Chapter 4

Alice's path to integrating into Cedric's family was proving exceptionally difficult.

She thought driving me out as the legitimate wife would let her smoothly take my place, but she underestimated Judith's fighting power.

That day, she accompanied Judith to the hospital to visit Anderson.

In the doctor's office, the attending physician gravely informed them, "Mr. Anderson's condition isn't good. We've tested samples from all direct and collateral relatives—not one matches. The bone marrow bank has also reported that there are currently no suitable donors."

Judith's body swayed, nearly unable to stand.

Alice quickly supported her and asked urgently, "Doctor, is there really no other option?"

The doctor sighed. "No. Currently we can only gradually expand the search starting from people he's had contact with. Though the hope is slim, it's the only hope."

Leaving the hospital, Judith's expression remained terrible.

Alice tried to comfort her, saying carefully, "Don't worry too much. Cedric has already brought in expert teams from abroad. I'm sure..."

"What do you know!" Judith suddenly cut her off sharply, her gaze cutting like knives. "Besides spending Cedric's money, what can you do? I must have been blind to think you were better than Wesley!"

Alice's smile froze on her face.

Judith seemed to have opened a floodgate and began criticizing indiscriminately:

"Wesley may have come from a poor background and wasn't good with words, but at least she knew how to take care of people! Look at you—you don't even know to pour a glass of hot water!

Before Anderson got sick, Wesley personally prepared all those medicinal meals for him every day. And you? You just buy flashy, useless things!"

These words woke Alice up.

She finally understood that in the eyes of people like Judith, there was no such thing as true love—only utility value.

When she couldn't provide practical help, she wasn't even as good as me.

That night, Alice and Cedric had a huge fight.

"Cedric! How did your mother treat me today! She actually compared me to Wesley! Didn't you say that as long as I came back, you'd make her accept me?"

Cedric was already overwhelmed by company and hospital matters. Hearing Alice's tearful complaints now only made him feel irritated.

"My mother is just anxious about my father's illness. Can't you be understanding?"

"Understanding? How am I supposed to understand? Every word out of her mouth was praising Wesley! Are you regretting this too? Do you also think Wesley is better than me?"

"Can you stop being so unreasonable!"

Cedric slammed the door and left, not turning back to comfort her for the first time.

He drove aimlessly through the streets. Almost as if possessed, he opened my social media account.

He'd had his assistant go through some trouble to find it.

On the screen was my latest video.

In the video, I wore a simple cotton apron, sitting at a pottery wheel with my hands covered in clay, focused on shaping the beginnings of a vase. Sunlight streamed in from the window, my profile soft, my gaze calm and bright.

Betty sat on a small stool nearby, also clumsily kneading a lump of clay, humming an off-key tune.

The comments section was peaceful.

"The shop owner is so gentle!"

"This is what life should be like!"

"The daughter is so cute. The blogger seems really happy now."

The word "happy" stabbed painfully at Cedric's eyes.

In his memory, I always had a hint of sadness and humility in my expression that wouldn't dissipate.

But this woman in the video was composed, confident, radiant.

This huge contrast stirred an unprecedented sense of loss and panic in him.

He irritably closed his phone and called his assistant.

"How's the hospital screening going? Has everyone been notified?"

"Almost everyone, but... there's one person we haven't been able to reach."

"Who?"

"Your ex-wife, Ms. Wesley. She's changed all her contact information and hasn't responded to private messages on social media."

"Useless!"

Cedric roared and hung up, punching the steering wheel.

The horn let out a piercing long blare, like mockery of his current state of mind.

He didn't know why he was so angry.

He was the one who initiated the divorce. So why, when she truly disappeared without a trace, did his heart feel so panicked?