Chapter 1 Chapter 1

On our wedding anniversary, I prepared a full table of dishes and waited for my husband Lucian Moore to come home. After a long wait, he finally returned, carrying a frail little girl in his arms. He gave her the anniversary gift he had bought for me and let her play with it like a toy. Lucian had gone to renew the visa for his passport. When he got home, he carefully helped Chloe Martin through the door. Our son, Ryan Moore, imitated Lucian, kneeling at Chloe's feet to take off her shoes and smiling up at her. "Chloe, I missed you so much. Can you stay here all the time?" Seeing the three of them so cozy together felt like a knife to the heart, but I quickly forced my emotions into order and asked calmly, "Should I make a cake? I remember you saying Chloe loves strawberry cake." Since I had already decided to leave, I figured I might as well share one last dinner with them. Without waiting for Lucian's answer, I hurried into the kitchen, baked the cake, and brought it to the table. When it was time to eat, I offered the seat next to Lucian to Chloe and took a place in a far corner. Lucian froze briefly when he saw who was beside him, but the surprise faded quickly. Soon, he was busy handing Chloe a fork for her cake. Instead of taking it, Chloe removed the necklace from her neck and tossed it under the table. "Uncle Lucian, I don't like this necklace anymore. I want a Barbie doll." Lucian only smiled, looking at her with even more affection. "Alright. We'll pick out whatever kind of doll you want tomorrow." I took a small bite of frosting. Chloe knew perfectly well that necklace had been Lucian's wedding anniversary gift to me. She'd once said it was pretty, and he had yanked it from my neck and given it to her. Sensing my gaze, Lucian looked up. The moment his eyes landed on me, whatever warmth they held turned to ice. "What's that look for? It's just a necklace. Do you really have to hold onto it for this long?" I hadn't said a word. But in Lucian's eyes, whenever something involved Chloe, even a glance from me was wrong. I lowered my head and quietly ate my cake. The table returned to their cheerful little trio. In the middle of enjoying her cake, Chloe spotted the framed wedding photo of Lucian and me taken in Feanland. "Wow! I'm so jealous you got to go somewhere that beautiful. I'll never be able to go in my life." Lucian chuckled. "Don't say that. Your birthday's next week. We'll go to Feanland together and celebrate for you." Ryan nodded eagerly. "Yeah, and the kindergarten will be on break. The three of us can go to Feanland!" Chloe turned to me with a bright smile. "Will you come with us?" Next week was when I planned to leave. I supposed I should tell Lucian. "No, in a few days I have to...""We don't care about your plans." Lucian cut me off coldly. I didn't even get the chance to tell him I might be gone for years. After dinner, Lucian wiped frosting from Chloe's mouth and said, "You'll stay here tonight. I'll have Sarah get a guest room ready for you." Before he could finish, I spoke softly. "No need for that. I'll move out of the master bedroom and let her have it." Lucian froze, thinking I was just being petty. "Sarah, she's still a child. Why are you jealous of a child?" Ignoring his startled look, I stayed calm. "I'm not jealous. I'm hardly home anyway. She's young and needs looking after, so let her stay..." Suddenly, Lucian slammed a plate onto the floor, and the flying shards nicked my ankle. Chloe burst into tears. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It's my fault! I made you two fight!" Lucian turned on me. "What's with your attitude?" Ryan shot me a glare, hurled a raw egg at me, and stomped his foot. "You're mean! You bullied Chloe! I don't want you to be my mommy anymore!" Lucian led Chloe into the bedroom without a backward glance, leaving me alone to clean up the mess well into the night.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Seven days remained before my flight. In those seven days, I prepared the divorce papers, granting Lucian full custody of Ryan, and slipped the agreement behind the frame of our wedding photo. I was crouched on the floor, stuffing books and clothes into my suitcase, when a pair of leather shoes appeared in my line of sight. Lucian stood there, staring coldly at my luggage. "Where are you going?" I almost answered honestly, but then, I remembered he'd said he didn't care about my plans. So, I made an excuse and replied casually, "Just a business trip." His expression eased. He let out a small breath. "Good. If you're gone, I won't have to worry about you doing something to Chloe out of jealousy while she's living here." Chloe peeked out from behind him, her face all innocence. "Maybe I should just move out. I don't want to make you unhappy because of me." I pulled the handle of my suitcase upright. "Stay. I won't be coming back." At that, Lucian's face darkened. "Are you threatening me? Do you think I wouldn't dare throw you out?" Ryan chimed in, "Yeah! Bad woman! Don't ever come back!" I didn't reply. I wheeled my suitcase out the door. The moment I stepped across the threshold, the door slammed hard behind me. "If you've got the guts, don't ever come back! And don't beg us to let you in!" Lucian snapped from inside the door. It was snowing heavily outside, fat flakes swirling down. I hadn't brought my winter coat. After hearing his words, I stepped into the snow without looking back. The snow was so thick that not a single car was on the road. I wasn't sure if there was even a convenience store nearby where I could warm up. Maybe it was the exhaustion from handling all the travel paperwork, or maybe the cold had gotten to me, but my vision suddenly went black. The ice underfoot was slick. I lost my balance and was about to fall when a strong arm caught me. Blinking hard to clear the snow from my lashes, I saw it was Jacob Reed, a colleague from my lab. His car sat parked in the white expanse. Before I could react, he grabbed my suitcase and walked toward the trunk. Just then, Lucian suddenly appeared and stepped in front of him, blocking his path. He glared at me and asked, "Sarah, who the hell is this? Is he your secret lover?" He had probably followed me out just to watch me suffer in the snow. Jacob shoved Lucian aside and put my suitcase into the trunk. "Who I am is none of your business. And Sarah's none of your business anymore either. She's leaving in a few days." Lucian gave a mocking laugh. "It's just a short business trip. She'll still come crawling back to me. You'd better keep your hands to yourself. Sarah is my wife." Jacob ignored him, pushing me firmly into the passenger seat. "I've never seen a man throw his wife out in the middle of winter. You call her your wife? You're not worthy of her." Lucian was left speechless. By the time he recovered, Jacob was already behind the wheel, locking every door and window. As the car pulled away, I saw Lucian still standing there in the rearview mirror, not moving. Jacob's voice was tight with anger. "Lucian is a jerk! I honestly don't know how you could have married him." My hands twisted into the fabric of my coat. It was a long time before I answered quietly, "He used to be good to me." My parents had died in a lab explosion. During those dark days, Lucian had been the one by my side, caring for me and encouraging me. When I had a fever and craved cream of chicken soup, he went out in a downpour and searched three streets to find the ingredients. When I told him I wanted a romantic wedding, he spent six months planning it and used a significant portion of his savings to arrange a trip around the world so we could exchange vows in different countries. During our trip, Ryan was born. Back then, I thought I was the happiest woman in the world. But it all fell apart when Lucian came across a letter while sorting through his late parents' belongings. It turned out his parents had been sponsoring a poor girl for years. To honor their wishes, Lucian decided to keep supporting her until she reached adulthood. After some searching, Lucian finally found Chloe and brought her into our home. At first, I felt nothing but sympathy for Chloe. I treated her as if she were my own daughter. But it didn't last. Chloe's true colors began to show. Chloe broke my belongings more than once. She deleted an important work file I had spent three sleepless nights preparing before I could save it. When I confronted Lucian, he lashed out at me. "Chloe is just a child. She doesn't know any better. You're a grown woman. Do you really have to be so petty?" I still don't understand how eight years of love could mean less to him than a stranger who had only just entered our lives.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

The memory made my whole body tremble. It wasn't until Jacob handed me a tissue that I realized my face was already wet with tears. I had thought I had let it all go, but reliving those moments still brought the same ache, and the tears came whether I wanted them to or not. Back at the lab, I organized my report. The divorce was nearly finalized. Once I completed one last task, I would be ready to say goodbye to this city for good. My grandfather had loved painting in oils. Before he passed away, he had lent his proudest work to the local art museum for exhibition. Now, I was going to reclaim my grandfather's only keepsake. However, I hadn't expected to run into Chloe on my way back. She blinked those big, innocent eyes. "Oh, it's you, Aunt Sarah. Uncle Lucian went to buy me milk tea and told me to wait right here." I ignored her and tried to walk around, holding the painting tightly, but she stepped in front of me and snatched it out of my hands. For a girl her size, she was shockingly strong. "What's this? Let me see." Chloe tugged the canvas from its case. Alarm bells rang in my head. I didn't dare grab for it outright. Pulling it too hard might tear it in half. "Give it back," I snapped, glaring hard at her. Chloe only smiled, then suddenly pointed behind me and shouted, "Uncle Lucian! Come help me!" The second I glanced back, she pulled out a marker and drew a large, bright red scribble right across the center of the painting. White-hot fury flashed through me, and I snatched the canvas from her hands. She instantly dropped to the ground in an exaggerated fall, crying dramatically. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! Please don't push me!" Lucian came running at the sound, his voice sharp and accusatory. "Sarah, why did you push Chloe?" Then, he saw the painting in my hands and the look on my pale face. It didn't take him long to piece it together. "Your grandfather's painting is ruined?" His anger seemed to freeze solid. After a moment, he said slowly, "How much? I'll pay you back.""No need," I said calmly, slipping the canvas back into its case. I didn't yell or make a scene. I was so calm, even I could barely believe it. All I wanted now was to leave as quickly as possible. For reasons I couldn't guess, Lucian, who usually avoided me, actually followed me and caught my hand. "Sarah, what's going on with you?" Even though he was trying to keep his voice level, I still heard a faint thread of unease in it. I didn't look back. I pulled my hand free and headed straight toward the subway station. "Chloe's just a girl from the countryside. She hasn't seen much. I'm sure she didn't mean it," he said, still trailing after me. "I have a friend who does restoration work. Give me a week and I'll get you one exactly the same." He kept talking, following me down the stairs. Maybe I really had let it go. The bitterness and resentment that used to gnaw at me had gone still, like dead water that no longer rippled. Soon, the subway arrived. "It's fine. Don't bother," I said. There wasn't even a week left anyway. Those were my last words before I stepped through the subway doors. Lucian reached out to grab me, but he was too late. Through the glass as the train pulled away, I thought I saw panic flicker in his eyes. Maybe it was just my reflection. Or maybe I was imagining it.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Two days later, I got a call from Lucian. He stayed silent for so long that I thought he had dialed the wrong number and was about to hang up when he finally spoke. "Tomorrow is Ryan's birthday." I was stunned. In the past, I had handled every detail of his birthdays—baking the cake, buying gifts, decorating the house—all for the joy of seeing his surprise. But this year, I had forgotten entirely. "Oh," I replied indifferently. The air between us instantly turned cold again. "Come home for dinner. Ryan misses you," Lucian said, his voice rough. Then, he added, "Chloe will be at her tutoring class tonight, so it'll just be us. And... I'll cook." After some hesitation, I answered, "Alright." Maybe it would be the last birthday I'd spend with Ryan. He might not like me anymore, but I had carried him for nine months and brought him into this world. This could be my final act of motherhood. That evening, when I opened the door, Ryan ran up just like he always had on his birthdays, holding out his hands for a gift. I handed him the toy car I'd picked out. He lit up, clearly wanting to hug me, but I let the moment pass, leaving his little arms suspended awkwardly in the air. Lucian emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron, setting the dishes on the table. For a moment, my nose stung. During dinner, Lucian placed some of my favorite braised beef onto my plate. Ryan asked me to help him light the candles. As he closed his eyes to make a wish, Lucian reached over and took my hand. "Sarah, Chloe is just an outsider. You're my wife." Moisture clouded my eyes. While Ryan blew out the candles, I quickly wiped away the tears. For a brief while, the warmth almost made me forget Chloe even existed. But near the end of the meal, Lucian finally said, "You should keep your distance from Jacob." I looked up, puzzled. "I heard your parents' old project is being restarted. Jacob's name is on the research team. You didn't know? He's using you to get information about your parents' work.""He wouldn't do that," I replied. Lucian's temper flared. "Sarah, who's your husband here? Is there something going on between you and him...""That's enough!" I slammed my hand on the table. "Do you think everyone is as filthy as you?""Watch your mouth!" he snapped back, his voice rising. The fragile warmth of the evening shattered instantly. Ryan burst into tears. "Mommy, Daddy, please don't fight!" Breathing hard, Lucian waved a hand. "Forget it. We're going to Feanland with Chloe tomorrow. We'll talk when I get back. But remember, don't get involved in any research with Jacob, or you're not coming back here." The dinner ended in tense silence. When I returned to my apartment, I saw a text from Jacob. "The flight's at 8:00 am tomorrow. Shall we go together?" I simply replied, "Okay." The next day, I grabbed my suitcase and headed to the airport. As the plane climbed into the clouds, the city I had lived in for eight years slowly disappeared from view.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

It was the day I entered the classified research facility, and the director, Jonathan Hanson, told us we could make one last phone call home. Around me, colleagues pulled out their phones, saying their goodbyes to family. I figured that since we had once been husband and wife, I should at least say a parting word, so I dialed Lucian's number. But the voice that came through wasn't Lucian's—it was Chloe's bright and cheerful voice. "Hi, Aunt Sarah. Do you need something?" I frowned. "Where's Lucian?" In a sweet tone, she said, "Uncle Lucian's taking us on the Ferris wheel right now, so he can't answer your call." I pressed my lips together, not saying anything. She seemed to sense my silence and mistook it for irritation, because her voice grew even more smug. "So, this is where you got married, huh? It's so pretty. Uncle Lucian promised to bring me to see the fireworks here in Feanland. He said these were your favorites. Such a shame you can't see them." I drew in a deep breath and said evenly, "That's fine." Then, I hung up, almost laughing at how I'd managed to make a fool of myself again. I removed the SIM card from my phone and tossed it into the trash. There was no going back now. … In Feanland, Lucian lasted only a week before growing restless. Revisiting the place felt emptier than he'd expected. Seven days felt like a year. Ryan tugged at his sleeve, his eyes wet. "Daddy, I kind of miss Mommy." Lucian frowned, realizing that the tight, suffocating weight in his chest was because he missed me. He picked Ryan up and asked gently, "How about we go home and find your mommy?" From the couch, Chloe pouted, still playing with her Barbie doll. "But we agreed to stay a whole month. Why go back after just one week?" Lucian's face showed hesitation. Then, Ryan burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. "No! I want Mommy! I want her now!" Ryan's tantrums could outmatch Chloe's any day. Driven by instinct, Lucian made up his mind. "We're going back tonight." They began packing immediately, picturing me waiting at the airport with a smile when they landed. But when they returned home, I was nowhere to be found. Lucian had the housekeeper bring in the luggage, then tried to sound casual. "Has Sarah come back yet?" The housekeeper shook her head. "Not yet." Lucian was about to ask more, but Chloe grabbed his hand and said sweetly, "Sarah's an adult. She can't just get lost. Come on, let's do the puzzle we bought in Feanland together." Hearing her call me by my name made his already sour mood worse. He shook her off and headed upstairs. Chloe stumbled back a few steps, almost falling, then began crying pitifully. "Uncle Lucian, did I say something wrong? Are you really going to treat me like this over an outsider?" Lucian stopped in his tracks. Chloe thought he would turn back to comfort her, but instead, he looked over his shoulder and said coldly, "Who exactly are you calling an outsider? You'd better remember your place." He had never spoken to her like that before. Chloe's face went pale, and she sank to the floor. Lucian ignored her. Thinking back, he realized it had been his parents' dying wish that had made him care for Chloe. In all that time, I had treated her with unconditional kindness, caring for her as if she were my own child. Yet, Chloe showed no gratitude. Now, she even called me an outsider. As Lucian's wife, I had endured years of being pushed aside for Chloe. The thought left Lucian with a heavy, guilty ache in his chest. When he opened the door to my room, he found it empty. My belongings were gone. He remembered seeing me reclaim my grandfather's oil painting, and a strange wave of fear washed over him. Agitated, he pulled out his phone. After hesitating for a moment, he dialed my number. But no matter how many times he tried, it came up as disconnected. Even the messages he sent got no reply. Lucian's hands trembled. Something had slipped completely out of his control, and everything was falling apart. Out of options, Lucian called Jonathan. When Lucian asked when I'd be back, Jonathan sounded genuinely surprised. "What? She didn't tell you? Once she takes an assignment like that, she's not coming back." Lucian's grip faltered, and the phone slipped from his hand, clattering to the floor. His mind went blank. The voice on the other end called his name several times before he finally managed to respond. "What do you mean? What assignment?""She's been sent overseas for a closed research project. Didn't Sarah tell you about it?"