Heinry sent large sums of money to the families of heart donors every month.

There was only one condition. The donors were forbidden from giving their hearts to anyone else. If Yvonne needed it, they were obligated to donate immediately.

The last certificate in the box was mine. But the recipient of the donation had been changed from my mother to Yvonne.

I recalled the day Heinry handed me a stack of documents to sign, insisting they were required for the surgery preparations. Desperate to save my mother, I barely glanced at them before signing.

This certificate must have been slipped in among them and my mother’s original document was most likely destroyed long ago.

Heinry, you truly went to great lengths for Yvonne.

Later, I printed out the divorce agreement and sat on the sofa, a wave of loneliness engulfing me. The grief weighed so heavily on my chest that sleep was impossible.

The next morning, Heinry was oblivious to my turmoil and assumed I had simply risen early.

Perhaps guilt from seeing me cough up blood the previous night spurred him on, so he prepared a meticulously balanced breakfast, every dish rich with nutrients.

When I remained still at the table, his voice tinged with concern.

"Wendy, why aren’t you eating? Are you in a bad mood?"

"It's nothing. I just miss my mother."

He sighed.

"Wendy, you’re not the only one. I think of her all the time, too. She was such a kind, selfless person... but because of me, I couldn’t save her when it mattered. I still remember her holding my hand, asking us to promise to live a happy life together."

If my mother had had even an ounce of strength left to lift her hand, it would have been to strangle him to death.

Looking at the practiced sorrow on his face, I could not help but feel a bitter wave of sarcasm.

I was about to bring up the divorce, but Heinry spoke first casually as if he were making a passing suggestion.

"Wendy, you’ve been feeling down for a while now. Yvonne is coming back to China today and it’s her birthday. There’s a family dinner at the old house. Why don’t we go? It might cheer you up a bit."

"I know you haven’t wanted to see her since... what happened with Mom. But so many years have passed. Yvonne didn’t mean for any of that to happen. After all, we’re family. She’s always been sensitive. If we don’t go, I’m afraid she’ll be hurt…"

So this was his real purpose today. All that pretense of care was just a way to see his beloved.

I cut him off coldly, "Whatever."

Heinry smiled, relieved.

"I knew my Wendy was the most understanding."

As soon as we entered the old house, the sight before me was almost nauseating. Yvonne Spencer, dressed like a noble princess, clung to my mother-in-law’s arm, acting coquettishly.

My mother-in-law beamed with delight, indulging her every whim, even feeding her slices of fresh fruit into her mouth.

She was adored and spoiled in every possible way.

Yvonne spotted me immediately. She turned to my mother-in-law and said it with a tone that was laced with malice.

"Grandma, you’ve fattened me up with all your treats! Now that Aunt Wendy is here, why don’t you give her the leftovers? I don’t like it and she doesn’t have a mother, so…"

My mother-in-law followed her gaze and noticed me for the first time. Her eyes swept over my plain clothes and a sneer curled on her lips.

"Who invited you, a sickly wretch, to come here? Do you want to bring your bad luck and poverty into our lives?"

"Our Spencer Family is a distinguished family of doctors, yet you walk around looking like a beggar. Do you have any idea how much shame you’ve brought to my son? Married for years and can’t even give him a child. Useless and brainless, just like your damn mother. Did she never teach you how to behave?"

Heinry was not even a biological member of their family. He was the child his stepmother brought into the marriage.

Perhaps out of insecurity, she had always insisted that he marry a woman from a strong family to ensure his place in the household.

Years later, after Yvonne’s father died in a car accident, Heinry proved himself. He earned fame as the “golden scalpel” and won over my father-in-law, who entrusted him with the family business.

Only then did my mother-in-law grudgingly agree to our marriage.

Because my physical condition made pregnancy impossible, my mother-in-law, who had been desperate for a grandchild, grew increasingly dissatisfied with me.

In the past, Heinry would at least defend me, offering a few placating words to smooth things over. But now, his eyes were constantly drawn to Yvonne, brimming with an unmistakable longing he no longer bothered to hide.

Yvonne bounded over to him, latching onto his arm with practiced affection as she said coquettishly, "Uncle, did you bring me a gift?"

Heinry pinched her cheek affectionately. "Of course."

Twenty-eight luxurious and high-end designer dresses were wheeled in, each paired with an equally extravagant set of jewelry.

The twenty-eighth was Yvonne's age on this birthday.

Overjoyed, Yvonne planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Wow! Uncle, you really love me the most. These are all limited editions! But Uncle, you’re spending so much on me... What if some people get upset?"

Only then did Heinry seem to remember my presence. His gaze shifted awkwardly toward me and the shabby clothes I wore seemed even more glaring amidst the dazzling display of wealth.

In all our years together, Heinry had never once remembered my birthday. He had certainly never given me anything extravagant as these dresses and jewelry.

He looked at me awkwardly and reached out to take my hand, his tone full of hesitation, "Wendy, don’t think too much. I’m Yvonne’s uncle and I just…"

Before he could finish, Yvonne clutched her chest dramatically and frowned.

"Uncle, I feel... strange. My heart... My chest feels tight. Could it be... my heart condition acting up again?"

At once, Heinry dropped my hand as if it burned him. He turned to Yvonne, his expression etched with panic as he pulled her into his arms.

"What’s wrong? Why are you feeling like this all of a sudden? Does it hurt? No, I can’t take any risks. I need to check you immediately."

After finishing his words, Heinry lifted Yvonne into his arms in front of all the guests, carrying her upstairs without so much as a backward glance.

The relatives’ gazes filled with scorn as they turned their attention to me.

"No wonder Heinry would rather shower Yvonne with dresses and jewelry than spare even a single gift for her. A woman of such lowly origins doesn’t deserve to be the Spencer Family’s daughter-in-law, let alone enjoy fine things."

"If it weren’t for the fact that Heinry is her uncle by marriage, do you think he would’ve ever married her? Maybe she used her mother’s death to blackmail him into it. Shameless! She probably stepped on her own mother’s grave just to climb into wealth!"

The murmurs grew louder. My mother-in-law was clearly embarrassed and she did not hesitate to berate me.

"You’re such a disgrace! Why are you still standing there like an idiot? Get out of here! Haven’t you humiliated our family enough already?"

"It’s a miracle my son even agreed to operate on your good-for-nothing mother! She died because she wasn’t strong enough and now you dare to act ungrateful? Worse, you have the audacity to blackmail him? Shameless. Mark my words! Karma will catch up with you someday!"

My fists clenched tightly beneath my sleeves, but I forced a weak smile. Yes, meeting Heinry Spencer was my greatest punishment.

The thought of the divorce agreement tucked safely in my bag strengthened my resolve. Without a word, I turned and headed upstairs to find Heinry.

But on the second-floor balcony, there they were. Heinry and Yvonne were locked in an intimate embrace.

Yvonne leaned casually against the railing, her arms looped around his neck.

"Heinry, listen carefully. Does my heart still feel tight? Hmm?"

"Yvonne, we can’t..."

Heinry’s voice was strained, but his perfectly tailored trousers had already shown his true desire.

Yvonne took the initiative, her lips brushing his as she spoke seductively, "Don’t you want me? I know you do. I know your heart belongs only to me and mine to you. Even if you married someone else because of what society expects, your body is still mine. So let’s stop pretending... just this once…"

Heinry’s restraint crumbled. He seized Yvonne by the back of her head and kissed her hungrily.

The air filled with the sound of ripping fabric and an unbearable moan of ecstasy.

Hearing Heinry’s heart-wrenching words of love, my vision blurred as tears spilled uncontrollably. I covered my mouth and ran out of the villa.

I had no idea how long I sat by the door, but suddenly, a bowl of scalding hot instant noodles splashed onto my chest, making me cry out in shock and pain.

Yvonne had changed into fresh clothes and appeared with a bottle of wine in her hand.

"Wendy Dawson, did you enjoy our show just now? Your pathetic retreat looked just like a dog running away with its tail between its legs."

So, she had seen me.

"I heard your body isn’t adapting well to that artificial heart of yours. It must be painful, coughing up blood and dealing with that constant ache, huh? It must be frustrating, too, not being able to fully enjoy a man’s love. But me? It’s different. I can enjoy any position I want, as exciting as it gets. Funny, though. You’re such a waste, yet your heart works pretty well. I felt amazing just now."

"You actually had the nerve to marry my little uncle and think you could take him away from me? Keep dreaming. His heart belongs to me and me alone. You’re nothing more than a walking vessel, a heart donor for me to use."

"Actually, that day wasn’t the first time your mother caught me with your fiancé. She dared to call me shameless, so I decided to teach her a lesson. I kidnapped her and slept with your fiancé right in front of her face. Oh, you should’ve seen her. She was so furious she had a heart attack. And when you begged to give her your heart, I faked an attack myself. But your dear uncle couldn’t bear to wait even a second. He didn’t hesitate to give me your heart instead."

"Ah, by the way, you were unconscious at the time, so you probably missed the best part, your mother’s face. Her arms stretched out so desperately, her eyes bulging wide open. She wanted to strangle us both to death. It was too bad she could only watch and she survived long enough to see everything. She was furious. Serves her right for daring to insult me. I’ll kill anyone who gets in my way."

I widened my eyes in disbelief. I had never imagined this could be the truth behind my mother’s heart attack.

My entire body began to tremble uncontrollably. These people… how could they act so righteous, so self-assured after destroying my mother’s life?

My hand shot up, but before I could strike her, Yvonne doused herself with the bottle of wine and let out an ear-piercing scream.

The next moment, a forceful shove knocked me to the ground.

Heinry appeared, pulling Yvonne into his arms. He roared as he turned to me.

"Wendy, what do you think you’re doing?!"

Yvonne sobbed as she told him, "Uncle, I just saw that Aunt Wendy hadn’t eaten, so I wanted to bring her some food and wine. But she accused me of making her mother so angry that she spilled the food and poured wine all over me. If you had come any later, Yvonne might not have survived her torture."

"The wine and instant noodles earlier were prepared by me personally. I know they’re not fancy or expensive, but they came from the heart. I even burned my hands with the hot water…"

Heinry’s face darkened instantly.

"Wendy, your mother had a heart attack because she couldn’t handle things and insisted on meddling in her children’s affairs. Before marriage, it’s normal for people to have a change of heart. Yvonne was being thoughtful and worried you hadn’t eaten, but instead of appreciating her effort, did you act like this? How can you blame her for everything?"

I was stunned by his words.

"Heinry, tell me the truth. How did my mother die? Did you really give her my heart?"

Heinry frowned.

"Of course. Didn’t I tell you? Your mother had a rejection reaction after the surgery. Heart transplantation is risky by nature. This is common knowledge. And yet here you are, ignoring all that, lashing out at Yvonne? You owe her an apology for your behavior."

I let out a bitter laugh as tears spilled down my cheeks.

This was the man I had loved for seven years, yet he would not even tell me the truth.

In a fit of rage, I grabbed the wine bottle from the ground, ignoring the broken edges and tipped what was left into my mouth. The sharp shards of glass cut into my lips.

The moment the fiery alcohol burned its way down my throat, the sharp pain in my heart felt as though it might tear me apart.