On my third dive to search for my husband, I tragically drowned from exhaustion.

When the news reached my husband, he was busy organizing a birthday grab for Ellie's child.

Upon hearing it, he merely let out a scornful laugh.

"What kind of new trick is this? She has a diving license, and she drowned?"

An entire month passed before he finally remembered me. It was right when he was about to marry Ellie.

By then, I had been bloated from underwater, nibbled by fish and shrimp. There were two lives lost--Me and my unborn child.

——

I was so cold.

Waves of suffocation surrounded me, then suddenly disappeared.

I snapped my eyes open and found myself no longer in the deep, dark sea but right beside Jayden.

Just as I was about to feel relief for his safety, a harsh scolding froze me in place.

"Get out!"

Jayden glared angrily at his panicked assistant, Isaac, because his entrance had frightened Ellie's child.

"Boss, boss! Mrs. Turner went diving and never came back up!" Isaac struggled to explain, but he was completely ignored.

Isaac continued to struggle through his explanation, but Jayden paid him no attention.

Jayden softly comforted the crying child, with a tenderness in his eyes I had never seen before.

Ellie nestled close to them, gently wiping the child's tears with a tissue.

What a happy little family.

I had seen this scene so many times, yet my empty heart still felt a stab of pain.

Once the child's cries quieted down, Jayden finally turned to Isaac.

"Don't bother me with these trivial things anymore, especially her! Can't you see you scared Gavin?"

"But Mrs. Turner..."

Isaac's face was pale. Before he could finish, Jayden cut him off.

"I won't repeat myself. If I have to say it again, you can collect your paycheck and leave!

"It's just one of her new tricks. She couldn't stand that I'm throwing Gavin a birthday celebration. She has a diving license and still managed to drown? What a joke!"

I clearly saw the mockery on Jayden's face and stood frozen.

Jayden was a famous diving champion, while I was a complete novice.

After we got married, he taught me how to swim but always sighed, "It'd be nice if someone could dive with me."

I took his words to heart. Even after discovering I had a fear of deep water, I never gave up learning how to dive.

I still remember how happy Jayden was when I proudly showed him my beginner's diving license.

But now, that license had become the reason for his disbelief.

Jayden turned back to Ellie, his expression suddenly softening.

"Sorry for the scare. Let's continue."

Jayden gently placed the child in the center of the red cloth, treating him like a rare treasure.

"Come on, Gavin, pick whatever you like!"

Gold fork, property deeds, $100,000 in cash, a mahogany brush...

Each item had been carefully prepared by Jayden himself.

He guided Ellie's child through the birthday grab like a loving father.

If my baby had been born, he'd be celebrating his first birthday around this time too.

I let out a bitter laugh and instinctively placed my hand on my empty belly.

Once, this had been home to a precious child. But I had caught a cold while learning to dive, and I couldn't save him.

Ever since then, Jayden changed.

He exploded at me and tore up my diving license.

"You killed our child! Do you have any idea how hard it was for us to have him?"

Jayden had a low sperm count, so this child had been a miracle for us.

"I was wrong, but what about you? It's your sperm that's the problem!"

That line tore away his façade. On that freezing winter night, he kicked me out of the house.

"I'm going to adopt Gavin as my son. I'll make sure my will names him as the heir."

The light from the villa burned my eyes, but not as much as the tenderness in Jayden's voice.

Ellie immediately looked back at Jayden in delight, letting out a small gasp.

When Jayden glanced her way, she quickly composed herself, her expression shifting to one of concern.

She cautiously asked, "What about Lilian? Didn't Isaac mention her earlier? Maybe you should check if she's okay?"

My heart clenched, and I instinctively looked toward Jayden's moving lips.

I still remember how Jayden had sworn that everything he had was mine and our child's.

But now, those lips curled into a malicious smile.

"Her? There's no need to check. Trash like her is tough to kill; she'll be fine."

Jayden sneered and added, "As for my assets, does a barren murderer deserve any of them?

"Even if she dies, it'll just be paying the price for my child's life."

I stood frozen in place, unable to believe what I was seeing and hearing.

Because of the child we lost, I kept approaching him with guilt, trying everything I could to get pregnant again.

But now, he was blaming me for everything.

I felt like I was suffocating again, and a bitter smile escaped my lips.

"Jayden, you don't know... I've already paid with my life for the child."

The next morning, Jayden and Ellie walked out of the same room together.

I wasn't surprised at all. In fact, I had expected this to happen.

Ellie was the one Jayden could never have. When she showed up with her child, Jayden couldn't wait to take her in.

"Her husband just died, and she's raising a young child alone. Should I just let her suffer without helping?

"Lilian, I never realized you were such a heartless woman!"

So, I watched as she slowly transformed our home into something she liked.

She even wanted to take down my wedding photos with Jayden.

"Gavin used to look at my wedding photos and call out for his dad. I'm worried he'll do the same if he sees yours."

Ellie sobbed weakly as she leaned into Jayden's arms, immediately earning his sympathy.

And so, the last proof of our love was locked away in the basement, gathering dust, never to see the light of day again.

At the dining table, Jayden carefully fed the baby formula while Ellie wore a concerned expression.

"Aren't you going to call Lilian for dinner? She hasn't been around since last night."

Jayden didn't even pause and instead reassured Ellie.

"You're just as kind as always.

"Go ahead and eat. Don't worry about her, she's probably sulking somewhere."

After saying this, he immediately called for Isaac.

"If she doesn't want to eat, then don't bother preparing meals for her these next two days!

"When she's hungry, she'll come out on her own."

Jayden turned to gently wipe the child's mouth, ignoring the hesitation in Isaac's expression.

Watching the tenderness in Jayden's eyes and his complete disregard for me, I spoke the words he didn't.

"I'll never be hungry again and never show up again."

Two days later, everyone began packing to leave the island.

It wasn't until they stepped onto the boat that Jayden finally remembered me.

"Where's Lilian?"

He frowned and asked. Isaac stepped forward to answer, but Jayden waved him off.

"Forget it. If she won't show up when we leave, we'll just leave her behind.

"Isaac, get a fishing boat ready and leave it by the shore. If she wants to come back, she can row herself home."

After saying that, he took the child from Ellie's arms and bounced him lightly, all traces of his earlier irritation gone.

I looked at the worn-out fishing boat, my eyes moist, but my tears had long dried.

So this is what I was worth to him, just a simple "forget it."

I didn't end up using the boat. Instead, I drifted along with Jayden back home.

The house was now covered with photos of Ellie and Jayden. Even if I accidentally appeared in one, I had been cropped out.

As days passed without any sign of me, Jayden became visibly angry and even a little anxious.

"She's gone all day, who knows where! She won't even come home!

"Where's my diving watch? If she's going to die, at least let her find my watch first!"

Jayden angrily hung up the phone, his face twisted in frustration.

I instinctively floated over to the bottom of the storage cabinet and reached out, but then stopped.

"She's completely useless. All she ever does is misplace my stuff!"

I looked back at Jayden and suddenly found him repulsive.

As the loyal wife behind a gold-medal diving champion, I had always taken care of his diving gear.

I still remembered how excited he was when he won his first championship, spinning me around in his arms.

He said it was all thanks to me, that without my help, he would've been too flustered to win.

But now that I was gone, all he did was blame me for misplacing his things.

I suddenly realized that, in his eyes, I was nothing more than a human storage cabinet. I was summoned when needed and dismissed when not.

Jayden won another championship.

I floated above, watching the joy on his face, but I didn't feel the same happiness as before.

I coldly watched as he hugged Ellie tightly, just like we used to.

"Gavin really is my lucky charm! I used a regular diving watch and still won!" Jayden said, lifting the child affectionately.

"If Lilian had hidden my watch and made me lose, I would've punished her severely!"

Ellie giggled and hooked her arm through Jayden's. "That's because you're talented enough not to be affected by these little accidents."

But it was me who had spent countless nights researching the best equipment for Jayden, carefully maintaining everything for him, and now all my efforts were erased with a single sentence.

He didn't remember the good I'd done, but he held onto my mistakes, resenting me forever.

I turned away, unwilling to listen or watch any longer.

Yet, his voice, like a curse, forced its way into my ears.

"Ellie, marry me.

"I didn't have the means before. I was afraid I couldn't give you the life you deserved, so I backed down. But now, we're a perfect match. This is fate.

"I want to give Gavin a real home."

Jayden, full of affection, knelt on one knee in front of everyone and pulled out a diamond ring.

Ellie held the child, her eyes brimming with tears as she whispered softly.

"What about Lilian? I don't want to be the other woman. You know I can't do that. Please don't force me.

"I don't want to be a bad person. I love you, but I can't say yes."

"Ellie..."

Jayden's face was full of tenderness as he gently pulled Ellie into his arms, speaking softly to comfort her, but it made my heart sink.

"Ellie, don't worry. I promise to give you proper status and to marry you openly and honorably.

"I'll divorce Lilian right away!"

"But that's too cruel to Lilian, isn't it?"

Ellie spoke with such kindness, but I caught the glimmer of a smile in her eyes.

"How could it be cruel? If she had any sense, she'd leave on her own!

"She hasn't been home in days. Who knows where she's been? I think she's stopped loving me long ago!"

Love?

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

"Jayden, I wanted to love you, but I just can't anymore."

A single tear fell onto the back of my hand, and I was shocked to realize that even as a soul, I could still feel the pain in my heart.

"Why isn't she answering her phone again? I have no idea what she's doing all day! With that temper, I should have divorced her a long time ago!"

Jayden slammed his phone again after not being able to get through to me.

I felt neither joy nor sadness; I even found myself observing his contorted face with a strange sense of detachment.

Ellie lowered her head gently, then looked up with resolve. "Maybe Lilian is still mad at me, or even at Gavin."

Ellie's posture was delicate, but she quickly fixed her gaze on Jayden with determination.

"I can wait for you, for however long it takes. Even if I never get Lilian's blessing, it doesn't matter to me," Ellie said softly.

I watched Jayden kiss Ellie, clearly moved by her words. For the first time, I realized how blind I had been to love him back then.

They parted, both out of breath, the lingering affection between them visible in their eyes.

"I'll go see Isaac. He should know something. Don't worry. Ellie, I'll give you the grand wedding!" Jayden promised before rushing out.

Jayden drove straight to Isaac's house. As soon as he walked in, Isaac's appearance shocked him.

Isaac's face had hollowed out, and he looked like he had lost a good 20 pounds.

"Where's Lilian? You were the last one to see her, right? Get her back here! Stop playing these ridiculous games!" Jayden barked, frustration bubbling in his voice.

At the mention of my name, Isaac snapped out of his zombie-like state.

It was like he was suddenly freed, as he quickly delivered a speech he had clearly rehearsed many times.

"After Mrs. Turner went diving, she never came back up...," Isaac said, his voice cracking.

"Isaac, remember who your real boss is! Stop covering for that woman!" Jayden interrupted harshly.

"How could she just dive in because of something you said?"

Jayden's voice was loud, but it was betraying a small hint of panic.

"I told her that after you went diving, you hadn't come back up for a long time. She immediately geared up and went down to look for you," Isaac explained.

"She was worried something had happened to you, so she went down three times, using three oxygen tanks... But the third time, she never came back up."

I listened as they described my death, but I felt numb, like a bystander in my own life.

There were so many details that Isaac didn't know, and Jayden knew even less.

That day, the waves were rough. It was far too dangerous for diving.

But I still went in without hesitation.

That night, I couldn't see anything clearly in the water.

I kept diving deeper and deeper.

I was just someone with a basic diving certificate, but that day, I found courage and strength I never knew I had.

In the end, I couldn't make it on my third dive. The deep, dark water overwhelmed me with panic, and I lost control, succumbing to exhaustion and drowning.

The freezing water still clung to me in my mind as I watched Jayden, disbelief etched across his face, and then he rushed madly back to that island.

A whole month later, they finally recovered my body.

The skin covering my bones was swollen and pale, like a water-filled bag. As soon as they peeled away the wetsuit, the skin on my abdomen tore open.

My flesh was exposed to the air, and my face had been eaten beyond recognition by fish and shrimp.

Inside my belly, the barely-formed embryo was revealed for all to see, causing many to turn their faces away in horror.

Jayden, however, let out a relieved laugh. "See? This isn't Lilian at all! She wasn't pregnant!"

But a second later, he froze.

The corpse had a ring on its finger.