Chapter 2

I looked down at the check.

Last year, my family collapsed. My father fell ill due to stress, and his medical bills were more than six figures a month.

Every time I went back home, my stepmother complained that I wasn’t taking enough from Ethan.

“He’s the CEO of Anderson Pharmaceutical Group, worth billions.”

“Jonna, you’re his wife. Isn’t his wealth yours?”

I bitterly smiled. How could Ethan’s wealth be mine?

He didn’t love me, and he was cold and distant.

Our marriage had only sex, no love.

He wouldn’t even let me have his children.

Every time we were intimate, he reminded me to take my birth control.

Yes, I had to take the pills.

I took the bottle, poured one out, and swallowed it numbly.

After swallowing the pill, I gently opened a drawer.

Inside, there was a thick journal filled with my love for Ethan when I was 18 years old.

Ten years. I had loved him for ten years. I quietly closed my eyes.

This one-sided love seemed like it was about to end.

I didn’t wait for Ethan to come home.

My dad had another acute attack and was rushed to the ICU. His condition was critical, and they needed to operate immediately.

I stood in the hospital hallway, calling Ethan repeatedly, but no one answered.

Just as I was about to give up, Ethan finally answered.

I was afraid that he’d lose patience, so I spoke quickly.

“Ethan, my dad—”

But my words were interrupted by Ethan’s voice, tinged with impatience.

“Do you need money?”

“I’ve told you many times. If you need money urgently, talk to Secretary Quinn. Jonna, are you listening?”

I looked up at the electronic screen, frozen, seeing the news of the day.

The CEO of Anderson Pharmaceutical Group had rented out Disney and spent an entire night putting on fireworks for a girl.

Beneath the fireworks, a young girl sat in a wheelchair, smiling sweetly.

My husband, Ethan, stood behind her wheelchair, holding his phone, talking to me.

I blinked slowly. After a long pause, my voice cracked.

“Ethan, where are you?”

There was a brief silence on the other end. He didn’t seem happy about me checking on him but still responded dismissively.

“I’m still busy. If you’re done, I’ll hang up. You can talk to Secretary Quinn.”

He didn’t notice the tears in my voice, but he looked down at the person beside him with a soft expression.

Everything before me blurred. Ethan could be so gentle too.

Behind me, I heard my stepmother’s voice.

“Did you get through to Ethan? If he doesn’t help, there’s nothing we can do.”

But she stopped mid-sentence when she saw the scene on the screen.

After a long pause, my stepmother finally found her voice.

“He’s gone to City A again.”

“Jonna, I don’t believe it. When Ethan was unconscious, this woman, Winnie, played the piano and woke him up.”

“Even if that’s true, is this how you repay him? He can’t even remember your birthday.”

The more she spoke, the angrier she got. Thinking about our family’s situation, she couldn’t help but cry.

“Jonna, you need to be clear-headed. Don’t make things worse with Ethan now.”

I clenched my fist, my nails digging into my flesh, but I couldn’t feel the pain.

I wouldn’t make things worse with Ethan, not because I, as Mrs. Anderson, was understanding.

But I had no right, as the unloved wife, my title was nothing more than a formality.

I stared at the fireworks in the sky and softly said.

“All those fireworks must have cost a fortune, right?”

My stepmother didn’t understand my meaning. I lowered my head and started dialing Secretary Quinn’s number.