Chapter 1

After the third car accident, Daniel Chapman lay in a pool of blood. His aloof wife Valerie Guzman, who always kept her distance, had left him for her foster brother, Terrell Guzman.

After being let down so many times, Daniel dialed his father's number overseas.

"Dad, I've made up my mind. I'm going to take part in the company's new energy research," he said quietly.

He'd spent five years trying to melt Valerie's icy heart, but now he was finally letting go.

Everyone said Valerie was all about Buddhism, keeping herself above the mess of the world. But only Daniel knew that hidden away in her chamber, she was guarding an earth-shattering secret.

After the third car accident, Daniel lay in a pool of blood. His cold, distant wife Valerie, who had always been absorbed in her own spiritual practices, had abandoned him for her foster brother, Terrell.

After all the disappointment, Daniel called his father overseas.

"Dad, I've made up my mind. I'm going to join the company's new energy research," he said quietly.

There was a moment of silence on the other end, and Brody Chapman's voice came through, low and heavy.

"Weren't you hell-bent on pulling that pure and detached Valerie into the mess of real life? So why are you suddenly agreeing to come overseas now?" Brody asked.

Daniel forced a smile, but the more he tried, the more the tears just wouldn't stop.

"I was too young and reckless before. Now I finally understand," he said, his voice trembling.

Brody let out a heavy sigh.

"I've always said that with your talent, you could've developed next-gen electric vehicles for our group. But you were dead set on marrying Valerie, treating her like some living Buddha," Brody said.

Daniel nodded.

"I'll come over once I've sorted things out here. It'll probably take about a month," he said.

After hanging up, the nurse came in with fresh bandages to change his dressing. When she saw Daniel, she couldn't help but sigh.

"Mr. Chapman, this is the third time you've ended up in the hospital this year because of an accident. If this keeps happening, your body's not going to hold up. Seriously, you've got to start looking out for yourself," she said.

Daniel's hand instinctively went to his leg.

In just one year, he'd already had three accidents.

The first one happened right after their wedding. Daniel was all excited for a romantic night with Valerie, but as he was heading upstairs, Terrell had deliberately tossed a banana peel at the doorway.

Daniel slipped and tumbled down the whole staircase, ending up with a nasty fracture and a lot of blood.

But Terrell just sneered and said, "He should've watched where he was going. Breaking his leg? He totally deserved it."

Valerie stepped in front of Terrell, protecting him, her expression icy and distant.

"Terrell didn't mean it. Just watch out next time," Valerie said, her voice cold and distant.

After that, Daniel was constantly on edge at home, doing everything he could to avoid another disaster. But one day, after drinking water Terrell handed him, he suffered a stomach hemorrhage and almost lost his life right then and there.

Daniel snapped at Terrell, his voice full of fury. "Why are you trying to kill me?"

Valerie immediately stepped in front of Terrell, her face hard as stone.

"Terrell's just a kid. He had no idea that putting a drop of poison in your water would be so serious. Can't you cut him some slack as his brother?" Valerie shot back.

Terrell stood behind Daniel, flashing him a cocky grin, totally pleased with himself.

"Come on, Daniel, I didn't do it on purpose! I was just trying to help you get better," Terrell said.

When Daniel stayed silent, Terrell shuffled closer, his face all pouty and aggrieved.

"If you really need to vent, I guess I can say sorry," he added.

As he spoke, Terrell started to bend down, acting like he was about to bow.

But Valerie reached out and grabbed his hand, holding it tightly in hers.

"You didn't do anything wrong, so why should you apologize? Like I said, as long as I'm here, nobody's going to mess with you," she said, fiercely protective.

Valerie's words cut Daniel to the core, stabbing deep into his heart.

From that moment on, Daniel realized that Terrell's place in Valerie's heart was unshakable, no matter what he did.

The third time, Daniel was still recovering at home after getting out of the hospital, but Terrell talked him and Valerie into going out to see the cherry blossoms.

On the way, a truck slammed right into them.

Valerie threw herself over Terrell, and he got away with just a scratch on his hand.

Daniel, though, got pinned under the seat, his foot wedged tight, blood spilling everywhere.

Valerie didn't even look his way. Her first move was to drag Terrell out, not even hesitating.

Terrell looked up at Valerie, panic in his voice. "Valerie, am I going to die?"

He clutched his arm, scared out of his wits over a tiny scratch.

Valerie hugged him tight, her eyes so full of pain it looked like she might break down any second.

"Terrell, it's fine. I promise, nothing's going to happen to you. I'll always be by your side," Valerie said softly, holding him close.

As the two were about to leave, Daniel called out weakly, desperation clawing at his chest. 'Don't leave me here...'

"Valerie, please, help me! My foot's still stuck, and the car's about to catch fire!" Daniel begged.

Valerie just glanced at him.