Chapter 1

The day my family declared bankruptcy, my fiancée turned around to marry her long-lost love.

I said nothing and instead married Daphne, who had confessed her love to me and helped me out during a crisis.

For seven years after our marriage, I cared for her paralyzed legs.

Then, on the day she stood up, I accidentally overheard her speaking in French with her best friend.

"Daphne, are you really planning to stay with him forever? What if your dear brother is heartbroken again?"

Daphne peeled a shrimp for her daughter and replied calmly.

"Of course not! My brother is my brother, and he is him. I could never bear to see my brother sad."

"I love Uncle just like Mom does, and I can't stand ugly Daddy," chimed in our daughter in French.

Little did they know, I understand French.

I no longer want to endure this half-hearted charade for the rest of my life.

Daphne stroked her daughter's forehead, visibly pleased, and praised her instinctively in French.

"Sweetie, you've been such a good girl. Mommy and Uncle have not loved you in vain."

"When you're a little older, Mommy and Uncle will give you a pretty little sister so you'll have company at school."

Lily clapped her hands excitedly and responded in broken French.

"Yay, that's awesome."

"I love Uncle and Mommy the most, and I also like the pretty sister Mommy will have."

"It would be so much better if we didn't have that mean Daddy at home. I don't like him at all; he annoys me."

Hearing this, I was stunned, unable to believe my ears.

Maybe she noticed my gaze on them, as Daphne smiled and placed a piece of bitter melon on my plate, her voice gentle.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

I shook my head, my heart aching unbearably, with a suffocating feeling spreading throughout my body.

Daphne might have forgotten that I was the first in this family to learn French.

She also forgot that I never eat bitter melon.

I put on a stern face.

Seeing my silence, Daphne immediately became nervous and unsure, carefully holding my hand.

"Honey, why do you suddenly look so upset?"

I avoided her touch, forcing a smile.

"Nothing, just surprised you forgot I don’t like bitter melon," I said, pretending to be playful.

"By the way, what were you talking about earlier? Were you speaking French?"

Daphne's expression stiffened, guilt making her avoid my gaze.

"Nothing much, just Evan being jealous of our relationship."

She came up with a random excuse before shifting focus with a guilty look.

"I'm sorry, honey, I forgot. I'll remember next time, and I promise never to give you bitter melon again."

"My best, best, best husband, in this lifetime you can only experience sweetness, not bitterness."

She coaxed softly while picking out the bitter melon for me.

Our daughter rolled her eyes at me and scoffed, "Hmph, so picky, eating it won't kill you."

"You’re such a big person, yet you're picky, it's embarrassing."

Just a moment ago, Daphne was so gentle, but now she turned cold and scolded sharply.

"Lily, how are you speaking to your father! Apologize now!"

The daughter reluctantly stuck out her tongue, stubbornly muttering an apology.

Even Daphne's friend couldn't stand it and made a couple of complaints.

"Alright, we know you two have a good relationship, no need to show off, why scold the kid?"

Daphne shot her a proud glare.

"Hmph, you’re just jealous I have such a handsome and understanding husband. I'll show off, I'm proud to have him, I'd boast eight hundred times a day if I could."

I put down my chopsticks, looking at Daphne indifferently.

She acted as if she loved me deeply, and seeing me watching her, she instantly served a bowl of soup, blew on it, and brought it to my lips.

"Honey, want some soup?"

"Honey, these seven years you’ve worked hard, taking care of me and the child."

"Honey, now that I can walk again, rest assured in the days ahead, I'll devote my life to loving you."

If I’d heard these words before, I’d have been moved to tears.

But now, all that's left in my heart is unspeakable pain and irony.

She disguised it perfectly, and I almost believed that the French conversation was just my imagination.