Chapter 1 The waking dream

Serena stared at the Instagram post on her screen.

Victor had been posting bits and pieces of his daily life for over a month now, but this was the first time Serena had seen them. He had never accepted her friend request on his private account–until now.

In the newest video, their son Leon Powell was playing happily with another kid around his age. The ironic part was, everyone in the comments thought Serena was the one who filmed it.

Someone commented: [Your wife's really good with the camera. Your son looks so happy.]

Victor's reply stood out like a slap: [Yeah.]

Serena thought, 'Yeah? Is he praising Eliza Stone, his childhood sweetheart, for her camera work, or is he just letting people assume she's his wife now?'

On the other end of the line, Victor Powell's father, Albert Powell, asked, "Seri, are you sure you want to terminate the agreement and divorce Victor."

Serena Powell held her phone calmly. "I'm sure."

"Even if Leon's custody goes to the Powell family, you're still leaving?"

"Yes. I believe Leon would rather stay with his dad. The Powell family can give him the best education. He doesn't need me anymore."

Albert's voice was low. "Alright. As for the divorce agreement, you can talk to Victor yourself."

"Okay," Serena replied.

Albert didn't hang up right away. "To be honest, I've been satisfied with how Victor's been these past few years with you around.

"So, as a reward, I'll arrange for you to join the design team in Glonia you've always wanted. In a week at most, you'll be out of the Powell family."

Serena thought, 'A reward? Rich people really do live in a different universe. In their world, even feelings come with a price tag!'

She agreed. After she hung up, her phone screen was still frozen on the Instagram post.

Serena grew up in an orphanage. Seven years ago, when she was still in college, Albert suddenly approached her and offered her three million dollars- to buy seven years of her life.

To pay for surgery for the orphanage director who had been kind to her, Serena reluctantly agreed.

Back then, she had already heard the story of Victor and Eliza. Both of them came from powerful families, grew up together as childhood sweethearts, and were deeply in love. But the year they graduated college, Eliza suddenly vanished without a trace.

When Victor found out Eliza had gone abroad for an arranged marriage, he completely lost it. He started drinking, smoking, and pushing himself to the edge, spiraling into serious psychological issues.

The psychiatrist once said only emotional healing could cure a wounded heart.

To save his nearly deranged son, Albert found Serena, who looked strikingly similar to Eliza, and had her care for Victor to heal his emotional wounds.

From then on, Serena began to get close to Victor on purpose, relentlessly pursuing him. She had that rare mix of innocence and allure. And with a face that looked just enough like Eliza's, she made sure to stay in Victor's sight every single day.

When he was down, she would cheer him up. When he got sick, she stayed up all night to look after him. And when his depression hit, she was the only one who ever reached into the darkness and pulled him back,

With time, Victor gradually got used to having Serena around.

Until one day, Serena caught him in the middle of a breakdown, about to slit his wrists. She grabbed the sharp blade with her bare hand and forced it out of his grip.

Her hand was sliced open, the cut deep and long, bleeding uncontrollably. The doctor said if it'd gone any deeper, she would've lost the use of her hand. Because the wound was so severe, even after it healed, a jagged scar remained across her palm.

That was the first time Victor hugged her. "Seri, let's get married. Okay? Let's go to city hall tomorrow," he said.

Serena stood frozen, thinking it was her sincerity that had moved him. But later, when she found Eliza's wedding invitation tucked in a drawer, she realized it had all happened on Eliza's wedding day.

Less than two years after they got married, Serena gave birth to Leon. During those two years, Victor wasn't particularly affectionate, but he treated her with respect. Also, Leon was very close to her-he clung to her more than he did to Victor.

Serena had feelings, after all. She had already come to see this place as her home. She loved both Victor and Leon deeply. It wasn't about the black–and–white contract anymore. She truly wanted to be with them for the rest of her life.

So for the sake of her family, Serena gave up her dream of being an accomplished designer and became a full–time housewife.

During the day, she cleaned the house. At noon, she brought lunch to Victor. In the evening, after picking Leon up, she cooked dinner for him. At night, she still had to meet Victor's needs in bed.

She was like a machine that never stopped working year–round, quietly and tirelessly taking care of her husband and son for five straight years.

Serena used to think things would just continue like that. But a month ago, Eliza came back. She was divorced and brought her son with her.

When Victor found out, he rushed to the airport without an umbrella, ignoring the heavy rain. He could even forgive everything Eliza had done in the past, as if none of it mattered anymore.

He thought Serena didn't know. But she knew everything. Over the past week, Victor had grown more and more impatient with her. He started treating her like a servant, barking orders at her. Even Leon had become cold and harsh toward her.

Serena had argued with them and fought back, but they called her ungrateful and narrow–minded. Then, in the next moment, they gave all their tenderness to Eliza.

Serena only found out about this through Instagram. Ironically, Victor never posted on Instagram. Even back when they got married, he refused to let her announce it on the app, saying it was their private life and he didn't want outsiders to know.

But ever since Eliza came back, Victor's Instagram had been full of pictures of the four of them-him, Leon, Eliza, and her son. They all looked so warm and loving, as if they were the real family.

That was how Serena learned that when she was sick, Victor and Leon were out shopping with Eliza. When she was heartbroken, Victor and Leon were celebrating Eliza's birthday.

Even yesterday, on their wedding anniversary, Victor and Leon ignored the dinner Serena had spent the whole day preparing just to be with Eliza. When Serena tried to stop them, they told her she was being dramatic.

Serena thought, I should've realized it a long time ago. There's no place for me in this family anymore. I actually believed I could move beyond that contract and stay with them forever-I was being delusional. It's time to wake up and leave.'

She took a deep breath and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes with a cold hand.

Just then, the sound of the front door opening came from outside. Victor and Leon were back, the chill of the wind and rain still clinging to them as they came in.

"Seri, Leon fell and got hurt. Take care of his wound," Victor said, his voice low and steady, calm as always, automatically slipping into that usual commanding tone.

"I don't want her to do it. She never shuts up and nags the whole time." Leon's brows were furrowed tightly, his face full of annoyance. "I want Eliza to do it."