have to repay this debt. One year, just give me one year, okay?"

At first, Aurora believed him.

That final night, while the party raged on, her chronic illness unexpectedly flared. She was rushed into emergency treatment—but Julian's phone was dead.

In desperation, her mother went to the luxury yacht where the party was being held. She never came back.

Everyone insisted it was an accident. They claimed her mother had taken her own life.

Even Julian, who was conveniently absent from the scene, swallowed the whole story.

But that night, after she was wheeled out of the emergency room, she got a clear phone call. She heard the sheer chaos on the other end, mixed with Chloe's vicious rebukes and her mother's terrified, agonized screams.

Her mother hadn't just fallen into the sea—she had been forced!

For the past six months, she had been tormented by grief and guilt, spending her days in tears. In a moment of breakdown, she finally uncovered a single shred of evidence from a waiter.

She had begged Julian countless times to help her.

But in this private prosecution trial, he had stood against her without a moment's hesitation.

He was protecting her mother's killer, even using her mother's ashes as a threat to force her to admit fault.

At this moment, Aurora looked at the Julian before her. He felt like a stranger, as if he had just crawled out of hell.

She was in despair, resigned to her fate. With trembling fingers, she signed her name in a crooked scrawl on the apology letter.

"Satisfied?

Then tell them to come back from the sea..."

But just as her hoarse words faded, a sudden cry came from behind her.

Chloe suddenly clutched her head and slumped over the defendant's table: "Julian, help me, my head hurts again!"

In that second, Julian was in such a panic that he dropped the tablet and rushed toward her.

On the other end of the live feed, the countdown had ended. Without an order from Julian to stop, several bodyguards had already opened the urn...

"Don't!

I've already signed it!

Julian, tell them to stop!"

Aurora screamed like a madwoman, but the bodyguards wouldn't listen to her.

She tried to lunge forward and grab Julian, but the man's only concern was Chloe. As he rushed out carrying Chloe, his elbow slammed hard into her.

Aurora fell violently to the floor, her forehead hitting the corner of a table as tears streamed down onto the tablet.

Too late. It was too late...

She could only watch as the ashes were poured from the boat, catching the cold sea breeze and vanishing, bit by bit, into the choppy waves.

Heart-wrenching guilt tore at her.

Her mother had always been terrified of the cold; she hated the icy sea more than anything. But now, not only had she died there, she was trapped in those waters forever.

"Mom, I'm so sorry..." she choked out, breaking down completely.

A wave of crushing regret washed over her—regret for ever loving Julian, regret for marrying him.

Endless regret boomed like a muffled bell in her mind, and a wave of dizziness hit Aurora.

As her world dimmed out, all she could hear was Julian's anxious voice from outside the courtroom.

"Chloe, hang in there. As long as you're okay, I'll give you anything you want!"

Chapter 2

She woke up in a hospital.

The young assistant lawyer stood resignedly by her bed: "Miss Collins, the verdict is set. You need to try and move on. Your health is the most important thing."

Aurora came to her senses amidst the lingering ache in her heart. Ignoring the IV needle in her hand, she shot up and frantically rummaged through her bag.

"Please, take a look for me, is this agreement valid?"

Her voice trembled as she handed over the document she'd pulled out.

He quickly gave her an affirmative answer: "Miss Collins, your husband has already signed this divorce agreement. You just need to sign and submit it, and you can get the Divorce Decree in a month."

This morning, she had knelt before Julian with this very document.

Perhaps he was in too much of a hurry, or maybe he simply didn't believe she would actually follow through with the divorce.

Convinced the agreement was fake, he signed it without even a glance.

But he would never have guessed that every single word she said was true.

Aurora didn't want to wait another moment. She pulled out the needle and rushed straight to the Courthouse to submit the papers.

After filing the paperwork, she made one last trip to the seaside. In the cool, fine rain, she knelt straight down: "Mom, from now on, I'll go somewhere with a sea, and I'll stay with you forever."

But only the cold sea wind answered her.

She didn't know how long she had knelt there. Wiping away her tears, she made a call: "Hello, I'd like to... arrange for a staged death."

Her shattered tone was filled with grim determination: "In one month. The cause of death will be 'homicide.' I'll arrange the location. All you need to do is prepare a new identity for me, and after you rescue me, get me out of the country."

Yes, a divorce was no longer enough.

In a month, she would also get her own justice, leaving Julian with a surprise he would never forget.

By the time Aurora had arranged everything and returned to the villa, it was already dark.

The living room lights were on. Julian was holding a bowl of chicken soup, feeding it to Chloe spoonful by spoonful.

"Julian, I posted that apology letter online."

she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Aurora has been slandering me. Getting dragged online will teach her a lesson. You're not allowed to interfere."

Julian's Adam's apple bobbed, but he still agreed: "Fine. She made a mistake, she deserves to be punished."

Aurora suddenly remembered the vicious comments online. They said her mother deserved to die, called her a worthless nanny who wasn't even fit to clean the young miss's shoes...

A sharp pain pierced her heart. She walked into the living room, her face expressionless.

"Where have you been?"

Seeing her pale face, Julian was taken aback, his tone inexplicably softening: "The wound on your forehead... how did you get that?"

Aurora ignored him.

Instead, it was Chloe who changed the subject in a saccharine voice: "You're back, Aurora! Perfect timing, I brought you some gifts. Come and see."

Julian cleared his throat, a hint of hesitation in his expression: "Aurora, Chloe's been in a coma for too long, her body hasn't recovered yet. She'll be staying here for a while. You'll need to be attentive. She's lactose intolerant, can't eat cold food, needs her beauty sleep until ten, and her fruit must be juiced..."

Every single word was like a knife stabbing into Aurora's heart.

She laughed coldly in disbelief: "What, you want me to take care of her?"

"Be a good girl, Aurora. What happened before is in the past, let's not dwell on it. You used to be a maid for the Williams family, so I know I can trust you with this..."

He trailed off, stopping himself.

On one side of the dining table, a list of 267 instructions for taking care of the young lady was written out.

And on the floor, thrown about haphazardly, were luxury shopping bags, a Chanel handbag with a worn clasp, an Hermès keychain that came as a freebie with a purchase, and a pair of obviously worn Dior high heels...

So the so-called gifts were nothing but a pile of junk he had casually discarded.

Aurora suddenly remembered many years ago, when one of Julian's best friends had merely called her "that little serving maid," he had flown into a rage and had someone shut down the friend's hundred-million-dollar project that very night.

"Aurora is my wife. Anyone who dares to belittle or bully her is slapping me in the face!"

But now, he was slapping his own face, asking her to be a personal maid for her enemy.

So much for deep love, so much for vows. They were all so fragile.

She would never believe him again.

Aurora forced back the tears welling in her eyes. For these last thirty days, she had to endure everything...

But who would have thought that on the very night she moved in, Chloe would be plagued by nightmares.

She rushed into the master bedroom barefoot just as Julian had finished his shower.

"Julian, I can't sleep well by myself."

Acting utterly frail, she practically tumbled onto the bed and snuggled deep into Julian's bare-chested embrace: "The mattress in that guest room is killing my back! I'm too freaked out; you have to sleep with me."

Julian's handsome brow twitched.

Aurora knew. His heart was breaking for her.

He pitied her so damn much that he acted like Aurora didn't even exist, pulling Chloe onto his lap and just caging her in his arms to soothe her.

His gaze shifted to the left side of the double bed: "Aurora, Chloe... she's never had a hard life. Look... could you, maybe, stay in another room for now?"

In that moment, Aurora saw the fleeting look of provocation on Chloe's face.

She curled her lip in a sarcastic smile, grabbed her pillow, and got off the bed.

"Since Miss Evans likes it so much, the bed is all yours."

Yes, not just this master bedroom, this bed, but the man as well—she didn't want any of it anymore.

Chapter 3

In the days that followed, with Julian's company every night, Chloe quickly regained her energy. When she got bored, she would even invite a few of her girlfriends over for afternoon tea.

"Chloe, Julian definitely has you in his heart. The year you were in a coma, he was constantly flying to England. He even made a vow that if you could just wake up, he would divorce for you!"

Aurora happened to be passing by and heard this. Her heart felt as if it had been slashed open by a knife.

With Julian not around, Chloe couldn't be bothered to pretend anymore. She called out to her in a haughty, affected tone: "Aurora, how did you manage to make this coffee look like dishwater? It's disgusting to even look at."

Aurora walked forward, her face a blank mask, about to take the coffee away, when her wrist was suddenly yanked back in a tight grip.

"Excuse me? What's with your attitude?

If you dare to make our Chloe sick, you should be on your knees begging for forgiveness, and you're still fucking putting on an act!"

After getting a look from Chloe, one of her friends snapped.

Before Aurora could even react, the girl grabbed a handful of her hair, and a full cup of hot coffee was thrown at her.

"Stop!"

But the next second, a man's voice suddenly broke the standoff. Julian had just walked in and saw the scene. He rushed over with a cold expression, pulling Aurora behind him.

"Who gave you permission to bully her?"

The moment his roar faded, Chloe, who had been watching with a smirk, suddenly had red-rimmed eyes. She clutched her stomach with seamless grace: "Julian!

It's not like that!"

"Don't blame my friend, she was just doing it for me... Aurora... she deliberately put dairy in my coffee. My stomach hurts so much."

Julian froze. He looked at Aurora with scrutiny, his gaze turning completely cold.

Dairy?

"Aurora, I told you clearly, Chloe is lactose intolerant!"

How ridiculous. It took only one lie from Chloe for him to go from protecting her to casting her aside.

"I didn't!"

Coffee dripped from the ends of her hair. Aurora's eyes stung. "She's faking it."

But her explanation was drowned out by Chloe's masterful acting, amplified by her friends' embellishments...

Julian finally snapped. He smashed the coffee cup on the table, swept Chloe into his arms, and commanded sharply, "Aurora, you stay here and reflect on what you've done!"

But Chloe clearly wasn't satisfied. Crying pitifully, she said, "I'm not going to the hospital. No one has ever dared to bully me like this. I can't take it, Julian. Just let me die from the pain."

Chloe threw a tantrum, refusing to go to the hospital, until Julian finally hardened his heart and coldly summoned the bodyguards.

"Take my wife to the backyard and put her in solitary confinement!"

Solitary confinement was a punishment reserved for bodyguards of the Williams family who had made a fundamental mistake.

That completely sealed, two-square-meter dark room, where various insects and ants would be released...

Aurora trembled and struggled in the bodyguards' grip.

"No!

I don't want to go!"

But no matter how she cried and screamed, the figure carrying Chloe out of the villa never looked back.

For a full 24 hours, Aurora huddled in a corner of the dark room, enduring the burning itch on her skin.

The feeling of countless insects crawling all over her skin nearly drove her insane!

But no matter how she cried out, the bodyguards Julian had posted outside simply stood there, deaf to her pleas.

Until the moment she lost consciousness, she felt the large red welts on her body. She was so numb she forgot what pain was. Only a single tear tracked a path from the corner of her eye.

She closed her eyes, letting despair drain the last of her love...

"Aurora, don't sleep. Wake up, please?"

When the familiar male voice pulled her back to consciousness, Aurora's eyes snapped open.

The first thing she saw was the crystal chandelier in the guest room.

Sitting by the bed, Julian saw her wake and finally let out a breath of relief, his tone softening unconsciously: "I know you're angry, Aurora, but you were in the wrong. No matter what, you shouldn't have harmed Chloe."

Waking up to his accusations, Aurora couldn't help but sneer: "You just believe her like that?"

Julian frowned, feeling an inexplicable wave of impatience. "That's enough.

As for Mom's ashes, I've already had a master perform a salvation ritual by the sea. Don't make a scene about it again.

Right now, Chloe's condition is the real problem..."

"She's been pampered her whole life. This time, you scared her so badly that they can't find what's wrong with her. She can't sleep at night. The master we brought in said that the person who harmed her must personally craft a protective prayer bracelet for her..."

Aurora froze.

So, he had been watching over her, waiting for her to wake up, all just for Chloe?

Chapter 4

Her hoarse voice trembled: "Julian, can't you see the state I'm in?"

On her raised arm, large patches were red and swollen. There wasn't a single patch of normal skin, and the deep, bloody marks were too gruesome to look at.

But after a moment of silence, Julian was still ruthless: "Chloe hasn't rested for a whole day. The prayer bracelet must be finished tonight!"

"And if I say no?"

Aurora's eyes were red, but she had no more tears to shed: "Are you going to lock me in the confinement room again and let those venomous insects bite me to death?!"

Julian couldn't quite bring himself to look at her holding back tears and just closed his eyes in resignation.

"Aurora, just bear with it. Once Chloe has fully recovered, once I've repaid my debt to her for saving my life, we'll go back to how things were."

It sounded like a promise. Then, he placed several thorny branches, as thick as a finger, on the bedside table, his tone returning to a cold calm: "Remember, if you don't do it, the bodyguards will help you. They say a prayer bracelet made from these thorns is most effective when stained with human blood."

The guest room door slammed shut.

Several bodyguards stood dutifully by the bed: "Mrs. Williams, please don't waste time. Mr. Williams said you need to pull out all the barbs on these thorns with your fingers, and each bead must be personally sanded down with sandpaper."

That night, Aurora was pulled from her bed by the bodyguards and didn't close her eyes for a moment.

Her fingers were pierced with bloody holes, and the sandpaper ravaged them into a mess of cracks. The slightest movement sent a piercing pain through her.

Finally, at dawn, Chloe's satisfied little laugh came from the master bedroom: "Julian, this prayer bracelet really works. The moment I put it on, my dizziness went away."

Julian responded gently: "That's good. Be good now, get some sleep. I'll stay with you."

Aurora slowly curled herself into a ball in the corner of the bed, clutching her wounded fingers, watching the blood drip onto the bed. Her eyes stung so much she felt like laughing.

Once, if she was pricked by a rose thorn and a single drop of blood appeared, Julian would have ached with self-blame for half the day. Now, he could take the prayer bracelet she had stained red with her own blood and use it to make another woman happy.

Oh, Julian, Julian, and you still say we'll go back to how things were?

How could things ever be the same?

My love for you... it's clearly all gone.

The next day, having had a good night's sleep thanks to the prayer bracelet, a cheerful Chloe dragged Julian out to relax.

It was only through the daily updates she shared online that Aurora learned they had gone to Greece to watch the sunset.

The photo showed the white walls of Santorini, Chloe's hand held tightly by a man's long fingers, with the caption: "My tenth year of loving you, my wish has come true..."

Aurora stared at the photo, her heart so empty it felt as if the wind was blowing through it, yet surprisingly, she no longer felt any pain.

She silently slipped the ring from her ring finger, then went straight to the garden. She ripped out all the white lilies from the flowerbed by their roots, shredded them one by one, and dumped them into the trash.

Finishing the grim task, she opened her laptop, logged into the account filled with venomous comments, and scheduled a post for one month later. She typed: "By the time this letter is sent, I will probably be gone..."

She spent a very long time writing that planned "suicide note." Just as she typed the final period, the sound of a car parking echoed in the yard, and Julian rushed into the villa.

"Why did you destroy the white lilies, Aurora? Weren't they your favorite?"

"I planted those for you with my own hands."

For some reason, his face was a little pale, and streaks of blood were seeping through his sleeve.

Aurora gave him a calm, deadpan glance, asked nothing, and just snapped her laptop shut with a 'click': "The roots were already rotten. Next time, plant something that will actually thrive."

Hearing her mention "the future," Julian finally suppressed his unease: "Alright, I'll plant new ones for you then."

Chapter 5

The night Julian returned, there was a charity gala in their social circle that Aurora was required to attend with him.

In the evening, before the Rolls-Royce headed to the banquet venue, it first made a stop at a styling salon.

Julian got out of the car himself to pick someone up. Chloe was wearing a million-dollar custom couture gown and carrying a rare diamond-studded leather bag, yet she just stood there, motionless.

The man awkwardly opened the rear door: "Aurora, you see..."

But before he could finish, Aurora got out without a word and sat in the front passenger seat next to the driver.

The charity gala was held at an estate villa. In the first-floor ballroom, light and shadow intertwined beneath the Cloisonné chandelier.

When Chloe appeared on Julian's arm, she instantly became the center of attention, and a group of socialites from their circle instinctively swarmed them.

"Chloe, Julian is too good to you!"

"You're the first person in the world to wear that couture gown!"

"Seriously, I heard he was abroad a few days ago and won a racing bet against some Parisian tycoon just to snatch that gown. Did he really hurt his arm doing it?"

So, he got hurt to get that couture gown for the young miss...

At this, Chloe's eyes reddened: "Don't mention it, my heart ached for him. He bled so much."

"But I only mentioned once that I liked it, and he..."

"Haha, he clearly loves you so much he'd risk his life for you."

The group chimed in with compliments, and one of them glanced at Aurora with a sneer: "Some people wear a tattered, five-year-old, out-of-season dress and think they've married into royalty."

"In reality, she's not even worthy of carrying the young miss's shoes!"

Aurora glanced down at her gown, which Julian had arranged for her.

But she tried to endure it, clenching her fingers tightly.

The banquet began, and midway through, a charity auction was held. Though the items were just trinkets Chloe disdained, Julian bid extravagantly each time to uphold her reputation.

Except for the jade ring. He was a step too late; another buyer had already snatched it up with a blank-check bid right from the start.

But Chloe had set her heart on it, whining as she tugged on Julian's sleeve: "Julian, I really love that ring. If I can't have it, I won't be able to eat a thing tonight."

That one sentence was all it took. After the auction, Julian personally approached the buyer: "Mr. Cole, name your price. Ten times, a hundred times, I don't care."

The man across from him chuckled. "Mr. Williams, you should know my rules. I don't care about the money. It's just that I've been lacking inspiration lately, and I happen to need a model.

So, how about this..."

On her way to the restroom, Aurora unintentionally overheard their conversation from around a corner.

"That wife of yours, I find her quite appealing. If she'll agree to be a nude model for me just once, I'll give you the ring for what I paid."

Julian's expression darkened. "I'll consider it."

In that moment, Aurora felt as if she had been plunged into an ice cellar.

What did he mean... he'd consider it?

That Preston Cole was a notorious playboy in their circle. He was said to have a strange obsession with photography, except the things he photographed were...

Aurora's body trembled faintly as she turned and hurried away.

But it wasn't long before she was pulled aside in a corner of the banquet hall.

"Aurora, there's something I need to discuss with you."

Julian paused, handing her a fruit cocktail he had mixed himself as a peace offering. "You've seen it yourself, Chloe has been doing much better lately. After a bit more recovery, she can move out. It's just... she really set her heart on that ring today."

"But the buyer said that if you're willing to be a photography model for him just once, he'll hand over the ring. So..."

"Impossible!"

Suppressing a tremor, Aurora shoved him away. "Julian, what do you take me for?!"

An immense bitterness washed over her. Aurora tried to suppress the turbulent emotions, downing the fruit cocktail in her hand in one go.

But just as she stepped out of the banquet hall, a dizzying fog clouded her mind, and she stumbled backward, losing control of her body.

That drink... something was wrong with it...

As her consciousness faded, she vaguely felt Julian catching her. His murmured voice was laced with a pained reluctance: "I'm sorry, Aurora. This is the last time."

Chapter 6

Click—

A spotlight flashed on, and Aurora opened her eyes to the blinding glare.

She found herself lying in a completely blacked-out room, her clothes already stripped away...

A chill instantly shot through her.

Panicked, she curled into a ball, her slender arms wrapped around her chest. But the meager cover was useless, and a profound weakness kept her from being able to rise.

"Miss Collins, you are truly beautiful, especially through the eye of my lens."

A man's malicious chuckle came from behind the camera. The dark, gaping lens, like a man-eating beast, was aimed directly at Aurora.

"You pervert! I'm calling the police! What you're doing is illegal!"

she cried out desperately.

"Oh?

So, are you going to sue me?

Or are you going to sue your husband?”

The man sneered: "This estate is my territory. You are simply a model, sacrificing for art. After all, I promised Julian I would only take pictures, nothing more.

But if you have other... needs, I..."

"Get lost!"

At that moment, Aurora could no longer hold back her tears. She was like a piece of fish on a cutting board, naked and lying on the soft light cloth...

But the man had no intention of letting her go: "Yes, good. You're even more captivating when you cry."

The camera flash was like a knife, striking Aurora's heart with every click. After what felt like an eternity, the lit camera finally turned off.

Aurora didn't even remember how she put on her clothes, or how she got up and walked out of that room.

She was like a broken marionette, her humiliated steps heavy and slow.

"Miss Collins, I've photographed thousands of women, but you're the first one to be personally sent over by her own husband."

A mocking chuckle came from behind her.

Aurora's fingers, gripping the doorknob, turned white. She knew this wasn't the time to confront him.

Her self-mocking voice was filled with finality: "I'm divorced. He's not my husband anymore..."

Behind her, the door finally closed.

Aurora began to tremble uncontrollably. She wrapped her arms around her chest, trying to bring herself a sliver of warmth.

By now, the banquet on the first floor was nearing its end. As she numbly walked out of the hall, she suddenly heard a "BOOM"—

The next second, a sky full of fireworks exploded over the estate.

The brilliant sparks formed clear words in the sky: "Chloe, Happy Birthday!"

So, this was the surprise Julian had prepared. After midnight, it was Chloe's birthday...

In the garden not far away, Julian stood under the fireworks, his eyes filled with deep affection in the night: "Happy birthday, Chloe. Whether it's a dress or a ring, whatever you want, I'll find a way to get it."

As he spoke, he opened a jewelry box in front of Chloe. It was the very same jade ring he had traded Aurora for...

The crowd around them was cheering wildly: "Kiss! Kiss!"

Julian hadn't even reacted when Chloe stood on her toes and kissed him...

At that moment, a wave of nausea washed over Aurora. She began to squat on the ground and vomit, vomiting until tears streamed down her face, vomiting until there was nothing left in her heart but disgust.

When she got up again, a light rain had started to fall. Not far away, Julian was leading Chloe by the hand into a car.

Soon, the headlights of a Rolls-Royce cut through the curtain of rain as it drove away from the estate.

And on her phone, she had only received two text messages: "Aurora, something came up, so I'm leaving with Chloe first. I've sent a car to pick you up."

"I know you feel wronged. Just endure this last month, and I'll make it up to you."

Aurora calmly deleted both messages. Without waiting for the car that was supposed to pick her up, she walked into the rain alone, without a second thought.

Chapter 7

Back at the villa, it was already the early hours of the morning.

On the living room table sat a cake, its candles blown out. Julian was on the sofa with Chloe, opening presents.

Seeing Aurora soaked to the bone, Julian abruptly stopped what he was doing. "Aurora, you... Didn't I send a car to pick you up?"

He frowned, quickly rising to grab a towel, intending to dry Aurora's hair.

But her chilling gaze was fixed on him as she raised her hand without a shred of hesitation—

A vicious slap cut through the air, but at that exact moment, a figure rushed forward to shield Julian.

"Slap!"

With a sharp, clear sound, Chloe cried out, clutching her face.

"Ah!"

A red handprint rapidly bloomed on her cheek.

She went limp, collapsing into Julian's arms, her tear-filled eyes making her look utterly fragile.

"Chloe, are you okay?"

Julian urgently pulled her close, his fingers trembling as they brushed against her cheek.

When his fingertips brushed against the rapidly forming welt, rage surged through him, and he lashed out with the towel.

"Aurora!

I think you've lost your mind!"

The towel whipped across Aurora's forehead, sending her damp curls into disarray and making her stumble.

"Julian, I was wrong about you."

She fought back tears, her whisper laced with mockery.

"For an insignificant ring, you were going to hand me over to someone else?

This side of you... it's disgusting!"

Julian froze, a flicker of remorse on his stunned face.

But then, Chloe spread her arms to shield him, her voice choked with sobs. "I won't let you talk about Julian like that.

If you're angry, if you need to vent or hit someone, then do it to me!"

What a performance of undying devotion.

Julian's flicker of remorse was shattered. He swept Chloe into his arms. "It's okay. I'll handle this."

With that, his icy gaze fell on Aurora. "Those photos are usually auctioned after six months. When they are, I'll buy them back, even if it costs billions.

But Aurora, you should never have laid a hand on Chloe!"

Six months?

But by then, she would be long gone.

Aurora gave a dismissive smirk, catching his final words as he headed upstairs.

"If you don't want to be arrested for assault tonight, get the hell out to the yard and kneel!"

At midnight, the rain began to fall.

A private doctor's car pulled up to the villa, followed by another.

The bright headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating a figure. Watched by several bodyguards, Aurora knelt motionless in the rain, her back ramrod-straight.

Two hours later, two intertwined figures appeared on the master bedroom balcony, looking down.

"Julian, Aurora looks so pitiful down there."

Chloe's voice was syrupy sweet, but laced with a victor's taunt. "Since my face is injured, we'll have to postpone the birthday party for a few days. Why don't we invite Aurora to come along then?

I bet she hasn't seen the yacht you gave me yet."

Julian's gaze remained hidden in the shadows. "Alright. You can arrange it.

Chloe, I'm sorry. I failed to protect you."

The sickeningly sweet conversation shredded Aurora's last breath of hope.

That's right. The Julian who would have cared for her had already died a thousand times over.

She clenched her fists.

A yacht?

Good. Right there, let's settle this once and for all.

Kneeling in the rain that night had left dark bruises on Aurora's knees.

Even two days later, it still hurt to walk, but she limped her way to the Courthouse and got two copies of the Divorce Decree.

When she returned to the villa, the bodyguard's car was already waiting downstairs.

"Mrs. Williams, Miss Evans's birthday party. Mr. Williams requested your attendance."

She placed one of the Divorce Decrees on the nightstand in the master bedroom, then took out the wedding ring she hadn't worn in a long time, and was escorted to the party by the bodyguard.

On the deck of the luxurious yacht, gifts of all sizes were piled into a small mountain. A champagne tower sparkled under the lights, and impeccably dressed waiters moved through the crowd.

"Mr. Williams, you're being a little too possessive!

Every time it's Chloe's turn, you won't even let her have a sip of alcohol!"

At a long table, a group of young socialites were playing spin the bottle with Chloe.

Just as Aurora arrived, the spinning bottle, as if by some cruel twist of fate, came to a stop pointing right at her.

Someone let out a snicker.

"Well, what a coincidence.

The person the bottle points to has to face a penalty!"

Chapter 8

Aurora sensed the malice and refused outright: "I don't play these kinds of games!"

But she had only taken two steps back when the young man who had spoken stood up and, before she could react, slapped her across the face.

A roar of laughter erupted from the crowd: "Serves her right! That's for daring to hit Chloe!"

Chloe smiled innocently: "Aurora, don't mind them. We're all just playing a game."

And beside her, Julian just watched coldly, merely reaching out to spin the bottle again and uttering a single word: "Continue."

In that moment, Aurora suddenly understood why she had been summoned.

It turned out that kneeling in the rain wasn't nearly enough.

She had slapped Chloe once, and Julian wanted her to pay it back in public, twofold.

And so, the spinning bottle pointed at her again and again.

Ten times in total. As the last, sharp slap landed, the bodyguard released his grip on her.

Aurora's ears were ringing. She slowly raised a hand to her face, feeling the swelling.

"Julian, you promised me you'd personally bake me a birthday cake tonight."

Chloe suddenly said coquettishly.

Julian gave a faint smile and stood up: "Wait here, I'm going to the kitchen."

Before he left, he stared deeply at Aurora, but in the end, said nothing at all.

And with his departure, Chloe was no longer the gentle, delicate woman she had been moments before.

"So, how was it, Aurora?

Did you enjoy the taste of being slapped?"

But Aurora completely ignored her provocation, just a nonchalant smile touching her lips as she got up to leave.

She knew that this young lady, enjoying her first taste of victory, would definitely follow her—

Sure enough, as she stepped onto the top deck of the yacht, the sharp click of high heels sounded behind her.

"Chloe, did you think... you've really won?"

Aurora spoke suddenly, stopping at the railing and smiling: "Did you know?

Julian said that once you've recovered and he's repaid his debt to you, he's going to kick you out of my house..."

"You shut your mouth!"

Chloe had never been provoked like this: "A lowly maid like you isn't worthy of being my rival."

She advanced step by step, but Aurora suddenly spun around and grabbed the lace collar of her designer gown.

"That night... was it like this for my mother? She just brushed against your designer gown, and you..."

The rest of her words were lost in Aurora's choked sobs.

But her pain only ignited Chloe's sadistic pleasure. "Yes, you're right. She accidentally touched my gown and refused to kneel and apologize. And when I thought about how she was your mother, well, I just had to teach her a little lesson."

"You have no idea how pathetic she looked. Her hands were broken, her mouth was gagged, unable to even scream."

"Right on this deck, where you're standing. Her blood flowed into the sea. Oh, and I was going to break her right foot too, but she struggled so hard to live that she fell overboard and died for good..."

Her arrogant words made Aurora's eyes flash with hatred: "You murderer!"

But Chloe just laughed freely. "So what? Julian trusts me. He even protected me in court!"

Aurora's grip on her collar tightened unconsciously: "But don't you forget, I'm Mrs. Williams!

Julian will never divorce me. As long as I'm alive, I will always be Mrs. Williams!"

Her every word was like a spark, igniting Chloe's fury.

In that instant, she recklessly lunged forward and wrapped her hands around Aurora's neck.

The pressure on her throat tightened, her face turning red. Aurora's words came out broken: "Let go!

Are you... trying to kill me?

I'm... telling you, as long as I'm not dead, you'll never..."

In that same instant, Chloe slammed her against the railing with a bang. The immense force sent a numbing shock through her back, and the wedding ring on her finger slipped off.

As she struggled, more than half of Aurora's body went over the railing. In a flash, she lost her footing and plunged straight down from the third deck.

The party on the second deck was full of noise, the laughter drowning out the sound of her fall into the sea.

The moment the icy seawater filled her lungs, she felt a strange warmth.

This water was where her mother had been.

So, she wouldn't cry, and she wouldn't be afraid.

As she slowly closed her eyes, a faint red light blinked from the second button of her dress.

Inside it was a hidden camera.

The truth, now submerged in the sea, would eventually be exposed to the light—