Everyone in the city's elite circle knew that the most eligible bachelor in the city loved me like his life depended on it.

To marry me—a woman living with HIV—Michael Dalio deliberately destroyed his own reputation. Night after night, he paraded through clubs, bedding forty-nine women in a row. He even went so far as to force himself on his widowed sister-in-law, whose husband had just died.

Finally, he pushed the Dalio family patriarch into giving in. The old man, holding his tongue in reluctant acceptance, allowed me to enter the family.

To give Michael a child, I humbled myself before my sworn enemy, kneeling to beg for a secret medicine.

Just as I was about to share the good news with him, I found him hard at work on his widowed sister-in-law's body.

"Nancy, you're finally mine. She has HIV—she won't last long. The only woman I'll ever love is you."

Turned out I was nothing more than a convenient cover for Michael to marry Nancy.

Tears streamed down my face as I pressed send on the message.

[I agree to your terms. See you in three days.]

The sound of ragged breathing from inside made my whole body tremble. Each muffled gasp felt like a blade driving straight into my heart.

"When Venus dies, I'll make it up to you with a grand wedding," Michael murmured, his arm wrapped around Nancy's waist as he moved with increasing force.

"Okay… okay…" Nancy answered between broken breaths.

By the time I came back to myself, two streaks of tears had already dried on my face. So it had all been nothing more than a performance—an act staged just for me.

The thought left me suffocating, my body shaking as I swallowed back sob after sob.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps behind me made me jump.

"Madam, why are you here?"

The Dalio family's longtime housekeeper had appeared without warning.

The two inside the room clearly heard the noise as well. The intimate sounds stopped abruptly.

Flustered, I explained, "I came back to get something."

Under the housekeeper's watchful gaze, I raised my hand and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Michael's voice was utterly devoid of emotion.

I pushed the door open. The half-hidden lipstick mark on his neck and the lingering flush on Nancy's face were proof enough of what had just happened here.

When Michael looked at me, there was a trace of disgust in his narrowed eyes.

"Didn't you say you were going out? Why are you back so soon?"

My throat tightened, each word scraping out like a blade. "I forgot my medication."

I looked at the man who had sworn to love me for a lifetime—only to turn around and sleep with his widowed sister-in-law.

Their cruel words echoed again and again in my mind, and tears spilled uncontrollably from my eyes.

Michael's gaze remained fixed on Nancy, barely sparing me a glance.

"If you're sick, go to the hospital. Don't come crawling over here if you think you're filthy—and don't go infecting anyone else."

As he spoke, he casually instructed the housekeeper to take me to the hospital immediately.

I stared at him, unmoving. This was the man I had loved for ten years—yet now, he looked like a complete stranger.

In the past, the moment he noticed I felt unwell, he would panic, fussing over me in a flurry. Now, he was utterly indifferent, as if we were strangers.

"I'm fine."

I avoided the housekeeper's attempt to help and walked straight to the cabinet. Ignoring the used condoms left on top, I opened it and took my medication.

At that moment, Nancy stepped in front of the door, her gaze falling on the HIV medication in my hand.

"With a disease like that, you two probably haven't been intimate for a long time, right? Michael must've been holding back for ages."

I hadn't expected her to be so shameless as to say it outright. Fine—then I might as well let off some steam.

"That's none of your concern, Nancy. I'm Michael's wife. This isn't something an outsider gets to comment on."

It was as if I had struck a nerve. Nancy's face turned pale, and she was just about to lash out when Michael stepped in to smooth things over.

"What do you mean 'outsider'? Venus, you're getting more and more out of line. Nancy is our sister-in-law."

'But do you treat her like one?' The words reached my lips, but I forced them back down.

In an instant, Nancy's expression shifted into one of grievance, tears welling in her eyes.

"Michael, your wife has only just entered the family, and she's already trying to walk all over me."

Michael turned to me, his tone leaving no room for defiance.

"Nancy meant well. Apologize to her right now."

I looked into his eyes, trying to find even a trace of the love he once had for me, but all I found was cold indifference.

"No."

Before I could even finish speaking, a sharp slap landed across my face.

The pills in my hand scattered across the floor as a burning pain spread over my cheek.

Michael bent down, picked up one of the tablets, and sneered.

"Who's to blame for this? You knew Larry was sick, and still had no shame seducing him. I didn't mind it and even married you. The least you can do is show some basic respect."

My hands clenched the fabric of my dress as the words burst out of me.

"I've explained it to you countless times! That was occupational exposure!"

A year ago, Michael's older brother, Larry Dalio, had been racing cars.

When he was rushed to the hospital, Michael begged me to save him.

It was an emergency. I never expected his blood to splash into my eyes during the procedure—that was how I became infected with HIV.

Michael paused for a brief moment when he heard my explanation, but the coldness quickly returned.

"I almost believed you. Pretending it was to save Larry—now that he's dead, there's no way to verify anything. You can say whatever you want. I don't like liars. It's time you learned a lesson."

As he spoke, he took out his phone and dialed the hospital.

"Dr. Spence, remove the ventilator from the VIP ward immediately."

"But she will—"

"No 'buts.'"

He hung up.

Three years ago, my mother had fallen from upstairs. When Michael heard the news, he immediately reserved the entire VIP ward of the hospital, sparing no expense to ensure my mother received the best care.

But the injury to her brain left her in a coma that has never ended.

For my mother's sake, I clenched my teeth and forced the words out, "I'm… sorry…"

Michael seemed to relax slightly, his expression softening just a bit. He reached out and patted my head.

"As long as you behave, you'll always be my wife."

The touch on my head made my stomach churn, but I suppressed the disgust and pleaded urgently, "Please save my mother first."

Michael frowned, then instructed the housekeeper coolly, "Inform the hospital."

With that, he turned and left with Nancy.

Three years ago, beside my mother's hospital bed, Michael had held my hand and sworn, "I'll take good care of Venus. I'll never let her suffer even the slightest grievance."

And yet, less than a year after his brother's death, he had already climbed into his widowed sister-in-law's bed.

The thought made my stomach churn violently, and I nearly vomited.

Fortunately, in three days… I would finally be free of him.

The next day, my bedroom door was pushed open. Nancy walked in as if she owned the place.

"You saw everything yesterday, didn't you? I'm the one Michael truly loves. I won't beat around the bush. I need you to leave Michael. You know he only married you so he could be with me openly."

My brows knit together. "Then why don't you tell him that yourself?"

A flicker of embarrassment crossed her eyes before she let out a cold laugh.

"Back then, you saved Michael's life. He's always felt indebted to you for that. Originally, I didn't care much about titles or status, but…" She placed a hand over her slightly rounded belly and continued, "I'm pregnant. My child must be the next heir of the Dalio family. A legitimate heir."

It felt like I'd been struck hard. A chill spread through my entire body.

She… was pregnant?

My mind drifted back to three years ago—to that first night Michael and I had been wrapped up in each other, inseparable. He had kissed my lower abdomen so gently.

"Venus, let's have a daughter someday, okay? A daughter just like you. I'll protect both of you. I want a real family—one that truly belongs to me," he had said.

That was why I had knelt before that person, begging for the secret medicine—just to fulfill Michael's wish, to give him the family he longed for.

So it had all been a lie.

I closed my eyes as tears slipped down my face.

Seeing my humiliation only seemed to delight Nancy further. Her smile widened as she picked up the photo on the table—a picture of my mother and me together.

"Oh, right. There's something else you should know. Your mother was moved into the ICU last night."

My heart lurched. That was impossible.

Michael had already instructed the housekeeper last night—he wouldn't lie to me.

I convinced myself Nancy was lying and forced a calm tone.

"That's impossible. You're lying to me, aren't you?"

Nancy only sneered, offering no reply.

Panic surged through me. I had to know what was happening with my mother.

Without thinking, I shoved Nancy to the ground and clamped my hands around her throat.

"Are you lying to me or not?!"

Her eyes widened in shock as she clawed at my hands. When she realized I had no intention of letting go, she began to scream for help.

"Michael… Michael…"

He rushed over at the sound of her voice. The moment he stepped through the door, Nancy broke free and threw herself into his arms.

"I came to apologize to Venus, but she thought I was trying to seduce you and tried to strangle me. Thank God you came in time…"

She sobbed softly.

Michael immediately wrapped his arms around her, comforting her. Then he turned to me, his voice rising in anger.

"Venus, haven't you learned your lesson? Still throwing a fit like a lunatic?"

All I wanted was to know if my mother was safe.

"She said my mom—"

"Enough."

He cut me off before I could finish.

"No matter what Nancy says, you need to show respect. Since you married into the Dalio family, you'll follow our rules. Stay in your room and reflect on your behavior."

With that, he locked the door. Then he lifted Nancy in his arms and hurried off to the hospital.

I pounded desperately against the door, but the only response I got was the fading roar of a Rolls-Royce engine.

My hands soon went numb from the pain, and a wave of despair swallowed me whole.

Hearing my cries, the old housekeeper opened the door for me. I seized the chance and rushed straight to the hospital.

The moment I reached the front desk to inquire, the nurse spoke anxiously, "We haven't been able to reach you. The patient only has one last breath left."

At her words, tears spilled from my eyes. I followed her toward the ICU.

As we passed a consultation room, a doctor said impatiently, "If you'd come any later, the wound would've healed on its own."

At that moment, Michael spotted me and stepped into my path.

"Who gave you the nerve to sneak out?"

As if he'd found an outlet for his anger, he grabbed my wrist tightly, refusing to let me go.

Nancy, who was following behind him, immediately spoke up, "Venus, you even followed us to the hospital? What are you trying to do?"

My mother was still waiting for me—I couldn't waste time here.

"Let go. I need to see my mother."

A mocking smile appeared on Michael's face. "Your mother's been lying there for years. What's there to see?"

Seeing the devastation on my face, a flicker of pity crossed his eyes.

"Venus, apologize to Nancy, and we'll let this go."

Before I could respond, Nancy clung tightly to his arm, casting him a resentful glance.

"Michael, she clearly hasn't learned her lesson. It's fine if I suffer a little, but now, she's even ignoring you. People will start talking."

At that, Michael let out a cold laugh. "So unrepentant? I'll teach you some manners."

He signaled for the bodyguards to drag me back to the villa.

I refused, struggling violently. In the chaos, my nails scratched the back of his hand.

Michael immediately kicked me away. His eyes were filled with disgust as he shouted, "Doctor! Hurry and give me a prophylactic injection!"

After ordering the bodyguards to restrain me, he called over several nurses. "Give this madwoman a few doses of anesthetic."

The injections went in one after another. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and the world around me began to blur.

Tears slid silently down my face.

To give Michael a child, to prevent viral infection, I had endured 999 experimental injections and swallowed thousands of secret pills. By now, I was no longer contagious.

All this time… he had only felt disgust and fear toward me.

The voices around me faded. My restrained hands lost all strength, and darkness slowly swallowed me whole.

…

A sudden chill hit me.

I woke with a gasp after being splashed with cold water, only to find myself back at the villa.

Nancy stood before me, an empty basin in her hand, a cold smile on her lips.

"I gave you a chance. Who told you to be so ungrateful?"

Ignoring the dizziness in my head and the suffocating pain in my ribs, I demanded, "What happened to my mother?"

Nancy glanced at me, leaning lazily against the doorframe, her tone casual.

"That old hag? She's dead."

Then she added, "Since things have come this far, I might as well tell you—last night, I was the one who ordered the housekeeper not to contact the hospital."

A vicious gleam flared in her eyes.

"The title of Mrs. Dalio can only belong to me."

She clapped her hands, summoning the bodyguards.

"Take some private photos of her. Make sure she's naked."

As the men closed in, I stumbled backward, my breathing turning ragged.

Rough hands tore at my clothes. My pale skin was grabbed and bruised, blooming with dark, ugly marks.

I kicked and struggled with all my strength, but they forced me into a corner.

There was nowhere left to run.

My hand brushed against the edge of the window. Tears surged uncontrollably.

With every ounce of strength I had left, I climbed over the ledge—and jumped.

Michael… in this life or the next, I will never see you again.

…

Back at the company, an inexplicable restlessness gnawed at Michael.

He stared at the scratch on the back of his hand and muttered, "Venus… why are you always so disobedient?"

His gaze fell on the photo of him and Venus on the desk, and his heart softened slightly.

Forget it. He could teach her properly later.

That kick earlier… he'd acted too quickly and hadn't held back. He wondered if she was in pain.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

His expression eased, a faint smile touching his lips. "Has Venus admitted her mistake?"

"Mr. Dalio… Madam… she jumped off the building."