Chapter 1

Cersei Blanchel married her best friend's brother Louis Moore.

Three years of marriage, Louis was mature and elegant.

Yet he remained distant and disinterested in her, never once sexing with her.

While chatting over drinks, Cersei vented her frustrations to her best friend Rachel Moore about their marriage.

The very next day, she witnessed the something unbelievable.

Louis pinned Rachel against the wall, kissing her with passion. His voice was completely losing control.

"You know I've always loved you. I married Cersei like you asked, but you still push me to fuck her? Are you trying to drive me insane?"

Rachel's eyes glistened with tears.

"Louis, I love you too. But the Moore family has strict traditions. Even though I'm just adopted, they would never allow us to be together. Now that you married Cersei. Please, just try to love her."

"I'll never love anyone but you." His voice dropped to a tortured whisper. "Marrying Cersei was the biggest sacrifice I could make. I don't love her, so I can never sex with her.”

Each word hit Cersei. So this was why Louis never touched her after marriage.

All because her husband was in love with her best friend.

And her marriage? Just a façade to appease his family!

That night, Cersei's heart ached so badly with her tears almost running dry.

She remembered the first time she saw Louis—how breathtakingly handsome he'd seemed.

She had fallen for her best friend's brother instantly and spent seven years pursuing him.

Seven years of offering her whole heart and complete devotion.

But all of that love had turned to ashes in an instant.

Cersei walked through the cold New York streets. By dawn, she'd contacted her lawyer to draft divorce papers.

As she signed her name, she heard a noise at the front door. Louis had returned.

Before she could hand him the divorce papers, he grabbed her wrist. His usually cool expression replaced with panic and desperation.

"Cersei, Rachel collapsed last night and was rushed to the hospital." His voice shook. "They found she has bone marrow cancer. She needs an immediate transplant. You're a match. Please… can you save her?"

Cersei didn't sleep the whole night, unable to process his words.

He misinterpreted her silence as refusal. Those typically detached eyes now filled with begging.

"If my marrow had matched, I'll do it myself. You've been best friends for years, and now you're her sister-in-law. I know you won't leave her in the lurch. Whatever you ask, I'll agree to it"

Cersei lowered her exhausted eyes, her voice bitter.

"Anything? Even... having sex with me?"

"Yes," he answered without hesitation.

His immediate acceptance made her recall the past three years. He'd always rejected and avoided her attempts at sex.

He clearly loved her more than he should.

He didn't love her and desperately didn't want to touch her. But to save Rachel, he would agree even to have sex with her.

Before she could respond, the hospital called again—Rachel's condition was critical.

In that moment, his eyes reddened and his voice trembled. "Cersei... please. I'm begging you."

The pain in her chest was overwhelming. But in the end, she got into his car.

After the surgery, she stayed in the hospital for three days. Louis never visited her once.

During her numerous follow-up appointments, Cersei would pass by Rachel's room and see Louis at Rachel's bedside.

He would hold her hand while she slept. He'd feed her medicine and making sure it was sweetened with candy to ease her discomfort. Concerned about her health, he carried her everywhere like a princess...

Every gesture, every moment was full of love that he couldn't hide.

And Cersei saw it all.

She didn't disturb them, simply healing her wounds in silence before handling her discharge paperwork.

On her way out of the hospital, she heard Rachel's voice as she passed her room last time.

"Louis, you should really check on Cersei. You haven't been around for days. She's probably upset, and she's going to take it out on you.”

Louis remained motionless as he tucked the blanket around Rachel, his tone flat. "She won't. She loves me too much to make a fuss."

Cersei smiled faintly with exhaustion in her eyes. She indeed wouldn't make a fuss anymore.

Not because she loved him too much, but because she no longer did.

She steadied herself and headed home, only to find the divorce papers that had been left at the entrance a few days ago.

She was reviewing them. Just then she heard the front door open.

Louis looked surprised to see her. "You're out of the hospital? Why didn't you call me? I would've picked you up."

He hadn't even visited her in the hospital, and now he expected to be informed of her discharge?

"I know you're busy," she replied coolly. "No need to trouble yourself over trivial matters."

For a moment, the room was silent.

Louis said nothing, his expression darkening as he loosened his tie.

He reached for her waist and leaned down to kiss her, but Cersei stepped back.

Seeing her startled retreat, he frowned and actually looked at her properly for once.

“C'mon, don't you remember? You asked for sex.”

Cersei clenched her fists as she forced a smile. "Just kidding. No need to take it seriously. Can I ask for something else instead?"

Louis visibly relaxed. "Of course."

Cersei noticed everything but chose not to comment. She pulled out the divorce papers and turned to the final page.

"Just sign here. This is what I've wanted most right now.”

Louis was taken aback. He had never seen her so eager to express a need. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"The thing you want most? Which property caught your eye to make you this excited?"

He reached out for the papers, about to open them.

But his phone rang at that exact moment.

“Louis, how's that soup coming along? I'm starving!” Rachel's voice was sweet and playful.

Only then did Cersei realize why Louis had come home—just to make soup for Rachel.

“I'm coming, just a minute.”

Without further delay, Louis scrawled his signature on the papers and headed straight to the kitchen without even glancing.

He spent an hour cooking, then rushed out the door with a bowl of soup in hand..

Throughout it all, he never spoke another word to Cersei.

Watching his figure disappear down the street, Cersei quietly answered his earlier question.

“I didn't want a house, Louis. I wanted freedom. Happy divorce."

Chapter 2

In the following days, Louis didn't come home.

Cersei didn't bother asking where he'd gone. Instead, she spent her time alone packing things up.

The jewelry and handbags he'd given her after their marriage, the tailored suits and shoes she'd bought him, their framed photos together, unused makeup...

She kept nothing, throwing everything away.

Watching their home slowly empty out, a strange sense of loss settled in her chest, but mostly relief.

After tossing the last box, she turned around and saw Louis had returned.

He stared at the trash can for a moment, his face registering shock.

“You threw all of this away?”

“I didn't need it anymore, so I got rid of it. Why are you back?”

Cersei changed the subject, and Louis didn't press further. He checked his watch.

"I'm here to pick you up. The family dinner is tonight."

Cersei paused, remembering the semi-annual Moore family gathering at the estate. She hadn't missed one in years. But this time, she declined.

"I'm not feeling well. Think I'll skip this one."

"What's wrong? Should we see a doctor?"

His tone softened slightly, and Cersei wasn't used to it. She shook her head. "It's nothing. Just need some rest. Not up for crowds right now."

“Then you stay home...” Louis was about to agree when the sound of a car door opening interrupted them.

“Cersei, come with me to the family dinner. If you're not there, I'll be so bored. Right, Louis?”

Seeing Rachel's exaggerated puppy-dog eyes, Louis melted instantly.

He abandoned whatever he'd been about to say and nodded, opening the rear passenger door for them.

“Since it's a family dinner, you don't have to follow all the rules. Just relax, Cersei. Rachel's been cooped up in the hospital for days—it would be nice if you kept her company."

Louis' attitude flip in an instant. Cersei felt a sharp pain in her chest.

She knew that whatever Rachel asked for, Louis would always give in without hesitation.

So she said nothing more and got into the car.

As the car started, Rachel chattered on beside her.

"So Cersei, you've recovered from the marrow donation, right?" Rachel's voice dripped with concern.

"You have no idea how much I suffered with the transplant rejection. I was dizzy all the time and had nightmares. Thank God Louis was there with me, or I wouldn't have made it. Don't be mad that he couldn't take care of you, okay?"

Cersei glanced up and caught the subtle test in Rachel's eyes. She sighed softly.

“I'm not upset. You're siblings. That's natural."

Only then did Rachel relax, she grabbed her hand and continued chatting as if nothing had changed.

"I knew you wouldn't mind! Hey, look at this necklace Louis got me today! Isn't it gorgeous?" she gushed.

"I casually mentioned it once, and he remembered! Cost a fortune at auction!”

“And these dolls... Louis got them for me yesterday. The car was so boring before—now it's perfect with these cute little decorations, Isn't it adorable?”

Looking at the dazzling diamond necklace around Rachel's neck and the stuffed animals crowding the seats, Cersei's chest tightened painfully.

Louis had always been a strict minimalist, favoring black, white, and gray.

Yet because these colorful trinkets were Rachel's favorites, he never once objected and let her decorate his car however she liked.

Cersei remembered many years ago, she'd placed a cute Doraemon figurine on his dashboard.

But the next day, it was gone.

"Cersei, I don't like this kind of thing," he'd told her coldly. "Don't make decisions like that on your own again."

It was amazing how love different.

She remained silent. Rachel thought she was tired, so she didn't press the issue. Instead, she chatted nonstop with Louis.

They talked about the weather, mutual friends, funny stories from childhood, and even tonight's dinner menu.

No matter what Rachel said, Louis responded with his smile never fading.

Cersei remembered how whenever she tried to share details of her day with him, his responses were always short—just a quick "Hmm," "Okay," or "Sure."

But with Rachel, he was always engaged and responsive.

Even while driving, his eyes would drift to the rearview mirror to seek Rachel out.

His love was so obvious and passionate. How had she never noticed it before?

She couldn't understand it. Her chest tightened, a lingering pain spreading through her heart.

Cersei stared at the crescent marks her nails had left on her palm, then turned to look out the window.

She silently repeated to herself.

"It's okay. Just hold on a little longer. One more month until the divorce waiting period ends, everything will be over."

Chapter 3

At 6 PM, the family dinner officially began.

Louis sat between Cersei and Rachel as they joined the traditional toast to the elders.

Cersei also stood up, lifting her glass in respect.

Rachel reached for her glass as well, but Louis stopped her.

"You just got out of the hospital. You don't need to drink."

Glancing nervously at the formally-dressed relatives around the table, Rachel whispered, "But Cersei's drinking even though she's not feeling well. Won't it be bad manners if I don't?"

Louis frowned, taking Rachel's glass away before addressing the elders in a respectful tone.

"Rachel's still recovering, and the doctor advised against drinking. But since it's tradition. As her older brother, I'll drink on her behalf."

He downed her glass in one go.

Looking at her own half-empty glass and watching as Louis helped Rachel back into her seat, Cersei tasted bitterness in her mouth.

She took a deep breath and ignored the burning sensation in her stomach. Then tipped her head back and finished her wine.

The alcohol hit her empty stomach, causing waves of cramping pain.

She bit her lip until it turned white, cold sweat soaking through her blouse. But she couldn't even cry out.

The Moore family traditions were clear—no one left the table before the elders. So she gripped the edge of the table, enduring wave after wave of pain.

Everyone was drinking and chatting. No one noticed her distress.

Louis divided his attention between responding to the elders and filling Rachel's plate with choice pieces of lobster.

The family matriarch Grace Reed noticed Rachel's heaping plate compared to Cersei's empty one and narrowed her eyes.

"Louis, stop fussing over your sister. Cersei hasn't eaten anything—are these dishes not to her taste?"

Louis turned and noticed her pallor. Then placed some fish in her plate.

Faced with concerned looks from around the table, Cersei hesitated before picking up the fish and eating it.

Rachel's eyes widened as she opened her mouth to say something.

But after meeting the elders' stern gazes, she remained silent.

Grace nodded with satisfaction and turned her attention to Rachel, her tone serious but caring.

"Rachel, your birthday is next month. I'm planning a party and inviting several eligible young men from our circle. You should meet them and see if any catch your eye."

"It's time we settled your marriage plans. It's harder to find a match when you get older."

The color drained from Rachel's face as she looked anxiously toward Louis.

His expression darkened too. Though he maintained his composure and carefully deflected the suggestion.

"Rachel is still young. There's no rush. I'll personally help her choose the right match when the time comes."

The elders at the table were stunned by Louis's response. Then started to offer their opinions.

"Louis, we know you've always spoiled your sister," his uncle said with exasperation, "but come on, it's time. With your impossibly high standards, who knows how many more years this will drag on?"

"We've been trying to find Rachel suitable matches since you're married," his aunt chimed in. "We've introduced dozens of potential candidates, and you've rejected every single one! Aren't you just holding her back?"

"Exactly, Rachel's 25, just like Cersei. She's not getting any younger! Now that you're married, she probably wants to start her own life too."

Rachel grew anxious listening to this barrage. For the first time, she gathered her courage to voice her own thoughts.

"I-I'm not in a hurry to get married... I don't mind waiting a few more years…"

"Rachel. You may be adopted, but your mother and I have always loved you like our own. Of course, we want you to have a good future. Now that Louis is married, it's only natural we focus on you. The matchmaking event is happening, so you'd better start preparing for it."

Amidst the discussion, Louis' father Philip Moore stood up to make the final decision.

Rachel trembled at these words, her eyes instantly welling with tears.

Louis' expression darkened. His veins were visible as his hands clenched into fists.

Unable to contain himself any longer, he shot to his feet. His voice shaking with barely contained rage.

"I said Rachel's marriage is MY decision. Keep out of it!"

The normally composed Moore heir losing control in front of the entire family created an immediate shockwave. Everyone's expressions turned sour.

"What do you mean 'keep out of it'?" his uncle challenged.

"She's at the perfect age now. If we don't start arranging, she'll be thirty! How can we not be concerned?"

"Yeah, Louis. We understand you've spoiled her, but you're married now. Soon you and Cersei will have children, and naturally they'll become your priority. No matter how much you care for Rachel, you can't possibly—"

Blinded by fury, Louis cut her off with an ice-cold retort.

"I will NEVER have children! As long as Rachel doesn't want to get married, I won't force her. She can get married whenever she wants, or not at all. I'll support her for the rest of her life if I have to!"