I was standing at the doorway holding a basket of vegetables when I saw a well-dressed woman sitting on the sofa.

She glanced at me, then turned to ask my husband, "Who's she? The housekeeper we hired?"

Without even looking up, he said, "Yeah."

I glanced down at my bleached, threadbare jeans and smiled.

Three years of marriage, and in his eyes, I wasn't even worthy of being called his wife.

I did not argue. That night, I packed up and left, leaving him a parting gift.

My name is Jane Mackey.

Just like my name suggests, I'm simple and unremarkable.

I come from the countryside. No degree, no background, no family connections.

People say the only reason I got close to Collin Whelan, the CEO of Hallaway Group, was because of my beauty.

I never really believed that, even if I did feel a little insecure.

Because I knew there were tons of pretty girls around him who were way more attractive than me.

Sometimes I would just watch his handsome face in silence, hoping maybe I meant something different to him.

On our third wedding anniversary, Collin took me out to a fancy restaurant.

Even after all this time, I was still not used to the rich lifestyle. I wore the most expensive dress I had, feeling a little nervous.

He ordered a bottle of Lafite. Right after taking one sip, his phone rang.

His whole face suddenly lit up.

"Hey, Jean..." he said in the softest voice I had ever heard. "Okay, I'll be there right away!"

That was when I finally realized that they had still been in touch all along.

Jean Harshaw was Collin's ex-wife.

I poured myself a glass of wine and took a big sip.

Collin looked over, surprised. "I thought you didn't drink."

I smiled. "It's such a good wine, I figured I should at least try it."

He nodded, then quickly stood up. "I've got something to take care of. When you're done eating, just grab a taxi home. I'll cover the bill."

Then he left.

I sat there for a while, feeling everyone's eyes on me like needles.

There was still plenty of red wine left, so I poured glass after glass. It was expensive, sure, but it just tasted bitter to me. It was really disgusting.

That night, I dragged myself home, exhausted.

The moment I opened the door to the villa, I caught the strong scent of fancy women's perfume.

There was a stranger sitting on the leather couch I always used.

She was wearing a beige designer suit, her chestnut curls glowing softly under the light.

She was stunning—elegant and graceful—the kind of beauty I always admired from afar.

Ronan Whelan was lying in her lap, and she was gently combing his hair with her slender fingers.

My husband Collin sat beside her, eyes so soft they looked like they could cry.

He had never looked at me like that.

The sparkling chandelier above almost felt blinding—it hurt to look at.

They looked like a real family, while I just felt like someone who had walked into the wrong house.

Yet, deep down, I knew the truth. They were a family.

Jean looked up at me with her eyebrows slightly pulled together. Then, she asked, her voice sharp like a blade.

"Who's she? The housekeeper we hired?" she asked like it was nothing.

My face turned red, and I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could say a word, I heard Collin say, "Yeah."

Ronan paused. He looked up, those eyes that looked just like his dad's, flicking between me and Jean.

His lips moved like he wanted to speak, but in the end, he just lowered his head and leaned in closer to her. He didn't say a word.

It felt like someone dropped my heart into a bucket of ice.

However, I just pressed my dry lips together and walked toward the kitchen like a robot.

"Just leave the food there," Collin said behind me. "You can clock out early today. You don't need to stay."

I froze for a second. At that moment, it was like something invisible had wrapped around my chest, squeezing tight.

My nails dug into my palms. It hurt so much I wanted to cry.

I nodded, turned around, and walked toward the door.

As the cold night air hit my face, I realized I had forgotten my coat.

However, I was not about to go back.

For some reason, I glanced over my shoulder.

Through the big glass window, I saw Ronan curled up in Jean's arms again. Collin sat beside her, his arm casually resting along the back of the couch.

The three of them sat under the warm lights, talking and smiling. They looked like a perfect little family, like something straight out of a magazine ad.

In the glass, I could see my reflection—blurry, holding a plastic bag, and dressed in plain clothes.

My eyes stung from the tears threatening to fall.

I did not know where to go, so I just kept walking through the streets.

I knew Collin had an ex-wife who was also his first love. I also knew they had been deeply in love once. The only reason they broke up was that she was determined to build a career overseas.

And Ronan was their kid.

Maybe he was just being polite?

Maybe he did not want to make things awkward for her?

My mind was a mess. I could not tell if I was trying to make myself feel better or just running away from the truth.

I could not help but think about the first time I met Collin.

It was freezing that day. I was wearing faded jeans and a hand-me-down puffy coat my cousin gave me. I stood outside the village committee building, stomping my feet to keep warm.

My dad had been inside talking about a land deal for two hours. My fingers were bright red from the cold.

"Jane, come in and make some tea!" my dad called from the window.

The meeting room was full of smoke. A few local officials and two men in suits were sitting around a long table.

I kept my head down and walked to the water dispenser in the corner. Then, I started making some Earl Grey tea, the kind we always used for guests.

Then a deep voice spoke up, "Mr. Mackey, is this your daughter?"

I accidentally scalded my hand with the boiling water, and I looked up, locking eyes with someone whose gaze felt like a dark pool.

He was sitting at the head of the table. He was probably in his thirties, with sharp features and a face that was both strong and handsome.

The metal cufflinks on his sleeves glinted in the sun, just like his eyes when he looked at me.

"Yes, this is my daughter, Jane," my dad said, rubbing his hands together.

His tone sounded like the one he always used when trying to please someone. "She's 25 and she works as a quality inspector at a garment factory in the county."

The man kept looking at me for so long that even the others in the room started to notice.

His colleague cleared his throat and said, "Mr. Whelan, about this contract..."

"The terms are fine," he replied, finally turning away. "Just sign it as agreed."

After the contract was signed, the village leaders eagerly invited them to stay for dinner.

I was about to slip away when Collin stopped me. "Ms. Mackey," he said, "can you show me around the village? I'm really interested in the local culture here."

My dad's eyes lit up. "Of course! Jane, go with Mr. Whelan and show him around."

As we walked along the field ridges, Collin asked a bunch of questions—what books I liked, what I did for fun, and if I had ever been in love.

His voice was calm, even gentle, but it still made me nervous.

When we reached the hillside behind the village, he suddenly pulled a business card from his wallet.

"Let's get to know each other better," he said, his tone softer now. "Sorry if I'm too forward, but I really like you."

I was frozen.

A week later, Collin sent a matchmaker to my house. She came in all excited, saying Mr. Whelan was willing to give a wedding of 150,000 dollars and even a property in the county town.

In our poor village, that was a fortune.

My dad was so thrilled he could barely speak. My mom cried from happiness. To them, this meant my younger brother could finally afford a wedding, and the money would let them live without worry.

"But he's divorced and has a son," I said hesitantly. "He's way older than me, too..."

My mom slapped me. "Who do you think you are to be picky?" she snapped.

"You're lucky someone even likes you. Just be grateful for once!"

Collin sat calmly in our main hall like he was still negotiating a deal. "I'll treat Jane well," he said.

My dad nodded like crazy. "That's great..."

I hid in the kitchen and peeked through the door crack.

My younger brother Harry Mackey nudged my shoulder, eyes shining. "Jane, you've hit the jackpot! He is the boss of Hallaway Group!"

I bit my lip and said nothing.

I knew I could not say no. The family's debt, my brother's education, his future wedding costs, and my grandparents' medical bills cost money.

The wedding was rushed and held in the nicest hotel in the county.

I wore a plain white dress and went through the whole ceremony like I was sleepwalking.

That night, Collin came back drunk and consummated the marriage with me. It hurt so bad I cried. However, he just stared at my face and whispered, "Jean..."

That was when I realized Jean was his ex-wife.

She had a master's degree from the University of Oxford and worked as the North America director of a multinational company.

Married life felt like one big joke.

I moved into a huge villa in the state capital. The living room alone was bigger than my entire house back home.

On the first day, Giada Keller, the housekeeper, gave me a tour. I did not even know how to use the fancy toilet.

"Ma'am, this is your dressing room," she said as she opened a gold-trimmed door. Inside, the room was filled with brand-name clothes. "Mr. Whelan asked me to prepare all this."

I gently touched a silk dress. The price tag said 1,000 dollars—more than what I used to earn in six months.

That night, I curled up under the blanket and cried quietly. Everything felt fake, like I was Cinderella wearing the wrong glass slipper. I could not explain the panic in my chest.

From the beginning, Ronan made it clear that he did not like me.

When we first met, the boy in glasses gave me a once-over and said, "Are you the hillbilly?"

"Ronan," Collin scolded, frowning, "Her name is Jane."

The kid pouted and stomped upstairs, each step louder than the last.

I stood there, not knowing what to say.

Eventually, I figured out how to get by—by acting like the housekeeper.

I woke up at six to make breakfast, got Ronan up at 7:30, dropped him off at school by 8, and then cleaned the house top to bottom. Collin rarely ate at home, but I would still pack him lunch and bring it to his office.

"You don't have to do this," he finally said one day. "I can hire a maid."

I was kneeling on the floor scrubbing when he said that. "I-I like doing housework."

It was true. Keeping busy was the only way I could feel like I mattered.

He sighed and raised his hand like he was about to pat my head, but stopped halfway. "Jean would never do this. She's never even stepped into a kitchen."

That hit me right in the chest.

It was not the first time he brought up his ex-wife.

Every time he came home drunk, he would hold me and call me "Jean." However, when he woke up the next morning, he would go back to being cold and distant.

Maybe staying at home really is not enough. If only I could help his career somehow, like Jean used to.

Six months into our marriage, I finally got the courage to tell Collin I wanted to go to adult college and study accounting.

He did not even look up. "Why would you learn that? You're never going to use it."

"I just want something to do," I said, nervously twisting my fingers.

He glanced at me then, eyes full of pity. "Jane, you don't need to work. Jean studied because she had goals. You can just relax at home."

I did not really remember how I felt in that moment.

However, the next day, like always, I made breakfast for Collin and Ronan and went to Ronan's parent-teacher meeting. Collin never had time for things like that.

When his homeroom teacher saw me, she clearly hesitated. "Are you Ronan's mom?"

"I'm his stepmom," I said with a forced smile.

"Oh..." She dragged the word out, then glanced at my cheap sneakers. "Ronan's math has been slipping lately. You should pay more attention."

On the way home, Ronan suddenly said, "Don't come to my school again."

"Why?"

"You don't know anything," he muttered, pouting.

My cheeks burned—this time, with embarrassment.

His mom had been a top student at a prestigious university, while I had barely made it through high school. My grades were not good either.

However, I was not going to give up.

From that day on, I started studying Ronan's textbooks. He went to a fancy private school, and even though it was only elementary level, a lot of it was tough for me.

Three months later, when Ronan came home with a failing math test, I gently offered, "Want me to help you go over it?"

He looked at me doubtfully. "Do you know maths?"

"I've been studying," I said. I pointed to a question on his paper. "You mixed up the formula on this one."

Ronan's eyes widened, and for the first time, he looked right at me. "How... How do you know that?"

"I study at night," I said softly. "I might not be as smart as your mom, but I can help you now."

He was quiet for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Why are you being so nice to me?"

"Because..." I smiled. "We're a family now."

After that, his attitude toward me began to shift.

He stopped tracking mud through the living room on purpose. Moreover, he started asking me the occasional question about schoolwork.

Once, when he had a fever, I stayed up all night beside him with a damp towel. The next morning, he quietly said, "Thank you."

However, Collin always kept me at arm's length.

He gave me plenty of money, but never brought me to any formal events. He remembered my birthday, but always gave me gifts I did not like. He was passionate in bed, but never gave me so much as a hug when we woke up.

I knew I had all these bottled-up feelings, but there was no one I could talk to.

After my family got that big sum of money, my younger brother changed completely. He started living it up, eating and drinking like money was endless, and even picked up gambling.

The money disappeared fast. In the end, they even had to sell the house.

They kept coming to me for more money. However, I could not bring myself to ask Collin for help—not with my pride in the way. I did not want him to know what kind of mess my family was in.

So I started saving little by little from the allowance Collin gave me. Thankfully, he was always generous with that.

Even so, if I did not give enough, they would get angry.

My dad would say, "Don't forget who introduced you to Mr. Whelan!"

My mom would say, "If we hadn't pushed you to marry him, would you be living this rich life now? Don't forget where you came from!"

Even my leech of a brother would glare and sneer, "Wow, look at you now. Your brother was nearly beaten up over debt, and you just sat there doing nothing. You've really changed. I almost don't recognize you anymore."

The city lights had just flickered on, and I was standing outside, shivering from the evening chill. Suddenly, I remembered that Collin had said he skipped dinner yesterday because of a meeting, and his stomach had been bothering him.

Without thinking, I rushed to the pharmacy and picked up some stomach medicine. I figured by now, Jean should have already left. And even if she had not, worst case, I would just act like a housekeeper.

I returned to the villa.

The house was quiet.

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to quietly place the medicine by his bedside so he would see it when he woke up in the morning.

I tiptoed up the stairs. However, just as I reached the bedroom door, I froze. From inside came the soft, unmistakable sounds of a man and woman.

I stood there, paralyzed.

Yet, the voices did not stop.

"Collin, do you miss me?"

"Every day... I think about you every day..."

"I've been regretting things, too. Is that woman really a housekeeper? She doesn't look like one at all."

"So what if she is, or isn't? What does it matter? I only brought her back because she reminded me of you."

"What a coincidence... Even her name sounds like mine..."

It was like the world caved in around me.

The bottle slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with a sharp clatter. Inside, the voices cut off instantly.

"Who's there?" Collin's low voice asked. He still sounded breathless.

I did not bother to wipe away the blood on my chest. I grabbed the bag and stumbled into the guest room down the hall.

I heard his footsteps as he opened the door.

"No one," he said after a second. "Probably just the cat. She likes keeping strays around."

I covered my mouth, my tears slipping down uncontrollably.

Not long after, I heard Collin's voice, "Why don't you go back?"

Then Jean's soft, teasing tone followed, "Already tired of it after just one taste? You weren't like this before..."

The moment the door clicked shut, I ran out of the villa.

I stumbled down the street, dazed, numb, lost.

I was not even aware I had stepped onto the road until I heard tires screech.

A pair of strong arms yanked me back just in time, and I crashed into someone's chest.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" a man's voice snapped above my head.

I looked up in a daze and met a pair of concerned eyes that were slightly upturned at the corners. He wore a simple, tailored suit, and his brow was creased with worry.

"Thank you," I mumbled, not even registering the blood running down my leg.

"You're not okay," he said, frowning. "You need to go to a hospital."

I shook my head, but he had already flagged down a cab and gently but firmly helped me into it.

At the hospital, while the nurse cleaned the scrape on my knee, I finally managed to pull myself together just a little. Something about the man beside me felt familiar.

"Don't recognize me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow with a faint smile. "I was in Collin's office last month."

The memory clicked. He was there when I went to drop off lunch for Collin that day.

I had carved a few small carrot flowers as decoration, and he noticed.

Collin had waved it off, saying something like, "She's always wasting time on this kind of thing."

I felt a little embarrassed, but this man said seriously, "Turning everyday things into beauty is a rare skill."

Those words had warmed a quiet corner of my heart.

I also remembered Collin introducing him as an important business partner.

Sadly, I had forgotten his name.

"Sean Mallarkey," he said with a sigh.

I nodded numbly.

And then, without warning, the tears came again.

He looked surprised but did not pry. He just handed me a tissue, then quietly sat beside me in the hospital corridor, keeping me company until the night grew deep and silent.

"Want me to take you home?" he asked in a soft whisper.

I shook my head.

That place did not feel like home anymore.

After a slight hesitation, Sean brought me to a luxury hotel. He checked in a room, handed me the card and his business card, and said softly, "If you need anything at all, call me. Get some rest, okay?"

I was not even sure if I ever thanked him.

The moment I closed the hotel room door behind me, I broke down.

When I finally calmed down, I dragged myself into the bathroom. The girl in the mirror did not look like me. She had messy hair, swollen eyes, and knees wrapped in gauze.

Just as I reached for a towel, a sharp pain twisted through my lower abdomen. I looked down and saw that blood was trickling down my thigh.

At the hospital, the doctor glanced at my chart and gave me a look of quiet sympathy. "It's a threatened miscarriage, so you'll need a dilation and curettage. Do you want us to notify a family member?" I clenched my teeth and shook my head, signing the consent form.

Before the anesthesia kicked in, I made one last call to my mother.

"Miscarriage?" Her voice shot up an octave. "How could you be so careless? Does Mr. Whelan know?"

"He doesn't." My voice was flat. "Mom, I need someone to take care of me."

"Oh, I've been busy arranging your brother's blind date these past few days..." she hesitated. "How about your dad comes instead?"

"No need." I cut her off. "Also, remember when you borrowed money from me? You said it was just a loan. Well, I'm a little tight on cash lately..."

"What? Jane, are you insane? That's your brother!" she shrieked.

"Then I'll talk to a lawyer." I ended the call.

The surgery went fine.

The next day, my parents and younger brother showed up at the hospital, looking panicked and oddly respectful.

My mom even peeled me an apple. That was a first.

"Jane..." she asked, a little too gently, "Did you and Mr. Whelan have a fight?"

I stared out the window. "I'm getting a divorce. He cheated."

Harry jumped up. "Are you out of your mind? What even are you without Mr. Whelan?"

I let out a cold laugh. "Still me. Just not your personal ATM anymore."

The room went silent.

Finally, my dad forced a smile. "Jane, your mom and brother didn't mean anything by that. Let's just focus on your recovery for now..."

During my three days in the hospital, I made full use of the situation.

Harry had to take leave and run errands. My dad handled paperwork, while my mom actually cleaned. It was the first time in over two decades I felt like they saw me as someone with worth.

When I was discharged, I told them they could keep the money I had already given. Yet, from now on, I would not be giving them an extra dime—only the basic support they were entitled to.

Collin called a few times during that period. I didn't pick up once.

There was nothing left to say.

Instead, I called a lawyer and filed for divorce.

I also had proof of his affair.

Funny enough, I had planned to surprise him with the news of my pregnancy. I even started preparing early for the baby's arrival by installing a camera in the bedroom.

However, what it captured instead was something ugly.