In the eyes of my parents, there was great disdain, which was very hurtful.

It reminded me of the first time they saw me. It was years ago, and they saw me, thin and uneasy, at the rural school.

Actually, today was also my birthday.

But since I returned to the Warner family, I hadn't celebrated my birthday again.

In the Warner family, all the good stuff belonged to Leigh.

Including parties, cakes, gifts, and beautiful dresses.

I smiled bitterly. For the last time, I chose to save my parents' face. I raised my hands to cover the scars on my body with a scarf as much as possible.

"Julia, you came back just in time. Today is my birthday. Hugh has invited many people to celebrate with me. Join us!"

Leigh affectionately put her arms around Hugh's arm and smiled at me brightly.

Hugh, the handsome man, calmly stared at me without blinking, and after a moment, I heard him say.

"Go back to your room and change into a decent outfit before coming down to entertain the guests."

We hadn't seen each other for three months, and this was the first thing Hugh said to me.

Feeling ridiculous, I couldn't help but feel the urge to cry. I lowered my head and forced a bitter smile.

I wanted to ask him which one of us he'd save first? How stupid I was.

Where did I get the confidence to challenge Leigh's position in his heart? She had been close to him for years.

I shared the bed with Hugh and was intimate with him every day for the last five years. I guessed that gave me the illusion.

Or was it because every year on this day, he would cancel all his work, cook for me, and wish me a happy birthday?

"It's all fake."

I muttered to myself, ignoring everyone and walking towards the bedroom under various disdainful gazes.

Since I realized that it was all a lie, I might as well leave without hesitation.

After packing several sets of simple clothes, I put down my luggage and sat in front of the dressing table, applying makeup for the last time with the first lipstick that Hugh gave me.

When we just got married, every time he returned from a business trip, he would prepare a gift for me.

Sometimes it was expensive cosmetics, and sometimes it was astonishingly valuable artwork. Occasionally, it was just a simple bouquet of flowers.

Looking through the mirror at the empty vase that had been idle on the bedside table for a long time, I closed my eyes in resignation, and a burning tear silently fell on the back of my hand.

My mother entered without knocking and saw my packed luggage. There was a hint of hidden joy in her eyes, but she still pretended to be sad and stopped me.

"Julia, although you're not as important to Hugh as Leigh, you and him have been married for five years after all. Endure it, OK? Don't be childish."

Wiping away the useless tears, I turned to face my mother and found that Hugh had already stood at the door, looking at me with an indifferent expression.

I spoke softly while ignoring her and looking into Hugh's eyes firmly.

"Five years, as you said. Let's end it here and part on good terms."

As I walked past him with my luggage, he used his manly hand to firmly grasp my wrist.

I asked him to let go, but he coldly asked, "What do you mean?"

I smiled sarcastically because he knew the answer exactly, "I'll give way to the real daughter of the Warner family. She'll be your wife. Satisfied, Mr. Grant?"

After five years of marriage, this was the first time I had spoken to him with such a cold and distant tone.

As I, his once submissive wife, dared to speak back, he became angry and laughed, increasing the strength of his grip on my wrist.

The unbearable pain instantly caused cold sweat to form on my forehead.

But I still didn't let go of the luggage in my hand as he wished.

"You don't even trust Leigh, your own sister. Julia, are you worthy of being her sister?"

Hearing Hugh's shameless and outrageous words, I felt that my chest tightened and that the blood in my whole body flowed backward, making my head buzz.

I was bitter, angry, and deeply powerless.

Just as I was speechless with anger, my mother echoed with him and accused me.

"Hugh is right. How could you slander them? She's your sister, and he's your husband. Stop with all those filthy thoughts! Ever since you came back, Leigh has always asked us to take care of you and love you. To avoid suspicion, she even went abroad alone and suffered for five years... Julia, my precious daughter has suffered so much because of you!"

Finally, she said her inner thoughts truthfully.

At this moment, the way she looked at me was no different from how she looked at an enemy who had separated her from her flesh and blood.

I thought I had long been accustomed to my parents' favoritism.

But when my father and Leigh came over, the three of them stood together and coldly stared at me as if I were their enemy, the scene still made my eyes red.

I was the biological daughter that my parents had searched for many years, but in the end, they still loved Leigh the most, though she was mistakenly brought into the family.

If so, why bother taking me back here back then? Why made me the so-called daughter of the Warner family? Why asked me to marry Hugh on Leigh's behalf?

My heart suddenly ached, and as I had just recovered from a serious illness, I couldn't hold on any longer. I broke out in a cold sweat and fell straight back.

Hugh caught me in time, which I didn't expect.

He stared straight at me, his eyes cold with mixed emotions I didn't understand.

"Julia! Are you OK?"

Leigh's tone was full of concern, but in her eyes, all I could see was jealousy and hatred.

I knew that she had always regarded me as a thorn in her side.

She thought that I took away the title of the daughter of the Warner family and the man who should have belonged to her.

Since she wanted those things so much, she shall have them.

She could take whatever she wanted.

I didn't want any of it anymore.

I trembled and exerted all my strength to push Hugh away. Leaning against the wall, I finally stood up relying on my own power.

I said to Leigh.

"From now on, you don't have to pretend to care about me anymore. To be honest, after watching you act for so many years, I feel disgusted. Don't you?"

I said the simple truth, but Leigh burst into tears.

She sobbed and ran towards Hugh with a face full of grievances.

He spread his arms and gently embraced her while his gaze was coldly fixed on me.

"Apologize to her right now."

Before I could react, Leigh had already shaken her head non-stop. With a soft and sharp crying tone, she expressed in a breathless manner that all was her fault. She said I was so upset because she wasn't doing well enough.

Her pitiful crying voice quickly attracted the attention of the guests downstairs.

The corridor was crowded with onlookers sympathizing with Leigh. They whispered in front of me."L

"Leigh has just come back, and she has already been mistreated. No wonder she has been living alone abroad for so many years and has never dared to come back."

"It's a pity that the fire didn't burn this bitch, but look at her. She's an ugly monster now. She gets what she deserves."

Listening to these plain insults, I remained calm and picked up my luggage from the floor.

In the past, I cared a lot about others' opinions of me.

Because I was Hugh's wife.

I greeted everyone with a smile and lived cautiously.

Now... It didn't matter anymore.

"Hugh, I'm tired. You and Leigh can feel free to be together."

I looked at him seriously. "Let's get divorced."

After saying that, I took a few steps forward, but he walked up with a stern face, snatched my luggage, and threw it far away.

The veins on his forehead throbbed, and his face turned livid. No one had ever seen him lose control like this before.

"Divorce? What gives you the right to say that?"