At the annual Thanksgiving party, Felix's darling suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me, desperately pleading as she struck her own face.

"Sis, I won’t try to take anything from you anymore. Please, don’t make me sleep with those men again, okay?"

Her forehead met the ground forcefully, leaving a trail of blood, portraying me as the villain of her story.

Felix, my husband, witnessed this and, without hesitation, shoved me—eight months pregnant—to the floor, branding me a spiteful harridan. He then gave the lead designer position, which rightfully belonged to me, to his beloved protégé.

I tumbled down the stairs, the blood seeping into my Victorian-style dress like a stain of disgrace. With what little strength I had left, I grasped Felix's pant leg, begging him to take me to the hospital.

But the protégé wrinkled her nose with disdain.

"Sis, today is my big day. Are you trying to ruin it for me?"

Felix glared at me coldly, "I already asked the doctor. You still have a month before your due date."

"What’s the fuss about a little push? Do you need to be so dramatic? You’re not having this baby today!"

That night, I nearly lost my life on the operating table due to childbirth complications. Meanwhile, Felix and the whole team celebrated the protégé’s promotion with glee.

When the doctor told me regretfully that the baby couldn’t be saved, I called my sister-in-law, Madeleine.

"You promised me, as long as I had the child, I could leave. Does that still stand?"

...

Madeleine paused before finally speaking:

"Alexandria, I’m at the hospital entrance. Can we talk face-to-face?"

With no choice, I ended the call. Moments later, Felix called, his voice cold, dripping with contempt: "Alexandria, where the hell are you?"

"Daphne nearly had a breakdown because of you. You must attend tomorrow night’s celebration and publicly apologize to her."

"If you don’t, you’ll drag the entire Garcia family down with you!"

He didn’t give me a chance to respond, abruptly hanging up. His words echoed chillingly in the silent hospital room.

Madeleine walked in just in time to hear those last words. Anger flared on her face, but seeing my pale complexion, her irritation subsided into a long sigh:

"Alexandria, I’m sorry."

I shook my head with a bitter smile:

"Sis, you have nothing to apologize for."

"Now that the child is gone, your health is at risk, and since you’ve decided, it’s time to divorce."

Tears welled up in Madeleine’s eyes.

"Our family owes you, and I promise to make sure Felix doesn’t harm your family."

Her promise lifted a weight off my shoulders, and I choked up:

"Thank you, sis."

Five years ago, my family’s business teetered on the brink of disaster. Madeleine came to me, offering the Garcia family's help in exchange for my marriage to Felix and bearing their heir.

At the time, Felix had a girlfriend, unaware that she was secretly selling company secrets. Madeleine uncovered her actions, orchestrating my marriage to Felix, whom I had admired.

Felix reluctantly agreed, pressured by his parents, who threatened him. But on our wedding day, his ex-girlfriend died in a car accident.

Unable to blame his family, Felix directed all his animosity toward me, accusing me of being mercenary and infiltrating his family, leading to his girlfriend’s death.

Since the marriage, he’s humiliated me in countless ways, cycling through women like it was a pastime. Daphne, bearing a strong resemblance to his late girlfriend, became his favorite.

Even when blatantly framed, he stood unwaveringly by her side, even if it cost him his own child.

Thinking of my lost child, tears streamed down my face.

Madeleine gently brushed them away.

"Alexandria, you’re a good woman. I truly wished you and Felix could have lasted."

"But Felix didn’t deserve that blessing. Give me seven days to finish my work, and I’ll personally ensure you leave."

"Rest and recover for these seven days."

Despite everything, Madeleine had supported me and my family. I hesitated but eventually agreed.

After all, I endured five years; what were seven more days?

Before leaving, Madeleine arranged for professional caregivers for me.

However, Felix didn’t grant me the peace to rest. The next morning, his call came again, as arrogant and dismissive as ever:

"Alexandria, you’d better be at the hotel by eight tonight, or you know what’ll happen."

With Madeleine’s promise, I wasn’t afraid of Felix harming my family. But with just seven days left, I wanted no more complications.

So, I reluctantly agreed.

Upon hearing my compliance, Felix sighed with satisfaction:

"Alexandria, as long as you obey, you’ll always be Mrs. Garcia."

Listening to the dial tone, bitter tears slipped from my eyes. But I no longer longed to be Mrs. Garcia.

Ignoring the caregivers' protests, I insisted on getting up. As soon as I moved, a wave of red seeped beneath me. Carefully, I edged off the bed, enduring the searing pain.

I arrived at the hotel Felix had directed me to and followed a staff member to the private room. Before I could enter, Felix’s voice reached me through the door:

"When Alexandria apologizes to Daphne, make sure to record it and post it on the company chat."

"I want everyone to see the consequences of crossing Daphne!"

Hearing this, my hand on the doorknob trembled. This wasn’t the first time Felix used me to humiliate himself for Daphne.

Once, simply because a client praised my design over Daphne’s, she claimed I conspired against her.

That evening, Felix spiked my drink at a dinner with esteemed colleagues, causing me to embarrass myself.

He claimed any insult I directed at Daphne, he would return tenfold.

Whenever we slept together, he made me wear Daphne’s clothes, calling her name repeatedly.

He did it purposely, but I had no means to resist, tearfully enduring his cruelty till dawn.

He had endless ways to torment me.

Just then, Felix opened the door.

“Were you eavesdropping? Did you enjoy what you heard?” he mocked.

Hearing my voice, Daphne sauntered over, snuggling up to Felix, and sneered:

“Sis, why didn’t you come in? Are you unwilling to apologize or congratulate me?”

“I heard you were quite keen on the lead designer position! Too bad…”

Listening to their jeers, I stayed silent.

But the quieter I was, the more Felix fumed.

“Aren’t you here to apologize? What are you waiting for?”

He dragged me into the room, tearing my coat, revealing the hospital gown beneath.

Felix paused, his warm hand gripping my wrist.

“What’s with the hospital gown? What did the doctor say?”

I looked at him coldly.

Wasn’t it a bit late for concern now?

Before I could speak, Daphne chimed in with feigned concern.

“Yes, sis, you ran all the way from the hospital. Are you trying to worry us?”

Felix, realizing I wasn’t gravely ill, released my hand dismissively.

“Made such a fuss yesterday, but you’re fine. I already asked the doctor; you can’t deliver yet!”

I found it laughable.

He didn’t know he lost the right to fatherhood.

Felix pulled Daphne to his side on the sofa.

“You’re cunning and deceitful, hardly fit to be Mrs. Garcia. But since you’re pregnant, kneel and apologize to Daphne, and we’ll let it go.”

Hearing this, I tightened my fists, finally lifting my gaze to meet Felix.

“I’ve done nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?”

“I know exactly who you are, Alexandria, so you think I’d trust you?”

His words barely faded before someone kicked me sharply in the knee.

I fell to the ground, my abdomen throbbing with stabbing pain.

I knew if I didn’t comply with Felix today, leaving this room would be impossible.

With suppressed humiliation, I apologized to Daphne, then slapped myself ten times under everyone’s scornful gaze.

After, I collapsed in exhaustion on the floor.

The unparalleled humiliation and defeat shattered my already broken heart further.

Above me, Felix’s contemptuous voice sounded:

“Alexandria, what’s it like being Mrs. Garcia?”

“By tomorrow, the entire company will know their pristine Mrs. Garcia is a masochist.”

“Enough disgrace; get out of here!”

I was unceremoniously tossed out of the suite by Felix. Inside, I could still hear him professing his love for Daphne Oliver amid the applause of the crowd. Without looking back, I turned and left, leaning against the wall for support.

The next day, a video of me slapping myself surfaced, not only spreading through our company's internal chat but also being leaked online by some spiteful opportunist. The comments underneath were ruthless:

“Is this the twisted hobby of the rich? Absolutely horrifying!”

“Reliable sources say she bullied her coworkers because of her status, and she got what she deserved!”

“Serves her right; she doesn't seem like a decent person at all.”

“A wealthy man's wife, huh? If I were her husband, I'd be looking elsewhere for sure.”

...

Reading those malicious comments, I was certain this was Felix and Daphne's doing. It's been five years, and I still don't know how long Felix's resentment towards me will last. Maybe leaving would be a relief for us both.

After a nearly sleepless night, I felt like my head was splitting, and the swelling on my face hadn't subsided—if anything, it had worsened. Felix barely glanced at my face before he grabbed my wrist and dragged me outside.

“Today is Daphne's first day in her new role, and you’re deliberately trying to embarrass her by being late? Wasn't yesterday's lesson harsh enough?”

He shoved me into the car. As soon as I sat down, I felt a sudden gush of blood. Looking down, I saw that my pants were soaked. I tried nervously to cover the stain, but Felix had already noticed. He frowned slightly.

“Why is there blood? How is the baby?”

I was about to respond when his phone rang—it was Daphne’s special ringtone. As soon as he picked up, I heard Daphne’s tearful voice on the other end:

“Felix, so many people are calling me a homewrecker online. I think I should leave you. I don’t want my parents to suffer disgrace because of me.”

Hearing her sobs, Felix abruptly hit the brakes, stopping the car by the roadside.

“Daphne, don’t cry. Only someone unloved can truly be called a homewrecker,” he said, casting a deliberate glance my way. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this, and soon I’ll propose to you in front of everyone at Thanksgiving, so no one will dare say a word.”

After reassuring her with a few more words, he hung up and turned to me, his eyes carrying an emotion I couldn’t decipher.

“I need you to make a statement online,” he said. “Admit that you came between me and Daphne, that you schemed to marry into the Garcia family.”

I looked out the window, tears long blurring my vision. Yet, mechanically, I nodded.

He was silent for a long moment before speaking again, “If you do this right and stay in line from now on, I won’t purposely make things difficult for you anymore.”

I continued to nod, saying nothing. The car filled with a heavy silence, neither of us speaking another word. Felix always had a way of rekindling the pain in my already desolate heart. This is the man I devoted my love to for years. How laughable...