Chapter 1

When I found out my childhood sweetheart, Chloe, couldn't have children, my husband, Ethan, became convinced it was my fault.

He forced me to have an abortion and then forced me to divorce him.

I thought his revenge would end there. But at his wedding to Chloe, he actually played my intimate video.

"The woman in the video is my ex-wife, Aubrey Stone, and that's why I divorced her!"

Suddenly, I was the scandalous woman everyone shamed and condemned.

After I was beaten and hospitalized, Ethan came to visit me. He offered a perfunctory apology:

"I didn't expect those internet trolls to actually hurt you. I just wanted to help Chloe get some payback. You framed her before, so now we're even."

I looked at him numbly, a cold laugh escaping my lips. How could we ever be even after this?

Ethan, the pain you've inflicted on me is something you can never atone for!

"Aubrey, did you hear what I said?"

My silence completely infuriated Ethan. He instinctively tightened his grip on my arm.

I winced in pain and quickly pushed his hand away.

"Chloe told you I impersonated you, sent her messages to get an abortion, and that's why she can't have kids for life, and you just believed her?"

"And why wouldn't I? You're the only one who knows my phone password, and you're still denying it?" Ethan snapped, his face reddening with anger as he pointed at me. "I'm telling you, this is a lesson. Don't cause trouble again, or I won't stop them from taking this fifth child either."

With that, Ethan turned and walked away.

I watched his retreating back and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Fine then, don't keep it. I don't want to have any more of your children anyway, especially since only the father of my children could inherit the Sterling Medical Dynasty."

No sooner had Ethan left than the hospital room door swung open.

I thought it was the hospital staff, but it turned out to be internet trolls who supported Chloe.

They attacked me again.

This time, I was seriously injured.

I called the police, but nothing came of it.

Because my husband, legally speaking, as my next of kin, settled the case.

When I woke up the next day and learned all this, I screamed hysterically at Ethan, "Why? We're divorced, how dare you make decisions for me?!"

"We might be separated, but legally, I'm still your husband."

Meeting Ethan's indifferent gaze, I felt a lump of frustration stuck in my throat.

It took a while for my breathing to steady. "Fine, even if that's true, why would you settle? They almost killed me, do you know that?!"

"You're exaggerating. They just couldn't stand seeing you bully Chloe. Besides, are you completely blameless?"

It was the same old line.

I knew Ethan cared about Chloe, but I never imagined he'd be so utterly blinded by her.

Tears welled up in my eyes at the thought.

The injustice I felt was beyond words.

Well, good. The decision I hadn't been able to make before was now set in stone.

While Ethan wasn't looking, I sent a message: [Proceed as planned, new successor.]

The reply came quickly: [Not Ethan anymore?]