I accompanied Gavin from a law firm intern to a top lawyer in the industry, but his principles were always more important than me. Even when my parents' inheritance was stolen by the imposter heiress with forged evidence, Gavin refused to defend me with a cold face. "You are a relative of the client. Taking the case would be a professional stain." I slammed the door and left with red eyes, defending myself in court until my voice was hoarse. But on the day of the verdict, the imposter Serena suddenly won with a new will. That paper was stamped with Gavin's private seal. He personally notarized it for my enemy. I trembled to check the case file for appeal, but he submitted my "Psychiatric Evaluation Report" to the judge. The day I was forcibly sent to the mental institution, my parents' urns were smashed by Serena in public. Gavin stood on the steps adjusting his tie, saying to reporters: "Finally justice for my client." I watched the man I loved for so many years in the video, shedding tears silently. Turns out lawyers aren't without selfishness, I just wasn't worthy. Chapter 1 I stared blankly at the white ceiling of the hospital when Gavin rushed in, dusty, worry hiding in his eyes. After confirming I was fine, he exhaled a long breath, his tone carrying a bit of blame: "Scarlett, what exactly do you want? Do you know how many cases I have to deal with every day?" "Why can't you be obedient like Serena—" His words stopped abruptly when meeting my gaze. "Serena isn't like you, she has nothing left. She came to beg me, I can't ignore her." "Scarlett, I was wrong about this. I will use my whole life to make it up to you." "Besides, giving the family assets to Serena was Grandpa's wish..." "Scarlett," his voice was hoarse, like he pulled an all-nighter, "Stop making a scene." I sneered, pulling the wound at the corner of my mouth, the smell of blood spreading in my mouth. "Making a scene?" I stared at the ceiling, "Attorney Gavin, you think I'm making a scene?" He walked a few steps closer, carrying the scent of Gardenia that Serena used. It made my stomach churn, sneezing repeatedly. He reached out to touch my face but froze just before touching. I turned my head to avoid, eyes cold as ice. Gavin's Adam's apple rolled, finally whispering: "...The law only recognizes evidence." This sentence again. But on the day the verdict came out, I went to find him unwillingly and heard his conversation with Serena outside his office. "Gavin, you forged Grandpa's will and gave everything to me. Will sister blame you?" Gavin sighed, tone tired: "I let her down. I will make it up to her for the rest of my life." I grabbed the water glass on the bedside table and threw it. The glass exploded at his feet, shards flying. He didn't even dodge, just looked at me quietly, eyes full of emotions I couldn't read. "Get out." I gritted my teeth, "Or I'll tear open the gauze now and let the nurse see how a top lawyer drives his wife to death." He finally turned and left, pausing for a second at the door: "...Take your medicine. I'll handle the hospital matters. I'll take you home when you recover." Chapter 2 Serena came the next day. She stepped in high heels, carrying a limited edition Hermès bag, red lips curved in a victor's arc. "Sister looks good." She leaned over, fingertips lifting my chin, "Gavin pushed his date with me last night for you." I sneered: "What, afraid I die too slow, came to speed it up yourself?" Her face suddenly changed, clutching her stomach and falling onto the chair, face pale: "It hurts... Sister, why... why did you push me..." Before I could react, the ward door was banged open. Gavin rushed in, picking up Serena, scanning me with sharp eyes: "What did you do to her?!" I was stunned, then laughed out loud: "Gavin, are you blind? I can't even pull out the needle lying in bed, how could I push her?!" But he just gave me a cold look, holding Serena and leaving quickly. At dusk, Gavin returned alone. He sat by my bed, fingertips gently rubbing the gauze on my wrist, voice so low it was almost inaudible: "...Does it hurt?" I turned my head away, nails digging deep into my palm. He sighed, taking a box of strawberries from his briefcase. My favorite fruit. He used to buy them to coax me every time I was in a bad mood. He placed it carefully on the bedside table and tucked me in. "Tonight is Serena's birthday party. As her only legal family, you must attend, or the media will write nonsense." He handed me a document, "Sign this. Give up the right to appeal for the inheritance." I almost laughed in anger: "Why?" Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Miss Scarlett, your grandmother fell this morning and is now in the ICU. We haven't been able to reach the family." The hospital corridor smelled of pungent disinfectant. Grandma lay in the ICU, tubes all over her body. I stood in front of the payment window, fingers trembling holding the payment notice. The nurse repeated mechanically: "The system shows insufficient balance on your card." I opened my mouth but found I couldn't even squeeze out a hoarse defense. My accounts had long been frozen due to Serena's victory. "Use mine." Gavin handed over his Black Card, whispering in my ear, "Serena's birthday party, you know what to do." I looked at Grandma's thin body in the ICU, shivering: "My grandmother needs surgery immediately." He gently wiped the tears from my cheek, "I promise you, as long as you cooperate with tonight's banquet, I will arrange the best experts for Grandma immediately." Chapter 3 I was forcibly taken to the banquet. Serena in a red dress, smiling brightly. "Why does sister look so pale?" She hugged me with fake concern, hand pressing hard on my wound. Blood seeped through the gauze. I hissed in pain and took a step back. Serena apologized in panic. "Sorry sister, I know you always hated me, but today is my birthday. I just wanted to hug you. Please don't hate me." Then "accidentally" knocked over red wine. Dark red liquid spilled on me, soaking the gauze. I shivered in pain. Gavin arrived but just frowned, taking out a handkerchief to wipe Serena's hands. "She didn't mean it." He said lightly, gaze not staying on me for a second. I didn't want to watch their affection, turned to leave, but was held by Gavin, rooted to the spot. "Don't make a scene." His lips moved slightly, voice only audible to me, "Your grandmother just had heart surgery. If the medical team withdraws suddenly..." I trembled all over, staring at him deadly. Serena held Gavin's arm triumphantly. "Gavin, I envied sister playing the violin most when I was little. Today is my birthday, ask sister to play for me, okay~" She smiled sweetly. Gavin nodded lightly. After one song, my wrist was numb with pain. Serena leaned on Gavin, looking at me smilingly. "Sister, play another one?" The bow pressed on the strings, pulling the wrist wound. Blood seeped under the gauze, dyeing the chin rest red. I pursed my lips, knuckles stiff. But the music couldn't stop because Gavin sat below, fingers holding that Black Card, scanning indifferently. He allowed all this. "How about 'Caprice No. 24'?" Serena tilted her head, smiling innocently and cruelly, "I remember sister performed it at school, it was beautiful." That piece demands harsh requirements on the wrist. I looked up at Gavin. He was looking down at his phone, screen light reflecting on his cold side profile, as if he didn't hear Serena at all. I knew he heard. He just didn't care. I took a deep breath, lifting the bow. The moment the first note fell, tearing pain came from my wrist. I could almost feel the sticky sensation of the wound opening. But I didn't dare stop, because Serena was resting her chin on her hand, smilingly counting the beat, and Gavin... Gavin finally looked up. His gaze landed on my bleeding gauze, paused for a second, then, He raised his glass and took a sip. "Oops, the pitch is off." Serena frowned in fake surprise, "Does sister's hand hurt?" Chuckles came from the audience. My fingertips trembled, cold sweat sliding down my back, but the music had to continue. Serena suddenly stood up, leaning over, red lips almost touching my ear. "You know what? Gavin said in my bed last night, the way you play the violin... is pathetic and laughable." The bow slipped from my fingers, ear-piercing noise cutting through the banquet hall. Silence. Gavin finally moved. He put down the glass, stood up slowly, and walked towards me. I looked at him, throat tight, thinking he was finally going to stop this humiliation. But he just reached out, repositioning the bow for me, fingertips brushing my wound seemingly unintentionally, voice so low only I could hear: "Continue." "Or your grandmother will be moved out of ICU tomorrow." Chapter 4 I didn't sleep for three days taking care of critical Grandma. Clothes wrinkled on my body, hair greasy. I crumpled the payment slip again and again, but Grandma's medical fee was still not enough. I have to go home. At least shower, change clothes, then find a way to borrow money. The moment I pushed the door open, sweet perfume choked my throat tight. A silk nightgown not belonging to me was thrown on the sofa. Serena's favorite lipstick was on the coffee table. My slippers were gone, replaced by a pair of brand new high-heeled slippers with rhinestones. "Back?" Gavin came out of the study, shirt sleeves rolled up to elbows, carrying the scent of Gardenia perfume Serena used. I opened my mouth, but sneezed first—I'm allergic to Gardenia, he knows. "You let Serena move in?" He frowned: "The old house is being renovated, she's borrowing it for a few days." Paused, then added, "What are you jealous about? We are innocent." I stared at him, suddenly wanting to laugh. Innocent? Can innocent people sleep in the same bed? Gavin loosened his tie impatiently, taking out his phone, tone icy: "Must you make a scene now? The hospital just messaged, Grandma's pathology report is out." My heart sank. He knew I cared about Grandma's condition most right now, but used this to shut me up. This is his usual tactic—using my most cared-for weakness to silence me. "Sister is back?" Serena came out of the kitchen, wearing my apron, holding a bowl of steaming meat soup. "I made soup, good for the body, try some?" Meat aroma drifted over. My stomach cramped suddenly. Haven't eaten well for three days, gastritis flared up. But next second, I saw that familiar leash with brown spots by the wall. "Where is Snowy?" Serena blinked: "Ah, you mean that dog that always barked?" She scooped a spoonful of soup, smiling, "Right here." My brain buzzed. Snowy was the birthday gift Gavin gave me, a small mutt that loved tilting its head to look at people. It liked sleeping on my slippers, running around with my socks. But now, it became a bowl of soup. I don't remember how I pounced. Only remember Serena's scream, the thud of the bowl hitting the floor, and the feeling of my nails sinking into her arm. "Are you crazy!" Gavin pulled me away, force so great I stumbled into the coffee table. Waist hit the corner hard, pain making me gasp, but he didn't even look at me, going straight to check Serena's arm. "Gavin! It hurts..." Serena's tears came instantly, showing him the nonexistent "wound". Gavin frowned tight, fingertips brushing her arm that wasn't even red, voice gentle as hell: "I'll take you to apply medicine." He bent down to pick her up, like holding some fragile treasure. When turning, his gaze finally fell on me. I clutched my waist, blood seeping through fingers. His eyes flickered, seeming to want to say something. "Gavin!" Serena hugged his neck tight, "I'm dizzy..." He immediately withdrew his gaze, striding towards the guest room. When the door closed, I slid to the floor, palm pressing on that puddle of steaming meat soup. Stomach churned. I lay on the floor retching, but only spat out acid water. Chapter 5 I dragged the suitcase from under the bed, simply packing a few clothes. Lit the first photo on the balcony. Flames jumped up, swallowing the photo of Gavin and me on law school graduation day. He held my waist, I held the Best Debater trophy, smiling eyes curved into crescents. Gavin rushed over to grab the lighter: "Are you crazy?!" I slapped him on the face. Gavin's pupils shrank violently. I didn't give him a chance to explain. In front of him, I threw all photos, couple shirts, the watch he gave me... all into the fire basin. Flames distorted the air, and his pale face. Finally, I put the divorce agreement on the table. "Sign it." Air solidified for a few seconds. Gavin stared at that document, eyes changing from initial blankness to sharpness, finally sneering. "You serious?" I didn't answer, just pushed the pen towards him. He stared at me, eyes cooling inch by inch, suddenly grabbing the agreement, paper making harsh friction noise in his fingers. "Because I helped Serena? Because she lives here? Or because of that dog?" His voice sank lower, finally squeezed out through teeth. "You want a divorce for these?" I looked at him quietly. Looking at this man who once blocked alcohol for me, stayed up late for me, waited three hours in snow for me, now showing this expression for another woman. "Not 'for these'." I said softly, "I'm tired, Gavin." His pupils contracted sharply, as if pierced by something. He grabbed my wrist violently, force almost crushing bones: "Scarlett, you are mine, I forbid you to leave me!" I stared at his face and suddenly laughed. "Gavin, stop pretending deep affection, I'm disgusted." His pupils shrank violently, hands trembling slightly. "Scarlett, if you dare leave me, I'll have someone throw your grandmother out of the hospital right now!!" Just then, my phone rang. It was the hospital. "Miss Scarlett, we are very sorry..." The doctor's voice sounded like through frosted glass, blurry and distant. "Your grandmother... just passed away." The world suddenly quieted. Gavin's questioning, car horns outside, even my own breathing, all disappeared. Only that sentence remained, like a dull knife, scraping my nerves one by one. ...Passed away? But she held my hand saying she wanted to go home with me when I came back from the hospital. I looked down at my hand, finding it trembling. Strangely, I didn't cry. Gavin seemed to sense something wrong, frowning closer: "Who called?" I looked up slowly, looking into his eyes, whispering: "Grandma is gone." His expression froze instantly, blood draining from his face. "Impossible..." He grabbed my shoulder violently, "I clearly renewed the medical fee! I just yesterday—" I pushed him away, stumbling downstairs. His panicked footsteps came from behind: "Scarlett! I didn't do this! Listen to me..."
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