Chapter 1Twice Loved, Once Betrayed

In this life, I have been close to marriage twice.

The first was a passionate whirlwind, set to marry the head of the Sterling Group, a man standing at the very pinnacle of wealth.

The second was calm and natural, leading to my current marriage with my gentle and considerate husband, Dr. Caleb Reid.

Back then, I was young and stubborn, believing love should be pure. I refused to share a man with another woman.

I cried and fought over it, finally leaving London in a fit of pique.

I followed Caleb to the Scottish Highlands, settling in a desolate forest research station.

For three years of marriage, Ethan Sterling's people never lost contact.

Every month, a private jet delivered rare orchids.

The attached card always bore the same sentence:

"When you've had enough, come back."

I never responded.

Until last night, when Caleb confessed that he wanted to move his ex, Lydia, and her daughter into our home.

I stared at the gloomy Scottish sky outside the window, silent for a long time.

Finally, I picked up my phone and messaged the number I hadn't contacted in three years.

"Come pick me up. I'm ready to go home."

* * *

My assistant, Mia, spoke with a trembling voice: "Miss Ava, are we really going back to London?"

I stood up and walked to the window, pushing it open.

Outside was the eternally gray sky of the Scottish Highlands.

"I lost the bet. What else can I do but go back?"

Mia was silent for a moment, then sighed: "If only Professor Reid hadn't met Lydia. He used to seem so devoted!"

The "Professor Reid" she mentioned is my current husband, Caleb Reid.

Three years ago, Caleb was just a young scholar who had recently received his tenure, but he dared to fly to London to propose to me.

At that time, I set two conditions.

First, no one mentions the past. We never ask about it.

Second, I am possessive and cannot tolerate a third party. He can only have me as his woman for the rest of his life.

Caleb held my hand and swore on his mentor's photo: "I pledge on my honor to always put you first in my heart."

I looked at the sincerity in his eyes, but Ethan's words echoed in my mind: "Ava Lane, do you think changing the man means he'll love only you forever?"

I was too young and stubborn back then, not even giving the Sterling family face.

Just because there was always a childhood sweetheart around him, I gave Ethan the cold shoulder for a whole year.

He said he wouldn't marry anyone but me; I said I'd rather die than marry him.

The Sterling engagement party was postponed again and again, dates changed seven or eight times.

People in our circle gossiped, but no one guessed the reason.

Ethan protected me and never explained to the public.

After our last fight, he must have been truly exhausted, so he compromised.

"Fine. Marry whoever you want."

But he made a bet with me.

If one day, the husband I carefully chose also had a woman he couldn't let go of, that would be the time I returned to him.

Outside, a fine drizzle blurred the view through the glass.

Standing outside the studio door was a woman in her early thirties wearing a beige trench coat, holding a six or seven-year-old boy's hand, looking pitiful.

That was Lydia.

Caleb's doctoral student, and his "white moonlight"—the one who got away.

Years ago, Lydia dumped Caleb to marry an investor so she could go abroad for further studies.

Now divorced, she returned with her child to do research, isolated and helpless in these highlands.

I've always been soft-hearted. At first, I pitied her situation and asked Caleb to help arrange accommodation.

Until last month, when Caleb went to Edinburgh for an academic conference, Mia casually mentioned: "Professor Reid changed his desktop wallpaper. It looks like a photo of Lydia and her son."

That's when I suddenly woke up.

Who would have thought Caleb had already rented an apartment for Lydia in town behind my back and prepaid six months of rent?

These past few days, Lydia has been coming to my studio every day, crying tears like pear blossoms in the rain, saying she had nowhere to go, begging me to take them in.

I wouldn't relent, so she wouldn't stop crying.

"Of course she's persistent. She knows in her heart that as long as she moves into this house, I have to leave. Then the position of Mrs. Reid will be hers."

Mia realized suddenly: "Right, she knows about the bet you made with Mr. Sterling."

Lydia looked up at that moment, meeting my gaze through the glass door.

I looked away expressionlessly.

"Let her stand there. It's the last day anyway."

"Why?"

"Because..."

Before I could finish, hurried footsteps came from the end of the corridor.

Caleb, carrying his laptop bag, strode to the door in a few steps.

He pulled Lydia and the child behind him.

"Lydia! Why are you here?"

Because today was the day he returned from his field expedition.

Lydia went limp, slowly collapsing into Caleb's arms, starting her old tricks again.

She had used this move more than once.

Caleb panicked, quickly supporting her, then turned and glared at me through the door.

"Ava! While I was gone, is this how you treated her? No matter what you say this time, I must bring Lydia and the child home!"

With that, he supported her and turned to leave.

Mia stomped her foot in anger, shouting at the door: "It's not like Miss Ava asked her to come! She stood here herself every day!"

My heart was calm water. I reached out and closed the studio door, shutting out the wind and rain.

"Forget it. We're leaving soon anyway."

"Let him do what he wants for these few days. Consider it a period for this marriage."