Chapter 1
Her husband’s stepsister locked her child in the car for an hour during scorching weather and forbade police from breaking the windows to rescue him.
Ashley Campbell rushed over, snatched a hammer to smash the car, but her husband Aaron desperately blocked her.
“The red on the window is probably ketchup our son accidentally smeared.”
“This car is Nicole’s parents’ heirloom. She prizes it above life itself. We absolutely can’t break the windows.”
“Nicole misplaced her car keys accidentally. The spare will be here in two minutes. Just two minutes-our son will be fine.”
Meeting Ashley’s bloodshot eyes, his tone remained icy calm.
“Is that car worth more than your son’s life?!”
Ashley swung the hammer wildly, breaking free from his grip. She charged toward the car and smashed hard at the window with all her strength.
Nicole’s hysterical shriek pierced the air as shattered glass revealed her unconscious nephew’s pale face.
Tears streaming down her cheeks, Ashley violently shoved away Aaron’s reaching hands.
The ER doctor warned that two minutes later would’ve been too late – not even a miracle could save him.
Teary-eyed Ashley glared at Aaron, her body trembling with lingering fear as she slapped him hard across the face.
Her palm struck Nicole next.
Nicole clutched her stinging cheek, wide-eyed with tears welling up.
“I only wanted to take my nephew out,” she choked. “Since you can’t stand me, sister-in-law, I’ll just leave now.”
She dashed away sobbing.
After a moment’s silence, Aaron chased after her.
Until evening, when his son emerged from the ER for the second time, he finally returned to the hospital, frowning deeply.
“Nicole’s missing. She’s sensitive and might do something stupid. Ashley, slap yourself ten times to apologize, record it and post it online. Okay?”
Apologize.
Ever since Nicole moved back home after grad school two months ago, “sorry” had become Ashley’s mantra.
“Sorry, sis didn’t know you hated fluffy rice.”
“Sorry for coming home late and waking you.”
“Sorry we didn’t mean to go shopping without you.”
Bloody marks dotted her palm where nails had dug in. Ashley slowly raised her head to look at him.
“Get out!”
Aaron’s face darkened as he lunged forward, grabbing his son’s oxygen mask.
“You’re his sister-in-law. Can’t you be more forgiving?!”
Ashley froze like she’d been struck by lightning, staring at a man she no longer recognized.
“This is the second time Nicole locked our son in the car. Accident or deliberate-you know the truth!”
“Enough excuses. Nicole shouldn’t be out alone at night.” Aaron’s voice turned icy, resolve hardening. “You have one minute.”
On the hospital bed, their son’s face remained deathly pale.
His own father-who should’ve been his protector-was now using him as a bargaining chip for the culprit!
“Ashley, don’t push me.” Aaron raised his hand. The monitor suddenly screamed with a piercing alarm.
Her heart pounding, Ashley roared, “Fine! I’ll slap!”
“Slap!” The first sound rang out, shattering all the past sweetness.
“Slap!” The second sound rang out, completely unraveling the family’s future.
After the tenth slap, Ashley seemed to have used up all her life’s strength, sliding down the wall to sit on the floor.
Aaron hurried away, calling to arrange for his assistant to post the video on all platforms.
The next afternoon.
Ashley went to see the attending physician, but in the stairwell, she heard Nicole’s coquettish voice:
“Bro, I gave you face today, didn’t make trouble with her. I’m so good, don’t you want to reward me?”
Ashley peeked inside and saw Nicole wrapping her arms around Aaron’s neck, standing on tiptoe to kiss his mouth.
And Aaron… didn’t push her away. Instead, his hand rested on her waist, unconsciously tightening its grip.
After a long moment, he seemed to jolt awake and pushed Nicole aside.
His voice carried helpless fondness.
“Nicole, mind your behavior in public. I’m still your brother.”
“But we’re not blood-related,” Nicole pouted. “I liked you before sister-in-law did.”
“Don’t ever do this again.”
Aaron ruffled her hair, his eyes holding a tenderness Ashley had never witnessed before.
It pierced her eyes like shards of glass.
Back in college, she’d heard whispers about Aaron and his sister.
But she never bought it, because Aaron pursued her relentlessly.
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She once mentioned disliking boring, aloof guys, so he joined the campus singing contest to confess his feelings, poured his heart out on the university forum, sent her a joke every morning and night, gifted luxury items paired with poetic love letters.
He hated being filmed, yet appeared on her favorite online show.
He never used social media, but created an account just to follow her, staying up late to comment on every single post.
Aaron’s pursuit became campus legend.
Even professors teased her: “Still haven’t said yes?”
How could this Aaron be with Nicole…
When did it start?
Ashley suddenly remembered the diary she found while cleaning the walk-in closet. Out of respect for Aaron’s priva- cy, she had put it back honestly.
But now she decisively raced home and took it out to read.
March 2nd: Nicole kissed me, I couldn’t help but respond. But we are siblings, how would the outside world view us?
March 5th: I don’t have the courage. It should stop. Ashley is pretty and excellent enough. Pursuing her will make Nicole believe that I truly have someone in my heart.
March 6th: A high-profile confession… spread more quickly and widely, should make Nicole give up, right?
The entire diary was about Nicole, Nicole…
Even though she had gone abroad, even though he was dating Ashley at the time!
The diary entries continued until the day he proposed to her:
Since I can’t be with Nicole, it doesn’t matter who I marry. I’ll just make do. Can’t be bothered to look anymore.
Ashley tortured herself rereading those words, trembling uncontrollably.
May 6th was the anniversary of her mother’s death. That day, Aaron took the bullet train then transferred to a bus just to find her in Philadelphia, his eyes reddened.
She thought he truly cared-that’s why she agreed to be with him!
She’d excelled at everything since childhood with plenty of suitors, yet to him, Aaron, she was merely a “make-do”!
Ashley covered her face, tears soaking her palms.
Aaron, this is the last time I’ll grieve for you.
After calming her emotions,
Ashley called her lawyer friend: “Draft a divorce agreement. Aaron’s at fault-I want maximum compensation.”
That evening, she brought her son home just as Aaron was moving Nicole’s luggage back in.
She didn’t glance at them, calling her son to the dinner table.
“Brother, our nephew’s safely discharged, and I’m home too. Perfect ending-let’s celebrate with drinks.”
Nicole brought whiskey and poured for everyone.
The liquor’s pungent smell overwhelmed him. The boy pressed his temples. “Dad, this smells awful. I’m dizzy- gonna throw up.”
Seeing Nicole’s fallen expression, Aaron snapped:
“Can’t stand it? Go elsewhere. How’d you raise our son? Zero manners.”
Ashley silently led her son back to his room.
Behind her, Aaron’s tone softened.
“Don’t mind them. I’ll celebrate with you alone.”
“Mom, can someone live without a dad?”
Eating in the room, her son suddenly looked up, tears in his eyes.
“He doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him anymore.”
Ashley felt a pang of sorrow, hugged her son tightly, her eyes reddening.
Aaron returned to the room after drinking, a lipstick stain on his white shirt, making Ashley feel sick.
“Ashley, I have gifts for you and our son.”
He took two documents from his briefcase, properties transferred to their son and her name.
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“Nicole didn’t mean it. Consider this my apology for her. As her sister-in-law, be generous and don’t always argue with her.”
He looked at Ashley expectantly, as if after abandoning their son multiple times, she should still thank him for his generosity.
Ashley set the divorce agreement before him with a stony face, pointed at the signature line and said, “Sign.”
Aaron picked up the pen and signed, his handwriting identical to the love letters he’d written her years ago.
“What project is it this time?”
Ashley curled her lips into a sarcastic smile.
“A project that’ll make us both happy.”
