Chapter 5

When Lucas came to pick me up, the doctor refused to discharge me: "Postpartum recovery is crucial. Your husband should understand this."

Lucas showed no concern: "She's not that delicate."

My bleeding hadn't stopped, and hearing this from outside the door, I felt my heart grow cold.

Once, when I accidentally cut my finger while peeling an apple, he caught my gasp over the phone. He immediately stopped work and rushed home, carefully bandaging my finger: "A wife is meant to be pampered."

How many years has it been since then?

On the way back to the family home, I spoke up: "Your mother asked me for $500,000 yesterday. I haven't given it to her yet."

Lucas had always been unwilling to lose face in front of me.

He cleared his throat awkwardly: "I'll give it to her later."

I nodded and closed my eyes, pretending to doze off.

The old house was adorned with red roses, transforming the once simple courtyard into something resembling a wedding venue.

Chloe wore a white tulle dress, holding pink roses. When she saw Lucas, a beautiful blush spread across her face.

"That must be Lucas's wife. Why does she have such a gloomy face at her sister-in-law's birthday? She's so pale, it's creepy."

"I heard she had a miscarriage and is still in postpartum recovery. How could she look well?"

"Ugh, and she still came? Is she afraid Lucas will dislike her and prefer Chloe?"

The coldness in my heart intensified.

Unable to hide the pain in my abdomen, I found a place to sit and rest.

As soon as I sat down, Mrs. Lee called me over, surrounded by the gossiping women from earlier: "I've found a folk remedy that will help you get pregnant again quickly."

The women around her inquired curiously.

"From 5:30 until the end of the party, you'll wash dishes in the kitchen. The more dishes you wash, the more sincere your heart. I've bought plenty of extra dishes just for this."

Chloe and Mrs. Lee's faces showed mocking smiles.

From start to finish, it was just a ploy to humiliate me.

I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood.

The humiliation was unbearable. As I turned to leave, Mrs. Lee suddenly spoke: "Did you all know about Stella's ex-husband?"

I stopped in my tracks, clenching my fists. The pain in my palms reminded me to remember this humiliation.

The kitchen was full of servants preparing for the birthday party. They weren't surprised to see me and collectively sneered.

The sink was already piled high with dishes. They pushed me to wash in a basin on the floor.

People clearing tables threw oil-stained dishes directly into my basin, splashing dirty water onto my head, face, and clothes.

Seeing my miserable state, Chloe covered her mouth and laughed loudly: "Remember to be sincere!"

When Lucas passed by with a friend, his friend frowned: "Isn't that your wife?"

I didn't look up, my hands busy non-stop.

I only heard him say: "No, you're mistaken."

The winter water was freezing, and the pain below persisted.

At that moment, I froze.

Those words echoed around me like a spell.

My heart sank to the depths.

Two tears fell straight down, indistinguishable from the oily water.

"Hurry up and wash! You'll be in trouble if you don't finish!"

The curses shattered what was left of my dignity.

At the banquet, Lucas presented a gift to Chloe.

Chloe blushed shyly, embracing Lucas as if he were her whole world.

I stared at the perfect couple, lost in thought.

When he proposed, Lucas promised to protect me for life.

In our first year of marriage, Mrs. Lee treated me like her own daughter.

In our second year, when Mrs. Lee gave me a hard time, he firmly shielded me.

In our fourth year of marriage, another woman was carrying his child.

My heart turned to ashes, no longer stirred by anything.

As the guests began to leave, there were fewer and fewer dishes.

Lucas rushed to the kitchen and helped me up.

My hands were red from the cold, but I still had the strength to slap him.

He didn't dodge. The sound was crisp.

He even held my hand to his chest: "Why are your hands so cold!"

That moment of warmth couldn't thaw my heart. I held my head high, not letting tears fall, and laughed softly: "Lucas, you're so contradictory."