Chapter 1

For ten years, Autumn Lewis and Julian Carter were childhood sweethearts.

After three years of marriage, all she got in return were injuries, neglect from her brothers, and betrayal from her husband.

When Autumn found out she had stage-two stomach cancer, something in her finally let go.

She picked herself up and rose from an unnoticed employee to a powerhouse in the tech world.

As soon as the divorce cooling-off period ended, she tricked Julian into signing the papers and made a clean break.

The next time they met, the ever-calculating Julian’s eyes turned red as he tore up the divorce certificate.

“Autumn, I was wrong. We’re not getting divorced. If I could give you my stomach, I would—just please don’t leave me.”

Her once-proud brothers now pleaded, “Autumn, forgive us. Your sister-in-law is filing for divorce. Could you spare us some money?”

Just then, a man stepped out from behind her, lifted his shirt slightly, and sneered.

“Autumn, why waste your time on these jerks? Look at me instead.”

Indeed, affection that came too late was worth less than dirt.

She didn’t care for it anymore.

Chapter 1

"Ms. Lewis, your follow-up results are in. It’s stage 2 stomach cancer. Are you sure you don’t want to inform your family?"

"No need."

As she stepped out of the hospital, a wave of hot wind swept over her.

Autumn slipped the report into her bag, her face a little pale.

In the third year of her marriage to Julian Carter, he had an affair, and she got cancer.

What a lousy script she ended up with.

But Autumn was afraid of dying, especially after getting cancer from being so angry at a man who couldn't keep it in his pants.

At this moment, she figured it out.

If she couldn’t hold the sand, then she would let it scatter.

After making all the arrangements, Autumn drove to the office.

She arrived at her desk, picked up a stack of documents, and headed to the office on the 17th floor.

She knocked on the office door.

"Come in."

Autumn pushed the door open and walked in.

"What is it?"

The man looked up, his eyes settling heavily on her.

Julian had a handsome face, sharp features, and years of experience in the business world.

He’d long shed the immaturity of youth and carried the steady composure and authority of a man in power.

Autumn handed over a stack of papers, her voice gentle.

"This is from the check-up last week. The hospital sent it over. It needs your signature."

She placed the report in front of Julian and thoughtfully clicked open the pen, placing it in his hand.

Julian rubbed the center of his forehead tiredly, didn’t even glance at it, and signed.

"Don’t bother me with trivial things like this in the future."

"Alright."

Autumn complied and tucked the papers away.

The moment she turned, she caught sight of a sliver of white fabric sticking out from under the large office desk.

She recognized that skirt—it belonged to her stepsister, Luna Lewis.

Autumn lowered her gaze, masking the mockery in her eyes, and strode away.

A few seconds later, a faint click echoed behind her as the door was locked.

They were that eager, huh?

Autumn’s heart plummeted like a stone into a deep lake, swallowed whole by the cold weight of it, leaving her chest tight with a breathless, suffocating pressure.

She looked down and pulled out the last two sheets from the stack in her hands.

If Julian had just looked a little closer, he would’ve seen not only her follow-up diagnosis confirming stage 2 stomach cancer, but also the final page—a divorce agreement.

Autumn met Julian when she was five.

That same year, her father had an affair, and her mother filed for divorce.

Her two older brothers were given to her father, and she was placed in her mother’s custody.

After the divorce, the mistress brought her illegitimate daughter, Luna, into the family.

Autumn and her mother moved to a new neighborhood, where she met Julian, who lived next door.

They had grown up together.

Julian once broke three ribs fighting for her.

Whenever she had a fever or caught a cold, he’d worry sick over her.

His social media was filled with nothing but pictures of her.

He had once promised to love her for a lifetime, and yet he was the first to break that vow.

Chapter 2

Autumn returned to her desk, set the documents down, took out her phone, and snapped a photo of the divorce agreement.

She sent it to her mother-in-law, Grace Palmer.

The day after her diagnosis, she had already gone to discuss the divorce with Grace.

Grace couldn’t wait for Julian to divorce her.

Then, he could finally be with Luna, the heiress of the Lewis family.

A solid alliance with a powerful family was far more appealing.

And now that Autumn was terminally ill with no telling how long she could live, there was even less reason to keep her in the Carter family.

So, Grace promised that as long as Autumn could get Julian to sign the divorce papers, she’d give her six million as compensation.

The reply came back almost instantly.

“Got it.”

Autumn slipped the diagnosis and divorce agreement into her bag, then opened a drawer.

Inside was a resignation letter she had typed, printed, and set aside two days earlier, ready to be submitted.

Since she had made up her mind to leave, there was no point dragging it out.

Clean cuts hurt less.

She picked up the resignation letter along with a stack of signed documents and headed toward the CFO’s office.

Frank Miller, the CFO, a well-dressed middle-aged man with glasses, looked up in surprise when she handed over the letter.

His expression immediately turned anxious.

“Ms. Lewis, you're resigning?”

Autumn had been one of his most trusted assets for years—the one person he could always count on.

Her presence had made his own position far more secure.

If she left, what would he do?

Autumn nodded. “Yes. Thank you for all your support these past few years.”

Because her marriage to Julian was kept private, very few people at the company knew about it.

Frank tugged lightly at her sleeve. “Is it the salary? I can put in a request for a raise and promotion!”

Autumn gave a small laugh. “It’s not about that.”

“You’re really sure about this?”

“Yes. I’ve made up my mind.”

She had already decided to walk away from Julian.

There was no reason to stay in his company any longer.

Seeing how firm Autumn was, the words Frank wanted to say got stuck in his throat.

He sighed, pulled out a pen, and signed the form.

After putting the pen away, he asked, “What’s the reason for your resignation?”

Autumn answered honestly, “I’m sick. Between work and health, my health matters more.”

A flash of shock crossed his face, and he said nothing more.

The resignation process took a month, and so did the divorce cooling-off period.

In one month, she would finally be free.

After getting off work and returning home, Autumn tore off the first page of the old-fashioned calendar she’d bought yesterday, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it into the trash.

On the fresh new page, two bold red characters stood out—today was July 1st.

One month from now, on August 1st, she would completely leave this home.

Zoe Jones walked over with a plate of fruit, glanced at the calendar on the coffee table, and curiously asked, “Ma’am, is there a special reason you bought this kind of calendar?”

Autumn smiled and replied, “My birthday’s coming up. I’m using it to remind myself.”

Zoe looked a little doubtful.

Wouldn’t a phone reminder do the job?

Who still used paper calendars nowadays?

Though suspicious, Zoe didn’t press further.

She set the fruit down and went back to the kitchen.

“Oh, right.”

As she reached the kitchen doorway, she turned back, hesitating slightly. “Ma’am, I just called Mr. Carter. He said he has a dinner engagement tonight and won’t be home for dinner.”

Autumn plucked a grape, popped it into her mouth, and mumbled, “Mm, got it.”

Zoe was a little surprised.

In the past, whenever Julian didn’t come home and said he had a dinner engagement, Autumn would grow paranoid and call him dozens of times to check in.

Every little detail had to be accounted for.

At her most extreme, she’d even gone as far as installing tracking software on his phone.

No one knew what exactly happened after that, but she ended up in the ICU from a suicide attempt.

But today, she seemed unusually calm, not even a single outburst.

And when things seemed too quiet, something was definitely brewing.

The phone on the coffee table buzzed.

Autumn glanced at it.

It was a call from her cousin, Zack Lewis.

She slid to answer, and his cautious voice came through. "Autumn, are you off work now? Are you busy?"

She glanced at the apple slice in her hand. "Not busy. I just got off. What’s up?"

Zack hesitated for a moment, then said, "Well, I got a promotion and a raise. And Mom and Dad said they haven’t seen you in a while. We were hoping you’d join us for dinner tonight."

"Sure," she replied.

"I’ll come pick you up."

After hanging up, Autumn got to her feet.

She told Zoe she’d be going out and wouldn’t be home for dinner, then left the villa.

Zoe watched her from behind, wanting to say something but holding back.

“Damn it,” she thought. “I knew it. With how controlling she’s always been with Mr. Carter, how could she just sit still?”

It turned out, Autumn was planning something big.

…

As Autumn walked, she glanced down at the message Zack had just sent her.

His car had run out of gas, so he asked her to wait a little.

Autumn replied with a simple "okay."

Zack was the son of her third uncle, three years older than her.

He was twenty-seven this year and still single, much to the frustration of his parents.

Every time they urged him to settle down, Zack would let it go in one ear and out the other.

He never took the matter seriously.

Autumn rarely kept in touch with the rest of the Lewis family, but she remained close to her third uncle’s household.

Her uncle and aunt, unable to have a daughter of their own, had always doted on Autumn like she was theirs.

Back when her mother walked away from the marriage without taking a cent and moved out of the Lewis home, it was her third uncle’s family who supported them through those hard times.

They were the ones who had truly stood by her and her mother.

She stepped out of the residential complex, and within minutes, her phone rang.

It was Zack.

"Autumn, it’s rush hour now. A friend of mine happens to be passing by your area, so I asked him to pick you up."

Before he even finished speaking, a black Bentley pulled up in front of her.

Before she could react, the window rolled down.

What appeared was a face that felt both familiar and distant.

Still holding her phone, Autumn forced herself to speak.

"I think... I see him."

The man had sharp, defined features.

He wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled high, revealing his strong forearms.

As he lifted his eyes to look at her, memories from five years ago surfaced.

Back then, the girl used to follow him around with a textbook in hand, calling his name sweetly, and begging him to explain things to her.

Now, after all these years, the innocence from her youth had faded, replaced by a touch of quiet maturity.

She wore a fitted smoky lavender dress, her hair pulled up into a high ponytail.

There was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.

She was much thinner than he remembered.

His gaze, already deep, darkened further.

Then his lips parted, and he said just two words.

"Get in."

Chapter 3

After years apart, the man was just as distinguished and aloof as ever.

If anything, he seemed even more composed and mature now.

Five years ago, when Autumn visited her uncle’s countryside home, he rescued a man who had fallen from a cliff.

That man was none other than Keith Sinclair.

It wasn’t until later that she found out he was a Sinclair—part of the most powerful family in Northhaven.

The Sinclair family was wealthy, influential, and untouchable.

And as the sole heir to the Sinclair family, Keith controlled nearly half the region’s economy.

He was a true prince of power.

Even the headlights shining on him seemed to cast him in gold.

After hanging up the phone, Autumn smiled and greeted him, "It’s been a while. How have you been?"

Keith gave a simple, detached response. "Fine."

Autumn pressed her lips together.

Her cousin really had come a long way.

He actually moved in the same circles as Keith now.

She climbed into the backseat and sat up straight, placing her hands on her knees.

It felt like being a student facing a strict teacher—rigid and alert, afraid one wrong move might get her scolded.

A man like him didn’t need to speak to command a room.

The air in the car was already heavy with silent authority.

When they reached the hotel entrance, Autumn quickly thanked him and opened the car door.

Keith narrowed his eyes slightly.

Was she really that afraid of him?

Inside the elevator, it was just the two of them again.

That invisible pressure returned in full force.

Keith spoke. "How’s your uncle?"

Autumn paused.

Her eyes misted over at his words. "He passed away six months ago."

She tried to keep her voice steady, but there was still a trace of pain.

His death had been sudden. It took her a long time to come to terms with it.

Back then, if her uncle hadn’t taken them in, she and her mother would’ve ended up on the streets.

Keith paused for a moment, his gaze darkening.

He’d been overseas these past few years and had only recently returned, so he wasn’t up to date on what had happened locally.

His eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of regret flickering through them.

He reached out and gently patted Autumn on the head. "My condolences."

Caught off guard by Keith’s gesture, Autumn froze for a few seconds before quickly lowering her head.

The elevator soon reached the third floor.

As they passed by a private room with the door ajar, Autumn came to a sudden stop.

Keith followed her gaze.

Inside, a group of people were laughing and cheering around a large cake on the table.

A man and a woman stood with their backs to them in front of the cake.

The man was putting a necklace around the woman’s neck.

The scene stung Autumn’s eyes.

Her gaze reddened with unshed tears.

Keith looked down at her. "You know them?"

"Yeah."

Autumn took a breath, trying to sound calm. "The man standing there is my husband. The woman is his mistress—the one he’s been hiding away. She’s also my half-sister."

The necklace Julian was putting on Luna had been a limited-edition piece he’d reserved at the jewelry store months in advance.

He’d told Autumn it was a birthday gift for her.

But now, he was giving it to another woman.

How ironic.

People always said dirty laundry shouldn’t be aired in public, but Julian had been fooling around with other women for years.

Everyone around her knew and kept it from her.

Behind her back, she’d become the joke of their social circle.

Her pride had long been crushed.

Besides, the divorce would be finalized in a month, so there was nothing left to hide.

Suppressing the bitterness rising in her chest, Autumn turned her gaze away and walked toward another private room.

Keith’s eyes lingered on her back for a few seconds before he suddenly called out to her.

"Autumn."

Hearing his voice, Autumn turned around to look at him.

"Your uncle may be gone, but I still owe him my life. I’ll grant you one wish," Keith said as he stepped closer, his deep voice sounding above her. "Anything you want."

Autumn’s eyes lit up.

How generous!

The prince really was kind!

She bowed her head slightly in gratitude. "Alright… thank you, thank you."

…

When they entered the private room, Autumn greeted them politely. "Uncle, Aunt, Zack."

Her aunt, Lily Cook, pulled Autumn to sit beside her.

Seeing how much weight she’d lost, she couldn’t help but ask with concern, "Why are you this thin? Have you been skipping meals again because of work?"

Autumn touched her thin face, not sure how to respond.

She really did lose track of everything once she started working.

She often forgot to eat, only realizing it when the hunger turned into stomach pain.

That was why she always carried antacids, popping one whenever it started to hurt.

If it hadn’t been for last week’s check-up, Autumn wouldn’t have known she had stomach cancer.

She had always assumed it was just a chronic gastric problem.

According to the doctor, the cancer wasn’t only caused by her irregular meals and skipping food.

It was also due to long-term emotional stress and depression.

Bottled-up emotions were harmful, especially for a young woman.

She couldn’t afford to hold on to resentment for too long.

Luna’s mother had been the infamous mistress who stole someone’s husband back then, and now Luna herself was following in her footsteps and stealing someone else’s man.

Autumn scoffed at herself.

And she? She’d nearly destroyed herself over that pair of scumbags.

What a fool.

Now, aside from taking her anti-cancer meds, she also had to follow a strict diet, eat on schedule, and keep her mood light.

The moment she stopped caring about those two, even her darkest days felt brighter.

Seeing Autumn remain silent, Lily looked at her with concern. "Autumn, are you listening to me?"

Snapping out of it, Autumn smiled and replied, "Aunt Lily, I’ve been eating well. Maybe it’s just the heat and I’ve been wearing lighter clothes, so I probably look thinner."

At that moment, her uncle, Henry Lewis, handed her a menu. "Autumn, pick whatever you like. Don’t worry about Zack’s wallet. He got promoted today. We’re here to celebrate."

Autumn took the menu. "Congrats, Zack."

Zack smiled and nodded. "Don’t be polite with me. Order whatever you’re in the mood for."

Autumn glanced at the menu and casually picked a few of the cheaper dishes.

Chapter 4

Henry glanced at the dishes Autumn had ordered and frowned.

"Why only vegetables? There’s no nutrition in these. You need to eat more meat. Look how thin you are."

As he spoke, he took the menu and ordered several of her favorite dishes.

During the meal, Lily kept placing food onto Autumn’s plate.

They were all the dishes she used to love.

But Autumn hadn’t had much of an appetite lately.

After a few bites, she couldn’t eat any more.

Noticing this, Lily asked with concern, "Autumn, what’s wrong? Don’t like the food?"

Autumn shook her head. "No, I ate something earlier, so I’m not really hungry right now."

The truth was, ever since her diagnosis, her appetite had vanished.

But she couldn’t tell them because she didn’t want to worry them.

After a bit more time passed, her stomach began to feel uncomfortable, so she stood up, excusing herself to use the restroom.

As she passed by the smoking lounge, she heard a few familiar voices—it was Julian’s friends.

"Julian, you’re not going home tonight? Isn’t your wife calling to check on you?"

"With how clingy she is? No way she’s not checking. He probably just sweet-talked her again."

"She’s such a pain. Always checking up on him. No wonder Julian’s tired of her. After all these years, the spark’s long gone."

"Exactly. That Luna’s way better than Autumn. She has better looks, figure, and background. Honestly, even I’d be tempted."

The fact that his friends could talk about her so freely meant Julian had never bothered to stop them from speaking badly of her.

Autumn lowered her eyes and gave a bitter smile before turning to leave.

Julian stayed silent, taking a drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaling through the haze.

Then, through the curling smoke, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.

Instinctively, he stubbed out the cigarette and tossed it into a nearby bin, then strode out.

His friends, seeing him move, quickly put out their own cigarettes and followed.

"Autumn."

Julian called out to her, his tone sharp. "So, you’ve changed tactics? Following me now instead of just calling?"

The group behind him froze in surprise, exchanging glances.

None of them had expected Autumn to show up here.

Tonight, Hector Lewis had thrown together a last-minute gathering to celebrate his sister, Luna’s birthday, booking an ultra-private SVIP room to keep things discreet.

Somehow, Autumn still managed to find them.

No one knew if she had overheard what they’d just said.

Autumn paused in her tracks, a sharp ache piercing her chest.

For a moment, an old memory flashed through her mind—Julian once getting into a fight for her.

That image overlapped with the man standing before her now, accusing her without hesitation.

He used to love her so much.

But now...

When had Julian’s love turned into nothing but impatience and disdain?

Steadying herself, Autumn turned and gave a faint smile. "Sorry, I’m just here for dinner. I’m not looking for you."

She started toward the restroom, but Julian grabbed her arm.

His face was tense, and his tone held a trace of irritation. "Autumn, can you not make a scene? I’m here for business. You’re making things awkward for me."

Autumn calmly pulled her arm back, raising a brow. "How exactly am I making a scene?"

Going to the restroom counted as causing trouble?

What a joke.

Back when she first realized Julian had changed, she did cling to him constantly, driving him to frustration.

Because she’d once experienced how deeply he loved her, she could instantly sense the moment he stopped.

It had been selfish.

She wanted him to go back to the man he used to be.

She had tried to force it.

However, she would never do that again.

Julian froze, his expression darkening.

Just then, a few of his friends quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.

"Autumn, don’t take it the wrong way. We really are just here for business."

Autumn nodded with understanding. "Oh, then take your time. I won’t disturb you."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she turned away.

But as she did, a mocking smile tugged at her lips.

Whether he was here for business or seducing another woman into bed didn’t matter to her anymore.

In a month, he’d be nothing more than a stranger.

What did any of it have to do with her?

Watching her walk away, the group shifted uneasily, a few reaching up to rub the back of their necks.

"Julian, your wife’s really overdoing it. She follows you everywhere."

"Maybe you should head back and smooth things over."

Julian stared at her retreating figure, irritated, pulling out a cigarette.

Someone immediately lit it for him.

He took a deep drag. "Shut up."

A few seconds later, his face was calm again, as if nothing had happened, and he walked back into the room.

Chapter 5

Autumn stepped out of the restroom and returned to the private room.

They had nearly finished eating, and the group dispersed shortly after.

By the time she got home, Julian still hadn’t returned.

She took a shower and went straight to bed.

She slept through the night without dreams.

The next morning, Autumn went to the office as usual.

After completing her work summary for the previous month, she knocked on the CFO’s office door.

Frank glanced over the report and nodded in satisfaction.

After watching Autumn leave, Frank opened his drawer, took out the resignation letter she had submitted the day before, and headed toward the HR department.

As the elevator doors opened, he ran into Alex Song, the CEO’s assistant.

He greeted him with a smile. "Good morning, Mr. Song."

Alex nodded with a polite smile.

Once the elevator doors closed, Alex asked, "Which floor are you headed to, Mr. Miller?"

"Tenth."

Alex paused for a moment before asking casually, "Are you going to HR to pick up some documents too?"

Frank shook the resignation letter in his hand. "No, I’m submitting Autumn’s resignation."

Alex’s expression shifted slightly, as if he had misheard something.

"Who did you say is resigning?"

"Autumn Lewis," Frank replied, giving him a puzzled look.

Why did Alex react so strongly to her resignation?

Maybe he also recognized her talent and didn’t want her to leave.

With that thought, Frank sighed.

"I actually wanted to persuade her to stay, but she said she was resigning because of health issues. I couldn’t push it further. Health always comes first."

As Julian’s personal assistant, Alex naturally knew about Autumn’s relationship with him.

His gaze fell on the resignation letter in Frank’s hand, and sure enough, Autumn’s name was signed at the bottom.

A flicker of shock crossed Alex’s mind.

But the next moment, a mocking smile tugged at his lips.

Autumn had always been in good health.

There was no way she looked like someone who was sick.

Most likely, she was faking it again, trying to get Julian’s attention.

Tears, tantrums, and threats were typical tricks women used to fight for affection.

When the elevator doors opened, Frank stepped out first.

Alex picked up some documents and headed back to the executive floor on the seventeenth level.

After handing off a file to the secretary, he noticed another assistant holding a stack of documents, just about to deliver them to the CEO’s office.

Alex walked over and reached out his hand. "I’ll take those. You can get back to your work. I need to speak with Mr. Carter anyway, so I’ll drop them off for you."

The assistant handed him the documents with a polite smile. "Thanks, Mr. Song. Coffee’s on me next time."

She was more than happy to let Alex handle the delivery.

She still had a pile of work waiting.

After she left, Alex knocked on the CEO’s office door.

Julian’s deep voice came from inside. "Come in."

Alex stepped in with the documents and gave a thorough report on the day's agenda and tasks.

When he finished, he hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "There’s one more thing..."

Julian looked up at him. "What is it?"

Alex carefully considered his words. "It’s about Mrs. Carter..."

Julian assumed Autumn was making trouble again after last night and his face instantly darkened.

Before Alex could say more, Julian cut him off coldly. "Don’t report anything about her to me again. Whatever she wants to do, let her."

"Understood."

Alex pressed his lips together and swallowed the rest of what he had wanted to say.

Clearly, Julian was completely fed up with his wife.

Otherwise, why would he grow impatient the moment her name came up?

It was obvious Julian didn’t want to hear a single thing about Autumn anymore.

With that thought, Alex left the office, documents in hand.

At lunchtime, Autumn went to the company cafeteria.

Her presence drew surprised looks from her colleagues.

She had just sat down with her tray when a coworker she was friendly with took the seat across from her.

In a low voice, the colleague asked, "Miss Lewis, aren’t you going home to cook lunch for your husband today?"

The coworker knew she was married but had no idea her husband was the big boss of the company.

Autumn stirred the food on her plate. "I don’t have to do that anymore."

She used to head home during every lunch break to cook for Julian.

He rarely came home to eat, so she would deliver the meals to him herself.

Just watching him eat happily was enough to make her day.

She’d kept that routine for years.

Only later did she learn that the meals she made with such care usually ended up in the trash.

The coworker asked curiously, "Did you two have a fight?"

"No, he’s just keeping a mistress now."

Autumn took a bite of her chicken leg and replied with a mouthful.

The coworker immediately shut up and lowered her head, quietly digging into her food.

She couldn’t believe Autumn would stay this calm after finding out that her husband was cheating on her.

Anyone else would’ve stormed in with a knife by now.

At around three in the afternoon, Autumn received another message from her business partner, Ethan Sharp.

It was an offer, just like the last two, stating that the Medical AI Research Department was extending an invitation for the third time.

He asked if she was really going to turn it down again.

He also reminded her that third time was the limit.

If she missed this one, the opportunity might never come back.

Chapter 6

Ethan was two years Autumn's senior in university.

A few years ago, when his company hit a bottleneck, their professor recommended Autumn to him.

She didn’t let the professor down.

With her team, she developed the earliest version of AI-based medical diagnostics in the lab.

After the project successfully went to market, Ethan promised to give her a twenty percent stake in the company as compensation.

Over the years, the company earned significant profits from that project, and Ethan kept his word.

Every quarter, he sent her dividends directly into her account.

That technically made her one of the company’s shareholders.

Three years ago, Julian told her he wanted her to learn financial management, so one day she could take charge of the family’s finances.

She believed him.

She gave up her field of expertise and worked diligently in his company, managing the books down to the smallest detail.

Every cost estimate she handled was calculated to the lowest possible margin to ensure healthy cash flow.

But what did she get in return?

With that thought, she replied to Ethan, “I’ll accept the invitation this time.”

As soon as he saw her response, Ethan called. "You’ve made up your mind? You’re coming back?"

Autumn glanced at the documents in her hand.

"Yeah. I’ve made up my mind. But I’ll need a month to finish my resignation."

There was a pause on the other end before Ethan spoke again.

"I’m really glad you’re coming back. Honestly, I didn’t expect it. Autumn, the company truly needs you. Come back."

Thinking about how she had been away from the field for three years, Autumn started to feel unsure.

"AI has developed so fast over these years. I’ve been out of the loop for so long. I don’t know if I can still keep up."

Ethan dismissed the concern. "That algorithm you created? No one’s been able to surpass it even now. Stop being so modest.

"By the way, there’s a CADD conference next week. They’re hoping you’ll attend. Interested?"

Autumn nodded. "Yeah, I’ll go."

Since she had already decided to return to her field after resigning, there was no reason to turn down such a good opportunity.

"Got it."

After hanging up, Autumn quickly shifted back into work mode.

Thankfully, she hadn’t completely let go of her professional knowledge over the past three years.

She had just been too focused on Julian, prioritizing family over everything else, and had gradually let other things slip away.

After work, Autumn went home and sat in front of her computer, catching up on recent developments in the industry and brushing up on technical material.

Julian still wasn’t back by dinnertime.

Autumn ate a few bites without much interest before setting her utensils down.

Seeing how little she ate, Zoe couldn’t help but ask, "Ma’am, your appetite hasn’t been great lately. Are you feeling unwell?"

Autumn walked over to the sofa, crouched down, and tore the page marked “2” from the calendar, tossing it into the trash.

"No, it’s probably just the heat. I don’t really feel like eating."

Even Zoe, someone outside the family, had noticed.

But Julian, her husband, acted like he was blind to everything.

Zoe didn’t say anything more.

She figured Autumn had no appetite because her husband hadn’t come home in days.

After taking a shower and stepping out of the bathroom, Autumn saw Julian coming upstairs with his briefcase.

She paused for a moment, surprised he had come home at all.

Since the affair, he rarely returned.

Was he back because something had happened?

But after just a few seconds, Autumn acted as if she hadn’t seen him and picked up the hairdryer to dry her hair.

Julian merely glanced at her before heading into the study on the second floor.

Though she had grown used to this, a flicker of disappointment still passed through her heart, but it faded quickly.

After drying her hair, Autumn opened her laptop and continued reading up on materials related to CADD.

She had given up so much for Julian over the past three years.

Now that she’d come to her senses, catching up would take even more effort than before.

In the study, Julian was going through emails.

After a while, he began to feel parched.

His hand reached out to the side out of habit but found nothing there.

His brows furrowed slightly.

Autumn hadn’t brought him water.

She used to do that without being asked, always coming to him the moment he got home, asking what he wanted to drink and preparing it for him.

She’d remind him not to stay up too late, to cut back on coffee, and to get more rest.

Of course, he’d never really paid attention.

Was she still throwing a tantrum?

Fine!

He picked up the cup on his desk, got up to pour himself some water, then took a few sips before returning to work.

Just then, the phone on his desk vibrated.

Julian unlocked it and saw a message from Luna, along with a short video clip.

In the video, the woman wore a silky, revealing nightgown.

Her eyes were hazy as she held a glass of red wine, tilting it until the liquid spilled down onto her collarbone, the rich burgundy trailing slowly across her pale skin.

It was alluring and dazzling.

A direct hit to every nerve.

Luna texted, “Room 1008, at the hotel next to your home. Master, are you done with work? Hungry? Want a quick bite?”

Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

The shadowy calm in his eyes gave way to a rising heat.

He tugged at his collar and typed a short reply with one hand.

“On my way.”

Chapter 7

Autumn had been reading for a while when a familiar wave of stomach discomfort crept in.

She grabbed her cup and headed downstairs to get some water.

At the top of the stairs, she ran into Julian, who was putting on his jacket.

He glanced at her and said, "Something came up at the office. I have to head back in."

Noticing the way she was holding her stomach, her face tight with pain, he asked offhandedly, "What’s wrong with you now?"

Autumn forced a slight smile. "Nothing, just my usual stomach problem acting up again."

Julian frowned, barely perceptibly, then replied, "I’ve got urgent work. I don’t have time to play along with you right now."

Every time he left, Autumn would conveniently complain about stomach pain, as if trying to make him stay.

She’d done it so many times, he no longer believed a word of it.

Autumn froze for a second.

What did he mean by that?

Did he think she was faking it?

She let out a bitter laugh.

Her stomach hurt, but now her heart ached even more.

She should’ve known better than to say anything.

Here she was, nearly doubled over in pain, and Julian still thought she was putting on a show.

This was the man she had loved for all these years.

She wanted to ask—if she really had stomach cancer and was dying, would he feel even the slightest bit of pain for her?

But she already knew the answer.

Judging by the way he treated her now, Autumn was certain that even if she died right in front of him, he’d probably assume she was faking it.

He’d step around her body without blinking, then take Luna out on a date.

Autumn shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away.

It didn’t matter anymore.

The divorce was already in its cooling-off period.

One more month, and she’d finally be free.

Everything was moving in the right direction.

After Julian left, Autumn popped a pill into her mouth and downed a full glass of warm water.

The pain slowly began to ease.

Back in her room, she shut the laptop and climbed into bed.

The next morning was Saturday.

Autumn was jolted awake by her phone ringing.

Glancing at the screen, she saw it was a call from her grandmother, Ginny Gale.

On the other end came Ginny’s slightly weathered voice.

"Autumn, are you coming home today?"

Still half-asleep, Autumn was momentarily dazed.

Oh, right.

She remembered now.

She usually went home twice a month on her days off.

The timing was never fixed, and she only went when she was free, so her grandmother would call every time to check whether she was coming.

But aside from Ginny, the rest of the Lewis family clearly didn’t want her around.

She was well aware of that.

Autumn let out a yawn. "Grandma, I happen to be free today. I’ll come by in a bit."

Hearing that, Ginny’s voice instantly brightened. "Great! I’ll have Irene make all your favorite dishes."

After hanging up, Autumn glanced at the time.

It was only 7:10 a.m.

Thinking it was still early, Autumn ran a hand through her messy hair, then flopped back into bed and dozed off for a bit longer before finally tossing off the covers and getting up.

By the time she washed up and headed downstairs, Zoe had already prepared breakfast.

Seeing Autumn come down, she greeted her with a smile. "Good morning, ma’am. Breakfast is ready."

Autumn nodded faintly. "Morning."

Seeing that only one portion was laid out, she immediately knew Julian hadn’t come home again last night.

Zoe placed the warm milk in front of her and offered an explanation on his behalf.

"Mr. Carter came home very late last night, so he stayed in the guest room.

"This morning, he left early again. He said there was a lot of paperwork at the office. He didn’t even have time for breakfast."

Autumn replied with a simple, "Okay."

She knew Zoe was trying to speak on Julian’s behalf, probably worried the two of them might argue again.

It was better to keep the peace.

But the issues between her and Julian had snowballed, growing bigger and messier until there was no way to untangle them anymore.

After finishing breakfast, Autumn told Zoe she was heading out, grabbed her car keys, and left the house.

At the Lewis residence, when Autumn arrived, Ginny was nowhere to be seen, and the rest of the family wasn’t home either.

Irene Lowe came over to help carry her things, handed her a pair of new slippers, then poured her a glass of water.

"Miss Autumn, you’re back!" she said cheerfully.

"Madam and the others went out shopping. Here, have some water."

Autumn thanked her and took the glass, sipping it slowly.

Just then, a soft, delicate voice drifted down from upstairs. "Is that you, Autumn?"

A slim figure descended the stairs, dressed in a pure white dress.

She looked angelic and harmless, the very picture of innocence.

The moment Luna saw Autumn downstairs, she beamed and hurried over.

Spinning once like a little fairy, she asked sweetly, "Does this dress look good on me, Autumn?"

Autumn gave a faint tug at the corner of her lips.

"It’s pretty."

Truthfully, Autumn couldn’t help but admire her half-sister’s nerve.

Luna was openly stealing her husband yet still acted like nothing was happening, as if the woman sneaking around with Julian wasn’t her.

That sickly-sweet act of innocence made Autumn feel sick.

Luna turned with a bright smile. "Irene, can you bring us some fruit? It’s so hot outside, I’m sure Autumn’s thirsty."

"Of course..."

Irene glanced between them, then turned and headed back to the kitchen.

Luna pointed at the scissors on the coffee table.

"If you think the dress looks nice, then I won’t return it. Autumn, could you help me cut off the tag?"

The scissors were the heavy tailoring kind, bulky but sharp.

Autumn bent down, picked them up, and glanced over Luna’s dress.

"Where’s the tag?" she asked casually.

"I think it’s near the neck. Can you check for me?"

As soon as she looked down, Autumn spotted dark marks across Luna’s porcelain-white neck.

Those were hickeys, and around that same neck hung a necklace.

Her chest tightened.

So that was where Julian had gone last night—not for work, but to be with her sister.

That necklace was a custom piece Autumn had adored.

She had spent half a month working with the designer to create it.

It was something personal and symbolic.

A heart crafted out of true love.

It had meant something to her.

Now, it hung from Luna’s neck like a trophy.

To say Luna hadn’t done this on purpose would’ve been the biggest joke of all—even Luna wouldn’t believe that lie.

Autumn gave a faint smile.

In that moment, she didn’t just want to cut off the tag.

She wanted to slice right through Luna’s delicate little neck.

Chapter 8

Luna blinked innocently and looked up at Autumn in confusion.

"Autumn, what’s wrong?"

Autumn smiled at her. "Nothing."

Luna had probably decided Autumn wouldn’t cause a scene, which was why she dared to play her games so openly.

After all, Autumn’s relationship with the rest of the Lewis family was tense.

Every time she came back, it was only to keep her grandmother company, and she barely spoke to anyone else.

But Luna had miscalculated.

No matter what Julian did now, Autumn no longer cared.

With that thought, she held the scissors, pulled the tag into view, and was just about to snip it off when a woman’s sharp voice screamed from the doorway.

"Autumn, what are you doing?"

Susan Rivers rushed forward and slammed the luxury shopping bag in her hand right into Autumn’s face.

Startled, Autumn’s hand slipped, and the scissors jabbed into Luna’s back.

Blood immediately began to seep through the fabric.

"Ah..."

Luna let out a soft cry of pain.

Susan panicked, quickly checking Luna from head to toe.

When she saw the blood staining the back of Luna’s white dress, her face went pale.

Tears welled in her eyes. "Blood? Luna, are you okay? Let me see where you’re hurt."

Autumn raised her hand to block the shopping bag, her eyes turning cold.

In that moment, she fully understood Luna’s intention.

Just then, her second brother, Hector, walked in, carrying several shopping bags.

Dressed in black casualwear, tall and broad-shouldered, he bore a clear resemblance to Autumn.

He placed the bags on the coffee table and looked at Susan. "What happened, Susan?”

Since Susan married into the family when the Lewis brothers were already seven or eight, they had always called her by her first name.

Susan had calmed down by now.

Her eyes were still teary as she looked at Autumn and pleaded, "Autumn, if you’re upset, take it out on me. Please don’t hurt Luna, okay?"

She knew perfectly well that as a stepmother, the only way to survive in this household was to stay small and submissive.

Everything she did was so Luna could depend on the Lewis family, find a good husband, and ensure her own future comfort.

She had no choice but to swallow her anger and play the role of the dutiful daughter-in-law in front of the Lewis family.

Hector frowned, his eyes filled with reproach as he looked at Autumn.

"Autumn, how could you hurt Luna like that? You’ve gone too far. Apologize to her now. Every time you come home, it turns into a scene. Can’t you just behave for once?"

Looking at her second brother, whose features mirrored her own, Autumn froze for a second.

She remembered when their mother was sick, how he had pounded his chest and promised her he’d take care of his sister.

But only a few years had passed, and Hector became someone else entirely.

She didn’t know when it had started, but now, all she saw in his eyes was disappointment and contempt.

Whenever Luna was involved, he would side with her without question and limits.

Autumn’s expression turned cold as she looked at them.

"Ms. Rivers, if your eyesight’s failing, you should see a doctor. Which eye of yours saw me hurting Luna?

"And you, barking without even asking what actually happened. Is being Luna’s lapdog really that rewarding?"

Hector’s face turned red with anger, veins bulging at his neck.

He pointed at her. "You…"

Just then, Ginny walked in, her silver hair neat, leaning on a cane and supported by the driver.

She held a delicate gift bag in one hand.

She tapped her cane sharply against the floor, her tone commanding.

"I was the one who asked Autumn to come home. And every time she does, you people manage to stir up some drama.

“What is it? Do none of you respect this old woman anymore?"

The moment Autumn saw her grandmother, she hurried forward to help her.

"Grandma, I’m fine. Don’t be upset. It’s not worth affecting your health over this."

Every time she came home, it turned into chaos.

She had grown used to it.

If it weren’t for her grandmother, she wouldn’t step foot in this house again.

Hector pursed his lips in defiance and muttered, "Grandma, we weren’t making a scene. Autumn was trying to hurt Luna. I was just upset and scolded her a little."

Ginny shot him a sharp look. "Did you see it with your own eyes?"

Hector fell silent.

She sighed, her tone filled with meaning.

"Hector, Autumn is your sister by blood. Both of you are born from the same father and mother. You can’t let a few words from someone else turn your heart cold toward your own sister."

Hector lowered his eyes, a flicker of guilt flashing across his face.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but in the end, said nothing.

Though Ginny’s words unsettled him, he quickly buried the feeling.

Just then, Luna stepped forward, eyes red as she spoke to Ginny.

"Grandma, it’s my fault. I only asked Autumn to help me cut off the tag. I didn’t expect it to cause such a misunderstanding.

"Mom, Hector, you both misunderstood her. Autumn wasn’t trying to hurt me. This was all my fault."

Ginny gave Luna a cold glance.

"Then why didn’t you speak up earlier? You stood there watching Autumn get blamed and looked quite pleased with yourself."

Luna’s voice trembled with emotion. "No, Grandma, you’ve misunderstood. I really didn’t want her to be scolded. I was just… too scared…"

Before she could finish, Ginny cut her off.

"You were scared, so you let Autumn take the fall? Let her get scolded by her own brother? What exactly were you hoping to achieve?"

Seeing Luna crying harder, Susan quickly stepped forward to defend her.

"Mom, Luna didn’t mean it that way. She really was just scared. It’s my fault. I jumped to conclusions and blamed Autumn without asking first.

"Autumn, I’m sorry. This was my fault. I promise, it won’t happen again."

Autumn’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile.

She didn’t hold back as she tore through the lie.

"Ms. Rivers, last time when Luna fell into the pool, you said the same thing. How many times have you made a vow by now? You repeat the same mistake every time. At this point, your credibility with me is zero."

Chapter 9

"Autumn, is that any way to speak to your stepmother?"

A voice came from the doorway, followed by a middle-aged man stepping into the room, dressed in a sharp suit.

He wasn’t particularly tall, but his demeanor was gentle and refined, giving off the air of a cultured gentleman.

It was Richard Lewis, Autumn’s father in name only.

Autumn pressed her lips together, her eyes meeting his with the indifference one might show a stranger.

"Then why don’t you tell me, Mr. Lewis, which part of what I said was wrong?"

She had left this house with her mother when she was just five years old.

There was no real bond between her and Richard, only resentment.

Having watched her mother struggle after the divorce, Autumn had learned to be self-reliant from a young age.

Over the years, aside from her two older brothers who occasionally kept in touch, the rest of the Lewis family had treated her and her mother as if they didn’t exist.

Richard’s expression darkened. "Autumn, I’m your father."

Autumn curved her lips into a cold smile.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot I had such a wealthy father. Though your wealth doesn’t seem to have anything to do with me, does it?

"Or did you forget how you kicked my mother and me out with nothing? Left us to fend for ourselves?"

If it hadn’t been for two uncles’ help, she and her mother would’ve starved on the street.

Back when they needed him most, Richard turned his back on them.

And now he dared to stand here and remind her he was her father?

What a joke.

Richard's temper flared, and he snapped, "Who says I didn’t care? Every month I…"

Susan quickly stepped in to cut him off. "Let’s not drag up the past, alright? What’s done is done. Autumn, I bought you a dress. Why don’t you try it on and see if it fits?"

She bent down to pick up the shopping bag and pulled out the dress.

It was the same one Luna was already wearing.

Autumn didn’t reach for it.

Her tone was flat. "I don’t like white dresses. You can let Luna have it."

Hearing that, Susan looked a little embarrassed, a flicker of displeasure passing through her eyes, but she still said gently, "I’m sorry. I didn’t know what kind of dresses you liked.

"How about this—we go shopping together this afternoon, and you pick one you like yourself, alright?"

Looking at her fake, smiling face, Autumn pressed her lips together and stayed silent.

Beside her, Hector couldn’t take it anymore.

His face darkened as he snapped, "Autumn, it’s just a damn dress. If you don’t like it, exchange it. What’s with the attitude?

"Susan is already humbling herself just to talk to you. If you had a shred of decency, you wouldn’t still be sulking here."

Richard sighed and tried to persuade her in a softer tone.

"Autumn, your stepmother genuinely likes you. She really wants to get along. Please stop being difficult, alright?

"I know you’ve had issues with her because of your mother, but what’s done is done. Your mother is gone now. What’s the point of holding on to this resentment, don’t you think?"

At the mention of her mother, Autumn’s body visibly trembled.

Her eyes reddened in an instant.

Her expression darkened, her gaze bloodshot as she said coldly, "You don’t have the right to mention my mom. If you hadn’t cheated and had a child with your mistress, Luna wouldn’t even exist.

“My mom wouldn’t have chosen to leave with nothing just to get away from you.

"You ruined our lives. And now you think a few words can cover up everything? You people really are shameless."

She still remembered how, during their worst days, she used to wonder—how wonderful it would’ve been if her father hadn’t changed, if their family of five could’ve just stayed happy together.

But there was no ‘what if.’

Her mom had to raise her alone, waking up before dawn and staying out late just to make ends meet.

After finally putting her through college, she never got a chance to enjoy a peaceful life.

Her body broke down from the years of exhaustion.

Even on her deathbed, she never got to see her two sons again.

She left with regret.

How could Autumn not hold a grudge?

"Autumn!"

Richard’s face turned livid with rage. "What kind of talk is that? You don’t understand anything. Your mother and I already had problems long before.

"Even if Susan hadn’t come along, your mother and I would’ve ended up divorced anyway. Why can’t you let this go?"

Autumn let out a bitter laugh. "Oh? So that’s your excuse for cheating? If you didn’t love her anymore, you could’ve just said so.

“Why sneak around and have a child with another woman? Let’s be real—you’re all just shameless.

“If my mom hadn’t walked away, she and her daughter would still be nothing but the hidden mistress and illegitimate child."

They might think it was all in the past, but for Autumn, it would never be over.

Richard had betrayed her mother, forcing her to leave with nothing.

For years, he never once reached out to them.

And now he dared to stand there and lecture her like this?

How did he not choke on the hypocrisy?

Furious, Richard’s chest rose and fell sharply.

He raised a hand, about to strike her, but Ginny grabbed his arm.

Her tone was cold. "Have you all had enough? If you want to fight, take it outside. Do you enjoy turning this house into chaos?"

She cast a sharp glance at Susan. "You’ve been Mrs. Lewis for years and still haven’t learned restraint.

"If this dress was meant as a gift for Autumn, why would you buy the exact same style Luna’s wearing? Who were you trying to provoke?"

She had never liked Susan and her daughter.

They were always playing innocent and fishing for sympathy from the family, especially every time Autumn came home, all they ever did was maintain a fragile peace on the surface.

However, behind her back, they were always scheming and trying to set her up.

Ginny knew this well.

But she also knew Autumn wasn’t the type to suffer in silence.

There was no way she’d let herself be bullied.

Now that Ginny had spoken, Richard could only awkwardly rub his chin and clear his throat.

"Alright, enough. Everyone just go do what you need to do. Stop with all this nonsense.”

"Autumn doesn’t come home often. Look at the scene you’re all making. Honestly, what does it look like?"

After getting scolded, Susan’s expression soured, but she could only nod.

"Mom, I really didn’t know Autumn wouldn’t like that style of dress.

"She and Luna are about the same age. I assumed they had similar tastes, so I didn’t think much of it and just bought the same one."

Chapter 10

Ginny let out a cold snort. "You know perfectly well what your intentions were."

With that, she took Autumn’s hand and led her toward her room so the two of them could talk in private.

By lunchtime, Autumn’s eldest brother, Simon Lewis had returned.

He was dressed in a sharp black suit, his features defined and composed, with the calculating edge of a seasoned businessman in his eyes.

During the meal, Ginny personally picked food for Autumn.

Since she had spoken to the kitchen in advance, nearly half the dishes on the table were Autumn’s favorites.

Luna glanced at the spread and immediately lost her appetite, though she had no choice but to stay and eat.

After a few half-hearted bites, she set down her utensils and pulled out the necklace resting at her collarbone.

She smiled sweetly and said, "I have some good news. I’m in a relationship. This necklace was a birthday gift from him!"

Autumn’s hand paused mid-air, eyes flicking briefly to the necklace Luna was proudly showing off.

Her brow creased ever so slightly, but she quickly returned to eating, expression calm.

What a blatant provocation.

But Autumn no longer cared.

She didn’t even care about Julian anymore.

If he wanted to give gifts to someone else, it had nothing to do with her.

Susan’s eyes lit up as she stared at the necklace around Luna’s neck.

"That’s the limited-edition True Heart, isn’t it? There are only two in the entire country. It’s practically impossible to get, even if you have the money.

"Our Luna really is a lucky girl. What a wonderful boyfriend. I’m so happy for you."

Hector, who didn’t know much about jewelry, still chimed in with enthusiasm after hearing Susan’s words.

"Luna’s amazing, after all. She’s the little princess of the Lewis family. Only someone exceptional would be good enough for her."

Simon raised an eyebrow and placed a piece of fish on Luna’s plate.

"Luna, dating is great, but you two should plan a time to have him drop by for dinner. Let us meet him and see what he’s like."

Richard also looked pleased. "Your brother’s right. You young people can date, but it’s important to let the family get to know him too."

Watching everyone at the table, so full of joy, exchanging cheerful remarks, Autumn bit down on her lip and unconsciously tightened her grip on her fork.

They had no idea she was already married.

And even less of a clue that the man Luna was talking about was the same man she had married.

So here they were, beaming with excitement and chatting about that man, completely unaware of the storm brewing behind her calm facade.

The only one feeling out of place was Autumn.

Luna glanced at her, feigning cautious concern. "Sis, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you upset that I’m in a relationship?"

Autumn stayed silent.

Her hand clenched around her fork as she slowly lifted her gaze.

So, Luna cheated with her husband and now had the nerve to flaunt it in her face.

Did she expect Autumn to smile, clap, and maybe even light a firecracker in celebration?

Was she trying to drive her insane?

If it weren’t for the thirty-day cooling-off period before the divorce could be finalized, Autumn would’ve flipped the damn table.

She might’ve failed at being a decent person, but when it came to being shameless, she was a natural.

With that thought, Autumn slammed her plate and fork onto the table with a loud clack.

"I’m done."

Hector frowned in irritation. "Autumn, Luna’s talking to you. What kind of attitude is that?"

Autumn stood up, dragging her chair back loudly. "So, what, Luna gets a boyfriend, and I’m supposed to respond on cue?

"Fine, then. I wish them a lifetime of undying love, so they’ll be too busy ruining each other’s lives to hurt anyone else."

Luna had succeeded in getting under her skin.

Just because she’d kept quiet, they thought she was easy to push around.

But Luna knew exactly where to twist the knife, and now Autumn could feel the rage burning through her chest.

With a loud smack, Simon slammed his fork onto the table, his face darkening as he snapped, "Autumn, haven’t you caused enough trouble?"

Autumn stared at her eldest brother, the one she’d always looked up to.

A memory flashed in her mind—when their parents had just divorced, he used to take his allowance to buy her candy, gently brushing the dirt from her cheek as he promised he’d always see her as his only sister.

But that was long gone.

Now, he stood firmly on Luna’s side every time something happened.

"Not yet," Autumn said faintly, then gave a cold, mocking smile.

"I would always get blamed for speaking up. If I don’t say anything, I’m still the one at fault. You people are exhausting."

Simon went silent.

Right then, Ginny slammed her own fork down and stood up, her tone icy as she turned to Luna.

"Will you shut that mouth already? Can’t even eat a meal without stirring up drama.

"If you want to eat, then eat. If not, get out. No one here is interested in your little performances."

Tears spilled down Luna’s cheeks as she rushed to explain.

"Grandma, you misunderstood. I was just really happy and thought I’d share the joy while Sis is home... I didn’t know my relationship would upset her so much. I just..."

Hector quickly stepped in front of Luna, glaring coldly at Autumn.

"Autumn, just because Grandma always sides with you, you think you can bully Luna every time you come home? How can you be so cruel?

"She’s just in a relationship. What’s it got to do with you? Why the sour face?"

Smack!

Ginny slapped Hector across the face.

Everyone turned to her in shock.

Ginny’s voice was low but firm as she said, "Hector, you’re defending your half-sister and turning on your biological sister. You think that makes you noble?

"I really don’t get it. Luna’s only your half-sister. Why are you always so eager to protect her?"

Simon’s expression turned grim as he snapped at Autumn, "Autumn, Hector just got slapped because of you. Don’t you feel the slightest bit ashamed?"

He had come home for lunch only because Autumn was visiting, despite his packed schedule.

But now, faced with this mess, all he saw was a sister growing more disrespectful by the day, throwing tantrums over the smallest things.

Autumn let out a short, cold laugh. "Maybe he got slapped because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

"Brother, if you’ve got time, you should get your eyes checked. Clearly, your vision’s gone bad. You can’t even see what’s right in front of you."