On her wedding night, Hilda was thrown out of the bed. One night of pain gave her a daughter, a scar, and a husband who never looked at her again. Four years later, Luther wanted a divorce—for the woman he actually loved. He expected Hilda to cling, to cry, to fight. Instead, she named a price. He wrote the check and didn't blink. She took the money and left. What Luther didn't know was that the little girl he abandoned was his own daughter. And the woman he had dismissed as nothing more than a decoration was a force the entire city was about to witness. Renowned painter, master perfumer, jewelry designer... Her identities surfaced one after another, each more brilliant than the last. Hilda wasn't just building an empire. She was building a reckoning. Once she chose this path, she would never be prey again. She would never be controlled, never be cornered, never be made small. She would wield every weapon she had and she would do it without hesitation. Because she no longer loved him. And without love, she had no weakness left to exploit. He finally broke. He cornered her, eyes red, voice cracking. "Give me one more chance." Hilda held up the divorce papers he had signed four years ago. "You said it yourself, Luther. No regrets."

Chapter 1It was their wedding night.Hilda Cassidy was flushed and breathless, thoroughly seduced by Luther Sanford. She murmured his name, calling him her hubby over and over.But right at the critical moment, Luther pulled away, a mocking chuckle escaping his lips.Hilda froze. She had never seen such a look on his face before. It was complex, heavily laced with disgust and cold indifference. Her lips parted, her voice husky and incredibly sensual. "Luther, what's wrong?"Luther was already putting his dress shirt and slacks back on. He fastened his belt, his eyes sweeping over his wife's alluring, half-naked body sprawled across the bed.She was beautiful enough. But he didn't love her. This arranged marriage was nothing short of a joke.He leaned down, his cold breath brushing against her ear. "Since you refused to break the engagement, you can spend the rest of your life guarding this marriage and this house. Until you grow old. Until the day you die."But she hadn't refused to call off the wedding! Panic flooded Hilda's face.A sheer nightgown was suddenly thrown at her head. It felt exactly like a slap across the face.The master bedroom door slammed shut. He was heading downstairs.Soon, heavy, muffled thuds echoed from the hallway, sounding like large objects being moved. Propping herself up, Hilda scrambled to the second-floor landing.The next second, she stood entirely paralyzed.The furniture, the decor, the staff—everything was gone. The entire estate was being emptied out.Luther left. He took the maids, the butler, and the drivers with him. He abandoned Hilda in that massive house, leaving her to fend for herself.Hilda had no idea what she had done wrong. He had agreed to this marriage. She vaguely suspected he had someone else in his heart, though she didn't know who. Why hadn't he just told her? She loved him, yes, but she would have let him go....Three months later, Hilda finally met the woman who owned his heart.And Hilda was pregnant. Even though they hadn't gone all the way that night, the intimate friction of their young, feverish bodies had resulted in a miracle. She was expecting a baby.After much hesitation, she decided to tell her husband. Perhaps the arrival of a child could mend their fractured relationship.After making several inquiries, she learned from Lori Lynn, his secretary, that today was his birthday. He was hosting a grand party at a luxury hotel.When Hilda arrived, the celebration was in full swing. It was livelier than their own wedding reception had been.Standing at the entrance of the banquet hall, she gently rested a hand on her stomach, a hopeful smile playing on her lips. She dialed his number.The moment the call connected, her smile froze. She saw him embracing her stepsister.He looked strikingly handsome in a pristine white dress shirt and a bespoke suit. The woman leaning against him exuded effortless charm, practically melting into his arms. Her fingertips rested delicately against his collar, her gaze dripping with liquid affection.Luther's eyes were exceptionally bright, shining with unmistakable tenderness and adoration.They swayed to the music, oblivious to the crowd.Perhaps only at a public event like this could they momentarily disregard their social boundaries, holding each other so openly and displaying their intimacy for all to see.Whispers from the guests drifted into her ears."I heard that three months ago, Luther went absolutely crazy for Jolie Lovell. He even threatened to cut ties with his own family over her.""It's a shame he ended up marrying her sister instead.""So what if he married Hilda? Everyone knows Jolie is the only one in his heart. He brings her to every social gala, and his inner circle only acknowledges her."A miserable, self-deprecating laugh escaped Hilda's lips.Look at her, what a clown. Her husband was madly in love with her stepsister, and she was actually foolish enough to think a baby could win him back.Jolie Lovell was her father's illegitimate daughter. Back then, after her mother married into the Cassidy family, she was only six months pregnant when her father brought his pregnant mistress home. Devastated, her mother gave birth to Hilda and subsequently locked herself away in a secluded wing of the house, never stepping out again. The mistress took over the household. Hilda had grown up walking on eggshells.She always knew Luther's heart belonged to someone else. She just never imagined it would be Jolie.The line abruptly connected. Luther answered, his tone frigid and annoyed."What do you want now, Hilda? I made myself perfectly clear that night."As his voice fell, his gaze drifted toward the entrance of the hall. He spotted her.He couldn't believe she was needy enough to follow him here.Hilda stood perfectly still, quietly watching the way his body was intertwined with Jolie's, forcing her trembling voice steady."It's nothing, Luther.""I won't call you anymore.""Not now, not ever. Just like you said—until I grow old, until I die.""Happy birthday."She ended the call and turned away, desperate to preserve whatever shred of dignity she had left.Luther furrowed his brows.What kind of game was she playing now?He had never liked her. To him, she was nothing but a pretty face. He vastly preferred vibrant, capable women like Jolie. Before the wedding, he had even written Hilda a letter explaining that his heart belonged to another, asking Jolie to deliver it in hopes that Hilda would call off the engagement. But she had stubbornly insisted on going through with it.He understood her reluctance to let go. He knew she had feelings for him.But Jolie had saved his life at sea years ago. From that moment on, he was devoted to her; no one else mattered....Hilda walked down the hotel's seemingly endless corridor. Resting a palm against her stomach, she let the tears fall like rain.A divorce was just a piece of paper. Returning to Jadeport City from Alpha City was just a plane ticket away.But that woman was Jolie Lovell.How could she face her mother?How could she face the utter failure of this marriage?...Late that night, a cold autumn rain fell.Hilda sat at her desk, penning a letter to her mother.*Everything is wonderful in Alpha City.**Luther treats me incredibly well.**Now that I've joined the Sanford family, the social obligations keep me busy, which is why I can't come home for the holidays. The autumn nights are getting cold, so I'm sending you some premium herbal supplements. I hope you're staying healthy.**Enclosed is a check for $50,000.*Times grew incredibly tough. She began selling off her jewelry to make ends meet.The corner of her empty study was piled high with her oil paintings. She would often paint late into the night, her pregnant belly resting against the edge of the easel.The following May, she gave birth to a baby girl all alone. She named her Annie Cassidy....Four years later, in early autumn.A black Bentley glided into the driveway. The door opened, and a pair of long legs stepped out, followed by Luther's sharply handsome, mature face. He scrutinized his surroundings, lazily pushing the car door shut.Hilda had been painting inside. Hearing the engine, she stepped out.Meeting him again felt like a lifetime had passed.He was just as striking as ever, impeccably dressed in a dark grey three-piece suit. But Hilda felt absolutely nothing. It was strange how her love had simply evaporated; she had barely even thought about him over the last few years.Luther stared back at her.In four years, she seemed to have changed. She radiated a quiet calmness. And the way she looked at him was completely different now.Suppressing a strange flicker of discomfort, he pulled a document from the car and handed it to her, cutting right to the chase. "This is a divorce agreement. Read it over. Sign it, and I'll give you twenty million, but I'll be taking this estate back."Hilda flipped through the pages and asked softly, "Are you and Jolie getting married?"His expression darkened instantly. "What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"A faint smile touched her lips."I saw you two dancing in each other's arms at your birthday party. Very intimate.”“I'll sign it, but my terms are simple: five billion in cash and I keep this house. Otherwise, we have nothing to discuss."Luther glared at her.Five billion in cash? She actually had the nerve to demand that.She was doing this on purpose. Did she still harbor fantasies of them playing house?She was just as greedy and clingy as ever!The disgust that had faded over the years flared right back up.Hilda easily caught his revulsion. But she couldn't care less.She didn't care about Luther, and she certainly didn't care about the title of Mrs. Sanford. Demanding five billion was purely to make things difficult so Jolie wouldn't get her way. Looking back at everything that had happened, Jolie's manipulative fingerprints were all over the past.After a long, tense silence, he said coldly, "Think it over. When you come to your senses, talk to my lawyer."He had only come this time for Jolie's sake. He wouldn't see her again.Hilda was even more dismissive. "I won't see you out."Frowning, Luther grabbed the car door handle, ready to leave.Just then, footsteps patted against the pavement behind him, followed by a sweet, childish voice. "Mommy, who is this man?"Luther whipped his head around. A little girl, about four years old, threw herself into Hilda's arms. That tiny face was practically a carbon copy of hers.He had never actually consummated their marriage on their wedding night.His face drained of color, turning spectacularly grim. "Hilda, whose child is this?"Hilda slowly raised her eyes. They stared at each other through the fading twilight.She couldn't help but recall their wedding night, when he had looked at her with this exact same mix of shock, fury, and utter repulsion.But things had changed. She was no longer that girl.Her tone was completely neutral. "She is my child. Mine alone."In the next second, her slender wrist was snatched. Luther shoved her roughly into the open backseat of the Bentley. The car door slammed shut.Their bodies were pressed tightly together in a compromising position, instantly bringing back the memory of their feverish friction that night. He had been half-kneeling over her, his handsome face flushed with raw masculine heat. But dry-humping didn't make babies."Whose is it?"He gripped her chin aggressively. His thumb pressing past her parted red lips. The physical contact made his stomach churn with disgust.Dark fury swirled in his eyes. "Tell me. Who did you sleep with?"The child looked around four years old. That meant she had been with another man the very year they got married. She had been sharing someone else's bed.He didn't love her, but that didn't mean he enjoyed being made a cuckold.Furthermore, he was the CEO of Aegis Group. If news broke that his wife had an affair and produced an illegitimate child, both the Sanford family and the corporation would face a catastrophic scandal.His gaze grew dangerously icy.Hilda looked up at him. Her lips trembling slightly.She had really entrusted her heart to a monster!She had once loved him with such burning intensity. She wasn't naturally outgoing, but for two whole years, she had flown to Alpha City every single week just to see him. His grueling schedule and freezing indifference never deterred her because she loved him.But had she known—had she known he was sneaking around with Jolie, had she known he found her so thoroughly repulsive—she never would have held on.A tear slipped from the corner of her eye. Her throat tight, she opened her mouth to speak.A loud, aggressive knock on the window interrupted them.The car door was yanked open. A tall, striking young man stood outside, glaring coldly at the two of them.Both Luther and Hilda were caught off guard.Soren?What was he doing here?Soren Sutton was just her tenant.Luther slowly straightened up, stepping out to face the younger man. His eyes darted judgmentally between Soren and his wife.Soren let out a dark chuckle. "That's right. I'm Soren Sutton. The kid's father."He scooped little Annie up into his arms, intentionally pressing his cheek against hers. "Doesn't my little girl look just like me? A spitting image, wouldn't you say?"Luther's eyes were glacial. He didn't even spare Hilda another glance. A woman this shallow wasn't worth an ounce of his energy. He would let his lawyers handle this. He was going to file for divorce, demand a DNA test, prove her infidelity, and leave her with absolutely nothing.As the Bentley sped off, Hilda took Annie from his arms and offered him a faint smile. "Thank you for earlier."Soren looked highly impatient."That was your husband? That's the guy?""Why the hell are you still guarding this rundown house? Holding out for a chastity award?""You're stuck in the past while he's busy living his life. Women are so exhausting. You call it being sentimental; I call it being stupid. ...Weren't you supposed to go to the hospital? Annie can come hang out with me and look at my car models."Slouching lazily, Soren carried the toddler upstairs. The sweet little girl went with him without a fuss.Hilda remained standing in the deepening dusk.After a long while, she retreated to the second-floor master bedroom. Sitting at her vanity, she opened a small drawer and pulled out a photo album. It didn't contain photos; it held rows of boarding passes, each dated exactly seven days apart. They were the undeniable proof of how madly she had loved Luther.Only now did she realize that none of it had ever mattered to him. It had been a one-woman show all along.He would definitely file for divorce. She would simply wait for that day. Annie was his biological flesh and blood. Once the DNA test proved it, she would secure what rightfully belonged to her daughter, and this nightmare would finally be over.Her phone rang. It was her mother.Her mother had fallen severely ill last month. Hilda had brought her to Alpha City for treatment.Her once-stable finances were suddenly stretched to the breaking point, prompting her to rent out part of the house. Currently, Soren was her only tenant, paying three thousand a month for a suite.It was a drop in the bucket, but every bit helped. Plus, Soren had plenty of free time and occasionally helped pick up Annie for her.Hilda spent her days commuting to and from the hospital. To scrape together more money, she began taking on painting commissions like a madwoman.A week later, she stood supervising workers as they hung one of her finished pieces.As soon as she stepped outside, it started pouring. There were no buses near the client's neighborhood, so she had to sprint through the rain.By the time she reached the bus stop, she was soaked to the bone. The autumn chill cut through her clothes, making her shiver as she clutched her small handbag to her chest. Inside was the forty thousand dollar final payment she had just collected for the painting. She planned to deposit it directly into her mother's hospital account.The bus ran every twelve minutes. Hilda stared blankly at the sheets of rain. Suddenly, her gaze locked onto something.Stopped at a red light just ahead was a very familiar black Bentley. Luther and Jolie were inside.Luther was gripping the steering wheel, a faint, relaxed smile playing on his lips—a look she had never once seen him wear. Jolie sat in the passenger seat, turning to say something to him as she coyly twirled a strand of her curly hair. She looked breathtakingly glamorous.To anyone watching, they were the picture-perfect couple.Suddenly, Luther's gaze drifted over.He spotted her. She was shivering violently, her thin black trench coat clinging wetly to her skin. She looked utterly pathetic.His eyes darkened.Beside him, Jolie let out a quiet scoff.She already knew her stepsister had been unable to handle the loneliness and knocked up some other man. When she found out, she had practically celebrated. Hilda had ruined her own life and destroyed her future. Once Luther filed for divorce, she would be public enemy number one, stripped of her reputation and unable to ever recover.Just the thought of it made Jolie euphoric. Being denied the Cassidy last name was the greatest grievance of her life.The rain continued to pour. Through the watery curtain, Hilda stared blankly at the lovers in the car.She had long stopped caring. But seeing the man she had loved so deeply sitting beside her illegitimate sister still twisted a knife in her gut. She felt sick with regret—for wasting her life, and for Annie.The light turned green. The Bentley smoothly accelerated. Its tires sliced through the puddles, splashing dirty rainwater that splattered against Hilda's face, blurring her vision entirely.The car brushed right past her.And Luther brushed right past her.Chapter 2It was their wedding night.Hilda Cassidy was flushed and breathless, thoroughly seduced by Luther Sanford. She murmured his name, calling him her hubby over and over.But right at the critical moment, Luther pulled away, a mocking chuckle escaping his lips.Hilda froze. She had never seen such a look on his face before. It was complex, heavily laced with disgust and cold indifference. Her lips parted, her voice husky and incredibly sensual. "Luther, what's wrong?"Luther was already putting his dress shirt and slacks back on. He fastened his belt, his eyes sweeping over his wife's alluring, half-naked body sprawled across the bed.She was beautiful enough. But he didn't love her. This arranged marriage was nothing short of a joke.He leaned down, his cold breath brushing against her ear. "Since you refused to break the engagement, you can spend the rest of your life guarding this marriage and this house. Until you grow old. Until the day you die."But she hadn't refused to call off the wedding! Panic flooded Hilda's face.A sheer nightgown was suddenly thrown at her head. It felt exactly like a slap across the face.The master bedroom door slammed shut. He was heading downstairs.Soon, heavy, muffled thuds echoed from the hallway, sounding like large objects being moved. Propping herself up, Hilda scrambled to the second-floor landing.The next second, she stood entirely paralyzed.The furniture, the decor, the staff—everything was gone. The entire estate was being emptied out.Luther left. He took the maids, the butler, and the drivers with him. He abandoned Hilda in that massive house, leaving her to fend for herself.Hilda had no idea what she had done wrong. He had agreed to this marriage. She vaguely suspected he had someone else in his heart, though she didn't know who. Why hadn't he just told her? She loved him, yes, but she would have let him go....Three months later, Hilda finally met the woman who owned his heart.And Hilda was pregnant. Even though they hadn't gone all the way that night, the intimate friction of their young, feverish bodies had resulted in a miracle. She was expecting a baby.After much hesitation, she decided to tell her husband. Perhaps the arrival of a child could mend their fractured relationship.After making several inquiries, she learned from Lori Lynn, his secretary, that today was his birthday. He was hosting a grand party at a luxury hotel.When Hilda arrived, the celebration was in full swing. It was livelier than their own wedding reception had been.Standing at the entrance of the banquet hall, she gently rested a hand on her stomach, a hopeful smile playing on her lips. She dialed his number.The moment the call connected, her smile froze. She saw him embracing her stepsister.He looked strikingly handsome in a pristine white dress shirt and a bespoke suit. The woman leaning against him exuded effortless charm, practically melting into his arms. Her fingertips rested delicately against his collar, her gaze dripping with liquid affection.Luther's eyes were exceptionally bright, shining with unmistakable tenderness and adoration.They swayed to the music, oblivious to the crowd.Perhaps only at a public event like this could they momentarily disregard their social boundaries, holding each other so openly and displaying their intimacy for all to see.Whispers from the guests drifted into her ears."I heard that three months ago, Luther went absolutely crazy for Jolie Lovell. He even threatened to cut ties with his own family over her.""It's a shame he ended up marrying her sister instead.""So what if he married Hilda? Everyone knows Jolie is the only one in his heart. He brings her to every social gala, and his inner circle only acknowledges her."A miserable, self-deprecating laugh escaped Hilda's lips.Look at her, what a clown. Her husband was madly in love with her stepsister, and she was actually foolish enough to think a baby could win him back.Jolie Lovell was her father's illegitimate daughter. Back then, after her mother married into the Cassidy family, she was only six months pregnant when her father brought his pregnant mistress home. Devastated, her mother gave birth to Hilda and subsequently locked herself away in a secluded wing of the house, never stepping out again. The mistress took over the household. Hilda had grown up walking on eggshells.She always knew Luther's heart belonged to someone else. She just never imagined it would be Jolie.The line abruptly connected. Luther answered, his tone frigid and annoyed."What do you want now, Hilda? I made myself perfectly clear that night."As his voice fell, his gaze drifted toward the entrance of the hall. He spotted her.He couldn't believe she was needy enough to follow him here.Hilda stood perfectly still, quietly watching the way his body was intertwined with Jolie's, forcing her trembling voice steady."It's nothing, Luther.""I won't call you anymore.""Not now, not ever. Just like you said—until I grow old, until I die.""Happy birthday."She ended the call and turned away, desperate to preserve whatever shred of dignity she had left.Luther furrowed his brows.What kind of game was she playing now?He had never liked her. To him, she was nothing but a pretty face. He vastly preferred vibrant, capable women like Jolie. Before the wedding, he had even written Hilda a letter explaining that his heart belonged to another, asking Jolie to deliver it in hopes that Hilda would call off the engagement. But she had stubbornly insisted on going through with it.He understood her reluctance to let go. He knew she had feelings for him.But Jolie had saved his life at sea years ago. From that moment on, he was devoted to her; no one else mattered....Hilda walked down the hotel's seemingly endless corridor. Resting a palm against her stomach, she let the tears fall like rain.A divorce was just a piece of paper. Returning to Jadeport City from Alpha City was just a plane ticket away.But that woman was Jolie Lovell.How could she face her mother?How could she face the utter failure of this marriage?...Late that night, a cold autumn rain fell.Hilda sat at her desk, penning a letter to her mother.*Everything is wonderful in Alpha City.**Luther treats me incredibly well.**Now that I've joined the Sanford family, the social obligations keep me busy, which is why I can't come home for the holidays. The autumn nights are getting cold, so I'm sending you some premium herbal supplements. I hope you're staying healthy.**Enclosed is a check for $50,000.*Times grew incredibly tough. She began selling off her jewelry to make ends meet.The corner of her empty study was piled high with her oil paintings. She would often paint late into the night, her pregnant belly resting against the edge of the easel.The following May, she gave birth to a baby girl all alone. She named her Annie Cassidy....Four years later, in early autumn.A black Bentley glided into the driveway. The door opened, and a pair of long legs stepped out, followed by Luther's sharply handsome, mature face. He scrutinized his surroundings, lazily pushing the car door shut.Hilda had been painting inside. Hearing the engine, she stepped out.Meeting him again felt like a lifetime had passed.He was just as striking as ever, impeccably dressed in a dark grey three-piece suit. But Hilda felt absolutely nothing. It was strange how her love had simply evaporated; she had barely even thought about him over the last few years.Luther stared back at her.In four years, she seemed to have changed. She radiated a quiet calmness. And the way she looked at him was completely different now.Suppressing a strange flicker of discomfort, he pulled a document from the car and handed it to her, cutting right to the chase. "This is a divorce agreement. Read it over. Sign it, and I'll give you twenty million, but I'll be taking this estate back."Hilda flipped through the pages and asked softly, "Are you and Jolie getting married?"His expression darkened instantly. "What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"A faint smile touched her lips."I saw you two dancing in each other's arms at your birthday party. Very intimate.”“I'll sign it, but my terms are simple: five billion in cash and I keep this house. Otherwise, we have nothing to discuss."Luther glared at her.Five billion in cash? She actually had the nerve to demand that.She was doing this on purpose. Did she still harbor fantasies of them playing house?She was just as greedy and clingy as ever!The disgust that had faded over the years flared right back up.Hilda easily caught his revulsion. But she couldn't care less.She didn't care about Luther, and she certainly didn't care about the title of Mrs. Sanford. Demanding five billion was purely to make things difficult so Jolie wouldn't get her way. Looking back at everything that had happened, Jolie's manipulative fingerprints were all over the past.After a long, tense silence, he said coldly, "Think it over. When you come to your senses, talk to my lawyer."He had only come this time for Jolie's sake. He wouldn't see her again.Hilda was even more dismissive. "I won't see you out."Frowning, Luther grabbed the car door handle, ready to leave.Just then, footsteps patted against the pavement behind him, followed by a sweet, childish voice. "Mommy, who is this man?"Luther whipped his head around. A little girl, about four years old, threw herself into Hilda's arms. That tiny face was practically a carbon copy of hers.He had never actually consummated their marriage on their wedding night.His face drained of color, turning spectacularly grim. "Hilda, whose child is this?"Hilda slowly raised her eyes. They stared at each other through the fading twilight.She couldn't help but recall their wedding night, when he had looked at her with this exact same mix of shock, fury, and utter repulsion.But things had changed. She was no longer that girl.Her tone was completely neutral. "She is my child. Mine alone."In the next second, her slender wrist was snatched. Luther shoved her roughly into the open backseat of the Bentley. The car door slammed shut.Their bodies were pressed tightly together in a compromising position, instantly bringing back the memory of their feverish friction that night. He had been half-kneeling over her, his handsome face flushed with raw masculine heat. But dry-humping didn't make babies."Whose is it?"He gripped her chin aggressively. His thumb pressing past her parted red lips. The physical contact made his stomach churn with disgust.Dark fury swirled in his eyes. "Tell me. Who did you sleep with?"The child looked around four years old. That meant she had been with another man the very year they got married. She had been sharing someone else's bed.He didn't love her, but that didn't mean he enjoyed being made a cuckold.Furthermore, he was the CEO of Aegis Group. If news broke that his wife had an affair and produced an illegitimate child, both the Sanford family and the corporation would face a catastrophic scandal.His gaze grew dangerously icy.Hilda looked up at him. Her lips trembling slightly.She had really entrusted her heart to a monster!She had once loved him with such burning intensity. She wasn't naturally outgoing, but for two whole years, she had flown to Alpha City every single week just to see him. His grueling schedule and freezing indifference never deterred her because she loved him.But had she known—had she known he was sneaking around with Jolie, had she known he found her so thoroughly repulsive—she never would have held on.A tear slipped from the corner of her eye. Her throat tight, she opened her mouth to speak.A loud, aggressive knock on the window interrupted them.The car door was yanked open. A tall, striking young man stood outside, glaring coldly at the two of them.Both Luther and Hilda were caught off guard.Soren?What was he doing here?Soren Sutton was just her tenant.Luther slowly straightened up, stepping out to face the younger man. His eyes darted judgmentally between Soren and his wife.Soren let out a dark chuckle. "That's right. I'm Soren Sutton. The kid's father."He scooped little Annie up into his arms, intentionally pressing his cheek against hers. "Doesn't my little girl look just like me? A spitting image, wouldn't you say?"Luther's eyes were glacial. He didn't even spare Hilda another glance. A woman this shallow wasn't worth an ounce of his energy. He would let his lawyers handle this. He was going to file for divorce, demand a DNA test, prove her infidelity, and leave her with absolutely nothing.As the Bentley sped off, Hilda took Annie from his arms and offered him a faint smile. "Thank you for earlier."Soren looked highly impatient."That was your husband? That's the guy?""Why the hell are you still guarding this rundown house? Holding out for a chastity award?""You're stuck in the past while he's busy living his life. Women are so exhausting. You call it being sentimental; I call it being stupid. ...Weren't you supposed to go to the hospital? Annie can come hang out with me and look at my car models."Slouching lazily, Soren carried the toddler upstairs. The sweet little girl went with him without a fuss.Hilda remained standing in the deepening dusk.After a long while, she retreated to the second-floor master bedroom. Sitting at her vanity, she opened a small drawer and pulled out a photo album. It didn't contain photos; it held rows of boarding passes, each dated exactly seven days apart. They were the undeniable proof of how madly she had loved Luther.Only now did she realize that none of it had ever mattered to him. It had been a one-woman show all along.He would definitely file for divorce. She would simply wait for that day. Annie was his biological flesh and blood. Once the DNA test proved it, she would secure what rightfully belonged to her daughter, and this nightmare would finally be over.Her phone rang. It was her mother.Her mother had fallen severely ill last month. Hilda had brought her to Alpha City for treatment.Her once-stable finances were suddenly stretched to the breaking point, prompting her to rent out part of the house. Currently, Soren was her only tenant, paying three thousand a month for a suite.It was a drop in the bucket, but every bit helped. Plus, Soren had plenty of free time and occasionally helped pick up Annie for her.Hilda spent her days commuting to and from the hospital. To scrape together more money, she began taking on painting commissions like a madwoman.A week later, she stood supervising workers as they hung one of her finished pieces.As soon as she stepped outside, it started pouring. There were no buses near the client's neighborhood, so she had to sprint through the rain.By the time she reached the bus stop, she was soaked to the bone. The autumn chill cut through her clothes, making her shiver as she clutched her small handbag to her chest. Inside was the forty thousand dollar final payment she had just collected for the painting. She planned to deposit it directly into her mother's hospital account.The bus ran every twelve minutes. Hilda stared blankly at the sheets of rain. Suddenly, her gaze locked onto something.Stopped at a red light just ahead was a very familiar black Bentley. Luther and Jolie were inside.Luther was gripping the steering wheel, a faint, relaxed smile playing on his lips—a look she had never once seen him wear. Jolie sat in the passenger seat, turning to say something to him as she coyly twirled a strand of her curly hair. She looked breathtakingly glamorous.To anyone watching, they were the picture-perfect couple.Suddenly, Luther's gaze drifted over.He spotted her. She was shivering violently, her thin black trench coat clinging wetly to her skin. She looked utterly pathetic.His eyes darkened.Beside him, Jolie let out a quiet scoff.She already knew her stepsister had been unable to handle the loneliness and knocked up some other man. When she found out, she had practically celebrated. Hilda had ruined her own life and destroyed her future. Once Luther filed for divorce, she would be public enemy number one, stripped of her reputation and unable to ever recover.Just the thought of it made Jolie euphoric. Being denied the Cassidy last name was the greatest grievance of her life.The rain continued to pour. Through the watery curtain, Hilda stared blankly at the lovers in the car.She had long stopped caring. But seeing the man she had loved so deeply sitting beside her illegitimate sister still twisted a knife in her gut. She felt sick with regret—for wasting her life, and for Annie.The light turned green. The Bentley smoothly accelerated. Its tires sliced through the puddles, splashing dirty rainwater that splattered against Hilda's face, blurring her vision entirely.The car brushed right past her.And Luther brushed right past her.Chapter 3It was their wedding night.Hilda Cassidy was flushed and breathless, thoroughly seduced by Luther Sanford. She murmured his name, calling him her hubby over and over.But right at the critical moment, Luther pulled away, a mocking chuckle escaping his lips.Hilda froze. She had never seen such a look on his face before. It was complex, heavily laced with disgust and cold indifference. Her lips parted, her voice husky and incredibly sensual. "Luther, what's wrong?"Luther was already putting his dress shirt and slacks back on. He fastened his belt, his eyes sweeping over his wife's alluring, half-naked body sprawled across the bed.She was beautiful enough. But he didn't love her. This arranged marriage was nothing short of a joke.He leaned down, his cold breath brushing against her ear. "Since you refused to break the engagement, you can spend the rest of your life guarding this marriage and this house. Until you grow old. Until the day you die."But she hadn't refused to call off the wedding! Panic flooded Hilda's face.A sheer nightgown was suddenly thrown at her head. It felt exactly like a slap across the face.The master bedroom door slammed shut. He was heading downstairs.Soon, heavy, muffled thuds echoed from the hallway, sounding like large objects being moved. Propping herself up, Hilda scrambled to the second-floor landing.The next second, she stood entirely paralyzed.The furniture, the decor, the staff—everything was gone. The entire estate was being emptied out.Luther left. He took the maids, the butler, and the drivers with him. He abandoned Hilda in that massive house, leaving her to fend for herself.Hilda had no idea what she had done wrong. He had agreed to this marriage. She vaguely suspected he had someone else in his heart, though she didn't know who. Why hadn't he just told her? She loved him, yes, but she would have let him go....Three months later, Hilda finally met the woman who owned his heart.And Hilda was pregnant. Even though they hadn't gone all the way that night, the intimate friction of their young, feverish bodies had resulted in a miracle. She was expecting a baby.After much hesitation, she decided to tell her husband. Perhaps the arrival of a child could mend their fractured relationship.After making several inquiries, she learned from Lori Lynn, his secretary, that today was his birthday. He was hosting a grand party at a luxury hotel.When Hilda arrived, the celebration was in full swing. It was livelier than their own wedding reception had been.Standing at the entrance of the banquet hall, she gently rested a hand on her stomach, a hopeful smile playing on her lips. She dialed his number.The moment the call connected, her smile froze. She saw him embracing her stepsister.He looked strikingly handsome in a pristine white dress shirt and a bespoke suit. The woman leaning against him exuded effortless charm, practically melting into his arms. Her fingertips rested delicately against his collar, her gaze dripping with liquid affection.Luther's eyes were exceptionally bright, shining with unmistakable tenderness and adoration.They swayed to the music, oblivious to the crowd.Perhaps only at a public event like this could they momentarily disregard their social boundaries, holding each other so openly and displaying their intimacy for all to see.Whispers from the guests drifted into her ears."I heard that three months ago, Luther went absolutely crazy for Jolie Lovell. He even threatened to cut ties with his own family over her.""It's a shame he ended up marrying her sister instead.""So what if he married Hilda? Everyone knows Jolie is the only one in his heart. He brings her to every social gala, and his inner circle only acknowledges her."A miserable, self-deprecating laugh escaped Hilda's lips.Look at her, what a clown. Her husband was madly in love with her stepsister, and she was actually foolish enough to think a baby could win him back.Jolie Lovell was her father's illegitimate daughter. Back then, after her mother married into the Cassidy family, she was only six months pregnant when her father brought his pregnant mistress home. Devastated, her mother gave birth to Hilda and subsequently locked herself away in a secluded wing of the house, never stepping out again. The mistress took over the household. Hilda had grown up walking on eggshells.She always knew Luther's heart belonged to someone else. She just never imagined it would be Jolie.The line abruptly connected. Luther answered, his tone frigid and annoyed."What do you want now, Hilda? I made myself perfectly clear that night."As his voice fell, his gaze drifted toward the entrance of the hall. He spotted her.He couldn't believe she was needy enough to follow him here.Hilda stood perfectly still, quietly watching the way his body was intertwined with Jolie's, forcing her trembling voice steady."It's nothing, Luther.""I won't call you anymore.""Not now, not ever. Just like you said—until I grow old, until I die.""Happy birthday."She ended the call and turned away, desperate to preserve whatever shred of dignity she had left.Luther furrowed his brows.What kind of game was she playing now?He had never liked her. To him, she was nothing but a pretty face. He vastly preferred vibrant, capable women like Jolie. Before the wedding, he had even written Hilda a letter explaining that his heart belonged to another, asking Jolie to deliver it in hopes that Hilda would call off the engagement. But she had stubbornly insisted on going through with it.He understood her reluctance to let go. He knew she had feelings for him.But Jolie had saved his life at sea years ago. From that moment on, he was devoted to her; no one else mattered....Hilda walked down the hotel's seemingly endless corridor. Resting a palm against her stomach, she let the tears fall like rain.A divorce was just a piece of paper. Returning to Jadeport City from Alpha City was just a plane ticket away.But that woman was Jolie Lovell.How could she face her mother?How could she face the utter failure of this marriage?...Late that night, a cold autumn rain fell.Hilda sat at her desk, penning a letter to her mother.*Everything is wonderful in Alpha City.**Luther treats me incredibly well.**Now that I've joined the Sanford family, the social obligations keep me busy, which is why I can't come home for the holidays. The autumn nights are getting cold, so I'm sending you some premium herbal supplements. I hope you're staying healthy.**Enclosed is a check for $50,000.*Times grew incredibly tough. She began selling off her jewelry to make ends meet.The corner of her empty study was piled high with her oil paintings. She would often paint late into the night, her pregnant belly resting against the edge of the easel.The following May, she gave birth to a baby girl all alone. She named her Annie Cassidy....Four years later, in early autumn.A black Bentley glided into the driveway. The door opened, and a pair of long legs stepped out, followed by Luther's sharply handsome, mature face. He scrutinized his surroundings, lazily pushing the car door shut.Hilda had been painting inside. Hearing the engine, she stepped out.Meeting him again felt like a lifetime had passed.He was just as striking as ever, impeccably dressed in a dark grey three-piece suit. But Hilda felt absolutely nothing. It was strange how her love had simply evaporated; she had barely even thought about him over the last few years.Luther stared back at her.In four years, she seemed to have changed. She radiated a quiet calmness. And the way she looked at him was completely different now.Suppressing a strange flicker of discomfort, he pulled a document from the car and handed it to her, cutting right to the chase. "This is a divorce agreement. Read it over. Sign it, and I'll give you twenty million, but I'll be taking this estate back."Hilda flipped through the pages and asked softly, "Are you and Jolie getting married?"His expression darkened instantly. "What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"A faint smile touched her lips."I saw you two dancing in each other's arms at your birthday party. Very intimate.”“I'll sign it, but my terms are simple: five billion in cash and I keep this house. Otherwise, we have nothing to discuss."Luther glared at her.Five billion in cash? She actually had the nerve to demand that.She was doing this on purpose. Did she still harbor fantasies of them playing house?She was just as greedy and clingy as ever!The disgust that had faded over the years flared right back up.Hilda easily caught his revulsion. But she couldn't care less.She didn't care about Luther, and she certainly didn't care about the title of Mrs. Sanford. Demanding five billion was purely to make things difficult so Jolie wouldn't get her way. Looking back at everything that had happened, Jolie's manipulative fingerprints were all over the past.After a long, tense silence, he said coldly, "Think it over. When you come to your senses, talk to my lawyer."He had only come this time for Jolie's sake. He wouldn't see her again.Hilda was even more dismissive. "I won't see you out."Frowning, Luther grabbed the car door handle, ready to leave.Just then, footsteps patted against the pavement behind him, followed by a sweet, childish voice. "Mommy, who is this man?"Luther whipped his head around. A little girl, about four years old, threw herself into Hilda's arms. That tiny face was practically a carbon copy of hers.He had never actually consummated their marriage on their wedding night.His face drained of color, turning spectacularly grim. "Hilda, whose child is this?"Hilda slowly raised her eyes. They stared at each other through the fading twilight.She couldn't help but recall their wedding night, when he had looked at her with this exact same mix of shock, fury, and utter repulsion.But things had changed. She was no longer that girl.Her tone was completely neutral. "She is my child. Mine alone."In the next second, her slender wrist was snatched. Luther shoved her roughly into the open backseat of the Bentley. The car door slammed shut.Their bodies were pressed tightly together in a compromising position, instantly bringing back the memory of their feverish friction that night. He had been half-kneeling over her, his handsome face flushed with raw masculine heat. But dry-humping didn't make babies."Whose is it?"He gripped her chin aggressively. His thumb pressing past her parted red lips. The physical contact made his stomach churn with disgust.Dark fury swirled in his eyes. "Tell me. Who did you sleep with?"The child looked around four years old. That meant she had been with another man the very year they got married. She had been sharing someone else's bed.He didn't love her, but that didn't mean he enjoyed being made a cuckold.Furthermore, he was the CEO of Aegis Group. If news broke that his wife had an affair and produced an illegitimate child, both the Sanford family and the corporation would face a catastrophic scandal.His gaze grew dangerously icy.Hilda looked up at him. Her lips trembling slightly.She had really entrusted her heart to a monster!She had once loved him with such burning intensity. She wasn't naturally outgoing, but for two whole years, she had flown to Alpha City every single week just to see him. His grueling schedule and freezing indifference never deterred her because she loved him.But had she known—had she known he was sneaking around with Jolie, had she known he found her so thoroughly repulsive—she never would have held on.A tear slipped from the corner of her eye. Her throat tight, she opened her mouth to speak.A loud, aggressive knock on the window interrupted them.The car door was yanked open. A tall, striking young man stood outside, glaring coldly at the two of them.Both Luther and Hilda were caught off guard.Soren?What was he doing here?Soren Sutton was just her tenant.Luther slowly straightened up, stepping out to face the younger man. His eyes darted judgmentally between Soren and his wife.Soren let out a dark chuckle. "That's right. I'm Soren Sutton. The kid's father."He scooped little Annie up into his arms, intentionally pressing his cheek against hers. "Doesn't my little girl look just like me? A spitting image, wouldn't you say?"Luther's eyes were glacial. He didn't even spare Hilda another glance. A woman this shallow wasn't worth an ounce of his energy. He would let his lawyers handle this. He was going to file for divorce, demand a DNA test, prove her infidelity, and leave her with absolutely nothing.As the Bentley sped off, Hilda took Annie from his arms and offered him a faint smile. "Thank you for earlier."Soren looked highly impatient."That was your husband? That's the guy?""Why the hell are you still guarding this rundown house? Holding out for a chastity award?""You're stuck in the past while he's busy living his life. Women are so exhausting. You call it being sentimental; I call it being stupid. ...Weren't you supposed to go to the hospital? Annie can come hang out with me and look at my car models."Slouching lazily, Soren carried the toddler upstairs. The sweet little girl went with him without a fuss.Hilda remained standing in the deepening dusk.After a long while, she retreated to the second-floor master bedroom. Sitting at her vanity, she opened a small drawer and pulled out a photo album. It didn't contain photos; it held rows of boarding passes, each dated exactly seven days apart. They were the undeniable proof of how madly she had loved Luther.Only now did she realize that none of it had ever mattered to him. It had been a one-woman show all along.He would definitely file for divorce. She would simply wait for that day. Annie was his biological flesh and blood. Once the DNA test proved it, she would secure what rightfully belonged to her daughter, and this nightmare would finally be over.Her phone rang. It was her mother.Her mother had fallen severely ill last month. Hilda had brought her to Alpha City for treatment.Her once-stable finances were suddenly stretched to the breaking point, prompting her to rent out part of the house. Currently, Soren was her only tenant, paying three thousand a month for a suite.It was a drop in the bucket, but every bit helped. Plus, Soren had plenty of free time and occasionally helped pick up Annie for her.Hilda spent her days commuting to and from the hospital. To scrape together more money, she began taking on painting commissions like a madwoman.A week later, she stood supervising workers as they hung one of her finished pieces.As soon as she stepped outside, it started pouring. There were no buses near the client's neighborhood, so she had to sprint through the rain.By the time she reached the bus stop, she was soaked to the bone. The autumn chill cut through her clothes, making her shiver as she clutched her small handbag to her chest. Inside was the forty thousand dollar final payment she had just collected for the painting. She planned to deposit it directly into her mother's hospital account.The bus ran every twelve minutes. Hilda stared blankly at the sheets of rain. Suddenly, her gaze locked onto something.Stopped at a red light just ahead was a very familiar black Bentley. Luther and Jolie were inside.Luther was gripping the steering wheel, a faint, relaxed smile playing on his lips—a look she had never once seen him wear. Jolie sat in the passenger seat, turning to say something to him as she coyly twirled a strand of her curly hair. She looked breathtakingly glamorous.To anyone watching, they were the picture-perfect couple.Suddenly, Luther's gaze drifted over.He spotted her. She was shivering violently, her thin black trench coat clinging wetly to her skin. She looked utterly pathetic.His eyes darkened.Beside him, Jolie let out a quiet scoff.She already knew her stepsister had been unable to handle the loneliness and knocked up some other man. When she found out, she had practically celebrated. Hilda had ruined her own life and destroyed her future. Once Luther filed for divorce, she would be public enemy number one, stripped of her reputation and unable to ever recover.Just the thought of it made Jolie euphoric. Being denied the Cassidy last name was the greatest grievance of her life.The rain continued to pour. Through the watery curtain, Hilda stared blankly at the lovers in the car.She had long stopped caring. But seeing the man she had loved so deeply sitting beside her illegitimate sister still twisted a knife in her gut. She felt sick with regret—for wasting her life, and for Annie.The light turned green. The Bentley smoothly accelerated. Its tires sliced through the puddles, splashing dirty rainwater that splattered against Hilda's face, blurring her vision entirely.The car brushed right past her.And Luther brushed right past her.