The paramedics arrived quickly.

After a quick bandaging, Melanie rushed straight to Bethany's hospital room.

As soon as she entered, she saw the head nurse preparing to remove Bethany's breathing tube.

"Stop! All of you, stop! I'm Raymond's wife, and this hospital belongs to the Johnson family. Who gave you permission to touch my mother?"

Melanie's voice was sharp and commanding. She bit her lip so hard that it bled.

The head nurse looked troubled. "Mrs. Johnson, this was Mr. Johnson's direct order. We can't go against it. Maybe you can try talking to him again…"

The call connected quickly, and Raymond's impatient voice came through. "What now?"

Melanie sniffled, her voice trembling slightly. "Raymond, didn't you say that if I knelt and apologized, you'd help my mom? They're about to remove her life support. Can't you—"

"I can't," Raymond cut her off coldly. "Even though Trace wasn't hurt this time, I'm still not happy with your attitude. Don't worry. I've already checked with a doctor. Your mother won't die just because I'm removing her life support."

"But she's already brain dead. The doctor said—"

Raymond frowned, not wanting to hear another word. He interjected, "What the doctors say doesn't matter. I still need to put Trace to bed, so I'm hanging up."

As the call abruptly ended, the head nurse helplessly shrugged and removed Bethany's breathing tube.

Her heart rate spiked on the monitor, the urgent beeping sounding almost like a cry of anguish. Brain-dead patients could only survive on ventilators.

"No… Please no!"

Restrained by the staff, Melanie could only watch as Bethany trembled and seized on the bed before going completely still. By the time the doctor confirmed her death, only three minutes had passed.

In just three minutes, Melanie's last remaining family was gone. And the one responsible was Raymond, the man who once swore he'd take care of her forever.

At that moment, Tracy updated her social media with an ultrasound photo and the caption, "Congratulations! Someone's officially going to be a dad!"

Laura Becker, Raymond's mother, was the first to like the post. "You're amazing, Tracy! You got pregnant so easily, unlike a certain someone who keeps failing. Next week, have Raymond bring you home for dinner."

Tracy responded with a shy emoji.

Melanie's mouth twitched. If anyone seemed like a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, it was them, not her.

Tears soaked Bethany's death certificate as Melanie sat alone in the morgue until dawn.

There were 28 days left until her divorce from Raymond would be finalized. In the following days, Melanie handled Bethany's funeral arrangements alone.

The embalming, cremation, and burial all took a full seven days to complete.

During those seven days, Raymond didn't come home, whereas Tracy's social media was updated like clockwork.

Raymond went with her to prenatal checkups, picked out a crib with her, and got protective charms for her and the baby.

Everything Melanie and Raymond had once dreamed of doing together, Raymond did with Tracy.

On the ninth day after the divorce agreement was signed, Raymond uncharacteristically bombarded Melanie with accusatory texts. "Where did you take your mother? I was just messing around. Did you really have to hide her?

"My mom is right. You're spoiled. Bring your mom back to the hospital at once. Don't let her pay the price for your stubbornness."

Speechless, Melanie simply replied, "There's no need."

Because of that short reply, Raymond rushed back to the villa that night. Clutching Melanie's hand, he ground his teeth in fury.

"What did you mean by there's no need? What, are you trying to cut ties with me? I'm warning you, Melanie, you—"

"Congratulations on your upcoming fatherhood," Melanie interrupted him, her gaze mocking.

Raymond let go of her hand, sinking onto the couch with a guilty look. Then, his features softened at a passing thought. "You only moved your mom because of Tracy's pregnancy, huh?

"You were afraid I'd ignore you because of her, so you did that to get my attention. Melanie, you don't have to do that. Even if Tracy has a child, you will always be my one and only wife. That will never change."

Raymond curled his lips into a smug smile. Then, he pulled out a red tourmaline bracelet from his pocket, acting all magnanimous.

Melanie had seen that bracelet on Tracy's Instagram. It was a one-of-a-kind auction piece.

Tracy thought it looked old-fashioned and had casually thrown it in the trash, claiming only old women would wear it.

Raymond, seeing Melanie zoning out, thought she was shocked and thrilled. With a smile, he continued, "Since you've gone to so much trouble to win me over, you can come to the gathering at Johnson Manor tomorrow."

Melanie furrowed her brows. Just as she was about to refuse, Raymond asked, sounding oddly curious, "What was that thing you made me sign last time? I never got a notification for the purchase."

Melanie's heart skipped a beat. She unconsciously clenched her hands.

So he didn't know that he'd signed a divorce agreement. That was for the best. At least she wouldn't have to get tangled up with him anymore when she left.

With that in mind, Melannie adopted a dismissive tone. "It's nothing. I just didn't want it anymore."

Raymond didn't dwell on it. As he stared at Melanie, who was dressed plainly, a warmth spread through his chest.

Just as he was about to say something else, Tracy called. "Raymond, the baby is kicking me again. Come keep me company."

Raymond instinctively turned to Melanie.

In the past, Melanie would have thrown a huge tantrum if she heard that, demanding he stay, or she would have pushed him out of the villa and slammed the door to make her anger clear.

But this time, Melanie did nothing. Without uttering a single word, she turned and went upstairs, leaving Raymond staring at her slender back.

"Melanie!" Raymond called after her, a mix of anger and frustration in his voice. "Did you not hear that? Trace wants me to keep her and the baby company."

Melanie nodded, her steps unbroken. "Go ahead. Drive safely."

Raymond froze, momentarily stunned. In the end, Tracy's irritated voice snapped him back to reality, and he hurriedly replied, "I'm on my way."

The next day, Melanie went to the embassy to apply for a visa.

At 7:00 pm, she arrived at Johnson Manor right on time. It was a grand birthday celebration, attended by all the renowned families in their social circle.

The Strickland family used to be one of them.

Back then, Laura had often said, "Out of all the ladies in Bell City, only Melanie is worthy of our Raymond. When she marries into our family, I'll treat her like my own daughter."

But when the Strickland family went bankrupt, it was also Laura who, at Morris' funeral, flung a check for 100 thousand dollars at Melanie's face and told her to leave Raymond, warning her not to ruin his bright future.

Collecting her emotions, Melanie entered Johnson Manor.

As soon as she stepped inside, she felt mocking, disdainful, and amused gazes on her.

At the center of the crowd, Laura was chatting warmly with the guests while holding Tracy's hand. "That's right. This is Raymond's beloved Tracy Lambert. She's three months along."

A guest intentionally tried to cause tension, asking, "Isn't your daughter-in-law from the Strickland family? Aren't you afraid she'll flip out when she sees you acting so brazenly with Tracy?"

Laura rolled her eyes, her disdain obvious as she replied, "What's there to be afraid of? She's nothing but a nobody who's now living off my son. If it weren't for him, she'd probably be dead somewhere on the street.

"Besides, she can't even have kids. If she's so capable, she can try having children then."

Melanie had been pregnant before. It was three years ago.

Raymond was driving her to the beach when the brakes failed, causing a massive pileup.

At the critical moment, Melanie instinctively shielded Raymond.

As glass from the windows pierced Melanie's skin, she blacked out on the spot. By the time she woke up, she was in the hospital.

The doctor told her she'd been pregnant, the child was lost, and she might never be able to have children again.

Hearing this, Melanie cried all night.

Then the butler told her that Raymond had been saved by a woman and planned to bring her into the company as his assistant, as a gesture of gratitude.

That woman was Tracy.

A mocking glint flashed in Melanie's eyes as she withdrew from the crowd, heading to the back garden to clear her head.

Alas, Tracy wasn't about to leave her alone. She quietly made her way to Melanie's side. "Melanie, why aren't you heading in? Afraid you'll cry when you see how nice Mrs. Johnson is being to me?"

She blinked, not even trying to mask her provocation. "See this? Mrs. Johnson just gave this to me. She said it's something every lady of the Johnson family has. It's pretty, right?"

Tracy flaunted the emerald bracelet on her wrist.

Melanie had long stopped caring about such things. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying Raymond doesn't like you anymore, and Mrs. Johnson doesn't care for you either, so why are you still shamelessly clinging to the title of Raymond's wife?

"You should have some sense and let me have it already. Just last night, Raymond promised I could be by his side openly and that neither the baby nor I would have to face mistreatment."

In the face of Tracy's aggression, Melanie simply smiled. "Well then, congratulations."

Whether it was the Johnson family or Raymond, Melanie no longer wanted anything to do with them. She then turned to leave after speaking.

Tracy, struck by an idea, suddenly yelped and collapsed to the ground.

"Help! Someone help me! My stomach hurts so much!"

Raymond came running and saw Tracy clutching her stomach, crying out in pain. Almost instinctively, he slapped Melanie hard across the face. "How can you be this vicious? You'd even hurt a pregnant woman?"

Melanie covered her face, disappointment evident in her eyes. "I didn't."

"I literally saw you!"

Raymond grabbed her wrist, squeezing so hard that it felt like her bones would shatter.

"Did you forget your last lesson already? If anything happens to Trace, I swear I'll reduce your mother to ashes!"

"You don't need to wait. You can do it right now."

Laura stormed over with bodyguards, ordering them to hold Melanie down.

Sobbing, Tracy shook her head. "Mrs. Johnson, Raymond, it's fine. Melanie didn't do it on purpose. She's just jealous because I'm pregnant with Raymond's child. I understand."

She turned around and dropped to her knees in front of Melanie with a dull thud. "Melanie, you should just hit me two more times. I'll do anything to appease your anger. Just… don't hurt my baby."

Melanie almost laughed from sheer rage. "I already said I didn't touch her. If you don't believe me, you can check the surveillance footage. There are cameras here."

Tracy abruptly went pale. Gritting her teeth, she collapsed.

Raymond completely lost it, dragging Melanie to the pool and forcing her head under the water by yanking her hair.

As Melanie's head was shoved into the water the second time, pool water rushed into her mouth and nose, flooding her lungs.

Pain blurred her vision. Her throat burned, and her ears buzzed.

By the pool, Tracy had woken up at some point and was nestling in Laura's arms pitifully.

The guests whispered among themselves. "Isn't Mr. Johnson going too far? He's going to kill her at this rate."

"She deserves it for hurting others…"

Half an hour later, Raymond finally let go of Melanie.

He approached Tracy, his voice gentle as he said, "Don't be afraid. I've already avenged you. Does your stomach still hurt? I'll take you to the hospital."

He then carried Tracy in his arms and left without looking back. Laura kicked Melanie contemptuously before storming off.

Soon, everyone left, leaving Melanie lying on the floor, limp and motionless.

When her tears finally ran dry, she looked at the wedding ring on her finger. A mirthless laugh escaped her lips.

Pulling out her phone, she dialed a number she'd never called before. "You said before you'd pay 300 million dollars for evidence of the Johnson family's tax evasion. Does that offer still stand?"

From that day on, Melanie never went home again, opting to stay in a hotel for over ten days.

During that time, Raymond deliberately kept updating his social media with all things Tracy as a form of punishment to Melanie.

He gave Tracy the jeweled brooch Melanie had once wanted as Tracy's early birthday present.

He moved Tracy into the villa and used the sheets and bedding that Melanie had personally picked out.

He promised Tracy a wedding at the same church where he had married Melanie.

Friends and acquaintances in their circle offered their blessings, saying they were a perfect match.

They also said that Raymond had finally realized he should have dumped Melanie a long time ago, calling her a hag.

Someone even commented, "Forget about the ceremony. Just divorce Melanie and marry Tracy already. You might as well go all the way!"

That comment was the most liked.

Raymond didn't respond, and it was already deleted the next day.

Melanie couldn't care less about such petty things, focusing entirely on her deal with Vincent Corbett.

The day before the divorce was finalized, Melanie returned to the villa.

Unsurprisingly, everything inside had been changed to suit Tracy's taste. Melanie's photos and clothes had all been shredded.

Fortunately, the documents and divorce agreement hidden in the wardrobe weren't discovered.

With the documents in hand, Melanie was about to leave when Tracy blocked the door, her belly protruding.

"Melanie, I seriously didn't expect you to be able to put up with so much. I've made you the laughingstock of high society, and yet here you are, still clinging to the Johnsons.

"I guess it's understandable, though. Now that both of your parents are gone, it's only natural that you'd hang onto the Johnson family for dear life. After all, who else in Bell City would want you besides Raymond?"

Suddenly, Tracy had an amusing thought, and she looked at Melanie, grinning innocently.

"Do you know why Raymond likes me so much? Because I told him that on the day of your car accident, you ran away to save yourself and left him behind, and that I was the one who got him out of the car.

"When I took Raymond to the hospital, you were still stuck in the passenger seat, bleeding heavily, so I literally watched your miscarriage happen.

"And I was the one who paid off the doctor and had him tell Raymond that taking a vegetative patient off life support wouldn't be a problem. I made you watch helplessly as your mother died.

"After all I've done, there's just no way you can beat me, is there, Melanie?"

Melanie's handbag fell to the ground with a thud. Unable to take it anymore, she slapped Tracy across the face.

The next second, a sharp pain shot through the back of her neck. Someone had knocked her out.

She woke to find herself and Tracy trapped in a wrecked car, just like three years ago. Only now, Raymond was the one who would decide their fate.

After the rescue team assessed the situation, one of them said, their expression solemn, "Mr. Johnson, both Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Lambert are trapped in the wreck. Time is of the essence. We can only save one first. Who do you want us to save?"

Without a second thought, Raymond said, "Save Mela—"

"Raymond, save Melanie. She's been with you for seven years. All I did was save your life once. Choose her. The baby and I will be fine," Tracy muttered weakly while clutching her stomach before Raymond could finish speaking.

Raymond hesitated as the words caught in his throat. "Save Tracy."

The first responder frowned. "Are you sure? Ms. Lambert is only stuck between the airbags, but your wife's whole leg is trapped. Her injuries are far more serious. If we don't act fast, she could end up losing the leg—"

"I said, save Tracy," Raymond cut him off coldly. "Melanie is my wife. Even if she loses a leg, the Johnson family can take care of her for life. Tracy is different. She saved my life before. I have to put her first."

The first responder didn't argue further and started prying the car open.

Melanie watched as they carefully lifted Tracy out. On her side of the car, a piece of metal had pierced her thigh when the front end crumpled, sending a sharp pain shooting through her body.

In her daze, she seemed to be reliving a moment from seven years ago.

She had tripped, and Raymond was half-kneeling in front of her, gently blowing on the wound to ease the pain. "Melanie, are you trying to kill me with worry?"

Now that she was trapped in a car and bleeding profusely, the last thing she saw was Raymond striding away with Tracy in his arms, their figures growing smaller until they were gone from her sight.