Chapter 1

My husband died unexpectedly, and I discovered a transfer record of 19 million dollars to his mistress on his backup phone.

Seven years of marriage, and I couldn't even bring myself to buy clothes over a hundred dollars.

I never imagined he'd be so generous with his mistress!

At the funeral, his mistress showed up with her son, demanding to inherit all of my husband's estate.

My mother-in-law Nancy mocked me for being unable to have children and told me to get lost.

The relatives watched coldly from the sidelines.

Until seven days after my husband's death, when the lawyer I hired arrived.

Millions in debt plus a mistress's bastard child—Nancy, you better catch this blessing real tight!

The day Liam Walker was buried, Seaside City was hit with a rare torrential downpour.

But I couldn't feel the cold, because my heart had already died three days ago.

I knelt on the prayer cushion in the center of the funeral hall, head bowed, mechanically tossing paper money into the brazier in front of me.

The flames licked at the yellow paper, instantly turning it to ash.

Just like my seven years of youth—fed to the dogs without even hearing a sound.

"You cursed woman! How dare you kneel here!"

A shrill curse tore through the funeral.

A hand struck the back of my head with such force that I lurched forward, nearly falling to the ground.

I scrambled to brace myself against the floor. Before I could turn around, Nancy's twisted face was already in mine.

"If it wasn't for you, you husband-killing jinx, I'd be holding Hudson by now! Liam was in his prime earning years—how did he end up with a cursed wife like you! I can't go on! My son..."

Nancy plopped down on the floor, slapping her thighs and wailing.

Her cries rose and fell in theatrical waves—part venting, part performance for the surrounding relatives.

The room was packed with the Walker family relatives.

"That Evelyn Hart is cursed, that's for sure. Seven years of marriage, can't have children, and got her husband killed."

"Exactly. I heard the day Liam had that car accident, he was supposed to close a multi-million dollar deal."

"Such misfortune. What sins did the Walker family commit?"

I listened to these whispers, clenching my fists.

In the past, I would have explained, felt wronged, begged Nancy for forgiveness.

But today, I didn't say a word.

I just raised my head woodenly and looked at the black and white photo hanging above the funeral hall.

In the photo, Liam wore that smile I knew so well—seemingly honest but actually calculating.

Liam, can you hear this? Your mother is cursing me, your relatives are mocking me.

Underground, you must be laughing happily, right?

After all, you've wanted to get rid of this old woman for a long time, haven't you?

My hand unconsciously reached for my pocket, where a phone with a cracked screen was tucked away.

That was Liam's belongings.

Liam had rear-ended a semi-truck on the highway and died instantly.

When the traffic police notified me to identify the body and collect his belongings, I was completely numb.

Among those blood-stained items, I took back this phone of his.

This wasn't the one he usually brought home, but his so-called work phone.

If I ever glanced at this phone before, he'd fly into a rage, shouting: "Evelyn, don't you know the rules? This has confidential business information! If tens of millions in client data gets leaked, can you afford to pay for it?"

Back then I was foolish enough to believe him.

I thought he was a man doing big things, and as a supportive wife, I couldn't cause trouble for him.

I brought that blood-stained phone home and plugged it into the charger.

The moment the screen lit up, I saw the wallpaper—

A photo of him on a yacht with his arm around a woman's waist, showing only their backs.

Though I couldn't see her face, the woman had a killer figure, wearing a bikini, her skin glowing white.

My hands started trembling.

The password lock blocked me.