Chapter 1

For three years, my husband, a renowned nutritionist, doted on me. He even pre-sorted my daily vitamins.

But my best friend, Chloe, noticed my pallor, saying I looked like someone on long-term medication, and urged me to get checked.

I took the vitamins he gave me for testing. The lab report starkly read: "Spironolactone."

It turned out, the man who constantly told me, "Your health is paramount, darling," had been feeding me sterilizing drugs with his own hands all along.

"Scarlett, are you feeling unwell lately?" My best friend, Chloe, sat across from me, suddenly putting down her coffee cup and looking at me intently.

I paused, then smiled and shook my head. "No, I'm perfectly fine. Julian keeps a close eye on me; how could I be unwell?"

Julian was my husband, a highly respected young nutritionist.

Our marriage was the envy of all our friends. He was incredibly attentive, especially when it came to my health.

Every morning, he would meticulously portion out my daily supplements into small boxes, hand them to me himself, along with a cup of honey water at just the right temperature.

"Darling, your health is the most important thing. Make sure you take these on time," he'd always say, his eyes full of concern.

He'd adjust my meal plans based on my work intensity and seasonal changes, precisely calculating the calories and nutrients for each meal.

Under his "meticulous care," I hardly ever got sick, not even a cold.

So, I couldn't understand why Chloe was asking.

Chloe frowned, leaning closer, scrutinizing my face. "No, something's off. Look at your complexion. It's sallow, completely dull, and you have dark circles under your eyes. This isn't what a healthy person looks like. Honestly, you look like you've been chronically ill or on heavy medication."

I instinctively touched my face.

Lately, when I looked in the mirror, I did feel my skin wasn't at its best, but I just attributed it to being tired from work and not getting enough rest.

Her words made a seed of doubt begin to sprout in my mind.

"Long-term medication? I haven't taken anything other than the vitamins and various supplements Julian prepares for me," I explained.

"Then that's the problem," Chloe's expression grew more serious. "Scarlett, don't think I'm meddling. Julian might be a nutritionist, but are you really sure what's in those things he gives you? Have you ever checked the ingredients yourself?"

I was speechless.

I had never doubted Julian.

He was my husband, the person I trusted most. He said it was good for my body, and I believed him.

Every morning, he would hand me those colorful pills, and I wouldn't even glance at them, just swallow them with water.

It had been like that every single day for three years.

"You trust him too much," Chloe sighed. "I'm not trying to cause trouble between you two. But it's your body; you need to be more careful. Listen to me, find some time to get a full physical check-up. Don't tell Julian anything, just go secretly."

Chloe's words were a stone dropping into the still waters of my mind, creating ripples of doubt.

I started to reflect on the past few years.

Julian was indeed good to me, impeccably so.

He took care of all the housework, and my every need -- from clothes to food to daily activities -- was perfectly arranged.

He remembered all my preferences, my menstrual cycle, and even my occasional mood swings.

He pampered me like a princess who didn't have to worry about anything.

But was my body really getting better and better, as he claimed?

I remembered how I'd recently been feeling cold in my hands and feet, and sleeping restlessly at night, often dreaming.

I'd thought it was due to work stress.

Now that I thought about it, these symptoms seemed to have been going on for a long time.

"Chloe, it shouldn't... it couldn't be, right?" I sounded uncertain, a tremor in my voice I hadn't even noticed.

"Better safe than sorry," Chloe squeezed my hand. "Listen to me, get it checked out. If it's nothing, that's best, and we'll all be relieved. But if there is something, we can find it early."

I looked into her worried eyes and nodded.

After leaving Chloe, I walked aimlessly down the street alone.

Her words echoed repeatedly in my mind: "You look like you've been chronically ill or on heavy medication."

I walked into a nearby drugstore. Inside, there was a large mirror.

I went to the mirror and carefully examined myself.

The woman in the reflection had a sallow complexion, pale lips, and eyes that couldn't hide the fatigue and dark circles.

Was this really me? Scarlett, who was cherished by her husband and lived a happy life?

I took out my phone and scrolled through old photos.

A year ago, even two years ago, the me in the pictures had rosy cheeks and a vibrant spirit.

When did I become like this?

My heart sank a little more.

When I got home, Julian had already made dinner.

A perfectly balanced meal with several dishes, all my favorites, blending nutrition and taste.

"Darling, you're back! Go wash your hands and eat," he said, wearing an apron, bringing out the last bowl of soup from the kitchen, his smile gentle.

I looked at him, a flood of conflicting emotions swirling inside me.

Did I really have to suspect him? The person who was supposedly the best to me in the whole world?

Perhaps Chloe was just being overly sensitive.

"What's wrong? Why are you standing there?" Julian walked over to me, reaching out to check my forehead. "Are you not feeling well?"

"No, just a little tired," I forced a smile, subtly avoiding his touch.

During dinner, I was preoccupied.

Julian, as usual, served me food, reminding me to eat more.

"Eat more of this broccoli, it's good for vitamins. And this fish, it's great for your skin."

I looked at the food in my bowl and suddenly felt a wave of nausea.

That night, before bed, Julian came in with water and the pill organizer again.

"Darling, it's time for your last supplements of the day."

He skillfully opened the box, poured out a few capsules and tablets, and held them out to me.

I stared at the pills in his palm, just like I had for over a thousand days and nights. Only this time, I didn't take them immediately.

"What are these?" I asked.

"The usual, darling. Vitamin C, grape seed extract, and melatonin to help you sleep," Julian's tone was natural, betraying no hint of anything unusual.

I stared at the pills, a voice screamed in my head: Don't take them!

I took the pills, pretending to drink water, and when he wasn't looking, I hid them under my tongue. Then I took a big gulp of water and tilted my head back, mimicking a swallow.

"There, now get some rest," he smiled contentedly, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

Once he was sound asleep, I quietly got up and went to the bathroom, spitting the pills onto a tissue from under my tongue.

There were three in total: one white, one yellow, and one clear capsule.

I carefully wrapped them up and tucked them into a hidden pocket in my makeup bag.

After doing all this, I lay back in bed, looking at my sleeping husband, spending a sleepless night.

Once the seed of doubt is planted, it grows wildly.