I throw myself into cryogenic research so I can keep my only family on this Earth. However, halfway through it, my fiancé embezzles all the funds to propose to Sophia Kensington, his true love.

I panic when I see the ice in Mom's brain start to melt. I have no money to continue with the research.

I'm in utter despair when Leonard Shaw, a rising star in the biomedical field, comes to me with millions of dollars in funding. The research can continue.

Just three days later, something goes wrong with the experiment. Mom explodes in cryogenic chamber.

I'm shattered by this, but Leonard stays by my side throughout it all. He helps me move past this and continue with my research.

I think he's the light of my life until I overhear his conversation with his secretary.

"Is it worth it marrying someone you don't love for Ms. Kensington's sake, Mr. Shaw?"

"Sophia is my life. I'm willing to do anything as long as she's healthy and happy."

"But will Mrs. Shaw still continue helping Ms. Kensington if she learns you tampered with the data and killed her mother?"

"She'll never find out. Besides, I'm already using the rest of my life to make it up to her. That's more than enough…"

It turns out Leonard's love is just a conspiracy. My heart turns to ashes in that moment. I sign an agreement to seal my body cryogenically.

He'll never find me ever again.

The moment I learned that my mother, Amelia Prescott, was killed by Leonard Shaw, I completely broke down.

We were in love for so many years. Back then, I was deeply moved when he immediately injected funds to help me save my mother.

After Mom was laid to rest, I agreed to his proposal. Over the years of our marriage, he cared for me in every possible way.

I always believed that Mom passed away due to a failed experiment. Never in my wildest dreams did I think Leonard was behind her death.

All these years, Leonard repeatedly told me that in this world, he was my only family. He claimed that no matter what happened, he would always stand by my side.

When I was drowning in guilt over my mother's death, he was the one who told me to pull myself together and continue my research so that I could help others like me, people desperate to save their loved ones.

But now, I discovered that his so-called support was nothing more than a means to keep me going, just so I could find a way to save his true love, Sophia Kensington. He didn't hesitate to eliminate my last remaining relative, my only family, just to ensure I remained by his side.

The gift in my hands slipped to the floor, shattering on impact.

Today was Leonard's birthday, so I came home early to celebrate with him.

Hearing the noise, Leonard rushed out in alarm. The moment he saw me, his expression changed. He anxiously asked, "Clara, did you hear something?"

"No, I just don't feel well."

At my response, he visibly relaxed, then immediately called for his secretary, Daniel Brooks, to summon the private doctor, Henry Caldwell.

I let out a cold laugh. Was he truly concerned about my health, or was he just afraid that if I died, there would be no one left to cure Sophia's illness?

Henry arrived quickly, but the results of his examination were beyond Leonard's expectations.

"Mrs. Shaw has been exposed to high levels of thallium due to prolonged work in the laboratory. The excess thallium levels in her body are causing her discomfort."

Leonard's face went pale. He spent years meticulously taking care of me, pouring endless funds into my research because I was the world's leading scientist in cryogenic human experiments.

If something happened to me, what would become of his precious Sophia?

Sure enough, the moment he heard the diagnosis, he urgently asked, "Are you saying it's thallium poisoning?"

Henry gave a helpless nod, cautiously watching Leonard's expression. At his signal, Henry continued, "Mrs. Shaw only has two weeks left."

Leonard completely lost it the moment he heard those words. In a fit of rage, he grabbed the vase from the table and hurled it at Henry.

I stopped him just in time.

His eyes were bloodshot, his entire body trembling as he roared, "You quack! Clara is so young—how could she possibly have this kind of illness?"

As someone in the field of biology, he wasn't ignorant of the risks my research experiments carried. But for years, he chose to turn a blind eye.

He just never expected the consequences to come so soon.

Renowned doctors from across the country rushed over to examine me, but all left, helpless and defeated.

There was no cure for my condition.

Leonard fell into complete despair upon hearing the news. Deep down, he knew this could happen, but he still wanted to try. What if there was a chance?

However, I wasn't surprised. From the moment I entered the field, I anticipated this day would come. I just never expected it to be now.

Yet, after learning the truth, I no longer wished to stay here.

I knew he wanted me to survive only for Sophia's sake. I pushed him away, looking him directly in the eyes as I said, "Stop wasting your efforts."

He was visibly shocked by my response. After all, I loved him so deeply—how could I possibly bear to leave him?

"Clara, don't say such foolish things. I'll find someone to cure you, no matter what."

Just as he was about to continue reassuring me, his phone rang.

The moment he saw the caller ID, an expression I never saw before appeared on his face—an overwhelming tenderness.

He immediately stood up and stepped out of the room.

"What's wrong, Sophia?"

A weak voice came through the receiver. "It's nothing. I just wanted to ask how Clara's research is progressing. I coughed up blood again today."

Leonard's heart twisted in agony. He knew he couldn't afford to wait any longer. This sudden catastrophe disrupted all his plans. He originally hoped that once the experiment succeeded, he could stay with me and make it up to me.

But now, the situation was dire. He had to make a choice.

After offering a few comforting words, he immediately called for Daniel to find a solution.

"We have to find a way to keep Clara alive. She's still so young."

Daniel hesitated before replying, "There's a drug available domestically that can prolong her life for a while… but it may cause her to lose her voice."

"Will it affect her ability to conduct experiments?"

"No. With advanced AI, she'll still be able to communicate her findings."

Leonard paused for only a moment. But then he thought of Sophia—her condition couldn't be delayed any longer.

Besides, he still had time. He would make it up to me.

Determined, he gave the order. "Put the drug in her milk."

He turned to me, his voice gentle as he said, "Clara, have some milk."

As he spoke, he brought the glass toward me. I knew what was in it. Without hesitation, I pushed his hand away.

Seeing my refusal, his expression darkened with anger. "Someone, hold her down!"

The maids rushed in, pinning me in place. He forcibly pried my mouth open and poured the milk down my throat.

"Clara, you're sick. You need to take care of yourself. You need to eat well to get better."

Watching him put on this act of concern made me sick to my stomach. What a hypocrite!

Pain seared through my body the moment the drug took effect. The agony was so intense that I blacked out.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital. The blinding white light overhead made my eyes sting. It reminded me of the morgue where Mom was laid to rest.

I tried to speak but couldn't make a sound. Desperately, I struggled to sit up.

Leonard rushed over the moment he saw me awake.

"Clara, I'm sorry—I was just too anxious and afraid that you wouldn't eat anything. That's why I called the maids for help.

"Your voice… The doctor said you've lost it due to thallium poisoning. But don't worry, I'll find the best specialist to treat you."

I shut my eyes again, filled with nothing but resentment for him.

One more day. Just one more day, and I would disappear completely.

Now, every time I saw Leonard and heard his voice, all I could think of was Mom's tragic death.

Leonard immediately called the doctor over, who recommended that I remain hospitalized for further observation.

But I refused. Instead, I picked up a pen and wrote on paper, "I still can't let go of my research. I feel like I'm close to success."

I knew this was the only thing I could say that would make Leonard let me go.

Leonard could barely contain his excitement. After waiting for so many years, the day was finally here.

Still, he put on a conflicted expression, sighing deeply as if reluctantly respecting my wishes.

I found it laughable. The joy in his eyes was practically overflowing, yet he still played the part of the grieving husband.

"Let's go. I'll take you home."

I didn't take the hand he extended toward me. Leonard's hand stiffened in midair before he awkwardly pulled it back, disappointment flashing across his face.

This was the first time I didn't reach for his hand.

For a moment, he hesitated, but then he quickly reminded himself that Sophia was still waiting for good news.

"You go ahead. I want to be alone for a while." I already formed a plan. As soon as Leonard left, I would visit Mom one last time to say my final goodbye.

But Leonard wouldn't let me stay out alone. He insisted I return home with him and even resorted to pleading with me.

I couldn't think of a way to shake him off—until a soft, delicate voice rang out from the doorway. It was Sophia.

I let out a cold laugh. I didn't expect Leonard to inform her so urgently.

Sophia walked in, holding a bouquet of roses, her expression brimming with satisfaction.

Leonard, who was clearly embarrassed, didn't expect her to come the moment she received the news.

Sophia, however, seemed to sense his discomfort. She gently caressed her belly and said sweetly, "I just finished my prenatal checkup. When Leonard told me you were sick, I wanted to visit you."

She held out the flowers to me with both hands.

But I turned away in disgust, refusing to accept them.

Leonard knew very well that I was allergic to roses, yet he didn't stop her. Instead, he scolded me, "Sophia isn't feeling well, yet she still went out of her way to buy you flowers. Just accept them—she means well."

I wanted to scream at them to get out, but I no longer had my voice.

So instead, I grabbed a cup from the table and hurled it at Sophia.

Leonard clearly never expected me to retaliate so openly. I never acted like this before. His face darkened with anger as he shoved the bouquet into my arms. The moment the pollen hit me, I started sneezing uncontrollably.

Yet he still wouldn't take the flowers away.

Sophia, who was standing at the side, watched in delight. She was thrilled that Leonard was willing to disregard my suffering for her sake.

And yet, she still feigned innocence, her eyes brimming with fake tears. "I know Clara doesn't like me. It's my fault. I'll just leave."

Leonard immediately stood up to stop her, gazing at her with a tenderness I never saw before.

"You didn't know she was allergic to roses. How could this be your fault?"

Watching the two of them flaunt their affection in front of me made me sick to my stomach. Without hesitation, I threw the bouquet straight at Sophia's head.

She gasped in shock, immediately clutching her belly.

"Leonard, my stomach—it hurts!"

Leonard turned to glare at me, fury burning in his eyes. He couldn't believe it. I was no longer the gentle, submissive woman he knew.

Without hesitation, he rushed out to call for a doctor.

The moment he left, Sophia shot me a smug look and sneered, "Do you even know why you're still alive? Your pathetic existence only serves one purpose—to save me. Otherwise, do you really think you'd still be breathing today?"

I didn't give her the reaction she wanted. Instead of shock or outrage, I remained eerily calm.

That threw Sophia off. She thought I would break down, cry, or beg. But instead, I looked at her with quiet indifference.

Her smug smile faltered. Annoyed, she leaned in closer, her voice dripping with malice.

"That old woman of your mother? She got exactly what she deserved. Back then, Leonard could have saved her. She was still breathing, you know, but he let her die—just to make sure you'd stay completely devoted to him."