Chapter 1

My husband, Daniel Sanford, and his childhood sweetheart, Natasha Morgan, were famous pharmacists. They spent more than ten years testing medicines together, and in the end, they tested them on me.

Just yesterday, they kidnapped me and dragged me into a basement.

My hands and feet were tied. I could only watch as Natasha injected strange drugs into my stomach.

Just like that, I became her test subject. I begged my husband to save our baby, but he turned away and left me there.

A sharp pain twisted inside me and everything went dark.

When I woke up, Daniel stood beside the bed, pretending to care. “Don’t blame Natasha. Your body is just too weak. That’s why we lost the baby.”

“We’re still young. After Natasha gives you some medicine to help you recover, we can try again.”

Five years together and even an unborn child meant nothing to him compared to a single tear from his childhood sweetheart.

At that moment, I gave up completely. I called my mother.

But the car I waited for never arrived. Instead, I received her cold, lifeless body.

Before I left the morgue, I heard Daniel and Natasha talking nearby.

“Don’t worry, Natasha. Everything is handled perfectly. No one will suspect a thing.”

“Daniel… you gave up so much for me?”

“When her pregnancy ended, her mother wanted to report you. So, I arranged the accident. Now there will be no more trouble. Tell me, haven’t I done enough for you?”

And just like that, I understood everything.

For Natasha Morgan, Daniel killed my child. For her, my husband killed my mother. Their twisted love was built on the deaths of the two people I loved most.

Fine. If this is what they wanted, then I would make sure they stayed together. Forever.

***

I linked my arm through Daniel’s and stood beside him at my mother’s funeral. My stomach felt sick, but I still forced myself to smile politely at guests offering condolences.

Besides relatives and friends, Daniel also invited many people from the industry, business partners and even the media. Cameras flashed nonstop in the silent funeral hall.

“After the ceremony, join me for a few interviews. Speak carefully. It’s good for the company’s reputation. And don’t look so stiff,” Daniel’s emotionless whisper came softly from above my head.

I didn’t respond. After learning what he had done to my baby and my mother, I had no more words for him.

But of course, he didn’t care.

If this weren’t a critical time for the company, he wouldn’t have invited me at all. He needed to display the image of a loving husband.

I wondered how he convinced Natasha to let me show up.

Well, the answer arrived one second later.

“Daniel!”

Natasha walked in, her hair tied in a high ponytail, a tight sweater beneath a black coat, showing confidence in every step.

“Why are you dressed so lightly?” Daniel pulled his arm away from me instantly and rushed to her side.

“It’s fine, I’m not cold. There was traffic, so I hurried. I didn’t want to be late and slow down the funeral,” she explained sweetly.

My hands were freezing. I rubbed them together and snapped, “This is my mother’s funeral. Whether you’re early or late doesn’t matter.”

She suddenly acted surprised to see me. “Celeste, didn’t you know? I’m hosting the memorial. Without me, the funeral can’t start.”

I stared at Daniel in disbelief. He had never mentioned this to me.

“Does she need to report everything to you? Someone has to host.”

Seeing his indifferent expression, something inside me finally broke as I spoke to him. “This is my mother’s funeral. I have the right to decide who can stay and I want her to leave.”

My finger trembled with anger as I pointed at Natasha.

People nearby heard my raised voice and turned to look.

“Don’t be childish, Celeste. This is an important ceremony,” Daniel muttered, glancing toward his business partners.

“And your mother treated Natasha like her own daughter. Natasha and I grew up together. It’s completely reasonable for her to host.”

Some relatives nodded in agreement. “He has a point.”

“Celeste, it’s just a host. It won’t affect the service. Don’t delay the time.”

Their words stabbed into me like needles.

“You don’t understand… none of you know anything…”

Before I could continue, Daniel gently cupped my cheek.

His eyes were cold, but his voice sounded warm enough to fool everyone.

“Celeste, we know you’re grieving. After I finish work, I’ll take you on a trip to help you relax. But for now… let’s say goodbye to your mother properly, okay?”

What a perfect husband. Perfect son-in-law. Perfect boss.

If I kept arguing, I would only look unreasonable.

I let out a small laugh as tears fell onto his hand and disgust instantly flashed across his face.

Even at my mother’s funeral, he stared at Natasha with admiration while she gave her speech.

On the way home, because of his “loving husband” image, he finally rode in the same car with me, even with Natasha present.

But the moment we got inside the house, he slapped me hard across the face. My cheek burned.