Chapter 1

The sensual, intimate sounds from the bedroom finally died down. I stood outside the door, waiting for whatever command might come next.

Charles Hughes pushed the door open, the woman in his arms still trying to catch her breath.

I just watched quietly, my gaze lowered, pushing down the storm inside me.

I had once been a noble lady of the Empire of Avia, but after traveling through time, I became the wife of the CEO of Hughes Corporation.

After ten years of shared life and companionship, I had slowly fallen head over heels for Charles.

I thought we'd be together forever. But everything changed the moment his sweetheart, Emily Blue, returned to the country.

For her, Charles threw caution to the wind and after repeatedly trying and failing to hold onto him, I finally realized that some things just weren't meant to be.

Later, when he flaunted his affection for her in front of the entire world, I offered my blessings.

He humiliated me repeatedly for Emily, yet I never uttered a word of complaint.

He thought I had come to terms with the situation—that I was willing to be the stepping stone of their romance.

He had no idea that I had been preparing to walk away from him for good.

*****

Ever since I crossed into this strange world ten years ago, I woke up to find myself married to a man out of the blue.

Charles had the looks, the background, and the family name—everything was spotless. He had only one flaw. He didn't love me.

His heart belonged to Emily, who had gone overseas for treatment for kidney failure.

"What are you standing here for? Did you forget to run Emmy's bath?" Charles frowned at me, already losing patience.

I snapped back to my senses and murmured a soft "alright."

The bathroom was filled with a soothing aroma as Emily slipped out of her clothes and eased herself into the warm water.

I set her dirty laundry in the basket, lined up her slippers, and poured a bit of oil into my palms before working it slowly into her shoulders.

Emily let out a contented sigh. "Sophie, your hands were even better than the pros at those fancy spas. Charlie really struck gold when he married you."

I paused for a beat at her words, but I didn't stop massaging her shoulders.

Back in my old life, maids used to serve me like this. I picked up a thing or two from them.

But ever since Emily returned half a year ago, Charles had ordered me to bathe her and massage her after they spent the night together.

"Emmy must be exhausted after a long night. Take good care of her," he would say, never giving a thought to how I felt.

I didn't have the right to fight back. All I could do was obey.

Maybe she caught the look in my eyes, because Emily chuckled softly. "Don't feel sorry for yourself. After all, you owe me."

Hearing that, I forced a smile, though the bitterness sat heavy in my chest.

She was right. I did owe her. I stole her husband. I stole her health.

When I first woke up in this world, the very first person I saw was Charles' mother.

Her face was clouded with worry, and the first thing she told me was that she needed me to repay a favor.

"Sweetie, don't blame me for dragging you into this mess," she said. "I healed your illness. It wasn't what you wanted, but you did get your life back. I won't ask much from you. I just need you to take good care of my son. That alone will give me peace."

Only then did I learn that the body I had taken over was dying from kidney failure and Charles' mother had given me a new kidney. It was Charles' kidney.

Back then, Emily suffered from the same illness as I did. She was in critical condition, and once Charles found out he was a match, he immediately agreed to donate his kidney to save the woman he truly loved.

But Charles' mother despised Emily. She refused to let Emily marry Charles, and she'd never let Charles save Emily.

So she sabotaged the surgical arrangement and made sure the kidney that was meant for Emily ended up in me.

After that, Emily left the country to keep up her treatments, and Charles, threatened by his mother's talk of taking her own life, married me.

After we got married, Charles treated me neither warmly nor coldly. We were polite strangers sharing a roof. Life was dull but manageable until his mother slipped up.

When Charles found out, he was so enraged that he coughed up blood on the spot.

From that day on, he despised me, resented me, and tormented me every chance he got. I stopped being his wife and became nothing more than something he vented his anger on.

He moved my bedroom to the dark, damp basement and ordered the servants to give me only leftovers.

Those days without sunlight dragged on for five years until Emily finally came back.

Then he stopped tormenting me and devoted all his time and tenderness to her, forcing me to serve the woman he treasured.

I was once a lady from a noble family and had been reduced to less than a house pet in the Hughes Estate for ten long years. If this was all to repay a debt, I had paid it in full.

That evening, I called Charles' mother. "We need to talk."

The lady on the other end sighed deeply, speaking as if she had been expecting this. "I suppose this day was bound to come eventually."

"I know what you're about to say. You've been through so much, and none of it was ever your choice. I really thought Charles would come around and treat you the way you deserved, but I guess I just didn't realize how stubborn he could be..." She trailed off, beginning to sob.

I understood her difficulty as a mother, but I had no desire to empathize. "Please book a flight for me in three days' time. Anywhere will do. This ten-year farce is long overdue for an end."