LOGINOn my birthday, my husband, Adrian Grant, suddenly showed up with my adoptive younger sister, Bella Reed, and her child, Tia Reed. When it was time to head out, he naturally arranged for Bella to sit in the front passenger seat. Then he turned to me and said calmly, "Tia gets carsick easily. The back seat is full of stuff. Since you're healthy, just take the bus." Our friends immediately chimed in, one after another, "You're the older sister. Taking care of your niece is only right." Four cars were heading out, yet not one seat was left for me, the supposed main character of the day. I sat on the bus, swallowing my grievance, and saw Adrian and Bella interacting ambiguously in the group chat. They were even talking about topics I knew nothing about. When I opened the newly sent video, nothing except leftovers remained on the table prepared for me. Adrian even treated the birthday cake I had carefully prepared as dessert, spoon-feeding it to Bella and her daughter. Someone finally couldn’t stand it anymore and asked whether this was appropriate. Adrian, who was carefully wiping Bella’s mouth, didn’t even look up. "We’re all family. Julia won’t be angry." At that point, our seven-year marriage came to its end.
View MoreThe next time I saw Adrian was at my award ceremony.My research had achieved a major breakthrough.After the ceremony ended, he stood at the edge of the crowd, his expression complicated. He walked quickly toward me, his voice hoarse."Julia."I looked at him calmly, as if I were looking at a stranger I hadn’t seen in years.His gaze locked tightly onto me, his voice dry. "All these years, I thought about you every day. Bella’s true colors have already been exposed. She won’t steal your life again. Can you give me another chance?"He tried to reach for my hand, but I was no longer where I had been.I stepped aside lightly, my tone distant. "Adrian, what’s between us ended a long time ago."His face drained of color. He was about to say something when my phone rang at just the right moment.I glanced at the screen.It was a video call from my parents.Over the past few years, they had continued to reach out to me, carefully lowering themselves, cautious and restrained.I an
My sudden disappearance tore apart the family’s false harmony.According to the housekeeper who later helped manage my apartment, the day after I left, both families completely lost their footing.Calls went unanswered. Messages vanished without a trace. I cut off every possible way they could think of to reach me.This total loss of control was what enraged my parents first.Driven by a sense of offended authority, they actually brought Bella and Tia straight to my apartment.My father used the spare key to open the door and shouted into the empty rooms, "This is outrageous! Disappearing without a word! Since she’s so capable, we’ll just act like we never had this daughter!"Bella, take a look. Do you like this place? From now on, you and Tia can live here peacefully!"Bella leaned against my mother, putting on a show of obedience. "Dad, this doesn’t seem right… This is Julia’s apartment."My mother and brother immediately chimed in, their tones sharp."Forget her! Does she e
"Julia, wait!"Adrian’s hurried footsteps came from behind me, uneven and frantic."Julia, I never imagined your parents and brother treated you like this! I’m sorry. My original intention was really just to let Bella talk things through with you. I never expected…"I slowly turned back. "An apology doesn’t change anything."You said you wouldn’t see her again. But the root of the problem was never whether she appeared or not. It was that your heart was standing on her side."His brows knitted tightly as he tried to argue.I interrupted him, my voice calm, "Anything that Bella can take away or shake was never truly mine to begin with. The thought that you once wavered in our relationship because of her is unbearable. That pain is worse than separation. So divorce is the best release.""Impossible! I absolutely won’t agree!""There’s no going back for us." I let out a long breath, turned, and got into the car, leaving him far behind.Three days later, Adrian’s parents asked me
Early the next morning, my mother’s phone calls rang one after another, stubborn and relentless."Come home for dinner today. We’ll treat it as making up for your birthday."A faint warmth stirred in my chest. Deep down, they still cared about me, didn’t they?However, the moment I stepped through the door, everything froze.Bella was holding Tia in her arms, tear tracks still clinging to the corners of her eyes, leaning tightly against my mother.Beside her, Adrian was wearing a worried expression as he handed her tissues.The instant he saw me, Adrian stood up, his tension visible to the naked eye. "You’re here… I brought Bella today so she could personally explain and apologize to you. Julia, can we not get divorced?"Explain? Apologize?A cold laugh rose in my heart as my gaze fell back on Bella.Sure enough, before I could say a word, Bella had already stood up with the child in her arms, tears welling in her eyes."I’m sorry, Julia. This is all my fault…"Adrian only w
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