Chapter 1

“I’ve decided. I willingly entered the world’s leading medical research team and joined the confidential project.”

Beatrice Elliott spoke on the phone, her fingers shaking a little because she had finally chosen.

The professor on the other end felt extremely excited, almost thinking he had heard wrong when Beatrice called.

Beatrice’s talent in scientific research was extremely good. Even people who were not part of the research field knew the rumors about her; her husband Hendrix Hawkins was not just the President of the company, but also a famous underground arms dealer businessman.

The intelligence in Hendrix’s hands could, at any moment, lead to the fall of a small regime, yet he was willing to weaken for his wife, Beatrice, carrying the title of “spoiling his wife as if she were his whole world”... but now Beatrice actually wanted to leave her family and join their private project team for at least twenty years?

“Beatrice, do you want to think about it once more? After you join, there will be no way to contact your family again. What about your husband?” The professor valued talent, yet he still could not stop himself from reminding her.

“I already thought it through. As for family, I will get divorced.” Beatrice spoke the words she had kept buried in her heart and instantly felt relieved.

Beatrice and Hendrix had been married for eight years.

But three years earlier, the issue of the Elliott family’s “real and fake daughter” became trending news.

Beatrice fell from being the real daughter to becoming the fake one. Meanwhile, the real daughter, Liora Elliott, was sent by her parents to the Hawkins family with Hendrix’s silent approval.

Everyone told Beatrice that she was the one who stole Liora’s life, and even stole Hendrix, the husband who should have belonged to Liora from the beginning.

After that, Beatrice often received photos from Liora.

Hendrix said he was going overseas for business, but he was actually celebrating Liora’s birthday; after Liora got drunk, Hendrix helped her change clothes, and the two were completely open with each other. Even on the day Beatrice miscarried, Hendrix left her behind and chose to stay by Liora’s side after she was admitted to the same hospital because of a cut on her finger.

“I will arrange for a specialist to handle the divorce procedures for you.” After hearing such a firm answer from Beatrice, the professor sighed heavily.

“Sorry for troubling you. The sooner, the better.” Beatrice bitterly smiled. The movement pulled at her wound, making her quietly support herself.

A week ago, the night before Beatrice and Hendrix’s wedding anniversary, information about an international arms order was suddenly leaked, bringing huge losses to their partner. The other side demanded that Hendrix explain the matter and send the culprit to receive punishment.

Hendrix later found out that Liora had accidentally leaked the information after casually forwarding confidential files without understanding the industry’s rules.

However, because Hendrix wanted to protect Liora, he placed the blame for the leak on Beatrice while facing pressure from the other party.

As a result, on what should have been her wedding anniversary celebration, Beatrice was taken away by strangers for punishment and questioning.

On the first day, she was drained of 1000cc of blood by the opposing side, and she fell into a coma afterward.

On the second day, she was forced onto the training field as a living target. Those people did not shoot her, but every gunshot was meant to frighten and torture her.

On the third day, her clothes were ripped apart, and humiliating photos were taken from different angles for people to view and enjoy on special platforms.

When she was finally freed and returned home in a miserable state, she saw Liora lying on Hendrix’s lap, and even her room had become Liora’s private bedroom.

Hendrix told her, “Beatrice, the intelligence leak happened because of Liora’s mistake. But if you both had not been switched when you were young, she should have been strong and independent like you, and she would not have made such a foolish mistake.”

“If the other side punishes Liora, her weak condition would not allow her to survive it. We can only ask you to suffer the punishment in her place.”

At that moment, Beatrice finally saw the truth clearly: Hendrix did not love her at all. Liora was the one he truly cared about.

This marriage was originally a family alliance between the Elliott and the Hawkin families. Since everyone believed she had taken Liora’s place and marriage, she decided to return everything to Liora and complete their love story.

As she thought about it, Beatrice’s eyes slowly reddened.

The professor was still talking on the phone. “The divorce becomes official after seven days, but you still need your previous research data to prove your skills before joining the team. Don’t forget to bring it!”

When Beatrice and Hendrix were newly married, they had made an agreement that the laboratory containing the research samples needed both their fingerprints and passwords to unlock.

Beatrice replied without hesitation, “Don’t worry, I will personally take back my research work!”

——

After ending the call, Beatrice got up and started arranging her luggage.

The house was huge. Ironically, there were only a few things that belonged to her.

Long before Liora came into this home, Beatrice and Hendrix, both workaholics, stayed at the company most of the time.

Until Liora arrived, Beatrice felt the company was cold and lifeless and should not be treated as a home.

Hendrix quickly bought this luxurious mansion and moved into it.

Liora wanted to set up a flower display wall, so Hendrix removed the file storage shelf that Beatrice had originally placed there.

Liora wanted an old-style crystal chandelier, so Hendrix paid no attention to Beatrice’s work needs and changed the soft lights inside the house.

Liora could not find a couch that satisfied her, so the couch Beatrice had used since childhood was quietly claimed instead, leaving her unable to get used to it and making her suffer from insomnia every night…

When Beatrice went to question Hendrix, he placed an arm around her shoulders and sighed.

“Beatrice, if you hadn’t stolen the life that should have belonged to Liora, how could she have gone through so much pain?”

“This is only a little compensation for everything she lost.”

“You’ve always been kind. You can understand, can’t you?”

As Beatrice thought about those memories, she smiled at herself mockingly, and her hands moved more quickly.

After she was sent to the partner’s house, Liora cleared out all of Beatrice’s things and took over her bedroom. At that moment, it helped her a lot.

Only after Beatrice had sorted out most of the items and still had no time to rest, did she hear footsteps from the doorway.

Hendrix came back with Liora.

After Liora leaked confidential company information, Hendrix not only refused to blame her but even officially brought her into the company to learn.

Because Beatrice took the blame for Liora’s leak, her original position was removed, and today, her work was officially handed over to Liora.

The moment Liora saw her, panic flashed across her face.

“Sorry, Sister. I took your position at the company. You’re not angry, right?”

Hendrix gently tapped her nose and comforted her lovingly.

“If you hadn’t been switched by mistake, this position should have been yours from the beginning, according to the family arrangement. How can this be called stealing? Beatrice, don’t you agree?”

He shot her a look, signaling for Beatrice to follow his words and continue.

Beatrice smiled. “If everyone found out that the person sitting in that position was the one who truly leaked the company’s confidential information, what do you think would happen to you?”

Liora’s face froze, slowly turning pale as she looked at Hendrix with lingering fear.

The smile on Hendrix’s face disappeared, replaced by clear anger.

“Beatrice, stop scaring her! That matter is already over. There’s no need to bring up the past again! As long as I’m here, no one will hurt her!”

Yes, Liora would never be harmed because Beatrice had already taken the blame for her.

Beatrice did not speak about it anymore. After a long silence, she turned to look at Hendrix.

She tried to think of a reason. Her hand clenched tightly at her side as nervousness filled her heart.

“There’s a batch of old data in our laboratory with some issues. When do you have time to come to the lab with me?”

Once she got there, she intended to take the data with her.

Hendrix paused briefly before saying, “Tomorrow.”

In the next moment, Liora sat on his lap while he gently massaged her calf.

Hearing that, she pulled lightly on his sleeve, her voice carrying a trace of grievance.

“But you promised to take me for a full-body examination tomorrow. That medical expert is especially difficult to arrange...”

Beatrice’s eyes darkened.

It had originally been her scheduled appointment with the doctor. However, after she accepted punishment for Liora and hurt her body, she was not suitable for a medical examination for now. Because of that, Hendrix gave her examination appointment to Liora.

Hendrix called her Liora’s “good sister” and said he wanted Liora to be healthy and safe, but he forgot who had given her those injuries.

“Don’t tell me little sister can’t even attend a physical examination alone? Does she still need Hendrix to take you there?”

Beatrice coldly smiled. She did not want to delay any longer and wanted to retrieve the research data from the laboratory as soon as possible.

Hendrix frowned and scolded her.

“So what if Liora is quiet and needs me beside her? If you had suffered like her while growing up, instead of living as the Elliott family’s oldest daughter, maybe you would be even more fearful than her!”

“Liora, I’ll still stay with you tomorrow!”

Liora nodded with a happy smile. The way she looked at Beatrice showed a bit of pride along with sympathy.

“Then the following day.”

Beatrice went past Liora, though her heart felt slightly bitter.

Back then, when she stayed in the hospital and felt afraid, she wanted Hendrix to stay with her, yet Hendrix always refused because of his work.

He could pay people to watch over her in the hospital and arrange caretakers for her. The people staying beside her were even more than the doctors and nurses, but he never came to stay with her himself.

But if it were the weak Liora, he could push aside all his work.

Hendrix agreed and said he would go with Beatrice to the laboratory the day after tomorrow.

Only after that did Beatrice head back to her room.

There were still six days left before the divorce became official. As long as she got the data in those six days, she could leave.