Chapter 1 The Beginning

I zoned out in front of my mother's tombstone for three hours.

Today was her birthday—and also the tenth anniversary of her death.

Red roses were the symbol of my parents' love.

Yet ten years ago today, my father watched with his own eyes as Maria Granger handed a red rose to my mother—an act that shattered her spirit completely.

Red roses became my taboo.

And ten years later, on this very day, my husband brought the woman who caused my mother's death, carrying those same red roses, and dealt me a fatal blow.

Fireworks bloomed in the distance like a rain of light. That was Alistair Yates' celebration banquet, held to mark the successful development of a new drug.

I had led the research team—six months of relentless effort and 180 days of sleepless nights, yet at this moment, it all felt like Maria's victory proclamation.

After saying goodbye to my mother, I stood up and left.

That was when Alistair's call came through.

On the phone, the man's voice was thick with alcohol. "The celebration's almost over. You're the head of R&D—how can you not be here?"

I stayed silent.

In the past, I would've instinctively acted coy, but tonight, I didn't know what to say to him.

His voice rose sharply. "Winnie, I'm talking to you! Where did you run off to?!"

"The cemetery."

He fell silent—as if he had finally remembered that today was the anniversary of my mother's death.

As if he had finally recalled that, for the sake of this new drug, I had given up celebrating my own birthday, canceled our wedding anniversary dinner.

My only request was for him to accompany me to see my mother.

Silence passed before he spoke with difficulty. "I… I was too happy today. I forgot. Wait for me at the cemetery."

I hung up and turned to leave.

Yet, when I reached the parking lot, I received his message.

'Winnie, it's too late tonight. Next time. Maria's drunk. I need to take her home first. Don't worry. I'll make it up to you.'

I wasn't surprised at all.

With Maria's scheming nature, she was bound to cling to Alistair tonight.

I could see through her tricks. A man seasoned in the business world like him could see through them too, but he didn't care because he enjoyed it and never cared about how I felt.

It was fine, though. From now on, I won't care about him either.