Colby acted as if he hadn't heard a single word she said. As usual, he reached for her hand with a smile. "Whatever it is, we'll talk when we get home. You've suffered this time. I'll cook for you myself to make it up to you."

Ryann yanked her hand back sharply. There was nothing left in her eyes but despair.

No one understood better than she did—Colby would never agree to a divorce.

Since the day Charlee had been forcibly sent to the psychiatric hospital, this was the ninety-ninth time she had asked to end their marriage.

Every single time, he tore the divorce papers to shreds right in front of her. "Ryann, what's between us ends only in death. Don't even think about leaving me."

No matter how far she went, booking out entire nightclubs, letting male escorts serve her alone, creating scandals that turned Colby into a laughingstock.

He still refused to divorce her. He even used his influence to silence every rumor, erasing the scandals as if they had never existed.

He claimed Suzanne was nothing more than a pitiful younger sister he felt sorry for. That the person he truly loved, from beginning to end, was only Ryann.

He said he still wanted to grow old with her, hand in hand, walking beneath the sunset.

Ryann felt cold to the bone. She couldn't understand how things had ended up like this.

How the man who once cherished her like a priceless treasure had become so utterly unrecognizable.

They had grown up together. When Colby pursued her back then, the spectacle had shaken the entire city.

Ninety-nine confessions, each more extravagant than the last.

He rented out an entire private beach, using drones to recreate her favorite Van Gogh Starry Night across the night sky.

He bought every electronic billboard in the city, playing a confession video he recorded himself on loop.

On her birthday, he even made the glass facades of skyscrapers throughout the city display her portrait.

She was finally moved. But her parents were firmly against it.

Her father, a veteran of the business world, could tell this young man was dangerously calculating, hardly a good match.

In response, Colby personally drafted a prenuptial agreement, unconditionally transferring most of his assets to Ryann.

She still remembered that late-autumn day with pouring rain, rare and violent. Colby stood soaked and shivering, yet still knelt there, begging her parents to approve the marriage.

In the end, they gave in.

After the wedding, he treated her with meticulous care.

She was afraid of the cold, so he spared no expense installing a full climate-control system, transforming the entire estate into a perpetual spring.

If she casually praised an artist's work, the next day he would invite the artist personally to paint a portrait of them.

She once believed she had found true love.

Until Suzanne entered their lives.

At first, it was just something she overheard from his assistant— a female student he sponsored often came to the company, and the way she looked at Colby was different.

Ryann didn't think much of it. Women had always surrounded him, and he had always known where to draw the line.

Until one night, in the middle of intimacy, his face buried against her neck, he unconsciously murmured, "Suzanne…"

Her entire body went ice-cold.

When confronted, he held Ryann and explained patiently, saying it was just a publicity stunt—a student thanking her benefactor for the group's image.

"Ryann, trust me, you're the only one in my heart," he said gently.

But after that, his boundaries grew more and more blurred.

He gifted Suzanne limited-edition jewelry, rented her a luxury apartment, and even brought her to exclusive private business dinners—events Ryann herself rarely attended.

Whispers began spreading through their social circle.

When Ryann tearfully confronted him again, all she received was a cold glance. "Are you done making a scene?" he asked.

Then he slammed the door and left.

That was when the thought of divorce first took root.

But before she could even bring it up, disaster followed one blow after another.

Charlee was suddenly accused of attacking Suzanne with a knife. Colby had him thrown straight into a psychiatric hospital and broke the hands that could have made him a world-class pianist.

Ryann knelt in the freezing snow for five hours, begging Colby to investigate the truth until she miscarried and collapsed unconscious.

Even then, the man stayed inside the house, comforting Suzanne. He didn't spare Ryann a single glance.

Later, because Suzanne casually said, "The way he looked at me was disgusting, like a pervert," Ryann's father was forced to jump to his death to atone.

When her mother received the news, she fell gravely ill and passed away soon after.

Overnight, Ryann lost everything.

And Colby's response was cold.

"Suzanne said she's forgiven you. Stop making a fuss. This is the price they deserved to pay," he said.

Ryann looked up sharply, her eyes bloodshot.

"What a price," she said hoarsely. "Just a few careless words from her, and my family lost three lives and a pair of hands!"

And Charlee was beaten into a coma, no one even knew if he would survive.

Colby only replied indifferently, "You should understand, if you touch someone I protect, you'd better be prepared to face the consequences."

In that moment, Ryann finally understood what it meant to be completely, utterly heartbreaking.

Ryann resolved to leave, only to wake up tied hand and foot to the bed, under the pretense of being "forced to rest properly."

She gnawed through the ropes with her teeth. Blood filled her mouth, with several teeth cracked and broken.

When Colby came back and saw her like that, he pulled her into his arms in distress, only for her to bite down viciously on his shoulder.

"If this makes you feel better, then go ahead," he said softly.

He let the blood soak through his shirt, still gently soothing her as if nothing was wrong.

On the day her mother was laid to rest, Suzanne appeared, her arm linked intimately with Colby's.

Ryann went insane, trying to rush forward and confront them, but the bodyguards restrained her tightly.

"I'm here to forgive the you all," Suzanne said hypocritically in front of everyone. "That way, you won't feel so guilty, Ryann."

Colby forced Ryann to apologize to Suzanne in front of her mother's memorial portrait.

After that, Suzanne became Colby's personal secretary.

She said she was afraid of the dark, so Colby moved into her place to keep her company.

She said her kidneys were damaged, and Colby forced Ryann to give her one.

He kept saying it was all to help Ryann atone. But anyone with eyes could see it—somewhere along the way, Colby had fallen for Suzanne without even realizing it.

To the outside world, Colby still gave Ryann her proper status. Everyone thought she should know when to stop pushing her luck.

After all, she had nothing left now—no family, no reputation, only a body stained with scandal. The fact that Colby was still willing to keep her should have been something to be grateful for.

Under the suffocating pressure of each passing day, Ryann slowly broke.

She lashed out at Colby again and again, attempting to escape over and over.

The closest she ever came to freedom, she had already cleared immigration. But Colby reported her to the police as her husband and had her stopped.

He went mad, imprisoning her in his arms, kisses falling like rain.

"You'll always be mine," he whispered hoarsely. "If you dare try to run again, I can't guarantee what'll happen to Charlee."

He locked her away in a sunless basement, declaring his ownership in the most intimate, brutal way.

Suzanne was far from satisfied and often came to provoke her.

The last time, Ryann pinned her to the ground and slapped her dozens of times, until Suzanne passed out.

No one understood why Ryann refused to behave herself.

Only she knew the truth. She was at the end of her strength.

Dazed all day, hair falling out in handfuls, pills became the only thing keeping her conscious.

Colby never knew any of this.

He didn't know his wife was on the verge of madness.

Her only way out was to escape that terrifying man.

The tide of memories slowly receded. Ryann stood outside the hospital as Colby drove up. Her thin clothes did nothing against the cold wind, but he didn't notice.

The old Colby would have prepared a thick coat in the car. He knew she cared about appearances and would rather freeze than put on extra layers.

Now, when she habitually opened the front passenger door, he reminded her impatiently, "Sit in the back. Don't close the window—the ice cream will melt."

Ryann froze mid-motion.

The seat that used to belong to her was now piled with childish plush toys and overly sweet snacks.

A cup of ice cream was placed carefully in the center, obviously meant for Suzanne.

She had grown almost numb to this kind of pain. After closing the door, she said softly, "I want to see Charlee."

Colby's expression cooled. "Why do you need to see him again?"

"Today's his birthday," Ryann said quietly. "You promised that every year, we'd be together on this day."

He drove steadily. After a long pause, he finally responded, "Mm."

The psychiatric ward was dim, lit only by a small window near the ceiling that let in a sliver of light.

Charlee was curled up in the corner, barely conscious. He didn't even notice when Ryann arrived.

She wrapped her arms around him and broke down completely.

"I'm sorry… I married the wrong man. I'm so sorry…"

Charlee's body stirred. Feeling her tears, clarity flickered briefly in his eyes.

He squeezed her hand and spoke with all the strength he had left, "Mom and Dad… left something for us."

From under the bed, he pulled out several yellowed pages. The first one was unmistakable—divorce papers.

Along with it were documents for two fake identities, one for each of them.

She remembered now.

It was the divorce papers her parents had forced Colby to sign the year she got married. The last escape route they had prepared for her.

Ryann immediately contacted the only lawyer she trusted. After carefully reviewing the documents, the lawyer nodded. "With this, you're legally free."

Tears streamed down Ryann's face.

That very day, she went through the procedures to cancel both her and Charlee's registered identities.

One month at most. Then, she would take Charlee and disappear far away.

From then on, she would never see that man again.

That afternoon, Colby informed Ryann that she was to accompany him to a jewelry gala.

To avoid arousing suspicion, she had no choice but to agree.

But when she arrived at the venue alone, she saw Colby with his arm around Suzanne, introducing her to the crowd with unmistakable tenderness.

"This is my secretary, Suzanne, and also my closest confidante," he said warmly. "After joining the company, she personally designed the blueprints for our new jewelry line. She's indispensable to me at work."

The ruby crown resting on Suzanne's head was one Colby had personally bid for at auction not long ago, which was worth well over a hundred million.

By comparison, Ryann looked like a complete nobody.

Everyone present had their own thoughts, yet their faces were filled with praise and flattery directed at Suzanne.

Blushing under the compliments, Suzanne smiled shyly and leaned into Colby's arms.

"It's all thanks to Colby's guidance," she said softly. "Without him, I wouldn't be who I am today."

Someone in the crowd couldn't resist teasing, "Miss Price and Mr. Willis are inseparable. Sounds like wedding bells aren't far off. Don't forget to send us invitations."

Suzanne's face flushed even deeper as she glanced at Colby nervously.

The next second, her gaze unexpectedly met Ryann's calm eyes.

The room fell into instant silence.

Colby turned toward Colby, his manner polite and gentle as always in public. "You're here already. Why didn't you tell me so I could come get you?"

Ryann replied coolly, "If I'd spoken up, wouldn't I have interrupted your good moment?"

Colby remained composed as he reached out and pulled her hand, smoothly shifting her position with Suzanne.

Ryann instinctively tried to pull away, but his grip tightened. Leaning closer, he murmured in a low voice, "If you don't want anything to happen to Charlee again, cooperate."

Ryann lifted her head to look at him. She should have kept enduring it, but she was so tired of it.

"Colby, if you want my cooperation, let Charlee out. Otherwise, I'd rather die," she said steadily.

His hand tightened briefly. In the end, he seemed to sigh. "You've always been willful since you were little. Only I can put up with you."

On the spot, Colby ordered someone to bring Charlee out. Only then did Ryann comply.

Laughter filled the air. Glasses clinked.

After meeting several important clients, Ryann was no longer of use. Only then did Colby finally release her.

She wanted to sit alone for a while, but someone couldn't stand to see her at peace.

Surrounded by admirers, Suzanne walked over, her eyes full of malice.

"Mrs. Willis, they say that your brother used to be a piano prodigy," she said pointedly. "I wonder how your talent is. The pianist scheduled to open tonight can't make it. Why don't you fill in?"

She knew perfectly well that Charlee was Ryann's deepest wound. This was meant to provoke her, to make her lose control in public.

Ryann took a deep breath, forcing down the anger in her chest.

"Suzanne, that's putting Mrs. Willis in a difficult position. Everyone knows you're the best pianist here. If not for that accident back then, you'd probably be studying music at Harrison Conservatory right now," one of Suzanne's close friends chimed in smoothly.

Suzanne forced a timid smile. "Don't say that. Mrs. Willis grew up in one of the wealthiest families—smart, cultured, and talented in everything she does. Honestly, she might even outshine me."

Another friend added mockingly, "Probably just all show and no substance."

Harrison Conservatory. That was Charlee's dream school.

"I'll play," Ryann laughed.

She looked at Suzanne meaningfully. "Just don't regret it."

She sat down at the piano, her long fingers dancing across the black and white keys.

A cool, restrained melody flowed out, quietly tugging at everyone's heartstrings.

Faces grew mesmerized. People unconsciously gathered around her.

Suzanne gritted her teeth.

Why was it that whenever Ryann appeared, everyone else disappeared from view?

When the final note fell, applause erupted in waves.

"No wonder she was once the top socialite in Harrington. This level is master-class!"

"Her grandfather was the country's greatest pianist. Of course his grandchildren would be this gifted!"

Even Colby froze for a moment, a trace of nostalgia flashing through his eyes.

Before he could stop himself, he walked forward. "Ryann, your playing is still as moving as ever."

That single sentence shattered Suzanne's composure. Her eyes reddened instantly.

"Mr. Willis," she said tearfully, "Mrs. Willis really is amazing. Unlike me… I finally qualified for a conservatory evaluation, only to lose everything because of an injury. I'm so useless."

Colby's expression darkened at once.

But by the time he tried to pull Ryann down from the stage, she was already stepping off on her own.

"No matter what I've endured," Ryann said calmly, "I'm still Ryann Fowler. I don't need any man to define my worth. From now on, please call me Miss Fowler."

Suzanne's eyes overflowed. She covered her face and broke down crying, "Yes, I was born poor. I can't compare to someone as lofty as Miss Fowler. I deserved to be stabbed, deserved not even to have the right to play piano here."

Hearing her words, Colby could no longer hold it together.

"You know perfectly well Charlee ruined Suzanne's life. And you still humiliate her like this in public?" he barked.

Ryann's voice was steady. "Colby, I've said it before. My brother is innocent."

Colby shook his head in disappointment, shoved Ryann aside in anger, and chased after Suzanne.

Pitying looks fell on Ryann from all around. She didn't care.

After all, she would be leaving soon.

But that very night, just after she got home, a news alert popped up on her phone, "Brother of Willis Group CEO's wife goes berserk in public, viciously harasses young women—circumstances severe."