Until the Moonlight Spreads

My arranged husband, Ethan Carter, had been my nemesis since childhood.

When it was discovered that I was the Brooks family’s long-lost biological daughter, both families pushed hard for our marriage.

With the union, business cooperation between the two families would flourish.

But Ethan flatly refused.

To get back at me, he deliberately “fell in love” with the fake heiress.

They booked a hotel suite together and even left my phone number on the reservation.

He postponed the wedding for five whole years, making me the laughingstock of New York’s high society.

The next time we met was at a gala dinner.

He wore an expensive suit, the fake heiress on his arm.

Everyone toasted him, showering him with praise—

Saying he and Sophia Brooks were a perfect match, a couple made in heaven.

“I love Sophia,” he said. “After all these years, I didn’t expect you’d still be waiting for me.”

“Since you’re so devoted, I’ll be generous and let you attend our engagement party.”

He tossed an invitation card down at me from his lofty perch.

I toyed with the wedding ring on my finger and didn’t even move.

“Sorry, I’m busy that day—I have to pick my daughter up from school.”

The moment the words left my lips, not a single person believed me. Laughter erupted.

“Stop making things up. You can’t even lie well. How could you possibly have a daughter in just five years?”

But I wasn’t lying.

My daughter is in preschool now.

Like her father, she’s been clever since she was little—

And she insists that only I pick her up; a nanny won’t do.

Some people’s eyes skimmed over my figure with open disdain.

“Your status might be low and you’re not favored, but at least your figure’s decent.”

“Yeah, you don’t look like you’ve ever had a child.”

“If you’re done with Ethan, why not give me a chance to pursue you?”

A ripple of mocking laughter spread around us.

They all believed that over the years, I had been clinging to Ethan just to secure the marriage and earn favor in the Brooks family—

Even calling me a pathetic lapdog in private.

What they didn’t know was that I had never cared about the so-called status of being the real Brooks heiress.

I didn’t even want anything to do with my biological parents.

“That’s right, me too, me too!”

“Lily Anderson, a leftover woman like you—dragged along for five years by Ethan—if you don’t get married soon, you’ll be an old maid nobody wants.”

“Why not lower your standards and marry me?”

“I wouldn’t mind becoming the Brooks family’s prized son-in-law!”

They shouted from below, but it was all for sport—

Passing glances, smirking, treating me as if I were a toy to be mocked.

One of them even stepped forward to lay hands on me.

Before he could touch me, Ethan kicked him hard.

“Watch your mouth.”

In his mind, no matter what, women who had once pursued him were off-limits to other men.

“Oh? Feeling protective, Ethan?”

Someone teased.

Ethan gave a cold chuckle, his gaze locking on me like a blade.

“Protective? I just think a woman like her isn’t even worthy of your attention.

If you know any farmhands out in the sticks, go ahead and introduce Lily to them—she’s better suited to slopping pigs.”

I looked at him calmly. After five years, he was still the same venom-tongued man.

Once upon a time, his words might have driven me mad with anger.

Now, they barely caused a ripple inside me—

Because when you don’t care, he can’t hurt you.