Chapter 1
Funny how my husband’s success felt like my failure
When Adrian went broke, I followed him down to that basement apartment. Worked three jobs a day to help him claw his way. back to the top.
When success finally came, he promised to give me a real home. I thought my happiness had finally arrived.[]
But three years into our marriage, I accidentally found the deed to our house.
In the owner’s box: was his first love Victoria Sterling’s name]
I gently pushed the property deed toward Adrian.
Owner: Victoria Sterling“-those words stabbed at my eyes.]
His face went ghost white instantly. He instinctively reached to snatch the paper back, then froze mid–motion.[]
“Elena, let me explain…”
His voice was hoarse, eyes quickly reddening–a look I knew all too well. Every time he felt guilty about me, he’d put on this innocent, fragile expression. Once upon a time, I fell for it every single time.
“Fine. I’m listening.” I picked up my water, my tone unnaturally calm.]
He looked at me, panic flickering in his eyes, as if my composure caught him off guard.
“Victoria… she’s had a rough time.” He struggled with the words.
“Back then, my parents opposed us and forcibly broke us up. She developed severe depression, dropped out of school for a long time, nearly destroyed herself completely.”
“So this house is compensation for her. Elena, this is what I owe her.”
I nodded, showing understanding.
“What about what you owe me?”
Adrian froze, like he didn’t understand what I’d said.
I didn’t look at him again. Instead, I pulled out my phone and found a photo I’d treasured for years. It was taken in our cramped basement apartment–barely ten square meters.[]
A rickety folding table covered completely with debt collection notices. [
In the corner of the
of the photo, you could still see his defeated silhouette from those desperate times.]
“You’ve paid your debt to her with this house,” I said, my voice ice–cold.
“So tell me, Adrian Cross–when are you going to pay what you owe me?”
He looked down, his body trembling violently.]]
The photo seemed to drag him back to those memories of struggling together through bitter hardship.[]
To pay off the Cross family’s astronomical debts, I’d quit my stable job to work three jobs a day. Design work at a company during the day, driving at night, freelance projects on weekends. []
For three years, I slept less than four hours a night.
Once I had a high fever but couldn’t afford the hospital, so I sweated it out under blankets and nearly developed pneumonia.
Adrian held me, sobbing uncontrollably, swearing he’d give me a real home and never let me suffer again.
He’d kept his word. He’d made his comeback, become a business elite.
He’d given me a home–one with someone else’s name on it.]
“Elena.” Adrian looked up, guilt practically overflowing from his eyes. []
“I know you’re the person I’ve wronged most. But Victoria and I are over. You’re the one I love, and you’re my only wife.“]
“I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, okay?” He reached for my hand, his tone nearly pleading. “Victoria has already lost me–she can’t lose everything else too. This house is just me putting a period on our past.“]
I gently pulled my hand away.
“Alright. I understand.”
Seeing I wasn’t screaming or fighting, his expression visibly relaxed, thinking I’d accepted this ridiculous explanation
Meanwhile, I quietly texted my lawyer, asking him to draft divorce papers as soon as possible.]
Adrian hesitated, then spoke carefully: “Elena, can I ask you something?“]
“Victoria’s been having issues with her landlord and got evicted. She can’t find anywhere suitable right now,
“Do you think… could she stay at our place for a while? Just as a temporary arrangement?“]
I almost laughed from pure rage.
Was Adrian completely brain dead?]
“Do you think that’s appropriate?” I asked coldly.
“What’s inappropriate about it?” His voice instantly carried a hint of impatience. [
“Elena, when did y
you become so petty? I told you, she and I are ancient history. You’re all that matters to me.“[]
“She’s in a really bad state right now, all alone. What’s wrong with helping her out?”
“Don’t worry, I would never betray you!” he declared earnestly.]
But he already had.
The moment he decided to gift our home to another woman.[]
“Adrian Cross,” I said, pronouncing each word clearly, “what exactly am I to you?
Some puppet you can manipulate at will?“[]
“Do you think that because I suffered through all that hardship with you, I deserve to be trampled on like this?“]
