As my due date approaches, my husband's precious mistress falls into the water at a banquet. After being rescued, she immediately accuses me of pushing her.

To "avenge" her, he throws me into a modified stainless steel water tank. I beg him, pleading for the sake of our unborn children.

But he only sneers. "Don't try to use the babies to guilt me! You've still got a week before you're due. I know exactly how vicious you are—any child of yours would be just as rotten. Stay in there and reflect on your behavior. I'll let you out when you finally admit you're wrong!"

Five days later, my husband returns home from a night out with his mistress, calling for me to come downstairs and serve them, as always.

He doesn't know that my babies and I have already rotted beyond recognition.

"Mr. Finch, it's been a day. Mrs. Finch isn't making any sounds. Perhaps we should let her out now," suggested Bobby Hudson, the butler.

Zachary Finch frowned. "I know exactly what kind of person Sarah Fletcher is. She's just putting on an act. She's a national-level swimmer, so there's no way she's afraid of water.

"Have her stay in there for one more day. Maybe this will teach her a thing or two about who she should and shouldn't mess with."

Bobby wanted to say more, but Zachary waved him off dismissively.

Watching him, so detached and cold, even I—now nothing but a lingering soul—couldn't hold back my tears.

I wanted to scream at him and ask, "What did I do so wrong to deserve this kind of torment?"

"Zac, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. If I hadn't accepted your jacket or screamed for help, letting Sarah push me, maybe you wouldn't have lost some of your business partners. Sarah wouldn't hold a grudge against you either."

Nina Larkin wrapped her arms around Zachary from behind.

He turned to embrace her and gently comforted, "This isn't your fault. There were so many important partners at that banquet. She actually pushed you into the water out of jealousy? She has no sense of decorum.

"Nina, you're just too kind. That's why Sarah walks all over you. From now on, I'll be here for you. No one will ever hurt you again."

Upon hearing Zachary's words, I couldn't help but laugh.

Back then, he used this very promise to win my heart. But in just three short years, he was already using it on another woman.

A sharp pain tore through my chest. My eyes burned with frustration as I watched Zachary carry Nina upstairs in his arms.

I had already suspected what was going to happen next. But the moment I had to witness it, my heart ached more than I could bear.

Zachary gently laid Nina down on the bed. Their gazes locked as they closed the distance between them.

Seeing them locked in this intimate moment, I wanted nothing more than to smash something over their heads.

But my hands passed right through everything. Their moans and gasps filled my ears, each one stabbing deeper into my soul.

After Zachary came out of the bathroom, the first thing he did was send me a message.

"Send up a dress and make sure there are three dishes and a soup ready. We'll be going downstairs for dinner soon."

This time, he didn't receive a reply.

Zachary's expression darkened. Then, it seemed like he finally remembered I was still locked in the water tank. His face softened slightly.

Nina, wrapped in a towel, emerged from the bathroom. Her gaze was seductive as she looked at Zachary. "Zac, maybe you should let Sarah out. Even if she keeps causing trouble for me, I won't resist anymore.

"The others are right. Sarah is your legitimate wife. I'm just someone lurking in the shadows, watching you from afar. Even if I never marry you, I'll have no regrets as long as you let me stay by your side."

Zachary frowned. "What are you talking about? How could I not marry you? It's just that Sarah's pregnant, and I have to wait for her to give birth first."

"What about after Sarah has the babies?" Nina asked.

I was just as curious. If I were still alive, how would he have reacted after I'd given birth?

Even now, a part of me still hoped that Zachary would remember the bond we shared while growing up together and the three years of marriage we had.

But in the next moment, I saw Zachary hesitate in silence. He offered no answer.

That last spark of hope inside me shattered altogether.

I couldn't help but feel the weight of it all. "I've loved you for 12 years, been married to you for three, and now I'm carrying your children."

But Zachary couldn't hear me.

I couldn't help but wonder if Zachary would be relieved to find out I was dead, such that he'd celebrate with fireworks for three days and nights.

While I was lost in my thoughts, Bobby knocked again. His voice was laced with concern. "Mr. Finch, the water tank has started heating up for some reason. I'm worried that Mrs. Finch could be in danger."

"Zac, I envy Sarah so much. She's managed to make so many people love her, unlike me. If I mess up, all my family does is heap more insults on me," Nina said, but the smugness in her eyes was almost overflowing.

Bobby frowned. "I'm telling the truth, Mr. Finch. If you don't believe me, come with me and see for—"

"Enough, Mr. Hudson! I know you treat Sarah like your own daughter." Zachary glared at Bobby with a pained expression on his face.

"But I never thought you'd exaggerate the situation and go along with Sarah's act so that I'd back down!

"I know Sarah all too well. She's just trying to use this to get me to give in. Clearly, I haven't locked her up for long enough. Fine, let's keep her in there for two more days."

I tightened my fists, shocked by how cruel Zachary was toward me.

I was pregnant and about to give birth!

How could he do this?

"Mr. Finch, Mrs. Finch is carrying twins this time. The doctor said—"

Nina immediately cut Bobby off, saying, "Mr. Hudson, I didn't know you cared so much about Sarah. If only I had an uncle like you. You're not even related by blood, but you treat her so well.

"Zac, Mr. Hudson's right. Even if Sarah did push me into the water, I deserved it. I was in her way. She had every right to do it. Sarah's pregnant, after all.

"Why don't you just give in to her, Zac? I don't mind enduring a little, as long as I can stay by your side."

Zachary's face turned as dark as coal. "Mr. Hudson, you'd better understand who's in charge of this house. From now on, if you're going to speak, you'd better make sure you're speaking for the right person.

"Also, I'm taking Nina to a banquet in two days. I don't want to hear another word about Sarah. No one is allowed to let her out, understand?

"She's a swimmer. She can hold her breath underwater for ten minutes, so there's no way she'll drown. The water in that tank is changed every three hours. She'll be fine."

But I wasn't fine.

"Turn around, Zachary. I'm right behind you," I thought.

Zachary spent two wild days with Nina, ignoring countless messages and calls from Bobby.

The situation escalated to the point where Zachary even blocked Bobby on all messaging platforms.

When Zachary returned with Nina, I noticed that Bobby seemed to have aged ten years.

Zachary glanced at him and scoffed. "Mr. Hudson, could you stop acting like someone just died at home?"

"Mr. Finch—"

Zachary cut Bobby off, saying, "Don't say anything yet. Answer me first. Did Sarah admit that she was wrong? Did she say she would apologize to Nina on her knees?"

Ridiculous! Why should I apologize?

That night at the banquet, Zachary had texted me, asking me to wait for him in the garden. He said he had something to tell me.

But when I ran over with joy, I saw Nina, who had been waiting there for a long time.

At that moment, I sensed something wasn't right.

Before I could turn around and leave, I heard a loud splash, followed by Nina's cries and pleas.

The only ones at the scene were Nina and me. Thus, there was no way to prove my innocence. And since Zachary had already believed Nina's version of the story, I became the target.

I couldn't defend myself. I watched helplessly as Zachary carried Nina away, while everyone else called me despicable.

Bobby, noticing Zachary's attitude, shook his head helplessly. "Mr. Finch, the staff members assigned there have reported that the water tank is starting to smell—"

Before Bobby could even finish, Nina wrinkled her nose, acting disgusted. She groaned before saying, "Don't tell me Sarah's been doing her business in that tank."

Zachary's face instantly hardened. "So, she still hasn't realized her mistake, huh? Fine. Keep her in there for another two days. Let her really remember this experience. Maybe it'll knock some sense into her."

"Mr. Finch, the doctor said Mrs. Finch's due date might be earlier than expected. I really think we should let her out now," Bobby said, his eyes full of concern.

Seeing Bobby's repeated attempts to speak up for me warmed my heart.

When I first entered the Finch family, Bobby didn't like me. He thought I was just another woman after Zachary's wealth.

But one day, I found him suffering from a minor heart attack, and I gave him his medication without thinking. From then on, he became deeply grateful to me.

The Finch family was a powerful household that never kept a staff member with heart problems. Bobby was only diagnosed a couple of years ago.

When Zachary heard Bobby speak up for me, his eyes were filled with disgust. "I think I, as Sarah's husband, understand her better than you, Mr. Hudson. If you keep defending her, she'll stay locked in that tank for the rest of her life."

I was left frozen. I never imagined that Zachary could be so heartless.

Even though I was already dead, my heart still ached. It was as if countless ants were gnawing at it. The pain was excruciating.