Chapter 1

The day I received my wife's diagnosis, she suddenly installed a camera in our bedroom.

That night, I saw her swear on the phone:

"I won't let him touch me again. I've sent you the account and password. You can log in and check anytime."

"I've decided to stay chaste for love."

Watching her flushed, impassioned face, I silently put the diagnosis report into the shredder.

Stay chaste for love...

Well, let's make it a lifetime then.

When I saw the letters "ALS" on Arianna's diagnosis report, I nearly lost my balance.

Three months ago, Arianna was injured in a hiking accident. During her hospital stay, I had the doctors do a comprehensive checkup, hoping for peace of mind. I never expected such a result.

"ALS currently has no cure. We can only use medication to slow its progression, but the final outcome is irreversible," the doctor said, looking at me sympathetically.

Arianna was the quintessential career woman. Beautiful features, but not delicate. Her every move exuded a composed and elegant feminine charm.

As a renowned divorce lawyer, she was brilliant and rational despite being a woman - a steel magnolia in her colleagues' eyes. In private life, she was disciplined and routine-oriented, enjoying fitness and hiking, extremely particular about quality of life.

I couldn't bear to imagine someone like her becoming a helpless ALS patient in the future.

Sitting on a street corner, watching the endless stream of people, I slowly stood up after a long while.

I had made up my mind.

As husband and wife, we should face everything together. No matter what she becomes in the future, I will face it with our son by her side.

It was dark when I got home.

Our son Ethan was quietly playing chess in his room. At seven years old, he had reached the level of chess master and had been interviewed on TV as a "child prodigy".

"Have you eaten?" I asked him gently, adjusting my mood.

"Yes, the nanny made pork rib soup today," he replied without looking up, focused on the chessboard.

"Where's Mom?"

"She went for a run."

Ethan was quiet by nature, speaking concisely and clearly.

Just like us.

Two hours later, as I was lying in bed debating whether to tell Arianna about her condition, she came back.

Wearing a hoodie and yoga pants, her whole figure looked graceful and spirited.

I became anxious, "It's only a few degrees outside, why are you dressed so lightly?"

One of the precautions the doctor had mentioned today was that ALS patients produce less heat due to muscle atrophy and shouldn't get cold, as it would accelerate the disease progression.

Arianna's face was expressionless as she said flatly:

"This is how I always dress for running."

She opened the box in her hand and took out a camera, setting it up on the dresser opposite the bed.

Pointing right at the bed.

I was a bit confused.

"Why are you suddenly installing a camera?"

"There have been some burglaries in the neighborhood. Having surveillance is safer."

"Aren't you worried about privacy?"

I asked hesitantly, knowing Arianna was extremely concerned about personal privacy.

She glanced at me and scoffed:

"Privacy? Who's interested in your privacy?"

Various emotions swirled in my heart, but I didn't want to argue with her.

Before bed, she lay down with her back to me, far away, clearly too exhausted to talk.

I sighed inwardly.

She had just finished a high-profile celebrity divorce case. Let her relax for now that the pressure was off.

In the middle of the night, I woke up suddenly, my mind unsettled.

The bed beside me was empty. Arianna wasn't there.

I felt a surge of panic and got up to look for her.

On the balcony, she was making a phone call in the night breeze, wearing only a thin nightgown.

I hurried over with a coat.

"I won't let him touch me again..."

Her soft voice reached me, and I paused.

"I've sent you the password and account. You can log in and check anytime."

"I've decided to stay chaste for love."

Through the glass, I stared blankly at Arianna.

This usually elegant and proud woman was now overflowing with intense emotion.

Watching her flushed, impassioned face, I slowly processed the logic of her words.

For a moment, I felt like I didn't know her at all.