My husband was kissing his brother’s wife—except he was supposed to have died six months ago.

On our wedding anniversary, he and his twin brother were in a car crash.

His brother survived. My husband was declared dead.

For six months, I grieved him, loving him still.

But today, I saw my brother-in-law Adam kissing my sister-in-law Kelsie.

Then I saw it—a birthmark on his shoulder. It wasn’t his. It was my husband’s.

He lied to me. He’s alive.

That night, I told them, “It’s time to start over. I accepted Caleb’s proposal of marriage.”

"What?" The man who held Kelsie stood up. “No way, Caleb’s not a good choice!

I smiled, “My whereabouts are none of your concern, Brother-in-law.”

--

After John's death, I was in so much pain I even tried to kill myself—but failed.

If not for my parents, I wouldn’t have had the will to go on.

And now he’s not dead?

My vision went dark, and I fainted.

When I came to, I overheard my father-in-law, “John, when are you going to tell Diana the truth?”

His voice was weary. “Not yet. Kelsie’s still struggling with depression. If anything happens to her, I could never face Adam... even if he’s gone.”

"And what about Diana? Her health is fragile now. She just fainted again."

"Dad, Diana isn't like Kelsie. She's in good health. Maybe she's just exhausted from work today. Don't worry. I'll be with her once Kelsie gets better."

My body froze, and my heart ached.

In the car accident six months ago, it was my brother-in-law who died, not John.

He lied to me!

I met John while in college. He fell for me instantly.

But I was focused on my studies then. It took him three years of persistence before I agreed to be with him.

After we got married, he treated me like I was everything to him. He wouldn't let anyone mistreat me and always said I was his world.

But I never imagined he would pretend to be his younger brother, Adam Jensen, and live as Kelsie Meane's husband!

I was completely unaware, living like a ghost, crying every day.

I glanced at the clothes at the foot of the bed, and tears just kept flowing.

Since I thought John had died, I couldn't sleep at night. Only by holding his shirt and breathing in his scent could I manage a few hours of rest.

Yet, while I was losing sleep over his presumed death, he was having sex with Kelsie in the next room.

Did he ever think about my feelings?

Kelsie needed a husband, but don't I need one too?

Suddenly, the phone on the table rang.

After answering the phone, the voice on the other end asked, "Diana, have you decided?"

It was Caleb Normaine, my friend. He had moved overseas to establish his life after I got married.

Caleb had harbored a crush on me since we were young, but never had the courage to confess. When he learned of John's passing, he started visiting our country often to see me and proposed, expressing his desire to take care of me for the rest of my life.

Caleb had asked me to marry him multiple times, and I had always turned him down before.

I had loved John deeply enough to consider staying a widow for him forever.

In hindsight, I realized how absurd that was.

Wiping away my tears, I said, "Alright, I agree to marry you."

Caleb responded with surprise, "Really? You've agreed to marry me? I'll book a plane ticket and return immediately."

"No need," I replied. "Give me a week. I'll come to see you abroad then."

A week would suffice to wrap up my affairs and leave this place.

As I spoke, John entered the room.

He frowned. "Are you going abroad?"

"Adam, my whereabouts are none of your concern," I said, using his brother's name to remind him of his current identity.

However, John anxiously grabbed my arm and insisted, "You shouldn't go anywhere. Just stay home. With my brother gone, I'll look after you for him."

I was confused. If he didn't want me to leave, why was he treating me this way?

But I didn't argue. I was about to leave anyway.

The following afternoon, I went to apply for a French permanent residence permit.

As I exited the office, I bumped into John and Kelsie.

John looked at the permit office behind me, suddenly filled with worry.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

I replied nonchalantly, "Just handling some things."

They were on their way to see a movie, and Kelsie invited me to join them.

I declined, but she still pulled me into the car.

As we watched the movie, Kelsie clung to John, and they kissed as if nobody else existed.

I used to see this as a sign of their affection, but now it feels deeply ironic.

Suddenly, someone yelled, "There's a fire! Get out!"

The smoke was suffocating. Instinctively, John hugged me and prepared to run outside.

"Honey, where are you? I'm so scared..."

Kelsie's voice cut through the chaos, and John immediately let go of me.

He picked her up and said, "Diana, follow me."

Chaos ensued as everyone scrambled to escape. I was shoved and fell, crying out in pain.

I looked up and saw John carrying Kelsie, rushing toward the exit without a backward glance at me.

My heart felt like it was being pierced with a knife.

I could still recall the day he proposed, promising to protect me no matter what the future held.

Yet, for Kelsie's sake, he abandoned me in the midst of the flames.

Thankfully, the firefighters arrived just in time to save me.

When I returned home, John hurried over. Seeing the burns on my arm and calf, he quickly grabbed the burn ointment, intending to apply it for me.

I took the ointment from him and said, "Don't worry, Adam. I can do it myself."

John opened his mouth, maybe to explain, but I had already turned and headed upstairs.

I couldn't sleep well that night. When I felt someone touching my calf, I woke up to find John applying the ointment, looking deeply upset.

He met my gaze with reddened eyes.

"Does it hurt a lot?" he asked.

His tears falling on my leg as he choked out, "I'm so sorry you're hurt. It pains me to see you like this."

I couldn't help but feel like laughing when I saw him.

He was the one who had abandoned me in the midst of chaos, showing no concern. And now, what was this?

Just as I was about to tell him to leave, John suddenly kissed me hard.

"I'm sorry, Diana. I'm truly sorry. Please wait for me..."

He started to tear at my clothes. Furious, I shoved him away and exclaimed, "Adam, what are you doing?"

The man who had once vowed to protect me was gone the moment he chose to become Adam and be with Kelsie.

The person here now was Adam, not John.

I would no longer wait for him.

John fell to the floor. When he collected himself, he mumbled, "Diana, I'm sorry. I had a bit to drink, and I'm feeling confused."

There wasn't a trace of alcohol on him, but I couldn't be bothered to call him out.

"Honey, did you go to the wrong room?" came Kelsie's voice.

I glanced over to see Kelsie at the door, her gaze fixed on me.

John followed her out.

I shut my eyes as tears streamed down my cheeks.

Unable to sleep despite tossing and turning, I got up to go downstairs for a glass of water.

The moment I stepped out of the room, I saw Kelsie standing there with a vase in her hands.

Bang!

Warm liquid trickled down my forehead.

Kelsie glared at me with a vicious look.

"Diana, you'll pay for trying to seduce my husband," she said before hurling the vase at me once more.

I lost consciousness and collapsed.

Just before I blacked out, I thought I saw John sprinting toward me in a panic.

I woke up to the pain.

John was by the hospital bed, his chin covered in stubble, looking like he hadn't slept all night.

In the past, whenever I fell ill, he would stay by my side constantly, afraid I might leave him.

"You're awake," he said.

I reached up and felt the thick gauze wrapped around my head.

John paused briefly before saying, "Kelsie didn't intend to hurt you. Her depression got the better of her. Please don't hold it against her."

The atmosphere seemed to turn icy.

I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Kelsie had clearly hit me on purpose, yet he was asking me to forgive her!

Does having depression give her the right to harm others whenever she pleases?

"What did you just say?"

John avoided eye contact. "I understand you've been wronged. I'll apologize on her behalf."

Anger surged through me. "Leave."

John looked at me for a moment and then said in a raspy voice, "Don't be upset. Just rest well."

I turned away from him, letting silent tears fall as I closed my eyes.

After being released from the hospital, I returned home to find a strawberry cake sitting on the table.

In the past, whenever John upset me, he would buy a strawberry cake to make amends, and eating it would always dispel my anger. It was an unspoken agreement between us.

This time, I picked up the cake and tossed it into the trash.

I had already obtained my French permanent residency and could leave as soon as tomorrow.

Later that evening, after dinner, Kelsie confronted me at the stairway.

"Diana, I'm warning you. Stop trying to seduce my man."

"I didn't," I replied.

"Don't lie. I saw you kiss him that day. You shameless wench!" she accused, slapping me hard across the face.

I held my cheek, at a loss for words.

John is my husband, yet I'm being treated like some brazen hussy trying to steal him.

Kelsie, misinterpreting my silence as guilt, sneered. "I'll show you that he's in love with me."

In the next moment, she deliberately fell down the stairs right in front of me, leaving me no time to catch her.

John hurried over and, upon seeing Kelsie lying in a pool of blood, quickly picked her up and carried her outside.

I followed them to the hospital.

Maria Delulane rushed toward me, pointing at my face as she scolded, "Diana, I'm warning you, if anything happens to Kelsie, I won't forgive you."

Instinctively, I glanced at John and asked, "Do you believe I pushed her too?"

John's voice was filled with frustration. "You two were the only ones there. If it wasn't you, then who else could it have been?"

At that moment, the cold hospital wind seemed to seep into my bones.

"It wasn't me. It was..."

But before I could finish, John slapped me.

The blow was hard, leaving my cheek red and swollen.

I looked at him, shocked and in disbelief.

He avoided looking at me and turned to Maria, saying, "Mom, Diana knows she messed up. Please give her a chance."

Maria shot me a fierce glare before turning and heading into the ward.

John looked at me, his throat moving as he swallowed. "I'm sorry... Kelsie's mom is really protective of her. If I didn't hit you in front of her, she wouldn't let it go."

Kelsie was her mother's pride and joy, but didn't my mother care about me either?

I started to laugh, but then tears came instead.

Seeing me cry, John reached out to wipe my tears away.

I pushed his hand aside. "Don't touch me!"

Just as John was about to say something, Maria called out, "Kelsie is awake."

John pulled me into the ward.

Kelsie glared at me.

"I want her to kneel and bow to apologize to me. Otherwise, I'll call the police!"

My eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible!"

I thought, "Why should I kneel and apologize for something I didn't do?"

John gripped my shoulders and forcefully pushed my head to the ground to beg for her forgiveness.

My forehead was bleeding from the impact. I turned to face him, my entire body shaking with anger.

John said coldly, "You made Kelsie fall like this. What's wrong with kneeling and apologizing to her?"

His words cut through me like a sharp knife.

Seeing John press me to the ground, Kelsie looked satisfied and playfully mentioned she wanted a milk tea cake.

John immediately left to buy it.

I stood up and walked out of the ward. Feeling dizzy, I quickly sat down to rest.

Over the past six months, my body had become very weak due to overwhelming sadness.

When John returned, he looked at me and said, "You can go home now. Avoid being around Kelsie for the time being, as your presence might trigger her depression."

As I remained silent, he added, "Kelsie's health isn't good. Please don't cause her any more pain."

I rose, avoided eye contact, and left without glancing back.

Once home, I discarded all of my wedding photos with John and other mementos, then swiftly packed my bags.

I hailed a taxi to the airport. My phone buzzed with a message from John, urging me to be more understanding of Kelsie in the future and to refrain from upsetting her.

His words infuriated me, so I blocked him immediately and headed towards the boarding gate.