My name is Regina Chavez.

The first time Carter Gresham cheats, he falls to his knees before me, slapping himself in shame.

The tenth time I catch him, he smiles and tries to comfort me. "Once I get my heart back on course, I'll come back to the family."

The 20th time, his patience snaps. He yanks my hand away and throws a divorce agreement in my face. I tear the papers to shreds and spend the night destroying everything in the house.

By the 30th time, Carter simply sends a signed divorce agreement.

In a desperate bid to make him come back, I threaten to cut my wrists. But even as my blood pools across the floor, no one seems to care.

When I wake up, his friends are gathered around me, telling me to get a divorce.

"Haven't you already spent years building a life with Carter?"

"He's already dealing with enough because of your depression. His seeing someone else isn't the end of the world. Do you really need to cry and threaten to kill yourself over it?"

Without thinking twice, I find myself signing the divorce papers. The following day, I quietly schedule an abortion, keeping it a secret from everyone.

I'm done waiting for Carter to come back.

When I returned home after the procedure, my lower abdomen throbbed, and I felt as if tens of thousands of ants were gnawing at me.

I looked at the thousandth "gift" Carter Gresham's mistress had sent that day.

In fact, the entire storage room was filled with photos of them—looking at each other, holding hands, kissing, and sharing intimate moments.

The moment I stepped inside, a sultry scent hit me.

Carter had just returned from his business trip.

My eyes landed on the stains on the three-thousand-dollar couch. I covered my mouth, struggling to hold back a gag.

"This is a gift Jodie brought for you," he said. "What's with the disgusted face?"

Looking up the stairs, I caught sight of Carter, steam still clinging to him from the shower.

Following his gaze, I noticed a small gift box on the coffee table. Next to it lay an empty condom box.

I quickly averted my eyes. Ignoring the sharp pain in my abdomen, I slowly slowly walked in.

Carter made his way down the stairs. "I heard you were looking for me the other day. What was so urgent you couldn't just tell me over the phone?"

My hand instinctively rested on the bag containing the abortion records and the prescribed medication. I had once believed that this child could make Carter love me again.

Back then, I had been so full of hope and excitement, eager to tell him that we were finally going to have a baby together.

But when I called, it was Jodie McRae who picked up. She gloated openly, leaving nothing unsaid. She claimed that when Carter slept with her, he had fervently declared his wish to have a child together.

The news sent me over the edge. After hanging up, I lost control and grabbed a blade, ready to cut my wrist.

But at the present moment, I simply shook my head at him. "It's nothing. I just had a little accident."

Carter's furrowed brows finally relaxed, and his voice softened. "I asked Ms. Lukasiak to make some chicken soup for you. You should help yourself."

Before I could respond, light footsteps echoed from upstairs.

Wearing only a bathrobe, Jodie rushed down and threw herself into his arms, exclaiming, "Thanks, Carter!"

It took me a moment to realize Carter's words hadn't been for me.

"Hey, Regina. Do you like the gift I got you? A psychologist in Minoria recommended it. It's supposed to help with your condition…"

Not wanting to hear another word from her, I started walking toward the stairs.

But out of nowhere, Carter stepped forward and blocked my way. "Can't you at least say thank you to Jodie?" he whispered.

As I looked back, I saw the empty condom box still sitting beside the gift.

"It's not like I asked her to get it," I retorted.

Noticing how upset Jodie looked, Carter quickly caught up and asked, "What's with the attitude now?"

I exhaled slowly. "I'm not throwing a tantrum. I'm just feeling a little drained, that's all."

I didn't wait for Carter's reaction. I simply turned and made my way into the guest bedroom.

After taking my medication, there was a knock at the door.

Without thinking, I locked it from the inside. I had no energy left to deal with this nonsense.

I slipped the diamond ring off my left hand and stared at it for what felt like forever.

This diamond wasn't just small—it was a complete fake. Carter had bought it from a little roadside boutique the first time he confessed to me.

Back then, we left our village in the mountains together. The money for our tuition came from the part-time jobs we held.

After settling our rent upon graduation, we had only about 30 dollars left.

But the moment I glanced at that ring, he didn't hesitate to buy it for me.

As Carter became more financially secure, he bought me countless diamond rings, yet I never once took this one off.

Unfortunately, that ring no longer held any significance.

I opened the sliding door to the balcony and threw it outside with all my strength. With a splash, the ring dropped into the flowing fountain outside the garden.

All of a sudden, the door swung open. Carter rushed in, his usual composure shattered by a flicker of panic.

Given my current mental state, he kept all the room keys with him, afraid I'd do something reckless.

Seeing I was unharmed, the panic faded from his face. "Jodie knocked a moment ago. Why didn't you answer the door?"

A dull pain throbbed in my lower abdomen. It was likely from the strain of throwing the ring just moments ago.

I sank back onto the couch on the balcony, my hand gently pressing against the sore spot.

"I didn't hear her," I said casually. "From now on, no one is allowed in my room unless I say so. Not even you."

I pointed at Carter, watching the shock in his eyes.

Every piece of furniture in this room had rounded corners. There wasn't a sharp edge in sight.

Whenever I lost control during an episode, I would lock myself in here.

Back then, Carter would stay by my side, holding me close. He'd bury his chin in the curve of my neck, gently trying to calm me down.

At one point, I couldn't imagine my life without him. The thought of him leaving was my worst nightmare.

But now, things were no longer the same. He had changed, and so had I.

After being surrounded by the constant beeping of hospital machines, I began to see everything in a new light.

Carter didn't look away from me for a second. After what seemed like forever, he finally scoffed. "Are you seriously acting like this just because I didn't pick up your call?

"I've explained this before—I was away on a business trip, and Jodie's my secretary. Why does it matter that she answered your call?"

Before I could reply, the sound of porcelain crashing to the floor echoed from downstairs. Without a second thought, Carter turned around and bolted down the stairs.

As I followed behind him, I spotted Jodie on the floor, with a large blister burned into her wrist.

"I saw that Regina wasn't feeling well, so I thought I'd bring her some chicken soup..." she murmured.

Carter shot me a furious glance. "Shoot, Regina! These past few years have been a total nightmare. Because of your mental state, I can't afford to slack off when I'm at the office. I've got one computer for work and the other just to keep an eye on the security cameras at home.

"To be honest, your condition has nearly driven me to the edge. All I wanted was someone to make me a cup of tea when I'm worn out. I don't have the capacity to care about your feelings when I'm barely holding on!

"Whatever. Let's go to the hospital."

With that, Carter steadied Jodie by the waist and walked toward the door.

Staring down at the mess scattered across the floor, I called out for the housekeeper, Hilda Lukasiak.

The mansion, however, stood in eerie silence.

With a sigh, I carefully picked up the shattered porcelain bowl and tossed the pieces into a nearby trash bin.

Just then, a flash of lightning split the night, followed by a thunderclap that rattled the walls.

Startled, I collapsed to the floor. In my panic, I tried to get to my feet, but my hand struck the jagged porcelain, leaving deep cuts along my palm.

Taking a moment to steady my breath, I scrambled for my phone and called the family doctor, Frank O'Connor.

By the time my wounds were dressed, the storm outside had begun to subside.

Frank took his time packing up his medical kit. At one point, his gaze faltered, as if he wasn't sure how to put his question into words. "What happened to—"

"I aborted it."

It was almost ridiculous. The first man to learn I was pregnant wasn't my husband, but the family doctor.

Gazing out at the persistent rain, an inexplicable sadness enveloped me. "I'm leaving. Michael says I only bring trouble to Carter. According to him, Jodie and Carter are the perfect match.

"Even though I've stood by Carter through every challenge and helped him build his business, he's never truly been happy these last few years. It's only with Jodie that he can be the man he's meant to be.

"After giving it some thought, I believe Michael was right. This mansion is about to have a new lady of the house."

Once Frank left, I started packing my things.

Halfway through, my phone buzzed on the table. When I picked up, Carter's voice came through, tinged with unease. "Tomorrow's the anniversary of my father's death."

"Okay," I said. "I'll take a cab to the cemetery tomorrow."

Irwin Gresham had always shown me kindness when he was alive. Paying him a visit was the least I could do to honor his memory. Besides, it didn't make a difference whether I left a day earlier or later.

"I'll come pick you—"

Before Carter could say more, I quickly cut him off. "It's fine. I know you're busy."

With that, I hung up. After stuffing the last of my clothes into the suitcase, I zipped it up and set it in the corner.

Ever since the car accident last year, driving had become something I couldn't bring myself to do. Perhaps my mental state was also part of the reason.

The next day, I arrived at the cemetery two hours behind schedule.

Carter's face was grim, and the people around him looked just as tense.

I knew it was my fault. My hands shook as I struggled to compose myself. "I'm sorry I'm late. It's just—"

Before I could continue, Carter’s friend, Michael Conway, spoke up sharply. "Regina, I don't mean to criticize, but how could you be late on a day as important as Mr. Gresham's memorial?"

"I know, right? Even Ms. McRae arrived early to set everything up, and yet here you are, showing up late. Did you forget you're Mrs. Gresham? That's tough to excuse, don't you think?"

"Exactly. It's one thing to be late to casual events, but how do you justify being late on a day like today? It almost feels like you don't care about Carter's family at all!"

Carter remained silent, though his expression conveyed everything that needed to be said.

Jodie gently patted Carter and Michael on the shoulders. "Let's not be too quick to judge. Maybe something came up that made Regina late."

As she spoke, she handed me a lit candle. "Don't mind them, Regina. They're just joking."

With the way Jodie carried herself, I almost believed she was Carter's wife.

I looked up at her, fighting the urge to explain myself. Sometimes, leaving a misunderstanding unspoken was its own kind of goodbye.

Just as I reached for the candle, Michael stepped in front of Jodie. "Jodie, you'd better stay away from her. I'm afraid she might hurt you."

When Carter first got involved with Jodie, I couldn't stand it. I did everything I could to tear them apart. But to my dismay, Carter said it was impossible.

The day after, I even staged a kidnapping.

That night, Carter pressed a knife to my neck, demanding to know where Jodie was. "You've been depressed and suicidal, haven't you? If you don't tell me where Jodie is, I'll make sure you die right now."

As the thought crossed my mind, my fingers unconsciously traced the scar on my neck.

With a smile, I said, "Relax. I wouldn't hurt you. After all, I know what it's like to have a blade graze my throat."

A flicker of guilt crossed Carter's eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly.

He looked at Michael and the others. "Enough talking. Light the candles!"

With that, I knelt before Irwin's grave, silently whispering in my heart, "I didn't mean to be late, Irwin. Every cab I tried to catch today refused once they saw where I was going.

"I had no choice but to face my fear and drive here myself. That was why I was late.

"I'm also divorcing Carter. I'm sorry for letting you down."

With that, I opened my eyes and bowed deeply before the gravestone.

Rising to my feet, a cold wind swept by, and the candle's hot wax fell onto my hand.

The sharp sting startled me. It felt like a silent warning from Irwin. Did I just make a grave mistake?

"What happened to your hand? Why is it wrapped in bandages? And where's the ring on your finger?" Carter asked.

He moved closer, his hand reaching for mine. But before he could make contact, I quickly hid my hand behind my back, stepping away from him.

I forced a faint smile and said, "It's nothing. I just got a tiny cut while cutting up some fruit. As for the ring, I took it off while I was in the shower. I must have forgotten to put it back on today."

Carter didn't seem to suspect anything and nodded without a word.

Suddenly, a cold breeze cut through, followed by a harsh cough from behind.

I turned to see Jodie, her hand over her mouth. It almost looked like she was trying to cough up her lungs.

Carter quickly stepped forward, draping his jacket over her shoulders. "What's going on? Is it the burn from yesterday flaring up, or have you caught a cold?"

Jodie shot me a smug look. But just as quickly, she bowed her head and hacked out a few more coughs. "Maybe it's the strong winds from the recent typhoon. I think I've caught a cold..."

Carter nodded, gently taking her hand and leading her toward the cemetery exit. "It's my fault. I knew you weren't feeling well, but I still dragged you out here in this cold wind."

I hung back, watching as everyone gathered around Jodie. The sight of her being smothered with concern hit me like a tidal wave, and a deep sadness overtook me.

Suddenly, a sharp, brittle snap echoed from the tree nearby.

Before I could even react, the massive trunk cracked in two and came crashing down.

"Watch out!"

Just before I lost consciousness, I saw Carter and the others rushing to protect Jodie. Without a moment's hesitation, they pulled her away from the falling tree, never once glancing back.

…

When I woke up again, I found myself staring at the dark sky. For a moment, I couldn't tell if I was still dreaming or if this was real.

Nonetheless, the sharp pain shooting through my body swiftly brought me back to the present.

Despite the ache, I forced myself to stand. As I looked around, I realized everyone had already left. A few security guards were busy clearing the wreckage of the fallen tree.

"All the rescue teams have gone downtown for disaster relief. No one wants to come here. They think this place is cursed."

"If I were ten years younger, I'd take care of this myself. Who needs them, anyway?"

"Mr. Hernandez, it looks like there's someone—"

Before he could finish, a beam of light suddenly hit my face, forcing me to shield my eyes.

The moment the light fell on me, the men exchanged nervous looks. Screaming in panic, they scrambled down the mountain, leaving their flashlights scattered in the dirt.

I picked up one of the flashlights and shone it on my white dress. The bloodstains were unmistakable. It was indeed a chilling sight.

After stumbling through the dark for what felt like an eternity, I finally reached my car.

As I drove away from the cemetery, the image of Carter shielding Jodie kept replaying in my mind. I had reached out to them, but none of them even spared a glance in my direction.

A sudden wave of tiredness took over. I let go of the steering wheel, loosening my grip bit by bit.

With a loud crash, the car broke through the guardrail and plummeted downward at full speed.

As the wind howled past my ears, I closed my eyes in resignation.