Chapter 1

When Clarisse Hart married Theodore Brooke, she already knew he had a clingy childhood friend, Bianca York, who never let go of him. Bianca once filled the city with his photos, loudly declaring her love. She stormed into his office in sheer lingerie, begging him to take her. She even threatened to kill herself live on camera by slashing her wrists on a rooftop, trying to force him to marry her. But Theodore always remained indifferent to Bianca, showing unwavering loyalty to Clarisse. But one year after the wedding, Bianca showed up at their door, visibly pregnant. Clarisse was shocked and heartbroken. She couldn't believe the man who loved her so deeply could betray her. Everyone knew Theodore had fallen for Clarisse at first sight and had pursued her relentlessly. At every one of her concerts, he was always there in the front row. Afterward, he'd be waiting backstage, bouquet of roses in hand, quietly waiting for her. He had video loops of Clarisse playing the piano displayed on billboards all across the city, with his handwritten confession underneath. "Clarisse Hart, I love you." He wrote her a handwritten love letter every day and personally delivered it for 99 days in a row. At that time, Clarisse wanted to focus on her music, so she rejected him. But her attitude toward him changed the day her rival, jealous after losing to her so many times, tried to stab her with a knife. In that desperate moment, Theodore threw himself in front of her without hesitation. The blade plunged into his abdomen, soaking his white suit in blood. The sight of that bloody red burned Clarisse's eyes and left her numb with fear, her mind going blank as she watched his face turn ghostly pale. Even then, Theodore held her trembling hand tightly. His voice was weak but steady as he kept repeating, "Clarisse, I'm here. Don't be afraid. Don't be scared..." He never let go, not even as he slipped into unconsciousness. That was when Clarisse completely fell for him. Not long after, they got married. Theodore doted on her even more after their wedding. He spent a fortune to build her a private piano room resembling a concert hall. He once paid a sky-high price at an auction for a maestro's manuscript, simply because Clarisse had mentioned she liked it. Though he had no musical talent, he secretly practiced for months until his fingertips were blistered and bleeding, just to play "Für Elise" for her on her birthday. But now, he had betrayed her. Clarisse asked for a divorce. Theodore knelt in the pouring rain for three days and nights. He was deathly pale, his voice hoarse. "Clarisse, I was drugged. I thought it was you… It was an accident. I can't live without you. I'll make her get rid of the baby and send her away immediately! Please don't divorce me. I can't lose you!" Seeing him so broken in the rain, Clarisse remembered all their years together and finally relented. But half a year later, she ran into Theodore with Bianca, who was carrying a child, at the mall. The sight left her frozen and devastated. When Theodore saw her, his face changed completely. He rushed over, grabbed her wrist, and explained, "Clarisse! Please listen! The doctor said Bianca couldn't have an abortion! Really! As soon as she's recovered, I'll send them both out of the country!" Theodore's parents soon found out about their grandson and protested, "You can't send our grandson abroad!" But Theodore insisted on sending Bianca and the child away. For that, his father, Edward Brooke, whipped him 99 times, leaving his back ripped and bleeding. Still, Theodore knelt before Clarisse, begging desperately. "Clarisse, please believe me one last time. I swear I'll send them away." Clarisse just cried as she cleaned the deep wounds on his back. Her heart bled for him, and she chose to believe him again. From that point, Theodore treated her with even more care. If the housekeeper mentioned Clarisse had a fever, he would drop billion-dollar deals, fly home overnight from abroad, and stay by her side all night. Little by little, Clarisse's heart softened. She tried to put Bianca and the child out of her mind. Three years later, that fragile peace shattered. The sound of a woman's desperate sobs mixed with a child's crying echoed through the house. "Theo, I never wanted to bother you, but Caleb has leukemia. The doctor said only cord blood from a sibling can save him! Please help our son!" Bianca was kneeling at the villa gate, forehead pressed to the floor until blood stained the steps. Upon hearing what happened, Theodore's parents rushed over immediately. Theodore's mother, Miranda Hall, took the child, Caleb Brooke, from Bianca, her eyes red with tears. "Theodore, this is your son. If you don't help, I'll die with him!" Theodore's face turned pale. At last, he gave in. From that day on, Bianca and Caleb moved into their house. Theodore held Clarisse tightly, his eyes red and his voice trembling. "Clarisse, he's my son. I can't turn my back. I swear, I'll only do IVF. I'll never touch her! Once Caleb's healthy, I'll send them away. Please don't leave me. I can't live without you..." Clarisse couldn't watch a child die, so she numbly nodded. At first, Theodore tried to keep his distance, but Caleb's cries, Miranda's nagging, and Bianca's pleading eyes soon wove an invisible net around him. Gradually, he found himself drawn in. Morning after morning, Clarisse would find the three of them having breakfast together. Theodore clumsily fed Caleb while Bianca smiled softly, wiping Caleb's mouth. At night, Clarisse could hear Theodore reading stories next door, Bianca quietly chiming in, and Caleb's innocent laughter. Every sound felt like a poisoned needle, stabbing her heart again and again. She felt like a stranger in her own home. She just hoped it would all be over soon. One afternoon, Caleb accidentally ate a dessert Clarisse had left on the table. He quickly broke out in a rash, red spots spreading across his body. His breathing became ragged as he writhed in pain. Bianca carried Caleb and rushed toward Clarisse, screaming, "Clarisse, I know you hate me! I accepted my fate long ago. I only wanted to take Caleb and leave the country. If it weren't for his illness, I'd never have come back! "If you want revenge, take it out on me! Caleb's just a child. He's innocent. How could you be so cruel?" Clarisse was stunned and confused. "I didn't! I would never hurt a child!" She looked at Theodore, hoping for understanding. "Theo, you believe me, don't you? I didn't do this." But Theodore avoided her gaze. He glanced at the plate and sighed. "Clarisse, I remember you never eat mango." It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. Clarisse quickly hurried to explain, holding up her phone. "It's from a business partner. I didn't eat it, so I left it on the table. Look..." "Enough!" Theodore shoved her phone away. "What's the point of this now? Saving Caleb is what matters! I've told you so many times. This is just for his health. Once he's well, they'll go. Can't you just be reasonable?" Just then, Miranda arrived, glaring at Clarisse with pure hatred. "You're so cruel. You've been married to Theodore for four years and still can't bear him a child, so now you're trying to kill my only grandson? Let him die from an allergy? We'll see how you like it!" She shouted to the maids, "Hold her down! Give her peanut butter!" Clarisse fought desperately, looking at Theodore in despair. "It wasn't me! Theo, help me!" Theodore didn't respond. He carried Caleb and left with Bianca, not once looking back. She only heard his anxious voice from outside. "Where's the driver? Get us to the hospital!" The maids forced peanut butter down her throat. She soon couldn't breathe, darkness swallowing her vision. Before she lost consciousness, Clarisse remembered how Theodore once kissed her injured finger after she cut it on a music score, his face full of worry and guilt over her pain. But now, knowing exactly what Miranda would do to her, he hadn't even looked back.