When I'm Not Loving You

Though Micheal loved me deeply, When he was deceived by Ruby's lies,He lost the ability to distinguish right from wrong. He believed that I had killed his grandfather for the inheritance and that I had slept with other men and was pregnant with that man's child.So he cruelly subjected me to humiliation again and again. When he personally pushed me into the abyss, all the love turned to ashes—never to return in this lifetime...

— Take It Off

"0711, step forward."

The prison hall was brightly lit at night. Over three hundred female inmates in identical uniforms stood silently.

Inmate number 1174, Aria, stared at the gynecological examination table in front of her, her body trembling with fear.

“No. I don’t want an exam.”

“Take off your clothes. You’re pregnant. This is a routine daily check-up. It’s also Mr. Smith’s orders,” the female guard said expressionlessly.

The moment she heard Mr. Smith, Aria trembled even harder.

Micheal. He was merciless. It had been six months—was he still not done humiliating her?

Every single day for the past six months, she was forced to strip naked in front of all the female prisoners and guards.

Then, shamefully, she would lie on that examination table, spread her legs, and allow the doctor to touch her from chest to bottom while everyone watched…

“No. I want to see Micheal. I want to see him! If he doesn't come, I won’t do the check-up.”

Instead of stepping forward, Aria backed away. The cold examination table looked like a monster, ready to devour every last shred of her dignity.

Every time she was examined, she felt crushed into the dust.

If it weren’t for the child, if it weren’t for finding out who framed her—she would’ve long given up on living.

“Aria, this prison is Mr. Smith’s doing. You think just because you want to see him, he’ll come running? Keep dreaming.”

“Take off your clothes. Hurry up. Or do you want us to help you undress?”

The other inmates in the holding area stared at her with gleaming eyes, excitement written all over their faces.

Aria trembled even more violently. She had resisted once before—and they had swarmed her.

Not only was she stripped naked, but the women had pinched and twisted her all over…

She couldn’t go through that again. She would rather die.

Clenching her eyes shut, Aria turned and charged toward the wall.

“Stop her!” the guard shouted.

Crash! Several inmates rushed over and grabbed her uniform without hesitation.

Suddenly, a warm wetness spread beneath her. Fluid flowed down her legs. Aria’s face turned pale.

“M-My water broke… I… I’m going into labor…”

The guard glanced at the blood and fluid on the floor. Premature labor. Not her problem.

“Alright, show’s over. Everyone back to your rooms.”

Aria’s eyes widened. Go back to her cell like this? Alone?

She grabbed the guard’s arm. “Tell Micheal! This is his child. If anything happens to the baby, he won’t forgive you!”

That got the guard’s attention. She clearly panicked.

“Fine. Go back to your cell and wait. Whether the child lives or dies… Mr. Smith will decide.”

Stumbling back to her cell, pain tearing through her abdomen, sweat poured down Aria’s face.

She barely made it to the wooden bed before something slipped out of her with a rush. A baby.

She gave birth.

Aria looked over with joy. The premature baby, wrinkled and small—looked just like her.

Bang! The cell door swung open. Micheal walked in with a cold expression.

“Who gave you permission to give birth?”

Aria froze. “Micheal, look at her. She’s your flesh and blood!”

“What’s this, then?” Micheal flung a photo and a report at her.

Without another word, he picked up the newborn and took a wet white cloth from the guard behind him.

He covered the baby’s tiny face.

In an instant, the baby stopped breathing.

Only air going out—none coming in…

Fed to the Tibetan Mastiff

“No…!” Aria’s face was pale. Her body, still weak after giving birth, had no strength left, yet she still struggled desperately to get off the bed and snatch her daughter back from Micheal’s hands.

With just a glance from Micheal, the female guard stepped forward and pinned Aria down. She was completely immobilized, forced to watch with tears in her eyes. “Even a vicious tiger doesn’t eat its cubs. She’s your biological daughter. How could you be so cruel to her?”

Micheal cast a contemptuous glance at the baby and sneered. “Is she really mine?”

“She is, of course—”

Before Aria could finish, Micheal interrupted coldly, “Whether she is or not, I wouldn’t dare keep a child born from a vicious woman like you!”

Hearing “vicious woman,” Aria was momentarily stunned, then realized he was referring to the accusation that she had pushed his grandfather down the stairs.

She watched helplessly as her baby—so tiny, so fragile—barely had the strength to struggle anymore. Her cries were growing weaker and weaker. Aria’s heart shattered. She hurried to explain, “I didn’t push him! The child is yours, Micheal, you have to believe me!”

“I, Micheal, only believe in evidence.” He glanced at the photos and reports he had thrown at Aria earlier.

Aria quickly picked them up, only to freeze when she saw the big bold words on the DNA report: No biological relation. Her eyes widened in disbelief. “How can this be? She’s clearly yours! There must be some mistake…”

“I watched the doctor draw the blood myself. The test is accurate. This little bastard—she deserves to die.” Micheal’s eyes glinted with cruelty as he tightened the white cloth over the baby’s face.

The baby’s cries weakened further. What began as tiny kicks and struggling hands was now reduced to faint whimpers.

“No, don’t…” Aria suddenly exploded in desperation, breaking free from the female guard in a frenzy. She fell to the ground with a thud and crawled to Micheal’s feet. “Micheal, she really is yours! I beg you—please, just let her live…”

“You should have thought of that when you were cheating on me. When you pushed my grandfather. This is what you deserve.” His voice was ice.

“No… no…” Aria tried to grab the baby, but suddenly, the infant’s little leg twitched—then fell still. Her cries stopped altogether.

The room went silent.

Under the white cloth, the baby’s tiny mouth, which had still been faintly breathing, no longer moved.

“Ah…” Aria stared at the child in horror.

But Micheal hadn’t finished his cruelty.

He kicked Aria aside, then turned and tossed the dead baby to one of his men outside. “Throw her in the cage. Feed her to the Tibetan Mastiff.”

A loud bark rang out from outside.

Aria’s mind was filled with horrifying images of her baby being torn to shreds by the dogs. Her daughter—barely born—had been smothered by her own father.

And now… fed to the dogs…

Her body went limp, covered in blood, as she passed out.

Michael left the room and walked to the yard.

In the dog cage in the yard was just a doll in the shape of a baby. It was precisely the fake baby whom he had just tried to strangle in the room.

His assistant brought over a sleeping baby.

The assistant asked, "What should we do with Aria's child?"

Looking at the baby's cute appearance, Michael's face showed a look of fondness. He thought to himself how wonderful it would be if this child were his own.

After a long silence, he asked the assistant to send the baby to an orphanage and instructed that the little baby must be taken good care of.

—

When she woke, dawn had already arrived.

Aria lay on the floor of a bedroom. She struggled to lift her eyes and realized—this was the old master’s room which is also Grandpa Michael's room.

A nurse was performing emergency treatment on the old man.

“I… I didn’t push him… my baby…” Aria’s voice trembled.

The image of her daughter being smothered and thrown to the dogs flashed through her mind. Her gaze turned hollow as she stared blankly at the bed.

“You’re awake?” a woman’s voice asked coldly as she walked over.

It was a nurse—one hired after the old man was paralyzed. Back then, Aria had already been sent to prison by Micheal.

“You… who are you…”

The woman strode over, then suddenly grabbed Aria’s disheveled hair and yanked hard. “Who I am isn’t your concern. But since you harmed Micheal’s grandfather, you don’t deserve to be his wife. Why haven’t you agreed to the divorce yet?”

“Ah—it hurts…” Aria instinctively tried to pull away. Her scalp felt like it was about to be torn off.

“That hurts? Oh, there’s worse coming.” The woman sneered, pulling a thin needle from her pocket and driving it straight into Aria’s arm…

Such Despicable Deceit

"Ah..." The long needle pierced into her flesh, sending a searing, bone-deep pain through Aria’s body, snapping her into full awareness. "Who are you? I’ve never wronged you… Why—why are you doing this to me?"

To Aria, this woman was a complete stranger. So why was she tormenting her like this?

She was completely baffled.

"Because you pushed the old man down the stairs, of course! Hahaha!" The woman stood arrogantly, looking down at Aria who was curled up in pain, trembling all over. "Micheal left you here to repent before the old man. Since you're awake, go kneel by his bedside."

"I won't! I want to see Micheal!" Aria struggled to get to her feet. She had just given birth to her daughter—not even fully out of the danger of postpartum complications—and she should have been resting in a soft bed, caring for her newborn. Instead, Micheal had thrown her unconscious body onto a cold floor, in a room without even a blanket.

The thought of her daughter pierced her heart like a blade. Micheal… He was a butcher. A monster. He would rot in hell.

The woman glanced at her wristwatch and gave a small, smug smile. “Alright. Once you’ve knelt before the old man, I’ll go call Micheal.”

Without thinking much, Aria stumbled to the old man’s bedside. The patriarch was still unconscious, his body paralyzed, and her heart ached as she looked at him.

But just like her, he was a victim too. She didn’t push him. Now that she was back, she was determined to uncover the truth.

She had to find out who really pushed the old man down the stairs.

Thinking back carefully, only three people were in the villa that day. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t figure out who the real culprit was.

But one thing she was sure of—just as the old man was pushed, she had happened to step out of a room, and that coincidence had framed her in Micheal’s eyes as the "culprit."

“Grandfather… I didn’t push you. Please wake up. Please tell Micheal the truth…” Aria sat by the bed, whispering helplessly. She wished so badly for the old man to wake up, to restore everything to how it used to be. Then she could clear her name.

But the old man remained silent and still. Looking at all the tubes attached to him, it seemed like he could stop breathing at any moment.

Suddenly, a shadow fell across the bed.

Aria didn’t think much of it, continuing to hold the old man’s hand, speaking softly to him, hoping her voice could reach him—bring him back.

But then, without warning, the old man began gasping violently. Before Aria could even react, the shadow beside the bed abruptly pulled back—and the door behind her burst open.

Micheal’s tall figure strode into the room.

“Aria! Who gave you permission—”

He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze snapping to the old man. Panic flashed across his face as he rushed forward. “Who told you to pull out his oxygen!?”

“Ah…” Aria finally noticed something was wrong—the old man’s distress was due to his oxygen being removed. Flustered, she scrambled to reconnect it—but before she could reach the tube, a heavy force slammed into her.

Micheal’s kick sent her flying across the room, crashing into the wall.

"Ah!" Aria let out a cry of pain. Her already fragile body couldn’t take such an impact. She couldn’t even stand up anymore.

The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth—she was bleeding.

“Mr. Smith, I’m so sorry—it’s all my fault. She said she was Mrs. Smith, and begged me to let her see the old man. I couldn’t bear to refuse her…” The nurse beside them—her voice trembling, face full of ‘fear’—knelt down, looking absolutely ‘terrified.’

“Ruby, get up. This isn’t your fault. She already pushed the old man once—she could do it again. Hurry, go help save him!”

“O-okay!” Ruby wiped the ‘tears’ from her eyes and hurried to assist in resuscitating the old man.

The room was in chaos, with Ruby and Micheal frantically trying to save the old man.

Aria lay slumped on the floor, staring blankly at their backs, unable to believe the sheer despicableness of this woman named Ruby.

She hadn’t pleaded. She hadn’t touched anything. She didn’t pull out the oxygen tube.

It was Ruby.

Ruby pulled it out…

A Deranged Woman

"Micheal, it was her! That woman unplugged the oxygen, not me!" Aria, once again wrongly accused, snapped. She staggered up and rushed toward Ruby, pointing at her with a trembling hand.

Micheal spun around and gripped Aria’s throat with one powerful hand. "I saw it with my own eyes—you were at the bedside, she was across the room. And you still dare to deny it?"

Aria felt the air drain from her lungs. In her mind, she saw her baby girl’s tiny body from yesterday, lifeless and struggling for breath. Her eyes welled up with blood-red fury. "It really was her, Micheal! And someone else pushed Grandpa too. Micheal, I—"

Smack!

While still choking her with one hand, Micheal landed a brutal slap across her face with the other.

"If Grandpa doesn't make it through this, don't think I won't take your life myself, Aria."

"Grandpa was always so good to me," she gasped, barely able to speak. "Why would I ever hurt him?"

She really couldn't breathe anymore.

Why, Micheal? Why won’t you believe me?

Everything she said was the truth.

Micheal gave a cold laugh and abruptly released her. "Fine, then I’ll let you die knowing exactly why." He gestured toward his men outside the room. "Bring it here."

"Yes, sir."

A minute later, a bodyguard brought him a thick envelope. Micheal opened it, pulled out a document, and shoved it in Aria’s face.

"This is why. Because Grandpa found out you were cheating on me, that the child wasn't mine. He changed his will and cut you off completely. And then, you tried to kill him to silence him. Aria, you truly disgust me. If you hadn’t tricked me that night and used your pregnancy to pressure Grandpa into forcing me to marry you, do you think I’d have ever chosen you?"

"I didn’t— I didn’t scheme that night. I don’t even know what happened… I went into that room and then you— you just came at me and…"

That night was her first. He’d taken everything from her. She’d gotten pregnant with his child. Didn’t that mean he should have married her?

"Aria, I was drugged that night! And the one who drugged me was you! You wanted the Smith family fortune so badly, you were willing to do anything to marry me. You plotted every move. And I endured it, for Grandpa’s sake—because he wanted to see a great-grandchild before he passed. So I married you.

And this is how you repay me? By trying again and again to kill him? Aria, you’re a twisted, heartless woman!"

Micheal roared with rage. His hands found her throat once again, squeezing even harder this time.

"I didn’t… I didn’t drug you…" Aria couldn’t even finish her sentence.

Her face turned as pale as a sheet.

She was dying.

Micheal was going to strangle her to death.

But she hadn’t drugged him. She had no idea what really happened that night at the party. She had been just as much a victim, losing her virginity to a man she hadn’t even known was coming. It had all happened without warning.

No. She couldn’t die. Not like this.

She had to live—to uncover the truth behind everything, to expose whoever had been setting her up from the start. If she died without doing that, she’d never rest in peace.

Aria had never done those terrible things, and she never would.

Mustering all the strength she had left, she raised her hands and tried to push Micheal away. Her only hope now was to stay alive and make him regret it—regret everything he’d done, especially letting their baby die.

But Micheal stood like a mountain—tall, cold, immovable. She couldn’t budge him at all.

Her face grew whiter.

Her body was going limp.

Suddenly, from the bedside where Ruby was still trying to resuscitate the old man, came a panicked voice:

"Mr. Smith! The old master—he… he…"

The Humiliation of Kneeling

Rain drizzled steadily.

Aria knelt quietly in the mud.

Dozens of funeral wreaths lined up in a neat row, and an oversized portrait hung inside the mourning hall.

She had been kneeling outside for over six hours.

The old master was dead, and Micheal was convinced she was the murderer.

She wanted to move, but she couldn’t. Her legs were tied together in a kneeling position, and her hands were bound behind her back.

She wanted to cry out her innocence, but she couldn’t. Micheal had sealed her mouth with tape, rendering her cries unheard by heaven or earth.

All she could do was watch helplessly as Micheal stood beside Ruby in front of the mourning hall, receiving condolences from the Smith family’s relatives and friends.

Ruby had gained Micheal’s trust during the time she spent taking care of the old master.

Aria thought Micheal was laughable—he’d been completely fooled by Ruby. It was Ruby who had pulled the old master’s oxygen tube.

Unfortunately, there were no security cameras in the old master’s room.

In her ears, it seemed she could hear her mother crying—right outside the Smith family’s gates.

Her mother had come.

She desperately hoped her mother could save her.

At this point, the only person who might truly help her was her mom.

But knowing Micheal, there was no way he’d let her mother in.

Night fell.

A breeze swept past, and Aria trembled all over, her soaked clothes clinging to her skin.

The old master’s burial was in three days, and Micheal had ordered her to kneel for all three.

The rain kept falling, and Aria swayed in place under the storm.

Micheal had gone in for dinner.

Ruby, holding an umbrella, approached Aria. At that moment, they were the only ones at the entrance of the mourning hall.

“Aria, doesn’t it feel great to be falsely accused?” Ruby mocked.

Aria raised her head and glared at Ruby with all the fury she could muster. If looks could kill, she’d have ended that wicked woman on the spot.

More than anything, she wished Micheal would walk out right now and see Ruby’s true face.

Only now did she finally understand a painful truth—seeing is not always believing.

What Micheal saw was all a lie. A complete and utter lie.

And everything she said—the truth—no one believed.

“Staring at me won’t change anything,” Ruby sneered. “You should start thinking about what Micheal will do to you after the funeral. What do you think—will he smother you? Feed you to the Tibetan mastiffs? Or maybe bury you alive to keep the old man company in the afterlife?”

At the words “smother” and “feed to the dogs,” Aria’s body convulsed.

Scenes of Micheal smothering her daughter and feeding her to the mastiffs replayed in her mind like a nightmare. Silent tears rolled down her face. Every time she thought of her child, her heart broke anew.

Ruby took a step closer and slapped Aria’s face roughly.

“Mmm, just kneel there and cry. Think about how your daughter died. You’ll end up worse than her,” she spat.

Aria couldn’t speak, but her hatred burned like wildfire. She hated this woman, a stranger who had tormented her so viciously. With a sharp turn of her head, she lunged toward Ruby, wanting nothing more than to end her.

But Ruby was quick. Sensing her intent, she took a step back, letting Aria fall to the ground, bound and helpless.

“Tsk tsk, you brought that on yourself. Tried to attack me and tripped instead. Not my fault, Aria,” Ruby said with a wicked grin. “Now lie there in the mud, drink some rainwater, have a taste of dirt—enjoy your feast.”

With that, Ruby turned and strutted off.

Aria lay sideways in the rain, still bound in that humiliating kneeling position.

She hadn’t even had a minute of proper rest after childbirth. Now, wind and rain battered her broken body.

She was dying.

Escape from the Villa

"Ma'am, are you alright?" The old butler approached Aria with sympathy in his eyes. The mourning hall had originally been left to Ruby to watch over, but she'd gone to the bathroom, leaving the area completely empty.

From a distance, the old butler had seen Ruby humiliating Aria. Remembering how kind Aria had always been to him, he couldn't bear to ignore it any longer.

Aria slowly opened her eyes in a daze. A black umbrella was held above her head. When she realized it wasn’t Micheal or Ruby, she snapped awake and began to whimper, “Mmm… mmm…”—pleading for the old butler to remove the seal from her mouth.

He hesitated briefly but, seeing no one else around, carefully peeled the tape away.

“Ma’am… is it true? Is the child really gone?”

“James, my child is truly gone. I didn’t harm the old master—really, I didn’t. It was Ruby! She pulled out the oxygen tube, not me.” Finally, finding someone she could talk to, Aria rushed to get the words out.

“You’re sure it was her?” James was stunned.

“Yes! It was just me and her in the room. I was watching over the old master when she suddenly pulled the oxygen out. Just as Micheal walked in, she framed me! James, I swear I didn’t do it. And that day when the old master fell down the stairs—it wasn’t me either. When I got to the top of the stairs, he had already fallen.”

“I always thought there was something off about that nurse,” the old butler murmured. “When the master was around, she never left his side. But the moment he stepped away, she’d hide in her room watching movies or listening to music…”

He fell into deep thought, then looked at Aria again—this time with trust in his eyes.

“Ma’am, let me help you get away. Go find out the truth. I believe you can.” That was the only thing keeping Aria alive—her determination to uncover the one who had framed her.

That day, when the old master fell down the stairs, there were only three people in the villa. And yet, she couldn’t figure out who the culprit really was—none of them seemed capable of doing it.

James hesitated.

“James, the old master treated me so well. How could I possibly hurt him? And that will… it looked like his handwriting, but something felt off. The strokes were shaky—he always wrote so neatly.”

James’s face darkened as he thought it over.

He’d followed the old master his whole life—he understood him better than Micheal ever did. “Alright, I’ll release you. Young madam, you must uncover the real killer. Don’t let them get away with this.”

“James, I…” Her hands and legs were finally free, but Aria didn’t know what to say.

At that moment, a single “thank you” felt far too shallow for what she truly felt.

Gratitude.

So much gratitude.

At last—someone believed her.

Her limbs were numb, and she trembled as she tried to stand. Her whole body tingled with pins and needles. “James… I’m going now. I’ll return to avenge the old master.”

“This way—through the back door. Hurry, come with me.” James led her to the rear of the house and opened the gate. “Go now. If Micheal finds you, you’ll never get another chance.”

“What about you, James?” Aria looked back, worried. If Micheal found out he was the one who let her go, he might punish him too.

“I’ve served the old master for decades. If Micheal dares touch me, then so be it. I’ll join the old master. At least I’ll have company in the afterlife.”

“James…”

“Go! I’m just joking. Micheal cares for me almost as much as the old master did. Don’t worry.”

That, Aria believed. With that reassurance, she turned and ran into the night.

Micheal—when I return, I’ll prove my innocence.

– It Must Be Investigated

Penniless, Aria didn’t even have money for a cab.

She stuck to the more remote roads, wanting to get as far away from the Smith family as possible.

“Aria.”

Just as she was walking, a familiar voice called out from behind.

Aria froze, then turned to see Philip — the man who appeared in those incriminating photos of her with Micheal.

Micheal was convinced that her child belonged to Philip.

Yes, she and Philip had grown up together as the best of friends, practically childhood sweethearts — though she had only ever seen him as a buddy, a brotherly friend. But that relationship had been exploited by someone with ulterior motives.

“You… what are you doing here?”

“Come with me.” Philip took her hand and led her into a car parked by the roadside. It sped off, quickly putting distance between her and the place that had become so dangerous for her.

“Philip, what a coincidence…”

Philip gave a bitter smile. “Aria, it’s no coincidence at all. I heard that Micheal brought you back from prison to the villa. Your mom and I have been waiting outside every day. She guarded the front gate, I kept watch at the back. I can’t believe I actually caught sight of you. Aria, I’m sorry — this all happened because of me.”

“It’s not your fault.” Nothing had happened between them, really — someone had dragged Philip into this just to frame her.

“Aria, where do you want to go? I’ll take you.”

“To the Smith Hotel.”

“Aria, why there?”

“I keep thinking that whoever framed me for pushing the old man must be connected to the person from that night at the Smith Hotel. That night at the banquet, something happened between me and Micheal that never should have — and I ended up pregnant with his child. I believe that night was the beginning of the trap.”

“Aria, that was over seven months ago. Even if someone did set you up back then, it’d be nearly impossible to find evidence now. Besides, knowing Micheal, I’m sure he’s already investigated it. With how sharp he is — if he truly believed you’d tricked him — there’s no way he wouldn’t have checked.”

“I don’t care. I have to investigate.”

Right now, all the blame pointed at her, claiming she was the one who killed the old man. But no one knew better than Aria herself that she hadn’t done it.

And if it wasn’t her, then someone else had to be behind it.

“Aria, do you want to rest a little first? Also… are you hungry?”

Only then did Aria hear the loud growling of her stomach. A bit embarrassed, she admitted, “I… I actually am hungry.”

Her determination to uncover the truth had been so strong that she’d completely ignored her own discomfort.

Thanks to Philip’s reminder, she realized she really needed to eat something and get a good night’s sleep to recover before diving back into the investigation.

“Come to my place.”

“No.” Aria immediately objected. Micheal had always believed she and Philip were involved — if she suddenly disappeared, he’d definitely go after Philip.

“Don’t worry. Ever since your incident, I’ve moved. I live quietly now — only your mom knows where. It’s safe.”

“Alright then.” Hearing that, Aria gave in.

She had thought she was all alone in the world. But now, she realized — there were still people who cared about her. Like James and Philip.

Just the fact that they believed her… made everything worth it, no matter how the investigation turned out.

Aria devoured three packets of instant noodles, then collapsed into bed.

She slept for a full twenty-four hours. Deep in her slumber, something suddenly pressed on her shoulder — someone was shaking her.

“Who is it?”

窗体顶端

- Marrying You Was a Twist of Fate

"Aria, it's Mom."

Aria looked up and, seeing her mother Isabella, threw herself into her arms.

"Mom, I finally get to see you again. Mom... you've lost weight."

Isabella gently patted her back.

"Aria, you've been sleeping too long. I made some chicken soup to nourish you. You still have over twenty days left in your postpartum confinement. Don't go out again, okay?"

"No, I have to go out."

Aria turned to look out the window—it was already dark again. She had slept too long.

"Mom, I have to find out who pushed the old master down the stairs before he's laid to rest. I need to avenge him and clear my name," Aria said with determination.

"You silly child, even if you do find out, so what? By then, your body will be ruined. No woman who's just given birth should be running around like that. If you get postpartum illness, even the best doctor won’t be able to save you."

"Mom, I'm not afraid."

She had already lost her daughter. This revenge—she had to take it.

She would hate Micheal for the rest of her life.

Isabella patted her back again.

"Let’s not talk about this for now. I'll go get the soup. Drink a bowl first."

"Okay."

Aria nodded. The aroma of chicken soup drifting from the kitchen felt like a dream.

It had been more than half a year since she'd had a proper meal. Every day since then had been torment.

But being back with her mom… even if this wasn't their home, as long as Mom was here, everything was okay.

Four dishes and a soup—all her favorites.

"Mom, where’s Philip?" Aria asked as she ate.

"He went out. I asked him what for, but he wouldn’t say. Sigh, that boy’s still so introverted."

"Mom, I've been thinking—who set me up? What do you think?"

"Sigh… I want to ask you the same thing. Aria, who could it be?"

Aria shook her head. It seemed her mom was just as puzzled.

It was clear she had to investigate. Only then could the truth come out.

The old master’s cremation and funeral were tomorrow. Tonight, she had to uncover the truth.

Time was tight, but even if it was just luck, she had to try—better than waiting around doing nothing.

"Aria, you and Philip should leave this place. The farther, the better…" Isabella sighed, brushing aside the stray strands of hair on Aria’s forehead with tender affection.

After finishing her last bite, Aria stood up.

"Mom, I'm heading out."

"Aria, it’s no use. Micheal must’ve investigated too. If even he couldn't find anything and still believes it was you, what more can you do?" Isabella tried to hold her back, clearly worried.

"Mom, after eating your cooking, I’m back to full power. Don’t worry, your daughter won’t be defeated that easily. That Ruby woman has never seemed like a good person—it was her who pulled out the old master’s oxygen tube. I will prove to Micheal who the real killer is."

"Aria, let me come with you."

"No need. The more people, the bigger the target."

Aria changed clothes and left Philip’s apartment, taking a cab straight to Smith Hotel.

It was at the banquet held at Smith Hotel that everything changed.

She had been working as a waitress and was delivering food to a room when Micheal suddenly arrived.

That night, Micheal took her.

That night, she became pregnant with his child.

That night, the old master ordered Micheal to marry her.

Micheal probably never knew—she had fallen for him since middle school.

Back when Micheal returned to their school to give a speech, she’d been sitting in the front row. From that moment on, she became his fangirl.

She liked him.

So, when the old master asked Micheal to marry her, she didn’t resist.

Marrying the man she loved—it felt like fate.

Who would have thought that what she believed was fate would turn into her personal hell.

Scheming Vixen

Aria left the apartment and headed straight to the supermarket. She bought a pair of sunglasses and a revealing outfit—something she'd never worn before. She tied her long hair into a high ponytail. By the time she arrived at the Smith Hotel, it was already past 10 p.m.

She walked in confidently, her appearance completely different from before. Even the doormen who used to know her didn’t recognize her.

When she reached the front desk, she noticed the manager had changed. Aria frowned slightly, wanting to ask someone about the old manager’s departure. After all, it had been that very manager who arranged the banquet that night.

For a moment, she didn’t know who to turn to.

That night, when she entered that hotel room, she had just been doing her job.

Someone had ordered food, and the kitchen had assigned her to deliver it.

Later, when Micheal married her, she didn’t think much of it. She thought it was fate and let it be. But now that Micheal believed she had schemed against him, she realized maybe both of them had been set up that night.

But among all the staff at the Smith Hotel, who was the one who framed her?

Thinking back, anyone could be the culprit—or no one seemed like it.

Suddenly, she heard voices coming from the employee lounge nearby. Familiar voices.

It was Alice, a former coworker of hers.

“I heard Micheal’s hunting Aria down everywhere. Did you guys know?” Alice said.

“Aria killed Micheal’s grandfather. I heard Micheal lost his parents when he was young, and it was his grandfather who raised him. Of course he’d give up a woman to avenge him.”

“True, but I never felt like Aria was the scheming type.”

“Uh, weren’t you the one who said she seduced Micheal on purpose?”

“I just said it casually.”

“Well, I don’t think Aria even had a chance to drug Micheal. She wasn’t even working the banquet hall that night. But now that I think of it... someone else seemed suspicious.”

“Who?” another waitress asked.

“Remember how the hotel brought in medical staff for the banquet in case of emergencies? I personally saw that nurse appear on the same floor where Aria and Micheal had their incident.”

“You mean the same nurse who later took care of Micheal’s grandfather?”

Aria’s mind buzzed with the revelation.

Everything pointed to Ruby.

She hadn’t seen Ruby that night, so she hadn’t considered her. But that didn’t mean others hadn’t.

Could it be? Did Ruby drug Micheal, and she just happened to walk in by accident?

Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind her.

They were getting closer—at least three or four people.

One of them had a very familiar sound to their step.

It was Micheal.

Aria’s heart jumped into her throat.

He came too fast. She had only just arrived, and he was already here.

Not even ten minutes had passed.

She took a deep breath—then another. What she had just overheard was all hearsay. She hadn’t found any solid evidence yet. Even if she told Micheal that Ruby was the real culprit, he wouldn’t believe her.

As for the hotel’s security footage? Probably long gone or tampered with.

Like her mom said—if even Micheal couldn’t find the truth with all his resources, then Ruby had to be a master manipulator.

If she hadn’t seen with her own eyes that Ruby was the only one present when the oxygen was pulled, she wouldn’t have suspected her either. It all made sense now—Ruby’s real target had always been Micheal.

The footsteps were getting louder and closer.

Aria could only slow her pace and act natural. If she panicked now, Micheal would spot her before she even made it out of the hallway.

Leaving Everything to Fate

Don’t panic.

Don’t lose control.

Aria's eyes scanned ahead. She used to work at the Smith Hotel, so she knew this place better than any ordinary guest.

At the upcoming corner, she turned toward the restroom.

Meanwhile, behind her, Micheal and his men continued straight ahead, just missing her.

It was just a matter of seconds—he had almost caught her.

There was no way Aria would actually go into the restroom. She exited through the stairwell and immediately took off her shoes.

Barefoot, she stepped silently along the stairs. The stairwell lights were motion-activated, so as long as she didn’t make a sound, the lights wouldn’t come on—and no one would know she was there.

At top speed, Aria dashed out through the back exit of the Smith Hotel.

“Aria, over here.”

Philip was waiting once again like a lifesaver. He had changed to another inconspicuous car and quickly pulled her in before speeding off.

The small car had just merged onto the main road when Aria spotted a familiar black Maybach in the rearview mirror.

The moment their cars passed each other, she saw him.

That very moment, she wanted so badly to call out to him, to warn him to beware of Ruby, to stop falling for her schemes.

But the words never made it past her lips.

Their marriage had already fallen apart. Now, all that remained between them was hatred.

He hated her for supposedly killing his grandfather.

She hated him for causing the death of their daughter.

“Aria, are you okay?”

Philip noticed Aria crying as he drove.

Silent tears streamed down her face, making her look heartbreakingly fragile.

Aria bit her lip. Not wanting Philip to worry, she forced a smile.

“If my daughter were still alive, you would’ve loved her. You’ve always loved kids.”

“She would’ve looked like you, right?” Philip asked softly, eyes on the road.

“Mm.”

“I knew it… Otherwise, how could he bear to hurt her…”

“Philip, stop. Please.” Aria interrupted him.

“Aria, do you want me to talk to him? I could tell him the truth.”

“No.”

Aria grabbed the sleeve of Philip’s shirt.

Philip was gay—he could never have romantic feelings for her. But that was their secret. She had promised not to tell anyone, and she never would.

“Ugh, I’m so useless,” Philip cursed, slamming a fist against the steering wheel. “What now, Aria? Should I take you far away? I’m really scared he’ll find you…”

Aria shook her head. “No. It’s too late for that now. Philip, drop me off at the next intersection. I want to be alone and think things through before deciding what to do next.”

Her mind was a mess—some vital clue kept flashing through her memory, as if the person who framed her was just about to emerge in her mind.

But just as quickly, that feeling vanished again.

Time was running out. The more anxious she got, the harder it was to think clearly.

“But Aria…”

“No buts, Philip. Unless you don’t want to be my friend anymore, pull over. Now,” Aria shouted.

Philip finally stopped the car by the roadside, reluctant but obedient.

Aria got out and began walking aimlessly across the pedestrian crossing.

Tomorrow, when daylight broke, she would go to the crematorium.

She would expose Ruby—no matter what.

Even if Micheal ended up wanting to kill her for it, she wouldn’t regret it.

She had to let the old man rest in peace. He had treated her well—she couldn’t let him die in vain.

Having made up her mind, her heart suddenly felt lighter.

She stopped thinking and left everything up to fate.

In the darkness, Aria made her way quietly toward the crematorium.

With every step she took, she had the eerie feeling someone was following her like a ghost.

But every time she turned around—there was no one there…