Archie spun around, his icy, sharp eyes locking onto Vivian as if he were tearing her into pieces. "What did you put in the mulled wine?"

Vivian was so frightened by the menace in his eyes that she took a step back.

"No... I didn't put anything..." she explained in a panic.

"You dare lie to me!" Archie stepped forward, clamping his large hand around her throat and slamming her against the cold wall.

Vivian couldn't breathe, and her face turned crimson. She futilely grasped at his wrist.

"I warned you not to have any foolish ideas." Archie snarled savagely like he was a devil from hell, his every word laced with an icy chill. "If anything happens to her, I'll make you pay with your life!"

The murderous intent in his eyes was terrifyingly real.

Vivian looked at him in despair.

Only now did she understand that, in his eyes, she was a vicious woman.

And that he would want to kill her when anything happened to Cassie.

Just as she thought she was truly about to die, Archie's phone rang again. It was his assistant. "Mr. Palmer, Miss Fuller's stomachache is from the acute gastroenteritis she is having now. It has nothing to do with the mulled wine. Miss Fuller ate some contaminated food earlier tonight."

Archie finally released his hand, which had been gripping Vivian's neck.

Vivian collapsed to the floor, clutching her throat as she coughed violently, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

While Archie looked down at her, with only persistent coldness in his eyes, instead of any note of apology. "Even if it wasn't you this time, remember this clearly. Know your place and behave yourself. Next time, I won't let you off so easily."

With that, he straightened his slightly disheveled collar, picked up his coat, and walked out without looking back.

"Where are you going?" Vivian asked, her voice hoarse.

"The hospital." He said tersely, then quickly walked out through the door.

The mansion door slammed shut with a loud bang.

Huddled on the cold floor, she touched the sore spot on her neck and suddenly began to laugh.

She was laughing at her three years of foolish infatuation, at her own stupidity for clinging to a man who treated her like dirt.

This marriage was not a cage, but hell.

Vivian sat on the cold floor all night.

The next day, she went to the hospital for her shift as if nothing had happened, her whole body sore.

The mark from Archie's grip on her neck was glaringly obvious, so she had to cover it with a scarf.

As soon as she changed into her uniform, the department head found her. "Vivian, a patient named Cassie was admitted last night with acute gastroenteritis. Mr. Palmer has personally requested that you be assigned to this case."

Vivian felt an ache in her heart but remained composed. "Okay."

Walking into the private room of the hospital, Vivian saw Archie sitting by the bed, personally feeding Cassie.

He was gentle to her, his gaze intent, as if he were taking care of a priceless treasure.

And Cassie, like a docile kitten, just let him feed her, a blissful blush spreading across her face.

The scene was warm and harmonious, yet at it, Vivian felt a sharp ache.

"Hey there, Vivian!" Cassie noticed Vivian before Archie did and waved at Vivian happily.

Vivian forced a stiff smile and stepped forward. "Miss Fuller, I'm here to give you a check-up."

Archie glanced up at Vivian, his gaze as indifferent as if Vivian were a stranger.

Vivian skillfully took Cassie's temperature and blood pressure.

"What is this on your neck, Vivian? What happened to you?" Cassie pointed at a patch of redness on Vivian's neck that the scarf hadn't covered.

Vivian's heart clenched. She instinctively grabbed the edge of her scarf. "Nothing. I'm allergic."

"I see. Take care of yourself." Cassie said with concern, then picked up an exquisitely wrapped box from the nightstand and handed it to Vivian. "By the way, Vivian, this is for you. Thank you for specially bringing me the mulled wine last night."

Vivian glanced at the box but didn't take it.

"I made these cookies myself. Archie told me that you love sweets." Cassie eagerly shoved the box into Vivian's hands.

Vivian felt her heart ached painfully as she now discovered that Archie even shared her preferences with Cassie.

That meant he truly held nothing back from Cassie.

"Thank you," Vivian just said in a strained voice.

After the check-up was finished, Vivian was about to leave. But Archie called out to her. "You will go have lunch at that restaurant on the south side of the city."

It was just like another order from Archie.

Vivian clenched her hands at her sides imperceptibly. "There is a cafeteria at the hospital."

"Do as I told you to!" Archie didn't raise his voice, but it carried an unmistakable pressure that left no room to refuse.

He didn't want to go there with Vivian. He just wanted Vivian out of the hospital so he could be with Cassie alone.

Vivian took a deep breath. "Okay."

She turned and left the ward. The moment she closed the door, she heard Cassie's sweet voice from inside.

Cassie said, "You're so harsh to Vivian. After all, she is your secretary."

"If she did wrong, she should face the consequences," Archie said nonchalantly, as if he were complaining about an unruly subordinate.

Vivian's steps faltered.

So, to him, she didn't even have the right to be forgiven after a mistake.

The restaurant on the south side of the city was very far from the hospital. It would take a one-hour drive to be there.

By the time Vivian returned to the ward, Archie and Cassie were just preparing to leave.

Archie had changed into a well-tailored casual outfit, while Cassie wore a beautiful dress, her face unable to conceal her excitement.

"Archie is taking me to the observatory in the suburbs! I heard there's a meteor shower tonight!" Cassie happily told Vivian.

Vivian remembered she had once mentioned to Archie that she wanted to watch a meteor shower with him.

But what had he said to her then?

He had called it a stupid idea.

Now, he was going to fulfill that very wish with another woman.

"Miss Fuller hasn't fully recovered from her gastroenteritis. It is not good for her if she gets in a draught," Vivian reminded him out of professional habit as a nurse.

The smile on Cassie's face stiffened.

Archie's expression instantly turned cold. He walked up to Vivian, exuding an intimidating presence with his tall frame. "Are you trying to tell me what to do?"

"I was just..." Vivian tried to explain.

"Stay out of her business." Archie cut Vivian off coldly, with an evident note of warning in his tone.

He took Cassie's hand and said softly, "Don't listen to her. There are blankets in the car. You won't catch a cold."

With that, he put his arm around Cassie and walked straight past her, not sparing her another glance.

When they had walked far away, Vivian could still hear Cassie's coquettish voice. "Archie, can't you be a little nicer to Vivian from now on?"

Archie instantly softened and readily said, "Okay."

Standing alone in the empty hospital room, Vivian felt that she really was pathetic.

After she returned home, she shut herself in the room, keeping telling herself that it was time to let go.

Late at night, Archie came home.

He carried the chill from the suburb and a faint trace of women's perfume—the one that Cassie always wore.

Without a word, he walked into the bathroom. When he came out, he tossed a first-aid kit in front of Vivian.

"Cassie sprained her ankle," he said coldly, "Go over there now and take care of it. You're responsible for looking after her until she is fully recovered."

Vivian looked at him, feeling it utterly absurd. "I am a nurse, not an on-call private nanny available 24/7."

Archie narrowed his eyes and approached her step by step. "Say that again?"

"I mean..." Vivian tried to say something.

But Archie stopped her violently.

He threw her onto the bed, pressing down his tall, strong body over her, his hands clamped tightly around her wrists. "Know your place, Vivian. I can make you my wife, but I can also take everything away from you."

His gaze was venomous and fierce, sending a chill down Vivian's spine.

"You tampered with the steps of the observatory to make Cassie fall, didn't you?" He leaned down, enunciating each word.

Vivian's eyes widened in shock.

She hadn't been to the observatory the whole day!

"It wasn't me!" she protested vehemently. "I was home all night!"

"Is that so?" Archie let out a cold laugh, the mockery in his eyes stronger. "Do you think I can't tell that you're jealous of Cassie?"

He gave her no chance to explain and just roughly tore her clothes open. "Since you like playing dirty, I'll show you what a real dirty trick is."

The cold touch and humiliating pain washed over her in an instant.

She didn't know what he took her for.

A vicious woman who would resort to any means out of jealousy to hurt others? Or merely a tool for him to vent his anger on at will?

Tears streamed down her face, soaking into the pillow.

She closed her eyes desperately.

It turned out that, in this marriage, in the name of repaying a favor, there was always no trust.

All he ever gave her was hurt and humiliation.

The next morning, Vivian was awakened by the sound of the doorbell.

Exhausted, she opened the door and saw Cassie standing there with a crutch.

"Good morning, Vivian!" Cassie beamed brightly, holding a box with a cake in it in her hand. "Archie told me yesterday that today is your birthday. So I made a cake for you!"

Vivian was taken aback.

Vivian had almost forgotten about her own birthday if Cassie hadn't reminded Vivian.

But Vivian wondered why Archie would actually remember her birthday.

No, he didn't. He just casually mentioned it to Cassie, and Cassie happened to remember it.

Vivian found that hilarious.

"Thank you." Vivian took the cake, feeling a mix of emotions.

"Make a wish!" Cassie limped into the living room, urging excitedly.

Vivian looked at the flickering candlelight on the cake, unsure what wish to make.

She considered wishing for him to love her for a fleeting moment, but then found the idea utterly ridiculous.

Then she thought about wishing she could leave him.

Suddenly, she felt like that was the wish she should make.

She closed her eyes and silently blew out the candles.

"What did you wish for, Vivian?" Cassie asked curiously.

"Nothing." Vivian cut a piece of cake for Cassie, but found that Vivian had no appetite.

Cassie took a bite and enjoyed the cake happily with her eyes closed, "Tasty! I added lots of nuts, and it tastes very good!"

But suddenly, before Vivian could say anything, Cassie's expression changed.

Cassie clutched her throat, her breathing growing rapid, as patches of red rash spread swiftly across her face.

"I can't breathe..." Cassie's voice was filled with panic.

Vivian's expression changed. She immediately realized it was a severe allergic reaction.

"Don't move, I'll get the medicine!" She rushed into the room, retrieved adrenaline and anti-allergy medication from the first aid kit. When she was about to administer the medication to Cassie by injection, the door of the mansion was kicked open.

Archie stormed in with fury.

When he saw Cassie struggling to breathe on the sofa and Vivian holding a syringe, his eyes turned red instantly.

"Vivian!" He roared like an enraged beast, lunging forward to snatch the syringe from Vivian's hand and smashing it to the floor, then pushing Vivian away forcefully.

Vivian stumbled back, her lower back slamming hard into the sharp corner of the coffee table. Struck by a wave of overwhelming pain, she could barely stand.

"Archie..." Cassie reached out to Archie weakly.

Archie immediately held Cassie in his arms, anxiously checking her over. He said, his voice filled with unprecedented panic, "Don't be afraid, Cassie. I'll take you to the hospital right away!"

He scooped Cassie up in his arms and hurried out.

As he passed Vivian, he stopped and looked back at her, his eyes filled with overwhelming hatred. "Do you really hate her that much? If anything happens to her, I'll make you pay with your life."

His harsh words were like a dagger to her heart, leaving it bleeding profusely.

He had convicted her without even asking for an explanation.

Watching their retreating figures, Vivian, clutching her aching back, slowly crouched down.

She looked at the cake on the floor. The very thing that was supposed to celebrate her rebirth now became the evidence of her guilt.

She felt it was really ironic.