Because I upset my husband's first love, he sent me a thousand miles away to an isolated island to reflect.

It was called a deserted island only because it was cut off from the world.

The people on this isolated island weren't human; they were animals.

All because my husband had ordered them to "teach me a lesson."

So from the first day I set foot on the island, I became the lowest of the island slaves, beaten and cursed during the day, humiliated at night.

The cook, annoyed by my slowness, could whip me whenever she pleased.

The hostesses, finding me too reserved, could strip me naked and throw me before the visiting guests for their amusement.

Even the janitor, the man with the lowest status, could enter my room at will in the middle of the night and assault me as he pleased.

Until today, when a guard watching over the island burst into my room. I numbly began to undress, but he suddenly shouted.

"Mr. Lambert is here to pick you up!

You can leave!"

I froze. After three years, he had finally remembered me.

But what good was that now?

Before I could even process the guard's words, he stepped closer, leaned into my ear, and spoke viciously.

"When you get back, keep your mouth shut."

"The people on this island are powerful and influential. You wouldn't want everyone to know what your life has been like for the past three years, would you?"

"Don't say anything you shouldn't. It's better for everyone."

I kept my head down, not daring to speak.

His worry was needless. What could I possibly say now?

I followed the guard to the shore with my head bowed, not even daring to glance at my surroundings.

A voice, both strange and familiar, sounded by my ear.

"What?

Have you gone mute after all these years?"

"Eleanor Croft!

Can't you speak when you see me?"

"Or do you resent me for leaving you here?"

The speaker was my husband, Carolyn Lambert.

Hearing the anger rising in his voice, I hurriedly explained.

"Mr.... Mr. Lambert."

"No, I don't resent you. I don't resent you at all. It was my fault."

"Thank you for coming to get me, Mr. Lambert..."

Watching Carolyn's expression grow darker, my voice trailed off.

His lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing and turned to board the yacht.

I quickly followed, terrified that if I was a second too slow, he would leave me here.

Once on the yacht, I stood cautiously to the side, not even daring to sit down.

Carolyn didn't seem to want to talk to me either, leaning back on the sofa and closing his eyes to rest.

Only then did I dare to secretly study him.

Carolyn，My husband of five years, the man I had loved for twenty.

We had known each other since childhood, bound by an arranged childhood marriage set by our grandfathers.

Ever since I can remember, I had followed him around, chattering away like his little shadow.

Since I was a child, I was certain we were meant to be married.

I thought he felt the same way.

A car accident five years ago took my parents from me.

For a good luck wedding ritual, and also to comfort me, Carolyn's grandfather arranged for us to be married.

But it wasn't until after we were married that I learned Carolyn had a girlfriend he deeply loved, Serena Vance. They had broken up because his grandfather had arranged for him to marry me.

From then on, Carolyn despised me.

Three years ago, just because of a single displeased word from Serena, he threw me onto this deserted island, under the guise of making me reflect on myself.

Thinking of this, my eyes stung, and I almost burst into tears.

After what felt like an eternity, the cruise ship finally docked slowly. The driver, Leo, was waiting on the shore.

As soon as he saw us, Leo opened the rear car door, waiting for us to get in.

Carolyn paid me no mind and got straight into the car.

Under Leo's gaze, I stood frozen in place, not moving a muscle for a long time.

"Sitting... sitting with Mr. Lambert, isn't this against the rules?"

Hearing my words, Carolyn finally lost his patience, got out of the car, and kicked me hard.

"I've been too fucking easy on you, haven't I?"

"If you're angry, let it out. If you have something to say, say it. Who are you putting on this wronged act for?"

"You've had that dead look on your face the whole way. Did someone wrong you?"

Ignoring the sharp pain in my body, I quickly got up and bowed repeatedly to Carolyn, apologizing.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Mr. Lambert, please don't be angry. I'll get in the car right now."

"Please don't be angry because of me. It's my fault, it's my fault."

Carolyn shot me a vicious glare before getting back into the car. Afraid he'd get angry again, I quickly followed him inside.

Carolyn, didn't you want me to go to the deserted island to learn my lesson?

Now I've learned my lesson.

Why are you unhappy again?

Leo drove the car all the way home.

As soon as we arrived, Serena's sickly sweet voice reached my ears.

"Oh, Ms. Croft is back?"

"Long time no see. Why do you look so pathetic, Ms. Croft?

Carolyn, you went all that way to pick up Ms. Croft and didn't even bring her a decent set of clothes."

"If anyone saw this, they might think you abuse your own wife."

As she spoke, Serena naturally linked her arm with Carolyn's.

She was wearing a silk nightgown, her hair casually tied up, with no makeup on her face.

Compared to me, she looked more like the mistress of this house.

And I looked down at myself.

When I was thrown onto the deserted island, Carolyn hadn't prepared anything for me.

For the past three years, I've been wearing clothes that others have thrown away.

Right now, I look worse than a beggar on the street.

Seeing that I remained silent, Carolyn's angry voice rang out again.

"Eleanor, you're getting addicted to this act, aren't you?"

"Serena is talking to you. Are you mute or deaf?"

"Do you still think you're the great Ms. Croft?

Or do you think you're the real Mrs. Lambert?"

As he spoke, he raised his hand as if to strike me.

My trauma response from the past three years made me lose all control of my body.

I dropped to my knees with a thud, trembling on the floor.

"I was wrong, I was wrong, I know I was wrong."

"Don't hit me, I'll never do it again."

"I'm begging you, don't hit me, don't hit me..."

I thought that as long as I admitted my fault, Carolyn would let me go. After all, that's how it was for three years on the deserted island.

As long as I knelt and begged for mercy, they would stand aside, roaring with laughter, and wouldn't hit me anymore.

But Carolyn was different from them.

My actions seemed to make him even angrier. He lunged forward and yanked me up from the floor.

"Eleanor

Can't you understand what I'm saying!

"I told you to stop fucking pretending! Who are you trying to look so pathetic for!"

"Three years, and you're still as disgusting as ever!"

Before I could say anything, Serena stepped forward to stop him.

"Oh, Carolyn, be gentle. Don't be so rough."

"You just don't understand a woman's heart. After not being back for years, Ms. Croft surely hopes you'd show her some affection."

"Besides, I said I wanted to go back, but you insisted I stay. Ms. Croft must be upset about that, which is why she's acting this way."

Carolyn let go of me then, sneering as he spoke.

"What does she think she is? How dare she compare herself to you."

"If it weren't for her, the title of Mrs. Lambert would have been yours."

"She still dares to be jealous of you? It seems she hasn't learned her lesson these past few years."

I didn't dare listen anymore. I was terrified he would send me back to that deserted island.

Perhaps my submissive, downcast look satisfied Serena, or maybe it was Carolyn's favoritism that pleased her.

Serena waved her hand magnanimously.

"Alright, Carolyn, it's not worth getting angry over her."

"She must be tired after traveling so far. Let her go rest."

"So she won't be an eyesore here and make everyone unhappy."

After a moment, seeing me still crumpled on the floor, Carolyn was about to lose his temper again when Serena spoke up with a light laugh.

"Look how thoughtless of me. I must have been so busy my head's all muddled."

"After being away for years, Ms. Croft probably doesn't know where she's supposed to stay."

"How about, just for tonight, you make do with the guest room on the first floor? I'll arrange something else in a couple of days?"

My heart tightened.

This is my home. Carolyn is my husband.

But my husband is standing by someone else's side.

And in my own home, there is no room for me.

Lying on the soft bed, I still couldn't process what was happening.

For three years on the deserted island, thanks to Carolyn's "special care," I was the lowest-ranking island slave.

I ate spoiled food and slept on the crudest of wooden planks.

After one particularly violent assault, that small plank bed collapsed.

From that day on, I slept on the hard concrete floor.

I hadn't slept in a real bed for so long, I'd almost forgotten that a bed could be such a soft, warm place.

Just as I was thinking this, a metallic taste suddenly rose in my throat.

I knew what was coming and quickly got up, trying to get to the bathroom.

After all, the sheets and quilt on this bed were so pristine and white. If I stained them, Carolyn would be furious.

But it was too late.

I had just reached the bathroom door when my legs gave out and I collapsed to my knees, the nausea I'd been holding back surging up from my throat.

I couldn't hold it in any longer and violently spat out a mouthful of blood.

The noise from my fall was so loud that the housekeeper, Mary Watson, followed the sound and pushed open the guest room door.

As soon as she opened it, she was stunned by the scene inside and rushed forward to help me up.

"Ma'am, Ma'am, what's wrong, Ma'am?"

"Why are you coughing up blood?

Are you hurt somewhere? We need to get you to a hospital right away."

"But Mr. Lambert just left with Ms. Vance... right, Leo, Leo, I'll call Leo."

I wanted to stop him, but I had no strength left. My eyes closed, and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, I was in the hospital. Only Leo was with me.

Seeing I was awake, he hurried out to get a doctor.

The doctor looked at me with a grave expression.

"Do you know about your own condition?"

Listening to the doctor, I felt a bit dazed.

Did I know?

I suppose I did.

After all, for about half a year, my body would often ache for no reason, and coughing up blood had become commonplace.

But I suppose I didn't, either.

After all, on a place like that deserted island, I was just the lowliest island slave. Who would care if I lived or died?

So even though there was a private doctor on the island, I wasn't qualified to see him.

Seeing I remained silent, the doctor looked at Leo.

"What is your relationship to the patient?"

"Her condition isn't good. I need to explain the details to her family."

"Come with me to my office first."

I raised my hand, stopping the doctor.

"He's not my family. I don't have any family."

"I know my own body. This isn't the first time something like this has happened."

"So whatever you have to say, just tell me directly, Doctor. I can handle it."

Hearing this, the doctor sighed and spoke softly.

"Your organs are failing severely."

"You've probably had trouble sleeping from the pain recently, haven't you?

The blood you've been coughing up is also due to organ failure."

"You've let this go on for too long. If you had come in sooner..."

I cut the doctor off.

"Doctor, please just tell me directly. How much time do I have left?

I can handle it."

Faced with my composure, the doctor was a bit taken aback, but he still answered my question.

"Your heart failure is the most severe and irreversible."

"In your current state..."

He hesitated for a long moment before speaking softly.

"One month."

After the doctor left, Leo had a pained expression on his face.

"Mrs. Lambert, the doctor just told me you have quite a few external injuries."

"And about your physical condition."

"We have to tell Mr. Lambert about all this."

Leo was Carolyn's driver. He had been with Carolyn since before I was sent to the deserted island.

So Leo had always been aware of what was between me and Carolyn.

I shook my head, forcing a smile.

"Leo, I've always treated you well. This time, please do me a favor."

"Neither of us will mention what happened today. Let's just pretend we never came to this hospital."

"For this last month, I just want to live in peace. Please help me."

After a tumultuous night, it was already noon the next day when we left the hospital.

The doctor strongly urged me to be hospitalized, but I refused.

I only have a month anyway, why spend it locked up in a dreary hospital?

Just as Leo dropped me off at home, I saw Carolyn and Serena sitting stiffly on the sofa in the middle of the living room.

The atmosphere in the living room was extremely tense. The suppressed anger on Carolyn's face made my heart skip a beat.

"Leo, you've gotten bold, haven't you?"

"Whose driver are you?

You were nowhere to be found this morning. If you don't want this job anymore, just say so."

"Have I been too good to you, so you don't know who's in charge?"

Carolyn's words seemed aimed at Leo, but every one was really for me.

I could accept Carolyn's punishment, but I couldn't let those around me be dragged into it.

Though terrified, I suppressed my trembling and managed to speak.

"Don't blame him, it was me."

"I had something I needed his help with last night, that's why Leo went out with me."

"Please don't be angry, Mr. Lambert. It won't happen again..."

Carolyn's expression grew darker, and my voice trailed off.

Serena's coy voice chimed in at the right moment.

"It seems Ms. Croft was quite lonely during her three years on the deserted island."

"A lone man and a single woman, out all night... Are you that desperate, Ms. Croft?"

"We had just left, and you two went out right after. It's hard not to read into something like that."

Leo had promised to help me keep this a secret, so he didn't say a word in his defense, just stood aside with a pale face.

Carolyn's expression grew even darker, and memories from the past three years flooded my mind again.

I dropped to the ground with a thud, crawling on trembling knees to clutch Carolyn's leg.

"Mr. Lambert, please don't be angry, please don't be angry."

"It's my fault, it's all my fault. I'll never do it again."

"I'll never go out again, I'll never dare to go out again."

Before Carolyn could say anything, Serena's sneer rang out again.

"So, it seems Leo really is Ms. Croft's lover?"

"Are you that afraid of Carolyn blaming Leo? To actually kneel to Carolyn for him."

"Ms. Croft, this isn't right of you. After all, you are, at least in name, Carolyn's wife..."

Every word from Serena was a provocation. Carolyn could no longer hold back and kicked me hard.

Since being picked up from the deserted island yesterday, I had barely rested, tormented until now, my body already drained of strength.

Carolyn's kick seemed to come from pure rage; he used all his strength.

I was kicked hard to the side, my lower back slamming violently against the leg of the sofa.

The sudden, sharp pain made it impossible for me to get up. I could only lie curled up on the floor, muttering endlessly.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I was wrong, I was wrong..."

Carolyn, still not appeased, looked like he was about to say something more to me.

Just then, the housekeeper, Mary, suddenly rushed out and stood in front of me.

"Sir Lambert, please calm down. You've misunderstood the missus."

"The missus was sick last night, she coughed up a lot of blood. You were all out, and I had no other choice, so I called Leo."

"You can't hit her anymore, sir. Any more and you might kill her."

As soon as Mary finished speaking, Carolyn's expression froze.

"Coughed up blood?"

Afraid Carolyn would become suspicious, I endured the intense pain and explained.

"I have a cold. I had a bit of a fever and was dizzy yesterday."

"I bit my tongue when I fell, that's why I bled. It's not what you think."

"Mary only came in because she heard me fall. She misunderstood."

Perhaps it was my imagination, but Carolyn seemed to breathe a sigh of relief after hearing my words.

Serena stepped forward and took Carolyn's arm.

"Really, Ms. Croft, if there was a misunderstanding, why didn't you say so earlier?"

"We're just worried about you. You've only just returned. What if something were to happen again?"

"I'm sure Ms. Croft won't mind, will she?"

I didn't make a sound, just gently shook my head.

When you're already dying, what is there left to mind?

Carolyn, I'm dying.

You're happy about that, aren't you?

A couple of days later, I was resting in my room when Carolyn barged right in.

He threw a gown on my bed, his tone full of impatience.

"Tomorrow is Grandpa Lambert's eightieth birthday. You're coming with me."

"Go try on the dress. If it doesn't fit, tell Mary."

"Tomorrow is a big day. Drop that half-dead look of yours and pull yourself together."

Looking at the backless, fishtail gown on the bed, a jolt of alarm shot through me.

During my three years on the deserted island, my body was covered in scars. There wasn't a single patch of unblemished skin left, making it impossible to wear such a revealing gown.

"Do I have to go?"

"My cold hasn't gone away yet. It wouldn't be good if I passed it to Grandpa."

"Why don't you ask Ms. Vance to go with you instead..."

Hearing me say this, Carolyn's last bit of patience finally ran out.

He grabbed my chin, cutting me off.

"I'm not discussing this with you. I'm informing you."

"Why do you think you got out of that hellhole?

It was for tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is Grandpa's big day. He hasn't seen you in three years, and I can't hide it anymore."

Hearing this, I finally understood why he came to the deserted island to get me.

Our grandfathers were the closest of friends, who had built their own business empires together during those turbulent times.

They had long wanted to join their families through marriage, but both grandfathers only had sons.

So the arranged childhood marriage was passed down to our generation.

Seeing Carolyn's anger, I lowered my gaze.

"Mr. Lambert, please don't be angry."

"I understand. I'll be there on time tomorrow."

The day of the banquet arrived.

I followed Leo's car to the Lambert manor.

Everyone who came today was from the well-known old money families in our circle.

After all, it was Sir Lambert's eightieth birthday, and the Lamberts had thrown a magnificent party.

Before getting out of the car, I carefully adjusted my long-sleeved gown, making sure none of my scars were visible.

After Carolyn left yesterday, I used my cold as an excuse to have Mary help me switch to a long-sleeved gown.

The moment I stepped out of the car, Grandpa Lambert, leaning on his cane, came over joyfully to greet me.

"Eleanor, my dear, you're finally back."

"That rascal, Carolyn, always said you were abroad and never brought you to see me."

"Grandpa has missed you dearly. You must come back to see me more often from now on."

I held Grandpa Lambert's arm and nodded obediently.

Carolyn, standing to the side, seemed quite pleased with my performance, his face free of the frightening anger I had come to expect.

Throughout the entire banquet, I followed gracefully behind Grandpa Lambert and Carolyn, making small talk with the guests.

During those three years on the deserted island, aside from being beaten and cursed at, the thing I learned best was how to please everyone, how to deal gracefully with every member of the elite.

Thankfully, the entire evening went without a hitch, and I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Not long before the banquet ended, a familiar, sharp pain suddenly twisted in my abdomen.

I desperately pressed against my stomach, trying to ease the pain, but it was no use.

Carolyn noticed something was wrong with me. Pretending to take my arm, he pulled me to his side and spoke through gritted teeth.

"No matter how much you despise me, you better keep up this act."

"The party's almost over. You'd better not screw anything up for me."

"Otherwise, I'll make your life a living hell."

Hearing Carolyn's vicious words, I fought to control the fearful trembling of my body and the sharp pain in my stomach, forcing myself to stay composed and continue seeing guests out at the door.

About an hour later, the party was finally over.

From holding back the intense pain for so long, my dress was already soaked through with cold sweat.

The moment I got in the car, I collapsed onto the back seat, completely drained, left with nothing but ragged, heavy breaths.

My appearance enraged Carolyn. He grabbed a fistful of my hair, forcing me to look him in the eye.

"Eleanor, do you really hate being with me that much?"

"Inside, just now, weren't you having a great time chatting with everyone else?"

"What, it's fine with them, but not with me?"

I was terrified he would do something more drastic, so I quickly begged for mercy in a choked voice.

"No, no, Mr. Lambert, you've misunderstood."

"It's because my cold hasn't gotten better, and I forgot to bring my medicine today. I don't feel well."

"It's really not because of you. Mr. Lambert, please let me go, please let me go."

I thought begging would make him let me go, but my words only enraged him further. The hand gripping my hair tightened viciously.

As I cried out in pain, his voice rang out at the same time.

"Eleanor, haven't I told you? I hate this pretentious act of yours the most."

"You don't feel well?

Why didn't you say you didn't feel well when you were chasing after me all the time?"

"Now that you're married to me, now that you have the title of Mrs. Lambert, now you don't feel well?"

All the way home, Carolyn's anger didn't lessen in the slightest. He dragged me out of the car by my hair.

Leo tried to stop Carolyn, but I stopped him with a look.

When Carolyn saw our exchange of glances, his grip tightened even more, and he dragged me straight to the storage room and threw me violently to the floor.

"Serena was right. A woman like you has no heart at all."

"You had a great time on that deserted island these past few years, didn't you?

Look at you, with that slutty act. It makes me sick just looking at you."

"Eleanor, why aren't you dead yet?"

After saying this, Carolyn slammed the storage room door shut, and my world fell silent.

Although the sharp pain in my body didn't subside, I let out a huge sigh of relief.

I lay on the cold floor, my vision blurring. In a daze, I saw a young Carolyn.

The first time we met, I was four years old. Carolyn came to my house with Uncle Lambert.

Back then, I was spoiled rotten by my parents, used to getting anything I wanted.

But the one thing my mother wouldn't let me have was candy.

All children love candy, but I loved it too much, so I always had cavities. Mother would never let me have extra.

That day, I was hiding alone in the garden, secretly crying.

Six-year-old Carolyn, after finding out the reason, quietly slipped into the house. A moment later, he reappeared before me, two creamy milk caramels resting silently in his outstretched palm.

It was on that same day that Uncle Lambert watched us and joked.

"My father has long been saying our two families should have an arranged childhood marriage."

"But Atticus Croft and I are just two old guys. Looking at it now, Eleanor and Carolyn seem like a good match."

"How about we arrange a childhood marriage for these two kids?"

I didn't understand. I looked up blankly at my mother. She smiled, pulled me into her arms, and pointed at Carolyn as she asked me.

"Eleanor, do you like Carolyn?"

"An arranged childhood marriage means that later on, Eleanor and Carolyn will be just like Mommy and Daddy, never to be separated."

"Would you like that?"

I followed my mother's finger and looked over, my mind going back to the two creamy milk caramels from just now.

If I were with this boy, would that mean I could eat sweet candies all the time?

At that thought, I nodded vigorously.

From that day on, I became Carolyn's little shadow.

Elementary school, middle school, high school, college.

We were almost never apart.

Time flies so fast. The little boy I watched day and night has already grown so big.

Time is also so slow. My boy, in the long years, eventually fell in love with another girl.

I remembered again the words Carolyn had spat out through gritted teeth.

"Eleanor, why aren't you dead yet?"

Carolyn, don't be in such a hurry. I'll be dead soon.

During my time in the utility room, I've been drifting in and out of consciousness.

Sharp pains in my body would jolt me awake from time to time. When the pain subsided, I would fall back into a deep slumber.

I don't know how much time had passed. Just when I thought I would die in this utility room...

The door opened.

Carolyn stood silhouetted against the light in the doorway, looking down on me.

"I only locked you up for two days. Who are you putting on this half-dead act for?"

"Get up, now!

Grandpa wants us to go to the Lambert manor for dinner."

"Eleanor, are you deaf? I'm talking to you!"

I wanted to answer, but after two whole days without food or water, I simply had no strength left to speak.

Carolyn stepped forward and kicked me.

"What are you pretending for? Isn't this a million times better than some deserted island?"

"Who the fuck are you putting on a show for? Get the hell up!"

"Eleanor, you'd better not test my patience!"

I took a moment to recover, mustering my last ounce of strength to try and speak.

But as soon as I opened my mouth, a thick, metallic-smelling liquid trickled down my chin.

I was stunned. I lowered my head, following the path of the dripping liquid.

The liquid bloomed into small, crimson flowers on my chest, painfully bright.

"Eleanor!"

Carolyn's voice exploded in my ear. I followed the sound and looked up.

The arrogance on his face was completely gone, replaced by sheer panic.

Was Carolyn worried about me?

Definitely not. He must have thought that if I died, he wouldn't be able to explain it to Grandpa.

Or maybe he just thought I was bad luck, dirtying his home.

Before I had time to think, I was suddenly lifted into the air and fell into a warm embrace.

Then I understood.

Carolyn's panic just now was also fake.

I'm dreaming right now.

I forced a smile and opened my eyes, trying to see the Carolyn in my dream clearly.

"Carolyn, don't worry, I won't bother you anymore."

"I'm about to die."

"What did you say?!"