Chapter 1

"Help! Mrs. Wilson has fallen into the lake!" A chorus of insincere cries for help echoed through the vast villa garden. The housekeepers by the lake appeared frantic with their chaotic footsteps, but none genuinely intended to rescue her. Linda Felix felt the icy water envelop her body. Soon, a warm trickle of blood seeped out, as if something was being torn from her insides. Before she lost consciousness, she saw her imposter, Ida Clinton, whom her mother-in-law, Joanne Clay, had painstakingly brought in. Ida stood with her arms crossed in the pavilion as she watched the scene unfold with a victorious stance. Another set of footsteps approached. Through her blurry vision, Linda caught sight of her husband. His tall figure sparked a flicker of hope. She wanted to call for help, but being submerged in the water, she couldn't utter a word. William Wilson's steps were slow and unhurried. He squatted by the lake and watched Linda struggle with cold and indifferent eyes. The clear water was now stained red from the blood flowing out of Linda's body, turning the small man-made lake a ghastly crimson. Linda's vision blurred further as her strength faded. Darkness enveloped her as she passed out, and the last image of William's indifferent, mocking smile burned into her mind. Voices of the unpunished, fearless housekeepers floated through the air. "Isn't Mrs. Wilson a strong swimmer? How could she not get out of such a small man-made lake? "I bet she's trying to gain Mr. Wilson's sympathy again. After all, Mrs. Wilson always loved these petty tricks." Almost everyone in Osmo knew Linda—Mrs. Wilson—was just a figurehead. William didn't care for her. He married her only because, at the time, he had just taken over Wilson Group and needed the connections to compete with other companies. Linda had appeared then. She was Felix Group's heiress and the apple of John Felix's eye. Her requests were never denied. At 19, she proposed an engagement to William. Under pressure from the company and family, William agreed. They got married when she turned 20, and it had been four years since. With Felix Group's support, William quickly stabilized Wilson Group and expanded his business empire. Meanwhile, after John's untimely death, Felix Group steadily declined. They now fully relied on Wilson Group just to avoid bankruptcy. Everyone in Osmo was waiting for William to kick Linda out of the picture. They anticipated her downfall, and Linda knew she was a joke herself. She had once hoped that her unconditional love over the past four years would thaw his icy heart. Unfortunately, William had no heart. From the moment she fell into the lake and saw William's indifferent eyes, Linda's hope shattered, and her heart died. 15 years of love was nothing but a long, vivid dream, and now marked its end. … Linda awoke to excruciating pain and the sound of machines beeping around her. She slowly opened her eyes and recognized the sterile hospital surroundings. Before she could react, a cold, emotionless voice greeted her, "You're awake." The familiar voice jolted her awake, and memories from before she lost consciousness rushed back. Instinctively, Linda clenched the bedsheet until her veins bulged and her knuckles turned white. William stood by the bed as he glanced down at her. The chill indifference in his eyes sent shivers through her, piercing her to the bone. His expression was inscrutable and devoid of any hint of emotion. Linda let out an abrupt chuckle. It was followed by a slight wince as it pulled at her wounds. She remembered how she used to face William's coldness with a smile and had always run to him eagerly. It was like playing with fire and getting burned. Linda had brought this upon herself. Her one-sided love, carried with naive bravery, ended today. Her love now turned to bitterness that lingered in her throat. Linda took a deep breath and forced a stiff smile. Her voice carried a hint of forced toughness, which seemed particularly ridiculous in the face of her obvious weakness. "You still don't believe me, do you?" William's lips twitched, and his eyes flashed with clear derision. "How could I believe you?" He gripped her chin to force her to meet his gaze. "Didn't you claim you saved me from drowning years ago? If you could swim with someone heavier than you to the shore, why couldn't you get out of a shallow man-made lake?" William scoffed. "Linda, your suicidal stunts only work on those who love you. Pulling it off once or twice might have been interesting, but doing it over and over? You're not just exhausting yourself, but you're exhausting me, too." Her chin hurt from his grip. Linda wanted to break free but was too weak to struggle. "I said I was pushed in. My clothes were heavy, and I couldn't get up. Do you believe me?" Linda knew very well he would believe her. With that, the love in her eyes vanished. William released her, and she slumped back against the pillow with a red mark on her pale face. Her demeanor evoked sympathy. "Do you think I'm a fool?" William's words implied he didn't believe her. Linda mocked herself internally. She stubbornly demanded an answer despite knowing the truth. It was excruciating, like stabbing herself in the heart. She questioned herself if she could sink any lower. "Since that's the case, Mr. Wilson, I'll return your freedom." She forced herself to sit up. "Let's get divorced." The words, simple yet heavy, weighed on her. However, William remained unfazed, with only his gaze still icy. His coldness seeped into her and froze her heart inch by inch. Linda's eyes were empty and devoid of any emotions. "What's wrong, Mr. Wilson? Are you so used to being married to a witch like me that you can't bear to leave?" As soon as she finished speaking, a diagnostic report landed in her hand. But before she could read it, William started, "Linda, you actually used our child as a bargaining chip. You're quite ruthless, huh?" Child? What child? Linda glanced down at the report. Tears she thought were long gone resurfaced. "Intrauterine pregnancy of 61 days, complete miscarriage." That single line felt like a series of daggers stabbing into Linda's already shattered heart. Each dagger twisted and pulled out, leaving gaping wounds that bled profusely. They had a child, and she hadn't known. However, William thought she had used the child as leverage. "It's unexpected, isn't it, Linda? After four years of scheming, your plans finally backfired." His handsome face was cruel. "The child is gone, and you have only yourself to blame. You've killed the child!" Soon, another document landed on the white sheet—divorce papers.