There's an unspoken rule in the high-end society—married couples who are bound by marriage alliances are allowed to branch out romantically.

But if they ever buy anything for their side piece, they must buy the same gift for their legal spouse.

Raymond Johnson is a very particular person. That's why he continues sticking to the rule and gives Melanie Strickland the respect she deserves by showering her with gifts that are 100 times more than his mistress', even after the Stricklands have gone into bankruptcy.

If his mistress gets 100 thousand dollars' worth of allowances every month, Melanie's bank account must receive ten million dollars in return.

When Raymond gifts his mistress jewelry that's worth a million dollars, he'll go for the main highlight of the auction. After that, Melanie will receive an antique emerald ring worth 100 million dollars.

The rich wives, who are too used to seeing wealthy men immersing themselves in booze and beautiful women, can only sigh wistfully whenever they witness Raymond and Melanie's lovey-dovey relationship.

But at the same time, they can't resist dropping Melanie words of advice—mainly to tell her to appreciate what she has now.

Appreciate, huh? Of course Melanie appreciates everything she has right now.

That's why on the day Raymond gives a house of very little value that's located in the suburbs to his mistress, Melanie decides to ask him a question while receiving the land deed of Villa No. 1 that's located in Northshore.

"I've grown tired of this marriage. Can we get a divorce?"

Seated with a digital tablet before him, Raymond Johnson was in the middle of picking out a birthday present for Tracy Lambert's 23rd birthday.

When he heard Melanie Strickland speak, he didn't even look up as he said, "The house I'm giving Trace isn't worth that much. Even after factoring in the real estate agent's commission, the total is under 700 thousand dollars.

"As for Northshore's Villa No. 1, which is under your name, it's in the best spot in Bell City, so it's not like you're losing out on anything. I still care about you the most, Melanie."

While he spoke nonchalantly, Melanie's eyes were on the verge of welling up with tears.

Raymond hadn't lied. Over the course of their seven-year marriage, Raymond had indeed treated her well.

When Tracy was given a monthly allowance of 100 thousand dollars, Melanie would have ten million dollars in her account without fail.

And after giving Tracy jewelry worth over a million dollars, Raymond had won bids on an antique emerald ring worth 100 million dollars for Melanie.

That said, the ten million dollars was just the standard monthly allocation from the Johnson family's trust fund. As for the antique emerald ring, Raymond didn't even bid for it at the auction himself. He'd simply told the butler to handle it.

When Tracy offhandedly said that she was hungry for seafood chowder, Raymond rolled up his sleeves to cook some himself, burning two pots in the process.

Melanie's friends tried to talk her into accepting her situation.

"Melanie, you have money and status now. Raymond's got another woman on the side, sure, but he hasn't mistreated you. Don't act like you don't know how good you've got it."

"She's right, Melanie. With your dad gone and your mom in a vegetative state, you should count yourself lucky that Raymond still wants you."

Melanie wanted to be content as well. It was just that she could never forget the night he had lit up half the city's skyline for her when they first got together.

And there was also the time he had stood in the pouring rain after she insisted on breaking up with him to keep him from being caught in her family's bankruptcy.

Completely drenched, he had stood there, his eyes red and swollen. "Melanie, you're the love of my life. I can't live without you."

Now, seven years later, Melanie was asking for a divorce.

In his usual unbothered tone, Raymond said, "Trace's birthday is just around the corner. Don't make trouble for no reason."

Melanie's nose stung with emotion as she pulled out the divorce agreement she'd long prepared. She forced a calm tone. "Sign this. Once you do, I promise I will no longer act out."

She thought Raymond would lose his temper, or at least snatch the papers from her hands, tear them apart, and snap, "Don't even think about it, Melanie. You're not allowed to leave me."

But to her surprise, Raymond only looked at her once before turning the papers to the very end and signing them. "Be sure to keep your word. Once I sign this, don't misbehave again."

Melanie nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I will. I won't act up again."

Now, there were only 30 days left until their marriage was officially over.

After the divorce agreement was signed, Melanie went to the hospital. On her way there, she stumbled upon Tracy's Instagram post.

It was a picture of an apartment.

On the pale green couch, Tracy had her bare legs resting on Raymond's lap and was flashing a peace sign at the camera.

The caption read, "I want to be part of your past as well."

Melanie was just a college junior when the Strickland family went bankrupt. Her father, Morris Strickland, couldn't accept what had happened and took his own life by jumping off a building.

Her mother, Bethany Adkins, was shoved down the stairs by debt collectors and left in a vegetative state.

In a single night, Melanie found herself abandoned by the world, left wandering the streets with only a few of her belongings.

On her third night sleeping in the hospital corridor, Raymond had a falling out with his family. After selling everything of value he owned, he appeared before her with 18 thousand dollars.

"Melanie, I'm homeless now, just like you. If you feel sorry for me, could you let me stay by your side?"

Melanie froze, then threw herself into Raymond's arms and cried her heart out while calling him a big dummy.

Flustered, Raymond quickly wiped her tears and smiled. "Yeah. When it comes to you, Melanie, I'll always be a big dummy."

They had rented a tiny apartment for six months with eight thousand dollars and used another three thousand dollars to make it feel like home.

Melanie would fumble her way through cooking to make Raymond's favorite spaghetti bolognese, whereas Raymond would grumble before scooping her into his arms, chiding her for walking around barefoot.

Even the proposal happened in that little apartment.

After regaining his status as the Johnson family heir, Raymond twirled Melanie around the room and vowed, "This place will always belong to you, Melanie."

Yet now, he had forgotten everything he had promised just because Tracy said she wanted to be part of his past.

Tears slid down Melanie's cheeks before they were wiped away swiftly.

Taking a deep breath, she left a comment under Tracy's post. "You can keep whatever I don't care for. They suit you just fine."

She refreshed the page, only for the post to disappear.

And just like that, Raymond's call came in, his tone furious and accusatory as he questioned, "Melanie Strickland, what in the world is wrong with you? You made Trace cry!

"I don't care where you are right now. Get over here and apologize to her right this second. If you don't, I won't be paying your mother's hospital bills anymore."

Upon hearing that, Melanie couldn't help scoffing.

Seven years ago, when she refused the Johnson family's help and insisted on paying Bethany's hospital bills herself, Raymond had grabbed her hand, his face red with anger, and exclaimed, "Melanie, she's my mom too!"

But now, just because Tracy had cried, he was threatening to cut off Bethany's medical care.

Holding the phone with a slight tremor, Melanie simply said, "Fine."

"What?" Raymond frowned, thinking he'd misheard.

Melanie drew in a steady breath before speaking calmly but firmly, "I can handle my mom's hospital bills myself."

Throughout her seven years in the Johnson family, Melanie had never stopped working.

Now, she was already a fairly well-known designer in the country. Even without the Johnsons, she could afford the hospital bills.

Raymond could be heard breathing hard on the other end before laughing in anger. "Fine. You've got guts—I'll give you that!"

Right when the call ended, Melanie arrived at the hospital. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Bethany's attending doctor rushing toward the hospital room.

Her heart skipped a beat. She hurried after him.

Arnold Hicks, the director of the hospital, grabbed her arm upon seeing her, looking visibly distressed. "Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Johnson has just issued an order forbidding any hospital under Johnson Group from treating your mother.

"If you can't get him to change his mind within an hour, we'll have no choice but to remove your mother from the hospital."

"What?"

Melanie went pale instantly. She tried calling Raymond at once, but the call went unanswered. Her messages were also left unread.

With nothing else she could do, she left with a bitter smile, hurrying over to Raymond and Tracy's new little home. She hadn't even stepped inside when the sound of laughter reached her ears.

"Raymond, are you sure that'll work? What if Melanie takes her mother to a different hospital? If that happens, you won't be able to do anything to her anymore, no?"

Tracy blinked innocently, her voice teasing.

Raymond said in a lazy drawl, "She won't. Everyone knows that the one thing she can't let go of is that half-dead woman. If I didn't have her mother as leverage, I wouldn't be this open about us. She'll cave."

Was this why Raymond had changed? He acted without restraint because he had leverage?

Tracy chuckled, then paused as if a thought had struck her. She wanted to test the waters. "But she's still Melanie's mother. Don't you think you're taking it too far?"

Raymond arched an eyebrow as the metal strap of his watch gave off a cold, steely shine. "Just thinking about how I once knelt in front of someone who's in a vegetative state makes me sick to my stomach."

Standing by the door, Melanie felt her blood run cold. The kneeling he was talking about happened on their wedding day.

Everyone had said that Bethany was a jinx as she was still causing trouble for her family even on her deathbed. Raymond, grim-faced, pushed aside anyone who tried to stop him and led Melanie to the hospital.

He knelt before the lifeless Bethany. "Mom, don't worry about Melanie. I'll take good care of her and make her the happiest woman in the world. As long as I'm alive, I'll make sure neither you nor Melanie suffers."

It would seem that the promises he made were only good for seven years.

Feeling like a chunk of her heart had been ripped out, Melanie opened her mouth to say something, but the tears came first. So this was what being in agony felt like.

Wiping away her tears, Melanie reached for the door.

A glass came flying, shattering at her feet with a loud bang. Raymond, with his legs crossed, drew Tracy closer and gave a cold, mocking smile. "Thought you had guts? Why did you still come to me?"

Melanie lowered her gaze, as still as stagnant water. "I'll do whatever you want as long as you ensure my mom's medical care continues."

Raymond snorted, his smooth voice ringing clearly. "Fine. Since you said that, apologize to Trace first."

"Okay," Melanie answered without any hesitation.

Displeased, Tracy pouted in mock innocence and cooed, "Melanie doesn't seem sincere at all. I want her to be on her knees as she apologizes, like how they do it on TV."

Raymond's eyes flickered with amusement. "You're right, Trace. Melanie, I can't help you if you aren't sincere. Now, get on your knees and apologize to Trace."

Having said that, he settled into a more comfortable position, eagerly waiting for Melanie's reaction with an amused look on his face.

Melanie knew he just wanted to see her flustered.

It was just like that time at a friend's wedding. Even though they had been warned that the media would be there, Raymond still kissed Tracy in front of the cameras and left Melanie alone to face the media's onslaught.

Afterward, he justified himself matter-of-factly by saying, "Trace is timid and easily intimidated by the media. You, on the other hand, are used to it anyway."

Because she was used to it, she had no right to refuse. As such, while her heart ached, she still had to maintain a calm and unbothered front.

And she had to do it right now as well. With Raymond and Tracy looking on expectantly, she set her handbag down and dropped to her knees with a thud.

Shards of glass were embedded in her knees, causing blood to spill all over the floor.

Yet, Melanie seemed unfazed as she spoke softly. "Ms. Lambert, I'm sorry."

For a second, Raymond froze. He instinctively pushed Tracy away and reached for Melanie.

Before he could touch her, Tracy started crying. "Raymond, I feel faint!"

Raymond stopped, scooped Tracy up, and rushed to the hospital.

Melanie tried to follow them, but her knees buckled. As she fell, the glass shards dug even deeper into her flesh.

Yet she barely felt the pain as she grabbed Raymond's shirt tightly. "Raymond, my mom's medical care—"

Raymond cut her off, "Melanie, how can you be so selfish? Can't you see that Trace has passed out? Even now, all you're thinking about is that half-dead mother of yours. I swear if anything happens to Trace today, you and your mother will pay for it!"

With that, he kicked Melanie aside and stormed off, leaving her staring hopelessly after him.

"Raymond, loving you really was a mistake."

After calming herself down, Melanie called the hospital.