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When I was using an adult toy at home, my husband who had a s3xual dis0rder happened to spot me. Chapter 1 Alvina Jones stood outside the study, listening to the muffled gr0ans of pain coming from inside, where her husband, Eden Gray, was undergoing another therapy session. A long while later, the study door finally opened. Eden stepped out, his face flushed. Only then did Alvina relax her clenched fists, her fingernails having nearly dug into her palms. She walked over calmly. "Finished with the session?" "Mmm." Eden gently stroked her long hair. "How did it go?" "The same as always. Every time Dr. Warren guides me through the trauma, it brings back the fear. The process is painful, but once it's over, I feel completely relieved." He truly looked as though a tremendous weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "You heard Eden gr0aning, Alvina. You must be worried sick." Wendy Warren stepped out behind him with a warm smile. Her luminous eyes seemed to ripple with warmth, carrying an effortless allure. Alvina returned the smile. "Not at all. You're one of the most respected psychologists in the field, Dr. Warren. Knowing my husband is in such dedicated hands puts my mind at ease." "That's because Eden has been such a cooperative patient. That's why the treatment has gone so smoothly." Wendy cast the man a meaningful glance, and Eden quickly looked away, guilt flickering across his face. "I worked up quite a sweat. I'm going to take a shower." "I'll go check on Lily." Only after watching the two of them disappear in the same direction did the warmth leave Alvina's eyes. She turned and walked into the study. She headed straight into the adjoining lounge, her gaze settling on the trash can tucked in the corner. She turned it upside down. Am0ng the pile of crumpled tissues, a used c0nd0m fell into view. The unmistakable evidence of betrayal stared back at her, and Alvina let out a self-mocking laugh. She laughed until her eyes turned red. An affair itself wasn't the cruelest part. The real irony was that the man who couldn't sleep with his own wife had no trouble sleeping with another woman. Three years earlier, they had gotten married on Fin Island. On their wedding night, Eden complained that the hotel lacked atmosphere and insisted on driving to a secluded mountain lodge instead. Halfway there, he wanted to have s3x in the car. Alvina refused. Annoyed by her rejection, Eden recklessly sped off in anger. The car lost control on the mountain road, and the violent crash left him with a serious lower back injury. They were lucky to survive, but from that day on, Eden suffered from erectile dysfunction. Whenever he was with Alvina, he no longer felt any desire. Even her getting close to him filled him with fear. The terrifying memories of that night always came rushing back. He could no longer function as a normal man. Alvina stayed by his side through months of treatment. In the end, the doctors concluded that his erectile dysfunction wasn't caused by the physical injury, but by psychological trauma. It turned out to be a form of post-traumatic stress dis0rder. From then on, Wendy became Eden's personal psychologist. Wendy was a divorced single mother. Since his two-hour therapy sessions made daily travel inconvenient, Eden invited her and her daughter to move into their home six months earlier. At first, Alvina hadn't thought much of it. That changed three nights ago. She had gone downstairs for a glass of water and accidentally overheard their conversation. "Eden, you can't help making noise every time. Aren't you worried Alvina will hear and start wondering?" The handsome man lounging on the sofa answered casually, "Alvina's still a v1rgin. She has no experience, so she doesn't understand those kinds of things. She won't think anything of it." "But you're fine now. Don't you want to... try with her?" As Wendy spoke, her hand had already wandered onto him. Eden closed his eyes. "I've tried. It doesn't work with her..." "But it works with me?" Wendy nipped at his earlobe like a teasing cat. “When you tease me like that, who could possibly resist? Not even a saint would stand a chance...” The two of them melted into each other's embrace. Alvina stood at the staircase and felt the blood drain from her body as an icy chill spread through every inch of her. Her temples throbbed violently, and it felt as though something was crushing her skull from the inside. Only then did she finally understand that those muffled gr0ans had never come from reliving painful memories. They were sounds of pleasure brought on by his beautiful psychologist. The next day, she found a used c0nd0m in the trash. Today, she found a third. The husband who hadn't been able to sleep with his own wife in three years went through three c0nd0ms with another woman in just three days. That third c0nd0m became the final straw. She dropped the revolting piece of evidence back into the trash, then walked out of the study with numb indifference. She sat quietly on the living room sofa. A few moments later, Eden came downstairs in a fresh change of clothes, looking refreshed and energized. "I need to talk to you about something." "I have something to tell you." As soon as he reached her, they spoke at the exact same time. Alvina was taken aback for a moment before curling her lips into a faint smile. "You first." "I want you to start picking Lily up from school and taking her there every day. You're home all day with nothing to do anyway, while Dr. Warren's schedule is packed. You can help lighten her load." The mistress stole her husband, and now she was expected to chauffeur the mistress' daughter? "Why should I?" Alvina asked coldly. Eden frowned, clearly displeased by her reaction, but he still forced himself to remain patient. "Alvina, you need to be more understanding. It’s easy for you to stay home and play the pampered wife, but do you have any idea how hard I have to fight in the business world? "My position as CEO of Evercrest Group isn't as secure as you think. “The company’s performance has been mediocre all year, the stock price has barely moved, and the vice president has teamed up with several board members to challenge my position at the next shareholders’ meeting. “I need a major breakthrough to steady the company. Dr. Warren happens to know the mysterious investment legend known as AJ. If she's willing to introduce us, I'll have this in the bag. “So, you want my help to win Dr. Warren over?" Eden glanced at her indifferently. His expression was calm, but the contempt in his eyes was impossible to miss. "You don't exactly bring anything else to the table. This is the easiest thing you can possibly do. If I asked you to introduce me to AJ, do you really think you'd be capable of it?" Alvina looked at him without saying a word. She didn't need the ability to get him an introduction to AJ because she was AJ. Alvina majored in finance in college, but after graduation she never entered the finance industry. Everyone assumed she coasted through four years of university and accomplished nothing, never realizing she possessed an extraordinary gift for investing. However, talent wasn't the same as passion. Finance was the major her family chose for her. Perfumery was what she truly loved. She even opened a small fragrance studio, spending every day surrounded by rare essences and botanical extracts, all in pursuit of her dream of creating a perfume brand that carried her own name. One that would stand alongside names like Di0r and Cha-nel. The reason she became the legendary investor known as AJ was simple. She watched her husband struggle to build his career and quietly amassed her own wealth behind the scenes, hoping that if his business ever faced a crisis, she would be the one strong enough to support him. It wasn't as though she had never sacrificed for this family. She simply hadn't expected betrayal to arrive faster than her devotion. What made it even more absurd was Wendy's shameless claim that she knew the legendary investor, AJ. "Eden, do you really think so little of me?" Alvina let out a mocking laugh. Eden forced a smile. "That's not what I meant. It's just that I've been in treatment for three years. People say that once basic needs are met, the mind starts wandering. I don't want you sitting at home with nothing to do, overthinking things." "Overthinking what?" As they spoke, Wendy walked over with a smile. Eden immediately stood up. "I was just talking to Alvina. From now on, she'll be taking Lily to and from preschool for you." Wendy put on a surprised expression. "Oh, that doesn't seem right. I couldn't possibly trouble Alvina. It's fine. I'll have the nanny do it instead." "Just listen to me. Alvina is far more attentive than the nanny." "But Alvina..." "She's already agreed." Alvina dug her nails into her palm. She stood up and rejected him without hesitation. "No, I didn't. And I never will." At that moment, she made up her mind. She would no longer give Eden an amicable divorce. She originally planned to part with him peacefully. Now, she changed her mind. People who betrayed genuine love didn't deserve a happy ending. Eden's expression darkened. Alvina became unusually defiant today. She was nothing like the considerate, accommodating wife she had always been. Just as the atmosphere grew unbearably tense— "Pew! Pew! Pew! I have a gun! Everybody surrender!" Five-year-old Lily Warren came running over, gleefully waving a pink object in her hand as she pretended to fire at everyone. The instant Wendy recognized what her daughter was holding, her expression changed. "Where did you get that?" No matter how inexperienced Alvina was, she immediately recognized what it was from its shape. Lily suddenly pointed at her. "I found it in Alvina's bedroom." Eden froze in shock, a flicker of anger rising in his eyes. Had his own words come true? Had his wife become so sexually frustrated that she resorted to buying something like that? As a man, it was a humiliation he couldn't bear. He snat-ched the s3x toy from Lily’s hand and demanded, humiliation twisting into anger, “Alvina, are you really that desperate?” Chapter 2 Alvina nearly laughed from sheer disbelief. She noticed long ago that Wendy’s daughter was not as innocent as other children her age. Lily knew exactly how to please Eden, while treating Alvina in a completely different way. Before Alvina discovered the affair, she never thought too deeply about it. Now, it seemed every one of the child’s actions was instigated by her mother. Wendy used a five-year-old child to frame her for using a s3x toy. If she had gone so far as to coach her own daughter like this, she must have had a purpose. As for what that purpose was, Alvina still did not know. Her cold gaze fell on the child who lied without hesitation, and she asked sharply, “Lily, are you sure you found this in my room?” “Yes. Under your pillow.” Lily lied without even blinking. “That doesn’t belong to me. As for where it came from, I’m afraid you’ll have to ask Dr. Warren.” Alvina’s piercing gaze shifted to Wendy. Wendy quickly pulled her daughter behind her. “Children don’t lie. Alvina, why deny it? We all know about Eden’s condition. It’s perfectly normal for you to have needs.” “Are you telling me I have needs, but you don’t, Dr. Warren? My husband can’t perform, and you’re single. How exactly did you decide it was mine?” “I don’t need that...” Wendy’s lashes flickered. “Why don’t you need it, Dr. Warren? Has someone already been keeping you satisfied?” Alvina pressed. Eden finally lost his patience, or perhaps his guilt had gotten the better of him. “Enough. We’re talking about you. Why are you dragging Dr. Warren into this?” Cold anger flashed in his eyes. “You’re only thinking about things like that because you have too much time on your hands. Dr. Warren is focused on her profession. She isn’t like you.” With that, he took Lily by the hand. The three of them disappeared from Alvina’s sight, almost like a real family. Her vision gradually blurred, and for a moment, Alvina seemed to return to the day she first met Eden. It was in a noisy cafeteria, surrounded by students coming and going. He stood in the crowd talking to his classmates, one hand tucked casually into his trouser pocket, his white shirt freshly washed and clean, revealing the sharp line of his collarbone. Sometimes he looked serious; sometimes he smiled. Yet somehow, in that noisy, ordinary cafeteria, he seemed untouched by the chaos around him, impossible to look away from. Alvina fell for him at first sight. Back then, Eden was the boy every girl chased after, distant and untouchable. But in the end, she was the one to win him. They shared a sweet, beautiful time together. She spent six years loving him from their school days to their wedding day, only for him to become a stranger the moment he turned away. She closed her warm, stinging eyes and lowered her gaze with a bleak smile. It was only human to love the wrong person when one was young. There was nothing to regret. Back then, she fell for his looks. Now, she would accept the consequences. … Night fell. After her shower, Alvina stood in front of the bathroom vanity, drying her hair. A tall figure walked in and took the hair dryer from her hand. Alvina looked at the man in the mirror. His movements were still as gentle as ever, but that face no longer resembled the boy she once loved so deeply in her memories. Eden dried her hair, then leaned down against the curve of her neck, his arms circling her waist. The two of them looked at each other through the mirror. “I’m sorry. I was too harsh today. Dr. Warren was right. If you have needs, it’s better to deal with them at home than go looking for someone else.” Alvina found it laughable. But she no longer cared to explain. “But I was still surprised, Alvina. I never thought you’d use something like that…” Eden’s handsome face was filled with confusion, embarrassment, and frustration. “Weren’t you raised as a proper young lady from a respectable family? Your grandfather always taught you to be modest and conservative. Have you forgotten all that?” Back then, it was precisely because of her strict family upbringing that the two of them had never crossed the line before marriage. Alvina curled her lips. He was not wrong about that. The world had moved on long ago, yet her grandfather was still clinging to rules from another century. Even if he found out his granddaughter was cheated on, he would likely only tell her to swallow the humiliation in silence. She was allowed to leave her husband’s home only in death. Her grandfather absolutely could not entertain the disgraceful idea of divorce. If she wanted to cut ties with this scvmbag, she could not cause a scene before the relationship was completely over. Otherwise, every step ahead would be blocked. She quietly hid her emotions behind her eyes and smiled faintly. “Eden, people change. Just like how you once loved me, yet now you can disregard me completely for the sake of an outsider.” Eden’s chest tightened, and he reached out to pull her into his arms. “My feelings for you have never changed. I just don’t like it when you defy me. I like you obedient and compliant.” He gently stroked the back of her head. “Dr. Warren has been putting a lot of care into my treatment. Tonight… let’s give it a try.” … After Eden came out of the shower, Alvina was lying in bed with only her cold back turned toward him. He lifted the covers and climbed into bed, moving closer to her. The moment his hand touched her waist, Alvina removed it. “I’m not in the mood tonight.” The man behind her visibly stiffened. For a moment, silence filled the room, and the air seemed to freeze. Then his accusing voice fell into Alvina’s ears. “This is exactly why my condition has never gotten better.” Alvina froze for a second before sitting up. “What does that have to do with me?” “Other women know how to be charming. They know how to please a man until he can’t resist them even if he tries. But you’ve never put in any effort to serve me. You lie in bed like a corpse.” Eden said those shameless words with complete self-righteousness. Alvina’s nails dug into her palm. Her heart felt as though an invisible hand had seized it tight. Every beat was like a dull blade cutting into her. “Who are these other women?” Alvina suddenly asked with a smile. Her unusual reaction inexplicably made Eden uneasy. He looked away and pulled the blanket up out of guilt. “Go to sleep.” The room sank into darkness. A long time later, Eden’s phone vibrated several times beside his pillow. He reached for it in the dark but did not check it right away. Instead, he first shone the screen toward Alvina’s face. After making sure she was asleep, he unlocked the phone. One photo after another filled the screen, each showing Wendy in revealing lingerie from different angles and poses. Eden’s breathing gradually grew heavier. And his wife, whom he believed was asleep, saw everything. Alvina saw exactly how seductive Wendy became once she took off her professional suit. Eden lifted the covers and quietly got out of bed. He barely took two steps when Alvina’s questioning voice rang through the room. “Where are you going?” The motion-sensor light came on. Eden hid the flicker of panic in his eyes and pretended to stay calm. “I just had a nightmare. I feel awful, so I’m going to ask Dr. Warren to help me work through it.” Alvina no longer cared to expose him. The humiliation this marriage brought her would be repaid in her own way. “I just remembered that I want to buy two storefronts. I need your signature on these.” Alvina took two agreements from the drawer and handed them to Eden. Eden looked suspicious. He flipped through one at random and saw that it was indeed a property contract. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow. It’s late. There’s no rush.” “You have to go to the office early tomorrow morning. I’m afraid you’ll forget.” The phone in Eden’s hand started vibrating again. Clearly distracted, he took the pen Alvina handed him and quickly signed his name. After his figure disappeared through the doorway, Alvina pulled out one of the divorce agreements, and a mocking smile slowly spread across her lips. She was not in a hurry. But he was. Eden had always been meticulous and cautious in business, but even that could not save him once lust took over and reduced him to a useless man who thought only with his lower half. After putting both agreements away, Alvina calmly opened her phone and connected to the surveillance camera in the study. Eden would never have imagined that she would tamper with his study like this. Just as she never imagined he would get involved with his own psychologist. She wanted to see for herself how Wendy, that respected psychologist, used her so-called expertise to restore a man with erectile dysfunction to his former glory. Chapter 3 Through the surveillance feed, Alvina watched Eden and Wendy enter the study one after the other. They had just screwed each other at noon, and by night, they were already desperate for more… What an addiction. Wendy was wearing a trench coat. At first glance, nothing seemed wrong. But once she stood in front of Eden and removed the coat, everything beneath was laid bare. The two stood together as Wendy took a long silk ribbon and covered Eden’s eyes with it. But what happened next left Alvina stunned. Eden picked up a bottle of perfume and sprayed it over Wendy. Alvina knew that perfume better than anyone. It was the perfume she made herself, the one she usually wore. She had a habit of making several bottles of the same scent and keeping them around the house as backups. She never expected Eden to take that bottle and spray it on Wendy. What was he trying to do? Their conversation soon gave her the answer. Wendy hooked one arm around Eden’s neck while her other hand slid across his chest. “If we keep doing this, what happens if Alvina finds out?” The man looked utterly fearless. “So, what if she does? I’m not cheating. I’m undergoing treatment.” Eden pinched Wendy’s chin. “I’m blindfolded, breathing in her scent, and imagining you as her. Everything I’m doing is to recover as soon as possible. She’s the one who failed as a wife. She can’t satisfy me, so I have no choice but to let you take her place.” “That may be true, but women can be petty. Even if you’re only letting me use my hands, I’m afraid she still wouldn’t be able to accept it if she found out…” “She’ll understand. And even if she doesn’t, I’ll just coax her a little.” His careless tone was filled with complete confidence. “You have no idea how much she loves me. Do you know why she won against all those other women back then? Because when the others were rejected, they gave up. “But her? No matter how many times I turned her down, she always came crawling back. “If you spent two years begging for someone before finally getting them, would you be willing to let go so easily? She’ll never leave me in this lifetime. She’s hopelessly in love with me.” Only at that moment did Alvina finally understand. The courage she once poured into loving him was nothing more than pathetic devotion in Eden’s eyes. The relationship she treasured so deeply became a trophy he flaunted in front of another woman. Alvina began to laugh, her eyes bright with tears, both ridiculous and pitiful. She sat there for a long time, motionless, her entire body stiff and cold. Whatever the two of them said after that, she could no longer hear a word. Her stomach churned violently. When she saw Wendy kne-el in front of Eden, as if she were a dog, Alvina could not take it anymore. She rushed into the bathroom and threw up. … It was a long, cold night, longer than the past six years had ever felt. In the morning, Alvina came downstairs and found Eden and Wendy sitting in the dining room, eating breakfast. The two of them were chatting and laughing. Perhaps because they enjoyed themselves so thoroughly the night before, both of them looked rather refreshed. Alvina had no appetite. She threw up badly the night before, and now, just seeing them again made nausea rise in her stomach. When Eden saw that she had no intention of coming over for breakfast, he frowned. “You’re not eating?” “No.” “Where are you going?” “To work.” The image of that little toy from yesterday suddenly flashed through Eden’s mind. His expression darkened. “Shut down that studio of yours. If you want to play around with perfumes, you can do it at home. There’s no need to go out and make yourself so visible.” In Eden’s eyes, Alvina’s so-called dream was nothing but a waste of time. He never took it seriously. Alvina’s gaze turned icy, sharp as a frost-covered blade. “That is my work, not a game.” “Do you even need to work? Am I unable to support you?” “Then why don’t you tell Dr. Warren to shut down her own practice and focus solely on being your personal psychologist? It’s not as if you can’t afford to hire her.” Eden frowned, then a mocking curve tugged at the corner of his lips. “You’re comparing yourself to Dr. Warren? She’s a respected psychologist in her field. She has won countless awards. Her name alone commands admiration at any academic conference.” That admiring tone quickly turned dismissive. “And what do you have? Your shabby little studio barely gets two or three clients a month. If you weren’t as-sociated with me, who would even know your name?” Wendy had been watching from the sidelines. At that moment, she finally stepped in, pretending to speak up for Alvina. She sounded as though she was defending Alvina, but the gloating in her eyes was impossible to hide. “Eden, how can you discourage Alvina like that? She may not have made a name for herself yet, but maybe her chance just hasn’t come.” Eden let out a soft scoff. “With those obscure, second-rate perfumes she makes? She thinks she’s going to make a name for herself? Something only has value when people are willing to pay for it. If no one wants it, then she’s just playing around.” Alvina stared at Eden’s face and suddenly found him terribly unfamiliar. Perhaps he had not changed. Perhaps she finally stopped looking at him through a filter. When a person was in love, even flaws could seem like virtues. But once the illusion began to fall away, the people around them finally revealed what they truly were. A mocking curve lifted Alvina’s lips. She did not bother criticizing Eden for belittling her. What was the point of arguing? Making him choke on his own words would be the strongest counterattack. “As long as I’m enjoying myself, no one has the right to interfere.” Alvina paused, then added, “Besides, they say a man who wrongs his wife invites ruin into his own life. Eden, I’d advise you to be more careful with your words.” After leaving those calm words behind, she turned and walked away without looking back. Eden watched her figure gradually disappear, an indescribable frustration tightening in his chest. Back then, Alvina was the one who pursued him first. Over the years, he grew used to her obedience, tolerance, and compromise. But over the past two days, she became like a wild horse breaking free of its reins, slipping further and further out of his control. Eden did not like that feeling. He could not figure out why Alvina’s temperament changed so suddenly. The image of that little s3x toy flashed through his mind again. Could she have someone else outside? With a dark expression, he walked out of the dining room and called his assistant. “Arrange for two men to keep a close watch on my wife at all times. No man is allowed to come into contact with her. If any strange man en-ters her studio, stop him immediately.” “Yes, Mr. Gray.” After he hung up, the worry on Eden’s face did not fade. His eyes were filled with a fierce possessiveness. “Alvina, I will never allow anyone to touch you, and I will never allow anyone to take you away from me.” Over the next few days, perhaps because they were both busy with work, Alvina and Eden rarely saw each other. So, when they finally met again, he quickly noticed that the perfume on her had changed. Eden came back from a business dinner that night after having a few drinks. The moment he entered the bedroom, he saw Alvina standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in a seductive silk nightgown. Moonlight spilled over her, outlining the faint, graceful curves of her body. Her collarbones, shoulders, and the dip of her waist looked as if they had been carved with painstaking care. Eden’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He walked straight toward her. Just then, a breeze brushed past, carrying an unfamiliar scent toward him. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. “You changed your perfume?” “Mmm.” “Can we… try tonight?” Desire stirred restlessly inside him. At that moment, he truly wanted her. Perhaps it was the alc0h0l, or maybe she was simply too captivating. Either way, he wanted her. Alvina slowly rose onto her toes and breathed softly against his ear. “Sorry. My period started.” It was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head. Eden immediately lost interest. After saying that, Alvina went into the bathroom. By the time she came out again, Eden was already gone. Her gaze swept toward a certain spot, and a cold, calculating glint rose in her eyes. Then she picked up her phone and opened the surveillance feed. When she saw Wendy enter the study, a mocking smile spread across her lips. The show was about to begin. Chapter 4 The process was exactly the same as the day before. After Alvina confirmed that Eden had sprayed the perfume on Wendy, she turned off her phone. The nausea from yesterday was too awful. She had no desire to go through it again. … Inside the study. Wendy was in the middle of giving Eden her so-called dedicated treatment. Suddenly, an itch spread over her body, and she could not help scratching. It felt as though unknown insects had crawled all over her. The itching grew stronger and stronger. She could not stop scratching herself. “Eden, I’m so itchy…” The man teased, “You’re that desperate for me?” Wendy stood up and scratched hard at her chest. “No, my body is itching. I’m going to die from it.” The study lights were off. Only a dim candle lamp was lit, casting a faint glow that created a suggestive atmosphere. It was exactly the kind of mood Eden liked. Eden removed the long silk ribbon from his eyes and turned on the main light. Both of them were immediately startled. “Eden, what… what is happening?” Wendy’s delicate, snow-white skin was covered in red, rash-like spots, packed so densely that, at a glance, it looked as though countless red ants were eating away at her skin. It was a horrifying sight. “Did you eat something you’re a11ergic to?” Eden asked in alarm. “No. I didn’t eat anything!” Wendy thought carefully, then seemed to realize something. Her gaze shifted toward the bottle of perfume on the table. “Could there be something wrong with that new perfume? Eden, just think about it. What decent thing could Alvina possibly make? That cheap perfume of hers must have caused my allergic reaction!” Wendy was almost losing her mind from the itching, scratching herself all over without stopping. The rash continued spreading from her chest to her neck, then all the way up to her face. She looked like she had been struck by some horrible disease. “Come on. I’ll take you to the hospital first.” Eden did not comment on Alvina’s cheap perfume. In a panic, he rushed Wendy to the hospital. … Alvina slept extremely well that night. Once her sleep improved, her appetite did as well. At breakfast the next morning, she even ate more than usual. Just as Alvina had expected, neither Eden nor Wendy came downstairs for breakfast. It was not until Alvina finished eating and was about to leave for her studio that Wendy finally came downstairs, trying to hide her face. Even though she deliberately avoided Alvina’s gaze, Alvina still saw the red rash covering her face clearly. She pretended to be concerned. “Oh my, Dr. Warren. What happened to your face?” Wendy stiffly tugged at the corner of her lips. “I…” “I gave Dr. Warren a bottle of the perfume you made last night. Alvina, I was just about to ask you. What exactly did you put in that perfume? How did it make Dr. Warren this a11ergic?” Before Wendy could speak, Eden came downstairs and answered for her. If he had had any other choice, Eden would naturally not have wanted Alvina to know that he had used her perfume on Wendy. But when they went to the hospital the night before, the doctor clearly said they needed to know the formula before they could treat the allergy properly. Otherwise, they could only temporarily relieve the symptoms and would not eliminate the cause. With the blade already at his throat, he had no choice but to ask. Alvina tried her best to suppress the urge to laugh. She put on a confused expression of surprise. “Eden, did I hear that right? Didn’t you look down on my studio? Didn’t you say my perfumes were obscure and second-rate? “Yet you gave something you despised so much to Dr. Warren, an award-winning psychologist whose name supposedly commanded admiration at every academic conference? “Eden, aren’t you humiliating Dr. Warren?” Eden was left speechless by her words. It felt as though he was slapped hard across the face, the sting burning fiercely. Wendy dug her nails into her palm. At that moment, she had no choice but to step forward and smooth things over. “Alvina, I smelled the perfume on you yesterday and thought it was lovely, so I asked Eden to get me a bottle. I probably happened to be a11ergic to one of the ingredients, so I ended up… like this.” “So that’s what happened…” Alvina pretended to understand and stepped forward to examine her a11ergic reaction. “Oh dear, it really is quite serious. It seems your constitution is rather special, Dr. Warren. You should be more careful in the future. It’s better not to touch things so casually. As for the formula… “All right. I’ll send it to your phone in a moment. Take it to the doctor and have him check which ingredient caused the reaction.” “Okay. Thank you.” Alvina patted her shoulder. “I should be the one thanking you. Thank you for recognizing my perfume, Dr. Warren. Someone of your status doesn’t even use designer perfume, yet you’ve taken such a liking to my niche fragrance. “It seems that, just as you said, I really am about to make a name for myself.” With that, she glanced at the embarrassed man beside them. “Right, honey?” Under their humiliated gazes, Alvina walked out of the house with light, cheerful steps. Wendy stood there, her expression dark. She complained, “Eden, next time, are you still going to spray that unregulated junk of hers all over me?” Eden ignored her, his expression thoughtful. A faint suspicion stirred in his heart. He thought back to what was said at the dining table that day, then compared it with Alvina’s sarcastic tone today. Could all of this really be a coincidence? It seemed far too coincidental. Could Alvina have discovered something? Impossible. If she had truly discovered anything, she never would have stayed this quiet. She loved him too much not to be jealous and cause a scene. He had to be overthinking it. In his daze, the phone in his hand suddenly rang. Eden glanced at the number and answered. “Mr. Gray, bad news. Evercrest Group’s stock crashed at market open this morning!” … During the brief fifteen-minute opening call auction, Alvina used several accounts linked to her name to place massive sel1 0rders on Evercrest Group, far exceeding the normal trading volume. When retail investors saw the huge sel1ing pressure, they mistakenly believed the company suffered a major setback and rushed to sel1. The buy 0rders were instantly swallowed up, and the stock price plunged in a straight line. As long as Alvina kept those sel1 orders in place, the stock would stay pinned at its lower limit, and no one would be able to push it back up. A man who wronged his wife would never prosper. Since Eden refused to understand that truth, she would teach him a proper lesson. After that, Alvina arrived at her studio in a very good mood. Her studio sat on a historic riverside street, inside a two-story gray-brick building draped in star jasmine vines. A brass plaque hung by the entrance, engraved with the words—Alvina Atelier. The space inside was not large. The first floor was her private perfumery lab, while the second floor served as her fragrance storage room. After changing into a linen apron and loosely tying her long hair at the back of her head, she began working in front of the copper still, extracting the essential oils and hydrosols separated from cooled flower petals. One month later, she would be taking part in an international perfumery competition called The Scented Trail. The organizer was Aurelle, a leading domestic luxury group. Its business empire covered perfume, fashion, jewelry, and leather goods, with fragrance making up the largest part of its portfolio. Alvina took this competition very seriously. If she won, she would gain not only the chance to collaborate with Aurelle, but also a certain level of recognition. She would no longer be the Alvina whom no one knew unless she stood beside Eden. Although the exposure of her hidden identity as the legendary investor AJ would be enough to make her famous overnight, she did not want to receive flowers and applause through that identity. She entered finance for Eden. That was not glory; it was humiliation. She also hated those cold numbers. They could drive people mad and destroy entire families. She wanted to shine within her own dream. Over the past two days, dealing with that shameless pair had already delayed her progress. Next, she had to devote herself completely to the competition. One month from now, she would burn away the past and rise again. It would also be the beginning of her new life. … That evening, Alvina returned home from the studio. The moment she stepped through the door, Lily came skipping over with a drawing in her hands. The little girl looked up at her with an innocent smile. If Alvina had not already known what kind of child she was, she really might have been fooled. “Alvina, I just drew a chicken. Do you think it looks like one?” Alvina lowered her gaze and looked at it. The drawing showed a plump old hen crouched in an empty nest, its eyes dull and lifeless. It seemed to be hinting at something, but before Alvina could speak, Lily giggled and said, “This old hen doesn’t lay eggs. It just takes up the nest, so it’s an old hen that can’t lay eggs.” Once Alvina understood her intention, the corners of her lips curved. She had to admit that Wendy was masterful at seducing men. When it came to coaching children, she was even more accomplished. Alvina did not get angry. Instead, she crouched down and met Lily’s eyes. She took the drawing, studied it seriously for a few seconds, then smiled and said, “It’s a good drawing. I know how to draw chickens too. Why don’t I draw one for you?” “Okay.” Lily agreed without hesitation. Alvina took the crayon from her hand, walked to the coffee table, and drew a similarly plump hen in the blank space of the paper with just a few strokes. The difference was that an egg had rolled out from beneath this hen. The eggshe1l was black, pus-like liquid oozed from the cracks, and several flies crawled over it. Alvina smiled and pointed at the drawing. “See? Yours is an old hen that can’t lay eggs. Mine can lay eggs, but it laid a rotten one. So, this is called a hen that laid a rotten egg.” Although Lily’s understanding was limited, she still knew Alvina’s drawing could not mean anything good. She was calling her a rotten egg! Lily was furious. She grabbed the drawing and ran off. After that, Alvina went upstairs. She wanted to take a bath and wash away the fatigue from the day. Perhaps the water was too comfortable, because as she soaked in the tub, she actually fell asleep. If not for the urgent knocking that woke her, she had no idea how long she would have slept. Alvina got dressed and opened the door. The moment it opened, the housekeeper standing outside said in a panic, “Madam, something terrible happened. Please hurry to the backyard!” Chapter 5 The backyard of the Gray residence was a garden. Inside, Alvina planted all kinds of rare flowers for her perfumery. She usually tended to them with great care, almost as if she were raising children. As Alvina rushed downstairs, countless possibilities flashed through her mind. Could Wendy have resented her for tampering with the perfume and instructed Lily to pick her flowers? But when she reached the scene, she realized the situation was far worse than she imagined. Lily had done far more than pick her flowers. She set fire to her garden. The rare flowers Alvina spent three years planting had already been swallowed by the flames and reduced to nothing. Datura, rosemary, black roses, cardamom, geranium, clary sage—everything she could name and everything she could not had turned into charred, withered branches, lying scattered across the ground like the aftermath of a silent mas-sacre. Lily stood off to the side, wailing loudly. Through her sobs, she kept apologizing. “I’m sorry, Alvina. I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to burn an egg in the garden and see if any bugs would crawl out. I didn’t know it would turn into this…” The housekeeper quickly added, “Madam, she said she wanted to play in the backyard. None of us expected her to play with fire. The wind was strong today, and the flames spread too fast. We couldn’t put them out in time…” The blood in Alvina’s body seemed to run backward, and her ears rang. Wendy’s shadow flashed through her mind, and all she wanted was to tear that shadow apart. Lily walked toward her and tugged at the hem of her clothes. “I’m really sorry, Alvina. I…” “You really didn’t mean it?” Before Lily could finish, Alvina suddenly shouted. Alvina had always been emotionally steady and rarely lost her temper. The sudden sight of her yelling at a child startled even the housekeeper. Lily cried even harder and did not dare say another word, only sobbing nonstop. Rage slammed around inside Alvina’s chest like a trapped beast, desperate to tear through her body and break free. In the end, she forced it down with all her strength. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she slowly crouched down and reached out to touch the black rose she treasured most. This was the most important ingredient she chose for her competition entry next month, a perfume theme called Wild Silence. She bought this black rose two years ago at a high price from a foreign grower. There had only been two plants at the time, and the variety was extremely rare. She overcame endless difficulties with the climate and soil before finally managing to keep them alive. Now, they bloomed into rare black roses. Although their color was haunting, their fragrance was truly intoxicating. She was confident that she could win the perfume championship with this flower. Now, all of it had been reduced to nothing. The branches of the black rose crumbled at the slightest touch, and black ash fell softly into her palm. She clenched her fist tightly. “Where is Dr. Warren?” The housekeeper stepped forward and answered, “Miss Warren said she had something to do an hour ago and went out.” How perfectly timed. Did Wendy really think that was enough to clear herself of susp-icion? Alvina stood, her cold gaze sweeping one last time over Lily, who was still crying. Then she instructed the housekeeper, “Call Eden. Tell him the backyard caught fire.” Eden came back quickly. After hearing that the backyard had caught fire, he rushed home in a panic. The moment he entered, he looked around the living room. “Where’s Lily?” The housekeeper hesitated, then pointed toward the backyard. When Eden reached the backyard, Lily was knee1ing on the ground, her tiny body curled into a small ball. From a distance, she looked helpless and pitiful. Her shoulders kept trembling from her sobs. Eden’s chest tightened, and he hurried toward her. “Lily, why are you knee1ing here? Get up.” Perhaps because he had no children of his own, or perhaps because Lily had always known exactly how to please him, Eden had genuinely grown fond of the little girl. He felt sorry for her and tried to lift her up. Lily struggled. “Eden, I accidentally burned Alvina’s garden. I can’t get up. I have to stay here until Alvina forgives me.” “Be good. It was only a garden. Gardens can be replanted. There’s no need to knee1 out here and make yourself suffer. The ground is cold. Come inside with me.” Without allowing her to argue, Eden picked her up. When Eden carried the child back into the living room, Lily was still lying against his shoulder and sobbing. At that moment, Alvina happened to come downstairs. Eden’s anger flared instantly. Without asking what happened, he shouted at her in accusation, “It’s late at night, and you made a child knee1 outside? How could you be so heartless?” Only then did Alvina realize that Lily had put on another little act of suffering. Although she no longer had any expectations of him, a sharp pain still pierced through her chest. The pain felt like a needle, thin and long, piercing into her chest, passing through her lungs and ribs before finally lodging itself in her spine. Every time she moved, it drove another inch deeper. Her husband, the man she once loved for her entire youth, offered no comfort and concern after she lost the garden she poured her heart and soul into growing. Instead, for the sake of a child who was not even related to him, he rushed in and condemned her without knowing right from wrong. Alvina wanted to laugh. Lately, so many things struck her as absurd. “Let her say it herself. Did I make her knee1?” Alvina’s cold gaze fell on the child. Lily looked up and immediately shook her head hard. “Alvina didn’t make me kneel. I did something wrong, so I should be punished.” Only then did Eden realize he had misunderstood his wife. He put the child down, and a trace of apology appeared in his eyes. “Sorry. I didn’t understand what happened.” “Now that you do, how do you plan to handle this?” Alvina had never expected him to give her justice. Eden had already heard the general situation over the phone. He reached out to put an arm around her shoulders, wearing a placating smile. “All right. Lily is still just a child. She didn’t do it on purpose. Why bother holding it against a little girl?” “Don’t you know how important that garden was to me?” Eden knew. He simply thought what mattered to her was worthless. With that same dismissive tone, he said indifferently, “What’s the point of spending all day playing around with those ingredients? “Do you really think you’re going to become some master perfumer one day? Stop dreaming. Just stay home and be Mrs. Gray. “Once my condition is cured, we’ll have a child. Taking good care of your husband and raising our child well will be the greatest honor of your life.” Alvina listened to him calmly. She thought back to when they were dating, when he said, “I’ll take care of you.” Back then, she thought they were words of love. She had been too young and too in love to mistake possession for devotion. Only now did she realize those words had been a prophecy. He meant to cage her in the routines of home, then turn around and applaud another woman’s dreams. Alvina laughed. Her unusual reaction inexplicably unsettled Eden. His tone changed, and he began coaxing her again. “Fine. If you like perfumery, then keep doing it. But those flowers already burned. Don’t make things difficult for Lily over this. I’ll have someone ship another batch from overseas for you.” “So that’s it? A child makes a mistake and can’t be held responsible, but shouldn’t the adult at least owe me an explanation? “A child doesn’t misbehave without someone failing to teach her. Shouldn’t her parent at least come out and offer me a sincere apology?” Alvina’s gaze swept toward the doorway. She knew Wendy was standing there. Wendy stepped out from the shadows. She walked straight up to Alvina, then calmly glanced at her daughter. “I heard everything that happened.” “So, Dr. Warren, are you here to apologize to me on your daughter’s behalf?” Eden frowned. “Alvina, don’t push too far just because you’re in the right. Didn’t I already say I’d get you another batch of flowers?” “I spent three years growing those flowers, and they were destroyed in one night. How is asking her to apologize pushing too far?” Alvina shot back sharply. The words Eden had been about to say caught in his throat. A few seconds of silence passed. Then he gave Wendy a look. “Dr. Warren, apologize to Alvina. Those flowers really weren’t easy for her to grow.” Wendy did not apologize. Instead, she reached out and pulled her daughter in front of her. Then, without warning, she raised her hand and slapped Lily hard across the face. Lily burst into tears on the spot. Only then did Wendy speak calmly. “I’m sorry, Alvina. Even if you hadn’t said anything, I would have apologized. I truly failed to discipline my child. This was my fault.” Eden snapped out of his shock and quickly pulled the sobbing child into his arms, his heart aching for her. He said angrily, “I told you to apologize. Why did you hit the child?” Wendy glared at her daughter. “Today, she burned down a garden. Tomorrow, she might tear this whole house apart. That slap was to make sure she remembered the lesson, so no one points at her in the future and calls her badly raised.” Eden’s heart ached terribly. When he saw the red finger marks rising on Lily’s face, he reached out to touch them. Lily took a step back, desperately holding back the tears in her eyes. “Eden, it’s okay. I’m okay. It doesn’t hurt. It really doesn’t hurt…” She said it did not hurt. But the tears kept spilling down her face no matter how hard she tried to hold them back. The mother and daughter’s little performance finally had Eden exactly where they wanted him. Eden shot to his feet in fury. “Alvina, are you satisfied now? Is this the result you wanted? You can’t even tolerate a child. How did I ever choose you back then? I must have been blind.” Chapter 6 ”I must have been blind.” Alvina tasted the irony in those words and let out a soft laugh. Her gaze was cold as she walked up to Eden. She did not accuse him of saying exactly what she was thinking. Instead, she said calmly, “Then it’s not too late for you to regret it. Do you want a divorce? I’m ready whenever you are.” Eden froze in stunned disbelief. Alvina turned and instructed the housekeeper beside her, “Go get the wedding dress from my closet.” The housekeeper did not understand why, but she could only obey. A moment later, the housekeeper carefully carried the expensive couture wedding dress, custom-made overseas, into the living room. She held it cautiously in her arms, protecting it the same way Alvina once had. Everyone knew how much Alvina treasured that wedding dress, Eden included. To her, it had once been proof of all the years they loved each other. But now, it would also bear witness to how completely their past turned to ash. With none of her former tenderness, Alvina took the wedding dress from the housekeeper as if it were nothing more than trash, then turned and walked toward the backyard. She raised her hand and threw the white wedding dress into the ashes that had not yet fully d1ed out. The sc-attered embers instantly flared into roaring flames. In the blink of an eye, their entire youth was swallowed by fire. When Eden followed her outside, his eyes widened in shock. The moment he came back to himself, he shouted, “Alvina, have you lost your mind?” If the wedding dress had not already burned to ash, he would have rushed forward to save it. Alvina remained unmoved, her calm eyes showing not the slightest trace of reluctance. “You already said you were blind. What’s the point of keeping something so ridiculous?” With that, she walked away as if nothing had happened. Eden stood frozen in place, the dying flames staining his eyes red. For one brief moment, he suddenly felt a suffocating pain in his chest. Wendy followed them outside as well. She walked up to Eden and held his clenched fist. “Eden, don’t be angry. I never imagined Alvina would be this impulsive and unreasonable.” She slowly rose onto her toes, trying to soothe him with a kiss. Her red lips brushed near his ear as she murmured, “She’s so sure you won’t divorce her, so why don’t you divorce her and see what happens? “Whatever Alvina can give you, I can give you too. And what she can’t give you, I can give even more…” Before Wendy could finish, Eden grabbed her by the collar. His eyes were filled with a ruthless fury, as if a wildfire burned through them. “Know your place. You’re nothing more than the doctor who can treat my condition. Don’t even think about challenging Alvina’s position.” After leaving that warning behind, he turned and walked away. When Eden returned to the upstairs bedroom, Alvina was standing by the window, admiring the moonlight. He walked straight toward her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. It’s just that I’ve been in a terrible mood. “The company’s stock crashed out of nowhere, the board has been pressuring me nonstop, and I spent the whole day buried in work. “I was overwhelmed and took my frustration out on you. I’m sorry.” Eden kept apologizing, his arms tightening around her. It almost felt as if he was terrified of losing her. That made sense. When Alvina fell in love with Eden, he had just lost his father. His father died in an accident, and Eden was drowning in grief. She was the one who stayed with him through those unbearable days, comforting him, keeping him company, warming and healing him. A man who met such a gentle, devoted girl during the darkest period of his life could not have felt nothing. So perhaps Eden’s love for her was real. But so had his inability to keep himself faithful. She already tricked him into signing the divorce agreement. In one month, the two of them would have nothing to do with each other anymore. For now, in 0rder to get through the cooling-off period peacefully and avoid affecting the perfumery competition next month, Alvina had no desire to argue with him. “It’s fine. I understand.” “You’re not angry anymore?” “No.” Eden let out a breath of relief and pulled her tightly into his arms again. “Then nothing between us has changed, right?” For some reason, Alvina’s behavior tonight left him deeply unsettled. Right now, he desperately needed a firm answer to calm himself. “Of course.” Eden finally relaxed completely. Alvina pulled herself out of his arms. “You’ve had a long day too. Go rest early.” Most of the time, they slept in separate rooms. Because of Eden’s condition, he often woke in the middle of the night in a panic. Whenever he opened his eyes and saw Alvina lying beside him, the fear inside him would only deepen. Alvina had once felt regretful about that. Now, she could not have been more grateful. Never having truly been husband and wife with that scvmbag was already the greatest mercy in this unfortunate marriage. … The next day. Alvina was sitting at the dining table eating breakfast when Wendy came over with her daughter. Lily did not greet her. After sitting down at the table, she acted as if no one else was there and asked, “Mommy, why isn’t Daddy coming down for breakfast?” Wendy lightly tapped her daughter on the mouth and scolded her. “Don’t say nonsense. Eden isn’t your daddy.” Wendy immediately smiled apologetically and explained to Alvina, “Alvina, Lily grew up without a father, so she’s started seeing Eden as one. Please don’t mind.” Alvina curled her 1ips. “It’s fine. A child raised without manners naturally wouldn’t know any better.” Wendy’s expression darkened at once, but before she could say anything, Eden walked over. His face was clearly marked by exhaustion, his brows tightly furrowed as if something were weighing on him. Alvina naturally knew exactly what it was. After Eden sat down, he looked toward Wendy. “Dr. Warren, when exactly are you going to introduce me to AJ?” Wendy immediately put on a smile. “Eden, I’ve already spoken to her. It’s just that she’s been keeping to herself recently and doesn’t want to get involved in the stock market for now. Once she’s done, I’ll introduce you to her right away.” “Dr. Warren knows AJ?” Alvina asked, pretending to be curious. A smug look rose in Wendy’s eyes. “Of course. I’m a well-known psychologist. I have plenty of connections. AJ is my best friend. With our relationship, she’ll help me with anything I ask.” Hope sparked in Eden’s eyes. “Then can you talk to her and ask her to come over sooner? I’ve run into some serious trouble and urgently need to work with her.” “Of course. I’ll do my best to talk to her.” Wendy agreed without hesitation. Then her gaze shifted to Alvina. “Alvina, if you ask me, you shouldn’t spend all day fussing over those tiny bottles of yours. You should go out and socialize more. Build some connections. “Otherwise, when Eden’s career runs into trouble, you won’t be of any use at all.” “I certainly can’t compare to you, Dr. Warren. You even know someone as powerful as AJ. Other people have never even met her and only know she’s a woman, yet you’re close enough to call her your best friend. How enviable.” Wendy let out a soft scoff. “I envy you too. You get to spend every day as an idle rich wife, with no worries about food or clothing. You have no ambition or burden. What an easy life. Unlike me, raising a child alone and relying on no one but myself.” “Enough. Eat.” Eden interrupted them in a low voice. “Everyone has different abilities. Alvina is ordinary and not particularly capable. I don’t expect anything from her.” Alvina had no appetite to sit at the same table as that shameless pair. She set down her fork and left the dining room. Eden’s expression immediately darkened, and he glared at Wendy. “Don’t forget what I told you last night. The position of Mrs. Gray will always belong to Alvina.” Did she really think he could not hear the provocation in her words? Wendy was neither anxious nor angry. Wendy only smiled and reminded him casually, “Eden, instead of worrying about whether I want Alvina’s place, you should be thinking about how to keep our relationship hidden. You may call it ‘treatment,’ but Alvina may not see it that way. “Judging from how she burned her wedding dress last night, you shouldn’t overestimate how much she loves you.” After Wendy finished speaking, she gave her daughter a look. Lily immediately jumped down from her chair, walked over to Eden, and took his hand. “Eden, I lost one of my toy cars in your study. Can you come help me look for it?” Eden could not resist the child’s pleading and went with her to the study. “What toy car? Has your mom helped you look for it?” As Eden searched the study, his mind was elsewhere. Evercrest Group’s stock would definitely hit its limit down again this morning. Where exactly had things gone wrong? Suddenly, his gaze locked onto something hidden in the corner of the bookshelf, a black object that looked like a button. He reached out and pulled it free. The moment he saw it clearly, his eyes widened sharply. That thing was actually a miniature camera.

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