Chapter 1 · Her Shattered Hopes, His Excuses, Her Lies

This was the ninth time.

Natalia Surrell was inside the cold operating room undergoing her ninth round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

As the icy medical instruments were inserted into her body, she trembled with pain, but no tears fell from her eyes.

To bear a child for Ingemar Guimond, she had endured 1,326 injections and taken copious amounts of medication.

But today, she was here all alone, to undergo the procedure.

This was because the work of Iliona Limmen, Ingemar's so-called "benefactor sister," had been selected for an art exhibition, and she needed Ingemar to be in Laurentia to "witness" this achievement on her brother's behalf.

A few days later, Natalia sat alone in the hospital lobby, clutching a test result:

"Embryo Arrest."

All her hopes were shattered.

At this moment, a news alert popped up on her phone, [Young Artist Iliona Limmen Shines in Laurentia, Mysterious Tycoon Splashes Out Millions.]

The accompanying photo showed Ingemar tenderly placing a necklace worth millions around Iliona's neck.

Natalia stared at that photo all night.

At dawn, she sent Ingemar a text message:

[Ingemar, I want a divorce.]

*****

Three days later, Ingemar finally showed up.

The sound of keys turning in the lock made Natalia, curled up on the couch, tense up, barely noticeable.

The door swung open, and a mix of men's cologne and women's perfume washed over the room.

Ingemar's tall figure filled the doorway, wearing a custom suit, travel-worn and with a hint of impatience in his eyes.

He carelessly tossed a fancy gift box onto the coffee table, making a soft "thud."

"Here you go," he said, tossing it over.

His tone was dismissive, like he was just brushing off an immature child.

Natalia didn't move, didn't even spare the box a glance.

She looked up, her face ghostly pale, her eyes hollow and haunting.

"I said, let's get a divorce," she repeated.

Her voice was hoarse, yet strikingly clear.

Ingemar's brows knitted together in a deep frown.

He tugged at his tie, strode over, and loomed over her, looking down.

"Natalia, are you done making a scene?" he snapped.

"Is it really worth making such a fuss over one failed IVF? Divorce, seriously?"

The contempt and the way he acted like it was nothing stabbed into Natalia's heart like a needle.

Just one failed attempt?

This was the ninth time.

Natalia had put her heart and soul into this, risked everything for nine times.

But it was just one time in his eyes.

"I'm not making a scene," Natalia said, her eyes finally flickering with emotion, a coldness that could freeze someone to the core. "I'm serious."

That unfamiliar, icy look in her eyes unsettled Ingemar, and he felt a flicker of irritation.

He sat down beside her and reached out, trying to pull her into his arms, but she shrank away from his touch.

He looked a little irritated, but tried to be patient as he explained.

"Iliona's all by herself in Laurentia, and it's her first art show. She's so anxious she hasn't slept a wink. Her brother Morten Limmen died saving me. I can't just leave her on her own."

It was that excuse again.

The name "Morten Limmen" was like a spell that had haunted her for three years straight.

"So," Natalia murmured, almost as if she was asking both him and herself, "is your idea of responsibility being by her side while I'm lying on that operating table, not even knowing if I'll make it through?

"Is it being there to celebrate for her, while I might never get to be a mom again?"

Ingemar was caught off guard by her question, then his temper snapped.

"I told you, it was just a freak accident. The doctor said the procedure was totally safe!" he shot back.

"Natalia, can't you be reasonable for once? Iliona's got no one else; her brother died saving me, and he asked me to look after her before he passed. That's something I can't compromise on!"

Natalia scoffed in her mind.

She laughed, the sound so bitter it nearly brought her to tears.

If that was something he couldn't compromise on, what about her?

As his wife, she had to compromise every time, while he repeatedly trampled on her dignity.

"Ingemar," she said, rising to her feet and stepping away from him. "You don't have to explain anymore.

"Fine. I agree."

Ingemar blinked, confused. "Agree to what?"

"I agree; go fulfill your so-called responsibility," Natalia said, her voice steady as she looked at him. "Let's get divorced. You'll be free, so take care of her however you want. Play the brother, the father, or even the husband. Do whatever you want.

"From now on, you won't have to worry about me anymore."

Ingemar was completely stunned.

He stared at Natalia, and suddenly, she seemed like a total stranger to him.

Before, no matter how much he neglected her, whenever he mentioned Iliona's brother, she'd always back down with tears in her eyes, she'd say, "I understand."

But today, she was eerily calm.

Chapter 1

This was the ninth time.

Natalia Surrell was inside the cold operating room undergoing her ninth round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

As the icy medical instruments were inserted into her body, she trembled with pain, but no tears fell from her eyes.

To bear a child for Ingemar Guimond, she had endured 1,326 injections and taken copious amounts of medication.

But today, she was here all alone, to undergo the procedure.

A few days later, Natalia sat alone in the hospital lobby, clutching a test result:

"Embryo Arrest."

All her hopes were shattered.

At this moment, a news alert popped up on her phone, [Young Artist Iliona Limmen Shines in Laurentia, Mysterious Tycoon Splashes Out Millions.]

The accompanying photo showed Ingemar tenderly placing a necklace worth millions around Iliona's neck.

Natalia stared at that photo all night.

At dawn, she sent Ingemar a text message:

[Ingemar, I want a divorce.]

*****

Three days later, Ingemar finally showed up.

The sound of keys turning in the lock made Natalia, curled up on the couch, tense up, barely noticeable.

The door swung open, and a mix of men's cologne and women's perfume washed over the room.

Ingemar's tall figure filled the doorway, wearing a custom suit, travel-worn and with a hint of impatience in his eyes.

He carelessly tossed a fancy gift box onto the coffee table, making a soft "thud."

"Here you go," he said, tossing it over.

His tone was dismissive, like he was just brushing off an immature child.

Natalia didn't move, didn't even spare the box a glance.

She looked up, her face ghostly pale, her eyes hollow and haunting.

"I said, let's get a divorce," she repeated.

Her voice was hoarse, yet strikingly clear.

Ingemar's brows knitted together in a deep frown.

He tugged at his tie, strode over, and loomed over her, looking down.

"Natalia, are you done making a scene?" he snapped.

"Is it really worth making such a fuss over one failed IVF? Divorce, seriously?"

The contempt and the way he acted like it was nothing stabbed into Natalia's heart like a needle.

Just one failed attempt?

This was the ninth time.

Natalia had put her heart and soul into this, risked everything for nine times.

But it was just one time in his eyes.

"I'm not making a scene," Natalia said, her eyes finally flickering with emotion, a coldness that could freeze someone to the core. "I'm serious."

That unfamiliar, icy look in her eyes unsettled Ingemar, and he felt a flicker of irritation.

He sat down beside her and reached out, trying to pull her into his arms, but she shrank away from his touch.

He looked a little irritated, but tried to be patient as he explained.

"Iliona's all by herself in Laurentia, and it's her first art show. She's so anxious she hasn't slept a wink. Her brother Morten Limmen died saving me. I can't just leave her on her own."

It was that excuse again.

The name "Morten Limmen" was like a spell that had haunted her for three years straight.

"Is it being there to celebrate for her, while I might never get to be a mom again?"

Ingemar was caught off guard by her question, then his temper snapped.

"I told you, it was just a freak accident. The doctor said the procedure was totally safe!" he shot back.

"Natalia, can't you be reasonable for once? Iliona's got no one else; her brother died saving me, and he asked me to look after her before he passed. That's something I can't compromise on!"

Natalia scoffed in her mind.

She laughed, the sound so bitter it nearly brought her to tears.

If that was something he couldn't compromise on, what about her?

As his wife, she had to compromise every time, while he repeatedly trampled on her dignity.

"Ingemar," she said, rising to her feet and stepping away from him. "You don't have to explain anymore.

"Fine. I agree."

Ingemar blinked, confused. "Agree to what?"

"From now on, you won't have to worry about me anymore."

Ingemar was completely stunned.

He stared at Natalia, and suddenly, she seemed like a total stranger to him.

Before, no matter how much he neglected her, whenever he mentioned Iliona's brother, she'd always back down with tears in her eyes, she'd say, "I understand."

But today, she was eerily calm.