Chapter 1 Living Like a Clown

The rain hammered down on the city streets, relentless and unforgiving.

Wendy Knight, drenched to the skin, stumbled back to the villa.

The iron gate of the villa gleamed coldly in the rain as she staggered to push it open.

In the entryway mirror, a ghostly face stared back at her—wet hair clung to the bruises on her neck, marks left by her husband, Ethan Collins, three days ago.

As she stepped into the living room, a wave of warmth greeted her, but it brought no comfort.

The diagnosis report was crumpled in her palm, the words "late-stage liver cancer" stinging her eyes.

Ethan's mother, Juniper Collins, was lounging on the living room sofa, watching TV leisurely.

An empty bag of chips lay on the coffee table, crumbs scattered everywhere.

Seeing Wendy in such a state, Juniper's face immediately twisted with disdain.

"Look at you! You look like a mess!" Juniper's sharp voice echoed in the spacious living room. "Why are you back so late? Where have you been?"

Wendy pressed her lips together and replied softly, "I went to the hospital..."

"Pretending to be sick again?" Juniper interrupted with a sharp laugh. "You live off my son, use his money, and can't even give us a child. Now you're pretending to be sick every other day. Are you trying to drive me to my grave?"

Wendy's movements faltered as she changed her shoes, a wave of exhaustion and grievance washing over her, but she held back her anger.

Juniper always used her inability to conceive as an excuse to humiliate her.

After nearly three years of marriage, it was first because of work, and then because of Ethan's infatuation with someone else, that he wouldn't even touch her. How could she possibly get pregnant?

But right now, she didn't have the energy to argue with Juniper.

She lowered her head and silently headed upstairs.

"Stop right there!" Juniper kicked over the trash can. "Go make the bird's nest soup and prepare a good meal. Lydia is coming over tonight!"

Wendy stopped, slowly turned around, and said weakly, "Mom, I'm not feeling well today. I need to rest."

"Not feeling well? You're just being lazy!" Juniper spat out mercilessly. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You're just a useless good-for-nothing!"

Wendy's eyes reddened slightly, but she tried to control her emotions. "Mom, I really don't feel well. Can I just..."

"No!" Juniper cut her off. "You don't get to make decisions in this house! Get to work!"

Wendy bit her lip, changed her clothes, and then staggered towards the kitchen.

The kitchen was filled with a faint smell of cooking oil. Wendy turned on the faucet, the cold water stinging her hands, making her shiver.

The soaked blood-red bird's nest in the porcelain bowl was strikingly similar to the blood she had spat into the sink this morning.

She silently began washing and chopping vegetables, her movements mechanical and numb.

"Useless thing, always slacking off, completely worthless. Always with that sour face, like someone owes you something! My son would be better off keeping a dog; at least it would wag its tail at its owner!"

In the living room, Juniper continued her relentless complaints, her voice grating and harsh.

Wendy had grown accustomed to these insults.

As she was about to place the blood-red bird's nest into the boiling water, a sharp pain suddenly stabbed through her abdomen.

Wendy staggered and grabbed onto the kitchen counter, cold sweat soaking her back.

Her hand trembled, and the pot was knocked over, spilling boiling water onto her hand and raising several blisters.

Juniper grabbed a broom and swung it at her. "You worthless wretch! That bird's nest is worth more than your life!"

Wendy endured the pain, picked up the pot, refilled it with water, and turned the stove back on, slowly simmering the soup.

Only then did Juniper stop, muttering curses as she went back to the sofa to continue watching TV.

Wendy looked down at the diamond ring on her ring finger. Inside, it was engraved with "E&W"—Ethan had said it stood for "Ethan loves Wendy forever."

Ethan had bought this ring with all the money he had when his pharmaceutical company received its first big order.

It cost less than ten thousand dollars, but it was filled with Ethan's love.

And now, the pink diamond necklace he spent millions on for his mistress was trending at number three on the hot search.

Wendy gently caressed it, whispering, "When did the love fade?"

Perhaps it was when she gave up everything for him...

To help him, she abandoned her studies and career, spending her days helping him secure business deals.

In truth, it was the Knight family's reputation that had helped Ethan grow the Collins Group so quickly.

But as the Collins Group expanded, she gradually stepped back.

Because Juniper's health wasn't good, Wendy gave up her involvement in the Collins Group to take care of her, often cooking nutritious meals for her.

Over the years, Juniper's health improved significantly, and Wendy went from occasionally cooking to preparing every meal.

Juniper still wasn't satisfied and dismissed the housekeepers, leaving Wendy to manage the entire several-thousand-square-foot mansion on her own.

No one appreciated her efforts; instead, they saw her as the least important person in the household.

The constant exhaustion and frustration had led to her liver cancer.

Once a proud young woman, she had become an ordinary housewife, consumed by daily chores.

And with Ethan's long-time crush returning to the country, able to help him with his troubles, it was only natural that he no longer loved her.

Wendy's lips curled into a bitter smile.

She had been foolish, not understanding how easily people's hearts could change.

She had turned herself into a cowardly, timid, and self-respect-lacking failure.

Thinking about what the doctor had said earlier, she felt utterly ridiculous.

As the last heir of the Knight family, a lineage renowned in medical circles, she had once been the star student at Horizon Medical College.

And yet, here she was, diagnosed with liver cancer, completely unaware of her own condition.

It was only because her grandmother, Margaret Knight, who was hospitalized with a serious illness, insisted on her getting a check-up after noticing her pale complexion that it was discovered.

How laughable!

If her late grandfather and parents knew that she, a doctor, was unaware of her own illness, they would be ashamed to have such a child!

These past few years of marriage to Ethan, she had been nothing but a clown.

Instead of focusing on improving her medical skills and practicing surgery, she had spent her days worrying about what meals would please the Collins family, deciding what Ethan should wear to tomorrow's gala, and picking out just the right gifts to keep Juniper and Ethan's sister, Sarah Collins, happy.

Wendy's mind was a blur as she gazed out at the stormy sky. Spring had arrived without her even noticing.

Yet, this season, which should have been warm and blossoming, felt colder than the depths of winter.

Wendy couldn't help but take out the diagnosis report from her bag and look at the images again.

The twisted organs filled her with fear; it was hard to believe they were a part of her body.

Her liver cancer. She bet it was caused by all the stress from dealing with the Collins family—being looked down on by Juniper, constantly criticized by Sarah, and Ethan, who she had loved for years yet always treated her like she was invisible.

Tears streamed down Wendy's face again.

She had always thought she was strong, but now her facade had completely crumbled.

Wendy tore up the medical report and threw it in the trash.

She took a deep breath, suppressing her grievances and anger, and carried the dishes out of the kitchen, setting them on the dining table.

Just as she was about to sit down and rest, Juniper kicked her hard. "How dare you be lazy? Can't you see how dirty the house is? Go mop the floor first!"