Anna put down her phone and felt a lump in her throat.

She was afraid that Collin had already seen through the love she pursued and found it was nothing but a shattered dream.

Over the past five years, she had been wrong.

Perhaps Anna's sudden departure from the estate had worried Braeden. When she left the hospital, some bodyguards closely followed her and feared that she might get lost.

She found it amusing.

She looked down, and a message from Braeden arrived. "Honey, things at the company are tough. I won't be back tonight. Go to bed yourself."

Anna couldn't be bothered to reply.

Just a month ago, Braeden was still planning surprises and gifts for their anniversary.

But he seemed to have completely forgotten about it.

Yet, it didn't matter anymore.

On a social media platform, Carol posted a new photo.

She was wearing a pristine white wedding dress, with a diamond-studded crown on her head.

"The guy who loves me stays up all night helping me choose my wedding dress."

Braeden was about to marry another woman, but he kept deceiving Anna.

Anna stared blankly at the photo, and her heart ached with a gnawing pain.

The style of Carol's wedding dress was once her favorite, too.

On the eve of the ninth time they planned to get married, Braeden had suddenly told her that her wedding dress had been accidentally stained by the wedding dress boss and that she couldn't wear it.

Anna had no choice but to pick another one, which was simpler and casual.

Now Anna knew that the dress had probably been reserved for Carol all along.

Anna clutched her phone tightly, and her whole body trembled with pain.

He had long decided not to marry her, but she foolishly awaited the tenth time he pretended to plan to marry her.

Carol continued to post more photos on her social media.

"A stunning sapphire ring, a gift from my husband, with a six-digit price tag."

The dazzling blue ring was around Carol's finger, and on the counter lay a diamond bracelet, tagged "Complimentary Gift".

Anna touched the promise ring she had worn for five years.

When Braeden had placed it around her finger, she couldn't stop her tears of joy.

Back then, she had treated the ring as a rare treasure and would feel uneasy even taking it off for a minute.

And now, he had placed a larger, more precious gemstone ring around Carol's finger and proposed to her.

He said she was his wife.

Anna couldn't understand how his heart could be split in two and how his love could be divided.

But she suddenly got it.

He just didn't love her.

Anna took off the ring and placed it on the bedside table.

Braeden returned the next morning.

As soon as he entered, he went straight to Anna and planted a deep kiss on her forehead. "Honey, I'm sorry. I just realized while signing documents that our anniversary passed two days ago."

Anna's heart ached dully as she listened to him continue, "I brought you a gift to make up for it."

With that, he took out a beautiful gift box from his pocket and slowly opened it.

It was a bracelet.

"Do you like it? This new pavé diamond piece from Cartier is perfect for you." Here, let me put it on for you."

Anna's heart sank heavily.

It was the same "complimentary gift" she had seen in Carol's photo the night before.

She controlled her trembling hands and let Braeden clasp the bracelet onto her wrist.

"Oh, by the way, the bracelet was a bit large, so I had them remove a diamond and make it into a ring. It's for me. Now we have a matching set of couples' jewelry, don't we? It's unique, just for us," Braeden said excitedly. He was oblivious to Anna's growing pallor. "I installed a discreet tracker in the bracelet and a receiver in the ring, so I can see what you're up to anytime. I'm sorry, honey. I'm too busy and often not at home, so this is my way of protecting you. You don't mind, do you?"

Anna held her breath

and gestured to reply to him. "I don't mind. Thank you."

Braeden smiled brightly and gently stroked Anna's hair. "My good girl."

Braeden didn't linger at the estate for long.

After he thought he had sufficiently appeased Anna, he quickly drove away.

Anna stood by the window and watched as Braeden's figure disappeared into the distance. Her heart was cold.

As she numbly removed her bracelet from her wrist, she noticed the indicator light was on.

Anna frowned.

Braeden truly didn't care about her. He even managed to get such an important gift wrong.

He had installed the chip incorrectly.

The receiver meant for the ring was mistakenly placed on the bracelet.

Anna gently pressed the switch of the receiver and heard a woman's sweet voice. "Braeden, hurry up. How can you have me waiting alone at City Hall for so long?"

"OK. I'm on my way."

It turned out that he was going to get married.

For the past two years, Braeden had always assumed the role of Anna's fiancé.

Sometimes, he even directly said she was his wife.

Anna thought sometimes that the marriage certificate and the wedding weren't so important.

As long as he loved her and always stayed with her, that was true happiness.

But he had become Carol's husband now.

Anna became the real hidden third wheel.

Next, she saw Carol and Braeden embracing and kissing.

She heard them vow at City Hall that they would love each other forever.

Those scenes had played out in Anna's mind thousands of times.

But she got nothing after five years.

Anna curled up on the floor and hugged herself tightly.

The pain was unbearable.

She felt so much pain that she couldn't breathe, and her whole body trembled.

Braeden had always known how much she would hurt, how much she would hate, so he never dared to get married to Carol openly.

But eventually, the truth would come out.

Anna heard Braeden, as he left, repeatedly instructing the photographer not to post the edited photos on social media.

Anna suddenly burst into laughter.

He was still hiding from her and deceiving her.

How long did he plan to keep her in the dark? Forever?

She could not speak only due to shock and fear, but she was not an idiot.

"Now you're my husband," Carol said happily. "I'll book the whole venue at a well-known luxury restaurant this evening to celebrate. What do you think?"

Braeden replied in an indifferent tone, "I don't think so. I have to spend the anniversary with Anna this evening. I'm afraid that she'll get suspicious if I am out for too long."

"Alright." Carol sounded disappointed. "On our wedding night, my husband will go to be with another woman. As your wife, can I make one request?"

Braeden asked, "What is it? Go ahead."

"I want you to set off the most beautiful, grand fireworks for me this evening."

Braeden was silent for a long moment. "Okay."

In the evening, Braeden prepared an extravagant cake for Anna in a restaurant.

On the table lay a folder.

"Honey, it has been hard for the past two years. This is my gift to you. Take a look and see if you like it." Anna picked it up and saw a contract and a design blueprint. "The estate you're currently staying in is a bit small, and I worry you might get bored. So I bought a larger piece of land and designed a new estate."

Braeden enthusiastically explained. "Look here. I designed an amusement park for you. If you're ever bored, you can play all day long. Over there, I plan to build a swing for you with my own hands."

After that, Braeden kept talking, but Anna couldn't hear another word.

Her head buzzed, and her vision blurred.

Braeden had truly gone to great lengths to ensure she was completely trapped.

"Oh, honey, let's name the estate Anna Estate, and you will be the owner." Once Braeden finished his lengthy discourse, he took Anna's hand. They both looked out of the window. "Wait a moment. There's another surprise for you. It's our fifth anniversary. I want you to remember it forever."

Anna laughed.

He was right.

It was indeed unforgettable.

It would be her unforgettable memory of profound shame and pain.

Just then, a woman wearing a fox mask showed up. She gracefully poured each of them a cup of coffee.

Braeden frowned slightly and seemed to notice something.

He whispered in Anna's ear, "Anna, I need to use the restroom."

With that, he turned and quickly left.

Anna turned her head and saw the masked woman following him upstairs.

Soon, a notification chimed on her phone.

She received a video message.

Anna felt as if her heart had stopped beating.

She held her breath and lightly clicked on the phone screen to open the video.

"Who let you come here? What if Anna finds out?" Braeden's angry voice came through the video.

"She'll find out sooner or later." Carol said and pouted. "Braeden, I am your wife now. Since we got married, why are you treating me this way? I have given myself to you completely."

Braeden sighed and pulled Carol into his arms. "Alright, honey. I know you're unhappy about it, but we had an agreement before, didn't we? I loved Anna back then, and she was utterly devoted to me. I'm afraid she might not handle it well and kill herself without me. I can only give you the title as my wife, but I have to give some of my affection to her."

Anna stood frozen. Her blood rushed to her head instantly and made her scalp tingle and ache.

In the video, Carol whimpered, feigning tears, "Sorry, I won't do this again."

Braeden eagerly lifted Carol onto the table and pinched her chin seductively. "Then I must punish you."

In the next moment, he pinned her to the table.

As they had sex, Anna couldn't hold back any longer and rushed to the bathroom to vomit.

At that moment, there was a loud "bang." Fireworks were exploding.

Anna turned her head to see the fireworks that lit up the night sky. It was stunningly beautiful.

The groans from the video mingled with the sound of fireworks.

Anna was overwhelmed and felt her blood surge within her. Then she spat out blood.

The long-suppressed emotions seemed to finally find an outlet. She broke down and cried with a hoarse voice that had long been silent. "Braeden, I hate you with every fiber of my being!"