Chapter 1

My husband, Ethan Smith, is a major internet influencer with tens of millions of followers across all platforms.

Online users ship him with another female influencer named River Johnson.

During their joint live streams, they create physical contact and openly flirt with each other.

Netizens call them the "streaming couple."

For all these years, their fans have been attacking me relentlessly.

They say I'm a homewrecker who got between him and River.

They've even exposed my personal information and harassed my family and child.

I've fought with Ethan about this, cried about it, and even attempted suicide during my most vulnerable moment.

But all I got in return was one sentence from Ethan.

"Vivian, can you stop making a scene? We're just business partners. Can you not be so petty?"

So from that day on, I stopped making scenes.

Until Ethan told me—

"Vivian, I want to hold a wedding with River."

He said this while I was in the kitchen pan-searing a steak for him.

Seeing I had no reaction, Ethan continued talking to himself.

"Don't overthink it. It's just to fulfill the fans' dream and sell some products along the way. My traffic's been terrible lately. I need to create some buzz."

He was about to continue when I answered him straightforwardly.

"Fine. You don't need to consult me about this kind of thing. As long as it helps your career, I have no objections."

Ethan froze, clearly not expecting this reaction from me.

I brought the pan-seared steak to him and asked softly.

"Is there anything you need me to prepare for the wedding? Are the venue and wedding dress already booked?"

Only then did he snap out of it, his tone carrying a hint of surprise.

"Oh, no need. We've already chosen everything. Just letting you know."

I nodded obediently and said nothing more.

Ethan looked at me with some puzzlement.

"Why are you so compliant today? Not making a scene?"

"I was immature before. Now I've come to terms with it."

I said this while serving him the steak.

Ethan was very satisfied with my response.

"If you'd been this compliant earlier, we wouldn't have fought so much."

He lowered his head to eat the steak. I quietly took out my phone.

Opening TikTok, my DMs were filled with the familiar abuse.

"You bitch, can't you just disappear? Must you seek attention?"

"Ethan marrying you is the worst luck. He and River are the real couple! You're the mistress!"

"Why haven't you divorced Ethan yet? Haven't you milked him enough over these years?"

I'd been reading these messages for a full eight years.

Exiting the DMs, their names were prominently displayed on the trending searches.

"Heaven and River Unite — Wedding Stream Coming with Fan Giveaways!"

All the comments below were filled with anticipation and blessings. Everyone seemed to have forgotten that Ethan was a married man.

In the past, I would have cursed back at every single DM and tried to stop Ethan from doing such ridiculous things.

But now, I'm tired.

I've finally seen clearly that Ethan has never had me in his heart. He only cares about his own future.

No matter how much humiliation and abuse I suffer, he only tells me to endure it.

Since that's the case, I'll just pretend not to see it.

After all, he hasn't mistreated me materially, and we can't get divorced anyway.

When we got married, because he was an influencer, we signed an agreement.

Only he can initiate divorce, not me — otherwise it would damage his image.

What's more, we have a daughter.

She's my everything now.

After dinner, River came to our house, saying she wanted to discuss the wedding live stream sales pitch with Ethan.

I smiled at her politely, then left to pick up our daughter from school, proactively giving them space.