No matter what, Colin knew he would never allow Sophie to continue living with a woman like Aspen."Sophie is dead! She died while you were whispering sweet nothings to this woman and lit up the entire city with fireworks for her! Our Sophie—your daughter—died because there was no money for her surgery! She's gone! She's dead!"Aspen struggled violently as tears streamed down her face. Every word was filled with accusation, despair, and the helpless rage of a mother.With all her strength, she wrenched herself free from Colin's grip and dropped to her knees, desperately trying to pick up the photograph on the ground. Shards of glass pierced her palms, and blood dripped onto the floor, but she didn't care.She wiped her bleeding hands on her clothes without a second thought and carefully cradled the crumpled photograph, brushing away the dirt with trembling fingers."You…" Colin's heart sank in an instant. A deep, unsettling feeling crept over him, as if something inside him had co
The struggle earlier had drained all of Aspen's strength. No matter how much resentment simmered in her heart, she couldn't fight back anymore.She could only let Riley haul her up from the ground and take her to the car.Aspen didn't resist throughout the entire process; she didn't even show the slightest movement of defiance. The only thing she did was clutch the crumpled photograph in her hands as if it were her last lifeline.Her Sophie, her poor child, had spent such a short time in this world without receiving even a shred of love from her father—not even a single hug.Now that she was gone, they still wouldn't let her rest in peace.Who exactly was unworthy of being called human here?…"Colin, I'm really fine. It's just a small cut. You should go home," Gwyneth urged Colin in the hospital. "I don't think Ms. Nicholls is in a stable state right now. I'm a little concerned about Sophie. A child shouldn't have to suffer for the mistakes of adults. She's your daughter too.
Yet now, seeing Aspen like this, a dull ache pressed against Colin's chest."Ms. Nicholls, don't say that. Colin and I… We're not what you think." Gwyneth's eyes reddened as she instinctively hid behind Colin. "We… we're not disgusting.""I love Gwen. We've always loved each other. You were the one who schemed to sleep with me and tried to use Sophie to tie me down. "Now, not only have you failed at being Mrs. Fuller, but you don't even know how to be a mother. Where's Sophie? Hand her over before I lose my patience."Colin's expression remained cold as he stepped slightly in front of Gwyneth, as if shielding her from any possible harm.That unconscious movement—positioning himself protectively in front of Gwyneth—wasn't an act.Aspen understood that Colin truly loved Gwyneth and that he truly didn't love her. Even Sophie had become an innocent casualty just because he didn't love her."She's dead." Aspen lowered her gaze and stated the truth, appearing chillingly calm.Sophie
"I'm Sophie's mother! No one in this world loved her more than I did! How could I ever curse my own daughter? I would have rather died in her place!" Aspen laughed in fury, her voice tinged with despair. Perhaps this was what true hopelessness looked like. But the raw desperation and madness in her eyes were too real, making Colin hesitate for the first time."That's… How could this be?""How could it not be? What do you even know? Did you ever love Sophie? Did you ever once let her into your heart? She had bone cancer!"Her only wish in her final days was to have her father by her side. But what did you do? You were busy indulging yourself with this woman!"Aspen's eyes burned with hatred as she looked at the two people in front of her. She could accept losing her husband. But why did Gwyneth have to take away Sophie's father in her last moments? Why did they have to strip away her final hope?Sophie had been the best, most well-behaved child in the world. Time and time again
Aspen tilted her head back, desperately trying to hold back her tears. She didn't want them to fall. Finally, she looked at Colin and said in a cold, firm tone, "You still don't believe me, do you? Then come with me. I'll take you there. I want you to see it with your own eyes. Maybe then you'll finally believe me.""Aspen, if you dare lie to me, I won't let you or Joseph off the hook!"Joseph was Aspen's last remaining relative in the world and her only weakness. Colin had always been calculating; he knew exactly how to strike where it hurt most.But he hadn't realized that Aspen had changed. He hadn't noticed that she no longer cared.She couldn't care less if Joseph died right now!Without sparing Colin another glance, Aspen led him to Sophie's preschool, then to Sophie's art studio. After that, they visited Sophie's favorite dessert shop, her favorite amusement park, and finally returned to the park in the mansion's neighborhood.But no matter where they went, there wasn't
"Aspen, don't be ungrateful!" Colin frowned, and the fleeting guilt he had felt moments ago vanished in an instant.He had always thought of her as a scheming woman, but at least she had been rational. Now, she had completely lost her mind."Who's the one refusing to let go here? We're divorced, yet you're still clinging to me. What exactly do you want?"Did you only realize after losing me that you were actually in love with me all along? And now you want to get back together? Then what about your precious Ms. Sanders? What will you do with her?"Aspen suddenly burst into laughter, and her gaze was filled with disdain. The sharp mockery in her eyes cut straight into Gwyneth's heart."Colin, if you really love her, I can step aside," Gwyneth said softly. "I… I only stayed with you because I love you, not for anything else. If you don't love me anymore, you can just say so."As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She wiped them away quickly, as if s
Gwyneth's heart twisted with jealousy, but she didn't let it show. Instead, she sighed softly."Colin, I'm sorry. I really can't control my emotions. In the end, it's all my fault. If I had loved you a little less, maybe Ms. Nicholls wouldn't be acting this way.""Don't say such nonsense." Colin's gaze softened as he looked at the woman in his arms with concern.Yet even as he held her, he couldn't ignore the faint sense of impatience creeping into his chest. He didn't know where it came from or who it was directed at, so he could only suppress it for now.Taking out his phone, he called one of his assistants, Wyatt Davison."Find out where Sophie is.""Yes, sir."Gwyneth's expression darkened slightly. Sophie was already dead, but it was clear that Colin still refused to believe it. It seemed she needed to make him accept the truth as soon as possible.As long as that little nuisance was out of the picture, there would be no remaining ties between Colin and Aspen. And once tha
Now that Colin was gone and they had gotten divorced, Aspen had no reason to keep this useless thing anymore.She removed the ring without hesitation and handed it over to Joseph. Her voice was calm as she said, "This is worth more than the apartment. Sell it, and don't ever contact or bother me again.""Pen, I knew you were a sensible young lady! I'm your only family in this world; don't worry, I'll always protect you. You've lost so much weight lately. Let me take you out for a good meal, alright?"Joseph's attitude shifted the moment he saw the diamond ring. Seeing his sudden change in demeanor, Aspen was reminded of her childhood.Back then, she had been closest to Joseph. She had followed him around every day, playing with him without a care.Her eyes then flickered toward the family photo hanging on the wall. Taking a deep breath, she hesitated for a moment before finally nodding in agreement.Joseph's eyes lit up instantly, and before she could react, he grabbed her hand a
As soon as Gwyneth stepped out of the car, she leaned heavily into Colin, making sure everyone could see how close they were. Colin wrapped his arm around her waist, guiding her toward the entrance. There, they ran into Aspen, who was just about to step inside. When he met Aspen's knowing, half-smiling gaze, he felt a sharp pang of discomfort, as if his hand holding Gwyneth's suddenly burned."Ms. Nicholls, please don't be mad. I've never been to an event like this before, so I begged Colin to bring me," Gwyneth said, her voice trembling. "I was so bored in the hospital, and I just wanted to get out for a bit. I-I didn't know you'd be here." Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.In the past, Aspen would have made a scene, but now she simply smiled faintly and replied, "Ms. Sanders, you've had a tough time recovering in the hospital. Since you're here, make sure to enjoy yourself. Colin, take good care of her. If she sees anything she likes, make sure to buy it for her." H
What was supposed to be an urgent matter suddenly didn't feel so urgent to Colin. Puzzled, he stood there, glancing at Aspen and wondering why she wasn't making a scene like she used to. Sensing his confusion, Aspen looked back at him with the same questioning expression before finally waving him off. "Take your time. Don't let me keep you.""Wait for me," Colin said firmly before turning and striding away. Aspen watched him go, letting out a scoff of disdain. Then, she turned to Riley, who was still standing there, and snapped, "What are you staring at? Get the car ready. We can't be late.""But Mr. Fuller told you to wait for him," Riley replied, clearly confused. When had Aspen become so decisive?Aspen gave him a look that was both amused and exasperated. "You've worked for him for years, and you still don't know him? Do you really think he's coming back?" It wasn't like this had never happened before. The only difference was that back then, the empty promises had been mad
Facing the cameras, Aspen carried herself with confidence and grace, showing no sign of embarrassment despite the personal nature of the questions. It was as if none of this had anything to do with her. Colin had always wanted to see this composed and professional side of her. Yet, when he met her cold, emotionless gaze, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of irritation. He had hated how she focused all her attention on him in the past, but now that she seemed completely indifferent, he found it even harder to accept. "Mrs. Fuller, what exactly is the relationship between Ms. Sanders and Mr. Fuller?" a reporter asked."Ms. Sanders is just Ms. Sanders, and I am Mrs. Fuller. Colin is right here beside me—isn't that answer enough?" Aspen replied with a soft smile. She took Colin's hand, interlacing their fingers in front of the cameras and proudly displaying their wedding rings. In reality, Aspen's original ring had been discarded long ago, and the one she wore now was a ch
It was exactly what Aspen wanted. There was no way Gwyneth could just move on and live a peaceful life now—not after what she had done to them. She had made their lives a living hell, so it was only fair for her to finally experience what it felt like to lose sleep over it.When the reporters bombarded her with questions, Aspen handled it with grace and poise, earning plenty of praise. She took this opportunity not only to officially acknowledge her identity but also to send a clear message—she was exceptional. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and she was determined to make sure the whole world knew her name—she was Aspen Nicholls, not some pathetic caged canary or Mrs. Fuller.Watching her effortlessly take control of the situation, Colin found himself seeing her in a new light. He had always assumed she was just a woman who only cared about grocery store prices, but clearly, he had underestimated her.It almost felt like Aspen was a completely different person. The old As
"Is that so? This is the same gown a top international model just wore on the runway. How is it tasteless? Some people just can't let go of outdated ideas," Aspen shot back, rolling her eyes. It was the first time she had ever pushed back against Colin's criticism. In the past, no matter how harshly he judged her, she would stay silent, even questioning herself. But now, she knew better. She hadn't done anything wrong—it was Colin who was the problem.Even Howard had praised her look, but Colin, as usual, had nothing positive to say. His lack of taste and constant negativity were exhausting.Colin hadn't expected that his single comment would spark such a sharp response. His eyebrows furrowed as he glared at her. "Aspen, is this your new strategy? Are you trying to get my attention by acting out? Pathetic.""And yet, who exactly is the one obsessed with this?? Are we going or not?" Aspen snapped, losing patience. If she hadn't spent so much time perfecting her look, she might ha
With just a light touch of makeup, Aspen's features became even more refined and striking. Howard admired his work with deep satisfaction.Stylists like him prided themselves on their skills, but the truth was that working with a naturally beautiful canvas was far more enjoyable than doing a full transformation. Enhancing beauty was far easier than creating it from scratch, and the results were always breathtaking.The best makeup wasn't the kind that looked obvious. It was the kind that made people wonder if any had been applied at all.Aspen stared at her reflection in the mirror, finding the whole situation incredibly ironic. She used to love wearing bold, eye-catching colors like this, but after marrying Colin, she had gradually abandoned her own tastes, simply because he found them tacky.Over time, she had tried to match his so-called refined aesthetic, wearing muted, outdated tones to please him. Looking at herself now, she couldn't believe how far she had strayed from who
Standing by the door, Aspen listened to Gwyneth's tortured screams from inside the room. The sound sent a rush of satisfaction through her, but even that didn't feel like enough. Colin deserved to experience this kind of suffering too.When Aspen returned to her own hospital room, she found four stylists already waiting for her. They all stood respectfully, their postures formal.The lead stylist stepped forward with a polished smile. "Mrs. Fuller, I'm Howard Lewis. I'm here to do your styling for today."Then, he gestured toward the collections behind him, adding, "These are the latest designer gowns and accessories—you're free to choose anything you like."The dresses were all high-end couture, and the jewelry was nothing short of exquisite—each piece more extravagant than the last.One glance at the collection told Aspen that today's press conference and evening gala were of great significance. Otherwise, Colin wouldn't have invested this much. At his core, he was nothing more
After Colin left, Aspen grabbed the bouquet of hyacinths from the table and threw it into the trash, feeling a wave of disgust. She wasn't done, though. If there was one thing she excelled at, it was making people just as miserable as she felt. Aspen immediately headed upstairs to Gwyneth's room. Since Aren had already arranged everyone around Gwyneth, Aspen had no trouble making her way to Gwyneth's room. She walked in, her arms crossed, and sat down in a chair, smirking at Gwyneth. "So, this is what it's like to be Colin's true love? Seems exhausting."Gwyneth's face twisted with rage the moment she saw Aspen. Her voice was filled with venom as she screamed, "You bitch! You scheming, evil bitch!"Aspen would have stayed silent in the past, enduring the insults without a word. Then again, she was no longer that Aspen anymore. She strode forward and slapped Gwyneth across the face, hissing, "Who's the real bitch here? You knew he had a wife and a child, yet you still threw yo
Hearing Aspen's words, Aren quietly withdrew his hand and gave her a gentle smile. "Alright, I'll wait for you," he said softly, his voice warm and reassuring.This was the difference between Aren and Colin. Colin only cared about himself and never considered others. However, Aren chose to respect Aspen and give her space. Watching him, Aspen felt her resolve waver, and her heart stirred with emotions she had tried to suppress. To force herself to stay rational, she said something she didn't truly mean. "Aren, you should go. I can handle the rest on my own."Aren didn't push back. He simply nodded, gently brushing her cheek with his hand before standing up and walking out. As she watched his retreating figure, Aspen hugged herself tightly, taking a deep breath. Tears silently rolled down her cheeks....The next morning, Colin arrived with another bouquet of hyacinths. His face lit up with a warm smile. "How are you feeling today?"He was so gentle, acting as though Aspen was