Chapter 1

On the day of our wedding,my fiancéwas killed in a tragic car accident on his way to pick me up.

Just like that,I became a widow.And the child growing inside me became fatherless before even entering this world.

The trauma shattered me.I spiraled into a deep psychological breakdown,consumed by despair,plagued with thoughts of ending my life.However,everyone pleaded with me to hold on—for the sake of the baby.

On the day of the funeral,my husband’s older brother,Ryan,and his wife returned from Africa to pay their respects.

When I looked at him—his face almost identical to my husband’s—I found myself slipping into confusion,again and again.

But then,outside my mother-in-law’s bedroom,I overheard a conversation that shook me to my core.

“You really faked your death and ran off just to be with that foreign woman?Aileen is carrying your child!You staged this whole act just to bring that vixen home?”

After a long silence,his voice finally responded,soft but unmistakable.

“Ivy is terminally ill.The doctors said she only has six months left at most.Once those six months are up,Aileen will have given birth by then,and everything will return to normal.We'll be one happy family again.”

It was in that moment the truth hit me—my husband hadn’t died at all.This so-called brother-in-law was none other than my husband,Wendel,in disguise.

I clenched my fists,fighting the trembling of my body as I sent a message to my brother,who works in a covert government agency overseas.

[Brother,help me stage an accident.If Wendel can fake his death,so can I.Let’s give him a taste of his own medicine.]

Even after sending the message,my hands wouldn't stop shaking.

This time,I want him to live in endless regret for deceiving me!

——

Inside,their conversation continued.

“Do you really think this is fair to Aileen?If it weren’t for the baby,she would’ve followed you to the grave.She’s like a ghost—she can’t eat,she can’t sleep.Even I feels heartbroken watching her like this.”

Wendel let out a deep sigh.

“But Ivy only has six months.This is her last wish.I can’t let her down.”

“As for Aileen,I’ll have the rest of my life to make it up to her.Don’t worry,Mom...”

It felt like a giant hand had gripped my heart,squeezing until the pain reached every corner of my body.I could barely breathe.

I staggered back to my room,collapsing to my knees just as my phone rang—it was my brother.

“What’s wrong,Aileen?What happened?Wasn’t Wendel supposed to be dead?”

I wanted to respond,but the moment I opened my mouth,tears fell uncontrollably.

Yes.As far as the world knew,Wendel was dead.

I understood my brother’s confusion.Even I couldn’t have imagined that my husband would fake his death—and all for another woman.

Even though I couldn’t speak,my brother seemed to pick up on my silence.After a pause,he spoke gently.

“I’ll send a plane the night after tomorrow.I’ll take care of everything else.”

When the call ended,I stayed frozen in place,still clutching the phone.

That’s when a soft knock came at the door.

Outside stood my so-called brother-in-law—Wendel—holding a glass of milk.

“What’s wrong,Aileen?Why are you sitting on the floor?Are you crying again?Are you missing Wendel?”

Ever since his return in this disguise,he had been incredibly kind to me,acting the part of a grieving older brother-in-law.As if I really were his late younger brother’s widow.

Each time he showed concern,I felt dazed and lost.My mother-in-law chalked it up to grief.

I quickly locked my phone and forced a smile.

“I’m fine.Just a little stomach discomfort.I lost my balance,that’s all.”

Chapter 2

Wendel finally let out a breath of relief,placing the glass of warm milk to the side.He carefully helped me up from the floor.

“This little one is already being stubborn,”he said with a soft chuckle.“When he’s born,his uncle is going to have a serious talk with him.”

“Come on now,drink the milk I warmed up for you and get some rest.Don’t overthink things.If Wendel were watching from above,he wouldn’t be at ease seeing you like this.”

The moment he mentioned that name,I couldn’t hold it in any longer.I lifted my head,stared him straight in the eye,and asked,each word weighted with accusations.

"Are you really not Wendel?"

He froze for a second,then smiled gently as he patted my head.

“Don’t be silly.How could I be Wendel?Now drink your milk and get some sleep.Tomorrow I’ll go with you for the prenatal checkup.Discomfort during pregnancy is no small matter.”

"This is the only bloodline Wendel left in this world.I have to make sure he arrives safely."

I lowered my eyes,unable to bear the false concern in his gaze any longer.

"Please leave.I’m tired and need to rest."

When I heard the soft sound of the door closing,the tears I had been holding in all night finally surged out.

I first met Wendel at a freshman meet-up in university.He fell in love with me at first sight and pursued me relentlessly.

Naturally,we fell in love.Two years after graduation,Wendel gave me an extravagant proposal.

I still remember,the fireworks filled the sky,reflecting in his eyes.His gaze was even more captivating than the fireworks themselves.

During the wedding planning,I discovered I was pregnant.At the time,Wendel looked at me with such anticipation.

"The baby came at the perfect time.He’s here to celebrate Mom and Dad's marriage.Aileen,I’m the happiest man in the world."

But to this day,I still don’t understand why Wendel,who had cherished me for six years,chose to cheat,even going so far as to fake his death to avoid our wedding.

The next morning,Wendel knocked on my door.

"Aileen,today’s your check-up day.Have you gotten ready?"

But just as we were about to leave,Ivy’s voice rang out from behind us.

"Ryan,I’m feeling a little unwell today.Can you stay home and keep me company?"

Upon hearing Ivy’s voice,Wendel didn’t even glance at me.He immediately rushed over to her.

"Did you forget to take your medicine again?If you’re not feeling well,lie down in bed.Don’t get up and move around.What if you faint?"

After saying this,Wendel turned around and gave me a quick look."Sorry,Aileen.Your sister-in-law is not feeling well.I might not be able to go with you to the hospital."

"Don’t worry,the driver is waiting outside.He’ll take you to the hospital safely.I’ve already arranged everything with the doctor.Just go straight there."

I closed my eyes,trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over.

When I opened them again,I didn’t miss the brief,smug expression that flashed across Ivy’s face.

Without saying a word,I nodded and turned,walking straight out of the door.

The sound of the door closing echoed in my ears.I instinctively cradled my belly as the tears finally spilled,falling hard and fast.

The driver arrived promptly and took me to the hospital,where I underwent all the necessary tests under the doctor’s instructions.

Wendel had previously instructed the driver and doctor to keep an eye on me—if I didn’t come to the hospital,he’d start asking questions.

Sitting on a bench in the hospital,I looked down at the ultrasound report in my hands.

In the black-and-white image,there was a tiny,peanut-sized circle.The doctor said that it was my baby.

But I couldn’t accept it.My child had an unfaithful father.

Chapter 3

I wiped away my tears harshly and booked an appointment at another hospital.

This was Fleming family's private hospital,and if I had surgery here,Wendel would definitely find out.

I called the driver and told him I wanted to shop myself,asking him to go back without me.

I hid behind the hospital gate until the driver’s car disappeared from my view,then I walked out and hailed a cab to another hospital.

Just before I entered the operating room,a video message arrived on my phone.

The video was half an hour long,and in it,Wendel was completely out of control,a side of him I had never seen before.

In the six years we’d been together,Wendel had always been gentle.Even in bed,he was always careful not to hurt me.

It turned out he wasn’t naturally composed,but simply that the one who could ignite his passion was never me.

I torturously watched the video,wanting to see this unfamiliar side of Wendel.

I didn’t know how long I stared,but eventually,a nurse walked over to me.

"Miss Aileen?Are you alright?It's time for you to enter the operating room."

I hadn’t even realized it,but as the video played,I was crying harder and harder.

When the nurse spoke to me,I realized I was shaking all over,my hand trembling uncontrollably as I held the phone.

And what was even more shameful,I discovered,was that I still loved Wendel,even now.

He wasn’t an object that could be discarded when broken,nor was he just a friend to be cut off when unhappy.

He was a living,breathing person,my lover for six whole years,and my love for him had become an instinct deep in my bones.

For six years,everyone said that Wendel loved me like his life,but how had I treated him?Hadn’t I also devoted myself to him for these six years?

It wasn’t until this moment that I realized—how could I let go?I truly couldn’t.

Thinking about the fetal heartbeat I had heard during the check-up earlier,I wiped my tears fiercely.I took a deep breath,and decided to give both my child and Wendel one last chance.

Clenching my phone tightly,I dialed Wendel’s number.

"Can you come over?I need to talk to you."

Wendel’s voice was strangely hoarse,as if he were holding something back.

"Aileen,I’ve still got something to do here.Let the driver take you home,and we can talk when you get back..."

A muffled grunt followed,and then the call ended,replaced by the mechanical beeping of the phone.

We were both adults,so I knew exactly what Wendel was doing on the other end of the line.

After a moment of shock,I looked up at the nurse waiting beside me.

"It’s fine now.I’m ready for the surgery."

By the time I got home after the surgery,it was already dark.As soon as I stepped through the door,Wendel rushed over to greet me.

"The driver said you went shopping after your check-up.Why didn’t you bring anything back?Didn’t you find anything you liked?"

But halfway through his sentence,he noticed my swollen,red eyes.

"What happened,Aileen?Why are your eyes so swollen?Have you been crying?Did you think about Wendel again during your check-up today?"

"It’s alright.The baby in your belly is Wendel’s child.It’s a kind of connection."

"By the way,didn’t you say you wanted to talk to me about something?"

I studied Wendel’s features carefully.He was still as handsome as before,his eyes full of my reflection.

Just like in the video Ivy had sent this afternoon.

I lowered my gaze,avoiding his eyes.

"It’s nothing.I just wanted to ask if there’s anything you wanted me to bring back."

Wendel’s shoulders seemed to relax,as if a huge weight pressing down oh him was lifted.

Chapter 4

"Then you should go rest.You’ve had a long day and must be tired."

I nodded without responding further to Wendel,heading straight to my room.

I must have been truly exhausted.As soon as my head hit the pillow,I fell asleep.In a daze,I felt as though I saw the eighteen-year-old Wendel again.

The young man stood before me,blushing as he confessed his feelings.

"Aileen,I really like you.Would you be my girlfriend?"

"Don’t worry.I will always be good to you."

I couldn’t tell if it was the sunset that day,so intoxicating,or the sincerity in his eyes that moved me.

That day,for reasons I couldn't explain,I nodded in response.

When I woke up,it was already daylight.Since hearing about Wendel’s death,I hadn't slept this soundly in days.

I was still sitting on the bed in a daze when the door to my room opened,and Ivy walked in.

She looked at me smugly and said,"Do you know why I sent you that video yesterday?Did you really think he was Wendel’s brother,and that I’m your so-called sister-in-law?"

I didn’t answer her,but I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at my own foolishness.

When I first heard about Wendel’s accident,I was severely shocked.And because of the pregnancy,I had fainted from the physical strain.

When I woke up,my mother-in-law told me that Wendel's body had already been cremated.They even used my pregnancy as an excuse not to let me attend his funeral.

Everything pointed to the fact that Wendel’s death was suspicious.

But for those six years,Wendel and I were regarded as the model couple.He had always treated me so well that I never once suspected he might lie to me—especially not to avoid marriage.

Then suddenly,his brother who had been working in foreign appeared,bringing back an foreign wife.

Although I was often in a haze,I never thought of the possibility that Wendel had faked his death.

It wasn’t until I overheard a conversation between Wendel and my mother-in-law that I realized they had told me a huge lie.

Seeing my lack of reaction,Ivy smiled knowingly.

"Women understand women better,don’t they?Yesterday,when you were about to go for your check-up,I sensed something was off with you.Sure enough,you already know the truth."

"I’m sure you’re dying to know why Wendel cheated,why he even faked his death to be with me.Hahaha,do you know what he said about you behind your back?"

"He said you were boring,that after being with you for so long,even felt like a routine.But with me,it’s different.I can always make him feel so good,you know?He said I’m his most beautiful pearl,and that foreign women have more charm..."

My heart began to race,and a fiery anger swelled up inside me,threatening to explode.

Unable to hold it in any longer,I swung my hand sharply at Ivy.

Clutching her face,Ivy was about to yell,but suddenly,Wendel’s shocked voice cut through the tension.

"Aileen!What are you doing?"

The moment I heard his voice,the smug expression on Ivy’s face instantly turned into one of grievances.

"Sister-in-law,I...I just thought you seemed upset lately,so I came to comfort you.How could you hit me?I know you’re feeling bad because of Wendel’s death,but you can’t just lash out..."

Wendel stared at Ivy’s cheek and then turned to shout at me.

"Aileen,she’s your sister-in-law!"

I didn’t answer Wendel.Instead,I lifted my head and stared directly into his eyes.

"I’ll ask you again.Is she really my sister-in-law?"

Chapter 5

Wendel froze,seemingly startled by the intensity in my gaze.

But at that moment,Ivy grabbed his hand and pulled him away.

"Ryan,please come back to the room with me.I’m feeling unwell."

Wendel seemed to want to say something,but his lips trembled for a while before he finally helped Ivy away.

I lowered my gaze,staring blankly for a long while until a message from my brother popped up on my phone.

[The plane has landed.]

Taking a deep breath,I got up,and placed the letter I had prepared earlier into the drawer of the bedside table.

I wanted Wendel to find this letter after he heard of my death.I wanted him to open his eyes and see clearly the love I had for him,a love strong enough to follow him through life and death.

I wanted him to live each day in guilt,to feel that his life was worse than death.

After doing this,I didn’t pack anything else.I just took my ID and bank card,then walked out of the door.However,I happened to run into Wendel,who was coming out of Ivy’s room.

Upon seeing me,his expression hesitated for a moment,but he still spoke softly.

"I’m sorry,Aileen,I got a little worked up just now.I didn’t mean to yell at you,but you shouldn’t treat your sister-in-law like that..."

I couldn’t be bothered to listen,so I raised my hand,cutting him off."I want to go out for a walk.Brother-in-law,you should just stay home and keep my sister-in-law company."

I deliberately emphasized the words"brother-in-law"and"sister-in-law."

But Wendel didn’t seem to notice the shift in my tone.Instead,he seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

"Going out for a walk is good.Get some fresh air,it’ll help your mood.Come back soon,and I’ll have the maid prepare some of your favorite dishes."

I nodded,but the moment I brushed past him,I shot him a cold look.

Wendel,an eye for an eye.

Since you like faking your death so much,then take this gift I’ve prepared for you—and cherish it.

At this point,I didn’t doubt that Wendel had loved me,and maybe he still did.

After all,six years wasn’t something that could easily be faked.His eyes didn’t lie,nor did the kindness he once showed me.

But that didn’t change the fact that he sought thrills and excitement with another woman,whispered sweet words in her ear,and exerted himself on her bed.

He even faked his death to avoid marrying me—just to spend“six months”with that woman.

I didn’t care how they met or how they got together.The outcome was the same,and the process no longer mattered.

An hour later,I was on the plane my brother had sent for me,resting with my eyes closed,completely unaware of the chaos unfolding at the Fleming household.

—

After Aileen left to clear her mind,Wendel and Ivy,alone in the house,became more brazen.

As they were indulging in their passionate affair in the bedroom,one of the few trusted confidants who knew the truth about Wendel’s faked death frantically knocked on the door.

The interruption irritated Wendel.He grabbed a pillow and angrily hurled it at the door.

"Get lost!"

But the knocking didn’t stop,and only grew more urgent.

Wendel ruffled his hair and pulled open the bedroom door.

"You better have something important to say!"

When he saw it was his secretary,Jerry,Wendel’s pupils constricted,and his voice lowered instinctively.

"What are you doing here?In Aileen’s eyes,you’re my brother’s secretary.How could you come to my house?Are you crazy?"

Before Wendel could finish speaking,Jerry interrupted him,his voice trembling.

"Madam...Madam boarded the private plane,which had severe malfunctions.Just now,the plane crashed and fell into the sea..."