Chapter 1
Right after I gave birth, my husband, William Goodwin, took our newborn and coldly handed him to his childless sister-in-law, Charlotte Whitmore.
"Charlotte is too frail to have children. You're still young, you'll have more in the future," he said.
William remained unmoved by my desperate pleas.
I gritted my teeth and endured seven long years, making myself small and insignificant before him, all to complete the system's task.
Until one day, the system chimed in with a message: [He's fallen in love with you. Mission complete. Leave or stay?]
I chose to leave without a second thought, without even looking back at him.
As I faded away, my body growing see-through in his arms, that man who had always been so calm went completely mad, banging his head against the wall, scouring the whole city, desperate to find some way to call my soul back.
*****
In the birthing chamber, I used up the last of my strength, and then I heard the loud, clear cry of a newborn.
It was a boy.
My son.
The midwife wrapped him up and laid him beside my pillow.
He was so tiny, so soft, his eyes closed, his tiny fists clenched tight.
I smiled.
The door creaked open.
My husband, William, the youngest marquis around, walked in, his whole aura icy cold.
He didn't spare me a single glance.
His eyes were locked onto the swaddled baby lying next to me.
"Bring him here." His voice was cold as ice.
The maid stepped forward and carefully took the baby from my arms.
My heart lurched with panic. "My lord..."
William took the baby, his movements anything but gentle.
He turned and walked toward the door.
There, at the door, stood his sister-in-law, Charlotte.
She was dressed in a thin, plain gown, looking so frail that a breeze could knock her over. Her face was pale as a sheet, her eyes red from crying.
William handed her the baby I had brought into this world, the child I fought so hard for. "Charlotte, from now on, he's yours."
My mind buzzed and went totally blank.
Charlotte clutched the baby, tears pouring down her cheeks, and bowed before William. "Thank you for letting me have him."
Letting her have him?
Letting her have what?
I struggled to sit up, but a sharp, tearing pain ripped through my lower abdomen. "William!" I called out his name with a hoarse voice. "Give me back my baby."
William finally turned to face me, his gaze icy and indifferent, as if I were nothing but a stranger to him. "Charlotte is so frail, she'll never be able to have children in this lifetime.
"You're still young. You'll definitely have more someday."
His words felt like shards of ice, piercing right through my chest and making my heart ache.
I cried, pleading with him. "No, that's my baby, the child I carried for nine months. Please, give him back to me."
Charlotte clutched my son, shrinking back, looking scared out of her wits.
William's brows furrowed, his face showing nothing but impatience. "Enough. Evelyn, mind your place. You're the mistress of Goodwin Manor. Falling apart over a child, how disgraceful."
With that, he turned away, guarding Charlotte and my baby, and left without another glance.
The door slammed shut behind him.
The room reeked of blood, and my heart felt frozen.
I lay on the cold birthing bed, tears rolling silently down my cheeks.
Despair swallowed me whole in an instant.
Just then, a cold, emotionless mechanical voice rang out in my mind, "Ding! Capture System successfully activated.
"Target: William Goodwin.
"Mission: Make him fall for you genuinely.
"Time limit: Seven years.
"If you succeed, you can choose to leave this world for good."
*****
Seven years flew by in the blink of an eye.
Everyone in Goodwin Manor knew that I, Evelyn, was as meek as a doll, never showing a hint of temper.
I was gentle, humble, and even a little petty.
Day in and day out, I managed everything in Goodwin Manor for William.
He still treated me with the same cold indifference.
It was as if I weren't his wife at all, just another servant in the house.
My son, Andrew Goodwin, was claimed by Charlotte as her own and raised as her child.
He was growing up so quickly, and every day, his features looked more and more like William's.
Andrew was smart, well-behaved, and the apple of everyone's eye in Goodwin Manor.
But as his birth mother, I was only allowed to see him once a month.
Today was the day I got to see him again.
In the garden pavilion, Charlotte had Andrew in her arms, teaching him to recite a poem. "A loving mother's hands weave the thread, stitching clothes for her wandering son..."
Andrew's voice rang out, clear and bright.
When Charlotte saw me, she hurriedly rose to her feet. "Evelyn, you're here."
She smiled softly, as if we were inseparable sisters.
Andrew popped his head out of her embrace, his eyes full of curiosity as he looked at me.
He called out, "Lady Evelyn."
My chest tightened all of a sudden.
I crouched down, reaching out to touch his cheek. "Andrew, how have your lessons been lately?"
But he instinctively pulled away, hiding himself even more in Charlotte's arms.
Charlotte gave me an apologetic smile. "He's a little shy."
Just then, William finished his work and happened to walk by the garden.
He saw us and came over. "What are you talking about?"
Charlotte quickly said softly, "Andrew learned to recite A Wanderer's Song. I was sharing this happiness with Evelyn."
She gave Andrew a gentle push. "Andrew, go ahead, greet your parents."
"Dad," Andrew called out to William.
Then he turned to Charlotte and called out, clear as a bell. "Mom."
That word was like a bolt of lightning, crashing in my ears.
I was frozen in place, barely able to breathe.
Charlotte stroked Andrew's head, her face betraying a quiet satisfaction.
Even William cracked a rare smile.
He couldn't help but smile as he watched them, the perfect picture of a loving mother and dutiful son.
No one cared about how I felt.
I was nothing but a bystander.
I dropped my gaze and turned my face away.
System announced, "System prompt: William's affection: 10%."
Seven years had passed.
All that, and only ten percent.
I pressed my fingertips into my palm.
When I spoke again, I forced a smile into my voice. "That's great. Andrew is so smart.
"Charlotte, you teach him so well."
It was only then that William seemed to notice my sadness.
He glanced at me, his voice cool and indifferent. "If you like children so much, why don't you have another one yourself?"
His tone made it sound like he was granting me some kind of favor.
I looked up at him, meeting his deep, unfathomable gaze.
At that moment, I couldn't help but wonder.
When his affection for me finally reached one hundred percent, when he loved me so much he couldn't live without me, the moment I decided to walk away, what kind of look would he have on his face then?