Jocelynn Quinn's mother met a tragic fate after merely brushing against the custom-made gown of the wealthiest tycoon's daughter. Her limbs were broken, and she ultimately perished after being cast into the sea.

When Jocelynn took the arrogant heiress to court, justice failed her. The girl walked away free.

Because her defense attorney was none other than Jocelynn's own husband, Matthew Cruz, the untouchable founder of the most powerful law firm in New York.

As the trial concluded, the handsome, impeccably dressed man rose from the defense table and slid an "apology letter" across to Jocelynn.

"Sign it, Jocelynn. You don't want to end up in prison for defamation, do you?"

His tone was gentle, almost persuasive—but behind those gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes were cold as steel.

Tears filled Jocelynn's eyes as she stared at him, voice trembling. "Why, Matthew?"

She couldn't understand.

She was his wife. The woman he'd once loved enough to give up his inheritance, to endure confinement by the Cruz family—all just to marry her, a former maid.

But ever since her mother's death, she had begged him—again and again. Even this morning, she had knelt at his feet for the ninety-ninth time, threatening divorce if only he would let go of this case.

What exactly did he say?

"Jocelynn, don't push me!"

Matthew, with a hint of annoyance, adjusted his tie. "Yvette is unique. She's been pursuing me for ten years, and she even saved my life.

"I must protect her, even if it means opposing my cherished, beloved wife."

While saying this, he tapped on the tablet he held, projecting a live stream for Jocelynn to see.

"You have two minutes to decide, Jocelynn. Even if you won't do it for yourself, consider mom. Sign it, and I'll give you back Mom's ashes."

On the screen, a group of bodyguards was positioned on a boat, clutching a sandalwood urn. One misstep, and it could tumble.

Tears immediately welled up in Jocelynn's eyes. "What are you trying to accomplish?"

However, he remained unfazed, not even raising an eyebrow. "Behave, don't waste time. Can you truly bear to let mom remain lost in the ocean forever?"

"Matthew!" Jocelynn glared intensely at the man before her, her lips almost bleeding from biting down hard. "I want a divorce from you."

In this harsh standoff, he stayed resolutely indifferent.

"Jocelynn, you have only 30 seconds remaining."

Jocelynn's heart felt like it was being pierced by needles at that moment.

How ironic it was. This man had once loved her more than anything.

Eight years earlier, he had fallen for her at first sight at the Cruz's residence.

She was the maid of Matthew's father, Henry Cruz, and their social standings were worlds apart, like sky and earth, yet he had professed his love to her a hundred times.

He would swap out every rose in the garden overnight simply because she had admired a platycodon flower.

He would reserve a whole floor of the hospital when she happened to sprain her ankle.

It was during this time that she discovered he had someone pursuing him—an heiress from a wealthy family who had known him since childhood, chasing after him for years, with a love bordering on desperation.

Yet, in his eyes, no one else existed.

"Jocelynn, you're the only one I love. It doesn't matter that Yvette and I come from similar backgrounds. I feel nothing but disgust for her!"

In an attempt to make him surrender, the Cruz family not only reclaimed his shares but also leveraged their influence to exile him to an island abroad.

For 20 days, Matthew went on hunger strikes to force the outside world to relent, and in doing so, he fully captured Jocelynn's heart.

And so they got married. As he had vowed, he cherished her as much as he cherished his own existence.

The transformation occurred six months ago. Yvette Diaz, who had been abroad for several years, unexpectedly came back to the country. Yet, his demeanor toward this childhood sweetheart abruptly changed.

He canceled an international meeting to personally greet her at the airport. He even stayed away from home for three days to organize a welcome-back dinner in her honor.

With Jocelynn staring at him, clearly hurt, he confessed, "A year ago, I was in a car accident in England, and to save me, Yvette ended up in a coma for an entire year.

"Jocelynn, you're the only one I love. But now that she's awake, I need to repay this debt. Just one year. Can you give me one year, please?"

At first, Jocelynn believed him.

On the night of the dinner, everything changed. She suddenly suffered a relapse of her old illness and was taken to the hospital for urgent care. Despite numerous attempts, she couldn't reach Matthew.

In a state of panic, her mother headed to the luxury yacht where the dinner was happening. Tragically, she never returned.

Everyone claimed it was an accident, suggesting her mother had taken her own life.

Even though Matthew wasn't present when it happened, he believed their words.

However, that night, after she was taken out of the emergency room, she definitely got a phone call. Through the line, she could hear a commotion, along with Yvette's reprimands and her mother's agonized cries.

Her mother had been driven into the sea!

For the past six months, she had been in torment and self-blame, crying herself to sleep every night. During her meltdown, she finally obtained a small piece of evidence from a waiter.

She pleaded with Matthew countless times for assistance.

Yet, in this private criminal prosecution trial, he didn't hesitate to oppose her.

He defended the person who had killed her mother and even used her mother's ashes to force her into apologizing.

In that moment, staring at Matthew before her, Jocelynn found him to be a stranger, as if he had come from the depths of hell.

Overcome with hopelessness, she accepted her fate. Her fingers shook as she scrawled her uneven signature on the apology letter.

"Are you satisfied? Then ask them to return from the sea."

Before her raspy voice could completely fade, an urgent shout echoed from behind.

Yvette grasped her head abruptly and fell onto the defendant's bench. "Matthew, help! My head is hurting again!"

In that moment, Matthew was so alarmed that he immediately dropped the tablet and hurried toward her.

On the live stream, the countdown had already ended. Without any instruction from Matthew to halt, the bodyguards proceeded to open the urn.

"No! I've already signed it. Matthew, make them stop immediately!"

Jocelynn shouted frantically, but there was no way the bodyguards would heed her orders.

She attempted to leap forward to grab Matthew, but his full attention was on Yvette. As he picked Yvette up and hurried away, his elbow struck Jocelynn forcefully.

Jocelynn fell hard, her forehead hitting the table's corner. Tears streamed down onto the tablet, one after another.

It was too late, far too late...

She watched as the ashes were scattered from the boat, carried by the chilly sea breeze, gradually disappearing into the rising and falling waves.

A deep, piercing guilt tore at her heart.

Her mother had always feared the cold and hated the icy sea more than anything. But now, not only had she died there—she would remain in that ocean forever.

"I'm sorry, Mom..." she sobbed, her voice thick with despair.

A wave of regret crashed over her—regret for loving Matthew, regret for marrying him.

Unending remorse echoed in her mind like a distant bell, and Jocelynn's vision began to blur.

As the world faded away, the only sound that reached her was Matthew's worried voice from outside the courtroom.

"Yvette, hang in there. I'll promise you anything as long as you're okay!"

Jocelynn awoke in the hospital to find a young assistant lawyer standing by her bedside, looking uncertain.

"Ms. Quinn, the case has been resolved. You need to focus on your recovery—your health is what matters most," he said.

Despite the persistent ache in her chest, Jocelynn became fully aware. Ignoring the IV in her arm, she quickly sat up and frantically searched through her bag.

"Can you help me check if this agreement is useful?" she asked, her voice shaky as she handed over the document she had retrieved.

The other person promptly confirmed. "Ms. Quinn, your husband has already signed this divorce agreement. Once you sign and submit it, you will receive the divorce certificate in a month."

That same day, she had knelt before Matthew and handed him the document.

Whether it was his rush to leave or his disbelief that she would actually go through with the divorce, he didn't bother to look at it.

Confident that the agreement was a sham, he signed his name without a second thought.

Little did he know that everything she said was genuine.

Jocelynn couldn't bear to wait any longer. She removed the IV needle and hurried to the courthouse to file the paperwork.

Once the process was complete, she visited the seaside for a final time. In the chilly drizzle, she knelt down and said, "Mom, from now on, I'll only visit places with the sea so I can always be with you."

The only reply she received was the cold breeze from the ocean.

She remained kneeling for who knows how long before finally wiping her tears and making a call. "Hi, I'd like to arrange a fake death rescue."

Her voice, though shaky, carried a strong resolve. "In a month, the cause of death should be 'homicide.' I'll handle the location. Your task is to create a new identity for me, extract me, and get me out of the country."

Indeed, she sought more than just a divorce.

A month later, she took justice into her own hands, delivering Matthew a surprise that would haunt him forever.

When Jocelynn finally completed everything and returned to the villa, it was already night.

The lights in the living room were on, and Matthew was gently feeding Yvette chicken soup, one spoonful at a time.

"Matthew, I uploaded that apology letter," Yvette mentioned, resting her head against his shoulder.

"Jocelynn has been spreading lies about me for far too long. Maybe experiencing cyberbullying will teach her a lesson. You shouldn't get involved."

Matthew's jaw clenched a bit, but he responded, "Okay, she messed up and deserves some consequences."

Jocelynn was abruptly reminded of the online insults—remarks claiming her mother deserved her fate, that she was just a humble maid unworthy of even touching the young lady's feet.

A piercing ache struck her heart. She entered the living room, her face emotionless.

"Where have you been?"

Noticing her pale complexion, Matthew hesitated, and his voice unexpectedly softened. "How did you get that injury on your forehead?"

Jocelynn ignored him.

Yvette, with her high-pitched voice, shifted the conversation. "Jocelynn, you're back. Just in time. I've brought you some gifts. Come and see."

Matthew cleared his throat softly, showing a bit of uncertainty. "Jocelynn, Yvette was in a coma for quite some time, and her body is still recuperating. She'll be staying here for a while, so you need to look after her. She's lactose intolerant, can't have cold food, needs her beauty sleep until ten in the morning, and prefers her fruits juiced..."

Each word pierced Jocelynn's heart like a dagger.

She looked on in shock, releasing a bitter laugh. "You expect me to take care of her?"

"Come on, Jocelynn. The past is behind us. There's no need to linger on it. You've been a maid for the Cruz family before, so I trust you with this."

He stopped mid-sentence, realizing what he'd just said.

On one side of the dining table lay a list containing 267 rules for looking after the young lady.

On the floor, luxury shopping bags were strewn about—a Chanel handbag with a frayed clasp, a Hermès keychain included as a complimentary gift, and a pair of Dior high heels that had evidently been used.

These so-called gifts were simply a heap of abandoned trash.

Jocelynn remembered how years ago, when one of Matthew's close friends had insulted her by calling her "just a lowly maid," Matthew had become furious and had the man's hundred-million-dollar project halted that same night.

"Jocelynn is my wife. Anyone who insults or mistreats her is disrespecting me!"

Yet here he was, treating her like a personal maid to her adversary, a slap in his own face.

All those promises of deep love and commitment—revealed to be so flimsy.

She would never trust them again.

Jocelynn fought back her tears. For the past 30 days, she had to put up with it all.

But who would have thought that the very night Yvette moved in, she would start complaining about nightmares?

Yvette hurried into the main bedroom barefoot, arriving just as Matthew stepped out of the shower.

"Matthew, I can't sleep by myself," she said in a delicate, playful manner, wrapping herself into his arms while he stood shirtless. "The mattress in the guest room is too firm. I'm scared. I need you to stay with me."

Matthew's handsome brow furrowed slightly at her words.

Jocelynn understood now; he pitied her.

He felt apologetic enough to lift Yvette onto his lap, holding her close in a soothing hug, unconcerned by Jocelynn's presence.

He glanced at the left side of the bed. "Jocelynn, Yvette hasn't experienced any difficulty growing up. Would you mind staying in a different room for the time being?"

At that moment, Jocelynn noticed a brief look of provocation flicker across Yvette's face.

She gave a sardonic smile, grabbed her pillow, and left the bed.

"If Ms. Diaz is fond of it, the bed is entirely hers."

She didn't want the bedroom, the bed, or the man that came with them.

In the days that followed, with Matthew visiting every night, Yvette soon regained her energy. Sometimes, when boredom struck, she would invite a few friends over for afternoon tea.

"Yvette, Matthew must truly care about you. During the year you were in a coma, he flew to England frequently. He even vowed that if you woke up, he would leave his wife for you!"

Jocelynn overheard it, and it felt like a knife to the heart.

Since Matthew was absent, Yvette dropped the act. She addressed Jocelynn in a mocking voice. "Jocelynn, how did you manage to make this coffee so gross? It looks awful."

Jocelynn moved forward with a neutral face, ready to remove the coffee, when someone abruptly seized her wrist.

"What kind of attitude is that? Any of Yvette's maids who dare to offend her should kneel and apologize. Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty?!"

Noticing Yvette's glance, one of her friends snapped sharply.

Before Jocelynn could respond, the woman seized her by the hair, and a full cup of hot coffee was thrown over her.

"Stop!"

Just then, a deep male voice interrupted the conflict. Matthew had just entered and saw what happened. With a stern expression, he hurried over and pulled Jocelynn securely behind him.

"Who allowed you to harass her?"

As soon as he let out a roar, Yvette, who had been watching with a smile, suddenly had tears in her eyes. She gently clutched her stomach and said, "Matthew! It's not like that!

"Don't blame my friend. She was just trying to help me... Jocelynn intentionally added dairy to my coffee. My stomach hurts a lot."

Matthew stopped in his tracks and gave Jocelynn a piercing look, his eyes growing icy.

Dairy?

"Jocelynn, I clearly told you that Yvette is lactose intolerant!"

How absurd. Just one lie from Yvette was enough to change his stance from protecting her to rejecting her.

"I didn't!" Jocelynn exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes as coffee dripped from her hair. "She's pretending."

But her words were drowned out by Yvette's dramatic act, further enhanced by the exaggerations from her friends.

At last, Matthew's patience wore thin. He slammed the coffee cup onto the table, moved toward Yvette, scooped her up horizontally, and barked, "Jocelynn, stay home and think about what you've done."

However, Yvette was visibly upset. She wailed miserably, "I'm not going to the hospital! I've never been treated like this in my life! I can't take it, Matthew. Just let me suffer in pain."

Yvette threw a fit and steadfastly refused to go to the hospital. It wasn't until Matthew steeled himself and summoned the bodyguards in a stern tone.

"Take my wife to the backyard and lock her up in confinement."

Confinement was a punishment designated for bodyguards of the Cruz family who had made significant errors.

That completely sealed dark room, measuring just two square meters, would constantly release various insects and ants.

Jocelynn shivered and fought against the bodyguards' hold.

"No! I'm not going!"

Regardless of how much she screamed and pleaded, the person carrying Yvette out of the villa didn't turn around.

Jocelynn spent an entire day curled up in the corner of the dim room, trying to withstand the intense itching on her skin.

The sensation of countless insects and ants scuttling across her skin drove her to the brink of madness!

Despite her cries for help, Matthew's bodyguards remained stationed outside the door, ignoring her pleas.

As her consciousness began to slip away, she felt the large red scars on her body, so numb that she had forgotten what pain felt like. A solitary tear trickled down from the corner of her eye.

She shut her eyes, letting despair extinguish what little love she had left.

"Jocelynn, don't fall asleep. Please wake up."

When the familiar male voice brought her back to awareness, Jocelynn suddenly opened her eyes.

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

Matthew, seated next to the bed, exhaled a long breath of relief upon seeing her awake. His voice instinctively softened as he spoke, "I understand you're upset, Jocelynn, but you truly made a mistake. Regardless of the situation, you shouldn't have hurt Yvette."

Hearing his accusation, Jocelynn couldn't help but sneer. "You really trust her that much?"

Matthew frowned, feeling an inexplicable impatience. "That's enough. I've arranged for a master to conduct a seaside transcendence ceremony for mom with her ashes. Let's not make a fuss about it anymore. Yvette's situation is quite complicated right now.

"She's been spoiled since childhood. This time, you scared her. The doctors can't figure out what's wrong, and she can't sleep through the night. The expert I consulted said that the one who frightened her must personally craft a thorn bracelet for protection."

Jocelynn was stunned.

So, the reason he remained by her side, waiting for her to awaken, was only because of Yvette?

Her voice, rough and shaky, pleaded, "Matthew, don't you see what I look like?"

She raised her arm, revealing large red welts covering every inch—there wasn't a spot of normal skin, and the dark bloodstains were horrifying.

Yet Matthew paused briefly before responding harshly, "Yvette hasn't had a break all day. That bracelet has to be finished tonight!"

"And what if I refuse?" Jocelynn's eyes were red, though no more tears came. "Are you going to shut me in that room again and let those venomous bugs bite me until I die?"

Matthew couldn't stand seeing her suffering, tearful gaze. He just shut his eyes in resignation.

"Jocelynn, please endure this. Once Yvette is fully healed, once I've repaid her for saving my life, everything will return to normal for us."

It seemed like a vow. He then laid a few thorny branches, as thick as fingers, on the bedside, his demeanor returning to calm. "Keep in mind, if you decline, the bodyguards will handle it for you. They claim this thorn bracelet is most effective when tainted with human blood."

The door to the guest room shut with a loud "bang."

A group of bodyguards stood attentively near the bed. "Mrs. Cruz, don't waste any time. Mr. Cruz said you have to pull out all the thorns with your fingers, and each bead must be polished by hand using sandpaper."

That evening, Jocelynn was dragged out of bed by the bodyguards and didn't get a wink of sleep.

Her fingers were riddled with tiny punctures, and the relentless friction of the sandpaper had split them into painful fissures. Each movement brought a stabbing ache.

At last, with the break of dawn, Yvette's contented laughter echoed from the main bedroom. "Matthew, this bracelet actually helps. My dizziness vanished the moment I wore it."

Matthew replied softly, "That's great. Rest now. I'll be here with you."

Jocelynn slowly curled up in the corner of the bed, holding her injured, bloodied fingers tightly. As she watched the blood drip onto the sheets, her eyes stung so intensely that she almost felt like laughing.

There was a time when if a rose thorn pricked her and a drop of blood appeared, Matthew would be upset and blame himself for days. But now, he could easily use a bracelet stained with her blood to bring joy to another woman.

She thought, "Matthew, how could you still say things would go back to how they were?

"How could they ever be the same again?

"My affection for you had clearly run its course."

The following day, Yvette, in high spirits due to the bracelet, enjoyed a restful night's sleep and eagerly pulled Matthew along for a day of relaxation.

Jocelynn discovered they had traveled to Greece to witness the sunset only through the daily updates she had posted online.

In the picture, with the white walls of Santorini as a backdrop, Yvette's hand was clasped tightly by the man's long fingers. The caption stated. "Ten years of liking you, and my wish has finally come true."

Jocelynn stared at the photo, her heart feeling hollow, like a cold wind had passed through it, yet oddly, she felt no pain.

Quietly, she slipped the ring off her finger, walked to the garden, uprooted all the platy codon flowers, cut them into pieces, and discarded them in the trash can.

After completing these tasks, she powered up her computer, accessed the account brimming with hurtful comments, and scheduled the post to go live in a month. She typed. "By the time this message is delivered, I will likely be gone."

She spent an extensive amount of time crafting that intended "suicide note." As she clicked the final period, she heard the noise of a car pulling into the yard, and Matthew hurriedly entered the villa.

"Why did you destroy those platy codon flowers, Jocelynn? Weren't they your favorite? I planted them with my own hands for you back then."

His face appeared somewhat pale, and faint spots of blood were visible on his sleeves.

Jocelynn observed him without any questions, calmly shutting the laptop with a decisive snap. "The roots have completely rotted. You should start planting something different."

When she said "from now on," Matthew managed to quell his uneasiness. "Okay, I'll plant new ones for you later."

On the night Matthew came back, there was a charity gala within their social circle that Jocelynn had to attend with him.

That evening, before the Rolls-Royce departed for the event, it made a stop at a styling salon.

Matthew stepped out of the car himself to collect someone. Yvette, adorned in a custom-made gown worth millions of dollars and holding a rare leather bag embellished with diamonds, stood still.

The man clumsily opened the back door and began, "Jocelynn, look..."

However, Jocelynn silently exited the car and moved straight to the front passenger seat beside the driver.

The charity gala took place in a manor villa. On the first floor, the banquet hall was illuminated with a blend of light and shadow under the enamel-painted chandeliers.

As soon as Yvette walked in with Matthew, all eyes in the room turned to her. A cluster of socialite women quickly formed around her.

"Yvette, Mr. Cruz treats you so well. You're the very first person to wear this designer gown."

"I also heard that while overseas a few days ago, he wagered with a wealthy Parisian in a car race just to win this gown for you, and even injured his arm doing so?"

That's how he ended up injured—just to secure this designer gown for the young lady.

As they talked, Yvette's eyes welled up with tears. "Don't mention it, it shattered my heart. He lost so much blood. I just said I liked it once, and he..."

"Haha, it's clear he loves you so much he'd risk his life for you."

The group continued with their flattering chatter, and one even glanced at Jocelynn with disdain. "Some people think they've become a high-status figure just by wearing an outdated outfit from five seasons ago. In reality, they're not even worthy of shining her shoes!"

Jocelynn took a look at the dress she had on, which had been arranged for her by Matthew's team.

She steeled herself to withstand the situation, clenching her fingers tightly.

As the banquet went on, a charity auction was held midway through. Even though the items were insignificant and wouldn't catch Yvette's attention, Matthew persistently lifted his paddle with generous bids to maintain appearances for her.

The diamond ring was the only item they missed out on. The moment it was up for bidding, someone else immediately shouted an exorbitant amount to secure it.

Still, Yvette was smitten with the ring. She pulled on Matthew's sleeve, her voice full of disappointment. "Matthew, I truly adore that ring. If I can't get it, I won't be able to eat tonight."

A single sentence was all it took. Once the auction concluded, Matthew went directly to the buyer. "Mr. Gibson, tell me your price. Be it tenfold or a hundredfold, I'm open to it."

The man across from him chuckled. "Mr. Cruz, you should be aware of my principles. Money isn't my concern. I've just been short on creative inspiration and am in need of a model. Here's what I propose."

While Jocelynn was on her way to the restroom, she unintentionally overheard their discussion from around the corner.

"Your wife is very attractive. If she agrees to pose nude for me just once, I'll sell you the diamond ring at its original price."

Matthew's expression turned grim. "I'll consider it."

Jocelynn felt a chill run through her, as if she had been plunged into icy water.

What did he mean by... "consider it"?

Adam Gibson was well-known as a notorious playboy among the crowd. Rumor had it that he had an unusual interest. He was passionate about photography, but his subjects were always...

Jocelynn's body shook slightly. She quickly turned and made her way out.

However, she didn't get far before someone caught her in a corner of the banquet hall.

"Jocelynn, I need to talk to you about something."

Matthew hesitated briefly before handing her a glass of his homemade fruit wine as a peace offering. "You've noticed it as well. Yvette's health has been getting significantly better. She'll be ready to move out soon, once she's a bit more recovered. The thing is... she really liked that ring today.

"The buyer mentioned that if you're willing to model for his photography once, he'd be willing to part with the ring. What are your thoughts on that..."

"Absolutely not!" Jocelynn exclaimed, trying to keep her voice steady as she pushed him away. "Matthew, what do you think I am?"

A flood of intense bitterness surged through her. Jocelynn struggled to keep it together and quickly downed the fruit wine.

However, as soon as she left the banquet hall, a sudden dizziness overtook her, causing her to fall backward helplessly.

There was something off about that wine...

In her hazy state, she vaguely sensed being caught by Matthew. His voice, tinged with a hint of suppressed reluctance, whispered, "I'm sorry, Jocelynn. This is the last time."

Click!

The spotlight suddenly blazed to life, and Jocelynn opened her eyes in the blindingly harsh light.

She found herself lying in a completely darkened room, her dress already stripped away...

A chill instantly swept through her entire body.

She panicked and curled up, her slender arms wrapped across her chest, but the weak attempt at covering herself was useless. The weakness throughout her body prevented her from getting up.

"Ms. Quinn, you're truly beautiful, especially the way you look through my lens."

A man's malicious chuckle came from behind the camera; the dark lens was like a man-eating beast, aimed straight at Jocelynn.

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

"Oh? So, are you going to report me? Or are you going to report your husband?"

The man sneered coldly. "This estate is my territory. It's nothing more than having you pose as a nude model for art's sake. After all, I promised Matthew that aside from taking photos, I absolutely wouldn't touch you. But if you have other needs, I..."

"Get away from me!"

In that moment, Jocelynn could no longer hold back her tears. She was like a lamb to the slaughter, naked and sprawled on that soft white cloth...

But the other party had no intention of letting her go. "Yes, very good. You look even more captivating when you cry."

The camera's flash was like knives, cutting into Jocelynn's heart one by one. She didn't know how much time had passed before the bright camera finally turned off.

Jocelynn didn't even remember how she put her clothes back on or how she managed to crawl up and walk out of that room.

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

"Ms. Quinn, I've photographed tens of thousands of women so far, but you're the first one personally delivered by her own husband." Mocking laughter came from behind her.

Jocelynn's fingers gripping the door handle turned white. She knew this wasn't the time to confront him.

Her self-deprecating voice was filled with determination. "I'm divorced. He's no longer my husband..."

Behind her, that door finally closed.

Jocelynn began trembling uncontrollably. She wrapped her arms around her chest, trying to warm herself this way.

At that moment, the party on the first floor was nearing its end. As she numbly walked out of the hall, she suddenly heard a loud bang.

The next second, fireworks burst across the sky above the estate.

Brilliant sparks formed clear letters in the sky. "Happy Birthday, Yvette!"

It turned out this was the surprise Matthew had prepared. After midnight, it was Yvette's birthday...

In the garden not far away, Matthew stood beneath the fireworks, his eyes full of tenderness in the darkness. "Happy birthday, Yvette. Whether it's the dress or the ring, whatever you want, I'll find a way to get it for you."

As he spoke, he opened a jewelry box in front of Yvette. It was that diamond ring he had traded Jocelynn for...

Around them came crazy cheering. "Kiss! Kiss!"

Matthew hadn't reacted yet when Yvette already stood on her toes and kissed him...

In that moment, Jocelynn felt sick to her stomach. She began crouching on the ground and vomiting, retching until tears streamed down her face, retching until all that remained in her heart was disgust.

When she stood up again, light rain had begun falling from the sky. Not far away, Matthew was holding Yvette's hand as they got in the car.

Soon, the Rolls-Royce's headlights cut through the rain and drove away from the estate.

On her phone, she only received two text messages. "Jocelynn, I have something to do so I'm taking Yvette and leaving first. I've sent a car to pick you up.

"I know this feels unfair. Just hang in there one more month, and I'll make it up to you."

Jocelynn calmly deleted both messages. Without waiting for the car that was supposed to pick her up, she walked alone and resolutely into the rain.

When they returned to the villa, it was already after midnight.

On the living room table sat a cake with blown-out candles. Matthew was sitting on the sofa with Yvette, helping her unwrap gifts.

Seeing Jocelynn soaked through, Matthew suddenly stopped what he was doing. "Jocelynn, you... Didn't I send a car to pick you up?"

He frowned and quickly got up, grabbing a towel to dry her hair.

But her cold stare fixed on him, and without any hesitation, she raised her hand—

A vicious slap flew toward him. At that moment, a figure suddenly rushed forward to shield Matthew.

Smack!

With a crisp sound, Yvette covered her face and cried out.

"Ah!" A red handprint quickly appeared on her cheek.

She collapsed softly into Matthew's arms, her teary eyes looking incredibly fragile.

"Yvette, are you okay?"

Matthew held her tight, anxiously, his fingers trembling as they touched her cheek.

When his fingertips felt the swelling, rage took over. He raised his hand and whipped the towel at Jocelynn.

"Jocelynn! You've lost your mind!"

The towel struck Jocelynn's forehead with sharp force, completely disheveling her wet curls and nearly knocking her off balance.

"Matthew, I was wrong about you." She held back her tears, her murmured tone seeming to mock.

"For some worthless ring, you'd give me away like that? You're absolutely disgusting!"

Matthew was slightly stunned, his speechless expression showing a hint of remorse.

But then Yvette stretched out her arms to shield him, her voice choked with tears. "I won't let you talk to Matthew like that. If you're angry and want to lash out and hit someone, come at me!"

What a drama of passionate devotion.

Matthew's moment of remorse was completely shattered. He scooped Yvette up in his arms. "Don't worry, I'll handle this."

Then he looked coldly at Jocelynn. "Those photos are usually auctioned after six months. When that time comes, even if it costs billions, I'll buy them back. But Jocelynn, no matter what, you should never have laid a hand on Yvette!"

Six months?

But by then, she'd already be gone.

Jocelynn gave an indifferent smile and heard his words as he headed upstairs.

"If you don't want to spend tonight in jail for assault charges, get out there and kneel in the yard right now!"

At midnight, the rain began to fall.

Private doctors' cars kept arriving at the villa.

The bright headlights illuminated a shadow in the dark night—Jocelynn knelt motionless in the rain, several bodyguards standing nearby.

Two hours later, two overlapping figures appeared on the main bedroom balcony, looking down below.

"Matthew, Jocelynn looks so pitiful."

Yvette's voice was coquettish, but it carried more of a victor's mockery. "My face is injured, so let's postpone the birthday party a few days. Why don't we invite Jocelynn along when the time comes? She probably hasn't seen that yacht you gave me yet."

Matthew's gaze was hidden in the darkness. "Alright, you arrange it. Yvette, I'm sorry I didn't protect you."

Their overly tender conversation tore apart Jocelynn's last sigh.

Yes, the Matthew who used to care about her had died a thousand times over during the past months.

She clenched her fists tightly.

A yacht?

Perfect. That's where she'd end it all.

This night of kneeling in the rain left a circle of bruises on Jocelynn's knees.

Even after two days, it still hurt when she walked. But she limped to the courthouse anyway and got two divorce certificates.

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

"Mrs. Cruz, Mr. Cruz wants you to attend Ms. Diaz's birthday party."

She left one of the divorce certificates on the nightstand in the main bedroom, then found her long-unworn wedding ring and was escorted by the bodyguards to the party.

On the luxury yacht's deck, gifts large and small were piled into mountains. The champagne tower sparkled brilliantly under the lights, and elegantly dressed servers moved about.

"Mr. Cruz, you're way too protective! Every time it's Yvette's turn, you won't even let her drink!"

At the long table, a group of wealthy young men and women were playing spin the bottle with Yvette.

When Jocelynn arrived, the spinning bottle happened to point right at her.

Someone snickered.

"Isn't this a coincidence? Whoever it lands on gets punished!"

Jocelynn sensed the malicious intent and directly refused, saying, "I don't play these kinds of games!"

But she had just taken two steps back when the young man who was speaking stood up directly. Before she could react, he slapped her in the face.

Laughter erupted for weeks: "Serves her right, telling her to dare to hit Yvette!"

Yvette smiled innocently and said, "Jocelynn, don't mind, we were just playing a game."

And by her side, Matthew coldly watched, only reaching out to spin the bottle again, and uttered two words: "Keep going!"

At that moment, Jocelynn suddenly understood the meaning of being called.

Originally, kneeling in the rainy night was simply not enough!

She slapped Yvette, and Matthew wanted her to double it back in public.

So the spinning bottle pointed towards her time and time again.

For the tenth time, when the last slap landed clearly, the bodyguard released his grip on her.

Jocelynn felt a ringing in her ears, and she slowly reached out her hand, feeling a swollen area on her face.

"Matthew, you promised me that you would personally make a birthday cake for me tonight, Yvette suddenly cooed."

Matthew chuckled lightly and stood up directly, "Wait, I'll go to the kitchen."

Before he left, he stared deeply at Jocelynn, but in the end, he didn't say a word.

And with his departure, Yvette was no longer the gentle and fragile figure she had just been.

"How was it, Jocelynn? Did it feel good to be beaten?"

Jocelynn completely ignored her provocation, just gave an indifferent smile and got up to leave.

She knew that the young lady, who was experiencing the joy of victory for the first time, would definitely follow.

Sure enough, as she stepped onto the top deck of the yacht, a series of high-heeled footsteps sounded behind her.

"Yvette, did you think... did you really win?"

Jocelynn suddenly spoke, stopped in front of the railing, and smiled, "Do you know? Matthew said that as soon as your body recovered, he would repay your kindness and kick you out of my house..."

"You shut up!" Yvette had never been subjected to such provocation. "You, a lowly maid, how dare you consider yourself my equal."

She took a step forward, and Jocelynn suddenly turned around, grabbing the lace collar of her haute couture dress.

"That night, was my mother also like this? She just touched your designer dress, and you..."

The remaining words were drowned in Jocelynn's sobs.

It was also her pain that completely ignited Yvette's malicious pleasure: "Yes, you're right. She accidentally touched my dress and refused to kneel down and apologize. Knowing that she is your mother, I had to teach her a lesson."

"You don't know how pitiful she looked, with her hands broken and her mouth gagged, unable to scream."

"It was the deck beneath your feet, her blood all flowed into the sea. Oh, and I had intended to break her right foot as well, but she struggled and fell into the sea in order to survive, and ended up dead instead..."

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

Yvette just smiled confidently and said, "So what? Matthew trusts me, he's still protecting me in court!"

Jocelynn tightened her grip on the collar, "But don't forget, I am Mrs. Cruz! Matthew can't divorce me. As long as I exist, I will always be Mrs. Cruz!"

Her words, one by one, like a spark, ignited Yvette's anger.

At that moment, she recklessly grabbed Jocelynn's neck.

The strength on her neck gradually tightened, her face turning red with suffocation. Jocelynn's words were broken: "Let go! Are you going to kill me? I'm telling you, as long as I don't die, you will never, never be able to..."

At that moment, she was suddenly pressed against the railing by Yvette with a bang, the tremendous force causing her back to tingle, and her wedding ring slipping off between her ring finger and pinky.

With a struggle, Jocelynn leaned half of her body over the railing, losing her balance for a moment, and then fell straight down from the third floor.

The banquet on the second floor was full of liveliness, laughter covering up the sound of her falling into the sea.

The moment the icy sea water penetrated her lungs, she inexplicably felt a bit warm.

These waters were where her mother had been.

So, she didn't cry, nor was she afraid.

As she slowly closed her eyes, a hint of red light flashed from the second button of her evening gown.

There was a hidden camera installed there.

The truths submerged in the sea will eventually be exposed in the sunlight.