Chapter 1

Behind Asher Kemnis's back, Rosalind Beniere had secretly sent his sugar baby to study in the U.S. at Berklee College of Music.

Asher—the man everyone had always described as coldly ascetic and untouchable—instantly lost his mind. He was convinced that Rosalind had deliberately sent away his precious angel.

So he dragged their son Nolan onto a cruise ship headed for the Arctic, using the kid to force Rosalind to bring Claire Fleur back.

Rosalind watched her five-year-old son sobbing his heart out on the ship as it slowly entered international waters. Asher's assistant held the boy over the edge, his tiny body dangling above the dark ocean.

Asher's voice dropped to a menacing whisper: "Darling, you have five minutes left to decide. Otherwise, our son's going straight to the bottom of the ocean."

First minute: Rosalind remembered her five years of secretly loving Asher, quietly becoming his mistress. Born into a top-tier pharmaceutical royalty, he was with a girl from a poor background who was utterly ordinary-looking. She chose to stay in the shadows, asking for nothing official.

Second minute: The Kemnis family had arranged for Asher to marry into another wealthy family right after graduation. But instead, he dragged Rosalind straight to the registry office.

Third minute: When Rosalind became pregnant, the Kemnis family rejected her even harder. Asher took her away from his family, severing all ties, and they had their son—Nolan Kemnis.

Fourth minute: Asher adopted a friend's niece, and on the girl's twentieth birthday, Rosalind caught that look in Asher's eyes—tender, desperate love.

Fifth minute: Rosalind thought of Asher and his little niece Claire tangled up in bed together...

Asher loosened his grip. The family heirloom bracelet he'd worn on his wrist for nearly twenty years was gone.

That bracelet—the one she'd never been allowed to touch—now adorned Claire's right ankle.

Asher's eyes were ice-cold, devoid of any warmth. "Rosalind, I'm asking you one last time: where the hell is Claire?"

Rosalind's throat burned with obvious pain, and Nolan's cries filled her ears: "Mommy, save me..."

The sea wind lashed against Rosalind's cheeks, stinging painfully.

"Babe, you trying to get us all killed here?"

Rosalind's chest ached so badly she could barely breathe. She looked up at Asher through her tears.

"Asher, Nolan is your flesh and blood. You're seriously threatening me with his life?"

Asher's thin lips parted: "But Claire is my life too!"

Rosalind's tears fell. So Claire was his life now—what the hell were she and their son to him?

"Rosalind, as long as Claire comes back, you'll still be Mrs. Kemnis."

Rosalind suppressed her emotions. "Asher, I don't believe you'd actually kill our son over Claire. And I didn't do anything to hurt her."

Asher's voice turned cold: "Five seconds. You don't tell me where she is, our son Nolan's going in the water for shark food."

"Five... four... three..."

Seeing him actually mean it, Rosalind cracked. "Claire's at Berklee College of Music in Boston."

Rosalind collapsed to the ground. He really would do it—he would sacrifice their biological son for Claire.

Through her tears, Rosalind watched Asher immediately grab his phone. The man was clearly frantic: "Get the helicopter here. I need to fly to America NOW."

He didn't spare her another glance, instead staring constantly at his phone.

Rosalind's trembling hands clawed at the deck.

For ten years, she had quietly been the woman behind Asher. Whether it was research breakthrough or other achievement, she had helped him with every single project.

When he built the Kemnis Group from nothing, leaving research to become CEO, she spent twenty-four hours in the lab developing the drugs he wanted.

She succeeded. the Kemnis Group became a top-tier pharmaceutical group that could rival the old Kemnis family empire.

That night, Asher held her in his arms, kissing her neck with deep affection.

"Rosalind, you're part of me—like, fused into my bones and blood."

She thought everything was finally heading in the right direction. She could prove she deserved to stand beside him.

The Kemnis family was also seeing what she brought to the table, and things had actually gotten better with them over the past couple years.

But the ending? Asher fell for a girl nine years younger than him.

The girl was completely sheltered from the world, innocent and naive, always clinging to him and pulling that cute act:

"Asher, I need you to stay with me."

"Asher, I'm so lost on this problem. Can you help me?"

"Asher, you have to come to Claire's cello competition. If you don't show up, I won't play..."

"Asher, Claire likes you sooo much."

Acting cute was something Rosalind had never done with Asher.

Confessing feelings was something Rosalind had never done with Asher either.

Right under her nose, Asher fell for this 'princess who couldn't even take care of herself.' The little princess needed him to spoil her rotten, and he was totally eating it up.

The helicopter arrived fast.

Asher couldn't wait for his son's ship to return—he hopped on the chopper and flew straight to the States.

As the helicopter disappeared into the distance, Rosalind tried calling Asher several times. He hung up every single time.

Rosalind shot him a text directly: "When the hell is our son coming back?"

"Three hours. Rosalind, Claire is just a girlmy buddy asked me to look after. I can't let him down."

Reading his explanation, Rosalind let out a bitter laugh.

Can't let him down?

Just as Rosalind was about to put her phone away, she saw the messages flooding in.

"Rosalind, so what if I love Asher? He wants to be with ME, and we're amazing together. He loves sexing with me. He's not passionate about you anymore—you're the one who won't let him go.**

"Rosalind, Asher came by campus to see me again tonight. We hit up this hotel. He went crazy for the little bunny costume I wore."

"..."

And those disgusting videos. The footage showed Asher's wild side in full display.

Rosalind turned off her phone and sat by the ocean, numbly waiting for her son to return.

The sea breeze had dried her tears.

When she looked up again, her eyes were clear.

She used to think that loving Asher was enough.

When Asher cheated, she figured men just needed excitement. They had a son—he needed a complete family.

But now she knew she couldn't do it anymore.

She'd been alone since childhood—no parents' love, no family to cherish her. She thought she'd found true love, but now it was all falling apart again.

Rosalind pulled up a contract on her phone—she'd signed when Kemnis Group went public.

She'd voluntarily given up all shares in the company, given up the marriage.

Right before the IPO, Asher's grandfather Bowen had found her: "Rosalind, if you sign this, when Kemnis Group goes public, I'll help push it through. Asher wants to list on the London Stock Exchange. With my help, his company can rival the old Kemnis empire."

To put the Kemnis family at ease, and for Asher's sake, Rosalind signed the agreement.

Because she never imagined Asher would abandon her.

Rosalind sent out a message:

"I accept. I'm joining Oceanis Labs."

It was the world's top marine medical research team, where the brightest minds from every country worked. It also meant being locked away on the ocean floor for thirty years before stepping through those doors in the real world again.

Her only demand: she was taking her son Nolan with her.

Asher would never find her and Nolan again!

Chapter 2

Going to a place beyond any country's reach, she needed to take her solo research with her.

But all the research data and samples were locked up in the lab.

To open the lab, they needed both her and Asher's fingerprints and passwords—both of them had to be there to unlock that door.

Soon after, Rosalind finally saw her son Nolan return. His face was streaked with tears, and he was passed out from exhaustion.

Rosalind kissed her son's forehead. "Nolan, would you want to leave with Mommy?"

Nolan's eyelashes fluttered as he looked at Rosalind, crying: "Mommy, I almost fell in the water."

A five-year-old kid already knew what was up.

The guy who took Nolan away was Asher's right-hand assistant.

Rosalind's eyes welled up.

"Nolan, if you come with Mommy, there won't be a Daddy anymore. Are you okay with that?"

Nolan wrapped his little arms around Rosalind's neck and nodded.

"Wherever Mommy goes, that's where I go."

Rosalind took Nolan to the company. Her fingerprint and password could get them to the high-level research lab.

But she couldn't open that damn door no matter what.

Through the glass, she could see the computers inside and all her experimental samples.

There was one experiment where all the data was her work alone—the only thing she needed to take.

"Mommy, it's not working. Daddy's not here, so you can't open it."

Rosalind's mind flashed back to when they built this lab, when Asher was setting up their fingerprints and passwords.

He'd held her, whispering in her ear: "Rosalind, don't tell me this password, and I won't tell you mine. All the company's most important stuff is in here. Only when we're both here together can we open this door and see everything. That way we'll always be connected, never apart."

When two people are in love, that's mutual dependence.

But when the love's gone? That's the perfect way to screw each other over.

Asher Kemnis, did you ever think about today five years ago?

The lab door stayed shut.

Rosalind took Nolan straight to their home on the second floor.

For years, she'd lived here at the company with Nolan and Asher. It wasn't until Claire showed up that they bought the house, trying to live like a real family.

Everything here was from before Claire appeared.

Rosalind and Nolan got to work.

Rosalind sorted through all her stuff—things Asher had bought her, gifts she'd bought him, and all those couple's items she'd secretly picked out with such stupid hope. Nolan packed up all his things.

"Mommy, Daddy bought this one—trash it. You bought this one—taking it. This is our family photo—don't want it."

The little guy had three bags, sorting everything lightning fast.

Rosalind held back tears, watching her son categorize everything so clearly.

Asher, do you know how smart Nolan is?

Without me saying a word, he already knows you gave up on him.

Nolan ran over and hugged Rosalind. His little hands wiped away her tears.

"Mommy, you've always wanted to work in that ocean lab, right? You said oceans cover three-quarters of our planet and we need to protect them. You've always wanted to be an ocean protector. Mommy's the best at everything—you're just gonna follow your dreams. I'm totally behind you, and I'm coming with you too."

Rosalind looked at a painting across the room.

Asher was really good at painting. It was an oil painting he'd done when Nolan was two—of Nolan and her together.

Rosalind walked over to it. Then she opened the paint box nearby, grabbed a brush and started painting over it, bit by bit.

Nolan immediately picked up a small brush and copied her, painting over himself in the picture too.

The little guy said sweetly: "Mommy, I'm gonna learn to paint and only paint pictures of you. I'm gonna be amazing—way better than this stupid painting."

Rosalind smiled faintly, stroking her son's face.

After they finished packing everything up, Rosalind made a call to had the waste management guys haul everything away.

Including the bed she and Asher had slept in, the couch, the kitchen stuff—everything.

All the cozy photos she'd hung on the walls, and Nolan's messy little scribbles—she tore it all down and threw it out, then grabbed fresh paint and went over the walls.

Until this 2,000-square-foot place was empty, not even a paperclip left behind with walls gleaming white.

Not a trace of their life remained.

Even the stomach medicine she'd always kept in the kitchen for Asher—every last pill was gone.

This whole thing took a day and a night. Nolan ended up sleeping on the floor.

Rosalind carried Nolan back to their house.

She pushed open the door.

The living room was thick with smoke, the ashtray piled high with at least fifteen cigarette butts.

Asher's usually cold face looked completely wrecked, his bloodshot eyes all red and raw.

His voice was ice-cold and bitter: "Claire got bullied the second she hit campus. She's laid up in her dorm room, covered in bruises, and doesn't even have money for medicine!"

Asher had been waiting for her, his face full of accusations, those freezing eyes cutting right through her like she was his enemy.

Rosalind glanced down at sleeping Nolan in her arms.

"Asher, whatever you've got to say, don't do it in front of our son."

Rosalind started heading upstairs.

But then Claire appeared at the top of the stairs.

She was wearing this white nightgown, her hair cascading down to her waist in waves, that innocent face all twisted up in panic.

Her nervous hands were clutching at her nightgown.

"Rosalind, I... I promise I won't bother Asher anymore. Please don't send me away."

The girl stood there with tears streaming down her face, looking at Rosalind like some kicked puppy.

Asher was already off the couch, heading straight for Claire on the stairs.

He brushed her hair aside with his fingers, revealing the clear handprint marks on her pale cheek where someone had slapped her hard.

Claire collapsed into Asher's arms, sobbing.

"Rosalind, the people who hurt me said someone paid them to do it. You sent me to that top music school, so it definitely wasn't you bullying me."

Asher's eyes went completely cold, his icy stare fixed on Rosalind downstairs.

"Rosalind, you don't have to like Claire, but I told you—I'm taking care of her until she graduates at 25, until her uncle comes back."

"But every time I cut you some slack, you just keep screwing with Claire."

Rosalind noticed her son had woken up. He tried to turn his head, but Rosalind stopped him.

"Nolan, close your eyes." Rosalind fought to keep her voice steady.

"Asher, Berklee is one of the top three music schools in the world. If there's bullying going on, you can call the cops or go investigate it yourself instead of coming at me with this crap."

Claire was crying hysterically: "Rosalind, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Claire dropped to her knees and begged.

"Please, Rosalind, I just want to stay in school here in London. I'll live on campus, I promise I'll only come home once a month—no, half a day is fine."

Claire's tears had Asher completely under her spell. He scooped Claire up right in front of Rosalind.

Those vicious eyes boring into her.

"We're talking in my office later. I gotta take care of Claire first."

Rosalind numbly headed upstairs.

Nolan, still leaning against her shoulder, said in his little voice:

"Mommy, can we ditch Daddy sooner?"

Rosalind rubbed her son's back, her heart breaking: "Yeah, sweetheart. Mommy's gonna try."

Rosalind carried Nolan down the second-floor hallway, heading to Nolan's bedroom.

As they passed Claire's room, she noticed the door wasn't shut all the way—just a tiny crack.

Through that gap, she saw Asher pinning Claire down on the bed and his hand sliding up under Claire's white nightgown.

Her body went completely rigid, her eyes filling with pain.

Asher, is this how you "take care" of her?

Chapter 3

Seeing Asher's betrayal with her own eyes, Rosalind felt like her heart had been ripped out.

Rosalind carried Nolan into his room and put him on his little bed.

She tried hard to keep him calm.

"Nolan, three days max. In three days we're outta here. Pack up the small stuff in your room, okay?"

The little guy nodded.

Only then did Rosalind leave, closing the door behind her.

In the hallway, Asher's eyes were cold and dark: "My office. Now."

Walking into the study, Rosalind noticed something she'd missed before.

When the hell had Claire's stuff started taking over Asher's office? The couch and carpet were covered with the girl's hair accessories, jewelry, sheet music and random snacks.

For years before this, Asher's study had been their space—filled with research data, project discussions, their work stuff.

Somewhere along the way, everything had changed.

She remembered being pregnant with Nolan and completely wiped out. She'd fallen asleep leaning against him.

When she woke up, Asher was kissing her forehead: "Rosalind, don't push yourself so hard. You and our little one are my whole world. I can only be okay if you two are okay."

Back then, she thought all the hard work was worth it.

Because Asher had given her a home, given her warmth too.

Walking into the study, Asher hurled a stack of papers right at Rosalind.

Page after page of confessions, all in English characters.

"Rosalind, Claire's school sent this over. These are statements from the bullies. Someone from London wired money to their accounts to make them hurt Claire. And that account? It traces back to YOU!"

Rosalind didn't say a word.

Asher's voice went cold: "I'm not divorcing you. I'll handle Claire's situation this time, but I'm never letting Claire out of my sight again. If you want to stay with me and keep this marriage going, you better drop this evil shit."

Rosalind didn't even have the strength to defend herself anymore. She forced herself to stay steady.

"Asher, are you free tomorrow? I need you to come to the lab with me. There's an issue with one of our data sets—I need to get in there and check it."

Hearing there was a company problem, Asher's brow furrowed.

"Yeah, I'm taking Claire to the hospital in the morning—her injuries can't leave scar. I'll have lunch with her, then I'll be at the office in the afternoon."

So she was dead last on his priority list. She'd never noticed before, but now from the outside looking in, it was crystal clear.

Claire's cello recital—he'd left her alone to face international partners in a meeting just to watch Claire perform.

One whimper from Claire about being in pain, and he'd dump her on the curb, make her uber to the Kemnis family house to deal with his relatives by herself.

Claire mentioned wanting chicken, and he'd wake her up at midnight, not giving a shit that she'd worked fifteen hours straight, just so she could cook for Claire.

"Fine..." Rosalind let out a long sigh.

The next morning, Rosalind woke up to screaming.

Asher burst into her room like crazy and yanked her out of bed.

Rosalind winced in pain, her delicate features scrunched up.

Asher was gripping her arm so tight it was gonna bruise. His eyes were bloodshot.

"Rosalind, I can't believe you'd do this to Claire."

Little Nolan was crying and hitting Asher.

"Let go of Mommy, you're a bad daddy!"

Asher shoved Nolan away and the kid hit the floor hard, then threw his phone down on the bed.

"Rosalind, those sick fucks took nude photos of Claire and posted them all over the internet. Everyone in London has seen them now."

"Mr. Kemnis! Miss Fleur slit her wrists!"

Asher immediately let go of Rosalind and ran to the room across the hall.

Standing there, Rosalind could see Claire collapsed on the bed, her wrists slashed open, bright red blood pouring out and dripping onto the floor.

Rosalind went pale, immediately covered her son's eyes.

"Nolan, listen to Mommy. Stay in your room and don't come out."

This whole scheme—Claire was willing to bet her life on it.

Rosalind had no idea what price she'd end up paying.

Claire was rushed to the hospital in Asher's arms.

Meanwhile, Rosalind was shoved into another car by Asher's security.

The car took off at breakneck speed straight to the Kemnis family's private hospital.

Asher was in full panic mode, carrying Claire and running like crazy.

Rosalind watched him lose his shit, forgetting that he was a damn good surgeon himself.

Asher had been in her room for less than thirty seconds when Claire slit her wrists, and maid Amy just happened to find her—the amount of blood wouldn't even threaten someone's life.

Rosalind was dragged to the operating room entrance.

Asher's eyes were ice cold as he stared at Rosalind.

"Since you love taking photos so much, fine!"

Asher walked right over and, in front of his security and all the people walking by, forcibly tore open her clothes.

Her dress ripped apart, instantly exposing Rosalind's pale skin.

Her body went cold, her hands trying to cover herself.

But Asher's huge frame pressed down on her, his large hands gripping her wrists hard, not letting her struggle one bit.

His eyes were freezing as he said: "Rosalind Beniere! What you did to Claire, I'm gonna pay you back a hundred times over!"

Rosalind's body trembled, her throat felt like razor blades were cutting it.

"Asher, I'm your wife, the mother of your child. You're doing this to me in front of all these people?"

But Asher slammed Rosalind hard against the cold wall, ignoring the growing crowd. He literally ripped her clothes completely off with one violent tear, the fabric falling to the floor.

Instantly, Rosalind saw countless camera flashes pointed at her—live streams, photos, video recordings.

Asher smiled cruelly: "Rosalind, you destroyed Claire's reputation! So I'm putting you on display for the whole London!"

Rosalind went white as a sheet. She tried to cover her body with her hands, but couldn't hide anything.

Asher gripped her wrists and forced her hands above her head—deliberately let those people get a clear view of her body.

The crowd went wild taking pictures.

Everyone knew who Asher was.

In that moment, Rosalind's tears started falling.

Her mind flashed back to Asher from five years ago.

Back then, when just her skirt got snagged, Asher immediately took off his jacket and wrapped her up tight. Even though nothing was showing, he was nervous as hell.

But now, this man in front of her had completely destroyed her for another woman.

The second Asher let go, Rosalind collapsed to the floor immediately.

With shaking hands, she grabbed her clothes and quickly put them on.

She immediately tried to leave.

But Asher's cold and heartless voice followed her:

"Rosalind, your photos are all over the internet now. I got Claire's pictures taken down from every site, but yours? Ha... deal with it yourself!"

Rosalind's face twisted into a bitter smile, her hand clutching her chest.

She just left without a word.

Her mind was flooded with memories of the first time Asher had touched her.

He'd kissed that little mole on her chest: "Rosalind, from now on, your body is only for me. No one else gets to touch you."

Sitting in the car, Rosalind opened her phone and saw the news everywhere:

"Mrs. Kemnis has a red mole on her chest."

"Red mole beauty."

"Smoking hot body!"

"BREAKING"

"..."