Chapter 1 She Doesn't Love Him At All Florrie Barnes left the law office with the divorce papers clutched tightly in her hand while a gentle drizzle spread across the city.

Right when she reached for her car door, her phone lit up with her husband Alexander Jenkins' name.

For a brief second she froze, but then pressed the phone to her ear.

From the other end cameAlexander's cold voice. "You're not at home?"

Something in the way he spoke gave her pause, almost as if there was a trace of concern hidden in his tone.

With her gaze lowered, she answered softly, "I'll be back soon, you..."

Before she could finish, Alexander chimed in, "Pick up some ointment for swelling before you return."

The words made her frown, and despite the divorce papers in her hand, worry stirred. "Did you get hurt? Is it serious? Is your heart acting up again? I'll come straight back and take care of you."

But in the next instant, the voice that drifted through the receiver sent a shiver down her spine. "Alex, it still aches... It's all your fault!"

A syrupy, flirtatious voice oozed from the receiver, drenched in sweetness.

It was Suzanne Hewitt-Alexander's childhood sweetheart.

Then Alexander spoke again, detached and dismissive. "I got a bit carried away and might hurt Suzanne earlier. This isn't something you can deal with. Just buy the ointment. And while you're at it, get a morning-after pill."

The line went deadbefore Florrie could breathe a word.

Cold wind swept through the night,and as the dial tone droned on, numbness spread to her fingertips.

Was his wife really meant to fetch a morning-after pill forthe lover he kept by his side?

During three years of marriage, he had never once touched her. To him, she was nothing more than a pitiful shadow, clinging to him with blind devotion, her dignity stripped away, her love reduced to something worthless.

Yet none of that mattered, so long as his happiness remained untouched and the heart of Alexis Wallace, beating within his chest, was kept safe.

Wordlessly, she purchased both the ointment and the pill before heading back home. When the door swung open, the sight that greeted her was Suzanne lounging in Alexander's arms, a flimsy nightgown slipping from her shoulders, the skin of her neck and chest marked with deep-red hickeys.

Across the room, Alexander sat peeling grapes for her, slipping them between her lips with a teasing lilt. "Still mad at me, baby? I'll behave next time, I swear. Tomorrow we'll go out, just you and me, all day long. How does that sound?"

Suzanne leaned closer with a pout, her voice girlish and sweet."You better not trick me again."

Even though Alexander bore the title of her husband, Florrie could see where his true affections lay. Between the two of them, there was intimacy, while she, his wife, stood as the stranger intruding.

In silence, Florrie clutched the paper bag tighter. When Suzanne finally noticed her, a shadow passed through her gaze.

Moments later, Suzanne put on a mask of innocence, her tone fragile. "Oh... Florrie, you're home?"

Pretending to panic, she shifted as if to get off Alexander'slap. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

But Alexander's arm only tightened around her waist, pulling her firmly back. "Don't waste your breath onher. Isn't this where you belong, right here with me?"

Not once did he acknowledge his wife directly, his words cutting like ice. "Leave the bag on the table and get upstairs. Don't bother Suzanne and me again."

So that was her place-the unwanted wife, treated as a nuisance even in her own house.

From the corner of her eye, Florrie caught the smirk Suzanne tried to hide, and she managed a faint smile of her own. "Be careful, Alexander. A heart that's endured surgery isn't built for reckless indulgence."

His stare turned sharp with annoyance, his voice flat. "That's none of your concern."

Nothing he said could hurt her anymore.

Her devotion had never been for Alexander himself but for the heart he carried inside his chest.

For three years, every effort she made was only to shield that heart from harm.

Alexander always assumed Florrie married him for wealth and status, so heaccepted her care as if it were owed.

That fragile arrangement held until Suzanne's sudden return from overseas. With herback, everything collapsed in an instant.

Alexander rushed toward Suzanne without hesitation.

And so, Florrie decided she might as well step aside and grant him the freedom he longed for.

Chapter 2 I Need You To Sign This Florrie slipped the papers from the envelope and turned straight to the page for signatures. "I need you to sign this."

She almost blurted out, "Let's end this marriage," but she caught herself. Alexander's pride and obsession withappearances made her doubt he would sign without a fight.

So she changed her approach and said, "It looks like it came from the property managementoffice for that villa you bought a while back."

Alexander finally lifted his eyes, his brows tightening with irritation. "Do you honestly need to trouble me with something so minor? Why can't you just sign it for me?"

Florrie pressed the papers and pen toward him, lowering her eyes asshe spoke softly. "It's in your name, so I can't sign it for you.And didn't you say you didn't want anyone knowing I was your wife?"

Florrie's reply caughtAlexander off guard,and his frown deepened.

There was a quietness about Florrie today that didn't feel familiar.

Even though she had always been gentle and compliant around him, there had still beenmoments when she showed a hint of sadness.

This time, though, her compliance seemed out ofplace, almost unnatural.

He was about to question her when she noticed his suspicion and quickly added, trying to sound concerned, "It's best if she takes the morning-after pill right away. She might not feel well after, so make sure you look after her."

Alexander heard her and thescowl faded from his face, replaced by a faint scoff.

He figured Florrie was anxious that Suzanne might end up pregnant and threaten her own standing as his wife.

Her sudden eagerness to please now made sense.

He pulled his gaze away and, as always, ignored the documents entirely before picking up the pen and scribbling his signature without hesitation.

Collecting the signed papers, Florrie watched as he lifted Suzanne in his arms and took her upstairs. She stood in the empty living room, silent, only moving much later when she made her way to the guest bedroom.

All night long, the loud moans from the next room kept her awake, tossingand turning as sleep refused to come.

The same haunting nightmare returned once more, pulling her back to that frozen field stained with blood. She stood helplessly, watching as the man she loved was carried into an ambulance, his cashmere coat drenched in blood.

The final thing he said to her was, "Florrie, don't cry. Promise me you'll live well..."

"Alex! Alex!" Florrie cried out his name, reaching for him, but her arms grasped at nothingas his figure faded farther and farther away.

Coldness spread through her limbs until a sharp voice broke through. "Florrie, wake up!"

Her eyes flew open, andshe was met with a face she knew all too well.

The man hovered above her, his brow drawn tight, his gazeheavy with restrained anger.

"Alex..." shemumbled.

His voice cut in, harsh and unfeeling. "Why are you yelling first thing in the morning?" Then, with a trace of contempt, he added, "Was it just a nightmare?"

The fog in her head cleared, and reality sank in-this wasn't the Alex she dreamed of. It was Alexander.

She stayed quiet, which only made his frown deepen as he reached toward her. She pulled back before his hand could touch her. "Sorry if I disturbed you both," she said softly.

Her words were gentle like always, but there was a distance in them that hadn't been there before.

Without thinking, Alexander curled his hands into fists, unsettled by the change he felt from her.

Florrie steadied herself and asked politely, "Did you need something?"

He snapped out of his thoughts, forcing the unease down, and answered in a clipped, formal tone, "Suzanne isplanning to gain some hands-on experience at the Jenkins Group. Assign the Greenhill Village redevelopmentproject to her and guide her through the process, since she'll be using it as part of her graduation project."

Chapter 3 Only If You Promise Me One Thing Florrie gripped the edge of the bed sheet until her fingers went numb, a sudden chill crawling through them.

Back in college, she had trained in surgical medicine, where her professors often told her she had the talent to become one of the best in the world.

Instead of chasing that future, she chose to remain in Alexander's company, taking on the role of deputy director and setting aside her career for his sake.

Every bit of it had been for the heart beating inside his chest.

The Greenhill Village redevelopment had been her pride and her burden.

She had carried the project from its earliest sketches to the near-finished stage, surviving endless sleepless nights to hold it together.

There had been villagers who cursed her and even attacked her, leaving her one step away from being hospitalized. Still, she had pressed on-even while lying in a hospital bed with a high fever, she typed proposals through the night because Alexander's grip on the CEO position was slipping, and he needed this victory to steady his name.

Florrie had poured everything into the Greenhill Village project, believing it would be her greatest offering to him. She never imagined Alexander would give it away so carelessly, showing not the slightest trace of appreciation for her efforts.

When her silence stretched on, Alexander let out a mocking laugh. "You've always put up with everything, haven't you? You didn't even complain when I skipped our wedding day. So over one project, you're not seriously planning to refuse, are you?"

Florrie lifted her eyes to his. "I won't refuse, but I'll agreeonly if you promise me one thing."

Alexander's jaw tightened at her response.

Did she mean tomake some ridiculous demand?

His voice turned sharp, though calm. "What do you want? Money, property, shares, a house? Whatever's withinreach, I'll give it. But don't ask for anything else."

Her gaze dropped, and a bitter smile touched her lips.

Alexander had never been generous. During their entire marriage, apart from the rare pieces of jewelry meant to keep upappearances, he had never given her anything of real value.

And now, for Suzanne's sake, Alexander was ready to give up so much, even allowing Florrie the freedom to name her terms.

Once, that would have shattered her. But somewhere along the way, she had stopped expecting anything from him. Maybe she had grown used to disappointment. Maybe she had just gone numb.

Her lips curved faintly as her eyes lingered on his collarbone. "I want the talisman you've kept onyou these past three years. Will you give it to me?"

That talisman had once belonged to Alexis.

If she was going to walk away, then taking it back felt like the only right thing to do.

Alexander froze at her request, then his browtightened in confusion.

The pendant wasn't worth much. It was carved from ordinary stone, something his grandmother had pressed into his hands after his surgery years ago. The only marking on it was a simple engraving of the name "Alex."

His gaze lifted to hers as heasked, almost without thinking, "Why would you want that?"

Florrie laced her fingers together, her tone even. "It's nothing important. You've worn it for so long, I just thought... it could be a keepsake."

Alexander studied her a moment longer, unsettled but unconcerned.

Florrie had always been the type totreasure scraps of affection, holding on to anything he let her have.

Asking for something that had been so closeto him seemed natural.

"I'll hand it over after you finish the project transfer at the company. Once Suzanne is settled, it's yours."

Straightening his tie, as though the deal had already been made, Alexander added, "Our wedding anniversary is coming up soon, isn't it? Tell me what you'd like this year."

Her smile barely lifted. "Don't bother. I'll think of something later."

Alexander sensed that something about her behavior was unusual, but he couldn't quite figure out what it was.

Florrie had once cared about every little gesture. She used to light up the moment he mentioned giving her anything. Now she sounded as if none of it mattered.

Chapter 4 I'll Be Broken With It, Gone Forever Before Alexander's thoughts could settle, a sound came from the adjoining room, followed by Suzanne's voice. "Alex, are we leaving for the company now?"

She stepped out barefoot, her expression uneasywhen she spotted him standing in Florrie's room. "Sorry, Florrie, I didn't mean to intrude..."

Suzanne pressed a hand to her temple and swayedas if she might collapse.

At once, Alexander dismissed Florrie's strange behavior and rushed toward Suzanne, lifting her into his arms. "It's freezing in here. Why are you walking around without shoes? Do you have any idea how worried I'd be if you ended up sick?"

He didn't spare Florrie another glance. Carrying Suzanne back toward the master bedroom, he instructed over his shoulder, "Get what I told you done quickly. I'm taking Suzanne to the company this afternoon."

Florrie nodded quietly, watching his back until he disappeared, her mind growing distant and hazy.

She remembered how Alexis used to hold her just like that, his voice both warm and teasing. "Babe, you're running around the house barefoot again? What if you get sick?" he'd ask with a worried laugh.

She had lost the love of her life-the man whohad always put her first and saved her one last time before dying right before her eyes.

Alexander never learned the truth-he had a brother, five years older, who went byAlexis. And that man was her real "Alex."

For him, she would have walked through fire, just to stay close to him.

Later, while driving to the office, Florrie's thoughts swirled, heavy and unspoken.

When she stepped inside, a group of colleagues whispered nearby.

"That girl with Mr. Jenkinstoday is his fiancee, isn't she? She looks incredible."

"I heard they've known each other forever, and her family's background is perfect for his. She went abroad for a finance degree and only just recently returned..."

Florrie couldn't help but give a small, bitter smile.

No one ever knew that Florrie had been Alexander's wife for three years, yet his childhood sweetheart who had only just returned was already being introduced proudly by him to everyone.

She ignored the whispersaround her and headed straight into her office.

When she finished sorting through the project files, noise suddenly rose outside her door.

Alexander walked in with Suzanne close behind him, his arm slightly angled as though to shieldher. With a faint smile, he announced, "Starting today, Miss Suzanne Hewitt will serve as the deputy director of the Marketing Department. I expect everyone to support her in her new role."

The news sparked a wave of surprise through the office, and Florrie's hand froze over her mouse.

That position had once been hers.

Adalyn Davies, Florrie's loyal assistant, darted a cautious glance toward her before she asked, "Mr. Jenkins, what about Florrie?"

Alexander's tone was calm but dismissive. "She'll be assisting Suzanne for the time being, especially with the Greenhill Village redevelopment project."

The staff exchanged uneasy looks, though Suzanne's cheeks turned pink as she smiled shyly. "Then I'll be relying on you, Florrie."

She moved forward, stretching out her hand. The moment Florrie touched her fingers, Suzanne stumbled backward, sending a cup crashing off the desk.

Florrie's eyes widened as she reached outinstinctively, but she missed. The cup hit the floor and shattered into fragments.

Pieces of porcelain scattered across the floor. Suzanne swayed and caught herself, turning a wide-eyed look on Florrie. "Florrie, do you dislike me?" she asked softly.

Her words weren't anaccusation, but the message was obvious.

Suzanne clearly expected Florrie to argue, yet Florrie didn't speak. She just stared at the shattered cup, her whole body trembling, tears filling her eyes.

That cup had been Alexis' last gift to her, given on Christmas Eve, the night before his death. He painted the two of them on it-her in a wedding gown leaning in his arms as they walked toward the church. He had remarked, "Florrie, one day I'll marry you. Let this cup be my promise. If I break that promise, you can smash it, and I'll be broken with it, gone forever."

Since losing Alexis, she had treasured that cup. Now, it was nothing but fragments on the floor.

Rage surged through Florrie as she clenched herfists. Without a second thought, she strode forward and slapped Suzanne hard across the face.

Chapter 5 You Will Pay For It Alexander's face hardened instantly. "Are you out of your mind? Apologize to her right now!"

At first, he had believed Florrie's calm acceptance meant she was genuinely willing to give Suzanne the project. Now he realized she was still being difficult.

Instead of answering, Florrie crouched down and began gathering the broken shards with steady hands.

That only darkened Alexander's expression further. He stepped in, grabbed her wrist, and snapped, "Did you not hear me?"

Pain shot through her arm so sharply that it felt as if her bones might splinter.

Florrie lifted her head at last, meeting his gaze with cold detachment. "And why should I apologize?"

His fist curled tight at her defiance.

In the past, the smallest sign of anger fromhim had always been enough to make her retreat. But today she actually stood her ground.

"You made a mistake. Shouldn't you apologize for it?" Alexander asked sharply. "Do you think the Jenkins Group has no rules and will just let you behave so recklessly?"

The weight of his authority pressedover the room, and it felt as though the air itself had turned colder.

Yet Florrie only gave a thinsmile. "Then pull the footage, and bring in the police."

A twitch ran across his brow. "What are youtrying to say, Florrie?"

Her eyes never wavered as she answered, "Mr. Jenkins, I'm here as an employee, not as someone who owes you obedience. If you want to stand up for your girl, thendo it by the rules. If the police say I'm guilty, I'll apologize. If not, I won't."

Her defiance had struck him harder than he expected and ignited his temper. "Fine. If that's how you want it, I'll take you at your word!"

Turning sharply, he yelled to his secretary, "Aidan, check the cameras. Call the police. Charge her with intentional assault!"

That was when Suzanne's composurefinally cracked.

If the surveillance footage was pulled, everyone would know she'd intentionally smashed Florrie's cupand her carefully crafted image would be tarnished.

When Aidan Marsh reached for his phone, Suzanne quickly interjected,"Alex, let's just drop it. Florrie has been an loyal employee by your side for years, so why turn this into something bigger than it is?"

Instead of easing, Alexander's expression hardened further. "She crossed the line. Mistakes deserve consequences."

The room remained heavy with tension as Aidan hesitated, and thenreluctantly pulled out his phone.

Suzanne's face shifted, panic flashing across her features.

Right before he could place the call, she grabbed her head and let out a painedcry, collapsing to the floor with a thud.

"Suzanne!" Alexander's eyes narrowed in shock.

He shoved Florrie asideand bent down to scoop Suzanne into his arms.

Thrown off balance, Florrie crashed onto the broken pieces, sharp edges cutting deep and blood spreading quickly across the pale tiles.

Still, Alexander didn't so much as glance at her. Holding Suzanne protectively, he strode out of the office.

On his way out, he cast a frigid look in Florrie's direction. "If Suzanne suffers because of this, Florrie, you'll pay for it."

His cutting words echoed in her ears, but Florrie gave no reaction. Instead, she quietly gathered the blood-streaked fragments from the floor.

Once, she had naively believed that because Alexander carried Alexis' heart, he might come to resemble the man she loved. Maybe they could have lived side by side, even if not as lovers. But standing there, she understood just how misguided that hope had been.

Alexander and Alexis were worlds apart, and she should never have expected otherwise.

One by one, she set the bloodied pieces aside, and then returned to her desk. On the screen, she began typing two words-"Resignation Letter."

"Florrie, wait..." Adalyn's voice came from behind. She had caught sight of the words on the screen, and her face tightened with alarm. "I know you're innocent. You've given everything to this company-walking away now would be throwing it all away."

Chapter 6 Don't Be Scared, I'm Here Florrie offered Adalyn a soft smile and said gently, "Don't worry aboutme. Go on and get back to your work."

Adalyn had intended to argue further, but the resolve in Florrie's eyes silenced her. Instead, she hurried out, returned with a small tube of ointment, and pressed it into Florrie's hand. "If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ask me," she said with genuine concern.

The words caught Florrie off guard, and her chest tightened as her eyes burned with unshed tears.

They had only worked together for a short while, yet Adalyn could show her a warmth she had never known at home.

She had spent years tending to Alexander with careful devotion, and not once had he offeredeven the simplest acknowledgment of her effort.

With quiet gratitude, Florrie thanked Adalyn, and then gathered the documents, arranged them neatlyfor handover, and walked them to the HR department.

Her resignation stunned the department manager. But after remembering the scene that had unfolded earlier, the manager swallowed any questions and processed the paperwork. "Company policy requires you to complete the handover with Miss Hewitt first. Once it's finished, you're free to go."

Florrie gave a simple nod.

It wouldn't take long, and nothing could delay her decision to leave.

When the last task wascompleted, Florrie drove back to the villa.

Alexander was still gone, and whether he came home or not no longer mattered.

The house stood quiet. She went upstairs and began placing her belongings into a suitcase.

There wasn't much to bring-her passport, the important papers, and the keepsakes Alexis hadleft behind. Nothing else seemed worth taking.

At the back of the safe lay an old album, whichshe carefully pulled out.

The pages told the story of days shared with Alexis, the places they had wandered together, and the future she had once believed was theirs. Fate had cut that dream short.

She had worn the gown meant for a bride, but the man waiting for her at the altar had not been Alexis.

The final pages held a handful of pictures of her and Alexander together.

Although the brothers carried the similar features and Alexander lived withAlexis' heart beating in his chest, everything else about Alexander-his eyes, his manner, his indifference-reminded her that he would never love her.

Florrie took the photos with Alexander out of the album before tucking it into her suitcase.

The jewelry glimmered inside the safe, but she left every piece behind, though once they had meant everything to her.

Back then, she had convinced herself that Alexander could take Alexis' place, that they might actually build a life together, so she had surrendered her heart without hesitation.

Now, that illusion had lost all meaning.

She ripped their pictures straight down the middle and dropped the torn halves into the trash. Afterward, she shut the safe and placed the key on the desk in Alexander's study.

Some things had never been hers, and she shouldn't have clung to them.

With everything settled, she picked up her suitcase and walked out of thevilla without once turning her head.

Outside, the day was gray and wet, the drizzlesoft but persistent. Luckily, the evening rush had passed, and the roads were nearly clear.

Not long into the drive, a sudden wave of dizziness struck her, andher chest thudded in uneven beats.

When the light turned red, she pressed a palm to her forehead, realizing it was scorching hot.

The weather had cooled sharply over the past days, and sleepless nights had left her vulnerable. A fever must have taken hold.

Still, Florrie gripped the wheel and pushed forward, recalling that a pharmacy should be close by.

She didn't consider a fever dangerous, yet every mile made her body heavier.

Heat and chills wrestled inside her, her throat ached with a burning dryness, and her vision wavered at the edges. She managed to pull over in front of the pharmacy and forced herself to open the door.

The rain and wind blasted into the car, cutting through her and making her shudder violently.

Umbrella in hand, she dragged her steps forward, but each one seemed harder than the last.

By the time she reached the storefront, her balance gave way,and she crumpled to the ground.

Rain soaked through her clothes instantly, and in the blur of her failing strength, she felt a suffocating rush of water slip into her nose and mouth, stealing her breath.

Her sight wavered in and out of focus, yet she caught the glint of a black Maybach pulling to the curb, its hazard lights blinking in the rain.

From the driver's side, a tall figure stepped out, umbrella alreadyin hand, moving quickly toward her.

The air carried a scent she knew too well, and through the haze, she lifted her gaze to see him kneel, his fingers curled firmly around the umbrella handle-a scar running across his thumb.

The sightmade her freeze.

That scar was almost identical to Alexis', in both shape and placement.

The memory surged back instantly. Alexis had gotten it defending her from agroup of thugs who refused to back off.

She had cried in terror, convinced the injury might damage his nerves andstrip him of his future as a surgeon.

But Alexis had only laughed, brushing her worries away as he mussed her hair. "This is my badge of courage for protecting you. If getting hurt is the price of winning my girl, I'll take it."

Could such a thing really be coincidence?

Her thoughts tangled, yet thewarmth of his breath was suddenly close against her face.

Without warning, strong arms pulled her against a steady chest.

His forehead rested gently against hers,and his voice slipped out in the faintest whisper. "Don't be scared. I'm here."

The words floated past her, muffled by the haze in her mind.

All she could register was the tenderness in his tone.

His features blurred, but she could still make out the mark at the corner of his eye-a crimson mole, bright against his skin.

Her heart stumbled in her chest. Could it really be Alexis?

Was it possible that the man holding her was him?

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The drizzle turned sharp against my skin as I stood frozen outside the law office, divorce papers clenched in my fist.

My phone rang—Alexander's name flashing like a warning.

"You're not at home?" His voice was ice.

I hesitated. "I'll be back soon, you—"

"Pick up ointment for swelling before you return."

Worry flickered. "Did you get hurt? Is your heart—"

Then came her voice—syrupy, intimate. "Alex, it still aches... It's all your fault!"

Suzanne.

His childhood sweetheart.

Naked in his arms, judging by the sounds.

"I got carried away," Alexander said flatly.

"Buy the ointment. And a morning-after pill."

The line died.

So did something in me.

I bought both.

Walked into the house.

Found them tangled on the couch—her nightgown slipping, his hands peeling grapes for her lips.

"Leave the bag and get upstairs," he snapped.

"Don't bother us again."

I smiled faintly. "Be careful, Alexander. A heart surgery patient shouldn't indulge recklessly."

His glare cut deep. "That's none of your concern."

But it was.

It always had been.

Because that heart wasn't his.

It was Alexis'.

And I had married a corpse to stay close to his ghost.

Now, as I turned toward the guest room, the weight of three wasted years pressed down.

Should I sign the papers tonight?

Or wait until he realized they weren't for property management—but dissolution of marriage?