Chapter 2

“How could you hemorrhage from a simple laser skin treatment? What’s wrong with you! Don’t you care about your body?”

Mark stood by my hospital bed, his eyes blazing with barely concealed rage, fixed on my frail, barely conscious form.

We were college sweethearts. I was the one who pursued him, and even though he’d always been distant, he agreed to marry me. I thought, deep down, he had to care about me.

But the floating text ripped away the illusion, exposing the brutal truth: Mark had never felt anything for me. Not from the start.

“Well, whatever. If my skin condition isn’t going to get better anyway, why bother with expensive treatments? I’ll just let it run its course.”

I glanced at him, my face expressionless. I took a bag of extra-spicy takeout and a bag of super-hot chips from the delivery guy and started eating. Before, I’d been so afraid of spicy food ruining my skin, I never dared.

Mark’s face darkened, his eyes wide with fury as he jabbed a finger at my face:

“You HAVE to take care of your appearance! I’m a successful businessman now! What will people think of me if you look like this? Do you want me to be a laughingstock?”

“I’ve already booked you for cryotherapy tomorrow for that corn on your foot. If you don’t go, no food and no sleep for you!”

I didn’t even spare him a glance. Mark was livid, his hand twitching, ready to strike me.

Just then, my “kindly” mother-in-law, Martha, bustled in and grabbed his arm.

“I heard the e-commerce sector is booming lately, and new projects are being selected. If you get picked, there’s a million-dollar start-up grant! Serena must be preparing hard for that, right?”

“Alright, she’s busy with work, why are you pushing her so hard? Audrey, you got this! Mom’s rooting for you!”

A cold, bitter laugh twisted my lips. I gripped the bedsheet so tightly my knuckles turned white, wishing I could rip them both to shreds.

Mark was penniless the year he married me. I was the one who told my parents not to ask for a single cent of financial support, and even brought a substantial dowry, so he’d have money to start his business and build it to its current scale.

And Martha? A few years ago, she had a stroke and nearly died. It was *me* who flew in a renowned specialist from out of state for her surgery, and *I* personally cared for her for two months—bathing her, emptying her bedpan, feeding her—literally pulling her back from death’s door.

Even all that couldn't compare to Serena, the adopted sister who’d only been with the family for three years.

What exactly was her charm, to turn a once loving family against each other?

“You two are truly so thoughtful and caring towards me.”

A mocking smile played on my lips. “Don’t worry, I’ll repay your ‘kindness’ a hundredfold. I won’t let you down.”

Mark looked uncomfortable, but Martha was beaming with a sickly sweet smile, squeezing closer to me.

“Audrey, why say such distant things? You married into the Lewis family, and I treat you like my own daughter. If you really want to thank us… how about this? I recently saw a new Hermès bag I really love. Your dad has money, doesn’t he? Can you ask him to buy it for me?”

Still dreaming of a luxury bag? As if you deserve it!

I got up, nudged her aside with my laptop, and walked out without looking back.