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Vincent Sinclair, the wealthy heir, married Elena Vance against all advice. She came from a simple background; he came from money. He spent years being impossibly good to her. For a collection she liked, he'd spare no expense. A passing glance at a purse meant she'd soon own it in every color. He showered her with everything, seemingly willing to lay down his life for her happiness. But this perfect husband was hiding a single, crucial secret from the woman he claimed to cherish above all. When she discovered the box that he had hidden away in the study for years , Elena was completely stunned . The hotel receipts inside the box were filled with Vincent's name. Stacks upon stacks, Elena couldn't count them all. The first receipt was from their third wedding anniversary. Vincent promised her that they would travel abroad together, but before boarding the plane, he said that his mother had fallen seriously ill and had to leave in a hurry. He returned three days later, bringing Elena a limited edition bag. But the receipt address was for a hot spring resort in a neighboring city. ... The seventh receipt was from the day her father passed away. Mr. Vance wanted to see Vincent and refused to breathe his last, stretching out his hand to look out of the ward. He wanted to see Vincent one last time before he died, but Vincent never answered his phone. Five days later he returned, saying he had been holding an emergency meeting at the branch office, and compensated Elena with a set of jewelry worth over one million dollars. But the receipt address was for a star-rated hotel in Australia. The sixteenth receipt is from the day she gave birth to Victor Sinclair. She went into the delivery room alone, and even when she was bleeding heavily, no one signed the consent form, and she almost died in the operating room. The next day he said he flew back on the fastest flight overnight and transferred 50 million to her card, with the note "voluntary donation". And the address on this receipt was within this city. He was clearly so close to her. ... One sheet after another, Elena's face grew paler and paler. She dialed Vincent's personal assistant's number and asked for Vincent's official schedule during the past few years. Every time Vincent left her, his schedule was completely blank. Each of these receipts was filled with Vincent's lies. It turns out that his business trip and his emergency meeting were all lies to her! In recent years, Vincent has always said that he was too busy at the company and had less and less time to go home. She wasn't without her grievances, but even her five-and-a-half-year-old son, Victor, advised her, "Mom, Dad works hard for this family. You should be understanding and not make unreasonable demands." Elena's dissatisfaction instantly turned into guilt. Like this time, Elena was supposed to attend Victor's parent-teacher conference. But in the morning, she accidentally fell down on the stairs and felt dizzy. Vincent therefore canceled his company meeting and went to the kindergarten. Elena felt guilty, thinking she couldn't do anything. After resting for a while, she decided to clean up the entire villa. That's why she discovered these receipts. Elena's hands trembled uncontrollably. She dared not think too deeply about what these receipts actually represented. She struggled to her feet, intending to go to the kindergarten to find out the truth for herself. But when she get to the kindergarten gate, she saw a banner that said "Parent-Child Sports Meet". Wasn't this a parents' meeting? Elena rushed in and immediately saw Vincent leading Victor in a game. And with his other hand, Vincent held Rosalind Rhodes. Rosalind was Vincent's first love; their relationship lasted three months but ended due to his parents' opposition. She saw that Victor jumped into Rosalind's arms, acting coquettishly and calling out, "Auntie Rosalind, can you be my mom? My mom is so clumsy, she's not as good as you at all!" Elena trembled all over. "Dad keeps all the receipts from when you were together as souvenirs. Dad likes Aunt Rosalind , and I like you too!" Victor nuzzled her affectionately, then looked at Vincent. "Dad, when you lie to Mom about going on a business trip to see Aunt Rosalind , can you take me with you?" "I don't want to be with my mom. She's such an embarrassment. She doesn't know anything and all she does is housework, which is clearly the job of a nanny!" Elena finally saw the cruel truth. Vincent really cheated on her. And her son helped him deceive her. A few meters away, Vincent didn't object, but simply patted his son's head. "Next time, Dad will find an opportunity to take you with us." "Dad, didn't you say you'd reward me with a toy if I lied to Mom just once?" "I deliberately put a few marbles on the stairs today, mom stepped on them and fell flat on her face." Victor proudly extended his hand to claim credit. "So, what's my reward?" The color drained completely from Elena's face. In order to create a date opportunity for Vincent and Rosalind, he didn't hesitate to let her fall and get injured. Looking at her swollen ankle, she felt as if her heart had fallen from a great height and shattered. Her son, for whom she suffered a difficult and painful childbirth after ten months of pregnancy, actually despised her like this. “Victor is great. Dad will take you to choose whatever you like later, and we'll also buy some things that your Aunt Rosalind likes.” Every word from Vincent and Victor was like a nail, piercing Elena 's heart and leaving it riddled with holes. The kindergarten teacher noticed her out of place. "Ma'am, whose parent are you?" Elena hurriedly wiped away her tears, waved her hand, and turned to leave... That wasn't her child; Victor was the one who loved her the most. He would cry and scream in distress when she was sick, and he would hug and comfort her when she was unhappy. When he was learning to speak, the first word he learned was "Mom". How could he possibly say that she was not presentable, or that she was stupid and lazy? She walked back aimlessly, her steps unsteady. The phone rang abruptly. "Elena, come back quickly! Your mother has a terrible headache and has suddenly fainted. It looks like she's had a stroke!" Elena's heart clenched instantly, and she rushed back without thinking of anything else. When she got home, her mother was already lying on the ground convulsing. A neighbor chimed in, "This is how it is now, the roads are completely jammed, and the ambulance still hasn't arrived. Doesn't your husband have investments in several hospitals? Hurry up and contact them to see if they can send a few doctors to save your mother!" Elena hurriedly took out her phone and dialed Vincent's number. After a series of busy signals, Vincent did not answer. She called again, but still didn't answer. When she dialed for the twentieth time, the call finally went through. "Vincent..." Before she could finish her tearful plea for help, he interrupted her, saying, "I'm busy right now, don't call me anymore." Victor's voice came through, "Mom, why are you so clingy ? If Dad didn't answer the phone, it means something happened. Can't you live without Dad?" The busy signal cut off Elena's hope of getting help. When the ambulance finally arrived and took Vance's mother to the hospital, the doctor regretfully told Elena, "The golden rescue time has been missed, and it is uncertain whether the patient will wake up. Even if she does wake up, she will most likely be paralyzed on one side." Elena could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground, losing all her strength. "Let's go pay the fees and complete the formalities first." Elena covered her face and nodded through her tears. With the doctor's help, she struggled to her feet and staggered outside. But she saw Vincent at the corner on the first floor. He and Victor each supported Rosalind on one side, their eyes showing the same worry. "Vincnet, I told you not to be so nervous. I just twisted my ankle, and I'll probably be fine tomorrow." Victor spoke without hesitation, "You’re injured. Dad is worried about you and I am worried about you too. We need to have a doctor examine you before we can feel at ease!" Elena watched the cozy trio, her heart contracting with a pain so intense that it made her smile—a bitter, awful smile. Her happy family was just a fiction. She was the sole misfit. Her longtime husband, her little boy… their care was directed elsewhere. She had been blind. What place was there for her now? She picked up the phone. When her lawyer answered, she didn't hesitate. “Prepare a divorce agreement. I’m leaving Vincent."After confirming that the divorce agreement would be sent to her that afternoon, Elena hung up the phone with red eyes. She watched as Vincent picked up Rosalind in his arms in the corridor and carefully walked out of the hospital. Victor, mimicking how she had previously comforted him, went to console Rosalind. "Aunt Rosalind, it doesn't hurt. I will blow on it for you." Elena looked at it with a self-torturing air, as if constantly reminding herself. How ridiculous was the family happiness she thought they had? But it's okay. Soon they would be able to become a real family of three. Soon she would no longer be an obstacle between them. It wasn't until evening that Vincent arrived in a hurry with Victor. When they came in, Elena was dealing with her mother's chamber pot. As soon as Victor entered, he covered his nose and muttered under his breath, "It smells awful here, I like Rosalind ..." Vincent immediately stopped Victor from speaking with a look. Elena looked up and didn't miss Victor's disgusted gesture. "Victor! Apologize to your mother." Elena shook her head indifferently. Vincent leaned down and kissed Elena's forehead soothingly, but Elena instinctively turned away. He paused only slightly, then immediately and naturally patted her shoulder, gently explaining, "The kindergarten's parent-teacher meeting has been going on until now, which is why we've been delayed." "Don't worry, I've already consulted the doctor and invited a top international medical team to treat Mom." "Don't be mad at me, honey. They released a new collection of bags you like. How about I buy them all for you?" Seemingly to make up for his guilt, Vincent did almost everything himself throughout the night. Vincent took a wet towel and personally wiped her mother's body, turned her over, and massaged her. The nurses who came to check on the patients all said, "I've never seen such a good man as Mr. Sinclair. He takes care of his mother-in-law personally and even brought in such a good medical team from abroad. He's both filial and willing to spend money." That’s true. He never hesitated to spend money on her, and she used to think it was all out of his affection. Only now did she realize that this was his guilty conscience and remorse. It's also the material compensation that allowed him to continue cheating without feeling guilty. Vincent looked up and saw Elena's pale face, put down the towel and walked over. He took Elena's hand, then pulled her into his arms and soothed her gently, "Don't be sad, I'm still here for you. I won't let anything happen to Mom." The warmth of his hands and the gentleness in his voice had never changed. For so many years, he had always been there for her, a pillar of support. If she hadn't discovered that stack of receipts this time, if she hadn't witnessed it with her own eyes... Elena's tears finally fell amidst this torture of reality and memories. Seeing her cry, Vincent hurriedly and tenderly wiped away her tears with his hands. He kissed her cheek tenderly and gently coaxed her, "Don't cry, honey. I'm here. I'll always be there for you." "Victor, Mom is crying, what should you do?" Victor, who was playing games by the door, reluctantly moved over, wrinkled his nose, stuffed a tissue into her hand, and then quickly walked away. Elena pretended not to notice his reluctance. After calming down a bit, she took out a document. “My mother is old. The doctor said that although she survived this time, she will need another half month for recovery.” "I'm thinking of buying a house for Mom nearby." Just as Vincent was about to open the document, he was interrupted by the sudden ringing of the telephone. It's a pop song, but Vincent only ever listened to classical symphonies in concert halls. Elena still remembered that she had played this song on the car stereo before, but Vincent frowned and said it was tacky. “Is this a work phone?” Vincent subconsciously turned off the screen and calmly hummed in agreement. He was so anxious that he didn't even look at the document before opening the last page and quickly signing it. "You can make these decisions yourself, so you don't need to tell me next time." "Honey, I have a meeting at the company that I need to go to. The driver will take you home. Take good care of Mom. Call me if you need anything." As soon as he finished speaking, he took Victor's hand and hurriedly left. After he left, Elena came to her senses and replied with a “fine”. If it weren't for that phone call, he could have seen the contents of the document clearly. But he didn't even have that much patience now. Perhaps, this was the ending that Vincent chose for their relationship. Elena stood up and subconsciously walked to the window. Downstairs, next to a familiar car, stood a figure in a white dress. Victor happily rushed over and hugged her. Vincent picked her up and gently placed her in the car. The car sped away. In the following days, Vincent did not come to the hospital again. After her mother's condition stabilized, Elena took the divorce agreement to the City Hall to complete the formalities. She would be able to get her divorce certificate in a month. She received a call from Victor on her way back to the hospital. "Mom, how much longer are you going to stay in the hospital? Aren't you going to take care of the family? Aren't you going to take care of me?" "The nanny's cooking doesn't suit my taste, and the bedtime stories aren't nice either. Please come back soon." Vincent then chimed in, "Elena, come home. Victor and I need you very much." I need you, not that I miss you. Elena thought with a hint of irony. "I want to take care of my mom, and I want to take her with me when I go home." Vincent paused for a moment, then said, "It's safer for Mom to stay in the hospital. I've hired several caregivers to take turns looking after her." "Victor will not be used to having another person in the family." Elena had long understood that they didn't want her to bring her mother home, as they looked down on her family's poverty. But after carrying Victor for ten months and watching him grow up, she couldn't completely harden her heart. She still went home. But when she opened the door, she saw an uninvited guest— Rosalind, dressed in her pajamas, sat on the carpet playing games with Victor, while Vincent read the newspaper on the side, occasionally chiming in with a few words. They looked like a real family of three. Elena stood outside the door, as if she were the outsider in this house. Upon hearing the sound, Vincent immediately stood up and came over to take the bag from her hand. "Elena, you're finally back." He casually pointed to Rosalind and introduced her, "This is Rosalind, the tutor I hired for Victor. She will be staying at home for the next few days."After saying this, Rosalind stood up awkwardly, her tone humble. "Ms. Vance, I'm sorry I didn't inform you beforehand. If you don't agree, I'll leave immediately!" Before Elena could speak, Victor immediately stood up and blocked Rosalind's way, his eyes filled with tension. Elena understood immediately, "It seems Miss Shaw is tacitly assuming I will refuse?" “But you were chosen by Vincnet as his teacher, so of course I have no objection.” Vincent nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to Rosalind. "Miss Shaw, go upstairs and choose a room. The housekeeper will help you tidy up." Rosalind immediately chose the room at the end of the second-floor corridor. "Mr. Sinclair, may I stay in this room?" "I've always lived in a room without windows, and I really love this room where the sunlight can shine in!" This was Elena's studio. Vincent was possessive and didn't like her going out in public. Especially after having her son, she gave up her career in order to take care of him wholeheartedly. This studio was her only solace; she came here to paint and design whenever she had free time. Vincent's gaze unconsciously fell on Elena, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. But Rosalind's expectant gaze and her son's coquettishness temporarily took the lead . Vincent hesitated before speaking, "Elena, shall I have someone move your things to the next room?" “That room is bigger and more suitable for you to draw for fun.” Elena simply looked at him quietly. Every corner and every pattern in this studio was designed by Vincent himself. He once held her hand and made a promise. "I'm sorry that you had to give up your dreams for this family, but no matter how many times you give up, I will pick them up for you." He said this was our secret base, a sacred place that belonged only to her But now, Vincent had personally given this room to someone else. Vincent felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze. "Elena, this is Rosalind's first time visiting our home. As the lady of the house, shouldn't you be more magnanimous?" Elena nodded calmly. "I understand." Vincent breathed a sigh of relief and was about to call the servants when Rosalind gently stopped him. “Mr. Sinclair, Miss Vance stays at home every day, so she must know the layout of the house best.” "How about I trouble Miss Vance to tidy up the room for me, so that the housekeeper won't be careless and break anything in the room?" Victor grabbed Rosalind's hand and immediately echoed. "Exactly! Mom is a housewife, and she's the best at tidying up!" "Aunt Rosalind, you are a great designer. Your hands are for drawing. Let Mom do these things.” Vincent nodded. "Victor is right. Elena, just pack up yourself, it won't take much time." They all seemed to have forgotten that before she became a wife and mother, she was also an excellent designer. Elena silently began to tidy up. She carefully packed away her sketches, brushes, paints, and other items that carried her dreams into a box. When she moved the last box, the pain in her back made it almost impossible for her to straighten up. "Mom! Aunt Rosalind is eating at home for the first time, hurry up and make a big meal!" Elena silently served the dishes. Vincent carefully served food to Rosalind. Victor went out of his way to piling the best food into her bowl, saying, "Aunt Rosalind , eat more!" After an exhausting day, Elena sat on the corner of the table, like a forgotten, invisible person. Late at night, Elena slumped wearily into her bed. A burning hot arm wrapped around her waist, and Vincent's hoarse, lustful breath brushed against her ear. "Honey, we haven't done this so long." Elena stiffened and gently pushed him away. "I'm tired." Vincent propped himself up and looked at her pale face. He sighed, pulled back the covers, and was about to lie down again when his phone suddenly vibrated. Vincent quickly got up. "There's an urgent online meeting, I'm going to the study. You go to sleep first." As soon as Vincent left, Elena received a text message. "Excuse me. It's so hot in the room, and I can't find the air conditioner remote. Could you please bring it to me? Just leave it by the door."A strange premonition swirled in her mind. Elena put on her bathrobe and walked towards her original studio. "Mmm...that feels so good...a little harder..." "Vincnet ... how about we give Victor a little sister..." Elena peered through the crack in the door. She met Rosalind's provocative gaze precisely. Rosalind willingly embraced the more intense thrusts, her red lips parting silently as she clearly uttered, "So...hot..." Inside the room, Vincent pinned Rosalind tightly against the desk, burying his face in her neck and licking and biting her , letting out familiar panting breaths. ... From that day on, Elena received photos from Rosalind every day. Vincent's sleeping profile rested against her bare shoulder. Ambiguous marks on the messy bed sheets. Sometimes it's even a short video of a few minutes. Elena was so bothered by this that she couldn't sleep well every night. Another sleepless morning. With a splitting headache, Elena barely managed to get Victor to kindergarten and almost missed it. Victor jumped out of the car, his little face long and drawn. "How come Mom can't even do this little thing right?" "Mom, don't get down! You're so slow!" Elena could only sit in the car. Outside the car, Victor pulled Vincent up with one hand and naturally took Rosalind's hand with the other , saying with a proud expression. "Look! These are my mom and dad!" Vincent did not refute. On the way back, Rosalind, in the passenger seat , turned around and put on a fake apology. "Oh dear, Miss Vance, the child is just talking nonsense without thinking. Don't take it to heart." Vincent, who was driving, chimed in, "Victor was upset because he was almost late. Elena, don't hold it against a child." A wave of soreness and tightness rose in her heart without noticing. Elena slowly recovered and turned her head to look out the window. She wouldn't take it to heart anymore. Before long, she would no longer be his mother. She didn't want any of those people who didn't care about her. Two weeks later, she would take her mother away forever.Elena shuttled back and forth between the hospital and home. She needed to take Victor to kindergarten, deliver food to Vincent, and visit her mother in the hospital. Vincent was still maintaining a superficial balance with her, but she no longer wanted to cooperate and delegated the task of delivering the food to Vincent's secretary. By removing the father and son from her life, she had more time to refine her design drafts. Anyway, she'd divorced, so she didn't need to worry about Vincent anymore. She could now pursue her childhood dreams. As soon as she put down the pen , her phone screen lit up, and a push notification popped up from a news account she follows . The "Folding Star Cup" design competition had come to a close, but the first-place entry looked strangely familiar. That's her work! Elena stood there stunned, momentarily taken aback. She didn't even know how the design drawings had been leaked. Until the camera panned to the award winner—Rosalind. She stood on the awards stage in a purple haute couture gown. Below the stage, Vincent, accompanied by Victor, one big and one small, each holding a bouquet of flowers, gazed at the radiant figures on stage. She had given up her career because Vincent said he didn't want her to appear in public. She thought this was Vincent's way of showing love, so she accepted it willingly. It turns out he wasn't incapable of supporting his lover, he just couldn't do it with her. What sent chills down Elena's spine was the artwork behind Rosalind. She wants to participate in an international design competition abroad. Even if she can't work in this industry because of her family, she genuinely loves design. So that design drawing, which was almost identical to hers, was the result of her painstaking efforts over half a year. She even showed it to Vincent. She presented it with great joy, but Vincent didn't even glance at it closely. He just pinched her nose and casually coaxed her, saying she was tough. At this moment, however, this set of design drawings was in Rosalind's hands, and it took the crown for her. With that international competition just around the corner, She simply didn't have time to finish her entry! Elena felt her blood freeze at that moment, and a bone-chilling cold seeped into her bones. Why did her work become Rosalind's? Elena made the call, wanting to get to the bottom of things. Rosalind didn't answer, but instead sent an address. Elena gritted her teeth and rushed over to the address. The hall was filled with the clinking of glasses, and at the center was none other than Rosalind, the winner. The father and son also surrounded Rosalind, raising their glasses and cheering for her. Elena clenched her fists, barely managing to calm herself, and then asked aloud. “Why did you copy my design?” Rosalind's eyes flashed, and her voice rose. "Ms. Vance, are you saying I plagiarized your design?" “I am an outstanding graduate of the School of Design at University , while you are just a rich housewife kept at home by Mr. Sinclair.” "I believe everyone can judge for themselves who could create such a design, right?" "That's right, Mom, what else can you do besides cooking and sweeping? Why did you try to scam Aunt Rosalind !" Victor stood protectively in front of Rosalind, pushing Elena back. Caught off guard, Elena's lower back slammed into the corner of the table, the pain causing her to gasp for breath and her face to turn deathly pale. She looked at Vincent. He knew her strength, she... Vincent smiled helplessly at her, took her hand, and whispered. "Elena, stop making a scene. Let's deal with this at home. As my wife, you should be mindful of the occasion." "Our company is transforming to open up the high-end menswear market, and we need a new and emerging designer. Rosalind is the most suitable candidate." "It's just an award. I'll make it up to you with whatever you want. Don't throw a tantrum, okay?" Victor chimed in, "Yes, Mom, you should be as magnanimous as Dad and not get angry over such a small thing." Elena watched the father and son tightly protecting Rosalind. At this moment, the color drained from his lips due to the pain. "Sweetie, I'll have my assistant take you out. I'll come find you later." Vincent patted Elena on the back reassuringly, then had her led out of the venue. Turning to the crowd, he said. “I’ve had some minor disagreements with my wife recently, which is why she’s making a fuss about this.” "The plagiarism accusation is nonsense. This design is Rosalind's painstaking creation." Please do not disclose this family matter to others. Elena was forcibly removed from the venue. She had figured it out. Vincent not only knew about this matter, but was even the one who fueled it. Why did you give my things to Rosalind? She typed her question blankly, and it took her a long time to get a reply. "It's just a discarded draft. You're my wife, and I'll support you. Why do you need to do these hard and tiring things?" “Rosalind is different; she needs this opportunity even more. Elena, don’t be so stingy.” Elena glanced back at the bustling venue and chuckled self-deprecatingly. She even gave her husband and son to Rosalind, and now she has to hand over her hard work. When she returned home, most of the things that used to belong to her in the room had become Rosalind's. The traces of her life are fading, but she doesn't care anymore. Elena packed up the things Vincent had given her over the years and went downstairs. They happened to meet eyes with Vincent, who had just returned. He rubbed his temples, looking troubled. "What did you lose?" Elena didn't even turn her head. "Just a piece of trash that doesn't need to exist." She didn't go home that night, and stayed at the hospital to take care of her mother. A message popped up on her phone. From Rosalind. "Miss Vance! I can't get in touch with Mr. Sinclair no matter what I do, but I'm being followed and I'm really scared. Please! Help me." "I'm sorry for using your work, but I only dared to do so because Mr. Sinclair gave me permission. I know I was wrong, please, save me!" Elena had no desire to get involved in their schemes anymore. His fingertips twitched, and he replied. "What does it matter to me whether you live or die?" She continued massaging her mother's atrophied calves, but unexpectedly, she was forcibly taken home by bodyguards sent by Vincent in the middle of the night. In the living room, Rosalind, covered in a mess, applied medicine to Vincent's face with red eyes. Seeing her return, she unconsciously shrank behind Vincent. Vincent looked at her with deep disappointment. "Elena, do you know what Rosalind would have suffered if I hadn't arrived in time?" “just because of that one design draft ?" "Elena, I'm really disappointed in you. When did you become like this?" Elena's mind went blank. She realized that the message made Vincent believe that Rosalind was deliberately retaliating against her. "I don't!" Vincent placed the lit information interface in front of her, his eyes filled with coldness. "You don't have it? Then what is it?" Rosalind peeked out from behind Vincent, gave her a provocative smile, and then spoke softly to Vincent. "Mr. Sinclair, I'm fine. I know Miss Vance dislikes me, but she is, after all, your wife and Victor's mother..." Vincent looked at Elena with disappointment. "Rosalind even pleaded for you, yet you couldn't tolerate an outsider." "Guards, from today onwards, lock the lady in the basement and make her realize her mistakes!"Elena was locked up in this dark and damp basement for five days. During those five days, everything she had that allowed her to communicate with the outside world was confiscated. She huddled in the dark corner, completely oblivious to the passage of time. She could only tell the time by listening to Victor's cheerful voice calling Rosalind's name when he came home from school. She was not released by Vincent until three days before Victor's birthday. "Elena, do you realize your mistake?" "The last conflict scared Victor. Please put more effort into his birthday celebration and try to get his forgiveness." Victor was not there; he was happily playing games with Rosalind in the courtyard. Hearing the cheerful laughter coming in, Elena staggered to her feet. Their voices were hoarse. "good." Vincent frowned slightly and couldn't help but glance at her again. Elena had already turned around. She went back to her room and took out the things she had put in the drawer. The cover features Victor's graffiti. The painting depicts their family of three. This is a family photo album that Victor made with her for her previous birthday. When Vincent had free time, he would take her and Victor to various places. Despite being busy, he promised not to miss out on his child's growth. The first picture was of Victor not long after he was born, being held high above Vincent's head with great joy. The tenth picture was of Victor on his third birthday, with cream smeared on his face as she kisses him. The seventeenth photo was a picture of a family of three under fireworks during a New Year's celebration. ...... Elena's hand gently stroked the photograph. A tear fell onto her own radiant smile in the photograph. She closed her eyes, shut the photo album, and put it in the trash can. As a wife and a mother, she doesn't seem to have satisfied them. This final birthday party was her last gift to him as his mother. Soon it was Victor's sixth birthday party. On her birthday, Elena was confirming the details of the banquet. Rosalind appeared wearing a dress that Vincent had flown back from France. When he saw Elena going upstairs, he deliberately called out to her. "Miss Vance, this dress is too big and it's inconvenient for me to go downstairs. Could you help me hold up the hem?" Seeing that she was being ignored, Rosalind wasn't angry and spoke slowly. "I thought Miss Vance had become well-behaved after being locked in the basement for those few days, why is she still like this?" Elena didn't want to cause any more trouble at this time, so she could only put down what she was doing and walk behind her. Rosalind smiled with satisfaction . "Thank you." But the next second, she swung her skirt. This caused Elena, who was not standing firmly behind her, to lose her balance and stumble. A burning pain shot through her ankle. "You……" Seeing her pale face, Rosalind said apologetically. "I'm sorry, Miss Vance. Since you're injured, I can go down by myself." Elena knew she was doing it on purpose, but her ankle was really sore, so she didn't insist. But the instant she released the hem of her skirt, Rosalind was suspended in mid-air and screamed. Elena realized what was happening and tried to pull her back, but she was a step too late. Rosalind tumbled down the stairs right in front of her. In the heat of the moment, two panicked voices echoed through the hall. "Rosalind!" "Aunt Rosalind!" Elena's mind went blank. By the time they realized what was happening, everyone had already surrounded Rosalind. "Rosalind , how are you?" "Aunt Rosalind , does it hurt...?" Rosalind looked at Elena standing on the stairs with red eyes. "I just wanted Miss Vance to hold up my skirt for me, I don't know why she suddenly let go." Upon hearing this, everyone present looked at Elena with condemnation. "Someone from a humble background like Elena resorts to despicable methods. I really don't know what Mr. Sinclair saw in her." "How could Young Master Li have such a vicious mother? Unlike Miss Shaw, who is gentle, I would say she and Mr. Sinclair are a perfect match." Elena went downstairs amidst everyone's disdainful gazes. A somewhat weak explanation. "I didn't." But Vincent's eyes were full of suspicion when he looked at her. "No? Elena, so many eyes saw you push Rosalind down." Elena felt the pain in her ankle becoming increasingly excruciating. No matter how she explained, Vincent didn't believe her, and nobody believed her either. She couldn't change their prejudices; the only thing she could change was herself. Elena smiled wryly, but her eyes grew even more determined. "I told you I didn't push her. Believe it or not, it's up to you. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now." "Anyway, they probably don't need me here, and Victor wouldn't want a mother like me to celebrate his birthday with him." As he turned around, Vincent called out to him sharply. "Today is our son's birthday party. How can you, as his mother, not attend?" Elena just wanted to resolve these issues quickly and go to the hospital to have her foot checked. She turned to walk onto the stage, but Vincent pulled her back again. "You think you can go on stage dressed like this? What about the dress I gave you?" Elena was taken aback, looking at the overly old-fashioned dress she was wearing. Remembering what Rosalind said, this was specially prepared for her by Vincent. She instantly understood what was going on. Just as she was about to speak, Vincent waved his hand and said, "Never mind, let Rosalind go on stage in your place." Standing to the side, Victor's face flushed with excitement, and he almost couldn't wait to grab Rosalind's hand. "That's wonderful, Aunt Rosalind ." Before leaving, Vincent warned her, "I know you're still angry that Rosalind took your designs. I'll buy you whatever you want. Just stop targeting her." As he spoke, he took Rosalind's hand and walked step by step onto the stage. Victor called out sweetly in a tone that Elena had never heard before. "Mom, you look so beautiful today." Even the unsuspecting guests in the audience thought they were a family of three. "So this is Mrs. Sinclair. No wonder she can make Mr. Sinclair so infatuated." "Yes, I heard that Mr. Sinclair went to great lengths to win the heart of his beauty." Elena didn't speak, but quietly watched the three people who were being fawned over. They're right; Rosalind would be the true Madam Sinclair from now on. Only after the cake was cut did Rosalind come to her side with a wine glass. Speak in a voice that only the two of them can hear. "Elena, I didn't expect that even though your husband has slept with me and your son is calling me 'Mom,' you still can't let go." "If we mess up the banquet, do you think they'll blame you or me?" Before she could react , Rosalind suddenly leaned back. Elena's pupils contracted, and he subconsciously reached out to grab her. But Rosalind avoided her hand and pushed her away instead. Elena lost her balance and fell towards the huge champagne tower. In an instant, countless champagne bottles were thrown at her, and the shards pierced her palms, drawing blood. The loud noise drew everyone's attention. When Vincent arrived, he coldly questioned , "What exactly happened?" Rosalind's skirt was soaked, and she trembled all over. "I just saw that Miss Vance's leg was inconvenient, so I kindly went to help her, but she deliberately pushed me." Elena was covered in champagne, and the wine flowed into her wounds, causing her pain and rendering her unable to move for a while. She opened her eyes, her face covered in alcohol, and looked at the place she had personally arranged. She watched as the guests raised their glasses, admiring her disheveled state. Everyone else in the room was pampered and elegant, but she was the only one who looked like a dissolute woman. Vincent frowned as he looked at the man sitting on the ground in a disheveled state, remaining silent. "Don't you have anything to explain?" Elena simply said calmly, "If I said I didn't, would you believe me?" Vincent was taken aback, but when he noticed Rosalind's trembling body in his arms, the hesitation in his eyes vanished instantly. “You are truly hopeless!” He then picked up the frightened Rosalind in front of everyone and strode away. The birthday party ended badly. The guests present looked at each other in bewilderment, and one by one, they left in tacit agreement. Elena gave a bitter smile and stood up despite the pain. Clutching her bleeding hand, she took a taxi to the hospital.When Elena went to the hospital to treat her wounds, even the doctor couldn't help but frown when he saw her disheveled appearance. "You have too many shards of glass embedded deep in your flesh, and you must have debridement surgery immediately." Elena didn't even frown, and said in a hoarse voice , "Do it." Elena closed her eyes. The tweezers penetrated deep into the flesh, each time accompanied by excruciating pain. Cold sweat soaked through the back of her hospital gown; she bit her lower lip tightly, remaining silent. The surgery lasted nearly three hours. The doctor said gravely, "Your injuries are serious. You need to stay in the hospital for observation for a few days and cannot leave." During her three days in the hospital, no one thought of her. Only the nurses applied her medication on time every day. The nurse had just disinfected and applied medicine to her when her cell phone, which was placed beside her, started vibrating violently. She carefully avoided answering the call while keeping her wound out of sight. "Elena! Why aren't you picking the child up from school? Even if you're throwing a tantrum at me, you can't involve our son. What's wrong with you lately?" The pain from the tugging at her wound made her cry out in pain. "Vincent, doesn't he have a new mother? Why don't you ask her to pick him up?" Vincent was completely unaware of her unusual behavior. Her tone remained harsh. "Just because of a joke, you're making a scene and don't even care about your son?" "I'm married to you now, no one can shake your position as Mrs. Sinclair. Stop being so suspicious and come home!" The call was abruptly ended. The physical pain and mental exhaustion intertwined, leaving her no time to pay attention to his unreasonable accusations. After taking the medication, the pain in her body eased slightly, and Elena was finally able to get out of bed and walk. She walked unsteadily out of the ward, wanting to see her mother. However, as soon as she reached the door of Vance's mother's hospital room, the scene before her made her blood freeze instantly— Several people in hospital uniforms were roughly lifting her unconscious mother off the hospital bed! The woman they were preparing to replace was Rosalind, who was lying on a stretcher, covered in blood. Elena's mind went blank. Before she could rush forward to question him, a small figure with tremendous force knocked her to the ground. Victor clenched his small fists and pounded hard on her legs, crying out. "It's all your fault! It's all your fault for not coming to pick me up. Aunt Rosalind was hit by a car while saving me!" "It's all your fault! You should be the one lying here!" A tearing pain shot through the wound on his leg, and Vincent sternly stopped his out-of-control son. "Stop! Who taught you to talk to your mother like that!" Vincent turned to Elena, his tone carrying a weary sense of matter-of-fact. "There was a car accident on the way to pick up Victor. Rosalind fractured her right leg while saving Victor. Her injury is serious and she needs the best medical environment and equipment to rest. No matter what, you are responsible for her injury, so—" “Rosalind in Mom's hospital room first . Her condition is stable, so moving her to a different place won't have much of an impact." He seemed to want to reassure them, and his tone softened a bit. "Don't worry, the new ward I arranged for Mom is very good, it won't have any impact." "What!" Seeing the people roughly manipulating the breathing apparatus that was maintaining Vance's mother's breathing, Elena rushed forward with red eyes to block them. She looked at the person who had once said she would love her mother as if she were her own mother in disbelief. "Look closely at my mother's condition. She's unconscious, kept alive only by these machines. She can't withstand any further disturbance. These machines can't be turned off or moved! If anything goes wrong..." Vincent paused slightly. Lying on the stretcher, Rosalind let out a few weak coughs. "Vincnet, that's enough. Since Miss Vance is unwilling, don't force her. Auntie's health is the most important thing..." "Although Miss Vance is Victor's biological mother, I am willing to save Victor. As long as Victor is safe, I don't care if I am disabled for the rest of my life." Vincent's eyes instantly turned cold, and the last trace of hesitation vanished. Without hesitation, he ordered the hospital staff. "Take her away." The hospital staff pushed Elena aside and roughly pulled out the tubes from Vance's mother's body. The equipment emitted a few short alarms before being forcibly shut down. Vance's mother was lifted onto a transfer bed. "Stop! Don't touch my mom! Please!" Elena was pushed to the ground, but struggled to get up and staggered as she tried to catch up. But Vincent grabbed her arm, his tone full of impatience. "Behave yourself and don't cause a scene in the hospital." "I told you Mom will be fine, can you stop being unreasonable! Can't you see Rosalind is still crying in pain?" "Let me go!" Elena used all her strength to shake off his hand. Then he rushed out without looking back. As if to confirm what Elena had said, he was transferred to a new ward and put on a backup machine on his first night. Elena was taking a nap by her mother's bedside. Suddenly, a sharp, piercing alarm blared in the quiet ward. On the screen of the electrocardiogram monitor by the mother's bedside, the heart rate line , which represents life , was fluctuating wildly. Finally, it abruptly stretched into a straight, lifeless line. Elena's pupils suddenly contracted, and she stumbled out of the ward, running wildly down the corridor. "Doctor! Nurse! Someone, please help! My mom is in danger—" A nurse on duty ran over upon hearing the noise. Seeing Elena's appearance, she looked both sympathetic and troubled. "I'm so sorry, the patient in the VIP ward has a leg injury and keeps complaining of pain." “All the specialist doctors in the hospital who can handle critical illnesses have been urgently summoned there to stand by. Her husband has ordered everyone to stay by her side at all times… We… we simply can’t spare any more manpower.” Elena felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and an overwhelming sense of despair swept over her in an instant. My body trembled and felt cold from the immense fear. No, you can't do that! She could not break down! Her mother was still waiting for her! As long as there was a glimmer of hope... She ran to Rosalind's hospital room. Without saying a word, she knelt down in front of Vincent. "Vincent, I beg you, please save my mother! I'll do anything you want, please..." But before she could finish speaking, Vincent interrupted her sharply. "Rosalind is like this now, all because of you! I only transferred a few people over, and you couldn't wait to come and put on this melodramatic show to stop me from saving her. Elena, do you even have a heart?" Rosalind's voice was still weak in the ward. "Vincnet , my leg isn't that important. You should still call some doctors to take a look, just in case Auntie..." “There won’t be any mishaps!" Vincent interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "I've arranged for people to keep an eye on things over there, and the equipment is functioning normally. What could possibly go wrong?" He clearly trusted his own arrangements more. He glanced at Elena kneeling on the ground and gave the order to the bodyguards. "Keep an eye on Madam and don't let her disturb Rosalind 's rest!" The hospital room door slammed shut in front of her. "Vincent!" Elena struggled to crawl over and pound on the door. The bodyguard held her firmly, and no matter how much she kicked, punched, or bit, he didn't budge. "Let me go! Let me go! Vincent... no, Rosalind, I was wrong, I know I was wrong, I'll kowtow to you! Please, I beg you, have mercy and save my mother..." The ward door remained closed. Just then, a nurse rushed over and whispered. "Ms. Vance, please accept my condolences." Your mother had just been confirmed to have stopped breathing. We...did everything we could. Elena could no longer hear what the nurse said after that. Overwhelmed by regret and grief, she couldn't even utter a sob. It's all my fault! Why was I not the one lying there? Why wasn't I the one who died? I killed my mother... It was me... In a moment of profound disorientation, Elena's vision went black. The last bit of strength that was supporting her body collapsed.When Elena woke up, her mother had already been taken to the morgue. Looking at her mother's hunched and frail body lying there quietly, Elena could no longer shed a single tear. So quiet it was as if the person who had died before my eyes was not my mother. She staggered and knelt by the bedside, her trembling hand grasping her mother's cold fingertips, just like when she was a child, and whispered, "Mom, let's go home." When Elena took her mother's urn to the cemetery for burial, it happened to start to drizzle. Her figure stood alone in the rain, appearing even more frail. Just then, she felt a warmth on her shoulder. Vincent, who had somehow gotten wind of the situation, stood beside her and draped a coat over her shoulders. He placed the flowers on the tombstone, then pulled her cold, stiff body into his arms. "Elena, I know you are very sad about Mom's unexpected passing, but you still have me and Victor. We will always be with you." Elena's numb and expressionless eyes finally stirred. She wanted to tell him that her mother's death was not an accident. It was Rosalind who falsely conveyed his orders to transfer all the doctors, which led to her mother's accident. But she also knew that even if she told him, Vincent wouldn't believe her. Vincent's embrace was warm, but this time, it couldn't melt the frost in my heart no matter what I did. She stepped out of Vincent's arms and distanced herself from him. Looking at Vance's mother's portrait, his voice was hoarse. "Where's Victor?" Vincent felt somewhat uncomfortable upon hearing this. "Victor got angry because Rosalind was injured for you. He said he would only forgive you and come to pay respects to Mom when you apologize to Rosalind." "He's still young and doesn't understand things. If you're concerned, I'll have someone take care of him right now..." But Elena simply shook her head calmly. "No need." Whether he came or not was none of her business, because from now on, she was no longer his mother. She was no longer anyone's wife. So none of that mattered anymore. Perhaps because she looked too unsightly, Vincent couldn't help but soften his voice. "Alright, Elena, I'll take you home. Don't catch a cold." Elena glanced at her mother one last time before nodding without saying a word. Just as he was about to get into the car, Vincent's phone rang. He glanced at his phone, then looked at her again with a hint of guilt. "Honey, I got word from the hospital that Rosalind 's leg has gotten into trouble again. I'm sorry I can't be by your side." "But I promise you, once I've dealt with things over there, I'll..." "Go ahead, it's alright." Vincent breathed a sigh of relief and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I'll have the driver take you home first. You stay home and wait for me." He then drove away from the cemetery. Elena didn't have the driver take her; instead, she went to the City Hall alone, obtained the divorce certificate, and then returned home to start packing her things. She had previously planned to take her mother with her and move to a better city. But surprisedly she was the only one who left. When she came downstairs with her luggage, she ran into Vincent, who was returning from the hospital. Looking at the luggage in her hands, he frowned involuntarily. "Where are you going?" Elena ignored his displeasure and went downstairs. "Going on a trip to relax." Vincent blocked her way, took the luggage from her hands, and put it aside. Suppressing his emotions, he patiently analyzed the situation with her. “I know you’re upset about Mom’s passing, but have you thought about what will happen to our son if you’re gone? Aren’t you going to care?” "Rosalind is still in the hospital because of you. Even if you want to go out for a walk, it would be more appropriate to wait until she has recovered.” "I know you're not an unreasonable person, are you?" "Rosalind said you're a good cook, so she asked you to make some chicken soup for me to take over." Elena never expected that he would actually say such a thing. But she ultimately didn't want to argue with him anymore, and replied with a wry smile, "I'll do it." Vincent nodded in satisfaction, then instructed that the food be taken to the hospital before leaving. Elena watched his retreating figure. We'd never meet again, Vincent. Instead of going to the kitchen, she placed the dark red divorce certificate on the table. She took one last look at the home she'd lived in for several years, yet which still felt cold, and then took a taxi to the airport. "Dear passengers, welcome to the international airport..." Elena stood at the airport entrance. Before going inside, she pulled out the SIM card, broke it in half, and threw it into the trash can without hesitation. Then, she walked into the airport without looking back.