Janice froze, as though every muscle had been pulled taut at once. If she confronted Karl about the affair right then and there, should she erupt into a hysterical outburst or collapse into tears instead?

Karl's eyes flicked to the name tag on Janice's chest. His pupils contracted sharply. "Janice?" His voice rose in disbelief. "Why are you here? Weren't you scheduled to be off today?"

That was when Janice stopped playing along. She reached up and peeled off her mask, smirking. "If I hadn't been called in for an emergency rescue tonight, I never would have found out that you were enjoying yourself at a hotel with another woman."

Karl's face hardened instantly. "Don't talk nonsense. Joyce and I…"

"That's enough. Every word you say right now makes me nauseous!" Janice cut him off coldly.

She bent down, picked up her medical kit, and turned away without another glance. Her chest ached violently, her heart pounding as tears gathered in her eyes. She knew that if she lingered even a moment longer, she would break down completely.

As she walked past a cluster of nurses, their hushed voices drifted into her ears.

"I heard Mr. Brooks got hurt earlier while protecting that woman. She's Joyce Gordon, the famous painter."

"Right. They've known each other since high school. Joyce went overseas for further studies, didn't she? Now that she's back, it's obvious the old spark is rekindled."

"But I thought Mr. Brooks is married to Dr. Payne from our hospital."

"Just wait. It won't be long before he divorces her."

Janice stopped walking. She had never met Joyce in person until tonight, yet the name struck her like a blow.

Years ago, Karl had been chosen to lead the Brooks Group, the golden boy everyone admired. Women had flocked to him endlessly, and Janice had been one of them. But the only one he had ever loved was Joyce.

Everyone had believed Joyce and Karl were destined to be together after graduation. Then, without warning, Joyce had left the country during her senior year, and for many years after that, there was no word of her at all.

After graduation, as if fate would have it, Janice had saved Karl's grandmother, Delilah Brooks, during an accident.

Out of gratitude, Delilah had arranged a marriage between Janice and Karl.

Janice had loved Karl quietly for years. Faced with the chance to be his wife, she had accepted without a second thought.

During their three years of marriage, Janice had poured everything she had into Karl. His stomach was delicate. No matter how late he returned from work, she would always prepare a soothing soup and wait for him to come home. For his sake, she had even turned down opportunities for advanced training, choosing to spend more time by his side instead.

She fell deeper and deeper, loving him to the point of losing herself. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she was painfully aware that Karl did not love her. Except for the once-a-month fulfillment of marital duty, he never shared a bed with her. No amount of compromise could melt the ice in his heart.

And now that Joyce had returned, Janice knew she didn't stand even the slightest chance anymore.

Like an empty shell, Janice moved mechanically through the rescue team, tears silently soaking into her white coat without her realizing it.

......

By the time Janice dragged herself home, her body drained of all strength, it was nearly midnight.

Opening the door to the master bedroom, she found Karl already there. He stood in a loosely tied bathrobe, revealing firm, defined muscles beneath.

When Karl saw Janice come back, he glanced up, his eyes darkening. His hoarse voice betrayed no emotion. "There are only a few minutes left before your birthday is over. The cake's in the kitchen. Go get it; I'll stay and light the candles with you."

It was as though the scene at the hotel had never happened at all.

Janice didn't respond. She tried to walk past him, but his hand suddenly clamped around her wrist.

"Janice," he said, "what happened tonight was an accident."

She shook his hand off and answered blankly, "You don't have to explain. And I won't be having the cake; Mrs. Singh already celebrated my birthday with me."

Janice had grown up as an orphan in a mountainside orphanage. Martha Singh, the director, had always treated her with warmth and affection. Whenever Janice had free time, she would go back to visit Martha.

Some time ago, Martha had helped Janice track down her biological family.

That search revealed a truth Janice had never imagined. Her father was the richest man in Riksall, the chairman of Genesis Group, and she had three older brothers.

Her eldest brother, Cristian Reed, was mature and responsible, currently serving as the group's president.

The second, Oliver Reed, was quiet and reserved, a top authority in the medical field.

The youngest, Darren Reed, was bold and flashy, a major star in the entertainment world. On top of that, he was a professional race car driver who ran his own racing team.

Janice had intended to share this life-changing news with Karl today. But now, it felt utterly meaningless.

Still lost in a fog, she suddenly noticed her view blocked by Karl's tall frame. He extended a box toward her. "Since you're not having cake, take a look at your birthday present."

Janice didn't reach for it.

Frowning slightly, Karl opened the box for her. A gemstone necklace lay inside. It was identical in design to the one Joyce had been wearing earlier.

Janice's eyes flashed with a bitter smile. He was gifting her jewelry another woman had already worn.

"Happy birthday. Let me help you wear it," Karl said as he lifted the necklace.

Janice felt a wave of disgust swirling inside her. She snatched the necklace and hurled it to the floor. "Karl, how long do you plan to keep this act going? Are you really going to pretend nothing happened earlier?"

Karl paused briefly. After a moment, he said, looking impatient, "Joyce has been a good friend of mine since my childhood. She was in a car accident overseas not long ago, hurt her wrist, can't paint anymore, and she's been diagnosed with depression. She just got back, and I'm only showing concern as a friend. Can you stop making a fuss?"

Janice's heart quivered, her breathing turning ragged. She had seen her husband walk out of a hotel with another woman, and simply questioning him about it was labeled as "making a fuss."

Her chest tightened again, her eyes burning as she stood there, unable to speak. To persuade Karl to come home more often, she had even been planning to take time off work soon to prepare for pregnancy. She had believed that having a child might make their relationship better. She never imagined that Joyce's return alone would be enough to destroy their marriage so completely.

Bending down, Karl picked up the necklace. After a long silence, he said, "Janice, there's something else we need to discuss."

Janice smiled bitterly. "What is it?"

"I want a divorce," Karl replied casually, as though he were bringing up something trivial.

In an instant, all the warmth seemed to drain from Janice's body, leaving her stiff and numb. She asked, voice shaking, "A divorce?"

Karl answered quietly, "Don't worry. It's only temporary. Joyce is kind and considerate; she doesn't want me stuck in an awkward position. We'll divorce for now, and once she recovers, we'll remarry."

Janice snapped, "Karl Brooks! Have you ever considered that Joyce might have her own agenda? If she's ill, she should see a doctor, not cling to someone else's husband!"

Karl was visibly irritated. "Janice, how can you speak about Joyce so maliciously? She's not like you. She doesn't think in such calculating ways."

Pain ripped through Janice's chest, knocking the air from her lungs. As she watched Karl so fiercely defend another woman, she felt as though her years of devotion had been nothing more than a cruel joke. Ever since Joyce came back, Karl had become someone else entirely. Their marriage had been disrupted with terrifying ease. There was only one plausible explanation. He had never loved her.

Janice shut her eyes, forcing back the tears threatening to spill. "Alright. I agree to the divorce."

But this would not be a temporary divorce; she was done with Karl.

Karl sighed quietly, relieved. He'd been certain that Janice would eventually give in. She had no family to lean on. In his mind, he was the only person she had left.

With that certainty, he added, "Jani, don't be anxious. Nothing between us is going to change. I'll treat you even better than before."

Janice's body shook almost imperceptibly, a sharp ache squeezing her heart. How could he speak with such confidence, as though a wounded heart would remain unchanged forever?

Karl continued calmly, "My grandma's health hasn't been good lately. We can't let her find out about the temporary divorce. I don't want her to worry herself sick."

"You're keeping the divorce from her only because of the shares, right?" Janice sneered, eyes hardening.

Karl's grandmother had made her position clear. If they divorced, his shares in Brooks Group would be revoked without hesitation.

Karl's face darkened, and his voice turned firm. "I've never once considered divorcing you. Joyce and I are nothing more than friends. Stop throwing accusations my way."

A sharp sting rose in Janice's nose as she stared at the man in front of her. His looks were still striking—well-defined features, piercing eyes, and an air of elegance. Yet now, he suddenly felt strange and hypocritical.

The silence between them dragged on.

Finally, Janice shoved him away and said flatly, "We'll go to the courthouse tomorrow at nine and file for the divorce. Joyce won't be convinced by empty promises, will she?"

Karl froze for a brief moment. Then, after a pause, he realized she wasn't wrong. Trying to soothe her, he said, "Don't worry. It's only temporary. Once Joyce recovers, we'll get married again."

As Janice watched the hypocrisy on his face, her stomach churned wildly with nausea, her expression twisting. A wave of overwhelming pain followed swiftly.

She had been worn down from work and hadn't eaten a single proper meal all day. The stomach condition she had kept under control for so long flared up.

Janice clutched her abdomen, cold sweat beading across her forehead. Without warning, she doubled over and retched violently, coughing up a mouthful of blood. The vivid red splattered against the floor, shockingly bright.

Karl rushed forward and grabbed her arm. "Did you skip eating again? Is your stomach acting up?"

Janice pushed him away with every ounce of strength she had left, her voice rough and broken. "Don't touch me."

She couldn't bear to look at Karl's hypocritical expression for another second.

Yet, he didn't walk away. Instead, he bent down and scooped her into his arms. "I'm taking you to the hospital."

His embrace was firm—strong arms, a solid chest. There was a time when Janice loved resting against him, reading as she listened to his heartbeat, wrapped in a sense of safety.

But now, there was only distance and unease. Still, the sharp, relentless pain tearing through her abdomen left her with no strength to fight back. She had no choice but to let him carry her out in the car.

Karl sped down the road toward the hospital.

While driving, he kept his voice low. "Jani, just hold on a little longer. We're almost there."

Right then, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and immediately pulled over to the side of the road. "Joyce? What happened? Don't panic. Slow down and tell me."

The moment Janice heard Joyce's name, her stomach twisted violently again. She doubled forward in the passenger seat, retching in pain.

After exchanging a few more words, Karl ended the call and turned toward Janice. "Joyce burned herself by accident while boiling water. You take a cab to the hospital yourself. I need to go check on her first."

Janice stared at him, shaken, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Karl, it's the middle of the night. You're really going to leave me here by myself?"

"Jani, don't make this difficult. The hospital's not far. Be good and take a cab." Karl leaned over, unbuckled her seat belt, and motioned for her to get out.

The moment she was pushed out of the car, Karl drove off without even a pause.

As the taillights vanished into the darkness, something inside Janice collapsed completely. Holding her stomach, she reached into her pockets to call for a cab, only to realize she hadn't brought her phone along when Karl had carried her out.

Bitterness flooded her chest, her eyes burning red. She loathed herself for throwing away three years of her life on a man who turned out to be nothing but trash. Tears welled up, blurring her vision.

Suddenly, a harsh glare of headlights lit her frail figure.

She turned instinctively, just in time to see a car charging straight toward her.

Janice's pupils shrank abruptly as shock locked her entire body in place.

The screech of brakes being slammed split the air.

The car door swung open, and a man stepped out, looking cold and commanding. He wore a sharply tailored suit that fit him flawlessly. He looked striking yet distant, his expression composed and aloof. Tall and lean, he walked toward her from against the glare of the headlights. In that moment, everything around them seemed to blur and fall away, leaving only him in focus.

"Miss, are you okay?" he asked.

Janice had just parted her lips to answer when a fresh wave of pain crashed over her. Her vision darkened instantly, and her body tipped backward, weak and heavy.

The man's firm arm hooked firmly around her narrow waist, his warm body heat enveloping her.

His handsome face drew closer, and he said in a voice brimming with concern, "Don't be scared. I'll get you to the hospital right away."

Janice felt herself being lifted effortlessly into his arms. His strength was undeniable, and strangely, it was that very firmness that gave her an unexpected sense of reassurance.

Her lips parted faintly, and consciousness slipped away.

When Janice woke again, daylight had already crept in through the windows. She was lying on a hospital bed.

The pain that had wracked her body earlier was gone. A small puncture mark was visible on the back of her hand, evidence of an IV.

The sound of footsteps drew closer.

"You're awake?" A nurse came over, handing her some medication along with a cup of water. "You had gastric bleeding. Luckily, your boyfriend got you here in time. Otherwise, it could've been very dangerous."

Janice stiffened, her face going pale instantly. Boyfriend? That had to be the man from last night. She had been incredibly lucky to encounter someone so kind. Otherwise, she might have collapsed by the roadside and never been found.

The nurse continued cheerfully, "Your boyfriend is wonderful. He stayed with you the entire night. Tall, handsome, and so attentive. I really envy you."

Janice was stunned. He stayed all night? Her voice came out weak as she asked, "Where is he now?"

"He left not long ago. Guess he had to take care of something urgent," the nurse replied.

Janice nodded slowly. He truly seemed to be a good person. She hoped that one day, she might have the chance to see him again.

As she lifted the blanket, she noticed a man's suit jacket resting over her. It carried a faint, clean woody scent. Had that man forgotten to take his jacket? She didn't even have his contact details and had no idea how she was supposed to return it.

Just then, Janice's phone vibrated twice. It was a message from Karl, urging her to hurry up and complete the divorce. She scoffed. The jerk really couldn't wait.

Without wasting another second, she got a cab and headed straight for the courthouse.

Outside the courthouse, Karl had already been waiting for a while. The morning sun fell neatly across his handsome face.

He approached Janice and passed her a cup of coffee. "Did you eat this morning? I stopped by specially to get this for you."

Janice glanced at the cup only briefly. "You don't need to."

She had always liked the coffee from that café. But someone with a stomach issue shouldn't be drinking coffee.

Karl's expression faltered for a second. "I tried calling you last night, but you didn't answer…"

"Don't drag this out. Let's go inside." Janice sneered inwardly and turned away, walking into the courthouse ahead of him.

The divorce process moved swiftly. Forms were reviewed, signatures collected, and stamps pressed into place. Before long, the two of them stepped back outside.

Karl asked, putting on a show of consideration, "Do you want me to take you home?"

Janice made to reply when the passenger door of Karl's car opened, and Joyce stepped out.

"Karl, did you two really get a divorce? You didn't have to do something this drastic for me…" Joyce said softly, her face a mask of self-blame and innocence.

Janice looked at her and let out a short, derisive laugh. "Drop the act. You got exactly what you wanted. Karl belongs to you now."

Joyce stiffened, fury flashing briefly in her eyes before tears rushed in to replace it. "Karl, that's not what I meant…"

Karl lifted a hand and gently patted Joyce's shoulder, his voice steady. "The divorce was my choice. It has nothing to do with you."

Joyce lowered her face, a trace of smug satisfaction flickering beneath her carefully maintained innocence. "Even if you two are divorced now, you can still stay friends. Karl reserved a table at the most famous restaurant in town. Janice, how about we share a meal?"

Janice declined outright. "I'll pass. Sharing a meal with you might upset my stomach."

"Then let us give you a ride. It's hard to find a cab at this time," Joyce said, dropping the pretense entirely as she slipped her arm through Karl's.

Janice gave a faint smile. "That won't be necessary. Someone's coming to pick me up."

Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, a limited-edition Bugatti pulled up in front of the courthouse.

Janice immediately recognized the license plate Cristian had sent her earlier. She raised a hand and waved lightly. "My ride is here. I'll be leaving now."

Seeing the stunned expressions on Karl's and Joyce's faces, Janice finally felt a long-suppressed weight lift off her chest. She opened the door and slid straight into the passenger seat.

But the moment she shut the door and turned her head, her pupils shrank sharply. The man inside wasn't her brother.

She recognized that same striking face instantly—the same man who had carried her to the hospital last night. "How… is it you?"