Chapter 1 Chapter 1

As I returned home, intermittent laughter echoed from the second-floor bedroom. I took off my coat, draped it over my arm, and hesitated for a moment. Finally, I walked toward the bedroom with heavy steps. Pushing open the ornate oak doors, I immediately saw Jeffery. His crisp white shirt was half-open, and his tie was long gone. The girl in his arms was feeding him strawberries. Though he playfully pushed her hand away, his expression revealed he was quite pleased. Hearing footsteps, the young girl turned with a smile: "Oh, Jeff, is your housekeeping bringing the coffee—" Her unfinished words died in her throat, and the strawberry in her hand fell to the plush carpet. When she saw me, her face turned pale, and she stammered: "Ms... Ms. Sloan..." My gaze fell on her neck and shoulders, where a string of hickeys was glaringly obvious. My throat felt constricted, my voice hoarse: "Jeffery, what are you doing?" He lifted his eyelids to glance at me, clicking his tongue impatiently. His long fingers played with the girl's blonde hair: "You're asking the obvious. Can't you see for yourself?" Jeffery held the girl close, looking me up and down. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he continued: "But Naomi, you really should learn from these young girls.""It's bad enough that you always look so gloomy, but you're also as rigid as a statue.""It's really quite depressing and boring." — I've known Jeffery for eighteen years, and he's resented me for just as long. When I was seven, my mother interfered with his once-happy family. Yet, barely two years later, she ran off with all of Uncle Sam's money, leaving only me, a burden, behind. I volunteered to go to an orphanage, but Jeffery firmly refused. His eyes blazing red, he gripped my arms painfully. "Naomi, don't even think about it. You'll spend your whole life by my side, atoning for your sins." I nodded, thinking that what he wanted, what he needed, was for me to stay by his side, working like a slave until he was satisfied. Unexpectedly, after graduation, he took me to get our marriage license. When Uncle Sam found out about our marriage, he was furious. After calming down, he pulled me aside, crying: "Naomi, what Jeffery did was wrong, but don't blame him." Uncle Sam paused, then advised me, "Since you're married now, try to make it work—""Naomi, please give the Sadler family an heir." He said the last part so solemnly that I asked, confused, "Uncle Sam, will having a child count as atonement?" He froze, then covered his eyes, unable to look at me. His voice choked with emotion: "Of course it does... I'm sorry, Naomi." — On our wedding night, I reached out, my hand resting on the buttons of Jeffery's shirt.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Beyond the silky touch was the firm, smooth contour of muscle. Just as I was about to undo the last button, Jeffery grabbed my hand. His face expressionless, he stopped my action with excessive force. "Naomi, do you realize what you're doing right now?" I nodded, looking up at him. "Your father hopes we'll build a life together and have a child." Jeffery slowly pried my hand away. He smiled at me, but his eyes were icy. "You're just as cheap as your mother. "But then again, what good could come from someone with no morals?" He shoved me away, smashing the crystal ornament from the side table against me. Glass shards scattered across the hardwood floor. I stumbled weakly, crashing hard into the mahogany coffee table behind me. He stepped on my fingers, looking at me with disgust. "Don't think having a child means redemption, that you can leave me. "Naomi, no one will ever love you in this life.""You should stay by my side like a dog, at my beck and call."

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

During high school, Dylan and I were desk mates for three full years. I still remember when Dylan chose to study liberal arts in university. Our homeroom teacher was puzzled, given his outstanding grades in science subjects. Dylan glanced at me and said he wanted to make films. I remained silent. Back then, I was too insecure to even voice the most common dreams of youth. Later, Dylan submitted a story I had written to a writing contest on my behalf. He spread the winning certificate in front of me, pointing at the name "Naomi Sloan" on it, saying: "Don't be afraid, Naomi. Look, you really are talented." Back then, when sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, he always liked to nap facing me. One day, as I was writing an outline, he mumbled with half-closed eyes: "In the future, you'll write scripts, and I'll turn them into movies. We'll never be apart." We were young then, truly looking forward to the future. I even believed for a while that it would be our futur

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Jeffery angrily threw me into the car. I instinctively tried to escape, but he grabbed my wrist forcefully. In the next moment, he pinned my hands down and pushed me onto the back seat. "Where do you think you're going?" Jeffery clenched his jaw, smiling as he lowered his voice. "What? You see your old flame once, and you've gone out of my control?” Seeing his frenzied state, I struggled a few times. "Jeffery, calm down. Don't do this." "Why are you pretending? It's not like we haven't slept together before." "Why act like such a chaste woman? Putting on a show for Dylan?" Jeffery gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. His grip was so strong that it brought involuntary tears to my eyes. "Naomi, should I remind you just how slutty you are?" My mind went blank. It was as if I was back to that terrifying night seven years ago. On my 18th birthday, Dylan had already made plans with me. He was going to take me for a ride along the coastal road on his bike. His red ears