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Chapter 1

The wedding rehearsal was about to start, and Margaret Thorne realized that Howard Fields was nowhere to be found.

The officiant was urging the groom to be present, but Howard wasn't answering any of her calls.

Finally, a waiter told her that he saw Howard heading towards the lounge.

Margaret hurriedly ran in that direction, and as she got closer, she suddenly heard some intimate noises coming from inside.

"Howard, it feels so good. Soon you'll be Margaret's husband, but only at times like this can you prove you're mine."

"I promised you I wouldn't touch her. Be good, squeeze a little tighter."

Howard let out a muffled groan, his movements quickening, and the woman's moans grew louder. The two were completely lost in their pleasure, oblivious to everything else.

Margaret, who heard everything from outside, felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

The two people making love inside were her fiancé of five years, Howard, and her cousin, whom she had grown up with.

The deeply ingrained voices made it impossible for her to deceive herself.

Today was her wedding day!

Ten minutes ago, she thought she was the happiest person in the world.

Now she realized she was the biggest fool, unaware that the two people closest to her had been together all along!

Her aunt, Layla Waverly, who had come to the lounge with her, naturally recognized her daughter's voice as well.

Layla's face stiffened, and she instinctively blocked the way, "There are still many guests outside, Margaret. You go entertain them first, I'll handle this."

Margaret pushed her aside, "No, why should I hide!"

She said this and directly pushed open the door. If they couldn't control their lust and disgust her at her wedding, then she would let everyone be embarrassed together!

The door suddenly swung open, and the two people in the throes of passion froze, the sound of their bodies separating making everyone blush.

Her cousin, Stella Thorne, instinctively turned her head and screamed when she saw so many people standing at the door.

She hurriedly grabbed her clothes.

Howard quickly shielded her behind him. Seeing Layla, his face showed a moment of panic but quickly calmed down.

He looked at Margaret without any guilt or shame, even a bit impatient, "If you have a problem, take it out on me, don't trouble her."

Hearing Howard's tone, Margaret's last bit of affection for him vanished.

Her eyes were red with anger, but she forced herself to look at the scene, her voice hoarse, "Aren't you going to explain? Our wedding ceremony is about to start, or do you just enjoy this kind of thrill?"

Howard paused, avoiding her gaze, "There's nothing to explain. What you see is the truth."

"Margaret," Stella's tear-streaked face was disheveled, and she took over the conversation, "It's my fault, don't blame Howard. I love him so much that I couldn't help but get close to him."

"But Margaret, it's not wrong for us to be in love!"

Her tears fell, making Howard look at her with pity.

Seeing her act so aggrieved, Margaret laughed in anger, but her eyes reddened as she laughed.

She wanted to slap her.

"Haven't I been good enough to you, Stella! If you liked him, you could have told me, I could have given him to you. Why did you have to sneak around with him?"

She had been fostered in her uncle John Thorne's house since she was a child. Stella was John's only daughter, and she had always given in to Stella, never wronging her in any way.

Why did Stella have to steal her boyfriend, Howard?

Margaret couldn't imagine how many times these two would have cheated behind her back if she hadn't found out today!

Stella's face turned pale from the scolding, her body trembling as if she was about to collapse.

Howard quickly supported her, looking at Margaret with even more disgust, "Enough, it's my fault, but Stella is innocent. I told you, if you have a problem, take it out on me!"

Seeing Stella in distress, Layla also started to feel sorry for her and spoke up, "Margaret, what's done is done, and Stella is right, you can't force feelings."

Her first words were to make excuses for Stella.

Margaret looked at her in disbelief.

Feelings can't be forced, but there should be a sense of shame!

She had been living under someone else's roof since she was a child. Although John had taken great care of her, she and Layla had no blood relation, so she had learned to read people's faces from a young age.

She had always been particularly sensible, excelling in her studies and work, never causing them any trouble.

After being with Howard, John and Layla both liked him, and everyone had helped plan the wedding details.

Sometimes she even felt like she was part of their family, and there was nothing wrong with such a simple, happy life.

But now Margaret understood that no matter how good Layla was to her, she couldn't compare to her own daughter, Stella.

Even in such a situation, she could still make excuses for Stella!

Stella cried even harder, she even wanted to kneel before Margaret, "Margaret, I beg you to forgive us. As long as you give Howard to me, I'll do anything you want."

"Stella!"

Seeing Howard's pained expression, Margaret took a deep breath and suddenly laughed.

She wiped her tears and said, "Alright, there are guests outside. As long as you go out and admit that you were with my husband Howard on my wedding day, I'll immediately call off the wedding!"

Stella's body stiffened, unable to speak.

Layla also panicked, "Nonsense! Our Thorne Family has a reputation in Emerald City. Do you want Stella to be ridiculed by everyone?"

"If she wants dignity, don't I deserve it too?"

At this point, Margaret had completely seen through it. In this family, she was always an outsider.

Since that was the case, she would repay the years of upbringing one last time.

She didn't want the cheating Howard anymore!

Margaret suddenly ran outside.

But she didn't expect to run into John, who had come to check on them after noticing they hadn't returned for a while.

Seeing the two disheveled people in the room and the tear stains on Margaret's face.

John understood everything. His hand trembled as he raised it, "You... you..."

Before he could finish, he clutched his chest and collapsed backward.

"John!"

"John!"

John fell just like that.

Margaret's heart was in complete chaos.

At the hospital, the doctor said John had a stroke from the shock and needed surgery.

Margaret's tears finally fell.

She didn't care about Howard or the wedding anymore.

John was the only one who truly cared for her in this family, and she just wanted him to recover.

Layla was crying beside her, but after crying, she couldn't help but blame her, "Margaret, you insisted on making a scene today. If it weren't for you, how could John have fainted?"

"He's the pillar of our family. If something happens to him, how will we live?"

Margaret listened silently.

Until Howard spoke up, "Margaret, you're being unreasonable."

She looked up at him.

It was clearly Stella's fault, but everyone was blaming her. Why?

Just because she wasn't the favored one.

Stella tugged on Howard's sleeve, "Don't be like that, Howard. Margaret didn't do it on purpose."

Hearing her words, Margaret couldn't hold back her sarcasm, "Isn't this the outcome you wanted the most?"

"I..." Stella still looked aggrieved.

Layla interrupted her, sighing, "Alright, Margaret, since today's wedding is off, let's just cancel it. Stella can marry him instead."

Layla had said so much, but this was her real intention.

Margaret sneered and nodded, "Fine, you go explain to the Fields Family. Tell Mr. Fields that Stella climbed into Howard's bed. As long as he agrees to let Stella into the Fields Family, I'll agree."

At these words, the others' faces changed slightly.

Everyone knew Arthur Fields liked Margaret and had long said that Howard's wife had to be her.

Seeing Stella's tears streaming down, almost fainting from crying, Howard frowned, "I'll talk to Grandpa. He will accept Stella."

"Really? I remember Mr. Fields hates people who destroy others' relationships the most."

Margaret's words made Howard's face turn pale again.

They had been together for five years, and everyone in the Fields Family knew about her.

They were about to get married, but suddenly there was a new bride. It would be hard to explain to the Fields Family, especially since Arthur was always strict.

But none of this mattered to Margaret anymore.

From the moment he got together with Stella, she didn't want Howard anymore!

She grabbed her bag and didn't waste any more time talking to them, "I'm going downstairs to pay the bill."

Margaret walked down the stairs.

In front of others, she always appeared strong, only showing a bit of emotion when she was alone.

Howard had once been the man she loved deeply. Her wedding was ruined; how could she not be upset?

About a year ago, Howard told her he needed a secretary, and Stella had just studied international trade in college.

So naturally, Stella joined his company and got close to him.

It must have started then.

They were together all the time, and because of her foolish trust in Stella, Margaret never suspected them.

Her trust became the best condition for his affair. Thinking about it was ironic.

Margaret stumbled downstairs, her tears long dried, but her heart ached so much she could hardly breathe.

She had been living under someone else's roof since she was a child. Although John took good care of her and Layla treated her well on the surface, only she understood the cautiousness, fearing that one wrong move would make others dislike her.

She was polite to everyone, hiding her true emotions.

It was Howard who approached her, cared for her.

He slowly opened his heart to her.

He told her to be her true self, that she was already brilliant and deserved everyone's love.

At that time, he was like a beam of light from the sky, illuminating the dark twenty years of her life.

Margaret fell in love with him without hesitation.

For five years, she had dreamed of having a family with him, having a cute child, and living happily together.

But now the dream was shattered, and reality slapped her in the face.

Margaret walked numbly to the payment counter.

She was wearing a wedding dress, attracting many strange looks along the way, but she didn't have the energy to care.

Until she bumped into a man's chest, snapping back to reality.

Margaret looked up in a panic, "I'm sorry!"

The man wore frameless glasses and a plain white coat, but it couldn't hide his tall and well-proportioned figure.

His features were deep, especially the tear mole under his eye, which was very noticeable.

He looked her up and down and said in a detached tone, "Crying so miserably, were you abandoned?"

Margaret blushed, feeling embarrassed.

She hurriedly wanted to leave, but the man stopped her, his tone serious yet inexplicably coaxing, "Do you know the best way to get back at someone who cheated?"

Margaret was a bit stunned.

The man must be a doctor at this hospital, but she was sure they didn't know each other.

He saw through her situation at a glance, but she didn't understand what he meant and didn't have the energy to talk to a stranger.

Margaret pushed him away, "Sorry, if you want to joke, find someone else."

She walked away quickly, not seeing the man's deep gaze following her.

After hurriedly paying the bill and returning to the ward, Howard was comforting Stella, wiping her tears.

Margaret glanced for a second before turning her gaze to the doctor.

The pre-surgery preparations were done, and John was about to be wheeled into the operating room.

She instinctively followed and asked, "Doctor, is there any risk to this surgery?"

The man in the white coat turned around, revealing deep eyes with a tear mole under one.

It was the doctor she had just bumped into downstairs!

His deep, magnetic voice sounded, "Every surgery has risks, but my hands can minimize them."

It was an arrogant statement, yet inexplicably convincing.

In Margaret's daze, he suddenly took a step closer and whispered, "Also, the surgery won't take long. You can think carefully about the question I asked you downstairs."

He finished speaking and turned into the operating room without waiting for Margaret's response.

The red light soon came on, and Margaret sat on the bench in the hallway, belatedly thinking about his words.

What is the best way to get back at someone who cheated?

It must be to cheat back, right?

Margaret didn't know if she was overthinking.

They had just met for the first time; why would he say such things to her?

He didn't break his promise; the surgery was over in less than an hour.

The surgery went well, but John hadn't woken up yet. He was wheeled into the ward for observation by a nurse.

Margaret stood in the ward, feeling like someone was watching her. She turned around and saw the doctor at the door.

"Family member, please come out."

Layla instinctively wanted to go out when she heard "family member."

But the man added coldly, "The one who just went to pay the bill."

Layla retracted her foot, "Margaret, did you have a problem with the payment?"

Margaret didn't answer and walked out.

"What's wrong?"

She looked up, only reaching the man's chest.

The man, cold and aloof, didn't answer, leading her towards the hospital terrace.

Over there, Howard and Stella were standing together.

They were talking about something until Stella's eyes met Margaret's.

Howard had his back turned and saw nothing.

Stella quickly showed a provocative look.

She suddenly smiled, leaning softly on Howard's shoulder, her eyes fixed on Margaret, as if saying, "Look, Howard is mine now."

She did it on purpose, looking completely different from her previously pitiful self!

The doctor standing beside her spoke calmly, "So, have you thought of the answer to my question?"

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