Ellie reached the water’s edge first.

The news about Diane had left her more frantic than Joshua. She was terrified of reliving the tragedy of her past life—terrified that because of Diane, she might lose ten more children and descend into a lifetime of madness and despair. So when she learned Diane had fallen into the sea, she plunged into the churning waves without a second thought.

She was done owing Diane anything.

Ellie swam hard toward her, but when Diane saw who was coming, she flailed wildly, pushing her away. Her eyes stayed fixed on Joshua, waiting anxiously in the boat.

Diane knew how to swim, of course. Today’s “accident” was deliberate.

She refused to believe Joshua could still coldly reject her—could still marry some backwater nobody—if she were in danger. She was so much better than Ellie. If not for that one moment of hesitation, letting Joshua rescue Ellie from the river all those years ago, *she* would be the one by his side.

Diane hated Ellie. Hated her for stealing Joshua. Wished she were dead.

So when Ellie reached her for the fourth time, trying to pull her to safety, Diane wrapped her arms tightly around her and dragged her down. Held her under.

Every time Ellie struggled toward the surface, Diane yanked her back, even forcing her head beneath the water.

Ellie wasn’t a strong swimmer. Under Diane’s relentless pull, she kept sinking.

“Joshua, help me! I’m scared!”

Joshua could wait no longer. He dove into the sea and swam furiously toward the two women. Pulling them apart, he immediately gathered the sobbing, trembling Diane into his arms.

He paid no mind to Ellie, exhausted from the rescue attempt.

As she sank, Ellie instinctively reached a hand toward him. “Joshua… save me…”

But before she could finish, he was already swimming away, frantic. Because his beloved Diane had scraped a finger, he’d lost all reason.

Watching the two figures recede into the distance, Ellie closed her eyes in defeat.

Maybe this was for the best. The life she owed Diane… she’d finally repaid it.

A crowd had gathered on the shore. Only after seeing Joshua carry Diane onto the boat did they start asking questions.

“Where’s Ellie?”

“Joshua, where’s Ellie? Why isn’t she back?”

It was then Joshua remembered. His face went pale. He turned to dive back in.

“Joshua…”

Diane stirred awake, her eyes red-rimmed. She clutched his hand, her voice fragile and trembling. “Don’t go. I’m scared.”

Afraid he’d rescue Ellie, she clung to him, burying her face in his chest. “I saw several people jump in after her just now. She’ll be fine, I’m sure.”

Joshua, who had always trusted Diane implicitly, only learned the truth when Ellie’s father, Carl, arrived with the police and took her away.

Ellie had nearly drowned. No one had gone back for her.

Diane gripped his hand desperately. “Joshua, it’s not like that! I can’t swim, I never meant to hurt her! I was just so scared, I held on. My vision was blurry—I didn’t see that no one went to save her!”

Joshua paused. This time, he didn’t defend her. He let them take her away.

In silence, he went to Ellie’s room. Taking a towel, he began gently wiping her feverish skin.

A fever racked Ellie’s body through the night. When she finally opened her eyes at dawn, Joshua was there—he’d watched over her until morning. His first words were, “Diane… your father got the law involved, and they came to take her away yesterday. Tell them you forgive her and to drop the charges. Then tell him your accident was your own fault, and had nothing to do with her.”

Ellie stood frozen, unable to believe Joshua could stoop so low. For Diane’s sake, he was ready to cast every shred of his dignity aside.

She had just woken up—and not a single word of concern had passed his lips. Even his kindness was meant for Diane.

She wanted to spit in his face, but held back. Not for any other reason: Joshua’s tenderness toward her over the years hadn’t been an act. It was only since Diane’s arrival that everything had shifted.

Ellie’s face was pale, her hands clutching the quilt so tightly her knuckles turned white.

“I don’t agree. I won’t forgive Diane. Joshua… just leave.”

Joshua looked utterly stunned, as if seeing her for the first time.

The old Ellie had obeyed his every word, treated his commands like sacred edicts.

But now…

Pressing his lips together, he said nothing and hurried from the hospital room.

He left without hesitation, without a single word of care.

The last flicker of hope in Ellie’s heart went dark.

Late that night, after the IV drip finished, she lay drowsily in bed. Then she felt a warm body draw close, breath whispering against her ear, large hands gripping her tightly.

A man’s voice, low and ragged, broke the silence.

“Ellie, Joshua sent you to my bed for Diane. He drugged me. Got me drunk.”

The words struck like thunder. Ellie forgot to struggle. Tears sprang to her eyes instantly.

“I won’t let Joshua have his way. You shouldn’t have to go through this.”

The man’s words—part protection, part promise—hung in the air with his heated breath, then fell silent as he pulled away.

Ellie’s mind replayed her past, a lifetime spent chasing Joshua, living for him.

Even now, she couldn’t find a single shred of proof he had ever loved her.

And now, for Diane, he was handing her over to another man. So afraid it might fail, he’d even resorted to drugs.

Ellie laughed—a bitter, hollow sound. She wiped her tears with a finger, erasing the last trace of attachment. The man in the white shirt from her memories would never be hers.

“If that’s what Joshua arranged, then let his wish come true.”

Her voice trembled, her movements tinged with defiance, like a helpless creature clinging to the man.

“Ellie, get down—you can’t…”

Her initiative, her pretense turning real, pushed the already strained man over the edge. His eyes reddened; his body shook uncontrollably.

“Just… help me forget him…”

Ellie leaned down and kissed his lips. The next second, the man felt dampness on his cheek.

What followed veered completely off course.

The sounds of intimacy filled the room.

The moment Ellie truly became a woman, she let out a pained gasp, her fingers clenching so tightly that blood seeped from her palms.

This lifetime, she would not repeat the same mistakes.

She would never again be Joshua’s wife, never again the mother who lost ten children, never again live a life of madness…

The next day, leaning against the doorframe as she returned home, she saw Diane chatting with the village women.

Diane seemed to have returned yesterday.

And the price had been Ellie—sent by Joshua to his friend’s bed.

No one had asked if she was willing.

A self-mocking smile touched her lips. On the way back, she’d wondered: if Joshua knew her pretense had become real last night, would he feel even a shred of sorrow?

But before Ellie could ponder further, Diane’s malicious words from inside the house stabbed straight into her heart.

“Ellie’s still so young—doesn’t know the meaning of shame. Sick like that, and she dares to mess around with a man. Oh, look at that mouth—I didn’t mean to say it out loud.”

The village’s most gossip-loving auntie heard this, and her eyes lit up.

Experienced women, seeing how Ellie walked, knew instantly she was no innocent maiden anymore. They pointed and whispered, scorn in their eyes.

“Tsk, tsk—so young and already desperate for a man. Bet she’s been around the block a few times.”

“That wild girl never had parents who wanted her. You could tell she was no good from the start. Now she’s running completely loose—a loose woman. Any man who marries her would regret it till his dying day.”

“Having a girl like this in our village is our shame. I’m going to the Village Chief to have her run out of town for good!”

In this day and age, being driven out or branded an outcast was a woman’s worst punishment.

Without the village’s protection, Ellie would be left with a ruined name, vulnerable to any abuse.

Where reputation was everything—especially for a woman with no family to speak for her—if her good name was lost, Ellie’s life was over.

Diane stood to the side, smug, her eyes challenging Ellie.

Joshua knew better than anyone what had happened last night, yet he didn’t step forward to explain a single word.

He simply kept his head down, grinding ointment for Diane.

A scratch on Diane the size of a fingernail, and Joshua acted as if his heart were breaking.

Ellie couldn’t hold back any longer. She walked over and slapped Diane hard across her gloating face.

*SMACK!*

“That’s for your poisonous tongue!”