On the day his mistress showed up pregnant, Tessa discovered that her three-year marriage to Crispin was nothing but a cruel facade. Crispin didn’t just betray her; he humiliated her. He had his bodyguards pin her to the floor and forced his hand around her throat until she signed the divorce papers. "It's just a fake divorce," he sneered, his voice cold. "The child can't be a bastard. You can raise it. It's not like you can have kids anyway. I won’t touch you during the separation, but I won’t leave you lonely, either." With a snap of his fingers, Crispin pushed ten handsome men into the villa. "I picked them all based on your preferred type. Have fun." Crispin was certain that Tessa, with her pride and "purity," would rather die than touch another man. But he didn't know that his mistress had already filled the room with potent aphrodisiacs and hidden cameras. The next morning, the internet exploded. The viral footage showed Tessa sitting flush against a man’s lap, clutching his tie as she kissed him with a desperate, wild hunger. One night of madness revealed a terrifying truth: the man Tessa had "claimed" was none other than Hector Fairfax, the ruthless patriarch of the legendary Fairfax family. Rumor had it that he was a beast in the boardroom but "sterile" and "broken" in the bedroom. They said marrying him was worse than marrying the Devil himself. But as Hector hunted her down, trapping her in his possessive embrace and demanding a "title" for his services, Tessa realized the rumors were lethal lies. Aching and exhausted, she glared at the man who refused to let her out of his sight. Who the hell said he was incompetent? When a regretful Crispin eventually crawled back, begging for a second chance, he cried, "Tessa, we both cheated! Let’s call it even. I’ll even raise your child as my own!" Hector appeared at the door, leaning against the frame with a lethal, predatory smile as he toyed with a blade. "Stealing my woman? You’re not even worth the dirt on her shoes." Tessa leaned in and kissed Hector deeply, casting a pitying look at her ex. "Crispin, my taste in husbands was terrible, but I have to admit—your taste in 'boy toys' for me was impeccable."

Chapter 1"It's just a fake divorce. Be a good girl and sign the papers!"Tessa Reed had barely stepped through the front door, not even having the chance to kick off her shoes, when Crispin Jameson's all-too-familiar voice rang out.Looking up, she saw her husband—who hadn't been home in over half a year—lounging on the sofa with a heavily pregnant woman in his arms. He was casually toying with an unlit cigarette in his hand.The room was packed with imposing bodyguards, and on the table sat the divorce papers he had just tossed down."Wilma is pregnant. My child cannot be some illegitimate secret, and the Jameson family bloodline cannot be left out in the cold without a proper title. Once she gives birth, we'll remarry."Tessa's mind went blank for a second. She instinctively looked at the girl sitting beside him, her gaze landing on the slight swell of her pregnant belly.Did he mean they would divorce first, he would marry Wilma Sutton so the child could be born legitimately, and then he would remarry Tessa? His tone made it sound like he was granting her some ultimate favor.Seeing her remain silent, Crispin stood up and walked toward her step by step, his tone mocking. "After we remarry, the child will be registered under your name. You can raise it. It's not like you can have kids anyway."Tessa stared into his eyes, his last sentence echoing uncontrollably in her mind. It felt like a knife twisting in her heart, the agonizing pain spreading through her veins to every corner of her body.She was fiercely protective of her emotional boundaries. Forget raising the product of his infidelity—just looking at him right now made her tremble with absolute disgust.But who could she blame? She owed him.Three years ago, on the day they signed their marriage license, which happened to be her birthday, Crispin's mother and grandmother had rented out a restaurant to celebrate.Who could have predicted that the surprise would turn into an irreversible nightmare?The three of them were kidnapped. They risked their lives to help Tessa escape, but when the yacht exploded, there wasn't even a trace of them left.After that tragedy, Tessa didn't know how to face the Jameson family, let alone Crispin. Leaving him felt impossible; facing him took every ounce of her courage.Sayer Jameson didn't blame her. The grandfather was as forgiving and loving as ever, which only made her feel infinitely more guilty.So she poured every ounce of her guilt into making it up to Crispin, completely abandoning her own boundaries. It got to the point where everyone in high society gossiped that Tessa was nothing more than Crispin's spineless, most loyal dog.Tessa clenched her fists, her nails biting deeply into her palms. The sharp sting brought a moment of clarity to the mind she had kept clouded for three years.If he wanted to pursue his own happiness, she would let go. Divorce was fine. Taking care of his mistress was fine. Helping them raise a child was fine—but she absolutely would not do those things as his wife.That was her absolute bottom line!"I can..." Tessa was just about to agree to sign the divorce papers—while firmly refusing to ever remarry—when an unexpected interruption cut her off."Tessa, please don't fight. I really don't want to break you two up. I just don't want the baby in my belly to be a bastard."Before either of them could react, Wilma dropped to her knees right in front of Tessa. She grabbed the hem of Tessa's dress, begging as tears streamed down her delicate face."Don't blame Crispin. Take it all out on me. I was the shameless one who seduced him, I'm begging you. Just let me have him for ten months... no, just six months is enough...""Once the baby is born, I promise you, I will never appear in front of him or the child ever again."Neither Tessa nor Crispin had seen that coming. They were genuinely startled.Once Crispin snapped out of it, he quickly and carefully helped the woman back to her feet, checking her up and down. "Wilma, why are you kneeling to her? She doesn't deserve it.""We wronged Tessa. As long as I can safely deliver our baby, I don't care if I break my legs kneeling."Watching the delicate, pitiful ‘flower’ sobbing in Crispin's arms, Tessa felt truly pathetic for the first time.Looking at how hopelessly in love they appeared, anyone who didn't know better would think Tessa—the actual wife—was the homewrecker destroying their marriage."There's no need. Give me a pen. I'll sign the divorce papers."Her voice was eerily calm.Crispin never expected her to agree to a divorce. And agreeing so easily made him inexplicably furious!Why wasn't she causing a scene? Did she really want to leave him that badly?Crispin let go of Wilma and closed the distance between them again. He ruthlessly crushed the cigarette in his hand and tossed it into the nearest trash can. His large, sculpted hand clamped down on her jaw, squeezing hard enough to shatter bone. "Already found your next meal ticket? Is that why you agreed so easily?"Tessa looked at him, repeating herself like an emotionless machine, "Crispin, I will sign the divorce papers."Crispin's teeth ground together audibly. How could she say that with such dead calm?"Crispin, the little baby in my tummy is hungry. Can we eat first?"Wilma pressed her soft body against him, snapping Crispin back to reality.He violently released Tessa, as if he had just touched something filthy. Her skin was so delicate that angry red marks instantly flared up where his fingers had dug in.Crispin forced himself to look away. Facing Wilma, his voice softened involuntarily. "Alright, let's eat first."Wilma affectionately hugged Crispin's arm, smiling at Tessa."Tessa, Crispin says nothing is more important than eating. Let's grab some food and we can talk things out over a meal."Without waiting for an answer, she happily pulled Crispin toward the dining table.Tessa stared at their retreating backs. Her nails dug deeply into her flesh. It felt like a piece of her heart was missing. For a moment, she didn't know whether to follow them or head upstairs."Tessa, come eat with us. We can chat while we eat."The faint smile lingered on Wilma's lips, but it gave Tessa a creeping sense of unease.Regardless of the situation, the three of them sitting at the same dining table was entirely inappropriate. "I'm going upstairs. Call me when you're done."Wilma relished seeing her so submissive. Since there was a major show planned for later, she naturally couldn't let Tessa slip away that easily.She looked up at Crispin with big, glassy eyes, biting her lip as if she had been wronged.Crispin's face darkened like a thundercloud. "I told you to get over here and eat. Are you deaf?"Tessa clenched her fists, her every instinct screaming at her to refuse.But after three years of unconditional groveling, her body moved before her brain could catch up. By the time she realized it, she was already sitting obediently at the dining table.Seeing her comply, Crispin surprisingly didn't hurl any insults. The only sounds at the table were Wilma's lively chatter and Crispin's doting responses.The food arrived quickly—a massive spread, heavily dominated by spicy dishes.It was exactly her preference, though she hadn't touched spicy food in three years, completely altering her diet to help nurse Crispin's ruined stomach. When he wasn't home, she would cook every day and have his meals delivered to his office. She was too exhausted to cook separately for herself, so whatever he ate, she ate."Tessa, you have to try this. The chef makes the most incredible spicy food. Crispin hired him specifically for this." Wilma spoke enthusiastically, eagerly piling food onto Tessa's plate.In no time, Tessa's plate was overflowing."Tessa, try it, please.""Ms. Sutton, I can manage.""Tessa, she's just being nice and serving you. What kind of attitude is that?"Tessa was far too used to his hostility to even bother arguing. Gripping her silverware, she picked up a piece of spicy chicken.The moment she bit into it, something felt off. The texture didn't quite resemble chicken, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was.Just then, the chef walked out of the kitchen, placing a new platter directly in the center of the table."The final dish: Spicy Braised Rabbit. Sir, Madam, please enjoy."Tessa's gaze locked onto the roasted rabbit head resting in the center of the platter. Her hand began to tremble uncontrollably, and her fork hit the table with a sharp clatter.A terrifying premonition seized her chest. What she had just eaten was..."Where did the rabbit come from?" Her voice spiked in volume.The other two at the table seemed unfazed."What are you throwing a fit about now? Wilma knew you liked spicy food and went out of her way to...""I asked you where the rabbit came from!"Wilma blinked in feigned innocence. "Just the one from the yard. It was so fat and clingy, kept rubbing against my legs. I'm allergic to rabbit fur, so I asked the chef to add it to the menu."Tessa's pupils shrank to pinpricks. Her stomach violently convulsed. She shot to her feet, her chair screeching harshly against the hardwood floor, and staggered wildly toward the bathroom."Gag—"Stomach acid mixed with the food she had just swallowed surged up, searing her throat. She gripped the edges of the sink, her knuckles turning bone-white. The mirror reflected a ghostly, bloodless face.The rabbit in the yard was one she had found in the villa's garden three years ago. Back then, she had completely lost the will to live, even attempting to end her own life to pay off her imagined blood debt.It was Sayer who found her and saved her. He told her that true atonement didn't mean trading a life for a life. Crispin had lost his closest family; stepping up to take care of him in their place was the only real compensation. Even if it meant just providing a hot meal or a kind word, it was better than choosing the easy way out by dying. They had sacrificed everything to get her out alive. They didn't do it so she could throw her life away. If she died, how could she face the women who had died protecting her?Terrified she might try again, Sayer proposed a three-year arrangement for her to stay with the Jameson family—whether to make amends or salvage the marriage.If Crispin healed after three years, they could reconcile.If he didn't, the papers were already drafted. Sayer would help her leave, and the debt between the Jameson and Reed families would be settled forever.When Sayer moved her into the marital home, Crispin had already relocated to one of his private estates, leaving the massive villa as empty as a tomb.Every time she opened or closed her eyes, all she heard was the yacht, and the final "Run!" from his mother and grandmother as they shoved her into the emergency stairwell.She couldn't bear to live, but she was forced to.Until one day, during a torrential downpour, she found a soaking wet, white furball shivering in a corner of the garden.The little rabbit, dragging an injured hind leg, had wandered in from who knows where. It was covered in mud but unafraid, stubbornly nudging against her. She brought the rabbit inside, bandaged it, fed it, and named it Button.Button was a bit clumsy, often eating cabbage leaves so fast it gave itself hiccups, but every night it would hop onto the bed and curl up right next to her pillow.When Tessa lay awake at three in the morning, she would reach out and stroke that warm furball. With the faint scent of fresh grass lingering around it, she found herself finally able to drift off for two or three hours at a time.Three years! For three entire years, Button was the only living being she willingly spoke to. Looking at Button reminded her that there was at least one tiny creature in this world that needed her to stay alive.Chapter 2"It's just a fake divorce. Be a good girl and sign the papers!"Tessa Reed had barely stepped through the front door, not even having the chance to kick off her shoes, when Crispin Jameson's all-too-familiar voice rang out.Looking up, she saw her husband—who hadn't been home in over half a year—lounging on the sofa with a heavily pregnant woman in his arms. He was casually toying with an unlit cigarette in his hand.The room was packed with imposing bodyguards, and on the table sat the divorce papers he had just tossed down."Wilma is pregnant. My child cannot be some illegitimate secret, and the Jameson family bloodline cannot be left out in the cold without a proper title. Once she gives birth, we'll remarry."Tessa's mind went blank for a second. She instinctively looked at the girl sitting beside him, her gaze landing on the slight swell of her pregnant belly.Did he mean they would divorce first, he would marry Wilma Sutton so the child could be born legitimately, and then he would remarry Tessa? His tone made it sound like he was granting her some ultimate favor.Seeing her remain silent, Crispin stood up and walked toward her step by step, his tone mocking. "After we remarry, the child will be registered under your name. You can raise it. It's not like you can have kids anyway."Tessa stared into his eyes, his last sentence echoing uncontrollably in her mind. It felt like a knife twisting in her heart, the agonizing pain spreading through her veins to every corner of her body.She was fiercely protective of her emotional boundaries. Forget raising the product of his infidelity—just looking at him right now made her tremble with absolute disgust.But who could she blame? She owed him.Three years ago, on the day they signed their marriage license, which happened to be her birthday, Crispin's mother and grandmother had rented out a restaurant to celebrate.Who could have predicted that the surprise would turn into an irreversible nightmare?The three of them were kidnapped. They risked their lives to help Tessa escape, but when the yacht exploded, there wasn't even a trace of them left.After that tragedy, Tessa didn't know how to face the Jameson family, let alone Crispin. Leaving him felt impossible; facing him took every ounce of her courage.Sayer Jameson didn't blame her. The grandfather was as forgiving and loving as ever, which only made her feel infinitely more guilty.So she poured every ounce of her guilt into making it up to Crispin, completely abandoning her own boundaries. It got to the point where everyone in high society gossiped that Tessa was nothing more than Crispin's spineless, most loyal dog.Tessa clenched her fists, her nails biting deeply into her palms. The sharp sting brought a moment of clarity to the mind she had kept clouded for three years.If he wanted to pursue his own happiness, she would let go. Divorce was fine. Taking care of his mistress was fine. Helping them raise a child was fine—but she absolutely would not do those things as his wife.That was her absolute bottom line!"I can..." Tessa was just about to agree to sign the divorce papers—while firmly refusing to ever remarry—when an unexpected interruption cut her off."Tessa, please don't fight. I really don't want to break you two up. I just don't want the baby in my belly to be a bastard."Before either of them could react, Wilma dropped to her knees right in front of Tessa. She grabbed the hem of Tessa's dress, begging as tears streamed down her delicate face."Don't blame Crispin. Take it all out on me. I was the shameless one who seduced him, I'm begging you. Just let me have him for ten months... no, just six months is enough...""Once the baby is born, I promise you, I will never appear in front of him or the child ever again."Neither Tessa nor Crispin had seen that coming. They were genuinely startled.Once Crispin snapped out of it, he quickly and carefully helped the woman back to her feet, checking her up and down. "Wilma, why are you kneeling to her? She doesn't deserve it.""We wronged Tessa. As long as I can safely deliver our baby, I don't care if I break my legs kneeling."Watching the delicate, pitiful ‘flower’ sobbing in Crispin's arms, Tessa felt truly pathetic for the first time.Looking at how hopelessly in love they appeared, anyone who didn't know better would think Tessa—the actual wife—was the homewrecker destroying their marriage."There's no need. Give me a pen. I'll sign the divorce papers."Her voice was eerily calm.Crispin never expected her to agree to a divorce. And agreeing so easily made him inexplicably furious!Why wasn't she causing a scene? Did she really want to leave him that badly?Crispin let go of Wilma and closed the distance between them again. He ruthlessly crushed the cigarette in his hand and tossed it into the nearest trash can. His large, sculpted hand clamped down on her jaw, squeezing hard enough to shatter bone. "Already found your next meal ticket? Is that why you agreed so easily?"Tessa looked at him, repeating herself like an emotionless machine, "Crispin, I will sign the divorce papers."Crispin's teeth ground together audibly. How could she say that with such dead calm?"Crispin, the little baby in my tummy is hungry. Can we eat first?"Wilma pressed her soft body against him, snapping Crispin back to reality.He violently released Tessa, as if he had just touched something filthy. Her skin was so delicate that angry red marks instantly flared up where his fingers had dug in.Crispin forced himself to look away. Facing Wilma, his voice softened involuntarily. "Alright, let's eat first."Wilma affectionately hugged Crispin's arm, smiling at Tessa."Tessa, Crispin says nothing is more important than eating. Let's grab some food and we can talk things out over a meal."Without waiting for an answer, she happily pulled Crispin toward the dining table.Tessa stared at their retreating backs. Her nails dug deeply into her flesh. It felt like a piece of her heart was missing. For a moment, she didn't know whether to follow them or head upstairs."Tessa, come eat with us. We can chat while we eat."The faint smile lingered on Wilma's lips, but it gave Tessa a creeping sense of unease.Regardless of the situation, the three of them sitting at the same dining table was entirely inappropriate. "I'm going upstairs. Call me when you're done."Wilma relished seeing her so submissive. Since there was a major show planned for later, she naturally couldn't let Tessa slip away that easily.She looked up at Crispin with big, glassy eyes, biting her lip as if she had been wronged.Crispin's face darkened like a thundercloud. "I told you to get over here and eat. Are you deaf?"Tessa clenched her fists, her every instinct screaming at her to refuse.But after three years of unconditional groveling, her body moved before her brain could catch up. By the time she realized it, she was already sitting obediently at the dining table.Seeing her comply, Crispin surprisingly didn't hurl any insults. The only sounds at the table were Wilma's lively chatter and Crispin's doting responses.The food arrived quickly—a massive spread, heavily dominated by spicy dishes.It was exactly her preference, though she hadn't touched spicy food in three years, completely altering her diet to help nurse Crispin's ruined stomach. When he wasn't home, she would cook every day and have his meals delivered to his office. She was too exhausted to cook separately for herself, so whatever he ate, she ate."Tessa, you have to try this. The chef makes the most incredible spicy food. Crispin hired him specifically for this." Wilma spoke enthusiastically, eagerly piling food onto Tessa's plate.In no time, Tessa's plate was overflowing."Tessa, try it, please.""Ms. Sutton, I can manage.""Tessa, she's just being nice and serving you. What kind of attitude is that?"Tessa was far too used to his hostility to even bother arguing. Gripping her silverware, she picked up a piece of spicy chicken.The moment she bit into it, something felt off. The texture didn't quite resemble chicken, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was.Just then, the chef walked out of the kitchen, placing a new platter directly in the center of the table."The final dish: Spicy Braised Rabbit. Sir, Madam, please enjoy."Tessa's gaze locked onto the roasted rabbit head resting in the center of the platter. Her hand began to tremble uncontrollably, and her fork hit the table with a sharp clatter.A terrifying premonition seized her chest. What she had just eaten was..."Where did the rabbit come from?" Her voice spiked in volume.The other two at the table seemed unfazed."What are you throwing a fit about now? Wilma knew you liked spicy food and went out of her way to...""I asked you where the rabbit came from!"Wilma blinked in feigned innocence. "Just the one from the yard. It was so fat and clingy, kept rubbing against my legs. I'm allergic to rabbit fur, so I asked the chef to add it to the menu."Tessa's pupils shrank to pinpricks. Her stomach violently convulsed. She shot to her feet, her chair screeching harshly against the hardwood floor, and staggered wildly toward the bathroom."Gag—"Stomach acid mixed with the food she had just swallowed surged up, searing her throat. She gripped the edges of the sink, her knuckles turning bone-white. The mirror reflected a ghostly, bloodless face.The rabbit in the yard was one she had found in the villa's garden three years ago. Back then, she had completely lost the will to live, even attempting to end her own life to pay off her imagined blood debt.It was Sayer who found her and saved her. He told her that true atonement didn't mean trading a life for a life. Crispin had lost his closest family; stepping up to take care of him in their place was the only real compensation. Even if it meant just providing a hot meal or a kind word, it was better than choosing the easy way out by dying. They had sacrificed everything to get her out alive. They didn't do it so she could throw her life away. If she died, how could she face the women who had died protecting her?Terrified she might try again, Sayer proposed a three-year arrangement for her to stay with the Jameson family—whether to make amends or salvage the marriage.If Crispin healed after three years, they could reconcile.If he didn't, the papers were already drafted. Sayer would help her leave, and the debt between the Jameson and Reed families would be settled forever.When Sayer moved her into the marital home, Crispin had already relocated to one of his private estates, leaving the massive villa as empty as a tomb.Every time she opened or closed her eyes, all she heard was the yacht, and the final "Run!" from his mother and grandmother as they shoved her into the emergency stairwell.She couldn't bear to live, but she was forced to.Until one day, during a torrential downpour, she found a soaking wet, white furball shivering in a corner of the garden.The little rabbit, dragging an injured hind leg, had wandered in from who knows where. It was covered in mud but unafraid, stubbornly nudging against her. She brought the rabbit inside, bandaged it, fed it, and named it Button.Button was a bit clumsy, often eating cabbage leaves so fast it gave itself hiccups, but every night it would hop onto the bed and curl up right next to her pillow.When Tessa lay awake at three in the morning, she would reach out and stroke that warm furball. With the faint scent of fresh grass lingering around it, she found herself finally able to drift off for two or three hours at a time.Three years! For three entire years, Button was the only living being she willingly spoke to. Looking at Button reminded her that there was at least one tiny creature in this world that needed her to stay alive.Chapter 3"It's just a fake divorce. Be a good girl and sign the papers!"Tessa Reed had barely stepped through the front door, not even having the chance to kick off her shoes, when Crispin Jameson's all-too-familiar voice rang out.Looking up, she saw her husband—who hadn't been home in over half a year—lounging on the sofa with a heavily pregnant woman in his arms. He was casually toying with an unlit cigarette in his hand.The room was packed with imposing bodyguards, and on the table sat the divorce papers he had just tossed down."Wilma is pregnant. My child cannot be some illegitimate secret, and the Jameson family bloodline cannot be left out in the cold without a proper title. Once she gives birth, we'll remarry."Tessa's mind went blank for a second. She instinctively looked at the girl sitting beside him, her gaze landing on the slight swell of her pregnant belly.Did he mean they would divorce first, he would marry Wilma Sutton so the child could be born legitimately, and then he would remarry Tessa? His tone made it sound like he was granting her some ultimate favor.Seeing her remain silent, Crispin stood up and walked toward her step by step, his tone mocking. "After we remarry, the child will be registered under your name. You can raise it. It's not like you can have kids anyway."Tessa stared into his eyes, his last sentence echoing uncontrollably in her mind. It felt like a knife twisting in her heart, the agonizing pain spreading through her veins to every corner of her body.She was fiercely protective of her emotional boundaries. Forget raising the product of his infidelity—just looking at him right now made her tremble with absolute disgust.But who could she blame? She owed him.Three years ago, on the day they signed their marriage license, which happened to be her birthday, Crispin's mother and grandmother had rented out a restaurant to celebrate.Who could have predicted that the surprise would turn into an irreversible nightmare?The three of them were kidnapped. They risked their lives to help Tessa escape, but when the yacht exploded, there wasn't even a trace of them left.After that tragedy, Tessa didn't know how to face the Jameson family, let alone Crispin. Leaving him felt impossible; facing him took every ounce of her courage.Sayer Jameson didn't blame her. The grandfather was as forgiving and loving as ever, which only made her feel infinitely more guilty.So she poured every ounce of her guilt into making it up to Crispin, completely abandoning her own boundaries. It got to the point where everyone in high society gossiped that Tessa was nothing more than Crispin's spineless, most loyal dog.Tessa clenched her fists, her nails biting deeply into her palms. The sharp sting brought a moment of clarity to the mind she had kept clouded for three years.If he wanted to pursue his own happiness, she would let go. Divorce was fine. Taking care of his mistress was fine. Helping them raise a child was fine—but she absolutely would not do those things as his wife.That was her absolute bottom line!"I can..." Tessa was just about to agree to sign the divorce papers—while firmly refusing to ever remarry—when an unexpected interruption cut her off."Tessa, please don't fight. I really don't want to break you two up. I just don't want the baby in my belly to be a bastard."Before either of them could react, Wilma dropped to her knees right in front of Tessa. She grabbed the hem of Tessa's dress, begging as tears streamed down her delicate face."Don't blame Crispin. Take it all out on me. I was the shameless one who seduced him, I'm begging you. Just let me have him for ten months... no, just six months is enough...""Once the baby is born, I promise you, I will never appear in front of him or the child ever again."Neither Tessa nor Crispin had seen that coming. They were genuinely startled.Once Crispin snapped out of it, he quickly and carefully helped the woman back to her feet, checking her up and down. "Wilma, why are you kneeling to her? She doesn't deserve it.""We wronged Tessa. As long as I can safely deliver our baby, I don't care if I break my legs kneeling."Watching the delicate, pitiful ‘flower’ sobbing in Crispin's arms, Tessa felt truly pathetic for the first time.Looking at how hopelessly in love they appeared, anyone who didn't know better would think Tessa—the actual wife—was the homewrecker destroying their marriage."There's no need. Give me a pen. I'll sign the divorce papers."Her voice was eerily calm.Crispin never expected her to agree to a divorce. And agreeing so easily made him inexplicably furious!Why wasn't she causing a scene? Did she really want to leave him that badly?Crispin let go of Wilma and closed the distance between them again. He ruthlessly crushed the cigarette in his hand and tossed it into the nearest trash can. His large, sculpted hand clamped down on her jaw, squeezing hard enough to shatter bone. "Already found your next meal ticket? Is that why you agreed so easily?"Tessa looked at him, repeating herself like an emotionless machine, "Crispin, I will sign the divorce papers."Crispin's teeth ground together audibly. How could she say that with such dead calm?"Crispin, the little baby in my tummy is hungry. Can we eat first?"Wilma pressed her soft body against him, snapping Crispin back to reality.He violently released Tessa, as if he had just touched something filthy. Her skin was so delicate that angry red marks instantly flared up where his fingers had dug in.Crispin forced himself to look away. Facing Wilma, his voice softened involuntarily. "Alright, let's eat first."Wilma affectionately hugged Crispin's arm, smiling at Tessa."Tessa, Crispin says nothing is more important than eating. Let's grab some food and we can talk things out over a meal."Without waiting for an answer, she happily pulled Crispin toward the dining table.Tessa stared at their retreating backs. Her nails dug deeply into her flesh. It felt like a piece of her heart was missing. For a moment, she didn't know whether to follow them or head upstairs."Tessa, come eat with us. We can chat while we eat."The faint smile lingered on Wilma's lips, but it gave Tessa a creeping sense of unease.Regardless of the situation, the three of them sitting at the same dining table was entirely inappropriate. "I'm going upstairs. Call me when you're done."Wilma relished seeing her so submissive. Since there was a major show planned for later, she naturally couldn't let Tessa slip away that easily.She looked up at Crispin with big, glassy eyes, biting her lip as if she had been wronged.Crispin's face darkened like a thundercloud. "I told you to get over here and eat. Are you deaf?"Tessa clenched her fists, her every instinct screaming at her to refuse.But after three years of unconditional groveling, her body moved before her brain could catch up. By the time she realized it, she was already sitting obediently at the dining table.Seeing her comply, Crispin surprisingly didn't hurl any insults. The only sounds at the table were Wilma's lively chatter and Crispin's doting responses.The food arrived quickly—a massive spread, heavily dominated by spicy dishes.It was exactly her preference, though she hadn't touched spicy food in three years, completely altering her diet to help nurse Crispin's ruined stomach. When he wasn't home, she would cook every day and have his meals delivered to his office. She was too exhausted to cook separately for herself, so whatever he ate, she ate."Tessa, you have to try this. The chef makes the most incredible spicy food. Crispin hired him specifically for this." Wilma spoke enthusiastically, eagerly piling food onto Tessa's plate.In no time, Tessa's plate was overflowing."Tessa, try it, please.""Ms. Sutton, I can manage.""Tessa, she's just being nice and serving you. What kind of attitude is that?"Tessa was far too used to his hostility to even bother arguing. Gripping her silverware, she picked up a piece of spicy chicken.The moment she bit into it, something felt off. The texture didn't quite resemble chicken, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was.Just then, the chef walked out of the kitchen, placing a new platter directly in the center of the table."The final dish: Spicy Braised Rabbit. Sir, Madam, please enjoy."Tessa's gaze locked onto the roasted rabbit head resting in the center of the platter. Her hand began to tremble uncontrollably, and her fork hit the table with a sharp clatter.A terrifying premonition seized her chest. What she had just eaten was..."Where did the rabbit come from?" Her voice spiked in volume.The other two at the table seemed unfazed."What are you throwing a fit about now? Wilma knew you liked spicy food and went out of her way to...""I asked you where the rabbit came from!"Wilma blinked in feigned innocence. "Just the one from the yard. It was so fat and clingy, kept rubbing against my legs. I'm allergic to rabbit fur, so I asked the chef to add it to the menu."Tessa's pupils shrank to pinpricks. Her stomach violently convulsed. She shot to her feet, her chair screeching harshly against the hardwood floor, and staggered wildly toward the bathroom."Gag—"Stomach acid mixed with the food she had just swallowed surged up, searing her throat. She gripped the edges of the sink, her knuckles turning bone-white. The mirror reflected a ghostly, bloodless face.The rabbit in the yard was one she had found in the villa's garden three years ago. Back then, she had completely lost the will to live, even attempting to end her own life to pay off her imagined blood debt.It was Sayer who found her and saved her. He told her that true atonement didn't mean trading a life for a life. Crispin had lost his closest family; stepping up to take care of him in their place was the only real compensation. Even if it meant just providing a hot meal or a kind word, it was better than choosing the easy way out by dying. They had sacrificed everything to get her out alive. They didn't do it so she could throw her life away. If she died, how could she face the women who had died protecting her?Terrified she might try again, Sayer proposed a three-year arrangement for her to stay with the Jameson family—whether to make amends or salvage the marriage.If Crispin healed after three years, they could reconcile.If he didn't, the papers were already drafted. Sayer would help her leave, and the debt between the Jameson and Reed families would be settled forever.When Sayer moved her into the marital home, Crispin had already relocated to one of his private estates, leaving the massive villa as empty as a tomb.Every time she opened or closed her eyes, all she heard was the yacht, and the final "Run!" from his mother and grandmother as they shoved her into the emergency stairwell.She couldn't bear to live, but she was forced to.Until one day, during a torrential downpour, she found a soaking wet, white furball shivering in a corner of the garden.The little rabbit, dragging an injured hind leg, had wandered in from who knows where. It was covered in mud but unafraid, stubbornly nudging against her. She brought the rabbit inside, bandaged it, fed it, and named it Button.Button was a bit clumsy, often eating cabbage leaves so fast it gave itself hiccups, but every night it would hop onto the bed and curl up right next to her pillow.When Tessa lay awake at three in the morning, she would reach out and stroke that warm furball. With the faint scent of fresh grass lingering around it, she found herself finally able to drift off for two or three hours at a time.Three years! For three entire years, Button was the only living being she willingly spoke to. Looking at Button reminded her that there was at least one tiny creature in this world that needed her to stay alive.