Chapter 1

On the day of our marriage registration with Fintan, the daughter of his nanny, who had secretly loved him for 10 years, drove her car into us.

I fell into a vegetative state and slept for three years, while Fintan tirelessly cared for me.

He publicly declared that I would always be his only wife.

But behind closed doors, he passionately made love with Seraphina, the culprit, right by my hospital bed, their love turning to hatred.

"It's all your fault for hurting Serenity. This is the punishment you deserve."

Seraphina begged for forgiveness, coyly saying,

"I was wrong, Mr. Gerald. To atone for my sins, I'll take Serenity's place and fulfill all your physical needs."

My heart was torn to pieces.

After I woke up, he swore to make me the happiest woman in the world.

But all I wanted was to never see Fintan again, to have no more connection with him.

"Fintan, brother..."

Seraphina's restrained yet sugary voice echoed in my ear.

Ninety-nine times.

This was the ninety-ninth time Fintan had "punished" Seraphina in my hospital room since I regained consciousness.

"Gevano, how many times do I have to tell you that you don't have the right to call me by my name?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Gerald."

Fintan's voice remained cold and unfeeling.

"If it weren't for you, Serenity wouldn't be in a vegetative state, and I wouldn't be without my darling."

"This is what you owe us. Take it."

Seraphina pleaded in a coquettish voice, her soft sobs filling the air.

"It's my fault, but I've already atoned for three years. All these years, Sister Serenity has been lying in bed, well-fed and cared for, while I've been nothing but your nameless outlet for frustration. Haven't I been punished enough?"

Fintan slapped her across the face, his voice filled with rage.

"Not enough. Your sins run deep, and I'll torment you for a lifetime. I'll make you beg for life but be unable to die. That's the only way to do right by my Serenity."

He dragged Seraphina to my bedside, his tone icy."Get down on your knees and apologize to Serenity!"

"Your face disgusts me. Only looking at Serenity turns me on."

Seraphina lowered her head in humiliation. She knelt before my bed, apologizing while trying to comfort herself.

"Seraphina won't cry. Seraphina will atone properly~"

"I'm sorry, Sister Serenity. It's all Seraphina's fault."

Listening to their commotion, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand, intense pain washing over me.

I couldn't tell if it was psychological or physical nausea, but my chest felt tight and uncomfortable.

Their rapid breaths intermingled, making me want to vomit.

Even though I'd heard it ninety-nine times before, I was still furious.

They were right in front of me, but I had no way to make them leave.

After everything quieted down, Fintan pulled away mercilessly and spoke with cold indifference.

"Remember to take your medicine."

His icy tone made it seem like he wasn't the one who had just been passionate.

Seraphina looked utterly dejected as she bit her lip and said,

"I want to atone. I want to have a child for you and Sister Serenity."

Seeing that Fintan didn't immediately object, she boldly continued."The doctor says Serenity might never wake up. I'll have a child for her. Mr. Gerald, you'll get old someday. When the child grows up, they can continue to take care of Serenity."

Fintan cast a demeaning glance at her, his eyes dark and unreadable.

He paused for a few seconds, then spoke coldly.

"You're not worthy."

"My Serenity will wake up. The mother of my child will only be Serenity."

"Get out..."

Seraphina's eyes filled with tears as she picked up her clothes from the floor one by one.

She held up the clothes that had been torn into strips and said, biting her lip.

"They're torn. I can't wear them."

A thinly veiled invitation. Fintan sneered and grabbed Seraphina's hair, pulling her to his chest.

"Are you trying to seduce me?"

Fintan, unsatisfied, held her in his arms and continued a new round of conquest.

The air was filled with the nauseating scent of hyacinth.

The man who was deeply in love with me and would marry no one else three years ago was now intimately entangled with another woman right in front of me.

I felt an overwhelming sense of humiliation, tears uncontrollably streaming from the corners of my eyes.The pillow was soaked through, and Fintan, lost in the throes of passion, failed to notice the slight twitch of my fingers.