"Why aren't you pregnant yet? You know perfectly well that the Hudson family's finances are in ruins. We need Adrian's help, and you can't even manage this one simple thing for us. If you can't win Adrian's heart, what use are you to me? You're completely useless!" At the Hudson family dinner, Belinda Hudson hurled a negative pregnancy test report right at the face of her youngest daughter, Isabella Hudson. A red welt bloomed on Isabella's cheek from the impact. But she didn't say a word. She simply bent down, picked up the test report, and clutched it in her hand. She and Adrian Knight had been married for three years, and every time they slept together, he forced her to take birth control. He was the one who refused to have children. What was she supposed to do? Her older sister, Maggie Hudson, gloated from the sidelines. "Mom, just look at her. She can't even give Adrian a baby. No wonder he doesn't like her. If I had known, I would have married him back then. Our child would probably be a few years old by now." Maggie had also gotten married three years ago, tying the knot with the second son of the president of the Cathjeport Chamber of Commerce. However, the couple hadn't gotten along, and they divorced in less than a year. Belinda doted on her eldest daughter above all else. When she heard Maggie's words, her harsh expression softened. "You're right. My sweet girl is beautiful, in perfect shape, and healthy enough to give any husband children. It's the Wells family who didn't know what they had. They were completely blind to your worth." Maggie leaned affectionately against her mother's shoulder. "That's only because I have such a good mother." Comforted, Belinda stroked Maggie's hair and sighed, her tone casual. "If I had known the Knight family would bounce back like this, I never would have let Isabella marry Adrian in your place. It would have saved us all this trouble. That girl just doesn't know how to appreciate a good life!" Even though Isabella had heard this exact sentiment countless times, it still stung. Since they were young, their mother had blatantly favored Maggie. Belinda gave her eldest daughter all the best things and only ever held Maggie when they slept at night. As for Isabella, she was usually just scolded and sent to her room. After their father died, the favoritism only worsened. Maggie was the one who was originally supposed to marry Adrian. But because she despised the Knight family's sudden financial decline and refused to suffer a life of hardship, she had begged their mother to let Isabella take her place. And without even asking for Isabella's opinion, Belinda had agreed. After Isabella married into the Knight family, her in-laws harbored a deep grudge over the substitute bride arrangement, constantly bullying her both openly and in secret. Even Adrian treated her with nothing but cold disdain. At the thought of it all, tears pricked Isabella's eyes. Sitting at the head of the dining table, her eldest brother, Colin Hudson, shot Isabella a glance and frowned. "Enough, stop talking. Let's just eat." She barely tasted her food. Her ears were filled with the constant sound of Maggie's spoiled whining and Belinda's doting laughter. Even the usually composed Colin chimed in to agree with them every now and then. The three of them looked like a perfectly happy, harmonious family. Isabella, sitting in silence, was the only one who didn't belong. After dinner, Isabella helped the maid clear the table, and then grabbed her backpack and coat, ready to leave. But Belinda walked over and stopped her. "Wait a minute. I have something to tell you." Isabella paused. "Go ahead." Her mother didn't look the least bit embarrassed as she dropped the bombshell. "Since you can't get pregnant, figure out a way for your sister to have a baby for you." "What?" Isabella froze, her brain short-circuiting for a second. Belinda spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "You and Maggie are both daughters of the Hudson family. What's the difference? As long as Maggie can conceive the Knight family's heir, do you really think Adrian would dare refuse us whatever money we ask for?" Isabella finally grasped what her mother was suggesting, and her blood ran cold. They were both her children, yet the difference in how she treated them was staggering. When the Knight family had fallen on hard times, Belinda couldn't bear to let her eldest daughter suffer, so she had casually handed over her youngest. Now that the Knight family was back on top, she wanted Maggie to swoop in and take her place. Isabella's lips trembled, her gaze drifting toward the center of the living room. "Does... does Colin know about this?" Over there, Colin was busy taking pictures of Maggie. Maggie whined playfully, ordering him to make sure she looked pretty because she was going to post them online. Colin just smiled and agreed. Isabella's gaze locked onto that smile. It was incredibly gentle, full of pure doting affection. Her brother had never smiled at her like that. Belinda rolled her eyes. "Of course your brother knows. The company is drowning in debt—what do you expect him to do? He has no choice but to look to Adrian for a way out." With that, she shoved Isabella toward the front door. "Alright, it's settled then. Hurry up and make it happen." And just like that, she slammed the door right in Isabella's face. It was the dead of winter. Inside the Hudson house, the heat was blasting, keeping the brightly lit rooms as warm as spring. But outside, it was pitch-black, with fine snow drifting through the freezing air. Isabella shivered, but she couldn't summon the courage to knock on the door and beg for a scrap of that unattainable warmth. Instead, she took one last look at the happy family through the floor-to-ceiling windows before turning around and heading back to Kingsley Manor alone. Kingsley Manor was where Isabella and Adrian had lived since getting married, though Adrian rarely came home. Most days, she was the only one wandering the massive estate. By the time she arrived, it was already midnight. The villa sat pitch-black, cold, and entirely empty. Isabella fumbled for the light switch. Her body felt strangely weak, and her forehead was burning. Figuring she must have caught a chill, she quickly washed up and swallowed some cold medicine. The massive king-sized bed in the master bedroom felt just as empty. Lying there, her heart felt completely hollow, and no matter how long she stayed under the covers, she couldn't seem to get warm. She couldn't help but think of Adrian. His body was always so warm, radiating heat like a furnace. Just lying next to him was enough to thaw her freezing hands and feet. In truth, every time they finished being intimate, she always hoped he would hold her. But he never did. ... Early the next morning, the sound of running water in the en-suite bathroom jolted Isabella awake. She sat up and glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand. It was barely seven. Given the hour, it meant Adrian had likely pulled an all-nighter at the office and just gotten back. Not daring to waste a second, Isabella scrambled out of bed and hurried downstairs to make breakfast. Just as she was setting the plates on the dining table, Adrian emerged from the bedroom. He was dressed in a dark gray bathrobe, his hair still damp, which only sharpened his intense features. He was strikingly handsome, looking almost godlike as he slowly descended the stairs. Isabella had to admit—she had always been drawn to Adrian's looks. Her face flushing slightly, she lowered her head and murmured, "Breakfast is ready. I made the fried eggs you like." Adrian heard her, but he didn't reply. He simply took his seat at the table and picked up his coffee for a slow sip. Isabella had a quiet demeanor, but she didn't actually like the dead silence. Sitting down across from him, she tried to strike up a conversation. "Adrian, I went back to my family's house yesterday. My mom was unhappy again. She complained that I showed up alone and scolded me for a while. Next time, do you think you could..." He cut her off coldly, clearly having no patience for her complaints. "No talking during meals." Isabella snapped her mouth shut. After finishing his breakfast, Adrian picked up the napkin beside his plate, elegantly dabbed at his mouth, and dropped a single, concise order. "Isabella, go take a shower." Being told to shower right after breakfast—Isabella knew exactly what that meant. Her face burning bright red, she abandoned the dishes and hurried upstairs. By the time she stepped out of the shower, Adrian was already sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for her.

"Come here." Adrian's bathrobe hung half-open, exposing a wheat-colored, heavily muscled chest. He extended a hand toward Isabella, his gaze cold and commanding. She hesitated. Adrian possessed terrifying stamina in bed. Every time they slept together, it felt endless, leaving her utterly drained. Frankly, she dreaded it a little. Gathering her courage, she tried to negotiate. "Adrian, could we... maybe keep it a bit shorter today?" Displeased by her lack of obedience, he let out a cold scoff. "How long we go isn't up to you. Come here. Don't make me ask a third time." Left with no choice, Isabella walked over and placed her hand in his. His palm was broad and searing hot. With a single, effortless pull, he dragged her into his arms and onto his lap. The heat radiating from his bare skin was overwhelming, sending a flush to her cheeks and turning her limbs to jelly. His hands clamped down on her waist as he captured her lips in a deep, punishing kiss, thoroughly devouring her mouth. Her lips tingled. Instinctively, she raised her arms to loop around his neck. But even that small gesture displeased Adrian. Without hesitation, he yanked her hands down and pinned them behind her back, breaking the kiss. "I've told you—no little tricks. You follow my rhythm." He hated being hugged. She knew that. Isabella bit her lip, her eyes stinging with unshed tears of grievance. Adrian offered no comfort. Instead, he stared into her eyes, an amused eyebrow arching upward. "Going to cry again? It's a bit early for tears, isn't it?" Feeling wronged, she muttered back, "I need a schedule to cry now? Aren't you being a little too dictatorial?" "Look at you, talking back now." His hand drifted down, squeezing her casually. "A side of you I don't see very often." Sensing he was in a relatively good mood, Isabella recalled her mother's nagging from the day before and cautiously broached the subject. "Yesterday, my mom mentioned... having a baby..." Instantly, the amusement vanished from his face. With a careless shove, he tossed her aside. Caught off guard, Isabella tumbled off his lap, her knees hitting the hard floor. Stripped of his body heat, a sudden chill washed over her, making her shrink back. He glared down at her. "Isabella, do you really want a child that badly?" She knew immediately she'd crossed a line. Unable to admit it, yet terrified to deny it, she simply shook her head. Adrian stood up, his demeanor entirely detached. "I've told you before. I don't want children." Without another word, he left her sitting on the floor and strode into the walk-in closet. Isabella knew his mood was ruined. He was going to change and leave. She scrambled up from the floor, taking a desperate step after him. "Adrian, do you really not want children, or do you just not want... my children?" Her voice cracked on the question, thick with a suppressed sob. He didn't spare her a drop of pity. Dressed in fresh clothes, he walked straight out the bedroom door. Isabella stared at his retreating back, finally letting her tears fall. Her mother's relentless pressure, Adrian's icy indifference, the suffocating weight of the Knight family... what was she supposed to do? If she couldn't get pregnant, her mother would bring Maggie in to replace her. Maggie had bullied her and stolen from her since they were kids. If Maggie managed to worm her way into the Knight family, she would truly have nothing left. ... After Adrian's departure, Isabella dragged her exhausted body around the house, clearing dishes and tidying up. She liked having some background noise while she worked, so she flicked on the TV. To her surprise, the art channel was in the middle of broadcasting an exclusive interview. And Isabella instantly recognized the woman on the screen. Elaine Foster. A renowned domestic painter, and Adrian's first love. The host had just finished introducing Elaine's latest pieces and her upcoming exhibition, smoothly pivoting to more personal questions. "Ms. Foster, rumors are swirling that you've recently started dating. Is there any truth to that?" "It's true." Elaine nodded, offering a playful wink to the camera. "But it isn't exactly recent. We've been together all along." "Wow, so your relationship is going strong! Truly enviable." The host beamed, offering her congratulations before teasing, "I heard your upcoming exhibition is titled 'Love of a Lifetime,' and that it's dedicated to this very relationship. Is that right?" "It is," Elaine admitted with a graceful smile. "Just last night, he was actually helping me brainstorm ideas for the layout." A sharp, physical pang struck Isabella's chest. She frantically scrambled for the remote and killed the power. So that was why Adrian hadn't accompanied her back to the Hudson family home last night. He had been keeping Elaine company. If he had been with Elaine all along, where did that leave her? What was she, his actual wife, supposed to be? If he loved Elaine so much, why had he agreed to marry her three years ago? Why hadn't he just married Elaine? And his refusal to have children... that was probably for Elaine's sake, too. Suffocating under the weight of her misery, Isabella decided to step outside for some fresh air. But as she reached the front door, she noticed a small delivery box resting on the mat. Her name was printed on the label. Strange. She hadn't ordered anything. She picked up the package, giving it a light shake near her ear. It sounded like a stack of something flat. Cardstock? Documents? Or something else? She tore open the tape. Inside sat a thick stack of glossy photographs. The subjects were a man and a woman. In some, they were snuggled close, smiling at the lens; in others, they were locked in tight embraces... In one, their cheeks were pressed together as they shared a kiss. The man and woman were none other than Adrian and Elaine! All the blood rushed to Isabella's face, only to drain away a second later, leaving her deathly pale. Her fingers trembled so violently that the photos slipped from her grasp, fluttering to the floor like snow. A second later, panic set in. She dropped to her knees, frantically gathering them up and shoving them back into the box. Tears splashed down, staining the cardboard as she worked. The porch outside was empty, but Isabella already knew exactly who had sent the package. Elaine. It was a blatant provocation, yet Isabella didn't even have the courage to confront Adrian about it. Elaine was his first love, the woman he truly cherished. He gave her all his patience, all his devotion. Isabella thought of how little she had. Aside from the hollow title of Mrs. Knight, she had absolutely nothing. Even so, she refused to give up that easily. Because Adrian was her first love, too! She wanted to hurl the photos straight into the trash, but she was terrified someone might see them. After a moment of panicked hesitation, she crumpled the box and shoved it into the back of a storage closet. ... That night, Adrian didn't come home. Isabella was used to it by now. Her heart felt numbly tranquil. But a text from Kieran Lewis shattered that fragile peace. "Adrian is drunk. Come over and pick him up. Location: Room 888, 3rd Floor, Cerulean Club." Kieran was Adrian's closest friend. The two ran in the same elite circles, practically joined at the hip. Suspecting nothing, Isabella quickly threw on a coat and hurried over. Cerulean Club was an ultra-exclusive, members-only club. Outsiders were strictly barred from entry. Isabella had to drop Kieran's name at the door before security finally let her through. Unfamiliar with the sprawling layout, she wandered the dimly lit third floor for quite a while before finally spotting Room 888. The heavy door was left slightly ajar. As she approached, voices and laughter spilled out into the hallway. "Our brilliant artist really knows how to handle Adrian! Married or not, he always puts you first!" "He poured a fortune into this new exhibition of yours, didn't he?" "Hahaha... Elaine, don't you have something you want to say to Mr. Knight?" "I do. I want to get back together with Adrian. I just don't know if he's willing."

Inside the VIP room, the crowd erupted into laughter at Elaine's not-so-subtle confession of love. "Ooh, Elaine, are you still hung up on Adrian?" "Of course. He's the only man I've ever loved. Naturally, I can't move on." "Don't worry, Adrian can't move on from you, either!" "Adrian, why so quiet? Our great artist is waiting. Hurry up and say yes!" Adrian just smiled. Instead of answering, he picked up his wine glass and tapped it against Elaine's. The gesture sent Kieran into a frenzy. He hopped up onto the sofa and hollered, "What's with the glass clinking? Are we practicing for the wedding toast already? Tsk, tsk... Adrian, is that your way of saying yes?" The others quickly chimed in, one of them exclaiming, "Elaine, what are you waiting for? Make a move!" Blushing, Elaine stood, leaned down coyly, and planted a kiss on Adrian's cheek. Adrian still didn't say a word, but he didn't push her away, either. The atmosphere in the room hit a fever pitch, dissolving into endless laughter and teasing banter. None of them knew Isabella was standing right outside the door. Inside, some tactless voice suddenly cut through the noise. "Then what about the one Adrian has at home?" The words landed like a dropped glass. As if a massive taboo had just been breached, the room instantly fell dead silent. Kieran shot a glance at Elaine and was the first to break the tension. "What else is he gonna do? Divorce Isabella, obviously! Adrian never liked her in the first place. The marriage with the Hudson family was just forced by circumstance. He only went through with it to repay a favor to her father, Edward. Adrian had to clear the debt, didn't he? But Edward has been dead for years, and Adrian's paid his dues. Over the last few years, he's funneled hundreds of millions into the Hudson family. They should be more than satisfied by now, right?" With that, Kieran hopped off the sofa, plopped down next to Adrian, and slung an arm around his shoulders. "Adrian, give it to us straight. When are you planning to divorce Isabella?" At the mention of divorce, a flicker of inexplicable discomfort crossed Adrian's face, as if the word itself left a bad taste in his mouth. But it was just banter among friends, so he brushed the feeling aside. Shoving Kieran's arm off, he gave a low chuckle. "I'm considering it." Considering it... Hearing those words loud and clear, Isabella felt as though a needle had pierced her heart. A sharp, icy pain radiated through her entire body. While she was desperately trying to hold their marriage together, he was already planning his exit. Truthfully, she had always wondered why Adrian had insisted on marrying her after the Hudson family pulled that substitute bride trick. Now, she finally had her answer. Years ago, the Knights and the Hudsons were both prominent families in Cathjeport. To consolidate their power, the two families had agreed on a marriage arrangement early on. Then, the Knight family was thrown into turmoil. Adrian's father died in a sudden accident. Not only did the company's stock plummet, but the other factions of the Knight family tried to oust Adrian so they could swallow up the family assets. Desperate to avoid the fallout, Belinda wanted to cancel the marriage arrangement. But Isabella's father, Edward Hudson, refused. Not only did he refuse to break the pact, but he also stepped up, doing everything in his power to back his future son-in-law. Not long after, however, her father passed away, and the Hudson family began a slow, steady decline. Unwilling to let Maggie suffer alongside a struggling Adrian, Belinda had married Isabella off to him instead. Eventually, Adrian managed to stabilize the Knight family and staged a massive comeback. Over the years, he had funneled a fortune into the Hudson family, both openly and in secret. It was his way of repaying Edward's kindness. And now that the debt was paid, it was time to cut ties. ... Back inside the VIP room, after Kieran finished laughing with the others, he glanced over and caught sight of a shadow lingering by the crack in the door. He knew exactly who it was, but he feigned surprise. "Huh? Looks like someone's out there." Isabella turned to flee, but Kieran was faster. With a swift yank, he threw the door wide open. He practically shouted her name. "Oh, if it isn't Isabella!" The room, which had been roaring with noise just a second ago, instantly flatlined at the sound of her name. Everyone turned to stare at her in unison, their expressions shifting into varying degrees of awkwardness. After all, getting caught red-handed trashing someone behind their back was bound to kill the mood. Trapped, Isabella had no choice but to look toward the man sitting in the center of the room. Adrian had been wearing a faint, careless smirk, but the moment his eyes locked onto hers, the amusement vanished, replaced by frost. "Why are you here?" Elaine, still leaning against him, didn't look surprised in the slightest. Instead, she covered her mouth in mock shock. "How long has she been standing there? Has she been eavesdropping this whole time? Adrian, your wife has absolutely no class. She's making you look terrible!" It clicked for Isabella in an instant. Adrian wasn't drunk. Kieran had lured her here on purpose. As for why Kieran was targeting her? It undoubtedly had everything to do with the artist sitting beside her husband. Taking a deep breath, Isabella looked at Adrian. "Kieran texted me. He said you were drunk and asked me to come take you home." Adrian caught the glaring holes in her story, his expression turning downright glacial. "Leaving aside the fact that I can hold my liquor, even if I were drunk, I have a driver to take me home. Why would you need to concern yourself with it?" The moment the words left his mouth, a few sneers echoed through the room, heavy with open disdain. In that moment, Isabella felt a crushing wave of humiliation. Kieran chuckled, leaning in to drop his voice. "You've seen it for yourself. Adrian is getting back together with Elaine. If you know what's good for you, step aside." Isabella stared at the sheer malice in his eyes. Her lips trembled before she finally managed a single word. "Why?" She had always assumed that since he was Adrian's friend, Kieran would at least maintain a baseline of respect and decency, even if they rarely interacted. She couldn't fathom why he was going out of his way to make her leave Adrian. As if reading her mind, Kieran tilted his head with a wicked smirk. "Take a guess."