Five years. That was how long it took for Archer Vanderbilt to return to my life. When we crossed paths again at the St. Jude's Cathedral, he wasn’t alone. He stood there, cold and untouchable, with a wife by his side and a child in his arms—the perfect picture of a man who had long forgotten our fleeting, feverish year of marriage. His wrist, once bare, was now wrapped in prayer beads, a symbol of a man seeking peace. But the way he looked at me told a different story. Behind his mask of icy indifference, he is a shadow in my life. He ruins every date I go on, sabotages every attempt I make to move forward, and invades my world with a suffocating dominance I can’t escape. I thought I had finally reached my breaking point. But when I screamed for him to get out of my life, the "Saint" finally snapped. Trapping me against the wall, his eyes bloodshot and filled with a terrifying hunger, he smirked. “Is it really that hard, Virginia? Just admit you still crave me as much as I crave you.”

Chapter 1Five years after their divorce, Virginia Caldwell saw Archer Vanderbilt again at St. Jude's Cathedral.Her blind date had specifically chosen this location, claiming its flourishing prayers could sever bad ties and bless true romance.The man stopped at every altar, lighting votive candles and bowing his head in devout prayer.Virginia simply stood quietly to the side, her eyes lowered and her expression utterly indifferent.As a senior psychiatrist, years of experience had ingrained rationality into her very bones. Coupled with her early life struggles, she was a staunch atheist who never believed in karma or the divine.Perhaps the world was too bitter, prompting people to pin their hopes on flickering candlelight. But before she could even sink to the kneeler, her tears threatened to fall first."You should say a prayer too. My mother says it only works if we both do it."He handed her a candle, looking unwilling to let it go.After a two-second hesitation, Virginia took it.She knelt on the wooden kneeler, but as she gazed at the altar, a sudden, suffocating ache struck her chest. Just as she was about to place the candle, the flickering shadows shifted, and she saw Archer walking side-by-side with Chloe Caldwell, holding a child.Chloe was also holding a candle. She smiled brightly, reaching out to loop her arm through Archer's empty one. But just then, the child in his arms squirmed restlessly. Archer instinctively adjusted his grip to support the boy, causing Chloe to miss his arm. Instead, she patted the child's head, laughing softly and telling him to behave.A family of three. It was an incredibly ordinary scene, yet it radiated an overwhelming sense of warmth.Virginia froze, completely tuning out her blind date's calls for her to stand up.Archer had changed a lot since the year they were married. He used to be stoic and composed, like a poker-faced machine. Now, there was an imperceptible sense of contentment in the corners of his eyes, giving him an undeniable human touch. Meanwhile, Chloe looked as stunning and radiant as ever, her luminous complexion a clear testament to how deeply she was loved.The little boy in Archer's arms was absolutely angelic, lively and adorable. He was the spitting image of Chloe.When she was hit with that abrupt divorce five years ago, Virginia finally realized that Archer had only married her to spite his true love.He had cheated during their marriage and had a child with his true love. Later, simply because Chloe made a passing remark—"Someone who cruelly breaks up a couple and causes everyone pain has no right to be a psychiatrist"—Archer used his connections to get Virginia fired right before her promotion to head of the psychiatric department. He even took the hard-won exchange opportunity at the world-renowned Mercer Psychiatric Hospital and gave it to Chloe, who wasn't even a doctor, just so she could see Doctor White to ease her emotional blockages.Chloe was a famous pianist, and her fans despised Virginia. They had doxxed her, cyberbullied her, and even vandalized her front door.With her career and life completely ruined, Virginia fell into a deep despair and developed severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even now, she didn't dare look back on that dark time...An ex like that should just stay dead to her.Her expression remained as cold as ice. She tried to avert her gaze and pretend she hadn't seen them, but as if he sensed her presence, Archer's piercing, predatory gaze swept over. When their eyes met, he visibly froze as well."Daddy, what are you looking at?"Seeing him suddenly stop, Toby Vanderbilt looked around curiously in his arms. Archer didn't answer, simply setting the boy down on the ground.When Archer stood back up and saw Chloe's face turn pale as she stared warily at Virginia, he instinctively took a step forward, blocking Chloe's line of sight.As the worshippers behind them urged them to move, Virginia stood up from the kneeler. She casually placed her candle at the altar, turned around, and walked out of the hall with her blind date, her face entirely devoid of emotion.Chloe. Her sister in name, and the fake heiress the Caldwells had raised for years.Six years ago, Virginia accidentally discovered that her blood type didn't match her parents'. A DNA test confirmed her suspicions.But before she could even search for her biological family, the Caldwells found her first. They claimed that when Mrs. Caldwell had gone into labor while inspecting a construction site, she had to deliver at the nearest clinic. A nurse's mistake led to the babies being switched. The Caldwells only discovered the blood type discrepancy that year and had been secretly looking for her ever since.The Caldwells originally wanted to keep both daughters—they figured they could just offer a hefty sum of money—but the other family firmly insisted on claiming their biological daughter. Overnight, Virginia's parents changed. Shortly after, she was handed an arranged fiancé: Archer.The Caldwells and Vanderbilts were old family friends. They had decided on this alliance twenty years ago and had co-funded several massive projects. Aside from the deep financial ties, there was supposedly an old debt of gratitude between the elders. So, Virginia had no choice but to marry him.But in Chloe's eyes, Virginia was an invader who had not only stolen her doting parents but also the fiancé she had grown up with.After Virginia married Archer, Chloe was so heartbroken that she put her career on hold and went abroad to recklessly participate in extreme sports. Word had it she nearly shattered her arm, almost ruining her future. After Archer coaxed her into returning to the country, Chloe collapsed before Virginia in tears, claiming she was pregnant with Archer's baby and begging Virginia to let him go so they could be together.Now that Chloe's life was finally back on track, it was perfectly normal for her to be wary of Virginia.Unexpectedly, Chloe chased after her."Virginia, what a coincidence. Are you here to pray for a blessing too?"The voice came from behind. Virginia paused, eventually bringing her steps to a halt. "Yeah."Chloe had already returned to her usual self. Holding Toby's hand with one arm and clinging to Archer's with the other, she offered a radiantly happy smile. "Time flies so fast. It's been five years since we last saw each other, right? I didn't expect to run into you right after coming back. Before I went abroad, Archer made a wish here that I would safely deliver the baby. We came back today to give thanks."Virginia's gaze landed on Archer's arm, where Chloe was clinging, and then trailed down to the rosary beads hanging from the man's wrist.In her memory, Archer had never believed in any of this. He had always been rigid and rule-abiding, trusting only in himself. She couldn't even imagine what this intensely rational man looked like standing before the altar for hours, hands clasped in devout prayer for the woman he loved."Is that so?" Virginia snapped out of her daze and replied politely, "Congratulations, then."Chloe was clearly satisfied with her reaction.Then she looked curiously at the man standing beside Virginia. "Virginia, is this... your boyfriend?"Archer's expression was like ice. Only when he heard this did his gaze lightly sweep over Virginia. After years apart, the woman's sculpted features still radiated the same aloof and stubborn aura as before. The sense of distance was even stronger than it had been five years ago. He paused for just a second before withdrawing his gaze.Amidst the bustling crowd in the cathedral, the tension in their small circle was palpable. Even the blind date noticed it."Ms. Caldwell?"The man looked at her, silently asking for an explanation.Virginia didn't hide anything and said directly, "A friend introduced us. We're still getting to know each other. We have somewhere to be, so we'll be going now."With that, Virginia and the man walked away side-by-side.Archer stared at their retreating figures, his brows furrowing imperceptibly. When he turned his head, he met Chloe's tear-filled, aggrieved eyes.Looking utterly heartbroken, Chloe grabbed his forearm with both hands and asked softly, "Archer, are you... still thinking about her?""Don't be ridiculous."Archer sighed, pulling his arm back, and leaned down to pick up Toby. "Now that we're done here, I'll take you back to your mother's house."Chloe's face instantly lit up with a brilliant smile, and she followed Archer into the cathedral....The freezing dampness of the Boston winter chilled her to the core. As a gust of cold wind swept past, Virginia instinctively pulled her coat tighter around herself."Should we grab dinner? My mother wants to meet you on a video call."Mr. Finch's family ran a medical equipment business. Seeing her stunning looks, elegant demeanor, and knowing she owned her own psychiatric clinic, he felt they were a perfect match.She shook her head and took a step back. "Mr. Finch, the person who set this up might not have mentioned the details. I'm divorced, live alone, and raise a child by myself. I won't waste your time."The man froze, his polite facade instantly stiffening.A moment later, unable to maintain his composure, he stormed off with an ugly expression, cursing into his phone.After the man left, Virginia slipped into her sedan.Feeling her arms trembling slightly and her breathing tightening, she immediately turned on some light instrumental music, leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes to calm her racing heart.It was a somatic symptom of her psychological trauma.Virginia didn't want to admit it, but seeing Archer and Chloe again brought the memories of being constantly cast aside and abandoned flooding back like a tidal wave.She had grown up in the Sutton household.Although the Suttons had struck it rich in business, they were deeply patriarchal and misogynistic. From a young age, her elders despised her. Even though they could easily afford maids, they forced her to do all the household chores, treating her like a worthless burden.It wasn't until she was five, when her younger brother, Wesley Sutton, was born, that the family was overjoyed. They pampered him endlessly, while their treatment of her grew even colder and harsher.Thankfully, Wesley had fiercely protected her since he was little.Whenever the family bullied or insulted her, he would stand in front of her, hands on his hips, and yell defensively, "My sister isn't a burden! She's the best sister, and one day, none of you will even be worthy of her!"In those agonizing, barren years, her brother became the only ray of light in her life.Later, when she was eighteen and the family business faced bankruptcy, her adoptive parents ruthlessly locked her in the attic. They withdrew her from school, forbade her from taking the college entrance exams, and tried to force her to marry a sleazy, middle-aged businessman to pay off their debts. No matter how much she begged, they remained unmoved.On the day of the exams, driven to absolute despair, she contemplated ending her life. But the young boy found her, covered in dirt and sweat, and dragged her out to escape.She managed to take the exams and became the top scorer in the state. However, while waiting outside the testing center, Wesley had tried to stop their pursuing parents. He dashed across the street toward a security booth for help, only to be struck head-on by a truck, leaving him in a vegetative state.At the hospital, her adoptive parents blamed everything on her, beating and cursing her in public to vent their rage.They even wanted to pull the plug on Wesley, claiming there was no hope of him waking up.She refused. She broke down in public, begging and threatening them until she finally saved his life.The day the exam results were announced, her status as the top scorer brought enough glory to the Suttons that her adoptive father threw a massive celebration. He then enrolled her in a business program, hoping to use her success for his own profit. She didn't bother arguing. Instead, while looking through her brother's backpack, she found a diary.That was when she realized the seemingly cheerful boy had been suffering from severe depression for years. He had silently borne the twisted pressures of their family, giving everything he had just to save her from that hell.She changed her major overnight, choosing psychology at the capital's medical university. She hoped that one day, when her brother woke up, she could cure him—and cure others as well.She moved her brother to a public nursing home in the capital, studying while taking care of him, and working multiple jobs to cover his exorbitant medical bills.The year she graduated and started doing volunteer work, her biological family, the Caldwells, found her.By then, Chloe, who had been mistakenly raised by them for years, had just returned from studying abroad and was already an emerging star in the international piano scene.When the Suttons learned the truth, they stubbornly demanded their biological daughter back. But the Caldwells absolutely refused. How could they bear to let go of the precious gem they had poured their hearts and resources into raising?Mrs. Caldwell's stance was blunt and uncompromising: Either the Suttons took a massive payout and left both daughters with the Caldwells, or they pretended none of this ever happened and never acknowledged each other.Furious and resentful, the Suttons desperately wanted to use their biological daughter to climb into high society. Seeing the Caldwells refuse to budge, they lashed out, calling the police and airing the scandal on local news channels.With nothing to lose, the Suttons weaponized the media. Under the weight of public outrage, the Caldwells' stock plummeted, forcing them to compromise.In the end, the Caldwells publicly revealed the truth about the girls' identities but officially claimed Chloe as their adopted daughter. To appease their newly found biological daughter, the Suttons agreed to let Chloe keep her name and not change her last name.But from beginning to end, no one ever asked Virginia what she wanted.A sudden, shrill ringtone shattered Virginia's thoughts. She glanced at the caller ID and slowly answered."Mother.""Virginia, are you coming home today?"Virginia's eyes darkened.Today was New Year's Eve. In past years, as a dutiful daughter, she never needed to be asked; no matter how busy she was, she always went home on time.This was a probing question, but the answer Madeline wanted was obvious.So, she replied, "No, the clinic is busy. Enjoy the holiday with the family."There was a long, dead silence on the other end of the line. Finally, a faint sigh echoed through the speaker.Chapter 2Five years after their divorce, Virginia Caldwell saw Archer Vanderbilt again at St. Jude's Cathedral.Her blind date had specifically chosen this location, claiming its flourishing prayers could sever bad ties and bless true romance.The man stopped at every altar, lighting votive candles and bowing his head in devout prayer.Virginia simply stood quietly to the side, her eyes lowered and her expression utterly indifferent.As a senior psychiatrist, years of experience had ingrained rationality into her very bones. Coupled with her early life struggles, she was a staunch atheist who never believed in karma or the divine.Perhaps the world was too bitter, prompting people to pin their hopes on flickering candlelight. But before she could even sink to the kneeler, her tears threatened to fall first."You should say a prayer too. My mother says it only works if we both do it."He handed her a candle, looking unwilling to let it go.After a two-second hesitation, Virginia took it.She knelt on the wooden kneeler, but as she gazed at the altar, a sudden, suffocating ache struck her chest. Just as she was about to place the candle, the flickering shadows shifted, and she saw Archer walking side-by-side with Chloe Caldwell, holding a child.Chloe was also holding a candle. She smiled brightly, reaching out to loop her arm through Archer's empty one. But just then, the child in his arms squirmed restlessly. Archer instinctively adjusted his grip to support the boy, causing Chloe to miss his arm. Instead, she patted the child's head, laughing softly and telling him to behave.A family of three. It was an incredibly ordinary scene, yet it radiated an overwhelming sense of warmth.Virginia froze, completely tuning out her blind date's calls for her to stand up.Archer had changed a lot since the year they were married. He used to be stoic and composed, like a poker-faced machine. Now, there was an imperceptible sense of contentment in the corners of his eyes, giving him an undeniable human touch. Meanwhile, Chloe looked as stunning and radiant as ever, her luminous complexion a clear testament to how deeply she was loved.The little boy in Archer's arms was absolutely angelic, lively and adorable. He was the spitting image of Chloe.When she was hit with that abrupt divorce five years ago, Virginia finally realized that Archer had only married her to spite his true love.He had cheated during their marriage and had a child with his true love. Later, simply because Chloe made a passing remark—"Someone who cruelly breaks up a couple and causes everyone pain has no right to be a psychiatrist"—Archer used his connections to get Virginia fired right before her promotion to head of the psychiatric department. He even took the hard-won exchange opportunity at the world-renowned Mercer Psychiatric Hospital and gave it to Chloe, who wasn't even a doctor, just so she could see Doctor White to ease her emotional blockages.Chloe was a famous pianist, and her fans despised Virginia. They had doxxed her, cyberbullied her, and even vandalized her front door.With her career and life completely ruined, Virginia fell into a deep despair and developed severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even now, she didn't dare look back on that dark time...An ex like that should just stay dead to her.Her expression remained as cold as ice. She tried to avert her gaze and pretend she hadn't seen them, but as if he sensed her presence, Archer's piercing, predatory gaze swept over. When their eyes met, he visibly froze as well."Daddy, what are you looking at?"Seeing him suddenly stop, Toby Vanderbilt looked around curiously in his arms. Archer didn't answer, simply setting the boy down on the ground.When Archer stood back up and saw Chloe's face turn pale as she stared warily at Virginia, he instinctively took a step forward, blocking Chloe's line of sight.As the worshippers behind them urged them to move, Virginia stood up from the kneeler. She casually placed her candle at the altar, turned around, and walked out of the hall with her blind date, her face entirely devoid of emotion.Chloe. Her sister in name, and the fake heiress the Caldwells had raised for years.Six years ago, Virginia accidentally discovered that her blood type didn't match her parents'. A DNA test confirmed her suspicions.But before she could even search for her biological family, the Caldwells found her first. They claimed that when Mrs. Caldwell had gone into labor while inspecting a construction site, she had to deliver at the nearest clinic. A nurse's mistake led to the babies being switched. The Caldwells only discovered the blood type discrepancy that year and had been secretly looking for her ever since.The Caldwells originally wanted to keep both daughters—they figured they could just offer a hefty sum of money—but the other family firmly insisted on claiming their biological daughter. Overnight, Virginia's parents changed. Shortly after, she was handed an arranged fiancé: Archer.The Caldwells and Vanderbilts were old family friends. They had decided on this alliance twenty years ago and had co-funded several massive projects. Aside from the deep financial ties, there was supposedly an old debt of gratitude between the elders. So, Virginia had no choice but to marry him.But in Chloe's eyes, Virginia was an invader who had not only stolen her doting parents but also the fiancé she had grown up with.After Virginia married Archer, Chloe was so heartbroken that she put her career on hold and went abroad to recklessly participate in extreme sports. Word had it she nearly shattered her arm, almost ruining her future. After Archer coaxed her into returning to the country, Chloe collapsed before Virginia in tears, claiming she was pregnant with Archer's baby and begging Virginia to let him go so they could be together.Now that Chloe's life was finally back on track, it was perfectly normal for her to be wary of Virginia.Unexpectedly, Chloe chased after her."Virginia, what a coincidence. Are you here to pray for a blessing too?"The voice came from behind. Virginia paused, eventually bringing her steps to a halt. "Yeah."Chloe had already returned to her usual self. Holding Toby's hand with one arm and clinging to Archer's with the other, she offered a radiantly happy smile. "Time flies so fast. It's been five years since we last saw each other, right? I didn't expect to run into you right after coming back. Before I went abroad, Archer made a wish here that I would safely deliver the baby. We came back today to give thanks."Virginia's gaze landed on Archer's arm, where Chloe was clinging, and then trailed down to the rosary beads hanging from the man's wrist.In her memory, Archer had never believed in any of this. He had always been rigid and rule-abiding, trusting only in himself. She couldn't even imagine what this intensely rational man looked like standing before the altar for hours, hands clasped in devout prayer for the woman he loved."Is that so?" Virginia snapped out of her daze and replied politely, "Congratulations, then."Chloe was clearly satisfied with her reaction.Then she looked curiously at the man standing beside Virginia. "Virginia, is this... your boyfriend?"Archer's expression was like ice. Only when he heard this did his gaze lightly sweep over Virginia. After years apart, the woman's sculpted features still radiated the same aloof and stubborn aura as before. The sense of distance was even stronger than it had been five years ago. He paused for just a second before withdrawing his gaze.Amidst the bustling crowd in the cathedral, the tension in their small circle was palpable. Even the blind date noticed it."Ms. Caldwell?"The man looked at her, silently asking for an explanation.Virginia didn't hide anything and said directly, "A friend introduced us. We're still getting to know each other. We have somewhere to be, so we'll be going now."With that, Virginia and the man walked away side-by-side.Archer stared at their retreating figures, his brows furrowing imperceptibly. When he turned his head, he met Chloe's tear-filled, aggrieved eyes.Looking utterly heartbroken, Chloe grabbed his forearm with both hands and asked softly, "Archer, are you... still thinking about her?""Don't be ridiculous."Archer sighed, pulling his arm back, and leaned down to pick up Toby. "Now that we're done here, I'll take you back to your mother's house."Chloe's face instantly lit up with a brilliant smile, and she followed Archer into the cathedral....The freezing dampness of the Boston winter chilled her to the core. As a gust of cold wind swept past, Virginia instinctively pulled her coat tighter around herself."Should we grab dinner? My mother wants to meet you on a video call."Mr. Finch's family ran a medical equipment business. Seeing her stunning looks, elegant demeanor, and knowing she owned her own psychiatric clinic, he felt they were a perfect match.She shook her head and took a step back. "Mr. Finch, the person who set this up might not have mentioned the details. I'm divorced, live alone, and raise a child by myself. I won't waste your time."The man froze, his polite facade instantly stiffening.A moment later, unable to maintain his composure, he stormed off with an ugly expression, cursing into his phone.After the man left, Virginia slipped into her sedan.Feeling her arms trembling slightly and her breathing tightening, she immediately turned on some light instrumental music, leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes to calm her racing heart.It was a somatic symptom of her psychological trauma.Virginia didn't want to admit it, but seeing Archer and Chloe again brought the memories of being constantly cast aside and abandoned flooding back like a tidal wave.She had grown up in the Sutton household.Although the Suttons had struck it rich in business, they were deeply patriarchal and misogynistic. From a young age, her elders despised her. Even though they could easily afford maids, they forced her to do all the household chores, treating her like a worthless burden.It wasn't until she was five, when her younger brother, Wesley Sutton, was born, that the family was overjoyed. They pampered him endlessly, while their treatment of her grew even colder and harsher.Thankfully, Wesley had fiercely protected her since he was little.Whenever the family bullied or insulted her, he would stand in front of her, hands on his hips, and yell defensively, "My sister isn't a burden! She's the best sister, and one day, none of you will even be worthy of her!"In those agonizing, barren years, her brother became the only ray of light in her life.Later, when she was eighteen and the family business faced bankruptcy, her adoptive parents ruthlessly locked her in the attic. They withdrew her from school, forbade her from taking the college entrance exams, and tried to force her to marry a sleazy, middle-aged businessman to pay off their debts. No matter how much she begged, they remained unmoved.On the day of the exams, driven to absolute despair, she contemplated ending her life. But the young boy found her, covered in dirt and sweat, and dragged her out to escape.She managed to take the exams and became the top scorer in the state. However, while waiting outside the testing center, Wesley had tried to stop their pursuing parents. He dashed across the street toward a security booth for help, only to be struck head-on by a truck, leaving him in a vegetative state.At the hospital, her adoptive parents blamed everything on her, beating and cursing her in public to vent their rage.They even wanted to pull the plug on Wesley, claiming there was no hope of him waking up.She refused. She broke down in public, begging and threatening them until she finally saved his life.The day the exam results were announced, her status as the top scorer brought enough glory to the Suttons that her adoptive father threw a massive celebration. He then enrolled her in a business program, hoping to use her success for his own profit. She didn't bother arguing. Instead, while looking through her brother's backpack, she found a diary.That was when she realized the seemingly cheerful boy had been suffering from severe depression for years. He had silently borne the twisted pressures of their family, giving everything he had just to save her from that hell.She changed her major overnight, choosing psychology at the capital's medical university. She hoped that one day, when her brother woke up, she could cure him—and cure others as well.She moved her brother to a public nursing home in the capital, studying while taking care of him, and working multiple jobs to cover his exorbitant medical bills.The year she graduated and started doing volunteer work, her biological family, the Caldwells, found her.By then, Chloe, who had been mistakenly raised by them for years, had just returned from studying abroad and was already an emerging star in the international piano scene.When the Suttons learned the truth, they stubbornly demanded their biological daughter back. But the Caldwells absolutely refused. How could they bear to let go of the precious gem they had poured their hearts and resources into raising?Mrs. Caldwell's stance was blunt and uncompromising: Either the Suttons took a massive payout and left both daughters with the Caldwells, or they pretended none of this ever happened and never acknowledged each other.Furious and resentful, the Suttons desperately wanted to use their biological daughter to climb into high society. Seeing the Caldwells refuse to budge, they lashed out, calling the police and airing the scandal on local news channels.With nothing to lose, the Suttons weaponized the media. Under the weight of public outrage, the Caldwells' stock plummeted, forcing them to compromise.In the end, the Caldwells publicly revealed the truth about the girls' identities but officially claimed Chloe as their adopted daughter. To appease their newly found biological daughter, the Suttons agreed to let Chloe keep her name and not change her last name.But from beginning to end, no one ever asked Virginia what she wanted.A sudden, shrill ringtone shattered Virginia's thoughts. She glanced at the caller ID and slowly answered."Mother.""Virginia, are you coming home today?"Virginia's eyes darkened.Today was New Year's Eve. In past years, as a dutiful daughter, she never needed to be asked; no matter how busy she was, she always went home on time.This was a probing question, but the answer Madeline wanted was obvious.So, she replied, "No, the clinic is busy. Enjoy the holiday with the family."There was a long, dead silence on the other end of the line. Finally, a faint sigh echoed through the speaker.Chapter 3Five years after their divorce, Virginia Caldwell saw Archer Vanderbilt again at St. Jude's Cathedral.Her blind date had specifically chosen this location, claiming its flourishing prayers could sever bad ties and bless true romance.The man stopped at every altar, lighting votive candles and bowing his head in devout prayer.Virginia simply stood quietly to the side, her eyes lowered and her expression utterly indifferent.As a senior psychiatrist, years of experience had ingrained rationality into her very bones. Coupled with her early life struggles, she was a staunch atheist who never believed in karma or the divine.Perhaps the world was too bitter, prompting people to pin their hopes on flickering candlelight. But before she could even sink to the kneeler, her tears threatened to fall first."You should say a prayer too. My mother says it only works if we both do it."He handed her a candle, looking unwilling to let it go.After a two-second hesitation, Virginia took it.She knelt on the wooden kneeler, but as she gazed at the altar, a sudden, suffocating ache struck her chest. Just as she was about to place the candle, the flickering shadows shifted, and she saw Archer walking side-by-side with Chloe Caldwell, holding a child.Chloe was also holding a candle. She smiled brightly, reaching out to loop her arm through Archer's empty one. But just then, the child in his arms squirmed restlessly. Archer instinctively adjusted his grip to support the boy, causing Chloe to miss his arm. Instead, she patted the child's head, laughing softly and telling him to behave.A family of three. It was an incredibly ordinary scene, yet it radiated an overwhelming sense of warmth.Virginia froze, completely tuning out her blind date's calls for her to stand up.Archer had changed a lot since the year they were married. He used to be stoic and composed, like a poker-faced machine. Now, there was an imperceptible sense of contentment in the corners of his eyes, giving him an undeniable human touch. Meanwhile, Chloe looked as stunning and radiant as ever, her luminous complexion a clear testament to how deeply she was loved.The little boy in Archer's arms was absolutely angelic, lively and adorable. He was the spitting image of Chloe.When she was hit with that abrupt divorce five years ago, Virginia finally realized that Archer had only married her to spite his true love.He had cheated during their marriage and had a child with his true love. Later, simply because Chloe made a passing remark—"Someone who cruelly breaks up a couple and causes everyone pain has no right to be a psychiatrist"—Archer used his connections to get Virginia fired right before her promotion to head of the psychiatric department. He even took the hard-won exchange opportunity at the world-renowned Mercer Psychiatric Hospital and gave it to Chloe, who wasn't even a doctor, just so she could see Doctor White to ease her emotional blockages.Chloe was a famous pianist, and her fans despised Virginia. They had doxxed her, cyberbullied her, and even vandalized her front door.With her career and life completely ruined, Virginia fell into a deep despair and developed severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even now, she didn't dare look back on that dark time...An ex like that should just stay dead to her.Her expression remained as cold as ice. She tried to avert her gaze and pretend she hadn't seen them, but as if he sensed her presence, Archer's piercing, predatory gaze swept over. When their eyes met, he visibly froze as well."Daddy, what are you looking at?"Seeing him suddenly stop, Toby Vanderbilt looked around curiously in his arms. Archer didn't answer, simply setting the boy down on the ground.When Archer stood back up and saw Chloe's face turn pale as she stared warily at Virginia, he instinctively took a step forward, blocking Chloe's line of sight.As the worshippers behind them urged them to move, Virginia stood up from the kneeler. She casually placed her candle at the altar, turned around, and walked out of the hall with her blind date, her face entirely devoid of emotion.Chloe. Her sister in name, and the fake heiress the Caldwells had raised for years.Six years ago, Virginia accidentally discovered that her blood type didn't match her parents'. A DNA test confirmed her suspicions.But before she could even search for her biological family, the Caldwells found her first. They claimed that when Mrs. Caldwell had gone into labor while inspecting a construction site, she had to deliver at the nearest clinic. A nurse's mistake led to the babies being switched. The Caldwells only discovered the blood type discrepancy that year and had been secretly looking for her ever since.The Caldwells originally wanted to keep both daughters—they figured they could just offer a hefty sum of money—but the other family firmly insisted on claiming their biological daughter. Overnight, Virginia's parents changed. Shortly after, she was handed an arranged fiancé: Archer.The Caldwells and Vanderbilts were old family friends. They had decided on this alliance twenty years ago and had co-funded several massive projects. Aside from the deep financial ties, there was supposedly an old debt of gratitude between the elders. So, Virginia had no choice but to marry him.But in Chloe's eyes, Virginia was an invader who had not only stolen her doting parents but also the fiancé she had grown up with.After Virginia married Archer, Chloe was so heartbroken that she put her career on hold and went abroad to recklessly participate in extreme sports. Word had it she nearly shattered her arm, almost ruining her future. After Archer coaxed her into returning to the country, Chloe collapsed before Virginia in tears, claiming she was pregnant with Archer's baby and begging Virginia to let him go so they could be together.Now that Chloe's life was finally back on track, it was perfectly normal for her to be wary of Virginia.Unexpectedly, Chloe chased after her."Virginia, what a coincidence. Are you here to pray for a blessing too?"The voice came from behind. Virginia paused, eventually bringing her steps to a halt. "Yeah."Chloe had already returned to her usual self. Holding Toby's hand with one arm and clinging to Archer's with the other, she offered a radiantly happy smile. "Time flies so fast. It's been five years since we last saw each other, right? I didn't expect to run into you right after coming back. Before I went abroad, Archer made a wish here that I would safely deliver the baby. We came back today to give thanks."Virginia's gaze landed on Archer's arm, where Chloe was clinging, and then trailed down to the rosary beads hanging from the man's wrist.In her memory, Archer had never believed in any of this. He had always been rigid and rule-abiding, trusting only in himself. She couldn't even imagine what this intensely rational man looked like standing before the altar for hours, hands clasped in devout prayer for the woman he loved."Is that so?" Virginia snapped out of her daze and replied politely, "Congratulations, then."Chloe was clearly satisfied with her reaction.Then she looked curiously at the man standing beside Virginia. "Virginia, is this... your boyfriend?"Archer's expression was like ice. Only when he heard this did his gaze lightly sweep over Virginia. After years apart, the woman's sculpted features still radiated the same aloof and stubborn aura as before. The sense of distance was even stronger than it had been five years ago. He paused for just a second before withdrawing his gaze.Amidst the bustling crowd in the cathedral, the tension in their small circle was palpable. Even the blind date noticed it."Ms. Caldwell?"The man looked at her, silently asking for an explanation.Virginia didn't hide anything and said directly, "A friend introduced us. We're still getting to know each other. We have somewhere to be, so we'll be going now."With that, Virginia and the man walked away side-by-side.Archer stared at their retreating figures, his brows furrowing imperceptibly. When he turned his head, he met Chloe's tear-filled, aggrieved eyes.Looking utterly heartbroken, Chloe grabbed his forearm with both hands and asked softly, "Archer, are you... still thinking about her?""Don't be ridiculous."Archer sighed, pulling his arm back, and leaned down to pick up Toby. "Now that we're done here, I'll take you back to your mother's house."Chloe's face instantly lit up with a brilliant smile, and she followed Archer into the cathedral....The freezing dampness of the Boston winter chilled her to the core. As a gust of cold wind swept past, Virginia instinctively pulled her coat tighter around herself."Should we grab dinner? My mother wants to meet you on a video call."Mr. Finch's family ran a medical equipment business. Seeing her stunning looks, elegant demeanor, and knowing she owned her own psychiatric clinic, he felt they were a perfect match.She shook her head and took a step back. "Mr. Finch, the person who set this up might not have mentioned the details. I'm divorced, live alone, and raise a child by myself. I won't waste your time."The man froze, his polite facade instantly stiffening.A moment later, unable to maintain his composure, he stormed off with an ugly expression, cursing into his phone.After the man left, Virginia slipped into her sedan.Feeling her arms trembling slightly and her breathing tightening, she immediately turned on some light instrumental music, leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes to calm her racing heart.It was a somatic symptom of her psychological trauma.Virginia didn't want to admit it, but seeing Archer and Chloe again brought the memories of being constantly cast aside and abandoned flooding back like a tidal wave.She had grown up in the Sutton household.Although the Suttons had struck it rich in business, they were deeply patriarchal and misogynistic. From a young age, her elders despised her. Even though they could easily afford maids, they forced her to do all the household chores, treating her like a worthless burden.It wasn't until she was five, when her younger brother, Wesley Sutton, was born, that the family was overjoyed. They pampered him endlessly, while their treatment of her grew even colder and harsher.Thankfully, Wesley had fiercely protected her since he was little.Whenever the family bullied or insulted her, he would stand in front of her, hands on his hips, and yell defensively, "My sister isn't a burden! She's the best sister, and one day, none of you will even be worthy of her!"In those agonizing, barren years, her brother became the only ray of light in her life.Later, when she was eighteen and the family business faced bankruptcy, her adoptive parents ruthlessly locked her in the attic. They withdrew her from school, forbade her from taking the college entrance exams, and tried to force her to marry a sleazy, middle-aged businessman to pay off their debts. No matter how much she begged, they remained unmoved.On the day of the exams, driven to absolute despair, she contemplated ending her life. But the young boy found her, covered in dirt and sweat, and dragged her out to escape.She managed to take the exams and became the top scorer in the state. However, while waiting outside the testing center, Wesley had tried to stop their pursuing parents. He dashed across the street toward a security booth for help, only to be struck head-on by a truck, leaving him in a vegetative state.At the hospital, her adoptive parents blamed everything on her, beating and cursing her in public to vent their rage.They even wanted to pull the plug on Wesley, claiming there was no hope of him waking up.She refused. She broke down in public, begging and threatening them until she finally saved his life.The day the exam results were announced, her status as the top scorer brought enough glory to the Suttons that her adoptive father threw a massive celebration. He then enrolled her in a business program, hoping to use her success for his own profit. She didn't bother arguing. Instead, while looking through her brother's backpack, she found a diary.That was when she realized the seemingly cheerful boy had been suffering from severe depression for years. He had silently borne the twisted pressures of their family, giving everything he had just to save her from that hell.She changed her major overnight, choosing psychology at the capital's medical university. She hoped that one day, when her brother woke up, she could cure him—and cure others as well.She moved her brother to a public nursing home in the capital, studying while taking care of him, and working multiple jobs to cover his exorbitant medical bills.The year she graduated and started doing volunteer work, her biological family, the Caldwells, found her.By then, Chloe, who had been mistakenly raised by them for years, had just returned from studying abroad and was already an emerging star in the international piano scene.When the Suttons learned the truth, they stubbornly demanded their biological daughter back. But the Caldwells absolutely refused. How could they bear to let go of the precious gem they had poured their hearts and resources into raising?Mrs. Caldwell's stance was blunt and uncompromising: Either the Suttons took a massive payout and left both daughters with the Caldwells, or they pretended none of this ever happened and never acknowledged each other.Furious and resentful, the Suttons desperately wanted to use their biological daughter to climb into high society. Seeing the Caldwells refuse to budge, they lashed out, calling the police and airing the scandal on local news channels.With nothing to lose, the Suttons weaponized the media. Under the weight of public outrage, the Caldwells' stock plummeted, forcing them to compromise.In the end, the Caldwells publicly revealed the truth about the girls' identities but officially claimed Chloe as their adopted daughter. To appease their newly found biological daughter, the Suttons agreed to let Chloe keep her name and not change her last name.But from beginning to end, no one ever asked Virginia what she wanted.A sudden, shrill ringtone shattered Virginia's thoughts. She glanced at the caller ID and slowly answered."Mother.""Virginia, are you coming home today?"Virginia's eyes darkened.Today was New Year's Eve. In past years, as a dutiful daughter, she never needed to be asked; no matter how busy she was, she always went home on time.This was a probing question, but the answer Madeline wanted was obvious.So, she replied, "No, the clinic is busy. Enjoy the holiday with the family."There was a long, dead silence on the other end of the line. Finally, a faint sigh echoed through the speaker.