Chapter 1 Revenge

Three years into her marriage, Anna Hendrick found herself, for the first time, opening Ethan Smith's study computer.

Had it not been for the urgent need to transfer a document, she might never have stumbled upon the cryptic spreadsheet that awaited her.

Ethan's computer files were meticulously labeled, each one clearly related to company projects. All, except for one peculiar folder:

BD.

Driven by an irresistible curiosity, Anna double-clicked the folder.

Inside, a single Excel spreadsheet was titled simply: "Revenge."

Anna, raised in a single-parent household with her mother often hospitalized, considered marrying the son of the publicly listed Smith Group to be a significant stroke of luck.

Her initial encounter with Ethan Smith felt straight out of a romantic drama, and their relationship progressed in much the same way.

When Ethan was involved in a car accident and the driver fled the scene, it was Anna who rushed him to the hospital, effectively saving his life.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, Ethan appeared at her university gates one day.

It was Valentine's Day, and he presented her with a breathtaking bouquet of 999 pink roses, declaring his love.

That year, with flower prices soaring due to the holiday, such an extravagant display would have cost a small fortune, creating a campus-wide sensation.

Anna treasured the bouquet, placing it beside her bed, even though it ultimately landed her in the hospital.

Anna was allergic to pollen.

She had never disclosed this allergy to Ethan, which resulted in him consistently gifting her bouquets of pink roses on every date.

Before even finishing her degree, Anna married Ethan, embracing the role of a stay-at-home wife.

Ethan, consumed by his work, needed a partner who could wholeheartedly manage the household.

Her mother-in-law had emphasized that Ethan suffered from stomach issues and that home-cooked meals were far healthier. She insisted a nanny could never replace a wife, and that a wife's true purpose was managing the home, taking care of the children, and so on.

During the day, Anna devoted herself to cooking, laundry, and housework, and at night, she spent time with Ethan.

Their interactions, however, remained limited.

The spreadsheet now open on the screen felt like a window into Ethan's hidden world. With a click, a series of photos appeared.

The spreadsheet was simply laid out with only two columns, minimal text, and primarily consisted of photos.

The top of the left column was labeled "BD," matching the folder name.

Anna couldn't decipher the meaning of the characters, no matter how much she pondered them.

Thankfully, the letters in the right column were easily recognizable-

AH-

Anna Hendrick.

The hand gripping the mouse trembled slightly.

Both columns recorded the date and time alongside the corresponding photos.

The photographs in the BD column all featured the same girl.

In the first photo, the girl was surrounded by a massive bouquet of vibrant pink roses, clearly numbering at least 999. In the second, she seemed to be flaunting a dazzling diamond necklace, while still clutching a bouquet of pink roses. In the third, she proudly displayed an Hermès bag, her smile radiant, a bouquet of pink roses adorning the dining table.

Her mind flooded with images of pink roses, Anna shifted her gaze to the column on the right.

The photos here were all of herself.

In the first photo, Anna, too, stood before a large bouquet of pink roses, identical to the one held by the girl in the left column.

In the second photo, she wore the same diamond necklace, accompanied by the same pink roses.

In the third photo, she carried the same Hermès bag, a bouquet of pink roses nearby.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth photos continued the pattern...

...until the girl in the left photo embraced a pink rose, a pink diamond ring sparkling on her left ring finger. On the very same day, Ethan had proposed to Anna, presenting her with a pink diamond ring attached to a pink rose. The chart ended there.

Anna silently shut down the computer, a chilling realization dawning on her.

She had always believed that Ethan favored pink roses, explaining his constant gifts of them.

Even though Ethan never wore anything pink himself, she felt as though she had unlocked a hidden secret, and was excited for days.

So...

...it was the girl in the chart who adored pink roses.

That night, sleep eluded Anna.

Ethan wouldn't be home, he was engaged in an all-night project discussion with the British team. He had assured her that it wouldn't interfere with their hospital appointment tomorrow. Anna had been experiencing a persistent dull ache in her lower abdomen for days, and he had arranged an appointment with a specialist for the following morning at nine.

Tonight's discovery felt profoundly significant.

Even if Ethan's pursuit of her was driven by a desire for revenge against another woman, that was all in the past, before their marriage.

Since their marriage, Ethan had not been particularly warm, but neither had he been cruel. He consistently provided her with household allowance and pocket money each month.

He also thoughtfully gifted her presents for holidays and birthdays. This year, she had received a pink Burberry suit, despite her distaste for the color.

As the president of the Smith Group, he was constantly surrounded by beautiful women, yet Ethan had remained untouched by scandal throughout their three years of marriage.

Only once did a gossip blog post a photo of him with a popular young actress, but Anna swiftly issued a public relations denial, and the post vanished overnight.

Anna tossed and turned, desperately trying to quiet her racing thoughts.

Ethan wasn't cheating; perhaps he simply didn't love her as deeply as she had imagined.

Her mother had often said that marriage was a compromise, and if one found love within it, it should be cherished.

Anna cherished her marriage deeply.

She loved Ethan.

She had loved him for a full decade, since the age of thirteen.

But Ethan remained unaware, and still didn't know.

Retrieving her phone, Anna unlocked a password-protected private photo album, one she hadn't opened since her wedding day.

The album contained a single photograph, seemingly taken in a cafeteria, its drab setting and lighting evoking the atmosphere of a prison.

The subject was a young girl, perhaps a teenager, with braces adorning her teeth and a voluminous, unfashionable perm of gray hair.

While few would likely recognize the girl as Anna, they would undoubtedly recognize the spirited young man in the background corner: Ethan Smith.

This was the only photo of Anna and Ethan together-

-if it could even be considered a photo *together*.

Anna finally drifted off to sleep just before dawn, only to be jolted awake by her alarm less than three hours later.

Sporting dark circles under her eyes, she stood at the entrance of the City Central Hospital, waiting for Ethan. The early spring morning air was still crisp, causing her nose to run.

At 8:59, Anna received a message from Ethan: "The company has an urgent project, and I have to go on a business trip to New Jersey. I can't accompany you. You can go in by yourself. I've already spoken to the experts, and I'll be home tonight."

Anna tightened her coat around herself and entered the hospital. When she emerged, she clutched a B-ultrasound report in her hand.

It stated that she was two months pregnant, but experiencing a threatened miscarriage.

This was Anna's first pregnancy, their first child together.

Anna gently touched her belly, her face illuminated with joy beyond description.

Although the doctor had assured her that the threatened miscarriage wasn't critical, precautions were necessary to protect the fetus.

She took out her cell phone, eager to share the news with Ethan.

The call connected after several rings, and Anna felt a surge of excitement and nervousness.

Ethan... should be happy, right?

Before last night, Anna wouldn't have hesitated for a second.

Finally, the call connected.

"Hello, husband, I..."

"I'm in a meeting, don't bother me if you have nothing important to say."

The phone disconnected abruptly, leaving only the monotonous dial tone echoing in Anna's ear.

The cool breeze seemed to seep into her heart, leaving it feeling hollow. Anna lowered the phone, and a news alert flashed across the screen.