Chapter 1

Even after more than three years of marriage, Samuel Ferguson still seemed impossible to satisfy.

After the third round, he brushed a tear from the corner of Tania Russell's eye, a roguish smile playing at his lips.

"Did you cry from the pleasure? Want me to carry you to the shower?"

Tania turned her head, avoiding him, her fingers digging into the sheets until her knuckles went white.

Steam rolled through the bathroom, wrapping a set of broad shoulders and a narrow waist in a haze of heat — but that heat could not thaw the icy chill in her heart.

An hour ago, in the throes of passion, the name "Lulu" had slipped from his lips, and it still lingered in her mind.

All those years, he had always called her simply "Tania."

After a moment, she wiped her tears, reached for the phone on the bedside table, and stepped out onto the balcony.

"Elias, investigate Samuel for me. I think… he's cheating."

"A lead?" Elias did not waste time.

"He used to call her 'Lulu'".

Chapter 1

The moment Tania Russell spoke, her throat tightened and tears came rushing back.

There was a brief silence on the phone before she heard the sound of papers rustling. "I'll have someone look into it right away. Call me anytime you need to," came the reply.

After she hung up, Tania turned and walked straight into a warm hug.

Samuel Ferguson stood there in a bath towel, his damp hair dripping onto her neck, making her feel a mix of warmth and wetness. "Who were you talking to? Why are you hiding from me so late?" he asked.

He leaned in and kissed the mole by her eye, his callused fingertips tracing her waist. He knew exactly where to touch to spark her desire.

Tania tried to pull away, but Samuel mistook her slight resistance for playing hard to get.

He became rougher, his breath growing heavy.

"Not satisfied yet?"

Tania turned her head to avoid his kiss, her eyes accidentally catching a glimpse of the bedside.

Samuel's phone was still on, and the sound of a news report drifted out.

"Internet sensation and brilliant student Lucy Canfield will be back home in three days. Reports say Ms. Canfield has been offered a job at Kingston University's Rare Disease Research Institute, making her the youngest researcher ever..."

Samuel's pace quickened as the report went on:

"After five years abroad, Lucy plans to focus on her studies. She wants to dedicate her life to curing rare diseases..."

Then Lucy's sweet voice came through clearly: "I'm not planning on dating or getting married for the next ten years. I want to focus on treating rare diseases. It's more meaningful to help those who are suffering."

In the middle of that noise, Samuel suddenly stopped moving.

He was leaning close, his chin on her shoulder, when he said in a low voice, "Lulu!"

Tania froze, but she saw her phone light up from the corner of her eye.

It was a text from Elias Russell, just one short line.

[Samuel's got an ex-girlfriend named Lucy.]

Samuel's phone, which he had left on purpose by the bed, showed a picture of Lucy.

The lady in the picture had bright, happy eyes and looked a lot like Tania, even the tiny mole by her eye was in the same place. It was as if Lucy was staring right at Tania, the "stand-in," through the screen.

Tania shut her eyes, and tears ran down the sides of her face.

Samuel stayed close to her until the middle of the night before finally falling into a deep sleep, his hand still resting firmly on her waist.

As she listened to his even breathing, Tania's hands shook as she texted Elias back:

[Bro, the new medicine will be done in a month and, after that, I'm going to leave Samuel.]

The Ferguson family had spent billions of dollars for a team of scientists to make this medicine. It was the only thing that could cure a sickness that ran in Samuel's family and keep him alive past thirty.

She was the key to making it.

For three years, she kept secrets from him. She chose not to study abroad. Instead, she became the head of a research institute, and she did not even tell him about her own family's wealth as the Russell family's daughter.

Because he once said, "I won't make it past thirty," she happily stayed hidden as "Mrs. Ferguson" and stuck by him for three years.

Elias texted back right away: [In a month, I'll come to the Fergusons' to get you.]

As dawn lit up the sky, Tania watched Samuel sleeping and remembered the first time they met at Kingston University four years ago.

Back then, she was in her final year of university, assisting him with speeches.

He was all dressed up in a fancy suit, talking away on stage, looking every bit the rich kid and as distant and fancy as the moon.

However, the moment their eyes met, it was like the ice in his gaze just melted away, and he started pursuing her like crazy.

She kept saying no, until that lab accident.

When the equipment blew up, he ran through the crowd to shield her, taking the hit.

As the shards sliced his arm, he was in pain but still joked with a smile, "Don't worry, I'm not going to live past thirty, so it's a good deal to trade my life for your life."

That's what made her give in.

However, she now realized that the "real feelings" in those words might never have been for her.

Chapter 2

The next morning, Tania woke up to the sound of pots and pans in the kitchen.

She went to the doorway and saw Samuel in an apron, awkwardly moving around the stove.

The sunlight made him look surprisingly homely and down-to-earth.

When he heard her, he turned with a smile, kissed her forehead, and put a plate on the table.

"I haven't cooked in a while, but I made this just for you, to thank you for last night."

Tania stared at her plate. The fried egg was burnt to a crisp, and the veggies tasted like they were scorched.

She took a bite, grimacing at the salty bitterness, but managed a nod. "It's yummy."

Samuel sighed in relief and playfully tousled her hair. "I'm glad you like it. I was worried I'd ruined it."

He then turned to make a call on the balcony, his back to the kitchen. He did not see Tania's grip on her fork tighten.

She had learned to read lips while teaching at a school for the deaf during her first year of college.

Thus, she could read every word Samuel said, clear as day.

"Lulu, it's been five years.

"I haven't cooked your favorite dish in five years. I tried it just now and botched it."

He tapped his fingers on the railing, his eyes soft with affection, "However, Tania, that silly girl, she'd eat anything, even trash. She said it tasted good.”

"Why marry her?" Samuel's chuckle was low. "The Ferguson family needed a sweet, obedient woman to continue the family name.”

"If you'd agreed to be Mrs. Ferguson, she'll be out of the picture.”

"Come over this afternoon? We can have some fun, like we used to."

He paused, then added, "She'll be at school, the house will be empty."

Tania sat frozen, watching the tenderness in his eyes through the glass. Her heart felt like it was dunked in ice water, the pain turning her numb.

The "fireworks" she thought she saw in his eyes were just part of a rehearsal for someone else.

She quietly got up to clear away the plates, her eyes landing on the fancy dinner set they had picked out on their wedding day. Samuel had promised then, "I want to use these with you forever."

However, in a heartbeat, she let go on purpose.

Crash! The plate shattered on the floor, pieces flying everywhere.

Samuel stopped talking mid-sentence, quickly finished his phone call, and hurried to the kitchen.

He saw the broken pieces and frowned deeply, gently pushing Tania aside to start picking them up.

"Wasn't this our special wedding set? Why did it have to be this one that broke?"

"It slipped," Tania said flatly, without a hint of emotion.

Samuel did not think much of it and said, "I'll get us a new set, just like it, tomorrow."

Then, as if something came to mind, he added, "An old friend from college is visiting this afternoon. She studied the same thing you did at Kingston University. It'll be nice for you two to meet."

Tania felt a wave of cold air wash over her.

She knew Lucy was about to step into her life in a big way.

At two o'clock, the doorbell rang right on time.

Samuel dashed to the door. His eagerness made Tania grip her phone tighter as she sat on the couch.

The door swung open, and Lucy strolled in, eyeing Tania with a look that took her measure.

"So, this is your sweet little wife?"

Lucy moved next to Samuel, patting his shoulder as if she belonged there, her voice dripping with a touch of scorn.

"I hear you're still at Kingston University for your master's? I just got a job offer to teach there. How about you join my class? I'll make sure to look out for you."

Lucy's words were dripping with pride and a challenge.

Tania glanced up, her reply polite but firm. "Ms. Canfield, thanks for the offer, but I've got my own research to focus on, so I'll pass."

Lucy's smile faded, and she turned to Samuel with a look of hurt in her eyes.

"Samuel, your wife sure has a strong will. I’m trying to help her, yet she doesn't even thank me."

Samuel did not hesitate. He turned to Tania and lectured her.

"Tania, tell Lulu you’re sorry. She's a senior student and a professor at Kingston. You should be nicer."

Tania bit her lip and stayed silent.

'I'm not in the wrong. Why should I say sorry?' Tania thought.

However, Samuel just grinned at Lucy, his voice gentler: "I’ve spoiled her. She hasn't had a hard time in the three years we've been together, so don't mind her.”

"I'll go grab my special coffee beans from the study for you. Hang on a sec."

The moment Samuel stepped into the study, Lucy's friendly mask slipped off.

She stormed up to Tania and tried to grab her phone. "Did you just take a secret photo of me? Listen, don't think you can get famous off my back. I've got a deal with a big network, and if a rumor spreads, can you pay the fine for breaking the contract?"

Tania was busy checking experiment data on her phone screen.

That was it — the crucial data that could make or break the new medicine. The fate of the Ferguson family's genetic illness and Samuel's chance to live beyond thirty hinged on those numbers.

Tania's grip on her phone tightened as she glared at Lucy with icy eyes.

"Ms. Canfield, I don't sneakily take photos of people. Show some respect!"

"Respect?"

Lucy scoffed, rolled her eyes, and yanked Tania's hair before slapping her hard across the face.

"You should’ve listened while I was being nice! Give me that phone or I swear I'll ruin your face right here!"

The sharp sound of the slap rang through the living room. Tania's cheek turned red and swollen, her hair sticking to her face in disarray.

At that moment, Samuel walked in with coffee beans. He saw what happened but did not even glance at Tania. He hurried to Lucy and cradled her hand with concern.

"Your hand is too valuable for our experiments. Why get upset over someone who doesn't matter? What if you had hurt your hand?"

Sitting on the couch, Tania watched Samuel fuss over Lucy's hand, feeling sharp pangs of pain in her heart.

Three years of being close, and yet she was still nothing more than "someone who doesn't matter" to him.

She stayed silent, grabbed her laptop bag, and stood up to leave.

Samuel finally spoke, "Where are you off to?"

"Back to school," Tania replied calmly. "There's urgent work at the lab."

Samuel picked up a glass of juice from the table and offered it to her. "Have some before you go — it's fresh."

Tania did not bother with more conversation, took the glass, and downed the juice in one swift motion.

However, as she stepped into the entryway, a wave of dizziness assaulted her. Tania's world turned black as she fell unconscious.

Chapter 3

The next time Tania woke up, it was because of some rough shaking.

She was in her bed, her mind slowly getting clearer, but her body was so limp she could not even open her eyes.

An unfamiliar perfume mixed with Samuel's usual cedar scent filled the air, making her feel nauseous.

Then she heard Samuel and Lucy's voices mixing together, "Samuel, be careful. She's still here..." Lucy whined playfully.

"Why worry? She took five times the normal amount of sleeping pills. She won't wake up," Samuel's voice was rough, "You get me way more than she ever did."

"So you'll only care about me from now on?"

"Of course. You're my Lulu..."

Tania could not make out the rest.

She lay there, feeling like a zombie, acutely aware of the bed shaking, the room filled with a mood she did not want to feel.

It hurt like needles piercing her heart.

So that was the "exciting thing" Samuel had in mind: being with another woman right in front of her.

Her eyes stayed shut, tears quietly rolling down her cheeks.

The last tiny flame of hope inside her heart went out.

Time passed, and as the drug's effects faded, Tania could finally move her fingers a bit.

She quietly opened her eyes and saw Lucy cuddled up in Samuel's arms, toying with his necklace.

"Samuel, can we check Tania's phone?”

"I just signed a deal that says I can't be caught up in any rumors with boys. If she snapped a photo and it gets out, I'll owe a fortune for breaking the deal."

"Do what you want."

Samuel's voice sounded like he did not care at all.

Tania's heart squeezed tight.

Her phone had super important info about the new medicine, and she could not let Lucy get her hands on it.

If that info got out, all of the hard work her team did for years would be for nothing.

She gritted her teeth and tried really hard to move her fingers, sneaking the phone under her pillow.

However, before she could hide it all the way, Lucy was already by the bed, grabbing for her arm.

"Give me the phone!"

Tania held on to the phone for dear life and would not let go.

Lucy did not think Tania, who had been drugged, would be so strong. She pulled hard, lost her balance, and stumbled toward the big window.

Tania could not let go in time and got pulled along, smashing into the glass.

"Crash —"

The loud sound of breaking glass filled the air, and Tania felt like she was floating as she fell backward.

As she fell, she covered her belly without thinking, but when she hit the bushes, her back hurt so bad, and something warm trickled down her legs.

Through blurry eyes, she saw Samuel by the window, holding onto Lucy's hand, looking all worried and sorry.

However, there she was, lying in the cold bushes, without even a glance from him.

Before everything went dark, Tania had just one thought: the baby was gone.

The baby she had not even told Samuel about was gone.

When she woke up, she was in the hospital.

Samuel sat next to her, his eyes red and puffy like he had been crying.

"Tania, you passed out right in the entryway the other day. I carried you to your room to rest, and somehow, you ended up falling out of the big window.”

"Good thing our house is only two stories high. The doctor says you're okay, just a few bumps and scratches. You'll be all better after resting for a few days."

Tania shut her eyes tight, not wanting to even look at him.

She knew he was lying, and was saying things that did not make sense because he thought she was too out of it yesterday to remember.

Falling from the second floor was not deadly, but the pain she felt was not just from a few "bumps and scratches."

She felt cold inside, knowing she could not wait any longer.

She had to get her lab work at the university sorted out fast and get herself away from this man.

Samuel would not agree to a divorce easily.

It would cause a fuss for the Ferguson family, and splitting up everything they owned would be a big headache.

However, Tania had a plan. She would stay away for a year, then ask for a divorce because they lived apart.

The Russells had top-notch lawyers, so she would not even have to show her face.

Samuel thought she was sleeping and quietly left the room.

From the hallway, Tania heard him on the phone.

"Mr. Harris, get that emerald jewelry set at the auction tonight, no matter the cost. It'll cheer Tania up," Samuel instructed the butler.

Tania let out an icy laugh.

He always thought gifts could fix everything.

However, he never understood that what she really wanted was not stuff like that at all.

When Samuel returned, Tania asked as if she did not really care, "Where's my phone? I need to check the lab's messages."

Samuel looked panicked for just a second, then looked away and said quickly, "Maybe you left it at home. I didn't see it. I'll help you look for it when we go back."

Tania's voice suddenly got louder, and she sounded like she was warning him, "Did Lucy take it? The files on my phone are super important. If you don't want her to get in trouble, you better give it back to me!"

However, when Samuel heard "Lucy," any guilt he felt disappeared.

He looked at Tania with suspicion in his eyes, "Why do you look so worried? Did you really take a secret video of Lulu?”

"Did you find out she signed with a big company, so you’re trying to make up a scandal to ruin her? Tania, I always thought you were sweet and smart. I can't believe you'd plan something against someone who never did anything to you!"

Tania held back her pain and sat up in her hospital bed, staring hard at Samuel, "I didn't take any secret video. My phone has important lab data. If Lucy messes with it, I'll make sure she pays big time!"

Samuel laughed at her, "Tania, you're just a regular student at Kingston University. Lulu is a fancy professor the school paid a lot to get. She wouldn't care about your data. Stop trying to scare me."

"I've had enough! Get me out of here!" Tania could not take it anymore.

Samuel looked annoyed but nodded, "Alright, I'll take care of it."

Right after he left, the doctor walked in with some test results, sounding a bit sad.

"Mrs. Ferguson, I'm sorry to say you've lost the baby, it was seven weeks along. Also, you really need to rest in bed for at least a month and avoid any heavy work."

Tania's fingers felt like ice as she took the report.

She crumpled it up and tossed it into the trash, her voice steady, "I understand. Thank you, doctor."

‘Maybe it was better this way,’ she thought.

No child should come into a world without their father’s love.

Chapter 4

Samuel had finished signing out of the hospital and came back with a gift box in his hand.

"Tania, I got you these vitamins. The doctor said you need to build your strength back up."

Tania did not take them, simply saying, "Let's head home."

When they got home, Tania stopped short in the living room. A bunch of strangers were huddled around her phone, trying to break into it.

Lucy was lounging on the couch with a coffee, looking like she did not have a care in the world. She even gave Tania a challenging look as she walked in.

"What's going on here?" Tania asked, her voice frosty.

Samuel came up behind her, dangling a necklace with a smile.

"Don't be upset, Tania. Lulu was worried you might have taken pictures of her, so she's just making sure. If there's nothing on your phone, they'll give it right back.”

"See, I even got you this necklace. It'll look great on you."

Tania avoided his motions to put the necklace on and fixed her eyes on Lucy. "Ms. Canfield, there are no pictures of you on my phone, just research data.”

"If you don't stop them now, I'll call the police to report you for stealing and leaking confidential information!"

Lucy set her coffee down and stood up, walking over amidst hushed voices.

"Call the police? Got any proof? Do you really think Samuel will take your word over mine?"

Samuel frowned and gently took Tania's hand. "Tania, please calm down. Lulu is just having it checked. If it's all good, you'll get it back."

Tania yanked her hand away and spun around to head for the door. "I'm going back to school.”

"You can't go!" Samuel caught her arm. "The doctor said you need to rest. Can't you just listen for once and not make things harder for me?"

"I’m making things harder?" Tania was so upset she started shaking. She was about to argue so she did not see Lucy sneak up behind her.

Lucy grabbed the vitamin bottle from the table and waved it about. "Samuel, it’s no wonder you two haven't had kids after three years. Tania's been popping birth control pills!"

Samuel's face went pale. He rushed over, grabbed the bottle, and when he looked at Tania again, his eyes were icy cold. "Tania, do you look down on me because of my genetic disease? You don't want to have a Ferguson baby, so you've been lying to me by using birth control?"

"That's not true!" Tania burst out. "Those are just vitamins. She's making it all up!"

"Making it up?" Lucy's eyes welled up with tears. "Samuel, why would I lie? I'm just looking out for you. I don't want her to fool you.”

"See? She's still denying it, not even sorry for what she's done!"

Samuel's anger flared up like wildfire.

Samuel had always felt like there was a sword of sickness hanging over his head, but he kept going, believing he could be cured. He thought Tania was the only one who got him, the only one who would want to start a family with him.

However, Lucy had spilled a secret: Tania had been lying.

She did not want to have kids with him at all.

With a loud smack, Samuel's hand struck Tania's cheek hard.

"You lied to me!"

He yanked her hair and dragged her to the basement, "I told you when we got married that we could beat my sickness and have kids. You said yes!”

"Tania, why did you break your promise? Why take birth control without telling me?”

"How long would you have kept this from me if Lulu hadn't found out?"

He shoved Tania into the basement and locked the door, not waiting for her to explain.

Tania sat against the cold metal door, holding her bleeding forehead, curled up tight.

Time passed, and then Lucy's voice sneaked through the door crack, "Feeling sorry for yourself? You knew what it meant to be a stand-in!”

"Samuel wouldn't look twice at someone as plain as you if you didn't look a bit like me.”

"I know you weren't taking birth control. That's just how strong a first love can be. I've been gone for five years, but I can still make Samuel do whatever I say!”

"Oh, and your phone? I've deleted almost everything and messed with some important stuff.”

"What do you think Samuel will do when he finds out his important medicine got messed up because of you? Do you think he'll hate you more?”

"And your baby? It's gone. However, it wasn't anything special anyway.”

"Do you really think having a baby will make you Mrs. Ferguson for real? That's just wishful thinking!"

Each word felt like a sharp jab to Tania's heart.

She slowly lifted her hand and pulled a voice recorder from her sleeve.

Recording important talks was something she started doing when she was doing science projects. She never thought it would be useful today.

Lucy's words from before were all saved on the recorder.

Tania had been stuck in the basement for three whole days.

In all that time, Samuel only came once to give her some bread and water. He did not even look at her, and just left the food and walked away.

On the fourth morning, the basement door finally opened.

Samuel stood there, looking at her. "Have you learned your lesson? If you have, come upstairs with me, act right, and maybe I'll forgive you."

Tania, leaning on the wall, slowly stood up and said firmly, "I did nothing wrong."

Samuel's face turned stormy. He lifted Tania up and carried her to the bedroom.

"It looks like you haven't learned your lesson yet."

He dropped Tania on the bed.

Tania smelled Lucy's perfume and saw the messy bed sheets and a torn lace undergarment on the floor.

It was not hers.

She could almost picture the awful things Samuel and Lucy must have done in that room while she was away.

She grabbed Samuel's arm tightly, trying to shove him away. "Don't you dare touch me!"

Samuel's eyes were red with anger, and he easily held her down. "You've been hiding and taking pills for three years so we wouldn't have a baby, and now I'm not allowed to touch you?”

"Stop acting like you're so pure. Didn't you have fun on the swing when we went camping?"

"I was pregnant, Samuel!" Tania cried, tears streaming down her pale face. "The baby's gone! It's all because of you and Lucy! Please, don't touch me..."

Chapter 5

Samuel just laughed at her.

"Tania, you're always telling stories. You've been sneaking birth control pills for three years. How could you be pregnant? I must have been blind to think you were so precious!"

Without a second thought, he tore her nightgown open.

The sharp scent of blood filled the air.

Tania's belly ached sharply, and she was weak from not eating or drinking for three days. Coupled with her tailbone injury, she couldn’t even cry.

Right then, Lucy burst in, bubbling with excitement. "Samuel, Kingston University said yes to me joining the Rare Disease Research Institute!”

"It's for that project on the Ferguson family's genetic disease! I've got an interview tonight. Will you help me pick out an outfit?"

Seeing the blood beneath Tania, Samuel finally got scared.

He pointed at the stain, his voice shaking, "Lulu, call an ambulance!"

Lucy just glanced at it, made a face, and rolled her eyes. "It's just her period. Why call an ambulance? She can get up and clean herself.”

"I bet she's just pretending to be sad to make you feel sorry for her."

It was clear to anyone that this was no ordinary period.

However, Samuel hesitated, then actually listened to Lucy. He walked out with her, leaving behind a cold remark, "Don't play dead. Get up and clean yourself off."

The instant the door clicked shut, Tania felt the last trickle of warmth ebbing from her body.

Her gaze fixed on the ceiling as the room spun into darkness. She could not fight it anymore and passed out.

Coming to, Tania found herself on her bedroom bed, changed into fresh clothes, with her forehead wound neatly bandaged.

About to leave the bed, she noticed Samuel with a bowl of oatmeal in hand.

"Up and about? The doctor said you're weak, so I made you some oatmeal. Have it while it's warm."

Tania did not accept it, just gave him a frosty stare. "Where's my phone?"

Samuel's eyes darted away, setting the oatmeal on the nightstand, he reached to stroke her hair, but she avoided his touch.

"Have your oatmeal first, you need to get stronger. We'll talk about the phone later."

Tania stayed silent, her cool gaze unsettling Samuel.

He cleared his throat and went on.

"I was at Kingston University's Rare Disease Institute with Lulu. They're close to finishing the new drug for our family's genetic illness — there’s just one last set of data to go.”

"If I keep up with the meds, I'll live as long as anyone else.”

"Tania," he edged closer, "You can stop worrying, right? Once the drug's released, let's start a family, shall we?"

His voice carried a hint of a sneer.

"I tried to personally thank the institute's dean, but her staff said she was out. Acting all high and mighty, not even up for a thank-you lunch."

Tania watched him, her mind racing through many nights gone by.

For years, she came home from the lab, tired to the bone, and found Samuel waiting at the dinner table.

She never bragged about being the Dean or how she had worked through three whole nights to get her experiments right. She just said that she was "a little busy at the lab."

She now realized that he thought all her secret hard work was just someone else showing off.

Her voice was dry as she asked again, colder now, "Where's my phone?"

Samuel swallowed hard and handed her a shiny new phone.

"Your old one must've been broken, so I got you this," he said, trying to sound cheerful. "It's all set up. I even got your favorite games on it."

Tania barely smiled as she took the phone. Without looking at Samuel, she stepped out to the balcony and called the police.

"Hello, is this 110? I need to report a theft.”

"I've got drug research data worth billions that Lucy stole. I need to file a report and protect the evidence."

She had just hung up when she heard footsteps.

Suddenly, Samuel's arms were around her, just like they had been so many times before.

"Tania," he said, his voice close to her ear, "I know Lulu showing up has been tough on you.”

"She's so bright, so amazing. It's okay to feel a little jealous.”

"However, remember, you're Mrs. Ferguson."

He shifted the conversation, his voice growing serious, "Remember to act properly. Let's pretend that the last few days were just a bad dream, okay? From now on, we'll live happily."

Tania closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they were calm.

She whispered, "Okay."

She planned to forget everything about that place, including Samuel, once she left.

Samuel let out a sigh of relief, loosened his grip, and gave her shoulder a pat, "Go get dressed. I've had some new jewelry sent up for you.”

"There's a big party for Lulu tonight with lots of reporters. Don't make me look bad."

Tania went to her closet but ignored the fancy new jewelry and the dress Samuel had picked out.

Instead, she found a plain black dress and a simple silver necklace she had bought with her first paycheck before she married Samuel. It had nothing to do with him.

When she came out, Samuel was waiting on the couch.

He swallowed hard when he saw her, his eyes clouding over, his voice rougher than before.

"Tania, why aren't you wearing the new jewelry?"

"It's too flashy."

Her voice was cool as she glanced at him, "Tonight's about celebrating Lucy, right? I shouldn't outshine her."

Samuel missed the edge in her words and nodded to himself.

‘Lulu was right, spoiling women too much only made them start thinking they can do anything,’ he thought, ‘Tania's learned her lesson this time. She's much more agreeable now.’

The party was at the fanciest hotel in town, and as soon as Tania walked in, all the big names recognized her.

The brilliant young girl who had once dazzled Kingston University's Medical School, the Russell family's most exceptional heir in a hundred years.

Chapter 6

Had she not married Samuel and chosen to step away from the spotlight, she would probably be a leading expert in rare diseases by now.

Even if she had remained at Kingston University, she would have been the youngest head of the research institute.

Everyone knew that she preferred to keep a low profile, so they acted as if they did not know her, feeling a bit of sadness when they saw her.

Lucy, on the other hand, was like a showy rose, wearing a sapphire blue gown that hugged her figure and sparkling diamond jewelry that made her stand out in every crowd.

Tania's heart skipped a beat when she saw that dress.

Just last month, Samuel had her try it on, promising a surprise. She had been secretly thrilled, not realizing she was only a stand-in for Lucy.

At the party, Lucy was the life of the party, and Samuel could not take his eyes off her.

Tania had convinced herself she would not be hurt by it, but seeing Samuel's gaze stick to Lucy like that made her heart feel sour.

The press conference was live. Lucy sat in the spotlight wearing Samuel's jacket, while Samuel sat with Tania, looking up at Lucy with such affection.

"Tania, our fourth anniversary is next month. I'm planning a special dinner, and the invites are being printed."

He suddenly said, "I'd like Lulu to be the bridesmaid. You're okay with that, right?"

"I'm okay with it."

Tania replied casually, standing up to head to the restroom. However, a sharp pain hit her suddenly, and she fell to the floor in darkness.

At that moment, the doors to the banquet hall burst open, and the police headed straight for Lucy.

"Lucy, you're accused of stealing research results. You need to come with us."

Lucy's face went white as she grabbed Samuel's arm, crying out, "Samuel, save me! I'm innocent!"

Tania was lying on the floor, her back drenched in cold sweat, feeling her consciousness slip away.

She saw Samuel rush to Lucy's side, not even glancing her way. Using the last of her strength, she reached out, "Samuel... call an ambulance..."

Samuel stood in front of Lucy, defending her, when he tripped on the carpet. His shiny, custom-made shoes came down hard on Tania's hand.

A sharp "snap" rang out, and a wave of pain from her broken fingers surged through her body. Tania's fingers curled, too weak to lift again.

She watched Samuel's back as he shielded Lucy, and the last flicker of hope in her eyes went dark.

Days later, Tania, with her hand in a cast, was in a hospital bed leading an online meeting. Her assistant looked serious as he said, "Ms. Russell, we found your phone. Ms. Canfield messed with the core data. It'll take three years to check everything again, and Mr. Ferguson can't wait."

Before she could respond, the door to her room burst open.

Samuel grabbed her tablet and threw a settlement agreement at her. "Sign this! Make a video saying you set Lucy up! Or else I'll..."

"Divorce me?" Tania cut in, her voice steady.

"In your dreams!" Samuel scoffed. "Do you think you can take the Ferguson family's money? You married into the Ferguson family, and you'll stay with us till the end!"

Tania picked up the settlement agreement and tossed it in the trash. "I won't sign it.”

"Lucy had it coming. You really should ask her what data she changed. If not, she won't be able to run away, and neither will you."

She was just laying out the facts, but Samuel heard the threatening tone, and the last bit of warmth in his eyes vanished, leaving only revulsion.

"Lulu is off-limits, you had no right to mess with her, and you certainly shouldn't threaten me."

He turned to walk away, but Tania stopped him. "Remember when Lucy hit me? You were worried about her hand because she needed it for her experiments. When you crushed my hand, didn't you think I might need it to work with delicate equipment?"

Samuel paused, a flicker of pain crossing his heart.

However, the pain was brief, and he turned back, his voice dripping with scorn, "You think you're on Lulu's level? Tania, even saying that is an insult to her."

He did not look back as he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

In the dead of night, the sound of breaking glass jolted Tania awake. Outside the hospital room, angry voices yelled, "Russell's mistress, come out and apologize!”

"Scheming Tania, just die!"

Shaking, she lit up her phone screen, and the top trending news was #SamuelClarifiesLucy'sInnocence#.

In the video, Samuel, in a suit, looked earnest. "I swear on the honor of the Ferguson family, Lucy is innocent. Tania's the one who secretly recorded Lucy's private moments, then cruelly edited the footage to blackmail her."

He paused, his face filled with remorse, "Marrying Tania was a mistake. She tricked me with drugs and a fake pregnancy test. The Ferguson family would never have let someone so manipulative through their doors otherwise."

As the man in the video kept twisting the truth, Tania's heart hurt so much she struggled to catch her breath.

For Lucy, he would do anything, even if it meant getting his hands dirty.

The hospital room door flew open with a loud crash. A crazed fan girl stormed in, yanked Tania's hair, and pulled her right off the bed.

The doctors and nurses could not hold back the wild fan. They could only watch as Tania was dragged out of the room and dumped at the end of the hallway.

Looking up, Tania saw Lucy smirking down at her with a winner's grin.

"Samuel only married you because of that mole by your eye, the one that looks like mine, didn't he? I won't stand for anyone looking like me."

With that, she nodded at her bodyguard. "Get rid of that mole."

The bodyguard pinned Tania down and cut off the mole with a small knife.

Tania stayed silent, not a cry or a fuss, as the blood slid down her cheek like a tear.

Once Lucy was gone, Tania called Samuel. "I'm leading the talk at the research institute next week. Will you be there?"

It was her final test for Samuel.

On the phone, Samuel's voice was distant and uninterested. "You're my wife, so yeah, I'll be there."

Chapter 7

The next week was a blur of late nights for Tania and her team as they worked to fix the data Lucy had messed with.

During a break, Tania called Kingston University to ask about Lucy's job there.

Turns out, the university had never really hired Lucy. They just had not bothered to correct the rumors because she had not caused them any trouble... yet.

Meanwhile, Elias had dug up the truth about Lucy.

She had been kicked out of her grad program in her first year for cheating and had been living off rich sponsors ever since. Her whole "genius student" act was nothing but a lie.

"Ms. Russell, what are we going to do?" The researcher's eyes brimmed with tears. "All our work over the years might be ruined, and then there's Mr. Ferguson..."

Tania's fingers tapped lightly on the desk, her voice steady, "I'll show everyone at the seminar the proof that Lucy changed the data. After that, it's up to Samuel to decide what he wants to do."

An hour before the seminar, Tania made two phone calls.

The first was to Samuel. She simply said, "The seminar starts in an hour."

The second call was to Elias. "Brother, can you book a flight for me tonight? Once the seminar is over, I'm done with Samuel for good. Whatever happens to him won't be of concern to me anymore."

Right after she hung up, Samuel showed up.

He was dressed in a sharp suit, his hair perfectly combed, holding a bunch of fancy invitations.

"Tania, take a look. These are our fourth-anniversary invites. I made them myself. Do you like them?"

Without really looking, Tania replied, "They're fine."

"Lulu is coming as a special guest. That's okay with you, isn't it?"

"No problem. Whatever you say," Tania said, cutting to the chase.

Samuel was thrilled and leaned in to kiss her, but Tania avoided him smoothly.

The seminar began right on time, but Tania skipped the usual introductions.

She walked straight to the podium, quickly updated everyone on the project, and then the screen flashed to a chart.

"We're nearly done with the new drug for the Ferguson family's genetic illness, but we've found someone messed with the important data on purpose."

Tania's voice echoed through the microphone, filling the room, her eyes locking onto Lucy, who stood next to Samuel.

"Lucy is the one who changed the data. Please give us the original data. Lives are on the line."

Lucy's body stiffened.

She had only tweaked some numbers to make trouble for Tania, never imagining they were tied to Samuel's life-saving medicine!

However, she could not confess. If she did, her life would be ruined.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched Samuel's arm. "Samuel, who do you believe, me or her? I changed the data, but I only fixed her deliberate mistakes! She's the one trying to end your life!"

Samuel's brow furrowed as he turned to Tania, his eyes showing his disappointment. "Tania, why do you keep breaking my heart?"

Standing on stage, Tania met his gaze and asked simply, "Do you believe me or her?"

"I believe Lulu, of course!" Samuel blurted out without hesitation. "You're nothing compared to Lulu!"

If the reporters had not been there, he might have already reacted more fiercely.

Tania watched him stand protectively in front of Lucy, and any last flicker of emotion in her eyes faded to stillness.

Without another word, she turned and left the stage, walking out of the institute without looking back.

Elias's car waited outside. She opened the door, got in, and drove away.

A week later, a giant hot air balloon rose in front of the hotel the Ferguson family had reserved for their fourth anniversary. It read, "Samuel & Tania, together forever."

Samuel, in his crisp suit, kept glancing at the unanswered text he had sent Tania on his phone.

[Tania, it's been a whole week since you've answered my calls. Are you still upset? I know you didn't mean to do it, but I have to trust Lulu's data because it's more professional.]

[Please come over, I have a surprise for you today.]

He tucked his phone away and watched the short clips that were playing over and over again.

He had edited them himself, filled with everyday moments from the last four years with Tania.

Imagining a future with Tania, having kids and growing old together, he could not help but smile.

However, when noon came around, Tania was nowhere to be seen.

Samuel could not sit still any longer and drove to Kingston University to look for her.

The lab was deserted, and all of Tania's usual equipment and papers were gone.

A bad feeling welled up inside him, and he stopped a researcher walking by, asking urgently

"Where's Tania? Have you seen her?"

"Tania? You mean the Dean, Ms. Russell?" the researcher looked confused, "She left for a job at an overseas institute last week and said she's not coming back to work in the country. Did you need her for something?"

"Not the dean!" Samuel was frantic, waving his hands, "I'm talking about Tania, the young woman in her early twenties!"

The researcher chuckled, "Our Dean Tania is just twenty-five. She was the youngest dean at Kingston University. She said she's moving abroad for good and won't be coming back."