In the dark, a man’s low growl tangled with a woman’s soft, kitten-like moans, and the whole room was soaked in heat and ambiguity.

Luna Blackwood didn’t know if it was because she’d deliberately put on that sexy lace slip tonight, or because Ethan Blackwood had been away on a business trip for a while and was clearly holding in a lot.

Tonight, the way he held her was absurdly intense, almost tender.

So tender that for one reckless moment, she actually felt like maybe… he loved her.

Afterward, he seemed to be in a decent mood. He even carried her to the bathroom, fooling around with her in the water for a bit before bringing her back to bed.

Unlike usual, Ethan didn’t get up and leave right away.

That tiny break from routine gave Luna a sudden burst of courage. She turned over and leaned halfway against his chest.

Her fingertip traced absentminded circles over his skin. When she spoke, her voice was rough and lazy from what had just happened. “Honey, we’ve been married for three years now. Grandpa said it’s about time we had a baby.”

The hand stroking her back stopped.

He lowered his eyes to look at her. The rare trace of softness in those dark eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by the usual chill and… mockery.

“Luna Blackwood, are you worthy?”

Just three words.

And the fake tenderness filling the room shattered on the spot.

The fragile peace they had been barely maintaining for the past three years cracked apart completely.

Ethan shoved her away, threw on his robe, tied the belt, then stood by the bed and looked down at her from above.

His handsome face was icy, his gaze full of disgust.

“If you want to keep your place as Mrs. Blackwood, then behave yourself. Stop pulling those cheap little tricks.”

Luna’s expression cooled too. She stared at him and asked blankly, “Wanting a child with my legal husband counts as not behaving?”

“I usually let you have your way with whatever you want, but I’ll say this one last time.” His voice was flat, merciless. “I’m not having a child. Give it up.”

After throwing out those words, he slammed the door and left.

Luna lay silently on the bed, motionless.

Her eyes stayed wide open, fixed on the ceiling, until the sting became too much and she finally shut them.

The answer had been exactly what she expected.

She just hadn’t given up until the very last second.

She knew full well she was asking for humiliation, and still, she asked anyway.

After a while, she got a little strength back, reached for her phone, and lit up the screen.

At the top was the hottest headline from that morning—

Famous pianist Sophia Rivers spotted entering the OB-GYN department with a mysterious boyfriend; the next day, she posted a massive diamond ring on social media.

Suspected pregnancy. Wedding bells may be coming soon.

In the accompanying photo, the so-called mysterious boyfriend only appeared as a silhouette.

Luna stared at that shadowy outline. A smile tugged at her lips, but her eyes slowly turned red and wet.

Even if he were burned to ashes, she would still recognize him.

That silhouette was her husband, Ethan.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want children.

He just didn’t want one with her.

Because his heart already belonged to someone else.

Even her position as Mrs. Blackwood… had been snatched by force.

When Luna was ten, her parents died in an accident. After that, she was taken in by her uncle, who treated her incredibly well, like his own daughter.

Three years ago, her uncle’s investment failed. The company’s cash flow broke down and was on the edge of bankruptcy. In just half a month, he dropped ten pounds. Her aunt, meanwhile, made passive-aggressive comments every single day.

Just when they were cornered with no way out, Old Mr. Blackwood came to propose marriage in person. He and Luna’s grandfather had once been comrades-in-arms, and their friendship ran deep.

As long as the two families became in-laws, every problem would be solved.

Under her uncle’s silent, pleading gaze, Luna nodded and agreed to marry.

But when it came time to register the marriage, Ethan never showed up.

There was no wedding.

And on their wedding night… he didn’t come home either.

Only later did she find out that he already had the love of his life: Sophia Rivers.

Rumor had it he had even proposed to her back then.

But Old Mr. Blackwood didn’t approve, so he used this marriage to split them up.

Everyone thought Luna had married into the Blackwood family for money, status, power.

Only she knew the truth.

The one she liked had always been Ethan Blackwood himself.

What a joke, though.

After living beside him day and night for three whole years, she still hadn’t managed to warm his heart.

And Sophia Rivers was always there, hanging over everything like a shadow that wouldn’t go away.

The next day.

Luna put on flawless makeup and walked out of the master bedroom looking perfectly normal.

Auntie Chen, the housekeeper, came toward her head-on.

She looked awkward, clearly struggling, but in the end she still handed over the box in her hands. “Ma’am, sir said… there was no protection last night. To avoid any unnecessary trouble, he asked you to… to take this.”

The box of morning-after pills felt like a giant hand ripping straight open the dignity she had tried so hard to protect.

For a second, Auntie Chen thought she saw Luna sway.

But when she looked again, Luna was standing ramrod straight, steady as ever.

Then Luna took the box cleanly, snapped out one pill, tossed it into her mouth, and swallowed it dry in one go.

No hesitation.

Smooth. Direct. Done.

“Is that enough?”

Once she walked away, the straightness in Luna’s back collapsed all at once.

She turned her head.

On the bedroom wall hung only decorative paintings—expensive, tasteful, high-end.

But there wasn’t even a single simple wedding photo.

At that moment, she suddenly felt dazed.

Was there really any point in holding on to this marriage anymore?