Chapter 1

My sister-in-law got bitten by a viper, and the only antidote in the whole city was locked up in my husband's lab.

I was frantic and called him right away.

But instead of bringing the serum, he snapped at me over the phone.

All I could do was watch helplessly as my sister-in-law took her last breath in the ICU.

Later, I found out that very same night, his lab junior had also been bitten by the same snake.

There were actually two doses of the antidote, but being afraid one wouldn't be enough, he gave both to her.

I was furious, demanding to know why he hadn't come to save our sister.

He shot back without hesitation. "She's always reckless and asking for trouble. If she hadn't gone near the snake, she wouldn't have been bitten!

"And besides, she's just some high school kid. Sophie is a top talent—her life is worth way more than your sister's!"

Seeing how righteous he looked while saying that, I went completely silent.

Turns out he never realized—the one who'd been bitten was his own sister.

*****

At midnight, I got an urgent call that sent me rushing to the hospital.

My husband's sister, Emily Cooper, had been bitten by a venomous snake during a school stargazing trip.

By the time I arrived, Emily was already in the ICU, fighting for her life.

The doctor said that the snake wasn't even local. The only antivenom available in the whole city was kept at a biotech lab.

And my husband, Ethan Cooper, just happened to be in charge of that lab.

I started frantically calling him.

I must've dialed his number dozens of times before he finally answered.

But before I could even say a word, Ethan cut me off angrily.

He said, "Didn't I tell you already? I'm having an academic discussion with Sophie. Can you just stop calling me over and over again?"

When he brought up Sophie Grant's name once more, a stab of pain shot through my chest—but this was life or death, so I couldn't waste time arguing with him.

"Emmy has been bitten by a snake. Your lab has the only antivenom that can save her..." I went straight to the topic, ignoring his questions.

Ethan replied impatiently, "Don't be ridiculous. The lab doesn't belong to me. You think I can just walk in and take whatever I want whenever I feel like it?

"Besides, we've only got two vials of that antivenom. Do you have any idea how expensive that stuff is? Your sister has always been so reckless. Maybe it's about time she learned her lesson.

"If she dies, that's on her."

My sister? Before I could even explain that it was his sister Emily who got bitten, not my sister Amy, Ethan hung up on me.

I stood there, phone in hand, completely stunned.

We were husband and wife. Even if the person bitten was really my own sister, how could he say something so vicious?

Since when had Ethan become so bitter toward me and my family?

I told the doctor that Ethan wasn't going to help us, in a desperate voice.

The hospital started reaching out to hospitals in the next city, hoping to get their hands on the antivenom somehow.

Just as I was scrambling to reach Ethan again, my phone suddenly lit up with a call from my best friend.

"Julia, did you seriously give your family's heirloom necklace to someone as a present?" she asked.

I was stunned for a moment as I processed her words.

"Are you talking about my emerald necklace? No way—I've kept it locked in my home safe all along," I replied, confused.

"Quick, check Sophie's social media. What is going on?" my friend urged.

I fumbled to open my social feed. The latest post was from Sophie.

It said: [I finally have new research results—huge thanks to Ethan for the gift! I will keep working hard.]

The picture was of her wearing a beautiful V-neck evening dress. Around her neck was my emerald necklace.

That necklace was passed down to me by my grandmother on her deathbed. There was only one in the world—no duplicates, ever.

I just kept staring at that picture. My chest was so tight it felt like I couldn't breathe—I couldn't even force out a single word.

But honestly, this wasn't even the first time Ethan had given my things to her.

The first time, I came home from a business trip and found my limited-edition teddy bear gone.

After I turned the whole house upside down looking for it, Ethan just rolled his eyes and said, "It's just a stuffed bear. Sophie dropped by and thought it was cute, so I gave it to her. Aren't you a little old to be obsessed with these things?"

The second time, I caught Sophie brazenly taking photos in my wedding gown—the one I wore to marry Ethan.

I was furious and went to Ethan, demanding how my carefully treasured wedding gown ended up on Sophie.

But he just brushed it off like it was totally normal, and even said I was being petty.

"Sophie wanted some bridal photos. Her skin is sensitive. She'd probably have an allergic reaction if she wore a rental dress. You really need to stop being so stingy," he'd said, clearly annoyed.

And now he'd taken my heirloom necklace. Three times he had crossed the line with my things.