Chapter 1

They say no one escapes the seven-year itch in marriage, but Aubrey and Julian Davies’ loving days only lasted five.

After five years, Julian fell for someone else.

To force Aubrey to donate her bone marrow, he even kidnapped her only living family member.

When Aubrey arrived, her younger brother, Liam, was already beaten and covered in blood.

Guards had him pinned down, roughly forcing bottle after bottle of alcohol down his throat.

Julian looked at her, a smirk playing on his lips. “Here are ten bottles of hard liquor. Every minute, I’ll force one down his throat. But I don’t quite remember which one is poisoned.”

“Will you watch your brother drink himself to death, or will you sign the bone marrow donation agreement?”

Aubrey’s tears streamed down her face as she looked at Liam, covered in blood. “No!”

She shrieked at Julian, “He’s my only brother, my only family! How – how could you do this to him?!”

Julian calmly swirled the wine in his glass, his gaze empty of any pity.

Instead, he simply raised a hand, signaling the guards to pry Liam’s mouth open and continue forcing the liquor down.

Julian pointed to the remaining bottles. “One of these is poisoned!”

“Care to guess which one?”

Aubrey’s heart pounded, threatening to burst from her chest.

Julian stood before her, his eyes lowered, radiating a chilling aura.

“Aubrey, your blood type matches Serena’s. Donating a bit of bone marrow won’t affect you at all.”

Julian gripped her chin, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Or are you thinking Liam won’t feel any pain if he drinks this poison after getting drunk? Is that why you’re so unconcerned?”

Aubrey bit her lip so hard the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

Her parents were gone; Liam was all she had left.

After she got together with Julian, he had spoiled Liam even more than she did.

Yet now, for another woman, he was threatening her with her brother’s life.

Seeing her hesitation, Julian grew impatient. “Are you truly willing to watch your brother die right in front of you?”

Julian’s eyes hardened. He picked up another bottle and handed it to a guard. “Only one left.”

“Julian Davies!” Aubrey screamed, utterly heartbroken. “Are you really going to kill my brother for your lover?!”

“Her health is important, but what about mine? Do I deserve to die?!”

Julian raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips as he wiped a smudge from her cheek.

“Of course not. It’s just a bone marrow donation.”

“Or are you afraid Serena will take your place? Don’t worry, no one will ever shake your position as Mrs. Davies.”

“Serena is very obedient, just like you used to be. She listens to everything I say.”

The moment Serena’s name was mentioned, Julian’s eyes gleamed with the satisfaction of someone who had found a perfect acquisition.

Aubrey remembered. She was orphaned in middle school.

With nowhere else to turn, a twist of fate led her to be taken in by the Davies family.

Back then, Julian’s parents were often away on business, and the nannies didn’t care much for him.

He was malnourished, scrawny.

That’s why Mr. Davies Sr. used to call him a scrawny kid who couldn’t even stand up for himself.

Caught in a cycle of extreme verbal abuse and emotional distress, he spiraled into depression.

It was Aubrey who quietly stayed by his side, learning to cook to nurse him back to health.

She stopped him from attempting suicide, comforting and caring for his emotional well-being.

She stayed with him until he became the celebrated CEO of Davies Corporation.

Through countless days and nights spent together, a silent affection blossomed between them.

At a Davies family gala, someone had called her a charity case trying to marry into wealth, warning the family to be careful not to be seduced by her.

The very next day, Julian had systematically crushed that person’s company, issuing a chilling warning to everyone: no one was to speak ill of Aubrey ever again.

He had made her feel completely safe and cherished.

…

They had walked hand-in-hand through life, Julian’s boundless favoritism protecting her from ridicule and disdain.

He had given her and Liam a home, a sanctuary.

At their wedding, Julian had declared that only she, Aubrey, would ever be Mrs. Davies.

He had kept his word, yet his heart now belonged to another woman.

Aubrey clutched the lapel of Julian’s jacket until her knuckles turned white.

Fighting back tears, she choked out, “Julian, is Serena truly that important to you?”

Julian paused for a moment. “Important, yes. I can’t live without her.”

“Serena lacks a sense of security. You should give her half of your shares too.”

Every word he spoke was like a knife, twisting deeper into Aubrey’s heart.

Those shares had been given to her by Mrs. Davies; they were rightfully hers.

Why should she give them to Serena?

It was her fault, she had let a viper into her home.

When she first met Serena, she was a fresh college graduate, struggling to find work. She had pulled some strings, asking Aubrey for help.

Thinking she seemed nice enough, Aubrey hired Serena as her personal assistant. She never expected her to be so impulsive and a law unto herself.

Serena constantly disrupted her plans and interfered with her schedule.

Aubrey had gotten into trouble with Mr. Davies Sr. more times than she could count because of her.

When she finally fired Serena, Serena still believed she’d done nothing wrong.

She’d claimed Aubrey was just using her position as Mrs. Davies to lord it over people.

Serena swore that once she reached Aubrey’s position, she would make sure Aubrey suffered.

Aubrey had dismissed them as empty threats, paying them no mind.

But she never imagined Serena would turn around and start an affair with Julian.

Still, she didn’t take it seriously. Julian had many lovers; they were always just flings.

She was wrong. Things slowly spiraled out of control.

Serena was different. Julian was completely obsessed with her, madly in love with her.

The thought sent a wave of agonizing pain through Aubrey.

She struggled to compose herself. “There are so many people who could be a match for her. Why does it have to be me?”

Julian replied, “Because I don’t trust anyone else. But you’re absolutely clean, no diseases.”

“You’re holding the position of Mrs. Davies. What more could you be unsatisfied with? It’s just bone marrow. Don’t be so petty.”

Aubrey froze. He spoke as if this were some grand favor bestowed upon her.

Did receiving these things mean she had to give up her life?

Her body was already haggard and frail. After undergoing surgery, she might not make it off the table.

Seeing her continued refusal, Julian’s patience ran out.

He warned, “Aubrey, don’t forget, without me, you and your brother would be beggars.”

“Just as I gave you everything, I can take it all away.”

Aubrey fell silent, her eyes filled with a soul-crushing agony.

Everything she had done was to stand proudly beside Julian.

Yet everyone saw her efforts, everyone but Julian, who, deep down, only ever looked down on her.

The young man who, full of vigor, declared his love to him in the rain.

The Julian who confessed his love under the spotlight and swore to love only her.

He was long gone.

Aubrey stubbornly lifted her head. “What if I refuse to donate?”

Julian frowned in displeasure, sighing softly before prying Liam’s mouth open again.

She panicked, quickly saying, “I’ll find someone else for you, absolutely clean and healthy!”

“Three…”

“Julian, there are other options! It doesn’t have to be me!”

“Two… Aubrey, do you really think your brother isn’t as important as your bone marrow?”

His voice was bone-chillingly cold, and the indifference in his eyes tore her in two.

“Fine, I agree. I’ll give you my bone marrow.” The words tasted bitter in her mouth.

“Good girl. That’s my Aubrey.”

Julian took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, his arm around her firm and warm.

He signaled the guards to release Liam, who crumpled to the ground like a broken rag doll.

A cold fear bloomed in Aubrey’s heart. Julian had always seen her as an object.

Like a helmsman who could steer her emotions at will.

She couldn’t endure this life of sharing one man with countless other women.

She had to take Liam and leave. She had to get a divorce.