Chapter 1

My best friend Sophia's pregnant with my husband Ethan's child. She's already three months along.

Meanwhile, I've just been beaten by him until I miscarried, now lying in a hospital bed.

Ethan told me that as long as I accept it, Sophia's child can call me Mom.

I smiled and nodded, then turned around and married the most dangerous man in River City.

Everything they've inflicted on me—I'll make them pay back tenfold, a hundredfold.

My best friend Sophia posted on Ins that she'd decided to put herself up for sale tonight, going back to that life.

Cassandra panicked and rushed to the Blue Baron, determined to pull Sophia out of that hellhole again.

When she hurried over, she saw a room full of familiar faces outside the private room door.

Including her husband of three years since their remarriage—Ethan.

He was gripping Sophia's arm, demanding answers. "Sophia, you've got some nerve coming here! Isn't the money I give you enough? Why would you degrade yourself like this!"

In an instant, Sophia's eyes turned red.

"Ethan, I told you I don't want you involved. Can't you understand that?"

"I don't want to be entangled with you anymore. I don't want to be the other woman! I don't want to hurt Cassie anymore!"

She trembled as she cried. Ethan forcibly pulled her into his arms.

"It's my fault for putting so much pressure on you."

He looked down at her, his usually cold eyes now filled with deep affection.

"Let's tell her the truth, okay?"

"No! I won't!"

Sophia pushed him away violently, shaking her head in panic. "Please stop trying to take care of me. I can't hurt Cassie! Just go!"

Ethan stared at her. "Tell me you don't love me, and I'll leave!"

She looked up, her voice firm. "Ethan, listen carefully. I don't love you anymore. Not at all—mmph."

The next second, the man pulled her forcefully into his embrace, dominating her lips with a kiss.

Sophia cried while trying to push him away, but she couldn't.

Gradually, she stopped struggling and kissed him back even more intensely.

When the kiss ended, Sophia leaned against him, gasping for breath.

A friend nearby spoke up.

"Sophia, Ethan loves you so much. Can't you feel it?"

"Three years ago, you said you were afraid of hurting Cassandra and insisted on breaking it off with Ethan. If he hadn't stood outside your building all night a year ago, you probably wouldn't even agree to see him again!"

"Ethan loves you so much. If you keep degrading yourself in places like this, he'll go crazy."

"Listen to Ethan. Tell her the truth. Cassandra's pregnant anyway—she can't leave Ethan! At worst, Cassie can be the first wife and you the second. You two sisters serving one husband—what's wrong with that?"

Sophia refused. "No, don't tell her. Ethan, I'll do what you say. I'll stay by your side and stop degrading myself."

Ethan looked down, gently wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"You've suffered so much, Sophia."

Outside the private room.

Watching this scene, Cassandra felt like someone was choking her throat. She even forgot how to breathe.

In the dazzling lights, she remembered her past with Ethan.

She and Ethan were neighbors, from age five to thirty.

Ethan had protected her for a full twenty-five years.

The Wilde and Hart families were well-matched. They'd had an engagement since childhood.

Ethan was dark and rarely smiled, but he gave all his tenderness and favoritism to Cassandra.

She loved eating scrambled eggs with locust flowers. Every season, the germaphobic Ethan would personally climb trees to pick them for her.

She loved dancing. He hated it, but still learned for a whole month before her birthday ball, just to dance the first dance with her.

When she was bullied, he could appear out of nowhere, fight five people at once, and shield her behind him so she wouldn't get hurt.

Sophia was a poor student she'd met in her junior year of high school. Her parents worked away from home year-round. She lived with her elderly grandmother.

Even her tuition depended on school aid, and she barely scraped by for three meals a day.

Cassandra felt sorry for her and took the initiative to befriend her, bringing her into her social circle.

Later they became good friends. Ethan's attitude toward Sophia also changed from initial distance to eventually sharing his favoritism with her for Cassandra's sake.

After college graduation, when Sophia was about to sell her body for money, it was Cassandra who rushed in to save her regardless of everything.

Later she arranged work for Sophia, keeping her by Ethan's side as his secretary.

On Cassandra and Ethan's wedding day, Sophia held the train of the wedding dress and cried her heart out.

But in the first year after marriage, Ethan cheated.

Cassandra didn't know who the woman was.

When she arrived, Ethan had locked that woman in a room. No matter how hysterical she became, he refused to let her in.

She could only break down and seek comfort from Sophia, saying she wanted a divorce. It was Sophia who convinced her to let it go since it was in the past.

Later, she forgave Ethan.

For the next three years, everything was calm.

Ethan also treated her better and better, not daring to hurt her in the slightest.

This morning, after getting the ultrasound results and learning she was pregnant, she'd wanted to tell the two most important people in her life this good news.

But she never imagined that the woman Ethan cheated with three years ago was her best friend!

Three years later, they were at it again!

Sadness surged over her like a tide. She staggered back a few steps and accidentally knocked over a vase nearby.

"Crash!" The vase shattered on the floor.

The private room door was yanked open. "Who's there!"

Seeing it was her, the person froze.

"Mrs. Wilde..."

Everyone in the private room looked toward her.

One by one, until finally, Ethan looked at her too.