The Vast Milky Way, the Endless Night

As the sole heir to the prestigious Mary family, Mary had broken two cardinal rules.

First, she should never have fallen for the man in her marriage of convenience.

Second, she should never have handed her heart to Kevin, time and again, only for him to trample it underfoot.

The first time, a sudden attack of acute gastroenteritis left her in too much pain to move. Enduring the agony, she called Kevin. His response was dismissive: "If you're sick, see a doctor. I'm busy."

The thirty-sixth time, she was in a car accident. Dazed and disoriented, she managed to dial his number. She'd barely gasped, "I've been in an accident," before he cut her off impatiently. "Mary, these pathetic cries for attention are beneath you." Then he hung up.

On the fifty-second occasion, she discovered she was pregnant. Elated, she went to tell him—only to overhear him confiding to a friend: "Mary and I? It's just a transaction. You know my heart only has room for Shirley."

Five years of marriage, reduced to a transaction. She'd thought that even in a marriage of convenience, if she poured enough of herself into it, some sincerity might reach him. In that moment, her last illusion shattered.

Without hesitation, Mary had her assistant book the earliest available appointment for a termination.

Her first act after the procedure was to go to the office and reclaim the Northgate Project—the billion-dollar deal she'd just handed over to Kevin.

She'd barely begun when he stormed in.

"Mary, you can't touch this project!"

He strode into her office, ignoring any pretense of courtesy.

Leaning back in her executive chair, Mary gave him a cool, dismissive glance. For the first time, she addressed him from a position of power. "Oh? And why is that? This project belonged to my family. I'd like to know why I'm suddenly forbidden from reclaiming what's mine."

Just then, his phone chimed. He frowned at the screen, his voice laced with threat. "If you insist on interfering, I'll make sure you regret it."

Before she could reply, he spun on his heel. The office door slammed shut with a violent bang, rattling the glass.

Mary couldn't help herself—she followed him.

His car eventually stopped outside a secluded villa in the suburbs. From a distance, she watched as a slender, pale-skinned woman emerged. She looked familiar, but Mary couldn't place her.

Then she saw her face clearly. Her hand flew to her mouth, teeth biting into her lip hard enough to draw blood, stifling a gasp.

It was Shirley—the woman the Kevin family had taken in and raised as their own.

The legendary Shirley—the woman who held his heart.

Eight years ago, he had cut ties with his family for her. He'd taken menial jobs—delivering takeout, hawking trinkets at flea markets—a staggering fall for a Kevin heir. But for reasons unknown, he'd returned to the family fold alone after just two years. Some said Shirley had died. Others whispered she'd betrayed him...

Since then, he had never mentioned her name. Mary never imagined she'd see her again, and certainly not like this.

The woman stood there, her clothes thin against the breeze that tangled her hair. Kevin hurried forward, shrugging off his jacket to drape it carefully over her shoulders. His tone held a gentle, chiding warmth. "Be good. Go rest. Don't worry about the project; I'll handle it."

That unique tenderness, so starkly different from the cold hostility he'd shown her moments ago, felt like a physical blow. She bit down on her lip until she tasted blood, her nails digging into her palms.

She had never known he could care for someone so deeply. She had never known one person could occupy his heart for so long.

So long that her own five years of effort had failed to make even a dent...

The wind stung her eyes. Mary looked up at the sky, blinking back tears with a forced smile.

She stumbled home in a daze, a heavy exhaustion pulling her toward sleep.

Perhaps she'd caught a chill that afternoon. A fever came in waves, pulling her deeper into confusion. In her delirium, she murmured, "Kevin... I feel awful... Water... please..."

Suddenly, warmth enveloped her hand. Strong arms hauled her upright, a comforting heat spreading across her back. A cup of hot water was pressed into her grasp. She gulped it down greedily, choking until tears welled in her eyes.

"Slow down. Feeling better?"

At the familiar voice, she struggled to lift her eyelids. It was Kevin.

She nodded, about to ask what he was doing there, when he spoke first.

"You've always wanted me to take you to a movie, right? How about tomorrow? I'll have someone book the tickets."

He sounded almost enthusiastic. Mary only frowned.

"Kevin, what do you really want? Besides the Northgate Project?"

"Mary!"

His temper flared. "You know Shirley's back, don't you? My people saw you near her villa! Don't even think about causing trouble for her! That project means nothing to you. Why are you suddenly so determined to fight for it? Is it really about the deal, or are you just using it as an excuse to target her?"

Growing more agitated, he reached out and gripped her jaw. Pain brought tears to her eyes. She summoned all her strength to shove him away.

"Kevin!"

She let out a cold, bitter laugh.

"So it's fine for you to keep your precious mistress tucked away, but I can't come and see for myself? Besides, the Northgate Project belongs to my family. I gave it to you on a whim, and I can take it back whenever I please. Get out! Get out of my house right now!"

Her finger trembled as she pointed toward the door. The man watched her outburst impassively before finally turning and walking out without a backward glance.

Mary snatched up a pillow and hurled it at the closing door. Half an hour later, she dialed a number she hadn't called in years.

"Shen Yuheng? That proposal you made five years ago... I accept. You've got yourself a deal."

If Kevin could keep a mistress, then she could keep a lover. Two could play at that game.