Chapter 1 · You Pursue Romance, I Guard Home

Chapter 1

Before Valentine's Day, I was trying to pick out an electric toothbrush for my husband, Edward Stone, who was a professor.

But then I saw a review with over ten thousand likes on the store's page.

[Highly recommend! The electric toothbrush from this shop is super durable. I've used it for half a year and haven't had to charge it once!]

Three days later, the reviewer added another comment.

[Sorry for misleading everyone. Turns out my husband's been charging the toothbrush all along. I'm just so scatterbrained. I kept bugging him about it today, and only then did I realize how much he's been doing for me.

[Honestly, I never had to replace the toilet paper. I just thought it was super long-lasting. My streaming subscription for my favorite shows never expires, and I always assumed it was some kind of app bug.

[My lips were chapped for a while, but they suddenly got better. Turns out he's been applying lip balm for me while I sleep.

[He's a university professor. I used to think he wasn't romantic at all, but now I get it. When someone loves you, they have their own way of showing it.]

The comment section was full of playful groans and teasing.

People joked that Valentine's Day hadn't even arrived yet, but they'd already had their fill of lovey-dovey couple moments.

After persistent requests from the netizens, the poster finally shared a photo showing off an elegant, stunning side profile.

I clicked on it with envy, but my smile froze on my face.

The person in the photo was unmistakably my husband, Edward.

Looking at my mother-in-law, who had been paralyzed for six years, and thinking about how Edward was always living at the university, a wave of unease suddenly washed over me.

Sure enough, when I brought my marriage certificate to the city hall, the staff glanced at the official stamp, then looked up at me and said, "I'm sorry, but this marriage certificate isn't valid.

"And as for Mr. Edward Stone, his registered spouse is someone else, Lydia Ford."

My fingers loosened unconsciously, and that blindingly fake marriage certificate dropped to the floor with a dull thud.

A hollow, broken laugh escaped me.

Everyone knew Edward and Lydia had that classic teacher-student bond.

She was his favorite student, the one who really got him.

As for me, I guess I was just the free housekeeper he needed.

*****

With the fake marriage certificate in hand, I stumbled home in a haze, and the same old stink of piss and shit hit me as soon as I walked in.

My mother-in-law, bedridden for six years, needed her diaper changed again.

I wiped her down with a blank face, threw out the trash, and went back to that store's page.

I stared at that familiar side profile for what felt like ages, then finally lifted my gaze.

Looking around at the house, so clean, so tidy, everything in its place, I couldn't help but laugh.

Laughing, I felt tears slip down my face.

Six years.

For six whole years, I quietly kept this family together, without anyone ever noticing.

It was only because I was here that Edward could stay far from his sick mother's bedside, living as the noble, unburdened Professor Stone, without a single care in the world.

But I never expected that, while he was too busy to even give me a wedding, he was out there playing the perfect husband for someone else behind my back.

And that woman was Lydia, the same student who once called me "Mrs. Stone" herself.

I smirked, my lips curling in mockery.

I was just about to comment, [You know you're the side chick, but you still act proud of it. Guess your so-called happiness is only brave enough to show off for strangers online,] when I realized all the comments and photos had suddenly vanished.

Right after that, I got a text from Edward, barking out orders.

[The students are coming over for dinner tonight. Make sure Mom is cleaned up, and cook up a few nice dishes.]

[Especially your famous baby back ribs. Make plenty. I want to take some with me.]

Baby back ribs.

If I remember right, that was Lydia's favorite; last time she came over, she hugged my arm and acted all cute, saying she loved that dish the most.

I was honestly so flattered, I made sure she got plenty and kept piling more ribs onto her plate.

Looking back now, it was just laughable.

I was so clueless, I didn't even notice when the mistress waltzed right in and started playing house.

But six years ago, Edward and I were everyone's idea of the perfect couple.

Chapter 1

Before Valentine's Day, I was trying to pick out an electric toothbrush for my husband, Edward Stone, who was a professor.

But then I saw a review with over ten thousand likes on the store's page.

[Highly recommend! The electric toothbrush from this shop is super durable. I've used it for half a year and haven't had to charge it once!]

Three days later, the reviewer added another comment.

[My lips were chapped for a while, but they suddenly got better. Turns out he's been applying lip balm for me while I sleep.

[He's a university professor. I used to think he wasn't romantic at all, but now I get it. When someone loves you, they have their own way of showing it.]

The comment section was full of playful groans and teasing.

People joked that Valentine's Day hadn't even arrived yet, but they'd already had their fill of lovey-dovey couple moments.

After persistent requests from the netizens, the poster finally shared a photo showing off an elegant, stunning side profile.

I clicked on it with envy, but my smile froze on my face.

The person in the photo was unmistakably my husband, Edward.

Looking at my mother-in-law, who had been paralyzed for six years, and thinking about how Edward was always living at the university, a wave of unease suddenly washed over me.

Sure enough, when I brought my marriage certificate to the city hall, the staff glanced at the official stamp, then looked up at me and said, "I'm sorry, but this marriage certificate isn't valid.

"And as for Mr. Edward Stone, his registered spouse is someone else, Lydia Ford."

My fingers loosened unconsciously, and that blindingly fake marriage certificate dropped to the floor with a dull thud.

A hollow, broken laugh escaped me.

Everyone knew Edward and Lydia had that classic teacher-student bond.

She was his favorite student, the one who really got him.

As for me, I guess I was just the free housekeeper he needed.

*****

With the fake marriage certificate in hand, I stumbled home in a haze, and the same old stink of piss and shit hit me as soon as I walked in.

My mother-in-law, bedridden for six years, needed her diaper changed again.

I wiped her down with a blank face, threw out the trash, and went back to that store's page.

I stared at that familiar side profile for what felt like ages, then finally lifted my gaze.

Looking around at the house, so clean, so tidy, everything in its place, I couldn't help but laugh.

Laughing, I felt tears slip down my face.

Six years.

For six whole years, I quietly kept this family together, without anyone ever noticing.

It was only because I was here that Edward could stay far from his sick mother's bedside, living as the noble, unburdened Professor Stone, without a single care in the world.

But I never expected that, while he was too busy to even give me a wedding, he was out there playing the perfect husband for someone else behind my back.

And that woman was Lydia, the same student who once called me "Mrs. Stone" herself.

I smirked, my lips curling in mockery.

Right after that, I got a text from Edward, barking out orders.

[The students are coming over for dinner tonight. Make sure Mom is cleaned up, and cook up a few nice dishes.]

[Especially your famous baby back ribs. Make plenty. I want to take some with me.]

Baby back ribs.

If I remember right, that was Lydia's favorite; last time she came over, she hugged my arm and acted all cute, saying she loved that dish the most.

I was honestly so flattered, I made sure she got plenty and kept piling more ribs onto her plate.

Looking back now, it was just laughable.

I was so clueless, I didn't even notice when the mistress waltzed right in and started playing house.

But six years ago, Edward and I were everyone's idea of the perfect couple.