Chapter 1 Took Her Place
When her husband Matthew Gonzalez was photographed going to a hotel with his first love, Abigail Thomas had just submitted her application for a position at Seraphim.
Three years ago, Abigail agreed to Victoria Nguyen, Matthew's grandmother, to be Matthew's wife for three years. Now there were less than three months left.
In three months, Abigail would completely disappear from Matthew's world.
She hadn't told anyone, and of course, no one would care anyway.
In Matthew's eyes, she was just a decoration that didn't really matter.
In three years of marriage, he never touched her. The times he spoke to her could be counted on one hand. They were like strangers.
Now that Matthew's first love had returned to the country, Matthew's whole heart was devoted to the woman he loved.
There was even less reason for her to stay.
Just then, Matthew's mother Quinn Sullivan called: "Abigail, handle the situation with Matthew and Delilah at the hotel. Don't let this blow up."
Abigail frowned, feeling exhausted.
Delilah Roberts was Matthew's first love.
Delilah's father had close ties with the Gonzalez family. After Delilah's father died, the Gonzalez family took her in.
Three years ago, when Victoria discovered that Matthew and Delilah had feelings for each other, she was furious and forcibly sent Delilah abroad.
Matthew was depressed about it for a long time.
But Abigail only learned all this after getting married.
"Quinn, I understand," Abigail replied softly.
"Abigail, don't be upset, and don't fight with Matthew," Quinn comforted her over the phone. "Men always have some lingering feelings for their past. You're Mrs. Gonzalez, you need to be understanding."
Abigail didn't say anything, but her heart felt like a piece had been carved out, empty and hollow.
Of course I'm hurt. When I married Matthew, I really liked him.
As for making a scene? I won't.
Victoria was good to me. Before she died, I promised Victoria I would take good care of Matthew as his wife for three years.
These three years, I did everything I could to please Matthew, wholeheartedly being a good wife, but I could never warm his cold heart.
Now, I'm tired. I can't love him anymore.
After hanging up, Abigail changed clothes, grabbed her car keys, and drove to the hotel.
Arriving at the luxury suite on the top floor, Abigail hesitated for a moment before finally raising her hand to ring the doorbell.
The door opened quickly, but it wasn't Matthew who answered.
Delilah was wearing a white bathrobe, her flaxen hair still damp, casually draped over her shoulders.
When she saw Abigail, her face immediately lit up with an enthusiastic smile: "Abigail, you're here!"
Abigail's gaze moved past her, scanning the room, her tone cold: "Where's Matthew?"
"Matthew's in the bathroom," Delilah stepped aside to let her in.
Just as she finished speaking, the bathroom door opened and Matthew walked out wearing a bathrobe matching hers.
He was drying his hair, his handsome features showing a hint of laziness. When he saw Abigail standing at the door, his eyes immediately showed displeasure: "Why are you here?"
Before Abigail could answer, Delilah quickly jumped in to explain: "Abigail, don't get the wrong idea. At the airport earlier, I accidentally spilled juice on myself, so I had to come to the hotel to change and wash up."
Matthew snorted coldly, looking at Abigail with mocking eyes: "Do you really enjoy following me around that much?"
Abigail's face turned pale, her chest tight with pain.
She wanted to explain that Quinn had sent her, but the words died on her lips, feeling pointless.
In his mind, everything she did was wrong, had hidden motives.
Abigail suppressed the hurt in her heart and said calmly: "Quinn asked me to pick you up and bring you home. Photos of you and Ms. Roberts at the hotel have already been taken by reporters, and it might affect Gonzalez Corporation's stock price..."
Before she could finish, Matthew coldly interrupted: "Abigail, all you ever care about is the Gonzalez family's money. Did you manipulate my grandmother back then to force me to marry you for money?"
Every word he said stabbed at Abigail's heart.
Yes, Victoria did force Matthew to marry Abigail.
But he didn't know that before Abigail married him, she had secretly loved him for seven whole years.
Marrying him once made Abigail naively believe it was the happiest moment of her life.
She never expected it would be the beginning of her misery.
"Matthew, don't talk to Abigail like that." Seeing this, Delilah pulled on Matthew's arm and said gently, "Abigail is just worried about you. Just go back with her, so Quinn won't worry."
Matthew's expression softened slightly. He glanced coldly at Abigail and turned back to the bedroom: "Wait while I change."
The moment the bedroom door closed, only the two women remained in the living room.
The innocence and warmth quickly faded from Delilah's face, replaced by a contemptuous sneer: "You see? The person Matthew loves has always been me. So what if you've occupied the position of Mrs. Gonzalez for three years? You still don't have his heart."
Abigail looked at her coldly: "Really? Too bad I'm the legitimate Mrs. Gonzalez right now. No matter how much he loves you, you're nothing but a homewrecker."
Delilah's face instantly darkened. She bit her lip, unable to come up with a retort.
Seeing the bedroom doorknob move, a flash of malice crossed Delilah's eyes.
She suddenly swayed and fell toward the coffee table beside her, letting out a shrill scream.
Abigail instinctively reached out to catch her, and Abigail's hand slammed hard into the coffee table.
Matthew had just finished changing and came out to see this scene. He rushed over and helped Delilah up from the floor.
"Delilah, what happened?"
Delilah's face was pale with pain, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. She clutched her right wrist, glanced pitifully at Abigail, then timidly lowered her head and sobbed: "It's not Abigail's fault. I just lost my balance."
Abigail was disgusted by her act.
Probably only Matthew would believe such a terrible performance.
Matthew suddenly turned his head, glaring at Abigail: "Abigail! Are you crazy? Delilah is a painter! If her hand is injured, how can she paint?"
His scolding left Abigail feeling hopeless. She didn't even bother to defend herself, just quietly watched him.
Watched him carefully cradle Delilah's hand, his eyes full of anxiety and concern, that tenderness something Abigail had never seen in three years.
He only cared about Delilah's hand that held the paintbrush, but didn't care at all that Abigail had given up her dream of being a designer for him.
"Don't worry, I'll take you to the hospital right away." Matthew's tone was gentle as he picked up Delilah and quickly headed for the door.
From start to finish, he didn't look at Abigail again.
Abigail stood there alone, silently looking at her hand that had gotten bruised from trying to catch Delilah.
No one cared. Matthew hadn't even noticed.
Whatever. I'm leaving in three months anyway.
Abigail's eyes reddened. She tilted her head back, forcing herself to find comfort in that thought.