Chapter 1

Emily Summers and Alexander Grant's five-year-old daughter, Lily Grant, didn't survive her second bone marrow transplant. She passed away on the operating table.

"Do you want to wait for the father to come and say his last goodbye?" the crematorium worker kindly offered.

Emily shook her head with reddened eyes, tears streaming down her face.

Upon recalling how the proud Alexander repeatedly begged the young college student to donate her marrow to Lily, Emily felt like her chest was being repeatedly struck by a blunt instrument.

Emily knew how much he adored Lily. If he learned their daughter was gone, the shock might shatter him completely.

So, for now, she decided to keep it a secret.

She then took one final, lingering look at Lily's face. Tracing Lily's soft skin with her fingertips, Emily choked out two words, "Cremate her."

*****

When Emily Summers walked out of the crematorium, clutching Lily Grant's urn against her chest, she suddenly remembered her daughter's final wish.

"Mommy, I still haven't thanked the lady who donated her bone marrow to me... Could you give her this painting for me?" Lily had whispered weakly, her voice faint and fragile.

Ever since Lily got sick, Alexander Grant had always been the one in contact with that university student.

Now that Lily was gone, Emily felt she had to fulfill her daughter's wish herself.

Following the address Alexander had once given her, she arrived at an apartment building. After double-checking the door number, she froze.

Through the glass window, she saw a man kissing a young woman. And that man was unmistakably her husband, Alexander.

When they finally pulled apart, Sophie Lane leaned weakly against his chest, her breathing uneven, eyes red with guilt.

Her voice trembled as she looked up at him. "If your wife finds out you stopped me from donating bone marrow for Lily the second time because you were worried about me, will she hate me?"

Alexander gently wiped away her tears, his tone tender.

"My dear Sophie, we spared Lily from more pain. If anything, she should be grateful. And anyway, did you forget who begged me for a kiss after the first donation, saying it was the only thing that could ease the pain?" he whispered.

Sophie's cheeks flushed crimson. Tears welled up again. "Mr. Grant, how's Lily now? You really should go check on her. And whatever this is between us, it's wrong. I can't be the one to break up your family. Please, just go。"

As she tried to push him away, Alexander caught her hand and pulled her close, his voice low and urgent. "Are you trying to drive your hubby crazy? You know I only have eyes for you."

Sophie gave a soft laugh, half-annoyed, half-sweet. "Since when did you become my hubby?" she asked. Her face was flushed bright red, like ripe cherries.

Alexander tilted her chin up, his gaze darkening. "We've already shared a bed. If I'm not your husband, then who am I?"

Sophie melted into his arms, acting coy. "I was wrong, Mr. Grant..."

He chuckled softly, his eyes burning as he looked at her lips. "Then you owe me a little reward."

Sophie stood on her toes, brushing her lips against his in a quick kiss before playfully pushing him away. "Oh, come on, you lure me here with dad duty, but your real plan is to get me into bed?"

Alexander didn't look the least bit bothered. He loosened his tie and stepped closer, his gaze practically smoldering. "My bad. But you're young and beautiful. I just can't get enough of you, my sweetie. So... how about spoiling me a little more tonight?"

Emily stood frozen at the doorway, arms wrapped around Lily's urn, trembling violently.

Her mind reeled back to the day Lily was first diagnosed with leukemia. She could still see Alexander outside the church, his eyes bloodshot, crying out in agony toward the altar.

"Punish me! Why punish my daughter? She's only five," he had cried, voice cracked and desperate.

And yet now, that same man who had once begged God for their daughter was tangled up with the very woman meant to save her life.

While Lily lay dying on the operating table, he'd been protecting his lover instead.

Emily didn't know how long she'd been standing there until Alexander finally stepped out, looking smug and satisfied. The moment he saw her, he froze, shock flickering across his face. "Darling?" he called out.

Her bloodshot eyes locked onto his. "Alexander, why?" she demanded, her voice shaking.

He frowned, grabbed her wrist, and started pulling her toward the stairs. "Let's talk downstairs. She just fell asleep," he muttered.

Pain stabbed through her chest, her eyes burning so hot they felt ready to bleed.

In the car, Alexander lit a cigarette. The flame flickered, throwing shadows across his sharp features. He looked completely composed, not a hint of remorse in sight.

"Darling, you saw everything, so stop pretending. I'm in love with Sophie now. Like it or not, I'm staying with her," he said flatly. "But don't worry. Mrs. Grant will always be you. Once I've had my fun, I'll come back."

"No. I won't allow it!" Emily's voice cracked, tears streaming down her face. "If you're going to keep seeing her, then we're getting divorced."

She couldn't take it anymore—not the betrayal, not the thought that Lily had died because of all this.

Alexander gave a low chuckle and slowly slipped off the black gloves he always wore. The base of his pinky was gone.

"Darling," he said coolly, "I cut off my own finger to make my family accept you. Mention divorce again, and I'll drag you down with me. Just do as I say—I'm only having a little fun. When it's over, I'll come back."

Emily stared at the brutal scar, tears filling her eyes.

Six years ago, when her grandmother had fallen gravely ill, Emily, a junior in university, had been forced to drop out and work as a hostess at a bar to make ends meet.

That was where she'd met Alexander, the wild, reckless man who couldn't take his eyes off her. He'd been obsessed from the start, chasing her relentlessly.

To marry her, a woman from the wrong side of town, he hadn't hesitated to cut off his own finger, forcing the Grant family to give their approval.

But why?

How could the man who once bled for her now hold another woman while telling her he still loved her?

"And Lily? How could you do that to her?" Emily choked out, her whole body trembling

At the mention of their daughter, something flickered in Alexander's eyes—guilt, faint but there.

"Lily never had a single peaceful day after she got sick. The first transplant failed, and things were only going to get worse. Letting her go early was mercy, Emily. No need to drag anyone else into this," he said coldly.

"Oh, and tell Lily I'll visit in a few days. When the time comes, we'll be with her for the last stretch."

Emily's throat tightened. She almost told him Lily was already gone.

But when she saw the half-hearted guilt in his expression, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

All he cared about now was his lover. He was probably wishing Lily would just die, so nothing would hold him back.

Seeing how pale she looked, Alexander opened his mouth to speak, but his phone rang. Sophie's soft, sleepy voice came through the speaker.

"Mr. Grant, where did you go?" she murmured.

Emily froze. Alexander hung up immediately, then bolted out of the car, eager to get back to Sophie.

Before leaving, he turned back, his voice cold and sharp. "Darling, you know how much I hate people touching what's mine."

Emily watched his back as he walked away, pain curling tight in her chest. She pressed a trembling hand against her heart, and a bitter, broken smile formed on her lips.

It was time to use those divorce papers he'd signed himself.