That night, I went on strike and refused to cook.

Jared didn't bother to coax me. He just took Sabrina and Jackson out to eat. They didn't come back until late, leaving me no opportunity to question him about the travel list.

By morning, word had spread through the village that Jared was set to be promoted to Belmont and that Jackson and I would be going with him.

I was still half-asleep when a deafening slam of the door pulled me fully awake. Jared seized me and dragged me out of bed.

"Kylie Summer, do you enjoy making things difficult for me?"

My head spun. I had no idea what was happening.

"I don't know who told you about Belmont, but I'm telling you now—your name isn't on the list! Stop dreaming," he barked.

I let out a cold laugh. "So? What exactly are you trying to say to me?"

He sneered. "Don't act innocent. You're spreading rumors just to get your name on the list, aren't you? You're nothing but a country bumpkin. Look at yourself—do you really think you deserve to go to Belmont with me?"

Finally, Jared revealed his true face.

Sabrina, who had rushed after him, spoke through her tears, "Jared, I took Kylie's spot, and she's upset… I would have given it back if she had asked. Please, don't fight over me."

Jackson tried to soothe her, like a young adult. "Sabrina, don't cry. This was always your place. Mommy doesn't understand anything. It would be a waste if she went to Belmont. You're the only one who belongs with us."

My husband and son were busy with another woman, leaving me lying on the floor, like a complete mess.

I glared at Jared with nothing but bitter disappointment.

"I knew you were going to Belmont and that my name wasn't on the list, but I don't know how anyone else found out. You owe me an explanation—why is Sabrina the only name on your travel list?"

Knowing he was in the wrong, Jared averted his eyes and looked away from me.

"You're from the countryside, and you wouldn't help in the slightest even if you went to Belmont. Sabrina is educated and far more suited. We'll come back to visit you when we can," he said.

Jared's words were a lie so hollow he couldn't even convince himself.

I couldn't help but snort. "Belmont is over six hundred miles away. How do you expect to visit me frequently?"

His expression darkened at my words. "Don't be selfish. Chances like this don't come often. If Sabrina misses it, she may never have another shot. I know you've resented her all along, but there's nothing going on between us. Stop being so willful."

Jackson crossed his arms, imitating Jared's posture, and lectured me like a young adult, "Mommy, you're being selfish. You grew up in the countryside. Why deny Sabrina the chance to return to the city?

"Daddy's right! Only someone educated and capable like her deserves to go to Belmont with us."

Had he truly forgotten that he came from the countryside and that his life had started in my womb?

Whether I went to Belmont or not didn't matter. What truly hurt was Jared's and Jackson's attitudes. For the sake of a stranger, they judged me without any thought or reason.

As Jared walked off with Sabrina, he said coldly, "Stay at home and reflect. Don't act so childish again."

Jared and Jackson started giving me the cold shoulder. In the past, I would have immediately blamed myself, humbled myself, and tried to win them back. But now, I refused to play along. I hadn't done anything wrong. They were only hoping their cold attitude would make me give in.

Eventually, Jackson couldn't hold back and shyly came to me. "Mommy, I finally learned the Pythagorean theorem."

His eager expression made me feel oddly uninterested. Even when I found Jackson clumsy, I used to pretend not to understand, let him explain, and shower him with praise. He would always sigh and mutter, "It's all knowledge. You wouldn't understand it anyway."

After all those pep talks, he actually thought he was a genius. The Pythagorean theorem was easy—I had learned it back when I was a toddler.

Jackson was approaching eight years old and still only learning it, but he strutted around as though he had accomplished something incredible.

I had no time for flattery, so I said lightly, "Good job. Keep it up."

Jackson didn't get the response he wanted. He shot me a furious glare and stormed off. Soon after, the organization found out that Jared hadn't taken his wife to Belmont and sent someone to check.

Jared carried himself with exaggerated self-importance. "Sabrina is an intellectual, and I am convinced that taking her to Belmont is best for her and for the nation. My small family means nothing when duty calls, and my wife fully supports me."

The organization was moved by this sense of duty and approved a grant for our family. Still, when the funds arrived, none of it reached me.

I caught up with Jared while he was out shopping in the county with Jackson and Sabrina. He was already juggling several bags, almost all packed with women's clothes.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at home cleaning and cooking? What are you doing out?" Jared asked, staring down at me like a king, as if I owed him an apology.

I wasn't there to apologize. "Jared, where's the money the organization sent for me?"

Jared snapped, "What money of yours? It's technically in your name, but it was really given because I got promoted to lead in Belmont. How does that make it yours? I decide how to spend it, and you have no right to interfere!

"Besides, you don't even need it here in the village! Prices in Belmont are high, and we can barely make ends meet!"

Looking at Jared's self-righteous face, I felt nothing but disappointment. "Give me the money now, or I'll report this to the higher-ups. This is blatant misuse of funds, and I want to see how you explain it in Belmont."

Jared's eyes widened with rage. "You're impossible to reason with!"

Sabrina was more terrified than anyone at the thought of not going to Belmont. She immediately grabbed Jared's sleeve and said, "Jared, Kylie's upset. Please return the money to her. I don't want it…"

Jared held Sabrina close, slamming his foot in anger. "You jealous woman! You just can't tolerate Sabrina! If you take this money today, it's over—we'll get a divorce!"

Jackson joined the fray, hurling insults and declaring he would never talk to me again, but I stood my ground. A small crowd had gathered, murmuring among themselves.

I had done nothing wrong, and I wasn't afraid. In the end, Jared and Sabrina surrendered and gave me the money.

For the next few days, we ignored each other completely, treating each other with polite distance.

One morning, I stayed in my room, sorting through my old research notes.

Since marriage, I had drifted back into family life, leaving my research behind and dedicating myself to my husband and son. The organization had hidden my identity while I was in the countryside, and I made sure to keep a low profile. Neither the villagers nor even my family knew who I really was.

When Jared barged into the room, I frowned.

Before I had a chance to speak, he launched into a tirade. "Kylie! How can you be so vicious? What do you have against me? Sabrina is innocent. Why are you spreading rumors in the village, calling her a homewrecker and claiming she stole your chance to go to Belmont?

"Do you know how humiliating these lies are for a woman?"

He charged at me like a rabid dog, spewing spittle across my face.

I stepped back in disgust and said, "Don't accuse me. How can you be so sure it was me? I don't even know who spread these rumors, but are they really lies? Isn't this the truth?"

Jared lunged forward, grabbed my collar, and slapped me to the ground. The sharp crack echoed in the room. My mind went blank, and for a moment, I forgot how to fight back.

Jared had mocked me for being a country bumpkin ever since Sabrina arrived, but he had never struck me—until now. Furious, he shouted, "You never change! Your jealousy nearly caused a disaster! You drove Sabrina to harm herself!

"Now get up and go to the hospital to apologize to Sabrina! Tell every villager that all of this was your lies, born of envy!"

He seized my hair and dragged me toward the door, intent on parading me in public. I struggled and refused to give in, but I was overpowered and pulled outside.

My hair was a mess, and my clothes were in disarray. He dragged me from house to house, pounding on doors and demanding I explain myself.

I refused to take the blame. He slapped me in front of the villagers, trying to force a confession, but they saw through his arrogance and supported me instead.

"Don't you feel disgraceful, hitting your own wife for another woman?"

"That's right! I saw Sabrina's injuries myself—they were barely anything, and by the time anyone arrived, they were probably already almost healed!"

In the end, the villagers stopped the furious Jared and escorted me home.

After the anger faded, all I felt was despair and humiliation. Every ache on my scalp and face reminded me that Jared was nothing but a beast.

With hardly a moment to collect myself, I packed all my research into a single bag, taking only what I could carry, and dialed the number I knew by heart.

"Mr. Carter, I want to return to the Science Academy and participate in the National Science Conference."

Owen Carter's voice trembled with excitement. "Ms. Summer! That's fantastic! On behalf of Science Academy, welcome back! I'll send someone right away to book your ticket to Belmont!"

Jared and Jackson stayed at the hospital with Sabrina the entire time until I left. On the day I departed, I carried only a small bag containing nine years of my life and stepped onto the train. A flicker of premonition made me glance back, and I saw Jared's figure in the distance.

However, I didn't stop nor turn back. I climbed aboard, leaving everything behind.

My return to the Science Academy caused a sensation among the senior scientists. Though their hair was streaked with gray, they rose promptly and went out to greet me.

"Welcome back, Kylie, the genius of our lab!"