Chapter 1

"Today's Exclusive: Emerald City's rising star William Spencer was spotted holding hands with the popular dancer Celeste Brown while they were out shopping. The Spencer Group has grown rapidly in recent years under the leadership of the young entrepreneur, and his private life has become a hot topic. According to insiders, Celeste and William have known each other since childhood—"

The TV suddenly went silent, followed by the maid, Tammy's muttering, "I really don't know what Mr. Spencer is thinking. What Celeste? He already has Mrs. Spencer."

A sharp gasp came from the kitchen. Rebecca Percy turned on the cold water and ran it over her reddened, burned hand. Hearing the sound, Tammy rushed over.

"Mrs. Spencer! How could you be so careless? I told you to let me cook Miss Brown's meals. I bet she can't even tell the difference!"

"Just run it under cold water for a while and it'll be fine. Tammy, please help me pack up the food and ask the butler to deliver it to Miss Brown's house."

Although Rebecca spoke calmly, Tammy felt sorry for her. "Mrs. Spencer, your hands are so delicate and fair. They're an artist's hands. They shouldn't be in the kitchen. Miss Brown is so arrogant just because she grew up with Mr. Spencer."

"William sees her as family. Her condition keeps getting better and worse, so we have to go along with whatever she wants. They say it's terminal, but maybe a miracle will happen if she stays happy."

"Does staying happy mean taking someone else's husband?"

"Tammy!"

Rebecca's tone became stern. She despised such pointless complaints and didn’t want anyone interfering in her and William's business. But knowing that Tammy was just upset on her behalf, she softened her voice. "A terminally ill patient wants to spend her final days with the person she loves. William just wants to fulfill her wish. It's just an act."

Tammy pressed her lips together and went back to work silently. The cold tap water kept running, numbing the burn on Rebecca's hand.

Rebecca sat alone at the dining table, eating simple vegetarian food. She had gotten used to William not being home for dinner, but what she couldn't get used to was her son Oliver Spencer not being around either.

"Mom, Celeste says she misses me and bought me new toys. I'm going to see Celeste. I'll be back soon!"

"Okay."

Besides agreeing, Rebecca didn't know what else to say.

She didn't need to think to know that William was right there beside Oliver on the other end of the phone.

Rebecca felt some frustration in her heart, but more than that, confusion. Were William's feelings for Celeste really just about their childhood friendship? Or was it an old flame that never died out, and these past five years, she had just been fooling herself? Was she actually the third wheel?

Just then her phone rang, the screen showing a name she hadn't seen in a while—Aurora Ross.

She answered the call and asked with pleasant surprise, "Aurora, how do you have time to call me?"

"Didn't you see today's news?"

"Huh? Oh, the news is fake. William has his own—"

"I'm talking about MY news!"

"Huh?"

"All you know is revolving around William. Can you care about other people for once? Go look for yourself, and then think about one question: do you want to end your housewife life of supporting your husband and raising your child, and return to the stage? If you want to come back, come find me ."

The call ended, leaving Rebecca sitting there in a daze.

Return to the stage?

Looking at the social media posts about her senior Aurora returning to the country to start a music and culture company, her heart stirred. But soon, that stirring settled down.

With some self-mockery, she sent Aurora a message, politely declining the idea of returning to the stage.

She quickly received Aurora's reply: [I respect your decision.]

She knew Aurora very well. That sentence definitely carried her deep disappointment.

But what could Rebecca do? Five years ago, when she got pregnant unexpectedly, William's words still echoed in her ears:

"I can marry you, but I don't want my wife showing her face in public. Rebecca, people can't be too greedy. Piano and family—you can only choose one."

Even setting aside William's initial demand, Rebecca looked at the thin calluses on her hands. They reminded her that these were a housewife's hands, not a pianist's hands.

When William got home, it was already past nine. Rebecca came out in her pajamas and saw William carrying the sleeping Oliver into the children's room.

"Should we wake him up to wash up first before letting him sleep?"

"He already washed up at Celeste's." William tucked Oliver in.

Rebecca felt a tightness in her chest. As the children's room door closed, William loosened his tie and headed toward the master bedroom. She gathered her courage and followed.

"What is it?"

William had severe OCD and was a light sleeper. In their five years of marriage, they had always slept in separate rooms. Aside from cleaning and tidying his room daily, she wouldn't go in.

"I need to talk to you."

William shrugged and took off his jacket. Rebecca closed the door and took his jacket to hang it up. "Lately, you've been taking Oliver with you to her place all the time. I think this isn't good for Oliver."

William's hands paused while unbuttoning his shirt. He said,

"What's not good about it? Oliver likes Celeste. From the day Oliver was born until now, Celeste has bought Oliver gifts every holiday. During your postpartum depression, Celeste even helped take care of Oliver every day. Now that Celeste is sick, it's only right for Oliver to visit her more often."

Hearing William's matter-of-fact explanation, Rebecca unconsciously clenched her fists.

"Oliver is only four years old. In his eyes, your relationship with Celeste seems even closer than with me. Is that normal?"

"What exactly are you trying to say?" William seemed to be losing patience.

"If Celeste's illness doesn't get better, are you going to keep indulging her like this?" Rebecca's tone was actually somewhat humble, but unexpectedly, this touched William's nerve and drew his angry rebuke.

"Shouldn't I indulge her? She doesn't have much time left! And you're here making a scene!"

"I'm making a scene?" Rebecca's face flushed from pale to red. "You're my husband. You go to be with another woman every day. What's wrong with me asking about it? Am I wrong to ask? You say you're fulfilling her wish, but William, are you really fulfilling her wish or your own?"

William rarely saw Rebecca this confrontational. It was quite different from the gentle, calm, and undemanding person he knew.

In five years, they had treated each other with respect. But he had seen everything she did. Rebecca was a good wife and a good mother. He loved watching her sit quietly on the balcony reading, with sunlight falling on her, giving a sense of peaceful contentment.

"Rebecca, I'm very tired. If you don't want Oliver going to Celeste's all the time, then we'll go less often. Celeste's condition keeps fluctuating. She really can't handle any more stress. Can you be more understanding?"

William held her shoulders, trying to soothe her in a low voice.

Normally, Rebecca would have swallowed all her bitterness, but today, for some reason, she didn't want to just be brushed off like this. She lifted her tear-filled eyes to at William.

"If she's sick, she should see a doctor. If she keeps coming to you, then it's not her body that's sick—it's her brain!"

A sharp slap echoed through the room. Rebecca's face burned with pain.