Chapter 1

"Ethan, if she takes this medicine, she won't live past next month, right?"

"When she's dead, that huge insurance payout will be our baby's formula money."

I stared at the smart fish tank's surveillance feed on my phone, listening to my husband Ethan Carter and his "good friend" Mandy's conversation, my whole body going cold.

He was pouring my anti-cancer targeted therapy medication down the drain, replacing it with cheap vitamin pills.

And I had just received my follow-up report from the hospital—misdiagnosis. I never had cancer at all.

"Summer, how are you feeling today? Did you take your medicine on time?"

Ethan Carter pushed open the bedroom door, holding a glass of warm water in his hand, his face wearing an impeccably gentle smile.

Summer Lynn looked at the white pills in his hand, her stomach churning.

"I feel a bit nauseous. I'll take them later."

Summer Lynn turned her head away, avoiding his outstretched hand.

"That won't do. The doctor said you can't skip this targeted therapy for even a single day."

Ethan Carter sat down on the edge of the bed, his tone carrying an undeniable firmness.

He sighed and reached out to feel Summer Lynn's forehead.

"Summer, I know you're suffering, but these pills cost thirty thousand dollars a bottle."

"I went to three different cities to get them for you. You can't waste my efforts like this."

Summer Lynn looked at those eyes filled with deep affection, but in her mind replayed the surveillance footage from ten minutes ago.

He had poured the thirty-thousand-dollar life-saving medication down the drain without hesitation.

Then replaced it with vitamin pills that cost just a few dollars a bottle.

"What's wrong? Why are you spacing out?"

Ethan Carter pushed the glass of water forward.

"Take them quickly. Be good."

"Ethan Carter, do you really want me to take these?"

Summer Lynn stared into his eyes, her voice hoarse.

Ethan Carter's gaze flickered briefly, but he quickly put on a hurt expression.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I've sold everything I own to pay for your treatment, and now you're doubting me?"

He stood up abruptly, the glass hitting the nightstand heavily.

Water splashed out, wetting the copy of the diagnosis on the table.

"Summer Lynn, why have you become so unreasonable since you got sick?"

"I work myself to death at the company every day, then come home to take care of you. Have some conscience!"

This was his usual trick.

Whenever Summer Lynn showed even the slightest disobedience, he would immediately take the moral high ground.

Using guilt to manipulate her, forcing her to submit.

"I'm just asking. Why are you so worked up?"

Summer Lynn let out a cold laugh, her gaze sweeping over his slightly trembling fingertips.

"How can I not be worked up! Watching you suffer, I'm in more pain than anyone!"

Ethan Carter raised his voice, trying to mask his guilty conscience with anger.

Just then, Ethan Carter's phone rang.

He picked it up and glanced at it, the anger on his face instantly disappearing.

Replaced by a hint of barely perceptible panic.

"Something urgent came up at work. I need to take this call."

He hurriedly turned and walked to the balcony, deliberately sliding the glass door shut.

Summer Lynn didn't move. She simply picked up the tablet from the nightstand.

She opened the smart fish tank's listening function.

The voice from the balcony came through clearly.

"Mandy, what's wrong? Is the baby kicking you?"

Ethan Carter's voice was so gentle it could drip honey.

"Ethan, I'm so scared. The doctor just said my progesterone is a bit low."

Mandy's coquettish voice rang out.

"Can you come keep me company?"

"Don't be scared, don't be scared. I'll be right there."

Ethan Carter lowered his voice, his tone urgent.

"Don't move around, okay? Wait for me."

"But what about Summer..."

"Who cares about her! A woman who's about to die—how can she be more important than our son?"

"I just fed her those vitamins. Once she kicks the bucket, this penthouse will be our wedding home."

Summer Lynn's fingers gripping the tablet turned white at the knuckles.

Her nails dug deep into her palm, drawing blood without her even noticing.

She didn't have cancer.

This afternoon, the hospital had called to say the previous biopsy report had been mixed up.

She only had a common stomach ulcer.

She had wanted to tell Ethan Carter this good news, but instead stumbled upon this premeditated murder.

Ethan Carter pushed open the balcony door and walked in, his face once again wearing that false apologetic expression.

"Summer, there's an urgent problem with a project at work. I need to go deal with it right away."

"Are you going to the office, or to see Mandy?"

Summer Lynn looked at him coldly, not missing any change in his expression.

Ethan Carter froze for a moment, then frowned.

His eyes filled with impatience and disgust.

"What are you imagining now?"

"Mandy is my buddy's widow. What's wrong with me taking care of her?"

"Taking care of her in bed?"

Summer Lynn didn't back down, staring directly into his eyes.

"Summer Lynn! You're being completely unreasonable!"

Ethan Carter pointed at her nose, cursing.

"Have you lost your mind from being sick?"

"I grovel outside every day to pay for your medical bills, and you accuse me of cheating?"

He let out a cold laugh, his eyes full of contempt and malice.

"Look at yourself in the mirror."

"Your hair's all fallen out, you're thin as a skeleton. What would I want with you?"

"Are you useful because you're dying soon!"

These words were like a rusty dull knife, stabbing viciously into Summer Lynn's heart, cutting back and forth.

But she didn't cry. She just calmly looked at the man before her.

Looked at this man she had loved for five years, whom she had given everything to support.

"Take the medicine. I'll try to come back early tonight."

Ethan Carter seemed to think he'd gone too far, so he softened his tone slightly.

But his eyes remained cold, without a trace of warmth.

"What if I don't take it?"

Summer Lynn asked back, her tone carrying a hint of mockery.

"Don't take it?"

Ethan Carter let out a cold laugh and reached out to grab Summer Lynn's chin.

The force was so strong it nearly crushed her jawbone.

"Summer Lynn, I'm warning you, don't be ungrateful."

"Whether you want to or not, you're taking this medicine today!"

He grabbed the vitamin pills and roughly shoved them toward Summer Lynn's mouth.

Summer Lynn struggled desperately and swatted his hand away.

The white pills scattered across the floor, as if mocking this absurd marriage.

Ethan Carter looked at the pills on the ground, his expression turning completely dark.

"Fine. Very good."

"Since you want to die so badly, suffer on your own then."

"Let's see how long you can keep up this attitude!"

He turned and strode toward the door without looking back.

"Ethan Carter, if you walk out that door, don't regret it."

Summer Lynn said to his retreating back, enunciating each word.

Ethan Carter gripped the door handle, turned his head, and his lips curved into a mocking arc.

"Regret? That word doesn't exist in Ethan Carter's dictionary. You'd better worry about whether you'll survive tonight first."