"It's nothing, just a small injury." Irvin retracted his hand, putting some distance between Julianne and himself.A hint of coolness flashed across Julianne's eyes, but it disappeared in an instant. When she raised her gaze to meet Irvin's, her usual gentleness and concern were back. "Irvin, you should go get your hand bandaged.""There's no need. I'll take you to Professor Stone."My parents sighed inwardly as they watched Irvin tend to Julianne. For her sake, he didn't hesitate to disregard his own injury.If it hadn't been for that incident, Irvin would have divorced and been with Julianne by now! How perfect would that have been?Alas…Convinced it was all my fault, my parents—Henry Quill and Catherine Bennet— found it even harder to like me, their biological daughter, now.Growing increasingly angry, Mom gave me a call. "Millicent Quill, why did you agree to the divorce so quickly? Is it because you knew Irvin would still struggle to get over the hurdle in his heart?"I w
As night fell, the club gradually grew lively. The flashing neon lights and boisterous atmosphere were in full swing.When Gideon was escorting clients to a private room to discuss business, he suddenly stopped. After instructing his assistant to take the clients to the room first, he walked toward the adjacent room. His gaze fell on Irvin after exchanging pleasantries."Irvin, isn't today Mrs. Quill Senior's 70th birthday? Why are you drinking here instead of attending the celebration?"Irvin didn't respond. He simply raised his glass and downed another mouthful of liquor."What's wrong? Still angry at Emilia?" he asked. "Honestly, Emilia's being unreasonable. She should be making an effort to reconcile with you at a time like this."It's Mrs. Quill Senior's 70th birthday. If you don't attend with her, imagine how much ridicule she'll face on her own."Irvin's eyes darkened as he unconsciously glanced at his phone. When he saw the screen was clear—no missed calls or unread messa
In the past, I became self-deprecating and timid because of Irvin's disdain for me. But the real reason I didn't fight back against these women was because I believed women shouldn't make life harder for other women.Yet, my concessions didn't earn me peace—they only encouraged them to push further, humiliating me time and time again.If that was the case, then fine—I should go at it!Violet and Ellis were close friends of Katie. After recovering from her initial shock, Katie quickly assumed a stern tone to reprimand me. "Emilia, how dare you speak like that!"I smiled at her and replied, "Don't be in such a hurry, Katie. You're next. If I'm a hen that can't lay eggs, then what does that make Irvin? And you?"Instead of blaming me for not having children, why not take your dear nephew for a checkup and see if he's the problem? After all, the Sawyers are famously 'inadequate.' They've passed down a single heir for generations, and maybe even that tradition ends with him."Despite
With so many people present and the importance of the occasion, being scolded publicly made Mom and Dad's faces darken with embarrassment.Julianne immediately stepped forward and said softly, "Grandma, please don't be upset! You've misunderstood Irvin. He was only helping me because I hurt my leg."Irvin added with a sullen look, "Yes, Grandma. I didn't come here with Lianne. I ran into her at the entrance and saw that she was struggling because of her injured leg, so I helped her in."As for her injury, it happened because she heard that the rosaries from Sacred Church are particularly effective, especially when prayed for on one's birthday. She went to the church to get you a rosary. She climbed the mountain and sincerely prayed for your health and safety."It was an exhausting journey. On her way down, she slipped and fell, hence hurting her leg. But she didn't stop to rest because she wanted to make it to your birthday celebration on time. Grandma, Lianne genuinely loves you.
I always felt there was something between the two of them, but I loved Irvin too much.I loved him so deeply that even when it hurt, even when I was convinced something was going on, I still chose to believe him when he said there wasn't.I'd try harder to please him, cling to him, and exhaust every means to win his heart back.Whenever anything happened between him and Julianne, I'd become skittish and terrified of losing him for good. And when he came back, I couldn't help but ask him over and over if he truly loved me.Even though I was afraid of pain, I once resorted to self-harm, hoping it would bring him back from Julianne's side.But in Irvin's eyes, my fear and despair were nothing but hysterics.Instead of pity, my actions only made him see me as a troublemaker. Not only did he not return, but his disdain for me grew, and he saw everything I did as just another tantrum.The me in my old journal couldn't figure out why he insisted there was nothing between him and Julian
His words were so serious and convincing that even I almost believed him.He was truly a master of manipulation. It was no wonder the old me could never let him go.But it didn't matter. I was no longer the same person, and he could no longer manipulate me.The room fell silent.The crowd's emotions were complicated. They had thought they were merely aligning with Irvin's intentions by putting me down and holding Julianne in high regard.But now, they found themselves chastised by the very person they sought to please.It was… a lot to process.Julianne's face darkened ominously, so much so that words failed to describe her expression. Yet she gathered herself and smiled warmly at me in the blink of an eye."Millie, do you believe me now? There's nothing between me and Irvin. You just worry too much."Her words painted me as the crazy, paranoid woman again.But I wasn't the same anymore. Her provocation wouldn't rattle me.I replied with a smile, "Oh, don't blame me for worr
Grandma hadn't felt this liberated in years!Dad's face darkened as he scolded, "Mom, how can you say that? Lianne is so devoted to you. She's your granddaughter too!"Grandma scoffed. "I have only one granddaughter, and I love her very much. Unlike you fools, I'm not blind. I love my own flesh and blood, not someone else's child!"For a moment, Mom and Dad's faces turned into a colorful display of emotions.Even though Irvin defended Julianne, the guests no longer saw them the same way. No one dared to voice their thoughts, but in their hearts, they had labeled the pair as a cheating couple.After Grandma announced she would transfer her 20% shares to Jeremy and officially appointed him as the head of Quillcrest Pharmaceuticals, I retreated to a quiet corner for some peace.While I'd finally vented my frustrations and shut down the ridicule, the pitying looks people gave me were equally uncomfortable.I reached for a glass of orange juice and wanted to take a sip when I heard J
But in the end, Irvin's urgency wasn't for me.Without a second thought, he swam straight to Julianne, cradled her, and made his way to the edge. He didn't even glance in my direction. Not once.I couldn't understand it.Why, when I'd already forgotten him and let go of my love, did it still hurt so much?The pond was deep. Jeremy had insisted on it because he loved deep-water swimming.The depth overwhelmed me as I sank lower, struggling to find something to hold on to, but there was nothing. As I drifted deeper, I heard Julianne's voice, soft and frantic."Irvin, save Millie! Hurry!"Then came his cold, detached reply. "Leave her. She can swim. She'll be fine."I was drowning in fear and panic, barely able to breathe. But his words made my mind go blank.Right, I could swim!Back in college, I had even won a national swimming championship. How could I have forgotten? How could I lose all sense of reason and succumb to fear the moment I hit the water?I fought to remember a
Irvin's gentle and appeasing expression darkened after hearing that. "Why bother asking something you already know, Emilia?"What?What was it that I was supposed to know? Why would I ask him if I knew?Did he not understand that he was very irritating, and I didn't want to talk to him at all?I fought hard against the urge to strangle him. "Irvin, I know you won't believe me, but I should tell you that I lost some memories after the fall."Irvin scoffed. "Oh, playing the amnesia card now, are we? What, you remember everything but that one specific piece of information?"I wanted to tell him that I had forgotten everything about us and our past. I only knew about our relationship from investigating and reading my diaries. However, going by his expression, he clearly wouldn't believe anything I said.I lost all desire to continue the conversation."Fine. Even if it is true that you can never be with Julianne and that there's nothing between you, I still want a divorce!"I don't
"I don't mind you painting me as some kind of demon in front of Irvin at the cost of your own health," I continued, "but don't try and harm me physically again, like pushing me into a pond or something. Otherwise, I'll publicize this video and make sure you never recover from the damage!"I wanted Julianne to help me end my marriage quickly, but I didn't want her to end me. My body was far too delicate for that. I didn't want to be harmed because of this marriage or anything else.With that, I left without waiting for an answer, leaving Julianne looking gloomy behind me.When I got home, I took a shower and was just about to go to bed for a nap when I found Irvin in my living room.I frowned. "How did you get in?"I'd changed my passcode. How did he get in?If he'd cracked the code, it should've taken more time, especially since I'd changed the passcode to something that was completely unrelated to any of my previous ones."You must be hungry. Come on, I brought you your favorit
Simone, enraged, began cursing me out. "Emilia, you cruel bitch! Have you lost your mind? You're downright evil! You know full well that Irvin can never be with Lianne. How could you say that? I can't believe how vicious you are. You should've died in that fall!"I was flabbergasted.How was I the evil one here? I thought I was being kind, bringing these tragic lovebirds together!Besides, why couldn't Julianne be with Irvin? They almost kissed in that private room, and Julianne had always said that Irvin loved her the most.If he loved her the most, why couldn't they be together?And if they couldn't be together, why did she keep getting in the way of our marriage?Most importantly, Irvin treated Julianne incredibly well. They weren't formally in a relationship, but they had already done everything couples were supposed to do. How could they not be together?I was just about to ask when the police knocked on the door and entered.In order to force my hand, Julianne had really
Irvin's expression changed suddenly. He opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, he said nothing. He just gave me a look of helpless indulgence, like he was looking at a toddler throwing a tantrum.It disgusted me to no end.Once everyone had left, Julianne immediately extended her hand toward me. "Let me see."She wanted to confirm whether I had actually recorded anything.Graciously, I played the recording from last night to her. Julianne wouldn't have let me off so easily after I humiliated her at the birthday celebration and ruined her reputation. Knowing that, I had retreated to a secluded corner, both to take a break and to wait for her to come and find me.I just hadn't expected her to act so ruthlessly in public.I'd almost died.The recording played the entire incident, from the moment Julianne came to me to talk until she pushed me into the pond and fell in herself. Her expression was grim. If I released this video, it wouldn't just expose her true natu
Just as the atmosphere turned tense, Simone walked in. Julianne looked up and gave her a look.Simone understood what she wanted immediately. Loudly, she said, "Don't be afraid, Lianne! I've called the police! They'll be here to arrest this vile woman who tried to kill you!"Irvin frowned, his face darkening. "What are you talking about, Simone? Who told you to call the police? Besides, I don't want to hear you insulting Emilia again!"Irvin was weird. Most of the time, he treated me poorly, but there were times when he displayed surprising concern toward me."She almost killed Lianne. Why are you still defending her?" Simone demanded, pointing at me. "I saw her push Lianne into the pond with my own eyes. She said Lianne should die! An evil woman like her needs to face justice!""What the hell are you talking about?" Irvin snapped.At the same time, Julianne looked at me smugly. She was threatening to send me to prison for real if I didn't give her any shares.Even if Irvin defe
Now, the shares were the first thing that Dad thought of. He was so eager to get that 10% share for Julianne.It was as if the 10%, which was worth billions, were nothing more than 10 dollars that he could take from me effortlessly.I didn't know when I gave them the idea that my money was free for them to take.Even though Julianne's expression remained unchanged, I saw her clutching her blanket with barely concealed excitement.I'd thought that she had pushed me into the pond in the spur of the moment, driven by her anger. It seemed like I had been too naive.If this was premeditated, that meant that she would've found another way to lure me to the pond one way or another if I hadn't gone near it yesterday. She might even orchestrate something else to make it look like I had harmed her, and then use the opportunity to make my parents force me to give the shares to her.She was the one who wanted me dead, but she managed to make it look like it was the other way round.This w
I looked at my parents innocently. "I'm just saying that Julianne looks healthy. What, I can't do that now?"My parents were livid. "Millicent, when did you become like this?" Mom scolded. "Your sister's always been nice to you. She was even trying to stop us from calling the police on you. "But not only did you not appreciate her kindness, you even mocked her! Do you have any conscience left? Why do you always treat Lianne like this?"She was so angry that she put down the bowl to slap me. "First, you got Lianne kidnapped and refused to apologize. You even told her to kill herself, causing her to end up in the hospital. "Then, at your grandmother's birthday celebration, you humiliated her and pushed her into the pond. Don't you feel at all guilty after doing so many vicious things? Milicent—"Before Mom could continue her tirade, Dad cut her off. "There's no use talking to her. Call the police and get her arrested. She's beyond saving. Let the police discipline her for us! Sh
I tried to shake him off, but his grip was tight. I didn't dare to struggle too hard, so I looked at him coldly. "Let me go. I'm not going to apologize."Irvin frowned. "Would you rather go to jail instead?"He'd thought that it was just an accident; he only found out that I had supposedly pushed Julianne into the pond because of Simone's shouting earlier."Did you know that you almost killed Lianne?" he demanded. "I've already told you that I won't have anything to do with Lianne anymore. Why did you still go after her and push her into the pond?"Why did you have to be so cruel, Emilia? Why can't you show Lianne some kindness?"Once again, he blamed me for everything, just like my diary said. No matter what happened between me and Julianne, he would always take Julianne's side without looking into the matter.My parents and Jeremy were the same. Ever since Julianne turned up in my life, everything was my fault. I was always the wrong one, the malicious one, the one who couldn't
"Emilia, you bitch, how dare you show your face here!" A woman lunged at me as she screamed.Before I could back away to avoid the woman's attack, Shaun stepped in front of me, taking the brunt of the blow on my behalf.Seeing him frown from the impact, my expression turned cold.The woman, furious at not being able to hit me with her bag, pointed at Shaun and screamed, "Who are you? Why are you shielding this bitch? Are you her lover?"Now I know why you've changed so much, Emilia Quill! You've been fooling around with someone else! I'm going to tell Irvin, so he'll give you nothing in the divorce, you cheating bitch!"Katie's daughter was just as vile and uncultured as herself.I stepped forward and said coldly, "Simone Fisher, between me and Irvin, we both know who was actually unfaithful. You'd better watch your mouth!"Simone had grown up with Irvin and Julianne. She was Julianne's number one bootlicker, so naturally, she didn't like me at all. She was just as bad as her mo