Three years ago, a tragedy—and a lost child—shattered their world. In a moment of absolute despair, Winona Wynn drove a blade into Zachary Shaw’s chest, severing their lifelong bond with a single, blood-stained strike. Three years later, she returns. She is no longer the fragile girl he once knew. With a hauntingly calm smile, she calls him "Zachary"—a name once whispered in love, now spoken with icy indifference. She isn't back for a reunion; she’s back for a divorce. The world knows Zachary as a titan of industry. He is a man of logic, cold as marble, a machine that never falters. They say he has no heart to break. But they don’t know the truth. The more controlled the man, the more terrifying his madness. Beneath the expensive suits and the stoic mask lies a monster fueled by a dark, possessive fixation. “Hate me if you must,” he whispers, backing her into a corner until there’s nowhere left to run. “Because even your hatred is a thread that binds you to me. Love me, or loathe me—just never think you’re leaving.” Winona retreats, terrified of falling into the abyss. But Zachary closes the gap, his eyes burning with a terrifying hunger. “Winona, your love and your hate... I’m claiming them both. You aren't going anywhere.”

Chapter 1The moment Winona Wynn pushed open the door to the VIP room, a pair of arms banded around her waist from behind, and a mouth came down hard on hers.She was taken aback. Having been away from Empire City for three years, she hadn't expected to still recognize his scent so intimately.It was her childhood sweetheart and husband, Zachary Shaw.Before a fleeting moment of sweet nostalgia could settle in, the lights in the room blazed on. The crowd, waiting in anticipation, popped party poppers and cheered, "Happy Birthday, Sisi!!"But when they saw it was Winona in his arms, the cheers died in their throats. Once the realization hit, a thick, awkward silence filled the room."Winona, you're back.""Haven't you been gone for three years? Why are you here now..."Colorful confetti littered the floor, and the once-vibrant atmosphere turned suffocatingly tense.The arm around her waist dropped instantly, as if he finally realized he was holding the wrong woman.She chased the fading warmth and looked up at his face.After three years, he hadn't changed a bit. In a tailored suit, he radiated a cold, untouchable aura. His striking features—a sharp jawline and deep-set eyes—were impossibly handsome. The immaculate cut of his clothes only amplified his reserved, aristocratic presence, making him seem as unapproachable as solid ice.If not for that face, Winona wouldn't have spent her entire youth chasing after him like a love-struck fool.Zachary stood quietly beside her. At over six-foot-two, the harsh lighting cast sharp shadows across his jaw. His expression was indifferent, his dark hair slightly disheveled, but every inch of him screamed of the power and wealth he was born into.In a metropolis like Empire City, filled with the elite, he sat comfortably at the very top.Years ago, when everyone else was obsessing over the electric vehicle boom, Zachary had locked his sights on artificial intelligence. He established AI incubators at top-tier universities. Back then, the media couldn't fathom why he wasn't trying to grab a piece of the auto industry pie. Now, with AI dominating the world, everyone was forced to marvel at his business instincts. But by the time his rivals caught on, the brightest minds had already been snapped up by the Shaw Group.It was too late for anyone else to catch up.Winona never denied that he was a ruthlessly successful businessman. Back when they were happy, he used to kiss her deeply and whisper her name with quiet restraint.But three years ago, everything had shattered. It ended in such an ugly, destructive mess that just thinking of his name or face felt like a shard of ice piercing her chest.Seeing him again, she couldn't keep her heart steady, but she forced herself to maintain a facade of perfect composure."Zachary."Her voice was calm and collected.The crowd exchanged subtle looks. Winona and Zachary were still legally married, and she used to call him her husband, not by his first name.But their marriage was a sham. The fallout three years ago had been brutally violent—Winona had actually stabbed him.Everyone had feared that her return would spark another explosive drama, just like in the past.No one expected her to be this eerily calm.The private room's door opened again, followed by Sienna Shaw's soft, gentle voice. "I'm so sorry, a car cut me off on the way here. I'm ten minutes late. Oh..."She spotted Winona. Sienna froze for a fraction of a second before a bright smile stretched across her face, completely unbothered. "Winona, you're back."The moment Sienna appeared, Zachary instinctively stepped in front of her. A fiercely protective stance.He was afraid Winona would attack her.After all, she had once slapped Sienna in front of everyone, screaming that she was a shameless homewrecker.She had cursed at her until she broke down, looking like an absolute lunatic.So her current gentleness felt like a tight lid on a pot of boiling water—everyone was just waiting for it to explode.They were all bracing for Winona to snap.Instead, Winona simply gripped her purse and scanned the room for a seat. "Sisi, I just got off the plane and completely forgot it was your birthday. I didn't get you a gift. Can I make it up to you next time?"Sienna looked almost flattered. She grabbed Zachary's sleeve, adopting a shy, overjoyed expression. "Of course. We're all just so happy you're back."The others still looked deeply uncomfortable, but they quickly chimed in to back Sienna up."Yeah, Winona, we're thrilled you're here. Why don't you have a seat? We're cutting the cake soon.""Zachary left work early just to set all this up. He even picked out the cake himself. Ouch!"The guy was cut off mid-sentence when someone stomped hard on his foot.Everyone knew Zachary was Winona's sore spot. She had always competed with Sienna for everything.Sienna was the Shaw family's adopted daughter, legally sharing a last name with Zachary.Because she had been frail since childhood, everyone babied her.Winona, on the other hand, was a wild child. She loved running around the world; if she fell out of a tree, she'd just brush herself off and jump right back up. She was tough as nails.They had all grown up together, so it was only natural for Zachary to look out for his adopted sister. But Winona had thrown tantrums over it since they were kids.She fought him all the way to their wedding, fought until she miscarried three years ago, and fought until she finally fled the country.The sickest twist of fate was that Sienna was actually the biological daughter of the Wynn family, while Winona was just some random child swapped at birth. Winona had spent her whole life warring against the very girl whose rightful place she had accidentally stolen.The Wynns had slapped Winona across the face. Furious and heartbroken, she had left and hadn't returned once in three years.Even Zachary, who had gone to stop her from leaving, ended up taking a knife for his troubles.It had been an absolute nightmare.So naturally, any room she walked into instantly turned ice-cold.Sienna seemed eager to lighten the mood. She tugged at Zachary's sleeve with a sweet smile. "Zach, you and Winona haven't seen each other in three years. Go sit with her. You two must have a lot to catch up on."But Zachary merely pulled out a gift and handed it to her, his tone flat. "This is for you."He was clearly changing the subject.Sienna's eyes lit up. She eagerly popped the box open to find a stunning diamond hair clip."I didn't think you'd ever buy something like this. Thank you! Now go sit down."Standing at six-foot-two, Zachary let her push him over to Winona's side.Winona didn't even glance at them. She was busy typing a message on her phone.Zachary sat down next to her, and instantly, the air around them seemed to drop ten degrees.Meanwhile, Sienna turned to open the rest of her presents."Wow, this is a limited-edition bracelet! You guys really went all out.""I've been on the waitlist for these shoes forever!"Everyone had bought her exactly what she wanted, spoiling her rotten.Given the Wynn family's current social standing, this group of elites wouldn't normally try this hard. They were obviously doing it to suck up to the man standing behind her.And it went without saying who that man was.Winona kept her head down, texting. She didn't need to stay, but she really did need to talk to Zachary tonight.The other side of the room was buzzing with energy, the pampered princess constantly gasping in delight.Winona stared at the "Happy Birthday" text on her screen, suddenly realizing it was her birthday, too.Sharing a birthday with Sienna meant she was used to being completely ignored.She stared at the screen for a few seconds before typing back: *Thank you.*Catching her movement from the corner of his eye, Zachary finally spoke, his voice distant. "How long are you staying this time?""I'm not sure. My term abroad is up, so I'm waiting for a new assignment.""Still practicing law?""No. I switched careers three years ago."For a married couple, their conversation was painfully polite and detached.Neither of them said another word. Winona had no intention of discussing business in a place like this anyway.A massive cake was wheeled in. Sienna ran over and grabbed Zachary's hand, but immediately let go, pretending to be intimidated by Winona's presence. "Zach, will you cut the cake with me?"That was when Winona realized Sienna used to call him her brother, but now she was using his first name.It was the exact opposite of Winona. She used to call him Zach because "brother" didn't feel intimate enough.Calling him by his name made her feel special. Now that she had faced reality, she had reverted to calling him Zachary, pushing their relationship back to square one.Yet Sienna had dropped the familial title entirely and was calling him Zach.It seemed the two of them had gotten incredibly close over the last three years.Winona lowered her lashes, watching from the periphery as Zachary stood up and walked over to the cake.Sienna gripped the knife while Zachary placed a gentle hand around her waist, a move that made it look like he was pulling her into a romantic embrace.The crowd gasped and cheered, staring at the golden couple bathed in adulation.Blushing furiously under the teasing, Sienna sliced the cake with Zachary's help.It was as if everyone in the room had completely forgotten.That Winona was Zachary's actual wife.The sweet aroma of cake filled the room, mixing with the heavy scent of premium liquor.Sienna nudged Zachary. "Zach, bring this slice to Winona. Tonight's cake happens to be her favorite flavor."Winona loved raspberry, and the pink cake sitting on the table was exactly that.Sienna wore a soft, gentle smile, looking for all the world like she genuinely wanted to mend the broken bridge between them.Zachary was so tall that he towered over the crowd. Even in total silence, he commanded the room's attention.He hesitated for a few seconds, seemingly searching for an excuse to refuse. But in the end, he took the plate and slowly walked over to Winona.Even his gait was ridiculously aristocratic. He held the cake out to her with cold, business-like efficiency. "It's Sisi's birthday. Have a bite."Winona looked up, her gaze perfectly tranquil. "No thanks, Zachary. I'm on a diet."The others immediately scoffed and rolled their eyes, convinced Winona was just there to ruin the mood.Zachary stared into her eyes. The hysterical woman from three years ago was gone. There was no trace of the sheer disgust she had shown when she drove a knife into his shoulder, nor the absolute despair when she screamed that everyone in Empire City made her sick.She was just so calm.So calm that she seemed completely devoid of emotion.But to everyone else, Winona was faking it. The whole world knew she could never actually let go of Zachary.Zachary pulled the plate back, maintaining his dignified composure. "I won't force you."Once childhood sweethearts, they were now little more than strangers.He turned back to Sienna, offering her a faint smile as they chatted.The party raged on over there, leaving Winona completely isolated.She just kept her head down, replying to her messages as if she hadn't noticed the blatant ostracization.An hour later, the party wrapped up. Zachary had spent the entire night drinking on Sienna's behalf, and now he was so wasted he was leaning heavily against her.Sienna supported his weight, looking exasperated. "Zach, I told you I could handle it. Why did you keep drinking for me? Stop treating me like a child."The crowd started cheering and teasing them again.As Sienna helped him toward the exit, everyone finally remembered Winona was still there, and the awkwardness rushed back into the room."Winona, are you coming back with us?" Sienna asked.Winona stood up and offered a faint smile. "Sure."She was dressed in a simple white silk blouse and black skirt, radiating an effortless, natural beauty that needed no embellishment.The others looked at her warily, convinced she was plotting something massive.One of the men quickly stepped in front of Sienna to protect her. "You used to fight Sisi out of pure jealousy, making everything so awkward for her. She legally belongs to the same family as Zach, but she had to walk on eggshells just to appease you. Winona, how much longer are you going to bully her?""Sisi was so worried about hurting your feelings that she hasn't even officially changed her last name yet! She said she'd wait until you came back. And you? The Wynn family raised you for years, and you just tossed them aside. You vanished without a word and humiliated everyone!""Winona, if you touch Sisi again, we won't let you get away with it. Let's face it—you're a nobody now."It was true. She was no longer the heiress of the Wynn family. She was just an orphan with no background. Realistically, she had no business rubbing shoulders with this elite crowd anymore.Seeing them form a protective wall around Sienna, Winona found the whole thing hilarious. She hadn't even done anything.Safely tucked behind her human shields, Sienna looked pale and terrified. "Winona, please don't be mad at them," she stammered. "They're just worried about me."It seemed Sienna's army of simps had only multiplied over the years.Her fragile constitution and perpetual victim complex made it painfully easy to trigger a man's protective instincts.That was why Zachary had never believed that Sienna would secretly smash Winona's things, or that she had purposefully pushed her into the pool.He never believed a word Winona said. The arguments had spiraled out of control until she finally lost all hope.Chapter 2The moment Winona Wynn pushed open the door to the VIP room, a pair of arms banded around her waist from behind, and a mouth came down hard on hers.She was taken aback. Having been away from Empire City for three years, she hadn't expected to still recognize his scent so intimately.It was her childhood sweetheart and husband, Zachary Shaw.Before a fleeting moment of sweet nostalgia could settle in, the lights in the room blazed on. The crowd, waiting in anticipation, popped party poppers and cheered, "Happy Birthday, Sisi!!"But when they saw it was Winona in his arms, the cheers died in their throats. Once the realization hit, a thick, awkward silence filled the room."Winona, you're back.""Haven't you been gone for three years? Why are you here now..."Colorful confetti littered the floor, and the once-vibrant atmosphere turned suffocatingly tense.The arm around her waist dropped instantly, as if he finally realized he was holding the wrong woman.She chased the fading warmth and looked up at his face.After three years, he hadn't changed a bit. In a tailored suit, he radiated a cold, untouchable aura. His striking features—a sharp jawline and deep-set eyes—were impossibly handsome. The immaculate cut of his clothes only amplified his reserved, aristocratic presence, making him seem as unapproachable as solid ice.If not for that face, Winona wouldn't have spent her entire youth chasing after him like a love-struck fool.Zachary stood quietly beside her. At over six-foot-two, the harsh lighting cast sharp shadows across his jaw. His expression was indifferent, his dark hair slightly disheveled, but every inch of him screamed of the power and wealth he was born into.In a metropolis like Empire City, filled with the elite, he sat comfortably at the very top.Years ago, when everyone else was obsessing over the electric vehicle boom, Zachary had locked his sights on artificial intelligence. He established AI incubators at top-tier universities. Back then, the media couldn't fathom why he wasn't trying to grab a piece of the auto industry pie. Now, with AI dominating the world, everyone was forced to marvel at his business instincts. But by the time his rivals caught on, the brightest minds had already been snapped up by the Shaw Group.It was too late for anyone else to catch up.Winona never denied that he was a ruthlessly successful businessman. Back when they were happy, he used to kiss her deeply and whisper her name with quiet restraint.But three years ago, everything had shattered. It ended in such an ugly, destructive mess that just thinking of his name or face felt like a shard of ice piercing her chest.Seeing him again, she couldn't keep her heart steady, but she forced herself to maintain a facade of perfect composure."Zachary."Her voice was calm and collected.The crowd exchanged subtle looks. Winona and Zachary were still legally married, and she used to call him her husband, not by his first name.But their marriage was a sham. The fallout three years ago had been brutally violent—Winona had actually stabbed him.Everyone had feared that her return would spark another explosive drama, just like in the past.No one expected her to be this eerily calm.The private room's door opened again, followed by Sienna Shaw's soft, gentle voice. "I'm so sorry, a car cut me off on the way here. I'm ten minutes late. Oh..."She spotted Winona. Sienna froze for a fraction of a second before a bright smile stretched across her face, completely unbothered. "Winona, you're back."The moment Sienna appeared, Zachary instinctively stepped in front of her. A fiercely protective stance.He was afraid Winona would attack her.After all, she had once slapped Sienna in front of everyone, screaming that she was a shameless homewrecker.She had cursed at her until she broke down, looking like an absolute lunatic.So her current gentleness felt like a tight lid on a pot of boiling water—everyone was just waiting for it to explode.They were all bracing for Winona to snap.Instead, Winona simply gripped her purse and scanned the room for a seat. "Sisi, I just got off the plane and completely forgot it was your birthday. I didn't get you a gift. Can I make it up to you next time?"Sienna looked almost flattered. She grabbed Zachary's sleeve, adopting a shy, overjoyed expression. "Of course. We're all just so happy you're back."The others still looked deeply uncomfortable, but they quickly chimed in to back Sienna up."Yeah, Winona, we're thrilled you're here. Why don't you have a seat? We're cutting the cake soon.""Zachary left work early just to set all this up. He even picked out the cake himself. Ouch!"The guy was cut off mid-sentence when someone stomped hard on his foot.Everyone knew Zachary was Winona's sore spot. She had always competed with Sienna for everything.Sienna was the Shaw family's adopted daughter, legally sharing a last name with Zachary.Because she had been frail since childhood, everyone babied her.Winona, on the other hand, was a wild child. She loved running around the world; if she fell out of a tree, she'd just brush herself off and jump right back up. She was tough as nails.They had all grown up together, so it was only natural for Zachary to look out for his adopted sister. But Winona had thrown tantrums over it since they were kids.She fought him all the way to their wedding, fought until she miscarried three years ago, and fought until she finally fled the country.The sickest twist of fate was that Sienna was actually the biological daughter of the Wynn family, while Winona was just some random child swapped at birth. Winona had spent her whole life warring against the very girl whose rightful place she had accidentally stolen.The Wynns had slapped Winona across the face. Furious and heartbroken, she had left and hadn't returned once in three years.Even Zachary, who had gone to stop her from leaving, ended up taking a knife for his troubles.It had been an absolute nightmare.So naturally, any room she walked into instantly turned ice-cold.Sienna seemed eager to lighten the mood. She tugged at Zachary's sleeve with a sweet smile. "Zach, you and Winona haven't seen each other in three years. Go sit with her. You two must have a lot to catch up on."But Zachary merely pulled out a gift and handed it to her, his tone flat. "This is for you."He was clearly changing the subject.Sienna's eyes lit up. She eagerly popped the box open to find a stunning diamond hair clip."I didn't think you'd ever buy something like this. Thank you! Now go sit down."Standing at six-foot-two, Zachary let her push him over to Winona's side.Winona didn't even glance at them. She was busy typing a message on her phone.Zachary sat down next to her, and instantly, the air around them seemed to drop ten degrees.Meanwhile, Sienna turned to open the rest of her presents."Wow, this is a limited-edition bracelet! You guys really went all out.""I've been on the waitlist for these shoes forever!"Everyone had bought her exactly what she wanted, spoiling her rotten.Given the Wynn family's current social standing, this group of elites wouldn't normally try this hard. They were obviously doing it to suck up to the man standing behind her.And it went without saying who that man was.Winona kept her head down, texting. She didn't need to stay, but she really did need to talk to Zachary tonight.The other side of the room was buzzing with energy, the pampered princess constantly gasping in delight.Winona stared at the "Happy Birthday" text on her screen, suddenly realizing it was her birthday, too.Sharing a birthday with Sienna meant she was used to being completely ignored.She stared at the screen for a few seconds before typing back: *Thank you.*Catching her movement from the corner of his eye, Zachary finally spoke, his voice distant. "How long are you staying this time?""I'm not sure. My term abroad is up, so I'm waiting for a new assignment.""Still practicing law?""No. I switched careers three years ago."For a married couple, their conversation was painfully polite and detached.Neither of them said another word. Winona had no intention of discussing business in a place like this anyway.A massive cake was wheeled in. Sienna ran over and grabbed Zachary's hand, but immediately let go, pretending to be intimidated by Winona's presence. "Zach, will you cut the cake with me?"That was when Winona realized Sienna used to call him her brother, but now she was using his first name.It was the exact opposite of Winona. She used to call him Zach because "brother" didn't feel intimate enough.Calling him by his name made her feel special. Now that she had faced reality, she had reverted to calling him Zachary, pushing their relationship back to square one.Yet Sienna had dropped the familial title entirely and was calling him Zach.It seemed the two of them had gotten incredibly close over the last three years.Winona lowered her lashes, watching from the periphery as Zachary stood up and walked over to the cake.Sienna gripped the knife while Zachary placed a gentle hand around her waist, a move that made it look like he was pulling her into a romantic embrace.The crowd gasped and cheered, staring at the golden couple bathed in adulation.Blushing furiously under the teasing, Sienna sliced the cake with Zachary's help.It was as if everyone in the room had completely forgotten.That Winona was Zachary's actual wife.The sweet aroma of cake filled the room, mixing with the heavy scent of premium liquor.Sienna nudged Zachary. "Zach, bring this slice to Winona. Tonight's cake happens to be her favorite flavor."Winona loved raspberry, and the pink cake sitting on the table was exactly that.Sienna wore a soft, gentle smile, looking for all the world like she genuinely wanted to mend the broken bridge between them.Zachary was so tall that he towered over the crowd. Even in total silence, he commanded the room's attention.He hesitated for a few seconds, seemingly searching for an excuse to refuse. But in the end, he took the plate and slowly walked over to Winona.Even his gait was ridiculously aristocratic. He held the cake out to her with cold, business-like efficiency. "It's Sisi's birthday. Have a bite."Winona looked up, her gaze perfectly tranquil. "No thanks, Zachary. I'm on a diet."The others immediately scoffed and rolled their eyes, convinced Winona was just there to ruin the mood.Zachary stared into her eyes. The hysterical woman from three years ago was gone. There was no trace of the sheer disgust she had shown when she drove a knife into his shoulder, nor the absolute despair when she screamed that everyone in Empire City made her sick.She was just so calm.So calm that she seemed completely devoid of emotion.But to everyone else, Winona was faking it. The whole world knew she could never actually let go of Zachary.Zachary pulled the plate back, maintaining his dignified composure. "I won't force you."Once childhood sweethearts, they were now little more than strangers.He turned back to Sienna, offering her a faint smile as they chatted.The party raged on over there, leaving Winona completely isolated.She just kept her head down, replying to her messages as if she hadn't noticed the blatant ostracization.An hour later, the party wrapped up. Zachary had spent the entire night drinking on Sienna's behalf, and now he was so wasted he was leaning heavily against her.Sienna supported his weight, looking exasperated. "Zach, I told you I could handle it. Why did you keep drinking for me? Stop treating me like a child."The crowd started cheering and teasing them again.As Sienna helped him toward the exit, everyone finally remembered Winona was still there, and the awkwardness rushed back into the room."Winona, are you coming back with us?" Sienna asked.Winona stood up and offered a faint smile. "Sure."She was dressed in a simple white silk blouse and black skirt, radiating an effortless, natural beauty that needed no embellishment.The others looked at her warily, convinced she was plotting something massive.One of the men quickly stepped in front of Sienna to protect her. "You used to fight Sisi out of pure jealousy, making everything so awkward for her. She legally belongs to the same family as Zach, but she had to walk on eggshells just to appease you. Winona, how much longer are you going to bully her?""Sisi was so worried about hurting your feelings that she hasn't even officially changed her last name yet! She said she'd wait until you came back. And you? The Wynn family raised you for years, and you just tossed them aside. You vanished without a word and humiliated everyone!""Winona, if you touch Sisi again, we won't let you get away with it. Let's face it—you're a nobody now."It was true. She was no longer the heiress of the Wynn family. She was just an orphan with no background. Realistically, she had no business rubbing shoulders with this elite crowd anymore.Seeing them form a protective wall around Sienna, Winona found the whole thing hilarious. She hadn't even done anything.Safely tucked behind her human shields, Sienna looked pale and terrified. "Winona, please don't be mad at them," she stammered. "They're just worried about me."It seemed Sienna's army of simps had only multiplied over the years.Her fragile constitution and perpetual victim complex made it painfully easy to trigger a man's protective instincts.That was why Zachary had never believed that Sienna would secretly smash Winona's things, or that she had purposefully pushed her into the pool.He never believed a word Winona said. The arguments had spiraled out of control until she finally lost all hope.Chapter 3The moment Winona Wynn pushed open the door to the VIP room, a pair of arms banded around her waist from behind, and a mouth came down hard on hers.She was taken aback. Having been away from Empire City for three years, she hadn't expected to still recognize his scent so intimately.It was her childhood sweetheart and husband, Zachary Shaw.Before a fleeting moment of sweet nostalgia could settle in, the lights in the room blazed on. The crowd, waiting in anticipation, popped party poppers and cheered, "Happy Birthday, Sisi!!"But when they saw it was Winona in his arms, the cheers died in their throats. Once the realization hit, a thick, awkward silence filled the room."Winona, you're back.""Haven't you been gone for three years? Why are you here now..."Colorful confetti littered the floor, and the once-vibrant atmosphere turned suffocatingly tense.The arm around her waist dropped instantly, as if he finally realized he was holding the wrong woman.She chased the fading warmth and looked up at his face.After three years, he hadn't changed a bit. In a tailored suit, he radiated a cold, untouchable aura. His striking features—a sharp jawline and deep-set eyes—were impossibly handsome. The immaculate cut of his clothes only amplified his reserved, aristocratic presence, making him seem as unapproachable as solid ice.If not for that face, Winona wouldn't have spent her entire youth chasing after him like a love-struck fool.Zachary stood quietly beside her. At over six-foot-two, the harsh lighting cast sharp shadows across his jaw. His expression was indifferent, his dark hair slightly disheveled, but every inch of him screamed of the power and wealth he was born into.In a metropolis like Empire City, filled with the elite, he sat comfortably at the very top.Years ago, when everyone else was obsessing over the electric vehicle boom, Zachary had locked his sights on artificial intelligence. He established AI incubators at top-tier universities. Back then, the media couldn't fathom why he wasn't trying to grab a piece of the auto industry pie. Now, with AI dominating the world, everyone was forced to marvel at his business instincts. But by the time his rivals caught on, the brightest minds had already been snapped up by the Shaw Group.It was too late for anyone else to catch up.Winona never denied that he was a ruthlessly successful businessman. Back when they were happy, he used to kiss her deeply and whisper her name with quiet restraint.But three years ago, everything had shattered. It ended in such an ugly, destructive mess that just thinking of his name or face felt like a shard of ice piercing her chest.Seeing him again, she couldn't keep her heart steady, but she forced herself to maintain a facade of perfect composure."Zachary."Her voice was calm and collected.The crowd exchanged subtle looks. Winona and Zachary were still legally married, and she used to call him her husband, not by his first name.But their marriage was a sham. The fallout three years ago had been brutally violent—Winona had actually stabbed him.Everyone had feared that her return would spark another explosive drama, just like in the past.No one expected her to be this eerily calm.The private room's door opened again, followed by Sienna Shaw's soft, gentle voice. "I'm so sorry, a car cut me off on the way here. I'm ten minutes late. Oh..."She spotted Winona. Sienna froze for a fraction of a second before a bright smile stretched across her face, completely unbothered. "Winona, you're back."The moment Sienna appeared, Zachary instinctively stepped in front of her. A fiercely protective stance.He was afraid Winona would attack her.After all, she had once slapped Sienna in front of everyone, screaming that she was a shameless homewrecker.She had cursed at her until she broke down, looking like an absolute lunatic.So her current gentleness felt like a tight lid on a pot of boiling water—everyone was just waiting for it to explode.They were all bracing for Winona to snap.Instead, Winona simply gripped her purse and scanned the room for a seat. "Sisi, I just got off the plane and completely forgot it was your birthday. I didn't get you a gift. Can I make it up to you next time?"Sienna looked almost flattered. She grabbed Zachary's sleeve, adopting a shy, overjoyed expression. "Of course. We're all just so happy you're back."The others still looked deeply uncomfortable, but they quickly chimed in to back Sienna up."Yeah, Winona, we're thrilled you're here. Why don't you have a seat? We're cutting the cake soon.""Zachary left work early just to set all this up. He even picked out the cake himself. Ouch!"The guy was cut off mid-sentence when someone stomped hard on his foot.Everyone knew Zachary was Winona's sore spot. She had always competed with Sienna for everything.Sienna was the Shaw family's adopted daughter, legally sharing a last name with Zachary.Because she had been frail since childhood, everyone babied her.Winona, on the other hand, was a wild child. She loved running around the world; if she fell out of a tree, she'd just brush herself off and jump right back up. She was tough as nails.They had all grown up together, so it was only natural for Zachary to look out for his adopted sister. But Winona had thrown tantrums over it since they were kids.She fought him all the way to their wedding, fought until she miscarried three years ago, and fought until she finally fled the country.The sickest twist of fate was that Sienna was actually the biological daughter of the Wynn family, while Winona was just some random child swapped at birth. Winona had spent her whole life warring against the very girl whose rightful place she had accidentally stolen.The Wynns had slapped Winona across the face. Furious and heartbroken, she had left and hadn't returned once in three years.Even Zachary, who had gone to stop her from leaving, ended up taking a knife for his troubles.It had been an absolute nightmare.So naturally, any room she walked into instantly turned ice-cold.Sienna seemed eager to lighten the mood. She tugged at Zachary's sleeve with a sweet smile. "Zach, you and Winona haven't seen each other in three years. Go sit with her. You two must have a lot to catch up on."But Zachary merely pulled out a gift and handed it to her, his tone flat. "This is for you."He was clearly changing the subject.Sienna's eyes lit up. She eagerly popped the box open to find a stunning diamond hair clip."I didn't think you'd ever buy something like this. Thank you! Now go sit down."Standing at six-foot-two, Zachary let her push him over to Winona's side.Winona didn't even glance at them. She was busy typing a message on her phone.Zachary sat down next to her, and instantly, the air around them seemed to drop ten degrees.Meanwhile, Sienna turned to open the rest of her presents."Wow, this is a limited-edition bracelet! You guys really went all out.""I've been on the waitlist for these shoes forever!"Everyone had bought her exactly what she wanted, spoiling her rotten.Given the Wynn family's current social standing, this group of elites wouldn't normally try this hard. They were obviously doing it to suck up to the man standing behind her.And it went without saying who that man was.Winona kept her head down, texting. She didn't need to stay, but she really did need to talk to Zachary tonight.The other side of the room was buzzing with energy, the pampered princess constantly gasping in delight.Winona stared at the "Happy Birthday" text on her screen, suddenly realizing it was her birthday, too.Sharing a birthday with Sienna meant she was used to being completely ignored.She stared at the screen for a few seconds before typing back: *Thank you.*Catching her movement from the corner of his eye, Zachary finally spoke, his voice distant. "How long are you staying this time?""I'm not sure. My term abroad is up, so I'm waiting for a new assignment.""Still practicing law?""No. I switched careers three years ago."For a married couple, their conversation was painfully polite and detached.Neither of them said another word. Winona had no intention of discussing business in a place like this anyway.A massive cake was wheeled in. Sienna ran over and grabbed Zachary's hand, but immediately let go, pretending to be intimidated by Winona's presence. "Zach, will you cut the cake with me?"That was when Winona realized Sienna used to call him her brother, but now she was using his first name.It was the exact opposite of Winona. She used to call him Zach because "brother" didn't feel intimate enough.Calling him by his name made her feel special. Now that she had faced reality, she had reverted to calling him Zachary, pushing their relationship back to square one.Yet Sienna had dropped the familial title entirely and was calling him Zach.It seemed the two of them had gotten incredibly close over the last three years.Winona lowered her lashes, watching from the periphery as Zachary stood up and walked over to the cake.Sienna gripped the knife while Zachary placed a gentle hand around her waist, a move that made it look like he was pulling her into a romantic embrace.The crowd gasped and cheered, staring at the golden couple bathed in adulation.Blushing furiously under the teasing, Sienna sliced the cake with Zachary's help.It was as if everyone in the room had completely forgotten.That Winona was Zachary's actual wife.The sweet aroma of cake filled the room, mixing with the heavy scent of premium liquor.Sienna nudged Zachary. "Zach, bring this slice to Winona. Tonight's cake happens to be her favorite flavor."Winona loved raspberry, and the pink cake sitting on the table was exactly that.Sienna wore a soft, gentle smile, looking for all the world like she genuinely wanted to mend the broken bridge between them.Zachary was so tall that he towered over the crowd. Even in total silence, he commanded the room's attention.He hesitated for a few seconds, seemingly searching for an excuse to refuse. But in the end, he took the plate and slowly walked over to Winona.Even his gait was ridiculously aristocratic. He held the cake out to her with cold, business-like efficiency. "It's Sisi's birthday. Have a bite."Winona looked up, her gaze perfectly tranquil. "No thanks, Zachary. I'm on a diet."The others immediately scoffed and rolled their eyes, convinced Winona was just there to ruin the mood.Zachary stared into her eyes. The hysterical woman from three years ago was gone. There was no trace of the sheer disgust she had shown when she drove a knife into his shoulder, nor the absolute despair when she screamed that everyone in Empire City made her sick.She was just so calm.So calm that she seemed completely devoid of emotion.But to everyone else, Winona was faking it. The whole world knew she could never actually let go of Zachary.Zachary pulled the plate back, maintaining his dignified composure. "I won't force you."Once childhood sweethearts, they were now little more than strangers.He turned back to Sienna, offering her a faint smile as they chatted.The party raged on over there, leaving Winona completely isolated.She just kept her head down, replying to her messages as if she hadn't noticed the blatant ostracization.An hour later, the party wrapped up. Zachary had spent the entire night drinking on Sienna's behalf, and now he was so wasted he was leaning heavily against her.Sienna supported his weight, looking exasperated. "Zach, I told you I could handle it. Why did you keep drinking for me? Stop treating me like a child."The crowd started cheering and teasing them again.As Sienna helped him toward the exit, everyone finally remembered Winona was still there, and the awkwardness rushed back into the room."Winona, are you coming back with us?" Sienna asked.Winona stood up and offered a faint smile. "Sure."She was dressed in a simple white silk blouse and black skirt, radiating an effortless, natural beauty that needed no embellishment.The others looked at her warily, convinced she was plotting something massive.One of the men quickly stepped in front of Sienna to protect her. "You used to fight Sisi out of pure jealousy, making everything so awkward for her. She legally belongs to the same family as Zach, but she had to walk on eggshells just to appease you. Winona, how much longer are you going to bully her?""Sisi was so worried about hurting your feelings that she hasn't even officially changed her last name yet! She said she'd wait until you came back. And you? The Wynn family raised you for years, and you just tossed them aside. You vanished without a word and humiliated everyone!""Winona, if you touch Sisi again, we won't let you get away with it. Let's face it—you're a nobody now."It was true. She was no longer the heiress of the Wynn family. She was just an orphan with no background. Realistically, she had no business rubbing shoulders with this elite crowd anymore.Seeing them form a protective wall around Sienna, Winona found the whole thing hilarious. She hadn't even done anything.Safely tucked behind her human shields, Sienna looked pale and terrified. "Winona, please don't be mad at them," she stammered. "They're just worried about me."It seemed Sienna's army of simps had only multiplied over the years.Her fragile constitution and perpetual victim complex made it painfully easy to trigger a man's protective instincts.That was why Zachary had never believed that Sienna would secretly smash Winona's things, or that she had purposefully pushed her into the pool.He never believed a word Winona said. The arguments had spiraled out of control until she finally lost all hope.