I Gave Him and My Sister What He Wanted, But Now He’s Unhappy

I let out a bitter laugh. Not long after Sophia adopted me all those years ago, she found her long-lost daughter, Joey.

I had thought I finally had a home. But the moment Joey returned, my adoptive parents began lashing out at me relentlessly, punishing me for every crime she pinned on me.

Whenever I misbehaved, they’d lock me in the basement to "reflect." Only after I confessed and starved would they toss me a bowl of cold, bland porridge.

Those twenty years were nothing but darkness.

It was only after I married into the Rook family that they finally restrained themselves—thanks to Nathan.

Now, Sophia was using her so-called "kindness" as leverage, pressuring me to give up my place as Mrs. Rook to Joey.

Seeing me laugh, Sophia raised her hand to slap me—but Nathan caught her wrist mid-air.

His gaze landed on my face and paused, visibly shaken.

"You hit her?" His voice held disbelief as he addressed Sophia.

Seeing him like this, I was reminded of the boy he used to be.

Back then, Joey, basking in her "real daughter" status, surrounded herself with a gang of sycophants. After school, they’d often ambush and beat me.

It was Nathan who stepped in—shielding me from the blows, putting an end to the bullying. After that, no one dared touch me again.

"Nathan, Rose just lost her mind," Sophia said cautiously. "She scratched Joey’s arm. I was only trying to discipline her—she bullies Joey constantly."

Joey, playing the pitiful victim, showed Nathan the faint red marks on her arm.

She hadn’t dared to hurt herself too badly—just enough to leave a little redness.

Nathan immediately let go of Sophia's hand. When he looked at me again, his eyes were ice-cold.

"Rose. Apologize," he ordered, no room for argument.

My heart dropped like a stone.

"I didn’t do it. Why the hell should I apologize?!"

Joey smiled sweetly and ran to Nathan, wrapping herself around his arm.

"Nathan, don’t be mad at Rose. I must’ve accidentally bumped into her. It’s no surprise she won’t apologize. She’s never liked me… and my faking my death must’ve really upset her."

"You don’t have to blame yourself, Joey," Nathan said softly, stroking her hair. "This isn’t your fault."

Then he glanced back at me. Seeing I still hadn’t spoken, he added coldly, "For Joey’s sake, I’ll let it go. You don’t have to apologize, Rose—"

I turned and walked away before he could finish. His voice grew more distant behind me.

But I hadn’t gotten far before someone grabbed my arm.

It was Joey.

"Quit pretending, Rose! You only became Mrs. Rook because I drugged Nathan that night. If it weren’t for me, you’d have never even touched him. Now I just want to take back what’s mine—why the hell should you stop me?!"

I let out a cold laugh, remembering how sweet she used to be with William. Now she was crawling back to Nathan for the title of Mrs. Rook.

"You're right," I said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Thanks for drugging Nathan that night and blabbing to the Rook family that I was pregnant. That really made it easier for me to settle into this role. As for Nathan? If you want him, go talk to him yourself. Don’t drag me into your twisted love triangle!"

The moment I found out I was pregnant, I’d gone straight to the hospital to schedule an abortion. I never expected to run into Joey there.

She told the Rook family everything, and the elders forced Nathan to marry me.

I never planned to trap him with a baby. No matter how I tried to explain, he never believed me.

Now, I felt more exhausted than ever before.

Joey, unwilling to give up, still clung to me.

I sneered. "Judging by your desperation, I guess Nathan didn’t agree to marry you, did he? Doesn’t seem like he’s all that into you after all."

Joey's face twisted with fury. I shook her off, and behind me, she was still screaming:

"Rose, don’t get cocky just yet!"